The best handheld gaming PC in 2023

The best handheld gaming PC console – AyaNEO 2S

AyaNEO 2S

The best handheld gaming PC console

Currently the most powerful in AyaNeo line up, powering up with Ryzen 7 7840U CPU, which is top-of-the-line at the moment. This handheld PC has much better cooling than its predecessor, while remaining Aya’s strengths like high-quality screen, really good software function and plausible design.

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Take a look at the AyaNEO 2S

At the moment, it seems the perfect handheld gaming PC haven’t existed yet. The market is potential, but we need more players coming into this field, to innovate technology, increase competition and diverse offerings. However, counting the current handheld PC products, the AyaNEO 2S is what I consider as the best handheld gaming PC.

Right at the specs, you can see the top-notch performance of the AyaNEO 2S. Without the actual development from NVIDIA, and the fact that both Xbox and PS5 consoles are using AMD chips, most handheld PC will use AMD APUs to help with its portability while running the best performance possible. So by using AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, the AyaNEO 2S secures the top position in the handheld PC market at the moment. If you’re searching for its direct competitors, you only need to sort out the device using this CPU.

For your context, the Ryzen 7 7840U scores 8672 in a Geekbench 6 test. That’s so powerful that you could expect full-powered AyaNEO 2S runs at least 50% better than the Steam Deck at 15W. The new CPU also helps reduce the temperature while being a little bit smoother than the old AMD 6800U chip. In reality, after playing with the AyaNEO 2S, the Steam Deck does feel as a weaker device, especially when you choose triple A titles.

If you value a compact handheld PC, and you seek for a high-quality, crisp screen, the AyaNEO 2S certainly is the one. It is a bit smaller than most of the handheld PCs out there at 264mm x 105mm x 36mm. The 7-inch screen is standard of handheld world, but the more beautiful screen actually improves the overall display quality.

The only drawback is that some extensive gaming sessions with the AyaNEO 2S ended up in my hand fatigue, which is something I don’t remember when playing the Steam Deck. Perhaps the compact shape and the button position affect my hands somehow. It uses hall sensors for dual joysticks and triggers, but other buttons just feel below average.

Moreover, we will have annually release of new hardware, so the AyaNEO 2S will be behind the competition soon. So don’t try to chase for the latest specs, you really should focus on the most comfortable design and feel, as well as the best gaming experience. In my opinion, the AyaNEO 2S is currently the best handheld PC device, but it isn’t the perfect one.

The best performance/price handheld gaming PC – Steam Deck

Steam Deck

Powerful enough to emulate Wii U and Switch

The Steam Deck is no longer the best handheld PC option for performance, thanks to the advance of 6800U and 7840U CPUs. However, consider its wonderful performance per price ratio, and many things that only the Steam OS can provide, you shouldn’t turn away from this handheld PC.

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Take a look at the Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is considered as the best handheld gaming PC, despite of its lower performance in comparison with other handheld PCs at the moment. Why? Because the Steam Deck sets up a very good price/performance benchmark that you can’t get from a handheld PC. It starts at only $399, meaning the Steam Deck is just nearly the same price as the Nintendo Switch OLED model.

However, its cheaper price point relates to its behind-the-competition specs. It is reasonable because the Steam Deck actually competes with the older-generation handheld PCs last year, so we should expect Valve to release its next-gen Steam Deck to decide if this is truly the best price/performance system.

It is still the handheld gaming PC that I’ve most time with, and I must admit, this is the only handheld PC with a working sleep mode. After experiencing many handheld PC using Windows system, the Steam Deck is still my favorite handheld PC, as I can just put it on sleep mode, and rest assure that I will come back right at the state when I left. If you are such a lazy handheld man like me, consider sticking with the Steam Deck.

Gaming experience is determined partially by the OS system, and the SteamOS is what I would like to use for gaming, unless if I want a hybrid system like the GPD Win 4. Thanks to Valve, many game developers are working hard to optimize their games to work with the SteamOS. That’s why you can enjoy a very stable gaming experience, especially with Deck verified games. Again, it is for the benefit of the lazy handheld men.

Still, I must admit the Steam Deck’s screen is not as good as its current competitors. It follows the Nintendo Switch, which proves that 720p gaming is wonderful for handheld, but after looking at 1080p displays, I can’t look at the Steam Deck the same way. It is less vibrant, and the LCD screen is nowhere near as the Switch OLED screen. The 512 GB version is a bit better with the anti-glare technology, but it is still far less attractive than how the Switch brought to me.

