The Ultimate Guide to Handheld Gaming PCs in 2025: From Steam Deck to Xbox Ally X and Beyond

Despite its specifications appearing modest when compared to rivals, the Steam Deck OLED continues to hold its position as the top handheld on the market. Its key advantage lies in Valve’s proprietary SteamOS, which replaces Windows. This custom operating system is incredibly polished and intuitive, delivering an authentic portable console experience.

In practice, this means you can seamlessly suspend your game mid-session and instantly resume it the moment you power on the handheld. Contrast this with Windows handhelds, which typically require you to fully exit and restart your game each time the device powers off.

Valve has also masterfully integrated settings adjustments and navigation directly into the handheld’s controls. This stands in stark contrast to many Windows handhelds, where you often find yourself longing for a mouse and keyboard.

These are just a few reasons why the Steam Deck reigns supreme. As for why you should choose the Steam Deck OLED over the original Steam Deck, it almost entirely comes down to its screen. Valve upgraded the original LCD display to a vibrant OLED unit that delivers incredible brightness, vivid colors, and astonishing contrast. Even with its modest 1,280 x 800 pixel resolution, the visual experience is simply fantastic.

The new handheld also boasts improvements in battery life for extended gaming sessions, a reduction in weight for enhanced comfort, and faster Wi-Fi for quicker downloads. All these enhancements combine to make the Steam Deck OLED the best gaming handheld you can currently buy, though there are a few points to consider.

Where the Steam Deck OLED can’t quite match its modern competition is in screen resolution and raw performance. While the Steam Deck OLED features a 7-inch, 800p screen, some competitors offer 8-inch or larger displays with 1080p and even 1440p resolutions. These higher-resolution screens are superior for video playback and general productivity, enabling web browsing and email in a way the Steam Deck’s lower-resolution display struggles to replicate.

Furthermore, in terms of raw power, the Steam Deck OLED utilizes an older custom APU that’s less than half as powerful as the APUs found in contemporary Windows handhelds. This means those devices can run games at higher resolutions and frame rates. However, the Steam Deck OLED remains remarkably capable, as demonstrated by the vast array of compatible games.

The final main drawbacks to note are that the Steam Deck primarily runs Steam games. This means titles like Fortnite, which rely on the Epic Games store, are not natively playable. Similarly, many competitive multiplayer games are incompatible due to their reliance on anti-cheat software that doesn’t function on SteamOS. Despite this, thousands of Steam games are still available to play.

The crucial aspect that makes the Steam Deck OLED so compelling is its price. While many Windows handhelds push towards $1,000, the Steam Deck OLED starts at just $549. Some of this lower price is a reflection of its more conservative specifications, but ultimately, it still makes this the handheld to acquire right now.

While not the first handheld gaming PC ever, the Steam Deck has undoubtedly been the most impactful. It offers seamless integration with your Steam library and a console-like experience that can be as plug-and-play as you desire, all while benefiting from a fully user-tweakable OS underneath.

The original lower-end 64GB model is now discontinued directly by Valve, but you can still find it from various retailers. Its storage can be expanded, and when paired with the right accessories, it can achieve a very usable capacity.

However, demanding titles like Starfield, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Remnant 2 do push the Steam Deck to its limits. While we’re still some time away from all major AAA releases becoming unplayable on the Steam Deck—and thousands of other games remain perfectly playable—the hardware is aging. You might find better long-term value in a newer handheld.

The custom APU, codenamed Van Gogh, is still powerful enough for most games. If your primary interest lies in playing retro games, 2D titles, sidescrollers, or emulated classics, you’ll be more than satisfied with its performance. This remains a fantastic value handheld gaming PC.

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X doesn’t quite fulfill its promise of an Xbox-like console experience compared to other Windows gaming handhelds. However, it unequivocally stands as the best premium option available right now.

Equipped with the brand new AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, it delivers top-tier performance, capable of playing the latest AAA games at 1080p on medium settings, often with the help of upscaling. This is a significant step up from the 800p or lower resolutions at low detail settings typically managed by most first-generation handhelds like the Steam Deck.

