Home The Best Handheld Gaming PCs in 2022
TechJunkie Expert Recommendations
TechJunkie is supported by our readers. When you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Read More.
The gaming industry is changing drastically, and it’s true what many say; there’s no better time to be a gamer than now. It’s not just the list of titles that is constantly growing. It’s also the number of consoles that become home to these games as well. In the old days, there used to be home consoles and handheld consoles only. This year, another new trend is rising in gaming.
We are, of course, talking about handheld gaming PCs. These are inspired by the Nintendo Switch, but many argue that these are more powerful. While it lacks the amazing Nintendo Switch exclusive games, these consoles are still capable of playing some of the best titles that are usually available on PCs.
There has been a surge in the number of handheld gaming PCs out there, but if you want to find the best of the best, you should take a look at the list we have below.
There have been lots of handheld gaming PCs out there, but if you’re looking for the one that launched the genre to stardom, then you might want to look in the direction of Valve’s Steam Deck. Valve is the world’s largest gaming platform on PC. They’ve had a problematic run when it comes to gaming devices such as controllers and PCs. However, it seems like they really hit it off with the Steam Deck, which was revealed last year. To put it simply, the Steam Deck is the holy grail of gaming PCs right now. If you’re lucky enough to secure a copy for yourself, you have what’s virtually the best handheld gaming PC out there right now. The price of the Steam Deck starts at $399, and this bags you a 64 GB version of the handheld console. You can get a device with storage of up to 512 GB, which is the ideal option. One of the best reasons why you should get the Steam Deck is that it’s the most powerful handheld gaming PC out there. It can run nearly every game on your Steam library, and that’s saying a lot considering how massive the entire library really is. The Steam Deck might be big and chunky, but that size is not without reason. It features a 4-core AMD Zen 2 CPU, after all. Other than that, there’s also an 8-core AMD RDNA GPU and a ram of 16 GB. The Steam Deck boasts a lot of power, and thanks to its amazing design and button placements, you barely have to worry about how some games that are best with keyboards and mice translate to being a handheld title played with buttons. It’s not surprising that the Steam Deck is the best and most exciting handheld gaming PC right now. It’s a fantastic device capable of the best portable gaming experience, so get it while you can.
Most poweful handheld gaming PCAccess to entire Steam libraryGreat design and button layout
Stocks are pretty low
A lot of the handheld gaming PCs that you’ll see on this list came from crowdfunding projects, and that’s not a surprise as these are really risky ventures for brands to dive into. One of the best to come out of crowdfunding is AYN Odin, which is available on IndieGogo. Let’s be honest, a lot of the devices that you’ll see on this list are inspired by the Nintendo Switch. However, one that’s really deeply inspired by the console is the AYN Odin. It looks very similar to the Nintendo Switch and even features a dock that will turn the handheld into what’s basically a home console. Of course, the AYN Odin comes with its own features that make it different from the Nintendo Switch. Despite its cheap price, the AYN Odin is surprisingly capable of a lot of things, including side-loading Windows. It features a 2.0 GHz Dimensity D1000G CPU, 4 GB RAM, and a great display. Specs-wise, the AYN Odin doesn’t feel that impressive, but if you take a second look at the price tag, you’ll see that the AYN Odin offers a lot of value for your money. The biggest draw of the console is, of course, its selection of playable games. Since it can side load Windows, AYN Odin is capable of running Steam and its games, given that the specs reach the required minimum. What makes the AYN Odin better is that it’s basically a handheld designed for retro gaming. It has built-in emulators for consoles, including the PS2, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, GameCube, and a lot more. This gives you literally thousands of games to choose from, and if you love those games, you’re in for a treat. AYN Odin comes in a regular and a lite version. Like the Nintendo Switch, the Lite version is cheaper and smaller, but it cannot be docked on the TV.
Great value for moneyGood for retro gamingGreat battery life
Specs isn't too great
AYA is one of the popular brands when it comes to gaming PCs. They have a few models out already, but if you’re looking for the best that they have to offer, it has to be the AYA Neo Next. First off, let’s clear it out – the AYA Neo Next is very expensive. There’s a good reason for the price, though. This handheld gaming PC is easily one of the most powerful on the market, and it’s possibly even more powerful than the Steam Deck. The device is well-built, it can run a lot of games, and it’s a great handheld gaming PC overall. Let’s talk about the specs first so that you can get a better understanding of why it’s priced this way. In terms of specs, the AYA Neo Next features an AMD Ryzen 7 5825U CPU, an AMD Radeon Vega 8 2000MHz GPU, and a whopping 2 TB of storage inside an SSD. That amount of storage is a lot for a handheld gaming PC, and it’s one of the reasons why the device is so impressive. Of course, this is just the beginning. The device also features a marvelous display that lets you view and enjoy your games in amazing fidelity even while on the go. What makes the AYA Neo Next a cut above its predecessors is that it’s surprisingly small. It’s not as big as the Steam Deck; it’s about the size of the Nintendo Switch. This makes the device a lot more portable than those devices, and it’s surprising to see, considering just how powerful it is. The overall design of the AYA Neo Next is sleek and simple, which makes it one of the most unique devices out there. If only it were cheaper, it would be the top spot on this list. The AYA Neo Next is often regarded as the iPhone of handheld gaming PCs. It’s a sleek and simple, powerful device that’s dragged down by a price that’s not easily affordable by many.
