Valve may have revolutionized mobile PC gaming with the Steam Deck, but more and more handheld gaming PCs are coming to market, giving it some stiff competition. Formerly, the Asus ROG Ally X knocked Steam’s offering from our top spot thanks to its impressive performance, fast memory, and long-lasting battery, but we've got a brand-new favorite: the Lenovo Legion Go S (Z1 Extreme, SteamOS). With the Xbox Ally X announced at the Xbox Games Showcase, you'll have plenty of options for gaming on the go in the future. Whether you’re after the Steam Deck itself or one of the best Steam Deck alternatives, we’ve selected excellent handheld gaming PCs ready to chew through the top PC games – as long as you don't try to run Doom: The Dark Ages.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Handheld Gaming PCs:
Rather than dealing with the bulk a gaming laptop, handheld gaming PCs keep far more compact dimensions, making it easier to play from just about anywhere. Even though these devices are obviously significantly smaller than a gaming PC, it doesn’t mean they’re underpowered. Many handheld gaming PCs are packing the performance prowess to cruise through AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077. If you get sick of playing on a smaller screen, a great Steam Deck dock works seamlessly with most handheld gaming PCs so you can hook up to your gaming TV.
While we’re on the cusp of a handheld gaming PC revolution, we've gotten our hands on a good chunk of these highly-capable devices. Below are the current four we deem worthy of consideration.
The Best Handheld Gaming PC
The Best Windows Handheld Gaming PC
The Best Budget Handheld Gaming PC
The Best High Performance Handheld Gaming PC
Now that the Lenovo Legion Go S is here, we have a first glimpse of the next generation of handheld gaming PCs. It had a rough start with the AMD Z2 Go, but the newer one with the Z1 Extreme is great, knocking the ROG Ally X down a peg in my rankings. There will be more handheld gaming PCs coming out over the rest of the year that are powered by the more powerful versions, like the Z2 Extreme. Just keep an eye out for the Lenovo Legion Go 2.
One of the handhelds that'll be using that updated chip is the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, and while we've seen it a couple times – most recently at Gamescom 2025, we still don't know when exactly it'll hit store shelves. But what's really cool about that one is that because it's made in collaboration with Microsoft, it's going to have a level of software optimizations that might put it on the same level as the Steam Deck. I'll have to wait to see how it holds up when I get it in the lab, but after going hands-on with it, we're definitely excited.
Beyond that, though, we're still waiting for handheld gaming PCs to come out with the Z2 Extreme, which was announced way back at CES 2025. We now have three high-profile handhelds that have been announced with this chip, but none of them are available yet. Really, it's a race to see which one actually comes out first. I for one think it'd be hilarious if the Xbox Ally X – the last of the Z2 Extreme devices to be announced – ends up being the first one to market.
Should I buy a handheld gaming PC or a gaming laptop?
Depending on how you want to game and what games you want to play will determine whether you should grab a gaming laptop or handheld PC. Handhelds score higher points in longevity, battery life, optimization, portability, and thermals. But handhelds are only designed to play games up to a certain specification. Gaming laptops cram in the latest GPU, CPU, and RAM, likely sacrificing battery life, thermals, and price. However, some are absolute beasts ready to take on even the most graphically intensive games. Laptops offer more functionality when it comes to editing and other work.
Check out our guide on the Steam Deck vs. gaming laptops for more information.
What’s the best Steam Deck alternative?
The Asus ROG Ally X is one of the best Steam Deck alternatives. This gaming handheld offers an easy-to-use interface, speedy performance, and stunning design. Most importantly, the Windows 11 gaming handheld lets you access your entire PC gaming library.
How does the Switch 2 compare to the Steam Deck?
On spec, the Switch 2 is delivers better performance than the Steam Deck. Check out our in-depth comparison to find out more.
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