Black Friday deals are already live, and among them, we're seeing discounts for various gaming handheld devices. I've tested every major PC gaming handheld on the market today, and I can tell you that right now is a great time to pick up one of these portable gaming machines whether it's the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion Go, Nintendo Switch, or other device.
To help you come to a decision this deal season, I'll go over five reasons why now is such a good time to buy a handheld and conclude with two reasons why you might want to hold off a little longer.
Pro 1 - There have been a lot of price drops recently
The majority of gaming handhelds on the market right now are at least a year old and midway through (or near the end of) their generation cycle. This being the case, most devices can be found selling at a discount rather than at their launch MSRP, especially during sales events. In our experience, Best Buy usually has the best gaming handheld deals.
During Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Prime Days, we've seen gaming handhelds drop in price by $100 or more, making them far more affordable, and the same is bound to happen again. It's a great time to get your first handheld or upgrade to a better one.
TRADE-IN OFFER: By the way, from now through December 31, 2024, Best Buy is offering up to $230 in savings when you trade in your ROG Ally for an ROG Ally X. More specifically, you'll get a $50 coupon toward your ROG Ally X purchase and then a gift card up to $180 for your traded-in handheld, depending on the model and condition it is in. So, that's yet another way for you to get a more affordable new gaming handheld this year.
Rebecca was lucky enough to be in the first wave of people who received a Steam Deck. Since then, she has acquired an ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, Legion Go, and other gaming handhelds. She's always keen to find the best settings for any games she plays. Just about every night, you can find her playing on one of these devices.
Pro 2 - You can play your PC games on the go (or in bed)
I've been playing PC games since I was a kid in the 90s, which means I have a rather large library of PC games on various services. The awesome thing with gaming handhelds is that they allow me to play most of these games anywhere I go without having to lug around a relatively bulky gaming laptop. It's very convenient.
As a matter of fact, whenever I go on vacation or take a work trip, my ROG Ally is one of the first things I pack. It keeps me entertained during road trips, on long flights, or simply when I have downtime in my hotel room. On the last trip, I ended up playing Ghost of Tsushima on the first flight and Celeste on the second. Of course, another perk is that I can comfortably play it every night in my bed before going to sleep.
- RELATED: Steam Deck vs ROG Ally | ROG Ally X vs ROG Ally | ROG Ally vs Legion Go | MSI Claw vs Steam Deck
HANDHELD RECOMMENDATION: If you mostly only want to play games in your Steam library, then you might want to get the Steam Deck with its simplified SteamOS interface. However, if you want a handheld that operates more like a regular laptop with access to other services like Battle.net, Epic Games, and more (out of the box), then you should consider ROG Ally or Legion Go.
Pro 3 - There are plenty of options, each with a different focus
It seems like every few weeks, a new gaming handheld is teased, announced, or released. The nice thing about the best gaming handhelds on the market is that they each have different perks, which means they have different use cases. One person might find the Steam Deck suits them best, while another will prefer the ROG Ally X. Here are the best handhelds available now and how they stand out from others.
Steam Deck is affordable and easy to use
Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
ROG Ally is a small Windows 11 gaming laptop with the best performance and specs
Legion Go is a Windows 11 handheld with a massive screen and detachable controllers
AYANEO Flip DS has two screens for multitasking between programs
MSI Claw was the first main AI PC gaming handheld
Nintendo Switch is ideal for co-op multiplayers
Pro 4 - Handhelds can function as a full computer (and cost less)
Several people have swapped out their computer for a Windows 11 gaming handheld like the Legion Go or ROG Ally. While handhelds are expensive, they cost less than gaming laptops and gaming desktops. As long as you have the right accessories, you can use these devices just like a regular gaming laptop. These are the core accessories to consider for turning your handheld into your main PC.
- Docking station: These nifty peripherals allow you to connect your handheld to a monitor. You'll just want to make sure that you get one that offers at least a 65W power flow to support the handheld's power consumption needs and that the docking station has a USB-C cable that's long enough to reach the handheld's port without straining. I highly recommend the JSAUX 6-in-1 Multifunctional Docking Station since it has a good selection of ports, 100W input power, and a cable that's long enough to reach even the tall Legion Go.
