Which handheld gaming PC should I get? — Best budget, mid-range, and premium portable game devices

Okay, so from where I’m standing, choosing a handheld gaming PC really comes down to what you’re looking for. If you want something straightforward and affordable, the Steam Deck is still a fantastic choice. But if you’re willing to splash out a bit more for a really powerful experience that can handle pretty much anything, the Xbox Ally X is the way to go. And then there’s the Legion Go S (with SteamOS), which I think hits a sweet spot – it’s more powerful than the Steam Deck without breaking the bank. It’s a great mid-range option, honestly.

The ROG Xbox Ally X costs $999.99. A more affordable version, the standard Xbox Ally, is available for $599.99 at stores like Best Buy.

The Steam Deck is available in three models. The LCD version with 256GB of storage costs $399. The OLED version comes with either 512GB ($549) or 1TB ($649) of storage and can be purchased directly from Steam.

The Legion Go S (SteamOS) comes in two versions. The base model, with a Z2 Go chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, costs $649.99 at Best Buy. A higher-end version is also available for $899.99 at Best Buy, and it features a Z1 Extreme chip, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.

The best operating system really comes down to what you prefer and how you plan to use your handheld gaming device. SteamOS is known for being user-friendly and having very little unnecessary software. Windows handhelds, on the other hand, offer easier access to game services beyond Steam without needing extra setup.

Yes! You can follow our step-by-step guide on how to put SteamOS on a Windows handheld gaming PC.

Variable refresh rate technology helps a screen adjust to the speed of your computer’s graphics card, resulting in smoother gaming and fewer visual glitches. Devices with this feature generally provide a better gaming experience than those without it.

The best control method really comes down to your personal preferences and the games you enjoy. Touchpads are helpful for navigating menus and games that require precise cursor movement, but aren’t the best choice for fast-paced action games like first-person shooters. If you don’t need that level of precision, joysticks will probably work perfectly well.