For the longest time, the best gaming laptops were the only way you could reliably take your Steam library on the go, but the Steam Deck has started a revolution in mobile PC gaming. And while the best handheld gaming PCs have been around for a while, devices like the Steam Deck and the Lenovo Legion Go have popularized the medium so much that it’s become the primary way to play PC games for a lot of people.
Jump to a detailed look at the best handheld gaming PCs, or check the list below:
TL;DR – These are the Best Handheld Gaming PCs
These handheld gaming PCs let you play your favorite PC games no matter where you are, and the recent models are even powerful enough to play AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077 and the newly-released (at least on PC) Ghost of Tsushima. We’re on the cusp of a full-on handheld gaming PC revolution, and this first wave of mainstream devices is so juicy and exciting that we can’t wait to see what awesome devices start coming out over the next couple of years.
The Best Handheld Gaming PCs
1. Valve Steam Deck
The best handheld gaming PC
CPU
4-core, 8-thread AMD Zen 2 CPU
GPU
8-core AMD RDNA 2 graphics
Dimensions
298mm x 117mm x 49mm
Perfect for running Steam games
Responsible for popularizing the handheld gaming PC revolution, the Valve Steam Deck doesn’t actually come with Windows installed. Instead, it uses Valve’s custom SteamOS, and thanks to the API Proton, the Steam Deck supports dozens of games optimized for the portable from Cyberpunk 2077 to Forza Horizon 5.
There are ways to get Windows running on the 7-inch display portable by booting directly from the USB-C port. Beyond that is one of the best input controls available for any portable gaming handheld. See our full comparison between the Steam Deck and Rog Ally here.
There’s also the OLED version of the Steam Deck to consider, for users who prefer a larger, brighter, and more vibrant screen. While still displaying at 1200×800, the Steam Deck OLED offers a noticeable difference, providing more clarity for a better visual experience. You’ll also get improved battery life, a higher refresh rate, and more storage than the 256GB offered in the tradtional LCD model.
2. Lenovo Legion Go
The best high performance handheld gaming PC
Dimensions
1.6 x 11.76 x 5.16 inches
Best display in a handheld gaming PC
When you’re setting out to buy any kind of gaming PC, there’s a balance you need to look for: You want something with incredible performance, but still looks like the premium product that you paid for. Handheld gaming PCs are no different, and that’s why the Lenovo Legion Go is such a catch. The first thing that’s going to strike you when you pull this thing out of the box is the size. The Legion Go measures in at a massive 11.76 inches long and 5.16 inches tall with the controllers attached, and that’s primarily because of the large display.
Unlike other handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck or the Asus ROG Ally Z1 that take a lot of inspiration from the Nintendo Switch, the Legion Go sports an 8.8-inch 1600p display, almost making it a Windows 11 tablet with a controller stapled onto it. Luckily, Lenovo was able to keep the weight down a little bit, with the device weighing just 1.41 lb. Even if it’s lighter than it looks, it’s probably going to be hard for folks with smaller hands to use it.
The 1600p display causes a bit of a hassle, too. Because this is using the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chipset as the ROG Ally, some games can have a bit of trouble running at the native resolution. This is easily solved by tinkering with your in-game settings to lower the resolution. If you’re not comfortable doing the hands-on troubleshooting, this might not be the product for you. But if you’re a long-time PC gamer like I am, you’ll love just how flexible – and beautiful – the Lenovo Legion Go is. This is the handheld gaming PC for the hardcore PC gaming crowd.
Read the full review: Lenovo Legion Go
3. Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme
The best Windows handheld gaming PC
Dimensions
280mm x 111mm x 324 mm
Seven inch Full HD screen with 120Hz refresh rate
Struggles with battery life
The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme has 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. When it comes to visual specs, the portable Windows 11 gaming handheld has a 7-inch FHD LCD touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate. At the base $699 price, you get a 6-core AMD Zen 4 matched alongside an AMD RDNA 3 with 6 compute units. For $100 more, users can get the Z1 Extreme edition featuring an 8-core AMD Zen 4 and AMD RDNA 3 with 12 compute units. For added security, the handheld also features a fingerprint scanner on the power button.
