The Steam Deck revolutionized mobile PC gaming, bringing handheld gaming PCs to the mainstream, so you no longer need to rely on the best gaming laptops to play the best PC games on the go. Though the Steam Deck is still our top handheld gaming PC, it’s got some tough competition from the ultra-portable to high-performing mobile gaming beasts.
TL;DR – These are the Best Handheld Gaming PCs
- Valve Steam Deck – Best overall
- Lenovo Legion Go – Best high performance
- Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme – Best Windows
- GPD Win 4 – Best with a keyboard
- AYANEO Air – Most portable
- GPD Win Max 2 – Best convertible
- Asus ROG Ally Z1 – Best for indie games
The best handheld gaming PCs keep compact dimensions, letting you play your favorite PC games from anywhere. Just because they’re smaller than the best gaming PCs, don’t assume these devices are underpowered. Some even cruise through AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077 and the recently released (at least on PC) Ghost of Tsushima. And we’re only on the cusp of what is sure to be a handheld gaming PC revolution with even more powerful and innovative devices to come.
The Best Handheld Gaming PCs
1. Valve Steam Deck
The best handheld gaming PC
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
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.
3. Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme
The best Windows handheld gaming PC
If you’re after a Windows-based handheld that puts the Steam Deck’s Linux-based SteamOS to shame, look no further than the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme. It runs on Windows 11, so just about any PC game and storefront are easy to use and bounce between with this device, including Xbox Game Pass and Epic; there are no significant caveats like when attempting to play non-Steam games on the Steam Deck. However, we did find the Armoury Crate software a bit clunky.
As for gaming, the ROG Ally has a speedy Z1 Extreme mobile processor with an 8-core Zen 4 CPU and RDNA 3-powered graphics, one of the most powerful chips available – if you’re looking for something cheaper with a little less oomph, check out the ROG Ally Z1. The Z1 Extreme plays many games at high or even ultra settings while hitting commendable framerates with just a bit of tinkering. Something that can’t be said for the Steam Deck. But pushing those higher settings comes at a significant cost to battery life, making a power bank a sound investment.
The ROG Ally is sleek and lightweight, featuring a vibrant 7-inch touchscreen with an adjustable resolution from 1080p to 720p and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. You get controllers on the side with the responsive ABXY face buttons and a slightly cheap feeling D-pad. We wish a touchpad were available for mouse-based games, but luckily the joysticks are reliable. You can always connect a wireless mouse if need be. Still, with everything on offer, the ROG Ally is essentially a mini Windows PC masquerading as a gaming handheld, and we can't wait to do a full-review of the ROG Ally X coming later this summer.
4. GPD Win 4
The best handheld gaming PC with a keyboard
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 780m 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
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
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.
7. Asus ROG Ally Z1
The best handheld gaming PC for indie games
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
While we wait for the mysterious successor to the Steam Deck or the followup to the Lenovo Legion Go, Asus has just announced the ROG Ally X, which is kind of a mid-generation refresh of the original ROG Ally. We've gone hands-on with the Asus ROG Ally X, and the biggest improvements are better cooling and a much larger SSD. Honestly, we hope more handheld gaming PC manufacturers take the approach Asus has with this one, using a full-size M.2 2280 SSD rather than the M.2 2230 drive that most current handheld gaming PCs use.
However, before we blindly toss the ROG Ally X into this guide, we want to make sure its, well, good. So, be sure to keep an eye out for our full review when it comes out later this summer.
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.
