The Best Handheld Gaming PCs to Take Your Games on the Go

Valve's Steam Deck revolutionized portable PC gaming, but the market's heating up with strong contenders. The Asus ROG Ally X, with its impressive performance, blazing-fast memory, and long battery life, has even surpassed the Steam Deck in our rankings. The newly announced Lenovo Legion Go S and Acer Nitro Blaze 11 (CES 2025) further expand your on-the-go gaming options. Whether you're eyeing the Steam Deck or exploring the best alternatives, we've curated a selection of top-tier handheld gaming PCs capable of tackling the most demanding PC games.

TL;DR – Best Handheld Gaming PCs

Asus ROG Ally X

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Valve Steam Deck

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Lenovo Legion Go

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Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme

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GPD Win 4

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Ayaneo Ayaneo Air

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Asus ROG Ally Z1

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Handheld gaming PCs offer a compelling alternative to bulky gaming laptops, providing portability without sacrificing power. Despite their compact size, many deliver the performance needed to smoothly run AAA titles like *Cyberpunk 2077* and *Ghost of Tsushima*. And for those who prefer a larger screen, docking stations offer seamless connectivity to TVs and monitors.

Our experts have thoroughly tested several high-performance handhelds. Below are seven worthy contenders, ranging from the powerful Lenovo Legion Go to the more budget-friendly Asus ROG Ally Z1, catering to diverse gaming needs.

Contributions by Danielle Abraham, Ural Garrett, Georgie Peru

Asus ROG Ally X

The Best Handheld Gaming PC

Asus ROG Ally X

With double the battery life and significantly faster memory, the Asus ROG Ally X reigns supreme as the best handheld gaming PC.

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Product Specifications
CPU: AMD Z1 Extreme
GPU: AMD Z1 Extreme
Weight: 1.49 lbs
RAM: 24GB LPDDR5 @ 7,400MHz
SSD: 1TB NVMe SSD
Dimensions: 11.02 x 4.37 x 0.97 – 1.45 inches

Pros: More and faster memory than the original ROG Ally; Huge 80Wh battery for extended gaming sessions.

Cons: Still uses an IPS display.

The Asus ROG Ally X utilizes the same AMD Z1 Extreme processor as its predecessor, but key improvements—faster 24GB LPDDR5 RAM (7,400MHz) resulting in a 12-15% performance boost, a larger 80Wh battery doubling the playtime, and an improved cooling system—make it a superior handheld.

Valve Steam Deck

Valve Steam Deck

Running SteamOS, this 7-inch handheld boasts powerful internals and supports a wide range of games via Proton.

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Product Specifications
CPU: 4-core, 8-thread AMD Zen 2
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
GPU: 8-core AMD RDNA 2
SSD: 256GB
Weight: 1.47 lb
Dimensions: 11.7 × 4.6 × 1.9 inches

Pros: Powerful; Excellent for Steam games.

Cons: Poor battery life.

The Steam Deck, a pioneer in the handheld PC gaming space, runs on SteamOS and utilizes Proton for broad game compatibility. An OLED version offers improved visuals and battery life. Consider pairing it with accessories and docks for enhanced functionality.

Lenovo Legion Go

Lenovo Legion Go

A high-performance Steam Deck alternative running Windows 11, featuring a large QHD display.

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Product Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X
GPU: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
SSD: 512GB SSD
Weight: 1.41 lb
Dimensions: 1.6 x 11.76 x 5.16 inches

Pros: Excellent performance; Best display among handheld gaming PCs.

Cons: Very large.

The Lenovo Legion Go strikes a balance between performance and premium design. Its large 8.8-inch 1600p display might require in-game resolution adjustments for optimal performance on certain titles.

Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme

Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme

A Windows 11 handheld with a powerful AMD Zen 4 CPU and RDNA 3 GPU, boasting a 120Hz 7-inch FHD LCD.

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Product Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
GPU: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
SSD: 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe
Weight: 1.24 lb
Dimensions: 11.02 x 4.37 x 0.83 inches

Pros: 7-inch Full HD screen with 120Hz refresh rate; Speedy performance.

Cons: Armoury Crate software can be clunky.

The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme runs Windows 11, offering seamless access to a vast game library. Its powerful Z1 Extreme processor delivers impressive performance, though battery life may be impacted at higher settings.

GPD Win 4

GPD Win 4

A hybrid mini-laptop and gaming handheld with a built-in keyboard, solid processors, and a 6-inch 1080p screen.

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Product Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 CPU
RAM: 16GB / 32GB LPDDR5
GPU: AMD Radeon 780M
SSD: 1TB / 2TB
Weight: ‎1.32 lb
Dimensions: 8.66 x 3.62 x 1.1 inches

Pros: Built-in keyboard; Compact design.

Cons: High price tag.

The GPD Win 4 blends laptop and handheld functionality, offering a built-in keyboard and a 6-inch 1080p screen. Multiple configurations are available.

Ayaneo Air

Ayaneo Ayaneo Air

An ultra-portable handheld with a 5.5-inch OLED FHD screen and respectable performance.

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Product Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 CPU
RAM: 16GB
GPU: AMD Radeon
SSD: 512GB SSD
Weight: 0.87 lb
Dimensions: 8.8 x 3.5 x 0.7 inches

Pros: Powerful performance; MicroSD slot for storage expansion.

Cons: Lower performance compared to other handhelds.

The Ayaneo Air prioritizes portability with its compact size and 5.5-inch OLED display. While less powerful than some competitors, its size and features make it a strong contender.

Asus ROG Ally Z1

Asus ROG Ally Z1

A budget-friendly Windows handheld ideal for indie games, featuring a 120Hz FHD 7-inch display.

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Product Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen Z1
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
GPU: AMD RDNA 3
SSD: 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe
Weight: 1.34 lb
Dimensions: 0.83 x 11 x 4.4 inches

Pros: Budget-friendly; User-friendly interface.

Cons: May struggle with AAA games at 1080p.

The Asus ROG Ally Z1 offers a more affordable alternative to the Z1 Extreme, excelling in indie games but potentially requiring lower settings for AAA titles.

Upcoming Handheld Gaming PCs

Anticipation builds for the next generation of handhelds, including the Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS and Windows 11 versions), the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 (with an 11-inch screen), and the Nintendo Switch 2 (featuring mouse-like Joy-Con controllers).

Handheld Gaming PC FAQ

Should I buy a handheld gaming PC or a gaming laptop?

The choice depends on your gaming preferences and needs. Handhelds offer superior portability, battery life, and thermal performance, but may have limitations in terms of graphical capabilities. Gaming laptops provide more power and functionality but often compromise on battery life, thermals, and portability. Consider our guide comparing the Steam Deck and gaming laptops for further insights.

What’s the best Steam Deck alternative?

The Asus ROG Ally X is our top pick for a Steam Deck alternative, offering a user-friendly interface, high performance, and a sleek design with access to your entire PC game library via Windows 11.