Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking to buy a handheld gaming PC and could really use your help choosing the right one.

I'm a new dad and my gaming time has become limited over the past months. Sitting down in front of my PC has become harder and harder. What I need now is something that allows me to launch a quick gaming session from the couch during baby naps or short breaks.

Budget is not a concern, I'm looking for the best device that fits my needs, even if it comes at a premium.

Here is what I am looking for.

Performance: I want to be able to play demanding games in good conditions. But I might have the possibility to stream from my main pc over Apollo/Moonshine (doing it with my ipad already).

Screen: Ideally, I’d like an OLED screen... But I don't want to sacrifice everything for it.

OS: I have no preference between Windows or SteamOS, as long as games are running fine. I don't really play multiplayer games with anti-cheat.

Games: I mostly play single-player games (Elden Ring, Diablo 4, Doom, Terraria, Hades, Monster Hunter, Cyberpunk 2077, Oblivion...).

Usage context: I’ll mostly be using the handheld at home, not on the go, so battery life is nice but not a major factor.

Devices I’m currently considering:

• Steam Deck OLED (1TB) : Mainly for the screen and software support, but I’m a bit concerned about the aging hardware.

• ROG Ally X : Seems like a good all-rounder.

• MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM : Looks to me better than the Ally X in almost every aspect since the latest Intel driver update.

• OneXFly F1 Pro (Ryzen 9 370HX): Stumbled upon it, looks interesting on paper and have an OLED screen, but I’m unsure about build quality and support. And is it really worth it performance wise over the Claw?

I’ve read a bit about the upcoming AMD Z2E-based handhelds, like the MSI Claw A8, but from what I’ve seen, it doesn’t look as interesting as the Intel-based version for now. ROG Xbox Ally X looks ugly :(

Honestly, I’m leaning toward either the Steam Deck OLED for its software and screen (although it's a shame it's not 120Hz) or the MSI Claw 8 AI+ for the raw power and potential... but I’m still undecided.

What would you recommend based on my situation? Is it worth waiting for the Z2E devices or should I go with something already available?

Thanks in advance!

I have a lot of downtime at work and want something to play on that I can use at home and work. Obviously for most people the answer is to get a gaming laptop.

But I don’t really need a screen/keyboard/speakers.

I looked into mini pcs as that seemed as that could be the answer but I heard they are much weaker.

I looked into mini ITX builds that are portable too but I don’t build pcs and can’t find one near me.

What would be the best option for me?

I’m looking for a portable gaming PC because I travel a lot for work. But I don’t want to break the bank because I have my main PC at home.

Should I:

1. Just buy a travel bag

2. Buy a mini pc

3. Buy a gaming laptop

4. Other?

Wifi is also a concern. Probably going to stop by MicroCenter.

I'm currently looking into buying a handheld PC so I can have a more portable option. I already have a PS5 and MSI Katana right now but theyre both pretty stationary. Mainly, I just want to play the games I already play on PS5 and laptop like Elden Ring, GOW: Ragnarok, Horizon, etc., but I also want to play games outside of Steam, like with Game Pass for games like Oblivion Remastered and Clair Obscur. Based on my budget (around $700-750 max), I narrowed it down to the OG Legion Go w/ 16GB RAM, the Legion Go S w/ Z2 and 16GB RAM + Windows, and the Steam Deck OLED. I was thinking of getting the Z2 but I've heard a lot of mixed reviews on it. So I'm wondering if the OG Legion is still worth it or if I should just go for the Steam Deck instead?

money is not a problem. I just want a laptop that i can carry around in college while also being able to play heavy games on it

So I have a job where I can play video games, but currently all I have (that's portable) is an old non gaming laptop. I've been wanting to upgrade but gaming laptops are pricey and I already have a pretty powerful desktop, so I've been considering a handheld pc. Problem is I don't know which one to get, I'm not super knowledgeable on computers and have seen really mixed responses online

A lot of people seem to think the steam deck is best, but (based on my fairly limited understanding at least) it's quite a bit weaker than the rog or legion and has a lower screen resolution. It's also currently more expensive as the rog (non x version) and legion are on sale. The main advantage I hear is that the steam deck is more reliable, plus the OLED. But is the reliability and OLED a big enough improvement to make up for the lower power?

As for the rog and legion, which generally is better? The legion looks better to me but like I said I don't know a ton. The legion has higher max resolution but I've heard it can't always reach that. But is running at a lower resolution equal to the other systems? Like for example if I was running a game at 800 or 1080 on the legion, would I be getting the same or better (or worse) performance than I would on the deck or rog?

