So you need to purchase a handheld gaming PC

Gaming handhelds are wonderful. They make it a lot simpler to suit every kind of video games into my day. Sadly, they’re much less inexpensive than they’ve ever been — as a consequence of an unprecedented, AI-fueled scarcity of reminiscence chips, an unforced oil disaster, rampant inflation, fallout from tariffs, and extra.

But that’s not going to cease you. You’ve determined now’s the time to purchase one, earlier than the subsequent shoe drops.

I received’t discuss you out of it! I genuinely don’t know when or if costs would possibly come again down. So as a substitute of telling you to carry off, I’ll strive that will help you navigate this “new normal” I maintain listening to a lot about.

We’ll do that 4 methods:

But earlier than I am going down the checklist, let’s discuss Windows and Linux.

While I’ve dinged most of the handhelds I’ve reviewed for The Verge for Windows woes, that’s not as massive a deal right now — as a result of you’ll be able to set up Bazzite and even SteamOS on a lot of them for a greater pick-up-and-play expertise. The similar actual handheld is commonly extra secure and performant with Linux, and also you typically get instantaneous sleep and resume that’s hit and miss on the working system it shipped with.

It’s nonetheless true that many aggressive on-line multiplayer video games don’t work on Linux due to anti-cheat fears, although others do. It’s additionally true that Windows has gotten higher at sleep and resume with sure handhelds just like the Xbox Ally X. But it’s a false impression that Linux can’t play as many video games as Windows. The actuality is that Linux can play extra — many years of Windows video games work higher on Linux due to Proton patches and neighborhood profiles that translate outdated mouse and keyboard controls to your gamepad.

Ready? Let’s go down every checklist, from least to most costly.

Open field and refurb bargains

Refurbished Valve Steam Deck LCD (usually $279–$359)

If you ever see it in stock, don’t hesitate: Buy a refurbished Steam Deck LCD. Valve discontinued the unique in December 2025, however Valve refurbs at the moment are the perfect deal on the town. The Steam Deck OLED meaningfully improved on the LCD mannequin in some ways, however it’s completely not price $400 greater than an authorized refurbished LCD mannequin.

Reddit is flooded with examples of Valve’s wonderful buyer help, so I wouldn’t be anxious about getting a lemon, and the Steam Deck LCD is without doubt one of the simpler handhelds to choose up and play due to preloaded SteamOS and well-placed controls. It has sufficient efficiency for video games as intensive as Elden Ring, however count on to play higher-end titles at low settings, with a number of upscaling, for lower than two hours on battery. Light fare can last more.

Open-box Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme (usually $500–$550)

At $500, should you’re prepared to put in Bazzite, and should you don’t play removed from a wire, I can genuinely suggest the ROG Ally Z1E in right now’s financial system. It’s one of many weaker gadgets to hold that chip, with one of many smallest batteries at 40 watt-hours, but it surely’s additionally acquired the identical form of easy (if not colourful) 7-inch 120Hz VRR display screen you’ll discover within the Xbox Ally X. When plugged into the wall, or briefly classes on battery, its turbo mode offers you Steam Deck-beating efficiency.

Open-box Lenovo Legion Go (typically $600 open box, usually $850)

The unique Legion Go is an acquired style I’m by no means going to amass: massive, cumbersome, with further buttons weirdly squishing below my palms once I grip. The battery’s solely a bit of larger than within the unique ROG Ally, it doesn’t have a variable refresh fee display screen, and the 2560 x 1600 decision is way over the chip can energy in trendy video games. (Lightweight stuff can look good.)

But Bazzite works nice, and there’s a giant 8.8-inch display screen for individuals who want it, removable controllers with a mouse mode, and a built-in kickstand; you need to use it as a pill in a pinch. I’d choose a Steam Deck over it any day, however the Z1 Extreme’s turbo mode makes it far sooner for brief classes or plugged into the wall. Twin USB4 ports, too. And you’ll be able to add the Legion Go 2’s extra ergonomic controllers for roughly $100. (Don’t overlook you need left and right ones.)

As a $600 open-box deal, it’s price it. But I wouldn’t pay rather more.

