Now, unlike some of our compadres over at Windows Central, I’m not a hardcore gamer by any means. But do enjoy sitting back and playing some of the bigger titles released throughout the year.
Even while there are the Starfields, Baldur’s Gate 3s, and Diablo 4s of the world, I’m constantly drawn to trying to play “old” retro games. This has been something I’ve dabbled with ever since getting the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and continues today with the help of dedicated gaming handhelds. Frankly, there has never been a better time to jump into the world of retro gaming than now.
As is the case with everything in the world of tech, there are options to be had at pretty much every price point. Thanks to some early Black Friday deals, you can save a boatload of cash, which can then be used to buy presents for others even more gaming handhelds. We’ll kick things off with a few recommendations for under $100, giving you an idea of where you could (and probably should) start.
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Starter gaming handhelds
Gaming handhelds under $350
More powerful gaming handhelds
You probably knew this section was coming, but there’s a whole world of gaming handhelds besides the ones we’ve talked about. And, there’s definitely an argument to be made about whether the Steam Deck really helped launch this entire category. We aren’t going to dive too deep here, but it’s worth mentioning a couple of options. However, if you’re interested in trying to figure out which portable gaming handhelds you should buy, we recommend checking out this excellent comparison from our friends over at Windows Central.
Why not just use your phone?
You might have made it this far and are still trying to figure out why you would want a dedicated gaming handheld as opposed to the phone in your pocket. That’s a valid question, especially if you have a foldable phone that provides a larger screen than even the Steam Deck or ROG Ally.
However, I would argue that a dedicated device is better than one that serves multiple purposes. In the case of something like the Miyoo Mini Plus, it’s small enough to put in your pocket and take out whenever you have a few minutes. While something like the Ayaneo Pocket AIR or AYN Odin 2 offers a more ergonomic “out of box” experience.
But the real added benefit is that with a dedicated device, you don’t have to worry about being interrupted by a barrage of notifications. Instead, you can just let your phone do “phone things” while enjoying any and all of your favorite games with a separate device.
Even still, there are a few great controllers that easily attach to whatever phone you own. For example, the Backbone One (2nd Gen) was just released, increasing compatibility with different phones, while also introducing an updated D-pad and face buttons. Meanwhile, the MOGA XP7-X Plus is a fantastic telescopic controller that connects to pretty much anything thanks to its Bluetooth connection.