While it faces stiff competition from devices such as the AOKZOE A1X and Ayaneo 3, other premium handhelds often exceed $1,300. In contrast, the ROG Xbox Ally X comes in at just $999. Although still an expensive device, especially when compared to the Steam Deck OLED, it offers genuinely good value for the power it packs.

Regarding its Xbox features, you get a new handheld-optimized Xbox app and an Xbox overlay for in-game screenshots, connecting with friends, and device control. However, these are not groundbreaking additions, and Microsoft has yet to deliver a truly well-integrated, complete touchscreen and d-pad-friendly interface.

Despite Windows occasionally being a bit clunky, once you’re gaming, you’ll undoubtedly appreciate the performance and comfortable design this handheld provides.

If you’re seeking the ultimate Windows gaming handheld right now, the AOKZOE A1X is your answer. Thanks to its inclusion of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, this handheld is among the most powerful available, while its Windows interface surpasses all previous attempts.

On the surface, the A1X might not appear particularly revolutionary among Windows gaming handhelds. However, beyond the option of AMD’s latest 300-series APU for peak handheld performance, it excels in several subtle ways.

Firstly, its eight-inch screen, a noticeable step up from the common seven-inch size, provides a little more real estate for gaming, watching videos, and fully leveraging the versatility of the Windows OS and its vast application ecosystem. It also boasts excellent image quality, even if it can’t quite match the OLED panels found on some other handhelds.

Next is the thoughtful inclusion of a kickstand, allowing you to recline and use the handheld for video consumption or gaming with an external controller. While it might seem unconventional for a handheld (the clue’s in the name!), this feature can be surprisingly practical.

Battery life is another significant advantage of the A1X. This handheld can last up to ten hours when gaming in its lowest power mode, where performance is naturally limited, but titles like Hades remain perfectly playable.

Adding to its appeal, AOKZOE’s dedicated app for managing the handheld’s features is superior to any we’ve encountered before. It significantly enhances the experience of switching power modes and general device usage, even if the overall slickness still doesn’t quite reach Steam Deck levels.

The only real drawbacks, aside from slightly small controls, are the high price of this handheld. With the lower-spec model – which still offers comparable performance to most other handhelds – it currently costs $899 (after a 15% discount from its usual price of over $1,000). The more powerful processor version normally costs $1,459 but is currently priced at $1,239.

If these discounted prices become the standard long-term price for this handheld, it will become far more competitive. However, at its higher standard prices, you are definitely paying a premium for its robust performance.

For a considerable period, the Asus ROG Ally X stood as our top recommendation for Windows handhelds. However, the sheer power and excellent software of the AOKZOE A1X have since claimed that title. Despite this, the AOKZOE device is even more expensive than the ROG Ally X, making Asus’ latest handheld still the premier choice for budget-conscious gamers.

Bringing a host of welcome updates to the original ROG Ally, the Ally X transforms one of the earliest and most successful Windows handhelds into an even slicker, more capable, and finely tuned device.

With an additional 8GB of faster memory, the ROG Ally X maintains competitive performance against many other handhelds. Asus’ Armoury Crate software overlay has also seen significant improvements, and while not perfect, its interface is now easier to understand and navigate than earlier versions.

The main challenge for the ROG Ally X right now is its scarcity at its $799 MSRP. At that price, it’s considerably more affordable than the AOKZOE A1X and would be the better purchase for most gamers. However, real-world prices have often pushed beyond $1,000 when it can even be found. This significantly diminishes the value proposition of this handheld, so it’s advisable to wait for it to be available at or near its recommended retail price.

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 might be just around the corner, but for now, the original Lenovo Legion Go remains the most broadly capable handheld on the market.

Its versatility stems from its removable controllers, which slide off the sides of the device, allowing you to play games from a distance or even engage in two-player multiplayer experiences. The integrated kickstand also offers a convenient way to relax while gaming or watching videos on the handheld.

