The Best Handheld Gaming PC’s 2023 with video

#1. AYANEO 2S – Best Handheld Gaming PC

The AYA NEO 2S is a handheld portable gaming PC with a plethora of features designed to cater to gaming enthusiasts on the go. Within the box, users will find the gaming PC, a 100W wall charger, various charger adaptors for international use, USB Type-C to A adapters, and additional side panels, among other tools and accessories.

The device itself boasts a vibrant 7-inch IPS touchscreen display that offers a resolution of 1920×1200, which can be dialed down to 1280×800. The display, known for its brightness of 500 nits, is complemented by an elegant design available in five thematic colors, including Starry Black, Sky White, Retro Power, B.Duck Pink & Blue, and B.Duck Joyful Black. Furthermore, its dimensions of 10.3 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches and a weight of merely 667g make it a compact companion for gaming on the move.

In terms of technical specifications, the AYA NEO 2S handheld gaming PC is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU and an AMD Radeon 780M GPU. It offers various RAM options starting from 16GB up to 32GB, with storage choices ranging from 512GB to a hefty 4TB m.2 2280 SSD.

The handheld gaming PC features an array of ports, including two USB 4 Type-C ports, a USB 3.2 Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a fast micro SD card slot that supports speeds up to 300MB/s. All of these features are powered by a 13050mAh 50.25Wh rechargeable battery, running on Windows 11 Home Edition.

Performance-wise, the AYA NEO 2S provides varying results across different benchmarks. When tested against competitors like the GPD WIN MAX 2 2023 and ASUS Ally, the device showed consistent performance, though sometimes lagging slightly behind its peers.

Particularly, the AYA NEO 2S performed nearly 10% slower than the ASUS ROG Ally in PCMARK10 benchmarks. However, in gameplay benchmarks, the device held its own, showcasing above-average frame rates in games like “Forza Horizon 5” and “Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2.”

You can learn more and buy the AYANEO 2S here. You can read our full review here: AYANEO 2S Review here!

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#2. AYN Loki & AYN Loki Max – Best budget handheld gaming PC

The gaming world is abuzz with the introduction of the AYN Loki and AYN Loki Max, two cutting-edge handheld gaming PCs now available for pre-order at Droix. The AYN Loki is equipped with the previous generation AMD Ryzen 5 6600U CPU, a Radeon 660M GPU with 6 cores, RAM options of 8GB or 16GB LPDDR5 at 6400Mhz, and storage choices ranging from 128GB to 512GB M.2 2242 NVMe SSD. The device also boasts a 6-inch LCD touchscreen with 1080P resolution for a vivid gaming experience.

The AYN Loki Max, on the other hand, is designed for those seeking an elevated gaming encounter. It houses the previous generation AMD Ryzen 7 6800U CPU with 8 cores and 16 threads, a powerful Radeon 680M GPU with 12 cores, a robust 16GB LPDDR5 RAM at 6400Mhz, and a 512GB M.2 2242 NVMe SSD. Like its sibling, the Loki Max also features the sharp 6-inch 1080P LCD touchscreen.

Both devices share remarkable features to enhance the user experience further. They come equipped with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 for seamless connectivity. A 46.2Wh battery powers each unit, ensuring sustained gameplay. The comprehensive control system, comprising dual analogue sticks, D-Pad, gaming buttons, and more, ensures an immersive gaming session. Additionally, both devices are Windows 11 compatible and feature USB 4.0 and a 3.5mm headphone port.

In summary, the AYN Loki and Loki Max represent a significant leap in the handheld gaming PC niche. With their robust technical specifications, they promise power-packed performances on-the-go, making them a must-consider for gaming enthusiasts. Whether it’s the versatility of the AYN Loki or the superior capabilities of the AYN Loki Max, gamers are in for a treat with these innovations.

You can learn more and buy the AYN Loki and AYN Loki Max here. Read our full AYN Loki and AYN Loki Max review here.

#3. AOKZOE A1 Pro

The AOKZOE A1 Pro is a mobile gaming PC that captures attention right from the unboxing phase. The package includes the A1 Pro device, instructions in both Chinese and English, a 65W charger (with an adapter specific to your country), and a USB Type-C charging cable. Aesthetically, the A1 Pro is available in Quantum Blue and Lunar White. It sports a compact and ergonomic design, measuring 11.22 x 4.92 x 0.82 inches and weighing a mere 729g.