If you’re going to buy a spare SD card for your Steam Deck, make sure you read my ultimate I handheld SD card guide.

The most powerful handheld PC for lower price – Asus ROG Ally

ROG Ally

The most powerful handheld PC for lower price

The Asus ROG Ally brings the Ryzen 7 7840U into a lower price, and it’s so hard to ignore. Combines with 120Hz screen and good software function, it is supposed to be the most concerned handheld PC in this year.

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Take a look at the ROG Ally

With the appearance of the ROG ally, handheld lovers are looking forward to seeing more and more big companies jump in the handheld PC market, and users will soon receive the better product at all price ranges. I bet it isn’t a unrealistic expectation, as the ROG Ally cuts in the competition with its highest specs at only $599.and $699. Can I dream for a lower price point for next-gen handheld PC models?

By purchasing the ROG Ally, you will get a free 3-month subscription of Xbox Game Pass. While there is no official handheld made by Microsoft, the official support between Xbox and ROG Ally is a big plus. Now I’m not a Xbox owner, but I can expect it is going to be the unique selling point of the ROG Ally for a while. Well, handheld world is much better.

The ROG Ally is one of the newest handheld PCs you can get in 2023, so you can expect top-of-the-line performance, thanks to its custom-made Z1 and Z1 Extreme chips. It is comparable to the Ryzen 7 7840U, and it is a must-have for 1080p gaming. I still believe that all handheld manufacturers should focus on making hardware suitable for 1080p gaming only.

The screen of the ROG Ally isn’t as vibrant as the AyaNEO 2S, but it has better refresh rate. In theory, it would make motion much smoother. However, I don’t really feel the difference like when I replace my old monitor with a new 144Hz one. Perhaps, the tiny 7-inch screen can’t convey the technology to my eyes, and I doubt that it would be for most people.

Considering its power, the ROG Ally will have a very low battery life. I hope that upcoming software update will optimize the ROG Ally better at 10W, where the Steam Deck did greatly. Low battery life isn’t really a problem for a lazy handheld man like me, who don’t have time to play continuously for a long time, but I think for many people, it is not enough. Thankfully, the ROG Ally comes with quick charging, and I only need around 1.5 hours to fully charge the device. That’s so quick that I never need to charge it overnight.

The best screen in handheld gaming PC – AyaNEO Air Pro

AyaNEO Air Pro

The best screen in handheld gaming PC

While not as powerful as the AyaNEO 2S, the AyaNEO Air Pro features the most beautiful OLED screen at a very lightweight form. Truly it is an awesome feel when holding this handheld gaming PC, lying on the bed.

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Take a look at the AyaNEO Air Pro

The AyaNEO Air line is the experiment that Aya wants to mimic the Nintendo Switch Lite, with the same 5.5-inch screen. The AyaNEO Air Pro even pushes the limit to an OLED screen, and I really love the vibrant feel of this handheld PC. To me, it is the best screen in handheld gaming PC.

If you love collecting handheld devices like me, I bet you can’t ignore the OLED display in the PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch OLED and this handheld PC, the AyaNEO Air Pro. With better contrast, higher brightness and wider color range, it really makes me unseen again. Once you fell in love with the AyaNEO Air Pro, you don’t want to chase for the specifications anymore.

The APU of this AyaNEO Air Pro is quite old but it will be an upgrade from the original AyaNEO Air non-pro version. It also has good power management at 15W, which is necessary for a handheld device with low battery life like the AyaNEO Air Pro. I am looking forward to trying the AyaNEO Plus 1S, which certainly replaces the AyaNEO Air Pro in my list.

Buying the “Air” family of Aya is recommended for anyone who wants a lightweight experience. The pro version of this AyaNEO Air will be a bit heavier than the non-pro version, thanks to its larger battery. Still, the AyaNEO Air Pro is only 450 g, and if Aya could do well in this direction for its next-gen handhelds, I will certainly choose this as my one-and-only handheld PC device.

The best portable handheld gaming PC – AyaNEO Air

AyaNEO Air

The best portable handheld gaming PC

This is it, the handheld gaming PC that rivals even the Nintendo Switch in terms of lightweight. It also makes good use of its many features from Aya.

