In 2024, portable gaming techniques will have experienced massive change, fusing state-of-the-art technology with user-friendly design. As gamers want smooth, excellent experiences even on the move, manufacturers are pushing the envelope to provide portable gaming console with unmatched performance and flexibility.
This year’s greatest portable gaming console is distinguished by its cutting-edge features that accommodate a wide range of gaming tastes, outstanding hardware, and a large game library. Regardless of your experience level, the best portable console of 2024 guarantees to totally change how you play games.
Benefits of Portable Gaming Console
Portable gaming consoles are quite beneficial and provide flexibility and convenience to the gaming experience. Traveling or commuting, gamers may play their favorite games anywhere thanks to their small size.
Immersion gaming on the move is ensured by the powerful processing power, high-resolution screens, and great battery life of these consoles. Further expanding the gaming library are portable systems’ often large selection of unique titles and backward compatibility.
Modern players find portable gaming consoles to be a flexible and essential companion since they allow them to access digital stores and engage in multiplayer games while they are online.
Top 10 Portable Gaming Console in 2024
1. Nintendo Switch OLED
With its excellent OLED display, the Nintendo Switch OLED is clearly the best option for portable gaming in 2024. Though it has the same basic specs as its predecessor, its larger screen, better speakers, and redesigned kickstand make gaming more immersive.
➢ Specifications
- Dimensions: 4 x 9.5 x 0.55 in / 102 x 242 x 13.9 mm
- Display: 7-inch OLED
- Weight: 14.88 oz / 421.84 g
- Storage: 64 GB
- Battery Life: 4 – 9 hours
➢ Accessories
- Included: Joy-Con controllers, Joy-Con grip, AC adapter, HDMI cable, Dock, Joy-Con straps
- Optional: Pro Controller, various carrying cases, additional Joy-Con controllers, microSD cards for expanded storage
➢ Pros
- Stunning OLED display
- Improved speakers and kickstand
- Larger screen than the original model
- Excellent for Nintendo-exclusive games
- Budget-friendly OLED option
➢ Cons
- Same aging hardware as the original Switch
- Performance issues with some third-party games
➢ Battery Life
- Duration: 4 to 9 hours, depending on the game and usage conditions
➢ Rating and Price
- Rating: 4 out of 5
- Price: $349.99
2. Nintendo Switch Lite
The best option available to players on a tight budget looking for a portable, robust, and lightweight gaming system is the Nintendo Switch Lite. Specifically engineered for play on-the-go, it provides outstanding value without sacrificing speed or access to the game collection.
➢ Specifications
- Dimensions: 3.6 x 8.2 x 0.55 in / 91.1 x 208 x 13.9 mm
- Display: 5.5-inch
- Weight: 9.76 oz / 275 g
- Storage: 32 GB
- Battery Life: 3 – 7 hours
➢ Accessories
- Included: Built-in controls (non-detachable Joy-Cons), AC adapter
- Optional: Carrying case, screen protector, microSD cards for expanded storage
➢ Pros
- Small and lighter than the OLED version
- Good value for money
- Comfortable and durable form factor
- Wide range of attractive color options
- Permanently attached Joy-Con controllers
➢ Cons
- Reading text can be challenging on the smaller screen
- Cannot be docked for TV play
➢ Battery Life
- Duration: 3 to 7 hours, depending on the game and usage conditions
➢ Rating and Price
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5
- Price: $199.99
3. Steam Deck
The revolutionary Steam Deck portable gaming system offers PC gaming’s power and adaptability in a compact package. Developed for players who want to access their large Steam libraries while on the road, it offers a flexible software environment along with strong performance, which makes it an attractive option for devoted PC players.
➢ Specifications
- Dimensions: 11.73 x 4.6 x 1.9 in / 298 x 117 x 49 mm
- Display: 7-inch
- Weight: 23.64 oz / 670 g
- Storage: 256 GB
- Battery Life: 1.5 – 8 hours
➢ Accessories
- Included: Carrying case, power adapter
- Optional: Docking station, microSD cards for expanded storage, protective skins, additional chargers
➢ Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Great performance in most games
- Extensive software support
- Access to a vast Steam library
- Affordable compared to gaming laptops
➢ Cons
- Software can be buggy
- Not all Steam games are compatible
- Large size can be cumbersome
➢ Battery Life
- Duration: 1.5 to 8 hours, varying with game intensity and settings
➢ Rating and Price
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5
- Price: Starting at $399
4. Super Pocket
For vintage fans, the Super Pocket is the best portable gaming system since it provides a small and reasonably priced means of playing beloved games. For someone wishing to explore vintage gaming on the road, its endearing appearance and remarkable emulation skills make it a great option.
