Checklist · 10 picks · 4 categories

handheld PC checklist

Edited by Zach · updated Nov 1, 2026 · How I pick

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Cheapest way in Asus ROG Xbox Ally Best for getting into handheld PC gaming for the least money$500+Shop on Amazon
SteamOS pick Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS) Best for steam Deck vibes with more power$500+Shop at Walmart Store link, not an affiliate link.
TV dock Sabrent 6-Port Docking Station Best for cheap couch gaming on the big screen$25-50Shop on Amazon

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A handheld gaming PC is your whole Steam (or Xbox, or Epic) library in a thing you can play in bed.

The catch: Valve raised the Steam Deck's price a lot, so picking the right one matters. Tom's Hardware's picks cover three budgets, from the cheapest Windows handheld that's actually in stock to the comfiest Windows one, and Engadget backs up the SteamOS and Windows picks. Then the add-ons: a microSD card for more game space, a dock if you want to play on the TV, and earbuds that don't lag. Card picks come from Digital Camera World; docks and earbuds come from PC Gamer's Steam Deck accessories guide. Each card shows the drawback its outlet called out, like Windows sleep bugs, a finicky trackpad or a dock that won't fit with a case on.

Who this is not for. Skip this if you play at a desk with a mouse and keyboard; the Gaming Setup list has the monitors, mice and chairs.

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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Nov 1, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.

The must-haves

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01 Handheld

the first pick is the one I would start with

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Asus ROG Xbox Ally	budget	$500+	getting into handheld PC gaming for the least money	1 outlet
Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS)	mid	$500+	steam Deck vibes with more power	2 outlets agree
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X	splurge	$500+	playing any Windows game store on the go	2 outlets agree

Best handheld pc

budget pick · 7-inch screen

Asus ROG Xbox Ally

Best for getting into handheld PC gaming for the least money

Tom's Hardware's best budget handheld gaming PC: the cheapest mainstream handheld that's consistently in stock, with Microsoft's Xbox Full Screen Experience on top of Windows.

Heads up. Some sleep/wake bugs, performance isn't much better than the older Steam Deck OLED, and no carrying case is included

1 outlet. Tom's Hardware best Budget Handheld Gaming PC.

$500+

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mid pick · 8-inch screen

Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS)

Best for steam Deck vibes with more power

Tom's Hardware's best SteamOS performance handheld: the Z1 Extreme and SteamOS deliver excellent gaming performance, and Engadget calls it the closest thing we have to a Steam Deck 2.

Heads up. Pricey, heavier than a Steam Deck, and its single trackpad is finicky

2 outlets agree. Tom's Hardware best SteamOS Performance Handheld Gaming PC. Engadget best premium handheld gaming PC.

$500+

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splurge pick · 7-inch screen

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X

Best for playing any Windows game store on the go

Tom's Hardware's best Windows handheld gaming PC: controller-style grips make it extremely comfortable, and the full-screen Xbox experience makes launching games easier than ever.

Heads up. Expensive, the screen isn't as vivid as OLED rivals, and no carrying case is included

2 outlets agree. Tom's Hardware best Windows Handheld Gaming PC. Engadget best Windows gaming handheld.

$500+

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02 Storage

Compare these 3

Pick	Tier	Price	Best for	Evidence
Samsung EVO Select microSD	budget	$15-25	cheap extra space for your game library	1 outlet
SanDisk Extreme A2 microSD	budget	$25-50	a balanced, well-known card	1 outlet
Lexar Professional Silver Plus microSD	mid	$25-50	faster transfers and big capacities	1 outlet

Best memory card

budget pick · 64 GB to 1 TB

Samsung EVO Select microSD

Best for cheap extra space for your game library

Digital Camera World's best cheap microSD card: quick enough for typical everyday use, though its write speed is nothing to write home about.

Heads up. Not for demanding use; high bit rate 4K needs a faster card

1 outlet. Digital Camera World best cheap microSD card.

$15-25

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budget pick · 64 to 256 GB

SanDisk Extreme A2 microSD

Best for a balanced, well-known card

Digital Camera World's best overall microSD card: it strikes the right balance of good-enough speed at a reasonable price.

Heads up. Write speed could be quicker, and it tops out at 256 GB

1 outlet. Digital Camera World best overall microSD card.

$25-50

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mid pick · 64 GB to 1 TB

Lexar Professional Silver Plus microSD

Best for faster transfers and big capacities

Digital Camera World's best for speed: a fast, fairly priced general-purpose card in a decent range of sizes.

Heads up. The base 64 GB size has a slower write speed

1 outlet. Digital Camera World best for speed microSD card.

$25-50

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03 Dock

Best docking station

budget pick · Desktop

Sabrent 6-Port Docking Station

Best for cheap couch gaming on the big screen

PC Gamer's best budget Steam Deck dock: sturdy and well thought out, with an extra USB Type-C 3.0 port the pricier competition lacks.

Heads up. No Ethernet port or charger in the box, and you can't dock with a case on

1 outlet. PC Gamer best budget Steam Deck dock.

$25-50

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splurge pick · Desktop

Jsaux M.2 Docking Station

Best for big libraries that need more storage

PC Gamer's best Steam Deck dock: it set the standard with plenty of ports, a sturdy build and an M.2 slot for extra game storage.

Heads up. The handheld sits at a laid-back angle, it won't fit with Jsaux's own case on, and SSD bundles cost too much

1 outlet. PC Gamer best Steam Deck dock.

$50-100

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04 Audio

Best earbuds

budget pick · In-ear

Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro

Best for budget buds for gaming on the bus

PC Gamer's best budget Steam Deck earbuds: very affordable, with surprisingly strong battery life and a responsive game mode.

Heads up. Weak bass and no sound isolation, so people nearby hear everything

1 outlet. PC Gamer best budget Steam Deck earbuds.

$25-50

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splurge pick · In-ear

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

Best for low-lag audio with noise canceling

PC Gamer's best Steam Deck earbuds: stunning audio, ANC, transparency mode, Qi charging and 40 hours of battery life, with a USB-C dongle for zero-lag 2.4 GHz play.

Heads up. Only connects to one Bluetooth device at a time, and the auto-pause sensor is a little sensitive

1 outlet. PC Gamer best Steam Deck earbuds.

$150-200

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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me

Questions people ask

What about the Steam Deck?

It's still a great handheld, but it's not on this list. Tom's Hardware says it used to be its top pick, until Valve raised the price a lot, which opened the door for the cheaper ROG Xbox Ally. Tom's Hardware still calls SteamOS the best operating system on a handheld, and the Legion Go S runs it too. Engadget's guide still names the Steam Deck its pick for most people.

Do these handhelds come with a case?

Not the Asus ones. Tom's Hardware lists 'no carrying case included' as a drawback for both the ROG Xbox Ally and the Ally X, so budget for one that's made for your exact model.

Will a Steam Deck dock work with my ROG Ally or Legion Go S?

PC Gamer picked these docks for the Steam Deck, so check that the listing names your handheld before you buy. PC Gamer also notes neither dock fits with a case on, so you'll take the case off to dock.

handheld PC checklist

plan my budget pick an amount ↓

The must-haves