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Take a look at the AyaNEO Air

If the AyaNEO Air Pro is not lightweight enough for you, then the AyaNEO Air is your best bet. It is the lite version you want for your handheld, and it is a reference for the famous Nintendo Switch Lite. It uses the same front, albeit a bit thinner from the depth, as the pro version. As a result, the AyaNEO Air cuts more weight to only 403 g.

Now, a lightweight handheld, with fancy effect, and good performance. It’s too good to be true, right? But the portable form is not for everyone. For me, I love the OLED screen and the small size, but sometimes I want to get the experience of 7-inch OLED screens like what Nintendo did. Sadly, you won’t get a 7-inch OLED handheld PC anytime soon.

It’s a chase of technology, and the AyaNEO Air has been dismissed mostly by the low, low cost of the Steam Deck. However, at its current price, you can have a portable handheld PC that doesn’t feel like lifting weights.

The challenger to the ROG Ally – Ayn Loki Max

Ayn Loki Max

The challenger to the ROG Ally

With great price point, the Ayn Loki Max seems to target at the same segment as the ROG Ally.

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Take a look at the Ayn Loki Max

The Ayn Loki Max has a good design and feel that I love, thanks to its slightly portable form. Heck, it is only a bit bigger than the AyaNEO Air that I considered as the best portable handheld gaming PC at 248mm x 98mm x 23.7mm. The weight of the Ayn Loki Max is also on the portable team, at only 568 g. Playing with the Ayn Loki Max is a whole different experience from others’ flagships.

The Ayn Loki Max will take the throne of both of the original AyaNEO Air because of its newer-generation chip. It isn’t the latest handheld PC chipset, but the Ryzen 7 6800U is a powerhouse CPU that is well-supported by drivers than the current 7840U. It performs better than the Steam Deck’s custom chip, about 30% more.

However, the better performance, the more energy the handheld consumes. To avoid the same fate as the original AyaNEO Air, the Ayn Loki Max packs a bigger battery at 46 Wh. You can expect to squeeze nearly 2 hours of playing the most demanding games with this Ayn Loki Max.

The best hybrid handheld gaming PC – GPD Win 4

GPD Win 4

The best hybrid handheld gaming PC

GPD brings out its ultimate hybrid handheld gaming PC with the GPD Win 4. This is the only handheld gaming PC with keyboard, best serving people who wants 70% gaming and 30% working.

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Take a look at the GPD Win 4

GPD is the brand that starts the whole handheld gaming PC market that we love and play today, and as you can see, this is the fourth generation of a handheld. With more experience than other brands, the company knows which is its strength. The GPD Win 4 is the best hybrid handheld PC that you can buy, meaning it’s suitable for anyone who wants to work with their handheld PCs.

The GPD Win 4 has a very portable design and form that I feel Ayn Technologies has copied from that. When the GPD Win 4 was released, it is often compared to the bulky size of the Steam Deck. I’m a handheld player who can’t resist portable handheld PCs like this GPD Win 4. It is truly sexy, and many people think of it as the modern PlayStation Vita.

Also, this is the handheld PC with a physical keyboard, which is okay for some scenarios. However, typing with such keyboard while holding the handheld PC isn’t that good, especially when the grip and feel of the GPD Win 4 isn’t that great. However, I’d rather use this GPD Win 4 than lifting 1 kg of the newest GPD Win Max 2.

However, we will have a new version of the GPD Win 4, with better APU as well as new Oculink input, so you can connect with eGPU for even better performance. So in the end, I recommend you to wait for a few weeks.

The best cooling in handheld gaming PC system – OneXPlayer Mini Pro

OneXPlayer Mini Pro

The best cooling in handheld gaming PC system

If you want a handheld gaming PC with high performance and great cooling system, the OneXPlayer Mini Pro is your best bet. This handheld device is more portable than anything from its line, and one of my most favorite.

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Take a look at the OneXPlayer Mini Pro

OneXPlayer is, along with GPD, the first player in our modern handheld PC market. The OneXPlayer Mini Pro is currently its best offering, with a much “bearable” mini size than its bigger brother – the OneXPlayer 2. While touting smaller size, the OneXPlayer Mini Pro doesn’t compromise both in performance and cooling system.