Maximizing its diverse uses, this handheld’s expansive 8.8-inch high-resolution display truly elevates game immersion and provides a superior video-watching experience. This larger screen further enhances the comfort of gaming from a distance.

For more intense gaming sessions, the display’s 144Hz maximum refresh rate and razor-sharp 2,560 x 1,600 resolution ensure you don’t miss a single detail. While it features an IPS LCD panel rather than OLED, it still delivers excellent image quality.

Inside, you’ll find powerful hardware. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme positions the Lenovo Legion Go well ahead of the Steam Deck in raw power and on par with most other high-end Windows handhelds. One of its detachable controllers even features an ‘FPS Mode’ that converts the controller into a mouse, similar to how the new Nintendo Switch 2 is rumored to function.

However, the Legion Go does have a few drawbacks. It’s noticeably heavier than its competitors, weighing in at 854g, which can lead to fatigue during extended use. Its ergonomics aren’t as refined as some rivals, and you’ll frequently need to tweak settings and resolution, as the screen’s native 1600p resolution is often too demanding for the Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU. The software experience can also be a bit finicky.

At the time of the Asus ROG Ally X release, the extra $100 for the newer model seemed like an obvious upgrade, and the original ROG Ally’s days appeared numbered. However, the gaming handheld market has become quite volatile in recent months, leading to low availability and high prices.

As a result, the Ally X is now very scarce and often far more expensive than its MSRP in most stores, while the original ROG Ally remains readily available and can be acquired for an excellent price. What’s more, it’s still a fantastic handheld overall.

Its core features, including an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, a high-quality 7-inch, 1080p LCD screen, and generally clever design, combine to create a handheld that’s reasonably easy to use and delivers solid performance. While the Ally X did improve ergonomics and slightly boost performance, the original Ally is still very capable.

One critical factor to be aware of is that the cooler design on the original Ally tends to overheat the microSD slot, which can lead to microSD card corruption. Therefore, you need to exercise some caution when using the device, especially in hotter climates, but there are workarounds.

Ultimately, in a market where almost every other Windows handheld is pushing towards $1,000, the Asus ROG Ally stands out as a great option for $649.

The standout feature of the Ayaneo 3 is its exquisite 7-inch, 1080p OLED screen. As the Steam Deck OLED demonstrated, a top-quality OLED panel is a significant upgrade for a gaming handheld over an LCD, delivering much higher contrast. The Ayaneo’s display offers similar quality while boasting a considerably higher resolution.

Thankfully, there’s more to this handheld than just its screen. Ayaneo has put considerable effort into creating a deep level of power customization, allowing you to fine-tune the balance between achieving smooth frame rates in your games and minimizing power consumption to maximize battery life. This handheld’s speakers are also surprisingly loud and clear, and its overall ergonomics are excellent.

However, the pièce de résistance is the Ayaneo 3’s modular controllers. You can swap out the thumbstick/button sections, choosing between an Xbox-style layout, symmetrical controls, or even replacing a thumbstick with an array of buttons. While it might sound like a gimmick, it proves to be genuinely useful in practice.

The only issue is that all these high specifications and extra features come at a cost, resulting in a price that is staggering when compared to the sub-$500 price point of some Steam Deck models. The top-spec models can exceed $2,000, a sum that would be difficult to justify even if this handheld were flawless. Unfortunately, it does have one additional factor that holds it back: Windows.

Like other Windows handhelds, the overall ease of use of this device doesn’t compare to the Steam Decks, and Ayaneo’s software isn’t quite as seamlessly integrated as that found on the AOKZOE A1X. Nonetheless, it remains a great handheld if you can tolerate its Windows interface quirks and afford its high price tag.

The Ayaneo Air distinguishes itself as one of the most compact handheld gaming PCs available. With its mere 5.5-inch OLED screen, it’s noticeably smaller than the Steam Deck OLED and Asus ROG Ally X, let alone the much larger Lenovo Legion Go.

