Best Portable Game Consoles October 2026
Compare the top portable game consoles to find the right handheld for your gaming habits. This independently ranked guide highlights key features, performance details, and pros and cons to help you make an informed choice. Whether you want dedicated handheld gaming, PC flexibility, or remote console play, you will find suitable options here.
Last updated: 6 October 2026
Portable Game Consoles: Top 5
1
Nintendo Switch 2 - The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition
from £434.991 store
from £434.99
1 store
2
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X
from £899.003 stores
from £899.00
3 stores
3
Sony PlayStation Portal Remote Player PS5
from £194.9913 stores
from £194.99
13 stores
4
Asus ROG Ally Ryzen Z1 Extreme 512GB
from £620.556 stores
from £620.55
6 stores
5
Valve Steam Deck Oled 512GB
from £259.996 stores
from £259.99
6 stores
The Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda Edition pairs a crisp 1080p HDR-capable LCD screen with a 5,220 mAh battery for on-the-go gaming. It includes 256GB of built-in storage with microSD expansion support up to 2TB. Its themed chassis and stereo speakers provide a distinct look and immersive audio.
Pros
1080p Full HD display with HDR support
256GB storage expandable up to 2TB
Modern Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity
Lightweight build at 534 g
Cons
LCD panel instead of an OLED display
No built-in camera
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is a capable handheld gaming PC built to run demanding games on Windows. It delivers strong multitasking with 24GB of RAM and stores expansive game libraries on its 1TB internal drive. The 7-inch 1080p touchscreen and fast Wi-Fi 6E keep visuals smooth and downloads quick.
Pros
Huge 1TB built-in storage capacity
High-capacity 24GB RAM for PC gaming
Crisp 7-inch 1080p touchscreen
Fast Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity
Cons
Heavier handheld at 715 g
Thick chassis depth of 50.7 mm
The Sony PlayStation Portal is a dedicated remote player designed to stream your PS5 games over Wi-Fi. It features an 8-inch Full HD touchscreen and delivers up to 9 hours of battery life on a single charge. Its integrated DualSense-style controller design offers a familiar, comfortable grip for gaming around the house.
Pros
Large 8-inch Full HD display
Long battery life lasting up to 9 hours
Lightweight design at only 520 g
Cons
Requires a PS5 and stable Wi-Fi to play
No Bluetooth audio support
No internal storage for offline gaming
The Asus ROG Ally Ryzen Z1 Extreme puts PC gaming into a portable 608 g chassis with a 1080p display. Equipped with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, it runs your PC game libraries via Windows. It also features stereo speakers, Wi-Fi 6E, and a 3.5 mm audio jack for convenient portable play.
Pros
Sharp 1080p display with 16:9 aspect ratio
Speedy 512GB internal storage
Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity
Lighter PC handheld weight at 608 g
Cons
Short battery life under heavy gaming load
Windows interface can feel awkward on small screens
The Valve Steam Deck OLED combines a 7.4-inch display with 512GB of built-in storage for your Steam library. It is powered by 16GB of RAM and includes modern Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. The comfortable handheld chassis allows intuitive control while the SDXC card slot makes storage expansion straightforward.
Pros
Spacious 7.4-inch display panel
Generous 512GB internal storage
Broad microSD, SDHC, and SDXC card support
Fast Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
Cons
Lower 1280x800 screen resolution
Wide form factor measuring nearly 300 mm
Compare specifications
| Type of device | — | Handheld Gaming PC | Handheld Console | Handheld Gaming PC | Handheld Gaming PC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series | — | ROG Ally | — | — | Pocket Player |
| Features | LCD monitor | LCD monitor | LCD monitor | LCD monitor | LCD monitor |
| Wi-Fi | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Release year | — | 2025 | 2023 | 2023 | 2024 |
How we create the list
The ranking is updated monthly and is based on data we collect from our own platform. Products that rank highly are popular among our users while also maintaining high quality according to editorial expert assessments. Specifically, we weigh how many users follow the product via price alerts or lists, how it is rated by experts and users, as well as how much traffic it generates to stores and how well it is represented in retail. The texts on this page are AI-generated and created to give you a quick and clear overview. No products are paid placements – the ranking is driven solely by data.
