While not every game in the Steam library has compatiblilty with the device’s Linux-based OS, thousands are and the list of officially verified and still-playable titles is growing all the time. Nevertheless, the entry-level Steam Deck is still a remarkably capable device. The $529 and $649 variants with faster SSDs and, with the highest-end model, a premium glass display are fantastic as well, but a few new Windows handheld gaming devices might put a dent in their value proposition, at least for some people. ![]() Specifically, we’re talking about the entry-level model, which costs $399 and comes with 64GB of eMMC storage (which is easily expandable with a microSD card). It’s been well-documented over the past year but Valve’s Steam Deck still offers the best balance of price and functionality in the gaming handheld market. Best handheld gaming PC for most: Valve Steam Deck They might not have the widest appeal as a result (Switch excluded), but they’re often easier for less tech-literate folks to just pick up and use. They aren’t necessarily ideal for emulation or playing the latest multiplatform titles instead, they often have distinct game libraries. We’ll call the last tier “handhelds that do their own thing.” This is a catch-all for things like the Switch or Playdate: portable devices that run heavily customized software and aim to provide a unique gaming experience. Backing up files of games you already own for personal use only is considered more defensible, however, so for that a mobile handheld can be a more user- and wallet-friendly way to play the classics on the go.) Today, the ARM chips in top mobile handhelds can emulate games into the sixth generation of consoles. Getting emulators to work can be complicated, and accessing the BIOS and ROM files required to play games this way is legally murky. While most are marketed toward those ends, many gamers actually buy them to emulate video classic games through software like RetroArch. They aren’t equipped to play modern console or PC titles, but they’re usually more compact than a portable PC and can still be used for mobile games and cloud streaming. These often run Android or Linux and can range from under $50 to $400-ish. Naturally, they’re also the most expensive, costing anywhere from $400 to more than $1,000.įurther down on the price spectrum are mobile handhelds like the Logitech G Cloud or Retroid Pocket. However, they’re typically the largest and most cumbersome devices to hold and their battery life can be short. They can also emulate the widest range of retro consoles. If you want to play modern, recently released PC games on the go (and need something stronger than a Switch), this is the type of device you’d get. The Steam Deck runs on Linux, but most others use Windows. ![]() These are the most powerful handhelds you can buy, as they seek to replicate the experience of a moderately specced gaming desktop. At the top, you have x86-based portable gaming PCs like the Steam Deck or Asus ROG Ally. The market for gaming handhelds can be broken down into three broad tiers.
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