The Steam Deck revolutionized mobile PC gaming, but competitors are emerging, offering strong alternatives. The Asus ROG Ally X surpasses the Steam Deck with superior performance, faster memory, and extended battery life. With the Lenovo Legion Go S and Acer Nitro Blaze 11 unveiled at CES 2025, the handheld PC gaming market is expanding rapidly. Whether you prefer the Steam Deck or its rivals, we've compiled a list of excellent options for playing top PC games on the go.
TL;DR – Best Handheld Gaming PCs
Our Top Pick: ### Asus ROG Ally X
20See it at AsusSee it at Best Buy
### Valve Steam Deck
5See it at SteamSee it at Amazon
### Lenovo Legion Go
7See it at AmazonSee it at Best Buy
### Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme
3See it at AmazonSee it at Best Buy
### GPD Win 4
3See it at Amazon
### Ayaneo Ayaneo Air
3See it at AmazonSee it at Ayaneo
### Asus ROG Ally Z1
1See it at AmazonSee it at Best Buy
Handheld gaming PCs offer a compact alternative to bulky gaming laptops, delivering surprisingly powerful performance for AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Ghost of Tsushima. Many are compatible with Steam Deck docks, enabling connection to larger screens.
Our experts have reviewed several top contenders. From the high-performance Lenovo Legion Go to the budget-friendly Asus ROG Ally Z1 (ideal for indie games), there's a device to suit every need.
Contributions by Danielle Abraham, Ural Garrett, Georgie Peru
Detailed Reviews (abbreviated for brevity):
1. Asus ROG Ally X: The best handheld gaming PC. Boasts significantly improved RAM (24GB LPDDR5 @ 7,400MHz), a massive 80Wh battery, and enhanced cooling. Thunderbolt 4 support via USB-C.
2. Valve Steam Deck: Runs SteamOS, supporting numerous games via Proton. Offers excellent controls. OLED version available with enhanced visuals and battery life.
3. Lenovo Legion Go: High-performance handheld with a large, impressive QHD display. Runs Windows 11. May require in-game setting adjustments for optimal performance at native resolution.
4. Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme: Windows 11 handheld with a powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and a 120Hz FHD display. Excellent performance, but Armoury Crate software could be improved.
5. GPD Win 4: A mini-laptop form factor with a built-in keyboard. Solid performance, but comes at a premium price.
6. Ayaneo Air: Ultra-portable with a 5.5-inch OLED FHD screen. Powerful for its size, but less powerful than other options.
7. Asus ROG Ally Z1: A more budget-friendly alternative to the Z1 Extreme, suitable for indie games. Struggles with AAA titles at 1080p.
(Further details on upcoming handhelds and a FAQ comparing handhelds to gaming laptops are omitted for brevity but were present in the original text.)
