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What Is a Handheld PC Gaming Device?
A handheld PC gaming device is a computer designed for playing video games on the go. I'm not talking about laptops or tablets. Instead, they're fully functional computers in a Nintendo Switch-like body. That's where the similarities end. The Switch is a locked-down console, while a handheld gaming PC does almost everything you expect a PC to do, from surfing the web to installing mods.
That's because they typically run the Windows operating system or, in the Steam Deck's case, Linux. You can experiment with accessories and peripherals or tap the various gaming marketplaces, such as the Epic Games Store, Steam, or Xbox Game Pass. Many handheld gaming PCs also have custom interfaces that make purchasing and launching games easier. Think SteamOS' panel-driven front end, for example. With it, you can quickly access titles and menus tailored for the smaller screen.
That said, handheld gaming PCs also offer a traditional full desktop. However, navigating them on a small screen creates a familiar but somewhat awkward user experience.
How Powerful Are Handheld PC Gaming Devices?
Let's be frank: A handheld PC gaming device can't compete with a top-of-the-line gaming desktop. In fact, it's sometimes better for a manufacturer to intentionally limit a handheld's power to extend its battery life. Still, these portables can run many current, graphically stunning games in various visual settings. Valve verifies Steam games to let you know which ones are Steam Deck compatible. The verified list includes top releases such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and UFO 50.
With this much power, handheld gaming PCs are also spectacular retro gaming handhelds. They also shine as better remote play devices than, say, a mobile phone with a paired controller. Remember, these are just computers as open as any other, so let your tech-tinkering imagination run wild. Whatever you think you can do, you can at least attempt it with these portable PCs.
SteamOS vs. Windows: Which Is the Best Handheld OS?
Besides hardware, a handheld gaming PC's operating system greatly impacts the user experience. The Steam Deck uses SteamOS, Valve's custom operating system. It’s based on Linux, so it employs a bespoke compatibility layer called Proton to run Windows games. This can cause some translation issues and lead to many games simply not working. However, because SteamOS is designed specifically for handheld gaming PCs, it offers great performance with an intuitive interface. Valve has begun licensing SteamOS to other hardware manufacturers, so you can enjoy it on a device that isn't a Steam Deck.
Still, many handheld gaming PC use a version of Windows, which has far fewer compatibility issues. Games just run. However, Windows isn't specifically designed for these mobile devices, causing issues of its own. For example, Windows' infamous bloat drains batteries and offers slower performance compared with SteamOS. In addition, navigating Windows on a handheld is often a clunky experience because the OS is made for traditional computers.
Steam deck OLED, Rog ally X or Lenovo Legion Go ? I can’t decide which to get
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!