The Best Handheld Game Consoles Of 2026: Expert Tested And Reviewed

3 days ago

Nintendo revolutionized gaming pinch nan merchandise of nan original Game Boy backmost successful 1989. Since then, nan institution has been nan undisputed king of handheld crippled consoles. Nintendo did it again pinch nan original Switch console, allowing you to easy switch betwixt handheld and TV play. But pinch nan merchandise of competitors for illustration nan Steam Deck, PC gamers now person nan action to return their favourite titles connected nan roadworthy -- aliases conscionable to nan couch.

Also: This Steam OS clone is nan champion Linux distro for gamers

Best gaming headphone deals of nan week

Deals are selected by nan CNET Group commerce team, and whitethorn beryllium unrelated to this article.

What is nan champion handheld crippled console correct now?

I chose nan Nintendo Switch 2 arsenic nan champion handheld crippled console for its accrued RAM and retention complete nan original, extended room of family-friendly games, and nan seamless flip betwixt handheld and TV modes. You tin support reference beneath to find retired much astir nan Switch 2 arsenic good arsenic my different picks for nan champion handheld crippled consoles.

The champion handheld crippled consoles of 2026

Why we for illustration it: Nintendo's revamp of nan Switch console features a civilization CPU and GPU from Nvidia for 1080p solution successful handheld mode and 4K output to a TV aliases monitor. With HDR support, you get enhanced detailing and opposition while nan 120Hz refresh complaint provides smoother mobility during fast-paced gameplay and cutscenes. The LCD surface is larger than its predecessor for amended visibility. You besides get double nan soul retention pinch 256GB of abstraction which tin beryllium expanded pinch microSD Express cards.

Review: Nintendo Switch 2

Who it's for: If you're looking for a handheld crippled console that nan full family tin enjoy, you can't spell incorrect pinch nan Switch 2. The extended Nintendo room is packed pinch family- and kid-friendly titles. In addition, robust parental controls forestall your kids from accessing inappropriate games and apps.

Who should look elsewhere: The Nintendo Switch 2 shows a batch of betterment complete its predecessor, but nan deficiency of an OLED show feels for illustration a measurement backward. At nan clip of writing, nan Switch 2 does not support nan YouTube app. If you're looking for thing that will beryllium an all-in-one intermezo solution, you whitethorn want to cheque retired nan Steam Deck aliases its competitors.

Show Expert Take Show less

Why we for illustration it: The Steam Deck sewage a refresh pinch a 7.4-inch OLED show for enhanced image value and colour accuracy connected specified a mini screen. Choose either 512GB aliases 1TB of soul retention that tin beryllium expanded pinch microSD cards. With a artillery life of up to 12 hours, you tin game, browse nan web, and truthful overmuch much without having to interest astir keeping your charging cablegram handy.

Review: Valve Steam Deck

Who it's for: The Steam OS is simply a Linux-based operating strategy that tin beryllium utilized successful some handheld and desktop mode. This intends you tin afloat customize your Steam Deck and possibly moreover switch your laptop. Since it's Linux-based, you don't person to interest astir immoderate annoying AI being stuffed into nan instrumentality and draining your battery, eating up RAM, and search your data.

Who should look elsewhere: Since nan Steam Deck is nan astir celebrated handheld for PC-level gaming, it tin beryllium difficult to find successful stock, moreover arsenic a refurbished unit. It's besides a unfortunate of online scalpers who bargain up what small remaining merchandise location is and resell astatine a ridiculous markup. Thankfully, location are a fewer alternatives from different brands for illustration Lenovo and MSI to thief capable nan gap.

Show Expert Take Show less

Why we for illustration it: The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is simply a coagulated replacement to nan Steam Deck if you can't find it successful stock. With doubly nan RAM, you'll get amended capacity for high-end games and multitasking. Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports let you to quickly group up a 2nd display, complaint while you play, aliases move files betwixt devices. The Claw 8 AI+ besides has a respectable 5-hour artillery life pinch fast-charge support.

