Best PC Gaming Handhelds 2025: Windows and Steam Decks

Best PC Gaming Handhelds 2025

Best Gaming Handhelds

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Portable gaming is nothing new. We've been through the Game Boy, the Game Gear, PS Vita, the Nintendo DS, Switch, and many more. But more recently, the idea of portable PC gaming has taken off, letting gamers take their libraries on the road with all of the tweaking and settings that playing on your own rig has to offer. The category was popularized by Valve's Steam Deck, and followed quickly by other big PC names like Asus, Lenovo, and MSI.

In order to help you find the best gaming handheld, we thoroughly tested the most popular models, benchmarking them with popular video games like Forza Horizon 5 and Cyberpunk 2077, checking to see how long their batteries last on a charge, measuring screen brightness and color gamut, and simply playing a bunch of games to see how the devices feel in our hands. We also consider price, budget, and operating system to help you determine the best bang for your buck. The best models we’ve tested are below, but if these options don’t work for you, you might want to check out our Steam Deck Alternatives feature.

There are several exciting gaming handhelds that we hope to test soon, including the Zotac Zone, Acer Nitro Blaze 7, and MSI Claw 8 AI+. Though Valve is making it sound like we won't see a true Steam Deck successor for a while, it is offering SteamOS to other companies, starting with Lenovo on the Legion Go S. And 2025 will be the year of the Nintendo Switch 2, which isn't a direct competitor to the PC ecosystem but is sure to get a lot of attention.

The Quick List

Best PC Gaming Handhelds 2025

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Best PC gaming handheld for most people

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Best gaming handheld for most people

Specifications

CPU: 6nm, Custom AMD Zen 2 "Van Gogh," 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.4 - 3.5 GHz
GPU: 8 AMD RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0 - 1.6 GHz
Display: 7.4-inch touchscreen, 1280 x 800, 90 Hz, OLED
Weight: 1.41 pounds / 640 grams

Reasons to buy

+
Big, bright OLED display
+
Larger battery than original Steam Deck
+
Longer charging cable than original Steam Deck
+
Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
+
1TB storage option

Reasons to avoid

-
Non-Steam games require Windows install
-
HDR can be finicky
-
Battery life is still not great for intense games
-
Performance remains slightly behind AMD Z1 Extreme

For many gamers, the Steam Deck OLED will hit a price/performance sweet spot. It starts at $549 with 512GB of storage or $649 for 1TB of storage on Steam. Either way, you get a 1280 x 800 OLED HDR display with up to 90 Hz refresh rate and a 50 WHr battery (slightly bigger than the original Steam Deck).

At 7.4-inches, you get a slightly larger screen than on the original Steam Deck, and you also get a boost from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6E. Performance is similar, though. You get the same chip specs, but on a 6 nm process.

And Valve even managed to make the Steam Deck OLED lighter than the original.

The Steam Deck OLED runs SteamOS, based on Arch Linux, and emulates Windows games. Not everything runs, but what does works pretty well (and you can install Windows on Steam Deck, if you want.) But it's also extremely easy to work with a controller, which you can't say about Windows these days.

Read: Steam Deck OLED review

Best Windows PC gaming handheld

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X

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Best Windows gaming handheld

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (8 cores, 16 threads, 15-35W cTDP), Up to 50 TOPS NPU
GPU: AMD Radeon graphics (integrated), RDNA 3.5, (16 cores)
Display: 7-inch touchscreen, 1920 x 1080, 120 Hz, IPS
Weight: 1.58 pounds / 715 grams

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable with controller grips and balanced weight
+
Xbox Full Screen Experience is way easier to use than standard Windows 11
+
Improved performance, especially at 720p
+
Finally, an Xbox button

Reasons to avoid

-
More expensive than last-gen ROG Ally X
-
Screen isn't as vivid as OLED-based competition
-
No included carrying case
-
Some features are promised down the line, so this isn't finished yet

The worst part of Windows-based gaming handhelds, for a long time, was Windows 11. But the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is the first PC gaming handheld with a new full-screen Xbox experience designed to be easier to launch games and adjust settings with a controller. There are still some bugs, but it's far and away better than the standard Windows desktop.That controller is more comfortable too, as Asus added controller grip-style prongs to each side of the handheld, so it feels great in the hands. The weight is balanced evenly, so the ergonomics here are top notch.

The AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme and its RDNA 3.5-based integrated graphics offer a performance bump over last generation, particularly at lower resolutions. That may not be enough for some to upgrade, but it's definitely a nice bonus.