Sleek and slim designGreat specsGreat display
Very expensive
If the AYA Neo Next is a bit much for your budget, what you can do is step it down a notch and get its predecessor. That is the AYA Neo. This is the flagship device of the brand, and it’s almost as good as its latest iteration. Due to the rather expensive and still young release of the AYA Neo Next, the AYA Neo is still the most popular handheld gaming PC from AYA Neo. The device has a lot to brag about. It first launched on IndieGogo, and it became one of the most successful projects on the platform after it secured over $1,000,000 in backing. The company was able to back up every promise that they delivered, and the AYA Neo is basically one of the best handheld gaming PCs out right now. The AYA Neo was popular for many reasons, and one of them is just its marketing phase. The device features great specs for a handheld gaming PC. It comes with an AMD 2.3 GHz 4500 CPU and a 1.5 GHz AMD Radeon GPU. To top it all off, the device is built with 1 TB of storage and 16 GB of RAM. You can enjoy all of these on a large 7″ IPS display that makes every game on the platform enjoyable without any major drawbacks. If you want extra power, the device comes with a Pro version that’s slightly more expensive. We recommend getting the AYA Neo still as it’s easily one of the best handheld devices on the market. It might be bulkier than other devices on the market, but it’s not that surprising, considering that the device features a lot of power to let you play some amazing games on the go. The AYA Neo Next is one of the devices that made handheld gaming PCs are completely popular niche. Thanks to its great price and amazing value, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck with this device.
Great value for your moneyAmazing specsCapable of playing lots of AAA games
Bulkier compared to other models
The direct competitor of AYA Neo is ONEXPLAYER. As the two most popular names in the industry, both brands are capable of dishing out amazing handheld experiences for all gamers out there. The best out of the brand right now is the ONEXPLAYER Mini. It’s not the first to come out of the company, but the ONEXPLAYER Mini is definitely their best. Like the AYA Neo Next, the ONEXPLAYER Mini is the second generation of the company’s handheld gaming PCs. It’s an improvement in a lot of ways to what the original ONEXPLAYER Mini was capable of. The ONEXPLAYER Mini is an amazing device that’s held back by its expensive price, but that doesn’t make it any less worth it. The ONEXPLAYER Mini is a great choice if the original device of the company is a bit large for you. Despite being on the tiny side, the ONEXPLAYER Mini is still just as capable as its predecessor. The device is a tad more expensive than other options on this list. Just to remind you, the Steam Deck costs around $399 only. In this small package, the ONEXPLAYER Mini sports a crisp 7″ display. Aside from that, the device is running on AMD’s AMD Zen 3 with a whopping 16 GB of RAM. In terms of performance, the ONEXPLAYER Mini is basically up to par with the ONEXPLAYER. Its small size means that your hands are going to be free from strain even after gaming for a considerable amount of time. It’s a fresh experience for any gamer out there. The ONEXPLAYER Mini is a good device that’s worthy of its spot as one of the top handheld gaming PCs out there. It has everything that you need in a handheld gaming PC and more.
Compact size, great performanceGreat displayCapable of playing AAA games
Very expensive
Before the ONEXPLAYER, AYA Neo, and the Steam Deck, there was GDP. The company has been in the line of making handheld gaming PCs for a long time. This experience is rewarded with the all-too amazing GPD Win 3 that packs a mean punch. The GPD Win 3 is unique in many ways. One of the reasons it stands out is the fact that it’s the only handheld gaming PC that has a built-in keyboard. The display of the device is capable of sliding out to reveal a full-fledged keyboard at the bottom, which makes a lot of games easier to play. Other handheld gaming PCs require an external keyboard, while some aren’t compatible with any at all. The GPD Win 3 makes it easier for you by including the keyboard within the system itself. The GPD Win 3 is a great performer in its own right too. Despite launching back in 2021, the device is still one of the top performers out there. Aside from the great design, the GPD Win 3 also features a good CPU and a good GPU, which makes the device more than capable of running a few AAA games. Like the Switch, the GPD Win 3 also features a dock that makes it possible for you to play the device on a larger screen, always a great choice. As one of the original handheld gaming PC developers out there, GPD proves that they are easily one of the top brands to rely on. The GPD Win 3 is their best offering, and it’s exciting to see what they come up with next.
GPD Win 3’s docking capabilities are unique and incredibly nifty, which helps you fully utilize not only your portable gaming PC but external devices as well.It’s a PC in your pocket— literally!The GPD Win 3 has a powerful CPU and GPU that can outperform most handheld consoles and even laptops in the market.
A lot of adjustments need to be done when docking the GPD Win 3 for external display.The GPD Win 3 is considerably more expensive compared to other handheld gaming consoles in the market.
314 Articles Published
We're not just tech junkies, but we're also tech experts. Each and every "Best of.." list on TechJunkie is curated by our content-area subject matter experts to provide a well-rounded, unbiased perspective to help and inform you, our reader. Our lists are constantly reviewed and updated, so you can be sure you're reading relevant and up to date information.
Copyright @2024 TechJunkie
Copyright @2024 TechJunkie
If you don’t see an app that should be here, let us know what it is