Should mention that battery and size/weight aren't much of an issue due to having constant power and a desk. I know laptops would be generally better in this situation, but the price is the main issue (unless there are any laptops out there with better power than the handhelds and are $800 or lower but in guessing not lol)

I want to be able to play games that cant be played on console.Ive seen lots of people talking about the steam deck and the lenovo legion go.I cant decide which i wanna go with i heard steam deck is better because you dont have to deal with windows but i also wanna use the steam deck as a pc so i can mod games or use an emulator. Im honestly fine with any other pc handheld as long as it works great.I want something that has decent graphics with decent frame rate.I honestly dont anything about this stuff I plan on hopefully making a pc when im ready.Also i just wanna know which handheld is better based on how enjoyable it is to play.(Update) I went with a gaming laptop such as the 2024 zepherous g14 by asus because I realized i wanted something more powerful while still being portable and I could use it for many more things other than gaming.I went with this because Its really slim, not that loud and not bulky like other gaming laptops.The sleek design is amazing i would've probably gotten a pc instead if i had the space but i also really didn't want to be glued to a desk either .Im sorry for everyone who i may have disappointed with my choice I also have personal reasons to why I decided not to.Also sorry for the really late reply/update i don't have an excuse i just didnt have the energy to respond. .But thank you all who have commented i hope this post helps others who search up the same topic.

I have been interested in buying a handheld PC recently and I am not sure what to get. I was mainly interested in getting the Steam Deck OLED, due to the ease of use and the fact that it is more like a console. However, I am worried about the Steam Deck’s hardware limitations. I have been hearing mixed things the ROG Alley X. Some people say it can run anything and others claim it has software issues and cannot run everything

I would like to mention that I also own a Mid-Range PC that I bought 12 months ago. The PC runs everything I want it to run with minor adjustments. And I am really happy with it. Due to me purchasing the PC not too long ago, I do not want to splurge on this. Especially because I have never had a handheld before and I am not certain how much I would like.

I hate tinkering with stuff too much. I want something straightforward and easy to use. I also will be using the handheld purely for offline story games. My FPS online gaming will be on the PC.

Getting tired of not having a pc to play all the games I can't get on my switch, but I don't have room for a desktop PC... what is y'all's favorite handheld for pc gaming? Looking for best quality for money/ affordable options 😊

I already have a Gaming PC and I love it but it not portable at all and I'm tied to my desk.

There is some good games on mobile for free but I don't enjoy the touch screen control and the screen is too small.

My Switch OLED (kinda) solve both of these problems but the joy cons and the power/performance still leaves a lot to be desired.

What I mean by portable is that it doesn't necessarily have to be handheld but it should be easy to travel with.

There is several PC gaming handheld such as Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go. Out of all these, I'm thinking the legion go would be the best option because it a full window PC with a big high quality screen and detachable controller. I used windows PC and I'm tech savvy, so I could figure out my way around a PC handheld.

I truly believe when you have a Window gaming PC, you have the best of all worlds. There's deals going on Steam and other platforms, Epic give away a new game each week, and you can even get Xbox Game Pass which will give you access to hundreds of games for a monthly subscription. Since Microsoft owned windows and Xbox, games from both platforms will always be available on PC. Older PlayStation (including some current-gen) titles had made it to PC. There is VR Gaming and with Windows 11 you can even access games from Google Playstore and Amazon App store. Only thing missing is switch games. You can emulate it If you really want to but I'm keeping my switch for legal reasons.

Another option is to just get a gaming laptop which I think would make more sense because when you're not gaming on the laptop, it can still be used as a normal laptop and the Lenovo Legion Go almost cost as much as some laptops. I can bring the laptop to school and use it normally while the Lenovo Legion Go would at least need some workaround.

A much cheaper option would be to get an Xbox series s. It's not exactly handheld portable but it's still small enough to easily fit into a backpack when I travel. For as long as I can find a TV, I can pretty use it anyway. It also more powerful than a switch and can run all the latest games. I can also buy Xbox Game Pass which will carry over to both the Xbox and my PC. It's the cheapest entry to next-gen gaming! Also, since it connects to a TV and has access to Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services, it can also be used as a TV box.

Though since Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, also have cloud streaming I technically don't even need the Xbox. I could just get a nice tablet and a controller. I could play some Xbox games from the cloud and play some of the many mobile games available.

So, which of these is the best option? If you already have a PC and just wanted something more portable, which would you go with? It kinda hard to justify paying hundreds of dollars on something just for gaming, so buying something that can do more stuff on top of gaming would be better.

I was on the verge of pulling the trigger on the steam deck oled! Then I was led to a bunch of videos regarding the legion go!..

Essentially I just want to feel like a kid playing with the PSP again!

Which handheld PC would you go for & why?