➢ Specifications
- Dimensions: 4.12 x 0.43 x 6.62 in / 104.65 x 10.92 x 168.15 mm
- Display: 2.8″ IPS
- Weight: 0.71 oz
- Storage: N/A
- Battery Life: Information not specified
➢ Accessories
- Included: Built-in games, Evercade cartridge slot
- Optional: Additional Evercade cartridges, carrying case, screen protector
➢ Pros
- Adorable portable design
- Great controls and emulation
- Works with Evercade cartridges
- Extremely affordable price
- Compact size perfect for retro gaming
➢ Cons
- Small screen size
- Rear buttons can feel fiddly
➢ Battery Life
- Duration: Not specified
➢ Rating and Price
- Rating: 5 out of 5
- Price: $60
5. PlayStation Portal
For owners of a PS5, the PlayStation Portal is the best portable gadget made to take gaming outside of the TV screen. It is a flexible partner for every gaming session especially classics like GTA V and RDR2 and the upcoming GTA 6 because of its great streaming capabilities and cozy, ergonomic design, which let players play their PS5 games remotely.
➢ Specifications
- Dimensions: 13.27 x 5.91 x 3.74 in / 337 x 150 x 95 mm
- Display: 8-inch LCD
- Weight: 18.66 oz / 529 g
- Storage: N/A
- Battery Life: 6 – 9 hours
➢ Accessories
- Included: Built-in DualSense controller features
- Optional: Protective case, screen protector, additional chargers, headset
➢ Pros
- Excellent streaming capabilities
- Ergonomic and accessible design
- Superb build quality
- Comfortable with DualSense features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers
- Punchy and vibrant screen
➢ Cons
- LCD screen can show its limitations
- Slow battery charging
- Lacks Bluetooth support
- Cannot play games natively or stream from the cloud
➢ Battery Life
- Duration: 6 to 9 hours, depending on usage
➢ Rating and Price
- Rating: 5 out of 5
- Price: $200
6. Asus ROG Ally
Offering outstanding performance and complete PC compatibility along with a stylish appearance and potent technology, the Asus ROG Ally is a remarkable portable gaming PC.
With regard to performance and display quality, it beats out a lot of rivals, including the Steam Deck, making it a great option for gamers seeking a portable but powerful gaming experience.
➢ Specifications
- CPU: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
- GPU: RDNA 3
- RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
- Display: 7-inch IPS 120Hz 1080p
- Battery: 40WHrs
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Size: 28.0 x 11.1 x 2.12 cm
- Weight: 608 g
➢ Accessories
- Included: Integrated controls, power adapter
- Optional: Carrying case, screen protector, additional chargers, dock for external display and peripherals
➢ Pros
- Excellent design and comfortable form factor
- Crisp, vivid 1080p display
- Powerful dual front-firing speakers
- Full PC compatibility with Windows OS
- High performance with AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU
➢ Cons
- Thumbsticks and back buttons feel less polished
- Windows OS can be cumbersome
- Framerates can suffer in 1080p outside of Turbo preset
- Short battery life in ‘turbo’ mode
➢ Battery Life
- Duration: Variable, with 6-9 hours under normal use and significantly less when using ‘turbo’ mode for high performance
➢ Rating and Price
- Rating: 5 out of 5
- Price: $699
7. Ayaneo 2S
Unmatched performance and a wealth of features make the Ayaneo 2S a standout premium gaming handheld. With features that may compete with certain gaming laptops, this gadget is made for avid gamers who want the finest in portable gaming. Though it is expensive, the Ayaneo 2S offers a great gaming experience with its outstanding display and strong hardware.
➢ Specifications
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7840U
- GPU: AMD Radeon 780M
- RAM: Up to 64GB LPDDR5
- Storage: Up to 4TB
- Display: 7-inch IPS, 1200p
- Battery: 50.25Wh
- Operating System: Windows 11
- Size: 264.5mm x 105.5mm x 21.5mm
- Weight: 667g
➢ Accessories
- Included: Power adapter, USB-C cables
- Optional: Carrying case, screen protector, additional chargers, external docks for desktop mode
➢ Pros
- Fantastic portable performance
- Comfortable to hold
- Bezel-less screen for immersive visuals
- Full PC compatibility with Windows OS
- High customization with up to 64GB RAM and 4TB storage
➢ Cons
- Lofty price point
- Included software needs improvement
- Windows OS can introduce complications
➢ Battery Life
- Duration: Varies, with typical use ranging from 4-7 hours depending on settings and game demands
➢ Rating and Price
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5
- Price: Starting at $999
8. Evercade EXP
Modern enhancements and the nostalgia of vintage systems are combined in the Evercade EXP retro gaming portable. For collectors and vintage gaming players who value simplicity over the intricacies of emulation, it is ideal since it utilizes actual cartridges to provide a plug-and-play experience.
