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The best handheld devices, but which one to choose?
nintendo switch
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![Sim Pocket Hero 3](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/14c58dff3876e316b6e21f9d730619d3744cc57e/hub/2021/12/10/66da4853-de33-49e0-91c9-6bec739db279/analogue-pocket-hero3.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=144&width=144)
Best handheld console for collectors of old games
simulated pocket
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![panic-playdate-review-3](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/581ea402b9afe4352e5b9674c02ba75a848beb16/hub/2022/04/14/9c98d2b9-900f-4563-a4c8-71dc8f6b3a6d/panic-playdate-review-3.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=144&width=144)
Best Ultra-Small Standalone Novelty System
panic dating
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![The white Evercade EXP game console is placed on the side, with two game cartridges next to it](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/a5e00c8b745a6d581f331698270ef99799162b46/hub/2023/03/17/daa118d7-f109-4576-9819-8256f86c0d0d/evercadeexp-1jpg.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=144&width=144)
Retro compilation considerations
Evercard EXP
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![Zelda game viewing link](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/e735f061d99d19cf9c2392321d341c7c582a3d1f/hub/2021/11/11/44d29969-4792-4696-82c3-6578f8df02d8/zelda-game-watch-link.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=144&width=144)
If you just want a novel alternative
The Legend of Zelda Games and Watches
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Over the past few years, we’ve seen a renaissance in handheld gaming consoles – thanks to the convenience of mobile gaming and streaming technology.Furthermore, there is no doubt that the success of 2017 nintendo switch also contributed to this change. Today, there are even more options: steam deckindie and retro consoles, e.g. panic datingsimulated pockets and Evercard EXPas well as mobile streaming devices such as razer edge and Logitech G Cloud. Here are the best dedicated handheld gaming console options and why they’re worth considering.
Phones and tablets are already great at playing a ton of great games as well as streaming them from the console or the cloud. Dedicated devices can offer unique features, exclusive games, or extra features to accomplish tasks that a mobile phone cannot.Feels like I’m back in the mid-2010s Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita.
this nintendo switch It’s been the best, most affordable portable gaming system for years, and remains CNET’s top choice. It’s $300 (our favorite model is $350), can play a variety of Nintendo and indie games, can dock with your TV, and can even play some fitness games.valve steam deck Offering a unique proposition for those with deep pockets: it’s big and can double as a full gaming PC. one year laterit’s still great (arguably even better than before).
For those who miss retro gaming handheld consoles hand-held gaming deviceyou may consider putting yourself on the waiting list to order simulated pocket or panic dating That’s true too, but both systems are more niche and more indie or retro-friendly than the Switch and Steam Deck.
We’ll explain below.
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The Nintendo Switch has been out for more than five years, but Nintendo says it doesn’t have a true successor yet. A Pro model has been rumored for a while, but in the meantime, the existing Switch is still very capable, packed with great games (including many indie titles), and quite affordable considering its dual functionality as a handheld/TV connection . The Switch is also a great source for retro games (Game Boy, NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, etc.) through its subscription-based Switch Online service.
The OLED screen Switch released in October 2021 is the best Switch and our recommended choice. The more vivid, larger display looks great, and its rear stand is better suited for desktop gaming, both upgrades worth the extra $50. The original Switch (or V2 version) cost $300, worked similarly, and is still pretty good, with the occasional special edition and holiday game bundle. For those who just want a basic portable gaming system, but it lacks the ability to connect to a TV and its controllers can’t be removed, the smaller, handheld-only Switch Lite is a great value option, priced at $200. This makes it less versatile for home use, and means you won’t be able to replace the controllers if they get damaged.
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Valve’s massive and powerful Steam Deck is nothing short of a miracle. It plays a variety of PC games brilliantly, making it a portable gaming dream for any die-hard Steam fan or anyone with a large library of PC games. The Steam Deck can get expensive for larger storage tiers, but for its features, it’s not a bad deal. The ability to play PC games or stream cloud-based games and connect to a monitor, keyboard, or other accessories makes the Steam Deck unique. A year later, it’s still great and worth buying right now (we don’t know when the second-generation Steam Deck will be released, though).
