

The hardware is also largely similar to the Steam Deck, with a fancy split joypad and a 7-inch 120Hz 1080p IPS LCD display. That’s not all as the handheld is also optimised to run games from the Xbox and Steam digital stores. This OS basically opens it up to all online game libraries. Unlike the Steam Deck though, the ROG Ally runs on Windows 11. The Asus ROG Ally is built on the same concept as the Steam Deck i.e., run your PC/console games on a handheld. In other words, while we will let you be the judge and decide which console deserves the crown, here are our top picks. Since there are many strong contenders for the crown and a lot of factors to take into consideration, we decided to list out all of the handheld consoles that, over the years, have had a memorable impact on the gaming industry. So, given the long history of handheld consoles and how they are making a comeback in 2023, it’s time to ask the big question – which is the best handheld console of all time? And that brings us to the modern era, where handheld consoles from Valve and Asus have gone beyond expectations, harnessing the same kind of power as a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Nintendo even went on to experiment with 3D displays (successfully, might we add) as well as disc-like controls to replace the traditional stick. Platform-exclusive games, unique accessories and mild upgrades have made the consoles of that era cult classics.

In the late 1990s and 2000s, the likes of the Game Boy (including its Advance and Advance SP iterations) and Nintendo DS defined the category. However, does that make it the best handheld gaming console of all time? The Switch has an incredible library of exclusive titles and offers a superb experience to today’s gamers, making it one of the best gaming consoles of 2023. In a world where smartphones keep evolving, the Nintendo Switch has kept alive the desirability for handheld gaming consoles.