Closeout Lenovo Legion Go S Z2 Go with Windows ($550 closeout, usually $1,600)

Almost the polar reverse of the unique Legion Go, with no removable controls, a easy variable refresh fee display screen at a extra wise 1920 x 1200 decision, snug grips — and a a lot slower AMD Z2 Go chip that couldn’t meaningfully compete with the Steam Deck in my Windows assessments.

At $550 closeout like we noticed the opposite day, positive, put Bazzite on it. It ought to barely beat the Steam Deck in efficiency utilizing its turbo modes after that. Please don’t pay rather more. Also please don’t count on its tiny trackpad to be helpful.

Refurbished Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB ($629)

I hate to confess it, however should you ever see a refurbished Steam Deck OLED for $629, you would possibly need to spend the cash. Yes, Valve is charging $190 extra for the refurb mannequin than it did earlier than RAMageddon, but it surely’s nonetheless a reduction of $160 in comparison with what a Deck OLED prices brand-new right now and “only” $80 greater than what a brand new one value earlier than the value hikes. As I’ll clarify just a few paragraphs beneath, the Deck OLED continues to be among the best handhelds you should purchase.

So these are the closeouts. Here’s what I’d counsel should you’re shopping for brand-new:

The most inexpensive handheld you’ll be able to really discover: Asus Xbox Ally

($600 MSRP, typically $500 on sale)

When the Steam Deck OLED may very well be had for $549, there was no method I’d have ever beneficial a vanilla white Xbox Ally as a substitute. Now that the Deck begins at $789, I’ve to rethink. The Xbox Ally has very snug prong-shaped grips and successfully the identical chip because the Steam Deck, solely you’ll be able to crank it as much as 20 watts as a substitute of 15 watts for extra energy, you get a smoother 120Hz VRR display screen, and it has a barely bigger battery.

I’ve by no means been capable of get the Windows model to sleep reliably — I retested this month — and the display screen feels cramped and uninteresting by comparability. But Bazzite fixes sleep and efficiency, making it greater than a match for the Deck. The construct feels a bit of low cost (I broke the highest off an analog stick and needed to superglue it again on), and it’s nowhere close to as highly effective as any handheld with a Z1 Extreme or higher. The Xbox Ally X and MSI Claw 8 have bigger batteries, too, and also you don’t get the Steam Deck’s twin touchpads, 4 again buttons, and neighborhood controller profiles.

But I’d purchase it if I didn’t need to spend greater than $600.

The best to choose up and play: Steam Deck OLED

($789 for 512GB, $949 for 1TB, $629 or $759 refurbished)

When it involves moveable PC gaming, nothing “just works” like a Steam Deck OLED. You energy it on, you scan a QR code to attach your Steam account, you obtain, you play, you get a strong two to eight hours of battery life on a unbelievable display screen with out having to consider what efficiency mode to place your handheld in. The controls are infinitely customizable in methods the competitors hasn’t even tried to match, and you’ll simply browse neighborhood controller profiles as a substitute of needing to roll your personal.

At $789, it’s a method tougher promote than at $549, as a result of in case your funds stretches to $1,000, the Xbox Ally X’s efficiency and battery life are a lot better — and you’ll put Bazzite or SteamOS on that one, too. But I’d nonetheless purchase a refurb Steam Deck OLED at $629, and I might see some paying $789 for its ease of use and unprecedented help: No firm ships updates like Valve ships updates, recurrently making the Deck higher.

The handheld I’d purchase for myself: Xbox Ally X

Like the Steam Deck, the Xbox Ally X initially shipped half-baked. Now, it’s all of a sudden the perfect deal in handheld gaming. While the 7-inch IPS display screen feels a bit of claustrophobic and muted in comparison with 8-inch rivals, it’s now essentially the most highly effective handheld below $1,000 with its Z2 Extreme chip, one of many longest-lived with an 80 watt-hour battery, and (IMO) essentially the most snug to carry with its big prong grips.