Where the system lacks is primarily in that it doesn't offer an OLED screen. Asus' IPS panel is bright and colorful, but it doesn't quite match some of the competition with the more vivid OLED technology.

Read: Asus ROG Xbox Ally X review

Best budget PC gaming handheld

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Best budget PC gaming handheld

Specifications

CPU: 7nm, Custom AMD Zen 2 "Van Gogh," 4 cores, 8 threads, 2.4 - 3.5 GHz
GPU: 8 AMD RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0 - 1.6 GHz
Display: 7-inch touchscreen, 1280 x 800, 60 Hz, IPS
Weight: 1.47 pounds / 669 grams

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable to hold, with controls that feel great
+
Keeps cool where you hold it
+
Most games run fine off SD card
+
Anti-glare display is excellent

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life isn't great for intense games
-
Non-Steam games require Windows install

The original Steam Deck may not have been the first handheld gaming PC, but it definitely popularized the category. For those looking to get into the fun on a budget, it's still your best choice. While Valve is prioritizing the OLED model these days, it still sells the 256GB LCD version for $399 on Steam, with a 1280 x 800 display, up to 60 Hz refresh rate, and a 40 WHr battery that it claims lasts between 2 and 8 hours depending on the game.

It's comfortable to hold, and the controls feel excellent. SteamOS is far easier to use than Windows to launch games (as long as they're on Steam), and you get a similar chip to the one in the Steam Deck OLED, with the same specs, just on a different process node that's slightly less efficient. The 1280 x 800 resolution should be plenty on a 7-inch display (and some games won't run at 1080p anyway). Esports might not look as good at 60 Hz as on the OLED or some Windows machines, but lower refresh rates help the system last longer.

While supplies last, Valve is still selling the 64GB Steam Deck for $349, which is even cheaper, though you don't get an M.2 SSD, but rather eMMC storage. If you get that one, consider upgrading it on your own.

Read: Steam Deck review

Best SteamOS Performance

Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS)

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Best SteamOS Performance

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8 cores / 16 threads, up to 5.1 GHz)
GPU: AMD Radeon 780M graphics (integrated), RDNA 3, 12 compute units
Display: 8-inch, 1920 x 1200, IPS, touchscreen, 120 Hz
Weight: 1.61 pounds (730 grams)

Reasons to buy

+
Unmatched gaming performance
+
SteamOS UI is superior to Windows 11 for PC gaming handhelds
+
SteamOS helps to boost battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
$829 is a tough pill to swallow
-
Finnicky trackpad

You don't need the Steam Deck to get SteamOS. The Lenovo Legion Go S is the first PC gaming handheld outside of Valve to get the OS, which is far easier than Windows to navigate with controllers and a touch screen.

Our time with the Legion Go S's Ryzen Z1 Extreme variant proved to deliver some of the best gaming performance we've seen on a handheld with the Z1 Extreme, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD.

This system is effectively identical to the Windows version, except it comes with a purple-black "nebula color." It has a bright display and ergonomic design, even if it is made out of plastic.

But the $829 will put this out of reach for many. You may want to consider the cheaper Windows version and installing SteamOS instead. Alternatively, you can opt for the Z2 Go version, starting at $599, but you'll also get less RAM, less storage, and worse performance.

Read: Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS) review

Other PC gaming handhelds we tested

We also tested a few other gaming handhelds which didn't make the grade as the best.

Switch-style PC gaming handheld

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Switch-style PC gaming handheld

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme (8 cores, 16 threads, 15-35W cTDP)
GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 3.5 graphics (16 cores)
Display: 8.8-inch, 1920 x 1200, 30-144 Hz, OLED, touch
Weight: 2.03 pounds with controllers (920 grams)

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful OLED display
+
Hall-effect joysticks
+
Improved performance, particularly at 1280 x 800
+
Improved ergonomics over original Legion Go

Reasons to avoid

-
Bulky and heavy
-
Expensive (though that may be the norm now)
-
Windows 11 is still wonky for gaming (for now)
-
Very glossy screen reflects light near windows, outdoors

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is about as full-featured a handheld as we've seen, with a fast, 144 Hz OLED display, detachable controllers, and the latest AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor. The system, thanks to that chip, has made some impressive gains in performance at 1280 x 1800, .This system is more ergonomic than the original Legion Go — the controllers are easier to hold with rounded edges. It also has Hall effect joysticks, which should help prevent stick drift. The cooling and large battery make for a heavy system, at just over 2 pounds. That may be enough to make you appreciate the kickstand.Lenovo's OLED screen is beautiful, and it's fast at 144 Hz. The only downside is that is very susceptible to glare, which isn't great for playing games outside or near windows.

