What are the notable handhelds atm?

[retrospect]

And have you got one recently and what did you think?

I got a XU10 last year and it's decent. It matched my expectations based on reviews. I left it on the stock firmware which also seems decent.

 

[Mayo1990]

Steam Deck.

 

[Taleweaver]

Switch 2. It's good for playing Nintendo switch 1 games. I'm enjoying it. It's better at AAA games. Though i've got to be honest...

I'm on vacation right now. I've brought my steam deck (non oled). The thing plays anything. Granted, retro games are my jam, but still...
You know what else? Ive got a second one at home that doubles as an actual pc, and Ive got the phetipherals to make it in a console as well (though yes: it's more a hassle last time I tried).

A lot cheaper, comes with carrying case, better for large hands, aforementioned versatility... It's as close to perfect as it could be.

 

[Scarlet]

The Odin 2 Mini has been my go-to since getting it. Definitely one of the more expensive ones out there but it's basically a souped up PS Vita with the power to emulate a good chunk of Switch games. Amazing screen, great controls, and solid battery performance.

Beyond that I've been wanting to build a small assortment of handhelds that do one thing better than anything else. So far I just have the AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic as my go-to GBA system, but I'm hoping that upcoming ONEXSUGAR handheld could be a great 3DS emulation platform. Fingers crossed!

 

[The Catboy]

Steam Deck.

Steam Deck

 

[lwiz]

The Deck. Rather have one good system than personally help CCP in it's mission to destroy the planet with pollution and e-waste. (Sadly doing too well without my help too )

 

[AncientBoi]

For me, it's still my PSP 3001 [hacked] at the moment.

Until the Steam Deck price goes Waaaaaay down.

 

[Robert Newbie]

This is a great question. It seems like a new handheld is announced every month. We had the ROG Xbox Ally X not too long ago, and just today we got the MANGMI Air X announcement thread. The headliners have been Steam Deck and Switch 1/2, but it'd be interesting to compare the other options to them.

I've considered a Steam Deck off and on. Between the pricepoint and all the fancy stuff, from Proton to Steam Deck compatibility ratings, it's too easy to start and stop there.

 

[Citizen_404]

I have a Steam Deck "clone" (Ayn Loki) and it has literally completely changed the way I play games. It plays the vast majority of my Steam library without any issues, and I can just switch to the Linux desktop when I want to play an emulator (I run ChimeraOS), like Cemu or Lime3DS (or whatever it is nowadays, lol).

I can even game in bed!

I have an Ayn Odin 2 as well, and while that does so much so well, the Loki just does everything better. The Odin 2 just isn't as powerful, and Android is pretty meh.

EDIT: I also meant to say, the bonus with getting a Steam Deck vs. any other handheld PC is that you are NOT paying the Windows tax. And honestly, even if you bought an ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go, you'd be better off running Linux on it anyway. Windoze on a handheld really sucks.

 

[Skv0ra]

I say Legion Go since its not made by ASsUS, has a mouse mode and runs full Win aka you properly get every penny's worth and aren't limited to being stuck with only 1 publisher like Steam Deck, on paper anyway.

Still rocking my Sager/Clevo 15" and it's proverbially hand held, heheheh. My point being - if you're gonna shell a proper chunk of money at something capable of doing MORE than being 1 brand's exclusive access machine, get the one that can let you do the most. PAST beauty of handhelds was honestly the price point, but these days they're becoming closer to keyboardless laptops, and at least I would want it to do the most it can do outside of strictly gaming.

 

[RHOPKINS13]

Another Steam Deck rocker. I literally use my Steam Deck every day.

For me, it's not just a handheld. I have USB-C docks set up both at home and at work for it. I'm dual-booting Bazzite and Windows. I use it for both work and play. Not just for Steam games, EmuDeck is amazing, as well as Heroic Games Launcher for games from Epic, GOG, and Amazon. I've got quite a few old PC games loaded on it, including the Tony Hawk, Harry Potter, and Need for Speed series. Works well with all sorts of other games and homebrew projects, I've loaded up DevilutionX (Diablo 1), sm64ex-coop (Super Mario 64), Ship of Harkinian (Ocarina of Time), Starship (Star Fox 64), SpaghettiKart (Mario Kart 64), PokeMMO, and more. I have more fun tinkering / modding than actually playing games, and with Steam Deck the capabilities are endless.

 

[Taleweaver]

EDIT: I also meant to say, the bonus with getting a Steam Deck vs. any other handheld PC is that you are NOT paying the Windows tax. And honestly, even if you bought an ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go, you'd be better off running Linux on it anyway. Windoze on a handheld really sucks.

Not having to pay for windows is AN advantage. But games literally run better on steamos (i presume most Linux distros with proper drivers), the sleep mode works properly and the ui is much easier. It's not even just our opinion anymore, as tests on the same devices have revealed exactly that.
(yes, anticheat systems hold a few games hostage on windows. Being a fan of those really sucks)

 

[Scarlet]

I'll pop back in here with one I just bought:


(link here if the embed doesn't work for you either)

Supposedly starting to ship Sep 15th, which is way sooner than I thought. Looks like such a fun device for 3DS games.

 

[Nikokaro]

Obviously these (j2me gaming devices), only for refined connoisseurs (like yours truly ), and naahh, don't beg me, I can't sell them to you: be content with your more modern "junk"...

 

[tech3475]

Obviously these (j2me gaming devices), only for refined connoisseurs (like yours truly ), and naahh, don't beg me, I can't sell them to you: be content with your more modern "junk"...

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As far as I'm concerned the only good dumb phone games are Snake, Snake II and Tetris.

 

[slaphappygamer]

+1 for the PSP. I had the 3000 and it was nice. I then upgraded to a Vita. The Vita is way better. I run adrenaline and can boot pspOG and Vita games, as well as PSX and RetroArch.

 

[Nikokaro]

As far as I'm concerned the only good dumb phone games are Snake, Snake II and Tetris.

Hmm... I don't think so! Those are probably the first titles available on a mobile; you forgot Gameloft's masterpieces. To name a few, among the thousands on my micro SD (all games unfortunately unfairly underrated and forgotten):

 

[Robert Newbie]

+1 for the PSP. I had the 3000 and it was nice. I then upgraded to a Vita. The Vita is way better. I run adrenaline and can boot pspOG and Vita games, as well as PSX and RetroArch.

Always happy to see that the PSP isn't forgotten. It was a great handheld for its time, and the homebrew community supported it well. The Vita goes for about $200, and like the Steam Deck (and the Switch), I've found myself considering the possibilities multiple times. I'll always be upset by how badly Sony bungled the Vita, but it is still a solid handheld in its own right.

Hmm... I don't think so! Those are probably the first titles available on a mobile; you forgot Gameloft's masterpieces. To name a few, among the thousands on my micro SD (all games unfortunately unfairly underrated and forgotten):

View attachment 518370View attachment 518371View attachment 518372View attachment 518373

Now, that's dedication. I get a little nostalgic for the non-smartphone days of the mid-to-late 2000's. What a strange time for mobile games.

That reminds me, I still haven't found that mobile remake of Seiken Densetsu i-mode.

I just did a quick search, and according to RockmanCosmo, it has been preserved. I don't have an X account, so I'm not sure if it's available anywhere.