The Best Modern Handheld Consoles You Can Buy Right Now

The gaming hardware industry is evolving every day, but with portability becoming a top priority, now is probably the best time to invest in a handheld console. Top brands like Xbox, Valve, and Lenovo are all competing for dominance in this category, giving gamers some powerful yet versatile options to choose from in 2026.

When picking your first (or n’th) modern handheld gaming console, there’s a lot to consider beyond just raw performance. Some crucial factors include battery life, display quality, game library support, operating systems, ergonomics, and price, all of which play a major role in determining which device best fits your play style. Some handhelds are designed to replace your gaming PC on the go, while others focus on accessibility, cloud gaming, or simplicity similar to consoles.

Whether you’re looking for premium powerhouses capable of running AAA titles smoothly or budget-friendly options built for casual gaming sessions, today’s handheld market has something for every type of player.

Steam Deck OLED

The Steam Deck OLED is, hands down, one of the best pieces of gaming hardware you can invest in right now—and it’s not just because it lets you carry your entire PC game library wherever you go. Valve did an excellent job refining the original Steam Deck, which was already a revolutionary release in the first place. The Deck OLED corrects most of the original model’s limitations, featuring a larger and brighter display, improved battery life, faster RAM, and expanded storage options.

In terms of software, this handheld runs on SteamOS, which is built to deliver a console-like experience while offering the flexibility of a gaming PC. It’s all equipped to run most of your Steam favorites on the go, making it one of the most versatile handheld gaming consoles available in 2026.

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ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X

Custom Image by: Ben Brosofsky

If you want your handheld to mimic your Windows 11 gaming PC, the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is right up your alley. As a product of a collaboration between Xbox and ASUS, you’ll see the best of both brands in the product. The specs and build are top-notch, as one would expect from ASUS, while the smooth interface is inspired by the Xbox Series X|S platform.

Besides great software, the ROG Xbox Ally X offers everything that gamers would expect out of a premium handheld console. Its robust hardware, promising fast frame rates and minimal performance hiccups, can play most modern titles with ease. Also, users can fire up and add games from more than one PC storefront, allowing them to enjoy a large library of experiences on the go. The only drawbacks? The lack of an OLED screen and its price tag, of course.

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Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo’s latest handheld is a massive upgrade over the nearly decade-old original Switch, a console that dominated the handheld gaming market for years. The Nintendo Switch 2 comes equipped with a powerful custom NVIDIA chipset, a bigger, faster display, and upgraded Joy-Cons. A true generational leap, as most would say.

Of course, while the hardware is definitely impressive, don’t forget the incredible game library Nintendo has to offer. From iconic series such as Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon to new releases from third-party developers, the Nintendo Switch 2 delivers an experience that’s difficult to find on rival devices. If exclusives, local multiplayer, and portability mean a lot to you, the Nintendo Switch 2 is one of the best handheld gaming investments you can make in 2026.

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Lenovo Legion Go S – SteamOS

The Lenovo Legion Go S is the only true competitor to the Steam Deck OLED in 2026, weaving together the versatility of SteamOS and Lenovo’s hardware expertise in a power-packed handheld. The performance is excellent—thanks to its quad-core AMD Ryzen Z2 Go or the more powerful 8-core AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor—and so is its build and design. That said, the fact that it runs on SteamOS is the biggest selling point, as it offers the kind of simplicity every gamer craves.

SteamOS ensures that users don’t have to mess around with configuration and can actually enjoy more time playing. It also offers access to the vast Steam library, so you can literally carry your PC on the go. If you’re looking for a more powerful alternative to the Steam Deck, but don’t mind losing out on some battery life and shelling out an expensive price, Legion Go S is definitely the one to go for.

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MSI Claw 8 AI+

Image credit: MSI

A major step up from the original Claw, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a worthy handheld offering great performance and one of the best battery lives on the market. Powered by an Intel Lunar Lake processor and integrated Intel Arc graphics, running modern games is a piece of cake for this device, and it does so with excellent power efficiency. MSI has paired this hardware with a large 8-inch display and a more refined design, making the Claw 8 AI+ a much more complete package than its predecessor.

Most gaming handhelds are notorious for having poor battery life, especially while playing demanding games, which can somewhat defeat the purpose of portability. The Claw 8 AI+, on the other hand, handles such power demands much better and doesn’t require charging as frequently as many of its competitors. And with Windows 11 running in the background, you also get access to popular gaming storefronts, including Steam, Xbox, Epic Games Store, and Battle.net. If you’re someone who prefers a large-screen handheld with long battery life and the capabilities of a gaming PC, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ makes for a great choice in 2026.

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