Review: MSI Claw 8 AI Plus

Who it's for: The Steam Deck is getting much difficult to find for waste pinch nan ongoing RAM shortages, and nan MSI Claw 8 AI+ is simply a awesome alternative. Since it runs connected Windows 11, nan learning curve is easier to grip than nan Linux-based Steam OS.

Who should look elsewhere: The Claw 8 AI+ uses Windows 11, truthful it's stuffed pinch AI features for illustration Copilot, which tin eat up artillery life and memory. The Steam OS devices are Linux-based, which intends that they do not support either package aliases hardware-level AI.

Show Expert Take Show less

Why we for illustration it: A much affordable Steam Deck alternative, nan Legion Go S offers 32GB of RAM and 1TB of soul retention that tin beryllium expanded pinch microSD cards. The 8-inch LCD show gives you awesome image value for playing everything from triple-A first-person shooters to cozy pixel creation simulators. With a 120Hz refresh rate, you'll get soft mobility during fast-paced gameplay while VRR support helps forestall annoying surface tearing and stuttering.

Review: Lenovo Legion Go S

Who it's for: The compact creation of nan Legion Go S mightiness beryllium much comfortable than nan Steam Deck for immoderate gamers. With double nan RAM of a Steam Deck, you get boosted capacity for graphics intensive games and multitasking successful non-gaming apps for illustration Discord aliases a web browser.

Who should look elsewhere: The biggest drawback to nan Lenovo Legion Go S is nan deficiency of an OLED show option. The LCD sheet is tin of awesome image quality, but if you're looking for nan champion of nan best, you'll want to outpouring for nan OLED Steam Deck.

Show Expert Take Show less

I chose nan Nintendo Switch 2 arsenic nan champion handheld gaming console you tin bargain because of its family-friendly room of games, acquainted controls, and debased unit value astatine nan clip of writing. It besides features 12GB of RAM and 256GB of soul storage, which is double what nan original Switch had. You tin besides grow your retention pinch microSD Express cards.

Best handheld crippled console	Price	Display size/Type	RAM/Storage
Nintendo Switch 2	$450	7.9-inch LCD	12GB/256GB, expandable pinch microSD Express
Steam Deck	$549	7.4-inch OLED	16GB/Up to 1TB
MSI Claw 8 AI+	$999	8-inch LED	32GB/1TB
Lenovo Legion Go S	$650	8-inch IPS	32GB/1TB

Choosing nan correct handheld crippled console tin beryllium a confusing process pinch different processors and operating systems arsenic good arsenic compatibility and individual preferences.

If you want thing that nan full family tin enjoy, nan Nintendo Switch 2 offers a room of kid-friendly games arsenic good arsenic acquainted controls if you're upgrading from an original Switch. If you're successful nan marketplace for thing that tin grip triple-A titles astatine near-PC specs, you'll want to outpouring for 1 of nan Steam OS-based consoles for illustration nan MSI Claw aliases Steam Deck OLED.

Buy this champion handheld console...	If you want...
Nintendo Switch 2	A well-rounded handheld gaming console nan full family tin enjoy.
Steam Deck	A gaming laptop replacement to play your favourite PC games connected nan go.
MSI Claw 8 AI+	An replacement to nan Steam Deck pinch much RAM and retention options.
Lenovo Legion Go S	A equilibrium betwixt value and performance.

Latest news connected handheld crippled consoles

The Steam Deck originates to tally retired of banal successful definite regions owed to nan ongoing RAM shortages. It is unclear erstwhile factory-new units will beryllium disposable again, though refurbished and secondhand models are still disposable to buy. Albeit astatine inflated prices.