- Monitor: Of course, you're going to need a TV or a monitor to connect your gaming handheld to if you don't have one already. If you want suggestions, check out our best gaming monitors or our list of the best gaming TVs.
- Xbox controller: If you do play your gaming handheld while docked to a screen, you might want to consider getting a controller with Bluetooth. There are plenty of options, but I personally recommend getting one of the best Xbox controllers.
- Mouse & Keyboard: If you use Bluetooth, a wireless USB-C dongle, or a USB-A to USB-C adapter, you can use a mouse and keyboard directly with a handheld without needing a dock. Check out our lists of the best PC gaming mouse or our list of the best gaming keyboards for suggestions.
Pro 5 - They offer fantastic performance for a portable device
Out of the box, the Steam Deck can play any Steam Deck verified games in your Steam Library (and even several non-verified ones). Meanwhile, Windows 11 handhelds like ROG Ally, Legion Go, and MSI Claw are small computers that can run games on any service including Steam, Epic Games, Battle.net, and more.
While you shouldn't expect the same visual experience as a high-tier gaming desktop, a gaming handheld can typically play the latest games at respectable FPS and with good motion clarity. You might just need to tweak some system settings or game settings before you find the optimal way to play.
PRO TIP: ASUS has specifically made it possible to increase the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X's performance. If you get one of these devices, I highly recommend you turn on AFMF and increase VRAM.
Con 1 - We're mid-gen with newer devices around the corner
The flip side of my initial pro for getting a gaming handheld this Black Friday is also my first con. We know that Lenovo, ASUS, MSI, Zotac, Acer, and Nintendo are all planning on releasing new gaming handhelds relatively soon (such as Legion Go S, ROG Ally 2, MSI AI Claw 2, Zotac Zone, Acer Nitro Blaze 7, and Nintendo Switch 2).
There might even be options from additional companies that we don't even know about, like a recently confirmed Xbox handheld (although, that one is a few years out). If you want to have the latest and greatest options, you might want to wait until these devices come out and buy one then.
That said, we won't know the performance, special features, or price of these handhelds until they are announced, and there's no telling when they will actually release. As such, if you really want a gaming handheld, it might be better to get one of the better-rated ones now. And then decide down the road if you want to trade it in for a better one.
Con 2 - Battery life still isn't great
Just like with gaming laptops, all gaming handhelds have pretty bad battery life, regardless of which device you're talking about. The Steam Deck is arguably one of the best in this area and can last two to eight hours, depending on what game you're playing and what settings are set to.
Meanwhile, the original ROG Ally, Legion Go, MSI Claw, and many AYANEO devices usually run out of battery between one and four hours, depending on how intensive a game is. The ROG Ally X is a step up in this regard, with double the battery capacity of the original Ally, but it will still only last roughly two hours when on max TDP and playing demanding games.
BATTERY TIP: I get around this issue by either using one of the best handheld power banks, playing while the handheld is plugged in, or else connecting my handhelds to a docking station, but if that doesn't sound appealing, then you might not want a gaming handheld.
I wouldn't want to be without my beloved gaming handhelds
One thing is for sure, ever since I got my Steam Deck and then my ROG Ally, I've been able to play my PC games more comfortably wherever I am.
• Best gaming handhelds
• Best ROG Ally accessories
• Best Steam Deck accessories
• Best ROG Ally battery packs
• Optimized ROG Ally games
Most nights, I curly up with my handheld and play the latest titles or my favorite classics while cozy and in bed. If I want to be near my husband while he's in the living room, I can play on the couch next to him while he watches a show or plays on the Xbox Series X. I've even toted my handhelds around the kitchen while I'm cooking or working on various projects.
One of the best things about having a gaming handheld is that I can entertain myself while playing everything from indie classics to the latest big titles while traveling. I've entertained myself by playing games like Ghost of Tsushima, Cyberpunk 2077, and even Baldur's Gate 3 while on airplanes and road trips. It really is very convenient.