Essentially what I’m looking for is longevity, reliability & compatibility to use all platforms & launchers on my handheld..I seem to move towards the Steam Deck as Valve are reliable & trustworthy..

Please bear in mind I use GOG, Epic & Ubisoft Launcher just as much as Steam!

What does everyone think?

If money isn't an issue, what is the best handheld gaming PC right now? I have an upcoming long flight in 2 weeks and I'm looking for a gaming PC to use during the flight. But also my current primary gaming PC is 10 years old and only has had the video card upgraded, so it is definitely showing its age in modern titles. Is there a handheld that you would recommend as a primary gaming PC as well to use "docked".

Assume a budget of about $1,000.

Steam deck OLED, Rog ally X or Lenovo Legion Go ? I can’t decide which to get

Iv been looking at steam deck looks great but I also question if il really be happy with less power and it not being able to run the bigger games in 2025. I was also curious about the legion go s and if steam os will come to other handhelds if that's the case would another handheld be worthwhile preferably near oled steam deck prices.

Hello,

Besoin d'aide pour le choix d'un PC portable. J'ai un petit budget a dédier à un PC (normalement pour du boulot), mais je suis déjà équipé en PC dédié burautique, et comme je n'ai plus de machine capable de faire tourner des jeux a peu près récents, c'est l'occasion.

Je suis noyé dans la liste des modeles, je ne suis plus du tout les évolution en terme de carte graphique et autre, et globalement un peu la flemme (et surtout pas le temps) de me remettre au niveau.

Donc je viens aux conseils

• Budget 1300€, 1500€ MAX, inutile de me proposer plus cher

• J'ai pas besoin d'une machine de guerre capable de faire tourner Cyberpunk à 120fps 4K, je suis assez tolérant aux graphismes moyen. J'ai besoin d'un truc fiable, qui tourne et qui m'évitera de racheter un PC dans 2 ans. De toute manière, vu le budget, je m'attends pas à quelque chose de fou

• PC PORTABLE (pas une tour)

• Un port USB-C avec Display port. J'ai un dock connecté à mes écrans/clavier/casque, je switch déjà assez souvent de machines pour le boulot, je veux pas tous rebrancher à chaque fois.

• Je suis pas très exigant sur la qualité de l'écran / clavier /enceinte, de toute manière chez moi je branche tous sur des périphériques externe, et en déplacement j'accepterai ce que j'ai.

Gloablement c'est tout. Je m'étais arreté sur le MSI Cyborg 15 A12VF (d'autant qu'il y a une petite promo chez Darty), mais si vous avez mieux, je prend.

Merci

I am thinking about building my own pc, but my parented are divorced and I was wondering if there is any way to make a pc easier to transport. Any suggestions?

Hi, I did a deep dive into handheld gaming PC's, and created a pretty comprehensive comparison table that I hope some of you might find useful:

https://comparisontabl.es/handheld-gaming-pc/

It's got every handheld gaming PC available right now (that I could find), and allows you to compare all of them on their specifications and features; from display specs, CPU/GPU/RAM/SSD, built in sensors, connectivity, ports, battery, available buttons and inputs, physical specs like size/weight/available colors, and more.

There's options to filter the table on specs or features, too. So you can for instance filter on screen size, resolution, refresh rate, whether it's got a trackpad, gyro controls, detachable controllers, or a built-in keyboard, etc.

You can also sort columns. So for instance, to easily find the cheapest handheld that has the specs you're filtering for, you can sort the table on the price (MSRP) column.

Also, if you want to compare aby two models side-by-side, there's a separate tool available for that. So for instance, if you want to compare the Zotac Zone vs the Asus ROG Ally X: https://comparisontabl.es/handheld-gaming-pc/?product1=Zotac+Zone&product2=Asus+ROG+Ally+X#sbs - and you can use the checkbox for 'Differences only' to only show the specs/features with differences.

Other than that, I've made sure to apply conditional formatting to most specs, to make it visually clear what the pros and cons of each model are.

There's also a size comparison image of some of the most popular options if you scroll past the table.

Let me know if you have any feedback! It's totally possible I've made a mistake somewhere, or missed a product or spec that could be interesting to add. I'm considering adding benchmarks to the table as well, but am not sure which ones would be best to use in this case - and if there's data for all or most of these handhelds? If anyone has thoughts on that, let me know!

I'm used to game on windows handhelds like the rog ally or the lenovo legion go but lately I've been searching for something a bit more powerfull to play games like expedition33 without sacrificing so much quality, my intention is to sell my 14' m3 macbook pro and get a gaming laptop, are there any 14' gaming laptops out there under 2000 that you can recommend?