Whether you're trying to determine betwixt buying a gaming laptop aliases a handheld console, aliases are looking to adhd thing to your collection, location are a fewer things to see erstwhile shopping around:

Game and app support: A console is only arsenic bully arsenic nan games you tin play connected it. With thing for illustration nan Nintendo Switch 2, you'll beryllium much constricted successful what you are allowed to play and what apps you tin usage owed to nan proprietary operating strategy and licensing. With PC oriented consoles, you person much state to customize your acquisition pinch extended backwards compatibility, app support, and moreover emulation support.
Display type: We've travel a agelong measurement from nan elemental LCD screens of nan original GameBoy. With some premium OLED and mid-range LED options, you tin push handheld gaming to nan limit pinch up to 120Hz refresh rates and 4K resolution. OLED displays supply sharper opposition and detailing arsenic good arsenic much meticulous colors than nan LED models.
Battery life: Most handheld gaming consoles person artillery lives connected par pinch gaming laptops, giving you astir six hours of usage connected a afloat charge. You tin push that a small further if you don't play thing that is graphically demanding aliases if you walk a batch of clip successful apps for illustration a web browser. If you take an OLED show for your handheld console, you'll sacrifice a spot of artillery life for a amended picture, arsenic it will tie much powerfulness than an LED aliases LCD panel.

Since nan original Nintendo Switch deed nan market, different manufacturers person taken a chance connected handheld gaming consoles. And to thief you find nan champion fresh for you, I chose models based connected these criteria:

User friendliness: A crippled console is only arsenic nosy arsenic it is easy to use. The PC-based handhelds for illustration nan Steam Deck usage a civilization Linux operating strategy aliases a modified type of Windows 11, making them consciousness acquainted if you cognize your measurement astir a laptop aliases desktop. Nintendo uses a proprietary operating strategy that feels intuitive truthful anyone tin prime up and play wrong a fewer minutes.
Price and availability: With RAM and GPU shortages affecting manufacturing and proviso of everything from smartphones to televisions, handheld crippled consoles are starting to consciousness nan pinch pinch inflated prices and little predominant restocks. Each exemplary connected this database was chosen for its unchangeable pricing and readiness successful some caller and certified refurbished condition.
Storage options: Modern games thin to person overmuch larger record sizes than erstwhile generations, sometimes requiring complete 100GB of quiet retention abstraction for installation. While galore handheld consoles person decent soul storage, they besides characteristic expandable options via microSD/microSD Express cards truthful you tin support your integer room successful 1 convenient place.

Yes. The Steam Deck OS is based connected nan Linux open-source code. With nan Desktop mode, you tin download compatible apps for illustration Discord and web browsers truthful you tin move your handheld into an ultra-portable PC. If you really cognize what you're doing erstwhile it comes to coding successful Linux, you tin moreover tally your ain commands and codification to create nan eventual civilization mobile PC.

As of March 2026, nan Nintendo Switch 2 does not officially support nan YouTube app, and is only compatible pinch nan original Switch LCD and OLED models. At nan clip of writing, Nintendo has not announced immoderate plans to update compatibility.

It already has. Valve's Steam Deck started to tally retired of banal successful February, pinch moreover refurbished units trading accelerated arsenic buyers raced to threat up consoles earlier prices could skyrocket. Prices of competitor consoles for illustration nan MSI Claw and Lenovo Legion Go person besides begun to emergence successful consequence to nan precocious costs of RAM and different cardinal components. The Nintendo Switch 2 debuted astatine a wince-inducing $450 compared to nan original Switch's $299.

More handheld crippled consoles to consider

The original Switch sewage a refresh a fewer years agone pinch an OLED surface for amended image value while successful handheld mode. And moreover aft nan motorboat of nan Switch 2, location are still plentifulness of reasons to prime up nan Switch OLED. With a immense room of games and continued support, you tin get a batch of life retired of an older console (and prevention a spot of money on nan way).

Show Expert Take Show less

This mini instrumentality features a creation reminiscent of nan aged GameBoy handhelds, offering robust compatibility pinch thousands of GameBoy/GBC/GBA titles arsenic good arsenic Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket, Atari Lynx, and much for nan eventual retro console.

Show Expert Take Show less

Editorial standards