Portable PC games are growing in popularity among players who wish to play their favorite games whenever and wherever they go. With the power of a gaming PC in a portable package, these devices make gaming convenient wherever and whenever you choose. The basics of PC gaming handhelds will be covered in this article, along with their benefits, popular models, and considerations before making a purchase.
GPD Win 4: PC Gaming Handhelds
CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 CPU |
RAM | 16GB / 32GB LPDDR5 |
GPU | AMD Radeon 780M |
SSD | 1TB / 2TB |
Weight | 1.32 lb |
Dimensions | 8.66 x 3.62 x 1.1 inches |
When you look past the surface, the GPD Win 4 resembles Sony’s PSVita more than it does a gaming handheld. It looks more like a small laptop. AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and AMD Radeon 780m GPU are installed in the portable. Behind a 6-inch 1080p screen is all of that. The GPD Win 4’s sliding Windows keyboard, which makes using the desktop operating system while on the go simple, is one of its best features. Three configurations are available: the base model has 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage; the version with 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD storage costs $1,599.
Ayaneo Air
Product Specifications
CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 CPU |
RAM | 16GB |
GPU | AMD Radeon |
SSD | 512GB SSD |
Weight | 0.87 lb |
Dimensions | 8.8 x 3.5 x 0.7 inches |
The Ayaneo Air is a handheld gaming PC with a 5.5-inch OLED FHD screen that is among the smallest on the market. You should be able to utilize the 6-core AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and AMD Radeon GPU to get a good amount of performance power. Weighting 2.6 pounds, the Ayaneo Air is slightly less than two inches thin. There is space for expansion via a Micro SD slot in addition to the 512GB SSD storage. Even though it might not have as much power as many of the list’s portable Windows handhelds, its size alone makes it a worthwhile purchase.
Asus ROG Ally Z1
Product Specifications
CPU | AMD Ryzen Z1 |
RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 |
GPU | AMD RDNA 3 |
SSD | 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe |
Weight | 1.34 lb |
Dimensions | 0.83 x 11 x 4.4 inches |
Choose the Asus ROG Ally Z1 if you like the way it looks but would prefer something almost as powerful at a lower cost. Windows 11 and a 30W AMD APU with a Zen 4 processor and a GPU with four RDNA 3 CUs are in charge. Admittedly, on this 120Hz FHD handheld with a seven-inch display, those graphics will not be able to compete with AAA games at their highest settings. Games can be made more playable by lowering the settings, but independent games are where the device shines.
Valve Steam Deck
Product Specifications
CPU | 4-core, 8-thread AMD Zen 2 |
RAM | 16GB LPDDR5 |
GPU | 8-core AMD RDNA 2 |
SSD | 256GB |
Weight | 1.47 lb |
Dimensions | 11.7 × 4.6 × 1.9 inches |
The Valve Steam Deck, which is credited with popularizing the portable gaming PC revolution, is not pre-installed with Windows. Rather, it runs Valve’s unique version of SteamOS, and the Steam Deck can run dozens of portable games, ranging from Cyberpunk 2077 to Forza Horizon 5, because of the API Proton.
It is possible to boot Windows straight from the USB-C port on the portable 7-inch display. One of the greatest input controls for a portable gaming handheld is found beyond that. For those who would rather have a bigger, brighter, more colorful screen, there is also the Steam Deck with an OLED version to take into consideration. The Steam Deck OLED makes a discernible difference, offering greater clarity for a better visual experience even though it is still displaying at 1200×800. In addition, you will receive longer battery life, a faster refresh rate, and greater storage capacity than the 256GB found in the conventional LCD model.
Lenovo Legion Go
Product Specifications
CPU | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
RAM | 16GB LPDDR5X |
GPU | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme |
SSD | 512GB SSD |
Weight | 1.41 lb |
Dimensions | 1.6 x 11.76 x 5.16 inches |
The Lenovo Legion Go sticks out from the competition thanks to its enormous form factor and 8.8-inch QHD screen. In addition, it has detachable controllers reminiscent of the Nintendo Switch and an FPS mode that converts the right controller into an ergonomic mouse.
PlayStation Portal
Product Specifications
CPU | SoC |
RAM | n/a |
Storage | n/a |
Battery | 7-9 hours |
Weight | 529g |
Dimensions | 355.6mm x 98.55mm x 152.4mm |
Whether you like it or not, the PlayStation Portal will not defeat the majority of other handheld devices in a fight. But it will give you a dependable, comfortable way to use remote play for PS5 games; other devices can do the same thing, but Sony’s official solution is currently the best.
Logitech G Cloud
Product Specifications
CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G |
RAM | 4GB |
Storage | 64GB |
Battery | 23.1WHrs |
Weight | 608g |
Dimensions | 256.84mm x 117.21mm x 32.95mm |
Although there is still much to be done in the cloud streaming space, the Logitech G Cloud offers a dependable method of accessing programs like GeForce Now and Game Pass Ultimate. Despite some inherent drawbacks, its 1080p screen and integrated controls make it an appealing choice for mobile gamers. There are benefits to avoiding native hardware when gaming.
Razer Edge
Product Specifications
CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 |
RAM | 6GB LPDDR5 |
Storage | 32GB |
Battery | 5,000mAh |
Weight | 401g |
Dimensions | 260mm x 85mm x 11mm |
Although it won’t appeal to everyone, gamers who prefer mobile games but want something closer to a console will find the Razer Edge appealing. This portable can run the newest Android games and spare you from fumbling with virtual on-screen controls thanks to its potent Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 processor and integrated Kishi controller.
Conclusion
With the power and portability of PC gaming handhelds, players can enjoy their favorite games wherever they are. These gadgets have become indispensable for gamers who want performance and flexibility while on the go, with a wide range of options to suit various tastes and requirements.