PickedTech
Buying guide

The Best Handheld Gaming Consoles and PCs in 2026

The Verge’s pick is the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X at $999, the only top-tier handheld PC that hasn’t gone up in price. The Steam Deck OLED is still Engadget’s pick for most people, but it now starts at $789, so a refurbished Deck is the bargain. Switch 2 is $499.99.

By PickedTech Editorial TeamLast updated Prices & specs checked Oct 2026

Disclosure: PickedTech is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. This never affects which products we recommend or how we rank them. How we make money.

How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec pages, official prices and published lab measurements from the outlets we name and link. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.

Quick answer

The Verge’s pick is the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X at $999, the only top-tier handheld PC that hasn’t gone up in price. Best handheld PC: ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X, $999.99. Best for Steam: Valve Steam Deck OLED, from $789. Best cheaper Windows handheld: ASUS ROG Xbox Ally, $600. Best console handheld: Nintendo Switch 2, $499.99.

Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026

Key facts at a glance

Key facts (prices checked Oct 2026)
PickProductBest forPrice
Best handheld PCASUS ROG Xbox Ally Xplaying PC games anywhere$999.99
Best for SteamValve Steam Deck OLEDSteam librariesFrom $789
Best cheaper Windows handheldASUS ROG Xbox Allya cheaper Windows handheld$600 MSRP
Best console handheldNintendo Switch 2Nintendo games$499.99
Best for retro gamesRetroid Pocket 5emulating older consoles$219

This guide combines The Verge’s[1][5] October 2026 handheld PC guide and Engadget’s[2] 2026 handheld guide with Nintendo’s pricing (prices checked October 2026). Memory shortages pushed many prices up this year, so older reviews often list prices that are now too low; for example, Engadget’s guide still shows the $399 Steam Deck LCD, which The Verge reports Valve discontinued in December 2025.

Which should you buy? Our quick picks

Best handheld PC
ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X
The Verge’s pick; $999
Check price (opens in a new tab)
Best for Steam
Valve Steam Deck OLED
Engadget’s pick; from $789 new
Check price (opens in a new tab)
Best cheaper Windows handheld
ASUS ROG Xbox Ally
$600 MSRP, sometimes $500
Check price (opens in a new tab)
Best console handheld
Nintendo Switch 2
$499.99 since Sept. 1
Check price (opens in a new tab)
Best for retro games
Retroid Pocket 5
Engadget’s pick; $219
Check price (opens in a new tab)

How do they compare?

Gaming handhelds compared (prices checked October 2026)
HandheldPriceOSScreenBest for
ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X$999.99Windows 117-inch 1080p 120Hz IPSPlaying PC games anywhere
Steam Deck OLED$789 (512GB) or $949 (1TB) new; $629 refurbished (512GB)SteamOS7.4-inch 90Hz OLEDSteam libraries
ASUS ROG Xbox Ally$600 MSRPWindows 117-inch 1080p 120Hz IPSA cheaper Windows handheld
Nintendo Switch 2$499.99Nintendo7.9-inch 1080pNintendo games
Retroid Pocket 5$219Android 135.5-inch 1080p OLEDEmulating older consoles

The picks in detail

Best handheld PC

1. ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X

Best for: playing PC games anywhere

The Verge[1][5] says to buy the Xbox Ally X if it’s still $999, calling it the only top-tier handheld that hasn’t hiked its price, with a good mix of performance, comfort and battery life. Engadget[2] names it the best Windows handheld: Ryzen Z2 Extreme, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD and an 80Wh battery.

Price (Oct 2026): $999.99 Source

Pros

  • Fast Ryzen Z2 Extreme
  • Big 80Wh battery
  • Plays Game Pass and any PC store

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Windows can be clunky
Check ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X price (opens in a new tab)
Best for Steam

2. Valve Steam Deck OLED

Best for: Steam libraries

Engadget’s[2] pick for most people, with a 7.4-inch HDR OLED screen and SteamOS. Valve’s Steam store lists it at $789 for 512GB and $949 for 1TB, so look for Valve’s certified refurbished units: a refurbished 512GB OLED was $629, and a refurbished Steam Deck LCD $359 when in stock. It’s sold by Valve, not Amazon.

Price (Oct 2026): From $789 Source

Pros

  • Great OLED screen
  • Polished SteamOS
  • Refurbs are a bargain

Cons

  • Price up sharply
  • Less powerful than the Ally X
Check Valve Steam Deck OLED price (opens in a new tab)
Best cheaper Windows handheld

3. ASUS ROG Xbox Ally

Best for: a cheaper Windows handheld

The Verge[1][5] calls this the most affordable handheld you can actually find, at a $600 MSRP and sometimes $500 on sale, with comfortable grips. It’s slower than the Ally X.

Price (Oct 2026): $600 MSRP Source

Pros

  • Comfortable grips
  • Cheaper than a new Deck

Cons

  • Slower chip
  • Windows quirks
Check ASUS ROG Xbox Ally price (opens in a new tab)
Best console handheld

4. Nintendo Switch 2

Best for: Nintendo games

Nintendo raised the standard Switch 2 from $449.99 to $499.99 on September 1, 2026. Engadget[2] doesn’t list it as a formal pick because it lives in its own ecosystem, but it’s the easiest way to play Mario, Zelda and Pokémon.