4. GPD Win 4
The best handheld gaming PC with a keyboard
Dimensions
220mm x 91.9mm x 27.9mm
More like a mini laptop than gaming handheld, the GPD Win 4 looks almost like Sony’s PSVita until you look beneath the surface. The portable has a AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and AMD Radeon 680m GPU. All of that is hiding behind a 6-inch 1080p screen. One of the highlight features of the GPD Win 4 is a sliding Windows keyboard, which makes using the desktop operating system on the go a breeze.
There are three versions available, including a base configuration with 16GB RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, going up as high as $1,599 for 32GB and 2TB of SSD storage.
5. Ayaneo Air
The most portable handheld gaming PC
Dimensions
8.82 x 3.54 x 1.06 inches
Storage expansion via Micro SD slot
Lower performance than other handhelds
One of the smallest handheld gaming PCs available, the AYANEO Air has a 5.5-inch OLED FHD screen. Performance-wise, you should be able to get quite a bit of horsepower of the 6-core AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and AMD Radeon GPU. A little under two inches thin, the AYANEO Air also weighs 2.6lbs. With 512GB SSD storage, there’s also room to expand via Micro SD slot. Though it may lack the sheer power of many portable Windows handhelds on the list, the size alone makes it a worthy buy.
6. GPD Win Max 2
The best convertible handheld gaming PC
Dimensions
8.94 x 0.91 x 6.3 inches
Impressive components for a compact device
Includes built-in keyboard and game controls
Bulkier than other PC handhelds
Taking a different approach to the GPD Win 4, the GPD Win Max 2 has a large 10-inch screen and full keyboard that feels more like a significantly smaller netbook. On top of the keyboard are traditional gaming controls, including dual analog sticks, D-pad and face buttons. When it comes to specs, the Win Max 2 comes packed with an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, AMD Radeon 780M, 32GB RAM and 2TB of SSD storage. Perfect for creators and graphic designers, the touchscreen also supports active pens too.
7. Asus ROG Ally Z1
The best handheld gaming PC for indie games
Dimensions
0.83 x 11 x 4.4 inches
Can struggle with AAA games at 1080p
If you like the looks of the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme but want something nearly as powerful for less money, grab the Asus ROG Ally Z1. Running the show is Windows 11 and a 30W AMD APU featuria Zen 4 processor paired with GPU that features four RDNA 3 CUs. Admittedly, those graphics will struggle to keep up with AAA games at their highest settings on this 120Hz FHD handheld with a seven-inch display. Turning down the settings does help make games more playable, but the device truly shines in indie games.
Upcoming handheld gaming PCs
More gaming handhelds are expected to be announced or released soon. The Nintendo Switch 2 may launch towards the end of 2024, seven years after the original Nintendo Switch. According to Valve, you shouldn’t expect a new Steam Deck for “a couple of years.” The MSI Claw recently came out, and Lenovo is already planning on creating a successor to the Legion Go released late last year. An Xbox handheld is also rumored to be on the horizon.
Handheld Gaming PC FAQ
Should I buy a handheld gaming PC or a gaming laptop?
Depending on how you want to game and what games you want to play will determine whether you should grab the best gaming laptop or a handheld PC. Handhelds score higher points in longevity, battery life, optimization, portability, and thermals. But handhelds are only designed to play games up to a certain specification. Gaming laptops cram in the latest GPU, CPU, and RAM, likely sacrificing battery life, thermals, and price. However, some are absolute beasts ready to take on even the most graphically intensive games. Laptops offer more functionality when it comes to editing and other work.
Check out our guide on the Steam Deck vs. gaming laptops for more information.
What’s the best Steam Deck alternative?
The Steam Deck is our handheld gaming PC pick, but the Asus ROG Ally is the best Steam Deck alternative. This gaming handheld offers an easy-to-use interface, speedy performance, and stunning design. It still struggles with battery life, similar to the Steam Deck. However, you’ll have a harder time using Windows 11 with the ROG Ally than Linux on Steam Deck.
Georgie is a freelance tech writer at IGN, and an eCommerce Editor at Valnet. She enjoys the ins and outs of PCs, is an avid gamer, and a dedicated mum to her son.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.