It’s additionally the best-supported exterior of Valve’s Steam Deck; Asus and Microsoft maintain transport a flurry of updates. I can lastly belief the Xbox Ally X to sleep and wake reliably, choosing up my sport proper the place I left off, and I can management the digital keyboard by joystick as a substitute of smudging a touchscreen. I can now faucet the triggers to scroll the lengthy clickwrap agreements that pop up earlier than some video games, too.

Just realize it’s not a lot extra highly effective than a Z1 Extreme or Z2 handheld, and the controls go away just a few issues to be desired. There’s no touchpad (and the joystick mouse mode continues to be finicky to allow), the ABXY buttons are very clacky, my triggers developed a loud squeak, and I hate by accident urgent the Library button considering it’s Start and getting yanked out of a sport. A future Ally fixes a number of this stuff, but it surely’ll be dear.

The longest battery life: MSI Claw 8 AI Plus*

($1,300, typically $1,120 on sale)

Frankly, I’m astonished how good the MSI Claw 8 will be. It’s acquired a much bigger, higher display screen than the Xbox Ally X, and I discover its Intel chip sooner within the video games I need to play — it offers me a smoother expertise in 007: First Light and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. And it lasts very barely longer on the identical capability (80 watt-hour) battery, the longest I’ve examined up to now.

There are solely 4 causes it’s not the one I’d purchase for myself. The scalloped grips aren’t as snug, the controls aren’t as customizable (and gyro doesn’t work as effectively), MSI simply isn’t providing the identical stage of help (I’ve needed to manually obtain drivers a number of instances, for instance), and it now prices an excellent bit extra. I’d choose it if it had been $900.

*The newer EX model of the Claw 8 will come out this month with even higher life, efficiency, and luxury, it appears — but it surely might value a lot extra. Read my preview.

The greatest display screen: Legion Go 2 Z2

If your eyes are the precedence, the Legion Go 2 has the perfect handheld display screen cash can purchase right now — not solely is it the uncommon handheld with an OLED panel, and the inky blacks and lovely colours that may afford, it’s an HDR panel with 500-nit brightness and 1,000 nit peaks, plus variable refresh fee that goes all the way in which right down to 30Hz and as much as 144Hz for smoother gameplay. It’s a pleasure in particular person.

The grips are far extra snug than the unique Legion Go, you continue to get the distinctive kickstand and removable gamepads with optical mouse mode, the controls are competent, it has high and backside USB-C ports, and the 74-watt-hour battery’s solely a bit of smaller than different flagships.

The issues holding again the Legion Go 2 at launch had been a excessive worth and Windows. And whereas the value has gone up, the Z2 variant’s worth hike isn’t fairly as ridiculous as that of the Z2 Extreme. And the Z2 Legion Go 2 is fairly near the Z2 Extreme model in efficiency — you must watch ETA Prime’s whole comparison video to see simply how shut. As for Windows, Bazzite appears to work effectively on my evaluation unit of the Z2 Extreme mannequin, although the gyro and a few of Lenovo’s distinctive buttons is usually a chore to configure there.

The strongest: GPD Win 5 or OneXPlayer Apex

I can’t afford a $2,500 handheld, however for individuals who need the final word in efficiency, AMD’s Strix Halo is essentially the most highly effective chip that matches between two palms. When I examined the GPD Win 5, it felt like a conveyable PS5, comfortably enjoying intensive video games at 1080p decision with extremely ranges of element.

But past worth, you must take into account simply how “portable” the Win 5 and the rival OneXPlayer Apex really are: To cram in that energy, they depend on both cumbersome exterior battery backpacks that received’t final an hour at full energy, or a giant energy wire plugged into the wall.

I additionally haven’t been provided full evaluation models but, so I don’t know whether or not GPD or OneXPlayer have nailed different fundamentals or are providing correct help. Proceed with warning.

What should you’re not discovering any of these handhelds? Be cautious before you purchase these options as a substitute:

The handhelds you most likely shouldn’t pay for

Open-box Asus ROG Ally Z1 (usually $380–$450)

Don’t be fooled: The Asus ROG Ally with a weaker AMD Z1 chip might look equivalent to the one with the Z1 Extreme, however this one’s much less succesful than a Steam Deck and much less environment friendly final I checked. With one of many smallest batteries in a handheld (40 watt-hour, tied with the Steam Deck LCD) it’ll die fast, and it’s not as potent plugged in because the Z1E model. Unless you will discover it for below $250 like ETA Prime did, go away it’s.

