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If there was ever a time where gamers could be indulged with choices in gaming hardware, it seems that 2025 could be that era. This is attributed to CES 2025, where the unveiling and previews of PC gaming hardware occurred, particularly highlighting Nvidia’s latest RTX 5000 series GPU lineup. However, I would contend that handheld gaming PCs have taken center stage at the event.
There’s no doubt that Valve revitalized the handheld gaming market when it introduced the Steam Deck in 2022, with competition escalating each year – we’ve witnessed mid-generation enhancements from Asus with the ROG Ally and Valve’s Steam Deck with an OLED version.
As we await updates on successors to the Asus ROG Ally X and Steam Deck OLED, announcements from manufacturers such as Lenovo, MSI, and Acer have generated considerable anticipation for handheld gaming PCs this year. Here’s my selection of the finest handheld gaming PCs featured at CES 2025.
1. MSI Claw 8 AI+
Although this was officially announced last December, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ made a noteworthy appearance at CES 2025 – and justifiably so, as based on the information available thus far, this device is poised to become one of (if not the) top handheld gaming PCs in recent memory.
MSI’s initial endeavor with the Claw A1M featured Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H chip, which did not receive favorable reviews. This time, MSI is implementing the more effective Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (which integrates Intel Arc 140V GPU), promising enhanced battery life and gameplay performance in accordance with MSI’s assertions at 17W alongside various previews.
ETAPrime demonstrated the Claw AI 8+ performing CD Projekt Red’s graphically intensive Cyberpunk 2077 with the ray tracing ultra preset activated utilizing Intel’s XeSS upscaling technique – and the frame rate consistently hovered around 40fps.
It is now available for pre-order on MSI’s online store in the US for $899.99; however, there is unfortunately no information available regarding UK and Australia pricing or availability.
2. Lenovo Legion Go S
The original Lenovo Legion Go is another instance of a new handheld gaming PC not hitting the mark initially. It initially featured a 1600p display and was powered by AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor. While that hardware is undeniably powerful (the Z1 Extreme is also utilized in the Asus ROG Ally), it didn’t suffice to manage the 2560×1600 resolution, compelling gamers to reduce the resolution during gameplay.
Enter the Lenovo Legion Go S, a mid-generation enhancement, now boasting a 1920×1200 120Hz VRR 8-inch display in addition to 32GB of RAM. It will offer multiple configurations, permitting users to select between SteamOS or Windows 11 – and will feature either the Ryzen Z2 Go or Z1 Extreme chip.
Although the reduced display resolution and screen size may appear disadvantageous, it will serve gamers well, as both processors are likely capable of managing the 1200p resolution with relative ease.
The Windows 11 Z2 Go versions (16GB or 32GB) are currently available for pre-order at Best Buy starting at $729.99 with shipping this month, while the SteamOS variants are set to launch in May. Additionally, the Legion Go 2 is expected to debut sometime this year featuring the new Z2 Extreme, although it’s still just a prototype at present.
3. Acer Nitro Blaze 8
I would have loved to place the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 here, as I believe it would be the more popular choice for Acer, but it is simply too large for a handheld gaming PC. It also comes at a steep price of $1,099 which is outrageous for a handheld gaming device. Thankfully, the alternative is the Acer Nitro Blaze 8, which may still encounter similar performance challenges as the original Lenovo Legion Go due to its ambitious (for a handheld) 1600p display, yet it is much more portable and comfortable to grip.
Utilizing the same specifications as its larger variant, it will incorporate AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840HS processor with the same Radeon 780M iGPU seen in the Z1 Extreme, an 8.8-inch 144Hz display, and 16GB of RAM. This seems to be Acer’s strategy to catch up to current handheld offerings, but it may fall short compared to the likes of the Legion Go S and MSI Claw 8 AI+ with their more advanced components.
Nevertheless, this is poised to be an impressive handheld choice for gamers, available in Q2 this year starting at $899, amidst what appears to be a fantastic year for all handheld PC fans.
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