Top Gaming Handhelds of 2024: CNET's Recommendations

CNET highlights the Nintendo Switch as the top gaming handheld for 2024, praised for its versatility and affordability.

### CNET's Top Gaming Handhelds of 2024: A Comprehensive Guide
* 🎮 The handheld gaming market is thriving with various options, including **anticipated releases from Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony** in the coming years.
* 🌟 The Nintendo Switch remains a top choice, celebrated for its **versatility, affordability, and extensive library of first-party and indie games**, despite being **7 years old**.
* 💻 The Valve Steam Deck is a strong contender, particularly its **OLED version**, which offers **excellent display quality** and the ability to play PC games like **Elden Ring**, although it requires a **separate dock for TV connectivity**.
* 🕹 The PlayStation Portal, priced at **$200**, is a unique streaming device that allows users to **play PS5 games remotely** but is considered niche due to its limitations.
* 📦 The Panic Playdate is a quirky, compact handheld that features a **crank** and comes with **24 indie games**, although its small screen lacks a **backlight**.
* 🎮 The Analog Pocket is ideal for retro gaming enthusiasts, capable of playing **classic Game Boy titles** and supporting various **emulation options**.
* 📱 Lastly, the iPad Mini, with its recent chip upgrade, offers a **portable gaming experience** when paired with a controller, **expanding the definition of handheld gaming**.
* 🔍 For more detailed insights, readers are encouraged to visit CNET's website for **additional gaming handheld coverage** and **best lists**.

From the Nintendo Switch to the Steam Deck, here are CNET's top gaming handhelds of 2024. CNET's tested a ton of gaming handhelds over the years, and I've tested a lot of them myself. But it's a great and transitional time for handheld

gaming. A lot of options, but we know a lot of stuff is coming. Nintendo is supposed to have a successor to the Nintendo Switch coming in 2025, pretty soon, and Microsoft and Sony are expected to be working on their own handhelds as well. What those will be, we don't

entirely know yet. Plus, Windows gaming handhelds are continuing to explode with new options, and the Steam Deck is going strong. So here are some of the things that we're still playing. The Nintendo Switch is still fantastic; it's our favorite gaming handheld. It's my

favorite gaming handheld, my favorite console, and it plays a lot of great first-party games. It's got a ton of indie games, connects with a TV, does multiplayer, goes on the road. I mean, there aren't a lot of pieces of hardware out there that do all of that

and this does it in the box for a pretty affordable price. It is 7 years old, so it's getting really long in the tooth, but I still find it's a great option for anything handheld that I want to take with me. The Valve Steam Deck—that's a

great second-place option for me, and for a lot of people, it's a first-place option. This gaming handheld's been out there for years. The OLED version that came out last year is the best one; it's got a great display, it's got solid controls with a lot of options, and it

Plays PC games, including ones like Elden Ring, plus a ton of indie games. And that's the great thing, because Steam always has interesting things bubbling up all over the place. It does not have detachable controls; it's pretty big, and if you want to connect it to a TV, you

need to get a separate dock. But the price is not bad, and UFO 50, a recent indie game, made me fall in love with it all over again. Now, when it comes to other consoles, there's the PlayStation Portal, a strange option that's not a true standalone handheld,

but this device, which came out last year, has been getting gradually better. It's $200, which is not too expensive, and the 8-inch display is good. The controls are really nice and have solid haptics, but it streams games from the PlayStation 5 in your home into that handheld, so you

can play them in other rooms. It also added the ability to stream PS5 and other games, if you have the right PlayStation Plus subscription, uh, wherever you are, as long as you have internet, which is a great add-on. You can also do that with your phone or tablet as well. The Portal

is a pretty good option for its price, but it's niche as well. If you want weird and small indie games, I still love the Panic Playdate. This little tiny handheld from Panic is a complete little game system, and it's so tiny and it has

this little weird crank that comes out of the side, plus controls. It's like an interdimensional Game Boy! It comes with 24 indie games handcrafted for this that come with the purchase price, but there's also a game store to download other games. You can sideload games from other places.

like the Analog Pocket, and it's adorable. The only thing is that it doesn't have a backlight, and the screen is a little small, but I love the spirit of this thing, and I carry it all over the place. If you are really into retro games, the

Analog Pocket is the best option for dusting off your collection of classic games and taking them with you. It's basically a Game Boy with a really beautiful display and controls, but it plays Game Boy games, Game Boy Color games, and Game Boy Advance games, and

with an adapter, it'll play things like Sega Game Gear games or Atari Lynx games. There are also options in the settings to load in other emulation systems to simulate other platforms and play retro games. You can sideload games from it, as well. It's a really

versatile and cool handheld. And for a wild card pick that's pretty popular, the iPad Mini. I mean, obviously phones are game handhelds already; buy a controller, you can do a lot of great stuff with them. The iPad Mini, the new model that came out, has a nice chip

upgrade. It's a great size for carrying around, and if you want to stream games through different streaming app services, you could attach a controller or use a separate controller, and the Mini is actually a perfect size for that. So those are CNET's top gaming handheld options for 2024. If you want to read

more about it, check out our best lists on cnet.com and look at our continuing coverage on gaming handhelds. I hope it helps. If you have more questions, let me know down below. Thanks for watching.

Best Gaming Handhelds of 2024

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Overview of the Handheld Gaming Market in 2024

CNET's top gaming handhelds of 2024 are reviewed, highlighting the transitional state of the market.

Upcoming releases from Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony are anticipated.

Windows gaming handhelds are gaining popularity, with the Steam Deck remaining a strong contender.

Top Recommendations: Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck

The Nintendo Switch is praised for its versatility, affordability, and extensive game library.

The Valve Steam Deck is highlighted as a strong second-place option, particularly its OLED version.

The Steam Deck's strengths include its display, controls, and PC game compatibility.

The Steam Deck's drawbacks include its size and lack of detachable controls.

The PlayStation Portal is described as a niche option, streaming games from the PS5.

The PlayStation Portal's ability to stream games remotely with a PlayStation Plus subscription is mentioned.

The Panic Playdate is highlighted for its unique design and curated indie game selection.

The Analog Pocket is recommended for retro gaming enthusiasts.

The iPad Mini is suggested as a versatile option for streaming games.