Price (Oct 2026): $499.99 Source

Pros

  • Nintendo exclusives
  • Docks to a TV

Cons

  • Up $50 this year
  • Can’t play PC libraries
Check Nintendo Switch 2 price (opens in a new tab)
Best for retro games

5. Retroid Pocket 5

Best for: emulating older consoles

Engadget’s[2] best mobile handheld at $219, with a 5.5-inch 1080p OLED and Snapdragon 865. It’s far less powerful than a handheld PC, so modern PC and console games only run through streaming.

Price (Oct 2026): $219 Source

Pros

  • Pocketable
  • OLED screen
  • Cheap

Cons

  • Setup takes effort
  • No modern PC games locally
Check Retroid Pocket 5 price (opens in a new tab)

Also considered

Lenovo Legion Go: The Verge[1][5] says the original is sometimes $600 open-box, but it’s bulky and lacks a variable-refresh screen.

Playdate: Engadget’s[2] quirky indie pick.

Add storage

Switch 2 needs microSD Express cards, and most handheld PCs take regular microSD. See microSD cards for Switch 2 and microSD Express cards.

Audio

For low-latency audio, see best gaming headsets.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best handheld gaming PC?
The Verge[1][5] recommends the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X at $999. Engadget[2] picks the Steam Deck OLED for most people, though it now starts at $789.
How much is the Steam Deck now?
Valve’s Steam store lists the Steam Deck OLED at $789 (512GB) and $949 (1TB). The Verge[1][5] reports a refurbished 512GB OLED at $629 and says Valve discontinued the new Steam Deck LCD in December 2025.
How much does the Switch 2 cost?
$499.99 in the US since September 1, 2026, up from $449.99.

Sources

Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.

  1. The Verge: The best handheld gaming PC (October 2026) (theverge.com)
  2. Engadget: The best handheld gaming devices for 2026 (engadget.com)
  3. Valve: Steam Deck on the Steam store (store.steampowered.com)
  4. Nintendo: Price revision for Nintendo Switch 2 (nintendo.com)
  5. The Verge: The Switch 2’s $50 price increase (theverge.com)
comparison

Steam Deck OLED vs ROG Xbox Ally X

The Steam Deck OLED’s price rise to $789 narrowed the gap. For $999, the Xbox Ally X adds much more performance, a bigger battery and access to every PC store. The Deck is still the easiest handheld to pick up and play, and it has the better screen.

comparison

PS5 vs Nintendo Switch 2

These consoles do different jobs. The $499.99 Switch 2 works on the TV and in your hands and runs Nintendo’s family-friendly exclusives. The $649.99 PS5 is a TV-only console for big-budget games and 4K Blu-ray.

best of

The Best PC Game Controllers in 2026

Wirecutter’s best PC controller is Microsoft’s $49 Xbox Wireless Controller, which has built-in Windows support. Tom’s Guide’s best overall is Valve’s $99 Steam Controller, though it only works with SteamOS.

best of

The Best Capture Cards in 2026

GamesRadar+’s best external capture card is the AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra 2.1 (HDMI 2.1, 4K60 capture). TechRadar’s top pick is the plug-and-play Elgato HD60 X, and PC Gamer’s best budget card is the Elgato Game Capture Neo.

best of

The Best Gaming Consoles in 2026

Every major console got more expensive in 2026. Wirecutter’s picks are the PlayStation 5 (now $649.99), the Xbox Series X ($799.99) and, if you want to play on the go, the Nintendo Switch 2 ($499.99). The Switch Lite ($229) is the cheapest way into current games.

best of

The Best VR and Mixed-Reality Headsets in 2026

Get the Meta Quest 3S ($349.99) if you’re new to VR, the Quest 3 ($599.99) for the best standalone mixed reality, or Valve’s Steam Frame (from $1,059) if you own a gaming PC. Vision Pro and Galaxy XR are premium headsets for apps and video more than games.

best of

The Best Graphics Cards for Gaming in 2026

Tom’s Hardware ranks the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti first and AMD’s RX 9070 XT second, but memory shortages mean most cards sell far above MSRP. On October 26 the 5070 Ti’s best US price was $1,229 against a $749 MSRP.

best of

Best microSD Cards for Switch 2 and Action Cameras

The Switch 2 only takes microSD Express cards. GoPro cameras want regular V30 UHS-I cards. Don’t mix them up.

best of

Best microSD Express Cards

The Switch 2 only runs games from microSD Express cards. Prices have dropped a lot, and 256GB now starts around $55.

best of

Best Gaming Headsets of 2026

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is the best headset for most gamers. The wired HyperX Cloud III is a strong $100 pick, and the Cloud III S Wireless lasts up to 200 hours.

comparison

Nintendo Switch 2 vs ROG Xbox Ally X

Half the money buys Nintendo’s first-party library and a docked TV mode. Twice the money buys a Windows handheld that can run Steam, Game Pass and PC stores. The trade-off is library versus flexibility.