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Mobile game consoles are doing great. Sure, playing games on the go hasn’t been around since the Game Boy, but the phenomenal success of the Nintendo Switch and the continued growth of mobile processors has led to an explosion of devices that allow you to play a variety of great games anywhere. Increased. However, finding the best gaming PDA for you can be complicated. You already know that the Switch is worth buying, but depending on what you want to play, a good handheld can cost less than $100 or more than $1,000. To narrow things down, we did extensive research on the best handheld gaming consoles, testing the main contenders, from powerful laptops to compact emulation machines.
Most Powerful Handheld Gaming Device
The gaming handheld market can be broadly categorized into three levels. At the top are x86 gaming laptops like the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally. These are the most powerful PDAs you can buy that attempt to recreate the experience of a moderately specced gaming desktop. Steam Deck runs on Linux, but most other decks use Windows. If you want to play the latest recently released PC games on the go (and you want more power than the Switch), you’ll be getting this type of device. It can also emulate a wide range of retro consoles. However, the devices tend to be the largest and most difficult to hold, and may have shorter battery life. Of course, they are also the most expensive, costing anywhere from $400 to over $1,000.
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Lower in the price range are mobile PDAs such as the Logitech G Cloud and Retroid Pocket. These often run Android or Linux and range in price from less than $50 to less than $400. They’re not equipped to play the latest console or PC games, but they’re typically more compact than laptops and can still be used for mobile gaming and cloud streaming. Although most are sold for these purposes, many gamers actually buy them to emulate classic games through software like RetroArch. Getting an emulator to work can be complicated, and accessing the BIOS and ROM files needed to play games this way is legally murky. (We don’t condone copyright infringement.) However, backing up game files you already own for personal use only is considered more defensive, so mobile PDAs can It can be a user- and wallet-friendly way to play classics. The ARM chips found in high-end mobile handhelds today are generally capable of emulating games from 6th generation consoles.
The last level is called “handheld behavior.” This is a general term for portable devices such as Switch and Playdate that run highly customized software and want to provide a unique gaming experience. These aren’t necessarily ideal for emulating or playing modern cross-platform titles. Instead, they often have separate game libraries. As a result, they may not have the widest appeal (there’s no switch), but they’re often easy to pick up and use, even for non-tech savvy people.
The Steam deck is powerful enough to comfortably play many AAA games, and SteamOS provides a better handheld experience than most competing Windows devices. The $399 entry-level model is a particularly good deal.
This has been well documented over the past year, but Valve’s Steam Deck still offers the best value for money in the handheld gaming market. At $399, the entry-level model with 64 GB of easily expandable eMMC storage is an unparalleled value. (If you want to buy a refurbished version, you can get it even cheaper.) The $529 and $649 versions, which include faster SSDs and premium glass displays on top-of-the-line models, are great, but competition is heating up. Compared to similarly priced Windows PDAs. (More on this below.)
The Best Steam Deck Alternatives For Handheld Aaa Gaming
Either way, the Steam Deck continues to be a very capable device. While not all games in the Steam library are compatible with Linux-based device operating systems, thousands of games are and the list of officially verified titles that are still playable is growing. Masu. This deck can natively and reliably play several games that aren’t possible on the Nintendo Switch, from Elden Ring to Final Fantasy VII Remake to Resident Evil 4 Remake. This process isn’t as plug-and-play as on Nintendo consoles, as some games require tweaking for optimal performance, but SteamOS makes these settings relatively easy to access. Masu. While some new AAA titles are starting to push the limits of the device, this is essentially a last-gen console that plays at 720p, but you can take it with you anywhere.
This power makes Steam Deck a great device to emulate. There are some systems (Wii) and others that are more game-dependent (PS3 and Xbox, which are often complex), but most work perfectly, and almost all are at least playable. You can also play Switch games. Tools like EmuDeck make setting all this up very easy. In addition to emulation, the deck’s flexibility makes it a great device for streaming Xbox games to the cloud. You can also pair it with a docking station to play many (but not all) high-definition games on your TV or monitor.
The Steam Deck’s biggest drawback is its size. Weighing 1.5 pounds, about 2 inches thick, and just under a foot long, it exceeds the limits of a “handheld” device. Even if you have large hands, it can be painful to hold for several hours. Depending on what you play, battery life lasts from 8 hours to less than 2 hours. The 7-inch IPS LCD screen is decent, but not as bright as the Switch’s OLED, and the D-pad is a bit soft. Overall, this deck is a solid piece of kit. The joystick is pleasantly smooth, the front buttons and triggers are responsive, and dissipate heat comfortably. It doesn’t feel all that different from a regular controller, and its four customizable back buttons and two trackpads make it easy to navigate PC-style gaming user interfaces. Although it’s overall heavy, the contoured handle fits naturally in your hand. Check out our full Steam Deck review for more details.
If you want a more powerful PDA without spending more money, you can also skip the Steam Deck and buy a Windows device instead. Of these, ASUS ROG Ally is the best one we tested.
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If you want a more powerful PDA without spending more money, you can also skip the Steam Deck and buy a Windows device instead. Of these, the $700 ASUS ROG Ally is the best we’ve tested. It’s not as smooth as the Steam Deck, but it’s a great alternative to a traditional gaming laptop if you’re looking for higher frame rates and a premium display at the cost of ease of use.
As our review points out, the ROG Ally AMD Z1 Extreme APU allows you to play more demanding games at higher frame rates than the Steam Deck. After the update, the AAA title will be as follows.
. Steam Deck officially reaches a maximum TDP of 15W, but ROG Ally has a Turbo mode that increases power consumption to 25W (or 30W if plugged in) for better performance. That’s not it
You can actually skip Valve’s machine and newer devices like the Ayaneo 2S can technically run a little faster. However, it may still be better than Steam Deck, so it might be worth it if you primarily play AAA games with a big budget.
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The biggest selling point is the 7-inch larger screen than the Steam Deck, but with a sharper 1080p resolution and support for faster refresh rates of up to 120Hz. The colors are also brighter and richer, and the side bezels are thinner. Additionally, the ROG Ally is noticeably slimmer than Valve’s machine, about half as thick, slightly lighter, and 0.7 inches shorter. It doesn’t come with a case like the Steam Deck, but it’s easier to transport, at least physically.
ROG Ally runs on Windows 11, so you can play games from any game client, not just compatible games on Steam. If you’ve built a large library on other stores like Epic, GOG, Itch.io, Battle.net, or the Xbox app, you usually don’t have to jump through many hoops to play here.
However, there are also some tradeoffs. ROG Ally’s upgraded performance and screen come at the expense of battery life, which typically lasts two hours. The Steam Deck isn’t battery-smart either, but it can last longer with more demanding titles. The ROG Ally is smaller than a brick, but the backside is slightly sharper than the Steam Deck’s more rounded handle. If you can handle the extra weight, the Steam Deck will be even more comfortable to hold.
The main problem with all of them is
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