Somehow, Target nonetheless has inventory of the unique MSI Claw for $100 lower than its unique asking worth, whereas Best Buy nonetheless has it at MSRP. Here is what I wrote in 2024:

I hear Bazzite doesn’t repair this one, both. Just skip it.

Lenovo Legion Go S Z2 Go with SteamOS ($990)

Another case of “don’t get fooled.” The Legion Go S with AMD’s Z2 Go is way weaker than the model with the older Z1 Extreme processor — or some other Z1 Extreme handheld. It can have a slight efficiency and battery benefit over the Steam Deck in additional intensive video games, however falls behind on battery in much less demanding ones.

Nice massive easy variable refresh fee display screen, comfortable grips, comes with SteamOS, but it surely wasn’t an excellent choose even when it value $50 greater than a Steam Deck OLED — now that it prices $200 extra, overlook about it.

I’ve by no means been capable of suggest an Ayaneo handheld PC, as a result of the corporate tends to ship them earlier than they’re prepared and shortly transfer on to the subsequent factor. As thrilling because it sounded, the Ayaneo 3 appears no totally different; I by no means acquired its awesome-sounding swappable controls to remain linked reliably, and the corporate didn’t have an answer for me. $900 for an fancy OLED handheld sounded attractive in 2025, however I wouldn’t suggest my expertise at $400, not to mention the $1,183 asking worth now.

MSI Claw A8 ($1,300, typically $1,200 on sale)

I haven’t used this one myself, but it surely prices considerably greater than an Xbox Ally X for principally the identical internals. Even used ones will value you almost $1,000. Bigger grips and display screen, although.

GPD Win Mini 2025 ($1,317)

Haven’t used this one both, and I’m intrigued by the thought of a tiny handheld cyberdeck after my good experiences with the GPD Win Max 2 beneath. It’s acquired a 1080p VRR display screen that needs to be higher for gaming than the Win Max 2. But it additionally shot up in worth from roughly $900 to over $1,300, and its Ryzen 7 8840U laptop computer chip will chew proper by means of the small 44Wh battery in additional than light-lift video games.

The Win Max 2 is not a cushty gaming expertise, with bizarre grip and a hard and fast 60Hz 1600p display screen, and the almost $1,500 price ticket hurts for one thing that value $1,000 final yr. But would you like perhaps the tiniest laptop computer to ever have a keyboard this wonderful, one that may double as an ungainly gaming handheld in a pinch? I wouldn’t pay for it, however I’ll proceed to hope a future model provides the larger battery, VRR, vibration dampening, higher mousing, and higher webcam it wants.

Lenovo Legion Go S Z1 Extreme with SteamOS ($1,580) or Windows ($1,680)

$1,600 for a handheld with much less efficiency and smaller battery than the Xbox Ally X and MSI Claw 8? Get outta right here. It’s a legitimately good handheld, however even again when it value $830 I’d have picked a Steam Deck as a substitute. Now it prices almost double — much more than the Legion Go 2 with a much better display screen.

This large honking 11-inch rebranded Tencent handheld theoretically has the identical Intel guts because the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus, but it surely definitely doesn’t really feel that method. The autostereoscopic 3D display screen is horrible for gaming in my assessments. It’s not very easy even at its fastened 60Hz refresh fee, and will get ridiculously uneven in 3D mode with out even offering a convincing 3D impact, even in 3D native video games like Trine 2. I noticed every kind of crosstalk that higher 3D screens cracked ages in the past. I’d reasonably play Nintendo 3DS.

Lenovo Legion Go 2 Z2 Extreme ($2,000–$2,350)

Pretty a lot equivalent to the Legion Go Z2, prevent’re paying $425 extra for twice the RAM (32GB as a substitute of 16GB) and barely higher battery life because of the extra environment friendly chip. I wouldn’t.