➢ Specifications
- CPU: 1.5GHz Processor
- GPU: SoC
- RAM: 512MB
- Storage: 4GB
- Display: 4.3-inch IPS, 480p
- Battery: 40WHrs
- Operating System: Proprietary OS
- Size: 192.7mm x 78.5mm x 20.7mm
- Weight: 270g
➢ Accessories
- Included: USB-C charging cable, user manual
- Optional: Protective carrying case, screen protector, additional cartridges
➢ Pros
- Massively improved screen
- Fantastic bundled games from Capcom and Irem
- Improved UI for game selection and menus
➢ Cons
- HDMI-out still unusable
- Horizontal Tate mode isn’t comfortable
- Lacks a few modern touches for the price
➢ Battery Life
- Duration: 6-8 hours depending on usage
➢ Rating and Price
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
- Price: $149.99
9. Razer Edge
Mobile gamers seeking a console-like experience while on the go may find the Razer Edge appealing. The 144Hz AMOLED display and powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 CPU of this portable gadget allows it to run the newest Android games, emulate, and stream services. Serious mobile gamers will find it to be the best option as the included Razer Kishi controller guarantees exact control.
➢ Specifications
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1
- GPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1
- RAM: 6GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 32GB
- Display: 6.8-inch 2400×1080 144Hz AMOLED
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Operating System: Android 14
- Size: 260mm x 85mm x 11mm
- Weight: 401g (with controller attached)
➢ Accessories
- Included: Razer Kishi controller, USB-C charging cable, quick start guide
- Optional: Protective case, screen protector, additional storage options (microSD card)
➢ Pros
- Excellent mobile performance
- Reliable streaming abilities
- 144Hz AMOLED screen
➢ Cons
- Redundant aspect ratio
- High price
➢ Battery Life
- Duration: Up to 6-8 hours, depending on usage
➢ Rating and Price
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
- Price: $399.99
10. Logitech G Cloud
Modern players seeking on-the-go access to cloud gaming services like GeForce Now and Game Pass Ultimate may do so with the Logitech G Cloud. Though dependent on a strong internet connection and streaming service subscriptions, its bright 1080p display, cozy compact size, and precise controls make for an engaging gaming experience.
➢ Specifications
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G
- GPU: N/A
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Display: 7-inch IPS, 1080p
- Battery: 23.1WHrs
- Operating System: Android
- Size: 256.84mm x 117.21mm x 32.95mm
- Weight: 608g
➢ Accessories
- Included: None specified
- Optional: Protective case, screen protector, microSD card for expanded storage
➢ Pros
- Vivid, bright display
- Comfortable form factor
- Crisp controls
- Great for game-hoppers
➢ Cons
- Requires Game Pass Ultimate / GeForce Now to make the most of
- Little controller support for other services
- Relies on Wi-Fi connection
➢ Battery Life
- Duration: Up to 12+ hours, depending on usage
➢ Rating and Price
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
- Price: $250
FAQs
Which to Buy?
Choosing the best portable gaming console in 2024 depends on your preferences and gaming needs. For retro enthusiasts, the Super Pocket and Evercade EXP offer nostalgic experiences. The Nintendo Switch OLED provides versatility with its handheld and docked modes.
PC gamers will appreciate the power of the Asus ROG Ally and Ayaneo 2S, while the PlayStation Portal is perfect for remote PS5 gaming. Mobile gamers should consider the Razer Edge for its excellent performance and versatile capabilities.
Finally, the Logitech G Cloud is ideal for those who prefer cloud gaming. Each console offers unique features, ensuring there’s a perfect match for every gamer.
Conclusion
In 2024, portable gaming console will have changed dramatically and provided a wide range of choices to suit the tastes of every player. There’s something for everyone, from the ease of online gaming with devices like the Logitech G online and Razer Edge to the potent performance of portable PCs like the Asus ROG Ally and Ayaneo 2S.
The Evercade EXP and Super Pocket let retro fans relive the classics, while the PlayStation Portal allows console aficionados to play remotely. Every gadget has special advantages and advancements, which makes 2024 an intriguing year for portable gamers everywhere.
