Looking for a solid handheld gaming console? I’ve spent way too much time digging through and here’s what I found. Whether you’re into retro classics, cloud gaming, or just want something fun for the couch or your commute, these are the ones worth checking out.
1. Anbernic RG353V
If you’re into retro games, this one’s kind of a gem. It’s got this cool transparent black shell and comes loaded with over 4,000 games on a 64gigabytes SD card. Think old-school stuff like Super Mario World or Final Fantasy VII. It runs both Android and Linux you can flip between them with a button combo, and you can even stream PC games over WiFi. The screen is 3.5 inches, super clear, and looks great in the dark. Dreamcast stuff can lag a bit, and the analog sticks are kinda tiny. Playing Crash Bandicoot on them is a bit of a fight, but for what it is, it’s a great little nostalgia machine.
2. Logitech G Cloud
This one’s all about cloud gaming. If you’ve got fast internet at home, you can stream Xbox games, Steam, GeForce NOW, all that. The screen’s a nice 7-inch 1080p touchscreen, and it’s super light feels like a tablet with a controller built in. Battery life is great too, like 12+ hours, which is wild. But it’s really meant for streaming you’re not running games directly on it so public WiFi can be hit or miss. Also, not every app works perfectly with the built-in controls, so sometimes you’ll need to pair a controller.
3. Nintendo Switch Lite
If you just want to play Nintendo games and don’t care about hooking it up to a TV, the Switch Lite is a solid pick. Great for Zelda, Mario Kart, Smash Bros all the usual Nintendo stuff. Battery lasts about 5–7 hours. It’s small and lightweight, so good for travel or just zoning out on the couch. You’ll want to grab a microSD card if you’re downloading big games though, since storage fills up fast.
4. Sony PSP 3000 – Blue
This one’s for the old-school PlayStation fans. The PSP 3000 still holds up surprisingly well. You can play PSP games, PS1 classics, and even watch movies on it. It’s super light, battery’s decent around 5 hours, and it still feels nice in the hands. The screen looks good too, considering its age. No touchscreen, no dual analog sticks, and it uses UMD discs or Memory Stick Pro Duo, so it’s definitely got that retro feel. Great for nostalgic road trips or chill nights.
5. Nintendo Switch Lite
Same as the gray version above, just in a nice blue color. It’s light, feels good to hold, and plays all the same Nintendo hits. Again, no docking to the TV, but if you’re cool with handheld-only, it’s a great pick. Still recommend grabbing a microSD card to expand the storage though it fills up quickly if you install multiple big titles.
6. Atari Pocket Player Pro
This one’s more of a novelty, but it’s fun. It’s a tiny handheld with a bunch of old Atari games like Asteroids, Pong, and Missile Command. The screen’s small but colorful, and it runs on AA batteries or USB-C. Not the most responsive D-pad, and some games haven’t aged super well, but if you want something to mess around with in short bursts or just to relive some arcade memories, it’s a fun pocket toy.
7. Nintendo Switch
This is the classic Switch. If you want something that does both handheld and TV gaming, this is the one to get. The detachable Joy-Cons make local multiplayer easy, and the library of games is massive. Battery life is better than it used to be about 9 hours depending on what you’re playing. The only downside is the kickstand feels flimsy, and internal storage is still only 32 gigabytes, so yeah, more SD card advice here. But overall, it’s super versatile.