This compact design makes it an excellent choice for those who need a handheld for light travel or for use during a cramped commute where space is limited and you might be standing. Its significantly lighter weight further enhances this appeal, coming in at just 398g compared to the Steam Deck OLED’s 640g.

Naturally, this compactness comes with some compromises. The AMD Ryzen 5 5560 chip inside this handheld is considerably less powerful than what’s found in most other handhelds. While it can still run most games at low settings and 720p resolutions or lower, Steam Deck-level power was already pushing the limits for many games, making the Ayaneo Air feel even more restricted.

Battery life is also limited, and its smaller screen means it feels less suitable for other tasks like watching videos or browsing the web. Nevertheless, with a modest asking price, it could be a great option for many buyers, if you can still find one, as stock seems to have mostly diminished since its 2023 launch.

We consider Sony’s PSP to be one of the finest pieces of tech ever designed, and it’s clear GPD shares a similar sentiment, as its GPD Win 4 gaming handheld is essentially a Windows-powered equivalent. Featuring a slide-up screen that reveals a full keyboard, it introduces a whole new level of practicality to the handheld gaming space.

This innovative construction truly distinguishes the GPD Win 4 from its competitors. While touchscreen keyboards have become standard in the mobile phone and tablet world, physical keyboards offer immense utility for devices of this size. Whether it’s for shortcuts to key Windows functions or simply for faster typing on a device that would otherwise be cumbersome for such tasks, it’s an ideal solution. While not on par with a laptop keyboard, it’s far better than none at all.

Powering the GPD Win 4 is the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U, which is comparable to the Ryzen Z1 Extreme chips found in other handhelds, featuring its Radeon 780M GPU. Consequently, this unit isn’t significantly faster than most of its rivals.

The sheer utility offered by the GPD Win 4’s design is what truly sets it apart, even with its smaller 6-inch 1080p screen. The real hurdle for this handheld, however, is its price. At approximately $1,500 / £1,000, it’s a very expensive option.

While not a traditional PC gaming handheld, the Razer Edge grants you access to your PC library through cloud streaming. You can link your Game Pass, GeForce Now, and Steam accounts to stream games from virtually anywhere. The Edge accomplishes this with a stunning display and ample power to back it up.

Mobile games are also a breeze thanks to its Android OS, giving you the option to run games natively with its 128GB storage. When we reviewed the Razer Edge, we identified one notable flaw in its cloud streaming resolution output, but beyond that, it proved to be a fantastic device with considerable potential for future growth.

Nexus is the secret weapon the Edge has up its sleeve, allowing you to completely remap the button inputs to the included Razer Kishi V2 controller. You can then make these overlays disappear, ensuring an uninterrupted gaming experience. This software is exclusively for mobile titles, however, as PC cloud streaming natively supports the Razer Kishi V2 as if it were a standard Xbox controller.

The Asus ROG Flow Z13 isn’t a conventional handheld gaming PC. However, its tablet form factor means you can technically hold it in a similar way to a gaming handheld. Point-and-click adventures, city-building simulations, or any other games that primarily rely on single-digit touchscreen input can all be enjoyed in this manner. Moreover, the Flow Z13 can also function as a traditional laptop thanks to its included keyboard/trackpad cover.

To truly maximize your gaming experience with it, an external mouse or controller is essential. Additionally, its battery life during gaming sessions extends to only a couple of hours, at least when playing at decent detail settings on its large 13-inch screen. For non-gaming tasks, however, its battery can last over ten hours. So, if you’re content with mostly watching videos and browsing the web on long journeys and only occasionally gaming, it presents an intriguing option.

Central to this tablet’s appeal is its AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 CPU, which boasts a highly powerful integrated GPU. This makes it far more potent than other gaming handhelds, enabling 1080p+ gaming at smooth frame rates and high detail settings. Effectively, it’s a gaming laptop with an unusual form factor. But if the idea of sometimes using a tablet for handheld gaming appeals to you, it delivers on that promise, albeit at a premium price.