Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

• Analogue Pocket

  Best for Handheld Game Collectors

  4.5 Excellent

  Why We Picked It

  This is one of the nicest retro gaming handhelds, and one of the "purest." The device is effectively a combination of the Game Boy/Game Boy Color/Game Boy Advance systems, but with an incredibly sharp OLED screen, fantastic build quality, and plenty of expandability, including a dock that lets you output video to a TV. It's first and foremost a cartridge-based handheld, letting you play your old Game Boy games, along with some others if you get adapters.

  The programmable OpenFPGA aspect of the Analogue Pocket makes it interesting for homebrew developers and emulation, though. In fact, shortly after the software launched, cores were released that let you play your Game Boy roms with little difficulty.

  Who It's For

  Collectors. Out of the box, this is the best handheld for playing physical Game Boy games, replacing the original Game Boys and Game Boy Advances completely with a superior experience that looks so much better and stays technically true to how the games originally run. OpenFPGA also makes this appealing for homebrew developers who want to see what they can do with hardware designed to act like other hardware, but in a portable device.

  • Pros

    • Perfectly plays Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games
    • Incredible screen, with convincing filters to emulate classic system LCDs
    • Excellent build quality
    • Can be connected to a TV with optional Analogue Dock
    • Adapters support additional systems' games
    • Extra development and music features

  • Cons

    • Exposed cartridge slot doesn't securely hold game cartridges
    • Feels loose when docked
  Learn MoreAnalogue Pocket Review
• Nintendo Switch Lite

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It

  The original Nintendo Switch is an amazing game system that works as a home console when connected your TV or as a handheld when removed from its dock. The Nintendo Switch Lite takes the Switch's power and game library, removes the home console functionality, and cuts $100 off the price. If you pair it with Nintendo Switch Online ($20 per year), you get dozens of NES, Super NES, and Game Boy games to play on the system—and that's only the start. Another $30 for the Expansion Pass adds Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy Advance games to the list. You also can also buy many classic Nintendo and Sega arcade titles, a surprising number of classic PC games, and nearly every Neo Geo game ever made, a la carte.

  Technically, most Switch games are emulated in some form; you just can't load your own roms (wherever you may find them). They're being emulated "legitimately," with each game (or game collection) supplied by the license holder. So while emulation is a factor, it isn't nearly the dark, gray area associated with some of the open, emulation-focused handhelds on this list.

  Who It's For

  This is the most accessible portable gaming device currently available, with loads of games beyond just retro options. It's worthwhile for anyone, unless you want to get the full Switch or OLED Switch systems that also work well as handhelds.

  • Pros

    • Smaller and lighter than the Switch in handheld mode, with the same gaming experience
    • Solid build
    • Direction pad

  • Cons

    • No TV output or vibration
    • Nintendo's cloud saves are still limited
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  Learn MoreNintendo Switch Lite Review
• Asus ROG Ally

  Best for PC Gamers Wanting a Handheld

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It

  Asus' answer to the Steam Deck is a bit more expensive, but sleeker and more flexible out of the box. It's purely a Windows 11 portable, and comparable with the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop in performance. It also has a 120Hz 1080p screen that's superior to the Steam Deck. That can certainly justify its higher price than Valve's portable.

  Who It's For

  This is for PC gamers who want some solid power on the go, and who don't want to deal with the limitations of SteamOS or the work of getting Windows or another OS running smoothly on the Steam Deck. It's a good upgrade in terms of hardware across the board, and the better screen will particularly go a long way.

  • Pros

    • Attractive 1080p 120Hz display
    • Slick design and sturdy build
    • Steady performance in most gaming scenarios
    • Runs full Windows 11
    • Decent battery life outside of gaming
    • Asus software changes modes and remaps controls on the fly

  • Cons

    • Many games require lower graphics settings for smooth performance
    • Super short battery life while gaming
    • Some finicky controls, particularly for navigating Windows
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  Learn MoreAsus ROG Ally Review
• Razer Edge (Wi-Fi Only)

  The Best Android Gaming Handheld

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It

  The Razer Edge is different from the other devices in this list because it's really just a small Android tablet with a great snap-on controller. That's enough, though, especially since the Edge packs enough power to emulate up to seventh-generation consoles and Wi-Fi 6E to play games from game streaming services. It's Android-based, but Razer includes an excellent menu system and physical controls-to-touch screen translation that makes playing games a reliable, intuitive experience.

  Who It's For

  The Edge costs as much as the base-level Steam Deck, but it's really a good halfway point between the cheaper emulation-based handhelds on this list and Valve's portable. It's smaller, easier to carry around, and has much better battery life. The Edge also works well as a small, powerful entertainment tablet after you remove the controllers.