At $1,349.99, this is one of the most expensive PC gaming handhelds that we've tested so far. But if you want all of the features you can pack into a device, including detachable controllers, it's one to consider.

Read: Lenovo Legion Go 2 review

Budget Windows PC gaming handheld

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Budget Windows PC gaming handheld

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8 cores / 16 threads, up to 5.1 GHz, 4 nm)
GPU: AMD Radeon graphics (integrated), RDNA 3, 4GB VRAM, 12 compute units, 2.7 GHz clock
Display: 7-inch touchscreen, 1920 x 1080, 120 Hz, IPS
Weight: 1.34 pounds / 608 grams

Reasons to buy

+
Bright, vivid screen
+
Armoury Crate SE is decent
+
Lighter than the Steam Deck
+
Strong performance, but mostly while plugged in

Reasons to avoid

-
Software doesn't match up to SteamOS
-
Not as ergonomic as the Steam Deck
-
Short battery life

The Asus ROG Ally has a bright screen and is lightweight, but suffered from short battery life and wasn't as ergonomically sound as the Steam Deck. To get its best performance on the Z1 Extreme model we tested, it needed to be plugged in.

$649.99 for the Z1 Extreme version isn't usually what we consider budget, but compared to the Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go, it's the closest you'll get on Windows. It is your cheapest Windows option, at the moment, though the real value choice, the $499.99 Z1 (non-extreme) version is a poor performer.

Read: Asus ROG Ally review

How we test PC gaming handhelds

How we test PC gaming handhelds

Each gaming handheld we review goes through a series of tests and benchmarks to determine if it's worth your hard-earned money.

Currently, games that we run and may include in our reviews are:

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Game

Preset

Header Cell - Column 2

Cyberpunk 2077

Steam Deck

Row 0 - Cell 2

Borderlands 3

Medium

Row 1 - Cell 2

Forza Horizon 5

High, no anti-aliasing

Row 2 - Cell 2

Red Dead Redemption 2

Lowest (Favor Performance)

Row 3 - Cell 2

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Medium

Row 4 - Cell 2

Civilization VI: Gathering Storm - Graphics Test

Ultra

Row 5 - Cell 2

That being said, our reviewers play games of their choice on gaming handhelds, and may mention those, too.

We also run a stress test, which currently consists of the Metro Exodus benchmark on the low preset, run 15 times in a loop while recording system statistics with HWInfo. (This is also when we take our heat tests). For productivity, we use Geekbnech for single-core and multi-core performance.

We measure gaming handheld displays with our colorimeter and light meter, and report brightness in nits, as well as the volume of the DCI-P3 and sRGB color gamut that the screen covers.

Our battery test connects to a local web server over Wi-Fi, and continuously browses the web, runs simple OpenGL graphics tests, and streams videos. We report the amount of time the laptop ran the test in hours and minutes. However, because most people will be using the best gaming handhelds to play video games, we do anecdotal testing to see how the battery fares in real life.

We also spend significant periods of time using gaming handhelds to evaluate the displays, gaming performance, included software, and how they feel to use.

Additionally, we open gaming handhelds to determine which parts are user-replaceable, so that buyers can see what they are able to upgrade and repair down the line.

PC gaming handheld shopping tips

PC gaming handheld shopping tips

🎮 Displays only need to go so far: High resolutions and fast displays are nice on paper, but it's also a big draw on a battery. Considering that you'll play most games at 720p, don't be drawn to numbers above 1080p unless you plan on using this as a secondary computer.

🎮 Battery life will be limited: A mix of big screens, high-power chips, and intensive games means you're only getting a few hours of play, maximum.

🎮 Consider where you play games: If you just use Steam for PC gaming, the Steam Deck will make a ton of sense. But if most of your catalog is on Epic Games or GOG, you may want to start looking into Windows devices. (Alternatively, you can try installing other gaming-focused Linux projects, like Bazzite.)

🎮 Plug and play performance: While the Steam Deck gives you consistent performance plugged in and on-the-go, Windows handhelds perform better while they're plugged in, similar to the best gaming laptops.

Andrew E. Freedman

Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and BlueSky @andrewfreedman.net. You can send him tips on Signal: andrewfreedman.01