As one of the first players to this handheld PC market, the company OneXPlayer aims at making big devices with latest technologies. So to speak, the OneXPlayer Mini Pro features its smart cooling system with copper tube and aluminum fin architecture, ready to provide maximum cooling efficiency for your gaming experience. It is quite similar to the flagship of this brand, but thanks to its smaller size and only 1080p screen, the OneXPlayer Mini Pro gives me a better feel for cool gaming experience.

However, the cooling system of OneXPlayer makes it impossible to trim the weight of the handheld PC device as light as the AyaNEO Air model, but the OneXPlayer Mini Pro is decent at only 600g. It is a bit lighter than the Steam Deck, as well as more portable. I believe it is another selling point for the product, as I tend to buy and use smaller handheld devices.

The OneXPlayer Mini Pro features the most powerful chipset to date from this company, the Ryzen 7 6800U APU. It is the most powerful handheld chipset last generation, with 4 more cores and 8 more threads than the Steam Deck. However, capped at 15W as advertised on website, the OneXPlayer Mini Pro is only 15% better than the Steam Deck. If you want to push it a little farther, consider to trade off with the battery life, as the OneXPlayer Mini Pro doesn’t have such large battery as its flagship brother.

One of the best options out there – AOKZOE A1 Pro

AOKZOE A1 Pro

One of the best options out there

The AOKZOE A1 Pro is certainly one of the best handheld gaming PCs available, with the same specs as top-of-the-line handhelds. It actually fixes the critical bugs from its predecessor.

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Take a look at the AOKZOE A1 Pro

On paper, the AOKZOE A1 Pro has a lot of things right, giving it one spot in my list of the best handheld gaming PC today. The handheld PC device brings in the most powerful performance with the latest processor, as well as features at least 32 GB RAM at a 7500MHz frequency, meaning this should be the best handheld PC by specifications.

However, my gaming experience with the AOKZOE A1 Pro isn’t really different from other handheld PC devices. Clearly the increase in memory doesn’t help the device to be the “perfect” handheld for PC gaming. You will still need to configure the settings to deal with AAA games. Actually, that’s something you should expect with handheld gaming PC, right?

The best thing you can get from the AOKZOE A1 Pro is a 8-inch 1080p screen, which is a little bit larger than the common 7-inch screen from other manufacturers. It adds more weight for the device, I know, but many people are demanding for a bigger screen, as not all in-game texts are optimized for handheld devices.

Battery life is also another plus for having the AOKZOE A1 Pro, as it comes with a 65 Wh battery. You will get roughly 2 hours of playing AAA games, which is clearly the best you can get right now. Normally, a person who relies on handheld PC devices doesn’t have that much time, but for any reasons you want to enjoy more hours, consider to set the TDP of the AOKZOE A1 Pro to only 15W.

The best handheld gaming PC with strong display and speaker – OneXPlayer 2

OneXPlayer 2

The best handheld gaming PC with strong display and speaker

If you value your gaming experience, the OneXPlayer 2 will show off its most valuable strengths: the Harman Kardon speakers and 2K-display screen.

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Take a look at the OneXPlayer 2

The OneXPlayer 2 attempts to take the throne of the best handheld gaming PC with its incredible pack of fancy features. It resembles the Nintendo Switch with its detached controller, hoping to copy the success of the best handheld gaming console available.

So to say, the OneXPlayer 2 is a pretty “strong” device. It uses the last-gen Ryzen 7 6800U APU, but you can expect the next-gen availability at the end of the year. Such performance is necessary to bring out the wonderful 8.4-inch 2.5K screen. Yes, 2.5K on handheld, I mean it would be future of handheld gaming, but only when the next-gen processor is capable of handling such nice screen.

Not only display is distinctive in handheld PC market, the speaker of the OneXPlayer 2 is tuned and certified by Harman Kardon. That’s a wow experience, as handheld speaker is still a hit-or-miss kind of thing. Up until now, if I want to experience better sound quality, I need to grab my earbuds, or set up my full audio stack as below. Certainly, the OneXPlayer 2 gives me a decent audio experience.

Sadly, the huge screen is usually a sign of big size, and I don’t think I have enough lifting power to enjoy the OneXPlayer 2 for long gaming sessions, as it weighs roughly 862g. Though I must admit, the grip of the OneXPlayer 2 is quite good, so I bet someone will like to try hardcore handheld gaming.