This ain't your parents' Game Boy: New gaming handhelds are powerful, pricey — and far from pocket-sized

Portable gaming systems ar making a comeback this yr — but the landscape painting looks really different from their heyday a couple on of decades ago.

This year marked the first time all three major gaming hardware companies — Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft — have handheld devices on the market. And they're not the only ones.

A holiday survey conducted on behalf of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) found that 16 per cent of kids asked for gaming handhelds — like the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck portable computer — for Christmas gifts. Meanwhile, 46 per cent requested a home console, including the Nintendo Switch 2.

ESAC president Paul Fogolin said while handhelds represent a relatively small slice of the pie, the survey results spoke well to the growing segment, since most of these devices are very new. Desire for the Steam Deck, in particular, also signalled a growing interest in PC gaming.

That said, all of the aforementioned devices are very different, and which one works best for the gamer who aspires to play while on the go (or anywhere other than the living room) depends on several factors. Here's what you need to know about them.

Released: June 2025

Price: $629.99, $699.99 bundled with Mario Kart World

Videogame critic describes what's new with the Nintendo Switch 2

What is it? In most respects, the Switch 2 is a straight hardware update to the original Switch, which became immensely popular thanks to its ability to play as a handheld but also connect to a TV via a dock.

A significant power boost over its predecessor brings it nearly in line with Sony's and Microsoft's current home consoles. Its Joy-Con controllers now connect to the tablet with magnets, and it can play games (including your older Switch 1 games) via digital download or physical game cards.

Drawbacks? Like most new gaming hardware, the Switch 2 is expensive, more so if you want the bundle with Mario Kart World. The Joy-Con's buttons and joysticks are smaller than average and can get uncomfortable to use in longer play sessions.

Who's it for? For fans of Mario, Zelda and other Nintendo games, this is the easy choice as they aren't available anywhere else. The Switch 2 is a solid new device, but if you're looking for a more affordable option, the previous Switch consoles still play the vast majority of games in its library.

Released: October 2025

Price: $799 for the Ally, $1,299 for the Ally X

What is it? Microsoft's first-ever gaming handheld is not a shrunken-down version of the Xbox Series S/X home console. It's a gaming-focused PC running a special version of Windows, produced in partnership with computer maker Asus.

Streamlined for playing games first, with a form factor made to mimic a full-sized Xbox controller, it's more comfortable to hold — albeit heavier — than the Switch 2.

With the ability to play PC games from other platforms, including Steam and Epic Games, players have access to the largest library of games on the go.

Drawbacks? Despite Microsoft's marketing line that nearly everything these days is an Xbox, you won't be able to play some older Xbox console games on the Ally. It can play everything on the PC Game Pass list, as well as Play Anywhere games that work on either a PC or Xbox console.

You can also run into strange compatibility issues; some games, for instance, will still prompt you to hit keys on a keyboard, when no keyboard exists. It's also the most expensive out of the big three gaming companies' handhelds.

Who's it for? Anyone who wants to play their Xbox and PC games on the go and doesn't want to wade into the more complicated waters of PC-first portables. Just be willing to pay the hefty price tag, particularly for the Ally X, which makes a strong argument as the most powerful portable PC right now.

Released: November 2023

Price: $270, but often on sale for about $240

What is it? The PlayStation Portal is the odd duck on this list. The svelte tablet-like device is streaming-only, meaning you can't download and play games straight off the system.

Instead it's primarily meant to tether to a PlayStation 5, letting you play anywhere around your home or even away from home if you're connected to WiFi, as long as your home console is running or in rest mode.

The Portal's been out since 2023, but a new update earlier this fall added cloud streaming, letting you play a limited selection of games without owning a PS5 console — as long as you have a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription, which costs $25 a month or $225 a year.

Drawbacks? As a streaming-only device, you need a strong internet connection to play. Since you aren't playing off a hard drive, the game's picture quality and frame rate can fluctuate, just like what can happen on a video streaming app.

While the Portal's main buttons and joysticks are comfortable to use, the power and volume buttons are placed near the back, making for awkward ergonomics.

Who's it for? At less than $300, that makes it the cheapest option by more than half if you're still looking to enter the current crop of gaming ecosystems — if you don't care about inconsistent quality thanks to streaming technology.

Since the Switch launched in 2016, boutique PC gaming brands have released their own handhelds that play PC games.

Chief among them is the Steam Deck by Valve, with a gaming-friendly, custom operating system and relatively affordable prices. Others from Lenovo or MSI offer newer processors or different form factors.

The high-end version of the Steam Deck, which comes with an OLED screen and sells for $819, is probably the most popular out of this segment. But its performance lags behind the newer Xbox ROG Ally X.

You've probably noticed that the new generation of gaming handhelds aren't very small. They have seven-inches-plus screens, full-sized controller handles and likely need an expensive carrying case all for themselves.

Smaller and independent creators have tried to fill the gap for nostalgia-driven enthusiasts. The Analogue Pocket looks like a high-end version of the Game Boy Pocket; the AYN Thor is a dual-screen device similar to Nintendo's 3DS.

These devices, however, are often expensive, limited in stock and require a level of technical know-how to unlock their full potential — which often involves (unofficially, in many cases) playing classic games via legally grey-zoned emulation.

Otherwise, you'll have to trawl your retro gaming stores to find old cartridges — or dig out your childhood collection while visiting family over the holidays. These tend to be best reserved for enthusiast tinkerers.

Journalist

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