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The Pocket looks like a complete remake of the Game Boy, and in a way it is. Analogue’s gorgeous handheld console plays perfectly with original Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges, and can even play Sega Game Gear games using adapters (Atari Lynx, Neo Geo Pocket, and Turbografx-16 adapters should be coming soon) . It has a high-resolution color screen and USB-C charging, and there’s a TV playback dock sold separately. One of the most exciting updates to Pocket is its support for FPGA cores, which can replicate classic gaming hardware and run ROMs. There’s no game store to buy games from: If you want to mess around with an FPGA, the Pocket is a system that can play classic cartridges or other games at amazing quality. There’s also a growing library of Pocket-compatible software on indie gaming channels like itch.io, which can also be sideloaded onto a microSD card.
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The little Panic Playdate, with its yellow, black-and-white screen, looks like a weird Game Boy with a mechanical crank growing out of the side. But this system, made by the same indie game company that developed Untitled Goose Game, can play its own little seasons of 24 independently developed games that are included with the purchase and appear like weekly gifts over time. Playdate has Wi-Fi, and you can download games from sites like itch.io or sideload other independently developed games, but you have to learn to like the experience you find. We’re enjoying playing it so far, but unfortunately, the Playdate doesn’t have any backlighting – you’ll have to find a light. The most recent update added a new catalog of on-device apps and the ability to purchase games individually, but the price of Playdate also jumped to $199: for the same price, you can also buy a Switch Lite.
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Evercade EXP only plays its own dedicated series of game cartridges. These cartridges include retro console or arcade games for niche players such as Irem, Toaplan and Jaleco, as well as Capcom, Atari and Namco. There were even platform-focused series such as Intellivision, Commodore 64, and Atari Lynx.
The Evercade EXP comes preloaded with Capcom games, as well as Irem cartridges (remember R-Type?). With the push of a button, the handheld device can switch to vertical mode to play vertical TATE arcade games, which is a neat touch. You can also plug it into your TV (mini HDMI cable required) and play games on a larger screen.
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Razer’s Android mini tablet handheld computer (don’t call it a phone) has a clear, high-resolution 6.8-inch AMOLED display and a Qualcomm Snapdragon G3X gaming-specific mobile chip that can play a variety of Android games. The Wi-Fi version sells for $400, which is cheaper than many phones, and comes with its own snap-on game controller, which typically sells for about $100.
It can also stream Xbox and PC games through the Android app, just like your phone. But this handheld doesn’t do enough unique things to deserve a real reason to own one. The Verizon-exclusive version of 5G isn’t worth the monthly cellular subscription fee, either.
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Nintendo’s small game and watch reboots still exist, with mini-collections of classic games like Super Mario or The Legend of Zelda. At $50 (or even less), they’re much cheaper than other handheld devices. Of course, they only play a few games. But they are portable and could be the perfect little travel toy for a kid or collector.
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Tablets and phones are very effective gaming consoles: The iPad has a ton of games on the App Store, and hundreds more on Apple’s subscription-based Apple Arcade. The iPad can also be paired with Bluetooth game controllers. Obviously, there are plenty of games for iPhone and Android phones, too, and there are plenty of great game controller cases to choose from, including Backbone and Razer Kishi.
Phones and tablets also offer other advantages, including the ability to cloud stream games on a growing number of services, including Microsoft Game Pass Ultimate and PlayStation Plus.
The handheld devices listed above have other advantages: a unique game library, the opportunity to connect to a TV and play with others, and the ability to play higher-end computer games or classic game cartridges.
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The Nintendo Switch Pro is a long-rumored upgrade to the Switch that could finally offer 4K gaming and perhaps upgraded controllers, although the existence of such a device is entirely speculation. Nintendo will likely slightly improve the Switch with new models every few years, just like it has continued to upgrade its Nintendo DS and 3DS lines over time.
The Steam Deck has been out for just over a year, but it’s unclear when or if Valve will choose to upgrade it with a better processor or newer features. Currently, Microsoft and Sony have not ventured into the field of handheld games.
Razer’s Android-based gaming tablet, the Razer Edge, shows how a new wave of gaming tablets could emerge, becoming the Steam Decks of the mobile world. However, the Edge is more like an Android device with a controller that’s currently no better than the controllers you’d buy for your phone.
Logitech’s streaming-only G Cloud handheld is a similar product, but its controls are attached to the device. These handhelds may be an indication that more console/PC accessories could be coming as home handhelds to stream games away from your TV, but right now you’re better off using a phone or tablet and a game controller to do pretty much the same thing .
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My kids alternate between playing iPad games and Nintendo Switch. The Switch is hands down the best gaming console for kids, with the best library of family-friendly games and the best parental control settings. However, be prepared to be annoyed by purchasing multiple copies of the game and going through the trouble of creating multiple Switch family accounts.
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