introduction
On-the-go gaming has been popular ever since the original Nintendo Gameboy. Today’s gamers however need a little more than pixel art textures to keep them occupied. We need a device capable of beautiful graphics, rich sounds, and above all, the ability to play all of our favorite games on the go. Today we are going to look at my list of The Best Handheld Consoles You Can Buy in 2025. I will not be including the Steam Deck on this list to provide insight on other options on the market.
Lenovo Legion Go S
Lenovo Legion Go S: Get it Here
Tech Specs
Performance
| Processor | AMD Ryzen™ Z2 Go |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Graphics | Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics |
| Memory | 32GB 6400MHz LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe SSD Gen 4 |
| Battery | 3-cell55.5WHr |
| Audio | 2x2W Integrated Speaker SystemDual array mic |
Connectivity
| Ports/Slots | Headphone/mic combo2x USB4 (40Gb/s data transfer DisplayPort™ 1.4, + Power Delivery 3.0)MicroSD card reader USB port transfer speeds are approximate and depend on many factors, such as processing capability of host/peripheral devices, file attributes, system configuration and operating environments; actual speeds will vary and may be less than expected. |
|---|---|
| Wireless | WiFi 6E 802.11AX (2×2)Bluetooth™ 5.3 *6GHz WiFi 6E operation is dependent on the support of the operating system, routers/APs/gateways that support WiFi 6E, along with the regional regulatory certifications and spectrum allocation. |
Design
| Display | 8″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:10 aspect ratio, 120Hz variable refresh rate (VRR), 100% sRGB, 500 nits, 10-point touchscreen |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 22.6mm x 127.55mm x 299mm / 0.89″ x 5.02″ x 11.77″ |
| Weight | Starting at 730g / 1.61lbs |
| Color | Glacier White |
PROS
CONS
Overall I think the Lenovo Legion Go S is a great handheld if you want something better than a Steam Deck. The screen size and some of the other specs make this a great buy, but I would consider taking time to understand the UI and the OS before playing games because it can be confusing to some users.
ASUS ROG Ally X rc72la 1TB
ROG Ally X (2024) RC72LA: Get it here
TECH SPECS
Performance
| Processor | AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme Processor |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon™ Graphics |
| Memory | 12GB*2 LPDDR5 on board (Support dual channel memory) |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe SSD Gen 4 |
| Battery | 80WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion |
| Audio | 2-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology |
Connectivity
| I/O Ports | 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery 1x Type C support USB 4 (Thunderbolt™ 4 compliance, DisplayPort™ 1.4 with Freesync support, Power Delivery 3.0) 1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC) |
| Network and Communication | Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Triple band) 2*2 + Bluetooth® 5.2 (*Bluetooth® version may change with OS version different.) |
Design
| Display | 7-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS-level glossy display sRGB:100% Adobe:75.35% Gorilla® Glass Victus™ Touch Screen (10-point multi-touch) Refresh Rate:120Hz Response Time:7ms Brightness:500nits FreeSync Premium |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 28.0 x 11.1 x 2.47 ~ 3.69 cm (11.02″ x 4.37″ x 0.97″ ~ 1.45″) |
| Weight | 678 g (1.49 lbs) |
| Color | Black |
PROS
CONS
The ROG Ally X (2024) RC72LA is another top contender because the battery life and the refresh rates are better than the Steam Deck. Its major drawback is the Windows OS… If you can get past that OS then you’re golden.
Retroid Pocket 5
Retroid Pocket 5: Get it here
TECH SPECS
Performance
| Processor | 1*A77@2.8G 3*A77@2.4G 4*A55@1.8G (SD865) |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 13 |
| Graphics | Adreno 650 |
| Memory | 8GB LPDDR4x@2133MHz |
| Storage | 128GB UFS 3.1 + TF Card Slot |
| Battery | 5000mAh battery |
| Audio | 2-speaker system |
Connectivity
| I/O Ports | 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery 1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC) |
| Network and Communication | Wi-Fi 6 & BT 5.1 |
Design
| Display | Screen: 5.5” 1080p AMOLED 500Nits Video Output: Display Port 1080p60 |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 199.2*78.5*15.6mm |
| Weight | 280 g (0.6 lbs) |
| Color | Purple, White, Black, Grey |
PROS
CONS
This handheld is the Retroid Pocket 5. While it’s not like the others on this list with the higher specs and abilities, it deserves a look. It’s about a third of the price of the other handhelds on this list and it still provided tons of enjoyment. I think if you are looking for retro emulation then the Retroid Pocket 5 will be the perfect handheld for you.
Odin2 Portal (max)
Odin2 Portal: Get it here
TECH SPEC
Performance
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 1 x Cortex X3 CPU core @ 3.2 GHz 2 x Cortex A715 CPU cores @ 2.8 GHz 2 x Cortex-A710 CPU cores @ 2.8 GHz 3 x Cortex-A510 CPU cores @ 2 GHz Adreno 740 graphics |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 13 |
| Graphics | Adreno 740 graphics |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 512GB UFS 4.0 |
| Battery | 8,000 mAh battery |
| Audio | Stereo front-facing speakers |
Connectivity
| I/O Ports | 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C 1 x mini HDMI 1 x 3.5mm audio 1 x microSD card reader |
| Network and Communication | WiFi 7 Bluetooth 5.3 |
Design
| Display | 6 inches 1920 x 1080 pixels IPS LCD Touchscreen |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 225 x 98 x 17mm |
| Weight | 420 g (0.92 lbs) |
| Color | White, Black, Indigo |
PROS
CONS
This device is impressive, but I don’t think it’s the right fit for most people. Its size pushes it into handheld PC territory, and the Pro/Max models are priced similarly, yet it lacks the same level of high-end emulation due to the limitations of Android. With PC handhelds evolving rapidly—now featuring VRR and refresh rates beyond 120Hz—the competition is only getting tougher. The main advantages on the Android side are battery life and reduced input lag from the 120Hz screen, but that benefit is lost if you use BFI. That being said I still think it’s a nice device which is why it made the list.
MSI Claw A1M-050US
MSI Claw A1M-050US: Get it here
TECH SPEC
Performance
| Processor | Intel® Core™ Ultra 7-155H 1.4 – 4.8 GHz |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Graphics | Intel® Arc™ Graphics |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR5-6400MHz |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe SSD Gen4x4 2230 |
| Battery | 6-Cell 53 Battery (Whr) |
| Audio | Stereo front-facing speakers |
Connectivity
| I/O Ports | 1 x Type-C (USB / DP / Thunderbolt™ 4) with PD charging 1 x Micro SD Card Reader |
| Network and Communication | Intel® Killer™ BE Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 |
Design
| Display | 7” FHD (1920×1080), 120Hz, IPS-Level Touchscreen |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.57″ x 4.60″ x 0.83″ |
| Weight | 1.44 lbs |
| Color | Black |
PROS
CONS
Though I enjoy other products from MSI… I would avoid this one unless you are an MSI fanboy. While it’s not technically a bad handheld by no means, it’s way too expensive to justify getting one. It’s a more comfortable unit, but it lacks performance and not being able to upgrade it without major risks doesn’t sit well.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a handheld that’s not a Steam Deck, then you have to consider this: What are you wanting out of it? If you are looking for a handheld device capable of playing more high-end games, then I would go with ASUS ROG Ally X rc72la 1TB. It has a massive battery life, a great display, and is better at delivering framerates on most tiles over the Steam Deck….. However, If you’re looking to play just retro games like the ones I listed here. Then I would go with the Odin2 Portal (max).