The device boasts an 8-inch IPS touchscreen display with a maximum resolution of 1920×1200, offering a decent quality with a brightness of 350 nits. On its front, it features conventional game controls, including a D-Pad, dual analogue sticks, and buttons. There are also unique buttons for specific functionalities like pulling up the onscreen keyboard and the AOKZOE overlay software. The sides of the AOKZOE A1 Pro glow with LED lights, which users can customize using the overlay software.

In terms of technical specifications, the AOKZOE A1 Pro handheld gaming PC is a powerhouse. It’s equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU, AMD Radeon 780M GPU, and a choice of 32GB or 64GB LPDDR5X RAM. For storage, it offers a hefty 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0×4 SSD. Connectivity options include WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a variety of ports including USB 4.0, USB 3.2, USB 3.0, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There’s also a micro SD card slot for expandable storage. Other notable features include dual stereo speakers, a sophisticated cooling system, and a 65Wh battery which, in tests, lasted close to 10 hours in idle mode.

Performance-wise, the A1 Pro has been benchmarked against other compact gaming PCs like the AYA NEO 2S, ASUS ROG Ally, and GPD WIN MAX 2 2023. Results varied, but the device held its own in most tests. Gaming performance seemed on par with the AYA NEO 2S, achieving above 60 FPS in certain games when optimized. In terms of emulation, the A1 Pro also performed admirably with PS3, Xbox 360, and Switch emulators.

You can learn more and buy the AOKZOE A1 Pro here. You can read our full AOKZOE A1 Pro review here.

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Honourable mentions for best handheld gaming PC

1#. GPD WIN Mini

The GPD WIN Mini is a portable gaming PC, measuring 6.6 x 4.29 x 0.98 inches and weighing 520g. A significant feature is its 7-inch LTPS touchscreen that boasts a 1920×1080 resolution, supporting both 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rates. This ensures smoother gameplay, especially for older games that are compatible with the 120Hz rate. For the gaming controls, they are strategically placed on either side of a touchpad, with the layout slightly deviating from the standard vertical orientation of sticks.

Technical specifications are robust, with two models available: one with an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU (8 cores, 16 threads up to 5.1GHz) and another with an AMD Ryzen 5 7640U (6 cores, 12 threads up to 4.9GHz). For graphics, the former uses an AMD Radeon 780M while the latter employs an AMD Radeon 760M. RAM capacity ranges from 16GB to 32GB LPDDR5 6400MT/s. Storage solutions are impressive, going up to 2TB for the more premium model, utilizing the PCIe 4.0 x 4, NVMe 1.3/1.4 standard. Additionally, the display is enhanced with a high-refresh rate and supports advanced game controls, including dual hall effect joysticks, a full QWERTY keyboard with backlit design, and a precision touchpad.

The GPD WIN Mini handheld gaming PC employs a backlit keyboard that’s an improvement in size from its predecessor, the GPD WIN 4, though still not entirely suited for extended typing tasks. The back of the device houses two USB ports, a switch for toggling between gamepad and mouse modes, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, an Oculink port to connect the GPD G1 eGPU docking station, and a micro SD card reader. To enhance the grip, especially for prolonged gaming sessions, there are the GPD WIN Mini Grips, which are available separately. While these grips ensure a comfortable hold, they add some thickness to the device, making it less pocket-friendly.

Performance-wise, the GPD WIN Mini’s benchmarks show it to be quite competent. Games like “Forza Horizon 5,” “Shadow of the Tomb Raider,” and “Cyberpunk 2077” demonstrated decent FPS results at 1080P. Notably, some benchmark scores were higher or lower than the GPD WIN 4 2023 due to the variation in driver versions. The GPD WIN Mini was found to perform on par with other 7840U handhelds in terms of overall system and gaming benchmarks.

Anticipation surrounded the GPD WIN Mini’s release in the gaming community. While there were initial concerns about external temperature issues in the beta samples, the final public release is expected to have these rectified. Striking a balance between portability and functionality, the WIN Mini addresses some limitations of its predecessors. It combines a larger display with a comfortable form factor, making gameplay enjoyable. The horizontal orientation of controls takes a bit of acclimation, and though the keyboard has been expanded, it remains less suited for longer typing tasks. The final release, set to launch in November, promises further enhancements and refinements.

You can buy the GPD WIN Mini here, and read our GPD WIN Mini review here.

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#2 Lenovo Legion Go

The Lenovo Legion Go sadly missed the launch date in UK and Europe so we was unable to add it to our main video above. Now we finally have one in our hands we can run some benchmarks and see how this handheld runs.

