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

Valve's Steam Deck revolutionized portable PC gaming, but the market's quickly expanding with compelling alternatives. The Asus ROG Ally X, boasting impressive performance, rapid memory, and excellent battery life, has even surpassed the Steam Deck in our rankings. With the Lenovo Legion Go S and Acer Nitro Blaze 11 unveiled at CES 2025, gamers now have a wealth of choices for on-the-go gaming. 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 handling even the most demanding PC games.

TL;DR – Top 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 compact alternative to bulky gaming laptops, providing impressive power in a portable form factor. These devices easily handle AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Ghost of Tsushima. And for those who prefer larger screens, compatible docks allow connection to gaming TVs.

Our experts have thoroughly tested numerous handheld gaming PCs, and the following seven stand out. From the high-performance Lenovo Legion Go to the budget-friendly Asus ROG Ally Z1, ideal for indie games, there's an option for every need.

Contributions by Danielle Abraham, Ural Garrett, Georgie Peru

Asus ROG Ally X: The Best Handheld Gaming PC

Asus ROG Ally X

With significantly improved battery life and 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 enables 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 enhancements—including 24GB of faster LPDDR5 RAM—deliver a noticeable performance boost (12-15% improvement). A larger battery and improved cooling system address previous shortcomings, resulting in significantly longer playtime and a cooler device. The addition of a second USB-C port (Thunderbolt 4 compatible) and an improved MicroSD card slot further enhances usability.

Steam Deck

Valve Steam Deck

Running SteamOS, this 7-inch handheld boasts powerful internals, seamlessly handling games optimized for the platform.

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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; Perfect for running Steam games.
Cons: Poor battery life.

The Steam Deck, a pioneer in the handheld PC gaming space, runs on SteamOS and utilizes Proton for compatibility with a wide range of games. Windows can be installed via USB-C boot. The OLED version offers a superior display and improved battery life.

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 in a handheld gaming PC.
Cons: Very large.

The Lenovo Legion Go strikes a balance between performance and premium design. Its large 8.8-inch 1600p display is a standout feature, though it may require in-game settings adjustments for optimal performance on certain titles.

Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme

Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme

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

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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 is a bit clunky.

The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme, running Windows 11, provides broad game compatibility. Its powerful Z1 Extreme processor delivers excellent performance, though battery life can be impacted at higher settings.

GPD Win 4

GPD Win 4

A unique 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: Handy built-in keyboard; Compact design.
Cons: High price tag.

Resembling a mini-laptop, the GPD Win 4 features a sliding keyboard and a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and AMD Radeon 780m GPU.

Ayaneo Air

Ayaneo Ayaneo Air

An ultra-portable handheld with a 5.5-inch OLED FHD screen and a powerful AMD Ryzen 5 CPU.

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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; Storage expansion via Micro SD slot.
Cons: Lower performance than other handhelds.

The Ayaneo Air prioritizes portability, featuring a compact design and a 5.5-inch OLED FHD screen. While its performance is slightly lower than other options, its size makes it a compelling choice.

Asus ROG Ally Z1

Asus ROG Ally Z1

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

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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; Easy-to-use interface.
Cons: Can 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 struggling with demanding AAA titles at maximum settings.

Upcoming Handheld Gaming PCs

The Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS and Windows 11 versions), and the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 (with an 11-inch screen) are anticipated releases.

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 raw power. Gaming laptops provide more processing power but often sacrifice battery life and portability.

What’s the best Steam Deck alternative?

The Asus ROG Ally X is our top pick, offering excellent performance, ease of use, and a compelling design. Its Windows 11 OS provides access to a broader game library.