Will there ever be a true portable console ever released

[Bladexdsl]

Jesus dude, Nintendo came out with that YEARS AGO... It's called the, uh, umm,

the switch is tablet not a console!

 

[K3Nv4]

the switch is tablet not a console!

Video games are a type of console so anything with a functioning pcb can be counted as such, even a PC.

 

[retrospect]

I wouldn't count on it any time soon. The market is there, but almost no-one is positioned to tap into it.

- The Steam Deck has a big screen (800p) so that it can play PC games designed to be played on computer monitors.
- Nintendo is all-in on one system family, the Switch family, which is a position they've been trying to get to for a long time as it simplifies game development.
- Sony has learned that the market for pocketable PlayStations is small.
- On top of all of this, smartphones are pocketable and play games.

But there's a bunch of old handhelds, and a bunch of new retro handhelds. The library of legacy games is vast - bigger than anything on a modern console. I'd suggest looking at what's available now, what's coming out soon, and what you can do with your phone. Even iPhones have retro game emulators now.

I'd say the best bet would be.... Sega; and that's not ideological thinking. Sega didn't want to exit the hardware businesss and they have a big library of excellent games aimed at children and teenagers that they could port to a new system. They might not be able to compete in the home market, but the handheld market is wide open. Don't hold your breath for it though.

 

[hharuhara]

Switch is in a weird spot for me. Too large and flimsy to be a true portable device, yet too thin to be comfortable and ergonomic for at home play without additional grip attachments. When I have to play on the built-in screen I often place it on the table and use a pro controller.

 

[Veho]

Aaaaaackshually... Now that i think about it, we might get something more portable at some point, maybe.
A console that uses AR glasses could be made smaller, and two separate pieces might be more pocketable than one chonky boy. There's one in the works right now, Tecno Pocket Go. Let's see how that goes.

 

[nine0nine]

I still take my 3DS or DS if I am travelling. The switch is great but it's too big and charging is a chore. I also don't feel there are many truely handheld style games and whilst a lot of (3)DS gems are on the switch (Layton, Picross, Ace Attorney, Brain training etc) forthe most part they feel clunky and out of place on the switch.

I'd be happy with a NEW New 3DS XL with 720p screens, with BC.

 

[Robert Newbie]

This is a common question on the forum. The history of it is that Nintendo's handheld market was eaten up by the mobile (smartphone) market. The success of Candy Crush, Angry Birds, etc. lead to a kind of new age Gold Rush.

This is why the 3DS became the last "true" Nintendo handheld, and it's one of several reasons why the PS Vita failed.

There are portables like the Steam Deck and the Switch, though different users have different definitions of portability. There are several niche options, like the Analogue Pocket, but you really need to do your homework to know what's possible with them.

As long as there are smartphones, I don't see a true handheld market resurfacing. The market's a bit too small, though I can see combo units like the Steam Deck and Switch continuing to be successful.

This is why the Switch 2 will likely be a Switch with tech upgrades and maybe a throwaway gimmick or two. Nintendo will likely play it safe to maintain their current success.

 

[kijetesantakalu042]

Switch Clamshell, screen the size of that on a Switch Lite, minimal bezel, controls and speakers on bottom half, 3DS-style flat analogues. Win or fail?

I think the switch lite is a little too wide. it might need a 16 by 10 display.

I'd be happy with a NEW New 3DS XL with 720p screens, with BC.

Even better if they put in a GBA slot

 

[The_Dizzy_Vizzy]

It's been rumored that MS is making a hand-held, most likely with XBox branding on it. It will have to be significantly more powerful than the SteamDeck, Switch 2 or tlhe Ally to truly compete in the handheld market. And its lineup of content must be equally as impressive. We'll see in a couple of years...

 

[Scarlet]

Just popping in to echo the Odin 2 Mini recommendation for folks looking for a REALLY good handheld that is still very portable. Emulation on it is about as good as you'll find in the wild, with a good chunk of Switch games running without issue. GameCube/Wii/3DS/PS2 are all great out of the box too.

Running Android also gives you a few solid native games, as well as streaming. Just a fantastic all-rounder that I do feel justifies its admittedly high price.

 

[Veho]

Just popping in to echo the Odin 2 Mini recommendation for folks looking for a REALLY good handheld that is still very portable.

It's the same(ish) size and shape and design as the PS Vita, so it's just as portable.

 

[Scarlet]

It's the same(ish) size and shape and design as the PS Vita, so it's just as portable.

View attachment 467246

Yeah the design inspiration is pretty clear. Has a VERY similar D-Pad too, which I absolutely adore. Slightly thicker and a little wider as you can see in the image but feels great in hand.

 

[kijetesantakalu042]

Yeah the design inspiration is pretty clear. Has a VERY similar D-Pad too, which I absolutely adore. Slightly thicker and a little wider as you can see in the image but feels great in hand.

Is it just an android device?

 

[Scarlet]

Is it just an android device?

Yeah it's an Android device with nice controls and enough power to play some Switch and PC games.

 

[kijetesantakalu042]

Yeah it's an Android device with nice controls and enough power to play some Switch and PC games.

If it's just an android phone, how would it play PC games?

 

[Scarlet]

If it's just an android phone, how would it play PC games?

It's not a phone for what it's worth, it has no cellular capabilities. But on PC games, Winlator has been developing pretty nicely. I've personally been playing Just Cause 2 on mine and been having a decent time of it. These things will only get better in time too.

 

[kijetesantakalu042]

It's not a phone for what it's worth, it has no cellular capabilities. But on PC games, Winlator has been developing pretty nicely. I've personally been playing Just Cause 2 on mine and been having a decent time of it. These things will only get better in time too.

It actually looks really cool but I would have preferred an i-86 system.

 

[Scarlet]

It actually looks really cool but I would have preferred an i-86 system.

The GPD Win 4 is probably the closest thing to it in terms of x86 handhelds. Same Vita style D Pad and similar form factor, albeit even thicker than the Odin 2 Mini. Of course with any x86 handheld, especially smaller ones, you'll see worse battery life compared to most Android systems. The Odin 2 Mini probably gets around 6hrs of relatively taxing gameplay, the Win 4 might get 2hrs. Might not be that big of a deal if you're always near a plug (I mostly am) but worth considering all the same.

 

[kijetesantakalu042]

The GPD Win 4 is probably the closest thing to it in terms of x86 handhelds. Same Vita style D Pad and similar form factor, albeit even thicker than the Odin 2 Mini. Of course with any x86 handheld, especially smaller ones, you'll see worse battery life compared to most Android systems. The Odin 2 Mini probably gets around 6hrs of relatively taxing gameplay, the Win 4 might get 2hrs. Might not be that big of a deal if you're always near a plug (I mostly am) but worth considering all the same.

Just looked it up and it has a keyboard, and then saw the price. Maybe the WinEmu on the Odin isn't so bad.

 

[Scarlet]

Just looked it up and it has a keyboard, and then saw the price. Maybe the WinEmu on the Odin isn't so bad.

I've only played Just Cause 2 and that A Link to the Past roguelike but they've gone without issue. You are going to be limited to DRM free games (like the ones from GOG), which does hurt a little though. If you are interested in the performance, I imagine there are a decent number of videos on YouTube for the Odin 2 since it's been out longer. It has pretty much the same internals as the Mini so should be a good comparison point.