The Lenovo Legion Go is Lenovo’s first Windows gaming handheld device, designed to offer gamers top-tier specifications and visuals in a portable form. It features an AMD Ryzen Z1 Series processor, powering games on its 8.8-inch Lenovo PureSight Gaming Display. This display provides immersive visuals with up to 500nits brightness and a 97% DCI-P3 color gamut, supporting resolutions from 1600p to 800p and refresh rates of 144Hz and 60Hz. The device runs Windows 11 and offers high graphics performance, comparable to consoles.

In terms of design, the Legion Go includes unique controllers with hall effect joysticks for accurate and responsive gameplay, a large D-pad, an angled mouse wheel, and multiple mappable buttons. The controllers are detachable, enhancing flexibility in playstyles, and the device features a stand for hands-free use.

It also boasts a powerful 49.2Wh battery with Super Rapid Charge, allowing up to 70% recharge in just half an hour. The device integrates Lenovo’s Coldfront thermal technology with a liquid crystal polymer fan, maintaining optimal performance while keeping noise levels low. Additionally, the Legion Go features dual USB Type-C ports, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 support, and the Legion Space interface for managing games and settings.

Overall the performance is very good, around the same levels as the 7840U based models which is essentially the same processor as the Z1. We have not spent a massive time with the handheld but we did run some benchmarks.

For 3DMark we saw very competitive scores. On Time Spy we got 3109 which compared to the GPD WIN 4 2023 with 3094, on Night Raid we got 26398 vs 28664, and on Fire Strike we got 7428 vs 7622.

Compared with the AYA NEO 2S we got 3109 vs 3188, 26398 vs 27669 and 7428 vs 7493 respectively. So overall the scores are up there with the better performing handhelds. Something the ROG Ally could not quite manage despite having the same CPU. There are more benchmark results further in this article.

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#3. AYA NEO Geek 1S

The AYA NEO GEEK 1S is a mobile gaming PC designed for avid gamers on the go. At a glance, the device is compact, measuring approximately 10.4 x 4.1 x 0.87 inches and weighing 672g. It showcases a 7” IPS touchscreen with slim bezels, available in both 800P and 1200P resolutions.

The device is adorned in three available colors: Fantasy Black, Pure White, and Nebula Purple. Notably, the GEEK 1S features hall effect sensor analogue sticks, gaming buttons, and shortcuts for the AYA SPACE app and overlay. Along its periphery, the device includes shoulder and hall effect trigger buttons, a fingerprint-integrated power button, and various USB Type-C ports.

Diving into the technicalities, the AYA NEO GEEK 1S handheld gaming PC features a 7″ IPS Slim-bezel screen with options of 800P or 1200P resolution. It’s equipped with a GEEK controller, fuselage gyroscope, and dual X-axis linear motors. The device runs on 16GB/32GB LPDDR5X RAM and offers SSD storage choices of 512GB or 2TB. Under the hood, it’s powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU with AMD Radeon 780M GPU. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E & Bluetooth 5.2, and it runs on the Windows 11 64-bit Home Edition. Battery tests reveal a duration of 1 hour 20 minutes for gaming benchmarks, while lasting an impressive 10 hours 26 mins during idle time.

In terms of performance, benchmark tests show that the AYA NEO GEEK 1S holds its ground. For gaming, it delivers smooth experiences in titles like Forza Horizon 5, achieving 115 FPS at 28W TDP on Very Low graphics settings at 800P resolution. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, it achieved up to 78 FPS on Lowest graphics settings at 800P resolution. Other games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Street Fighter VI also produced commendable results, albeit with some differences when compared to other handhelds. Notably, the device performed remarkably well in the Cinebench benchmarks, indicating strong processing capabilities.

The AYA NEO GEEK 1S, particularly the 800P model, offers a performance that aligns well with other devices in its category. While it may carry a premium price tag, the quality of its build, the comfort it offers during prolonged gameplay, and features such as hall effect sensors justify the investment.

Comparison with other devices like the AOKZOE A1 Pro mobile gaming PC shows that while the GEEK 1S is more expensive, it does provide added value in terms of comfort and components. The decision between the two boils down to user preference regarding comfort versus budget. Overall, with its robust design, impressive performance, and comfortable form factor, the AYA NEO GEEK 1S stands as a worthy contender in the realm of portable gaming PCs.

You can learn more and buy the AYA NEO Geek 1S here. Our full AYA NEO Geek 1S review covers this handheld gaming PC in more details.