  • Pros

    • Powerful for the price
    • Smooth game streaming
    • Removable controllers
    • Facilitates convenient, one-hand use

  • Cons

    • Android is clunky and inconsistent for physical controls
    • Razer Nexus software is full of irritating elements
    • Lacks a kickstand
  Learn MoreRazer Edge (Wi-Fi Only) Review
• Valve Steam Deck

  Best for Steam Fans

  4.0 Excellent

  Why We Picked It

  The Valve Steam Deck has been in the works for a long time, and now that it's out we can safely say that it's an impressive device. It's certainly bulkier than the other handhelds on this list, but it's also a fully functional PC in a portable $400-and-up package. Out of the box, it runs Valve's SteamOS interface on top of Linux, which already provides excellent support for many Steam games. Steam has a massive library of classic games, so that's a good start. The Steam Deck also has a full Linux desktop environment for loading your own software, including emulators, and you can even install Windows.

  Who It's For

  The Steam Deck is already a great handheld if you have a huge Steam library. However, if you want to play retro titles outside of what's available on Steam, you must get comfortable with some software modifications (either wrestling with Linux or installing a Windows partition). There's enough power in the device to make it worthwhile, though.

  • Pros

    • Powerful for its size
    • Steam games run consistently well
    • Terrific retro game emulation
    • Dock compatibility adds TV and monitor support
    • Full Linux desktop environment
    • Cool LAN file transfers

  • Cons

    • Single USB-C port limits connection options
    • Unwieldy for a portable gaming system
    • Game mods require lots of tinkering
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  Learn MoreValve Steam Deck Review
• Anbernic RG351P

  Classic Gaming Made Easy

  3.5 Good

  Why We Picked It

  The Anbernic RG351P is a Linux-based emulation handheld, but don't let that put you off. It's surprisingly easy to get games (up to the original PlayStation) to appear in the system's interface; you simply drag and drop games into system folders. It's just as simple to completely overhaul the interface with a handful of third-party, customizable loaders. The system also has a good build, and an ideal screen for Game Boy Advance games. The Anbernic RG351P is one of the most accessible, emulation-based, retro gaming handhelds we've seen so far.

  Getting "legitimate" copies of games to put on the system is another story. Some system versions come pre-loaded with legally dubious rom libraries. If you want to add your own games, though, you'll have to find your own ways to acquire them.

  Who It's For

  The RG351P is getting a bit long in the tooth, and Anbernic has followed up on it with several new models including the metal RG351M, the Game Boy-like RG351V, and the more powerful RG353PS and RG405M. Still, the RG351P is a rock-solid handheld, and still one of the best portables if you have a huge collection of sixth-generation-and-earlier roms.

  • Pros

    • Good build quality
    • Excellent performance for 2D and PlayStation games
    • Ideal screen for Game Boy Advance games

  • Cons

    • Inconsistent Nintendo 64 emulation
    • No Wi-Fi or HDMI out
    • Non-GBA games must be stretched or pillarboxed
  Learn MoreAnbernic RG351P Review
• Evercade Starter Pack

  Best for Budget-Minded Retro Game Collectors

  3.5 Good

  Why We Picked It

  Evercade is a fascinating handheld so old school that it still uses cartridges. At $20 a pop, each game card comes with a collection of classic games (and obscure gems) from various publishers, including Atari, Data East, Namco, and Technos. As a bonus, Evercade has HDMI-out, so you can connect it to your TV.

  Technically speaking, the Evercade is an emulation-based system. The game roms are simply stored on the cartridges rather than in the system's storage, and to play them, the Evercade emulates numerous older platforms. Like the Nintendo Switch's retro titles, these games and collections are legal and legitimate, since they're authorized by the publishers that own them.

  Who It's For

  This is for retro gamers with eclectic tastes in late 1980s and early 1990s games who want the rush of cartridge collecting, but without paying the exorbitant, contemporary prices for the original, complete-in-box classics. The system's fairly inexpensive, each cartridge has several different games, and they all look nice on a shelf.

  • Pros

    • Good build quality for the price
    • Cartridge design enables expansion
    • Affordable

  • Cons

    • Some games are inferior versions
    • Face buttons are arranged strangely for retro games by default.
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• Retroid Pocket 3

  Best Android Retro Gaming Handheld

  3.5 Good

  Why We Picked It

  Android is a more awkward operating system for controller-based gaming, even if the ecosystem offers plenty of options for emulators. The Retroid Pocket 3 smooths the rough edges of the Retroid Pocket 2 for an easier experience with loading and playing classic games, though you'll still have to do some configuration work. It's particularly appealing because it looks and feels like a Switch Lite and its hardware can offer great emulation up to fifth-generation systems, for a reasonable price.

  Who It's For

  The Retroid Pocket 3 is a great device if you want all of the emulation options of Linux-based portables like the Anbernic RG351P but a bit more power and flexibility thanks to Android. You'll have to spend some time getting it to behave the way you want, but as a budget handheld it's a solid choice.

  • Pros

    • Sleek, Switch-like design
    • Significantly improved launcher
    • Good performance up to fifth-generation game systems

  • Cons

    • Different emulators require various amounts of configuration
    • Buttons feel a little mushy out of the box, though replacements are included
    • Android remains a clunky platform for retro gaming
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  Learn MoreRetroid Pocket 3 Review