Handheld

Digital Foundry tested the performance of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X in Doom: The Dark Ages and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The hands-on test returned performance that might disappoint fans who were waiting for considerably better gaming chops than the current crop of handheld gaming consoles.

Retroid has been able to fix the compatibility issue that prevented its Dual Screen Add-on from working with the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro. The fix is already rolling out to users as an OTA update that also brings some new features.

Anbernic has announced a new retro gaming handheld. Arriving after the RG477M and in the wake of rivals like the Ayaneo Pocket AIR Mini or the MagicX Two48, the Anbernic RG476H takes the fight to all before it with a premium design unlike many of its recent efforts.

The AYN Odin 3 is set to launch as one of the first gaming handhelds with the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Ahead of the full launch, the company has detailed the full specs of the Android handheld, which highlights a couple of more upgrades.

Lenovo might have changed its mind about releasing a SteamOS version of the soon-to-be-announced Legion Go 2. The handheld is expected to run Windows out of the box, but an official image has shown it running SteamOS. Hence, Lenovo might release the handheld in two OS versions, as it did with the Legion Go S.

After revealing the design and key specs of the Odin 3, AYN has released renders showing the colors the handheld will be available in. It is also letting its community members decide via a poll which color should be the fourth one.

The GPD Win 5 will be the first gaming handheld to be released with an AMD Strix Halo APU. Despite previously suggesting that the Win 5 would be available until October, GPD has now shared new details about the state of the gaming handheld's global release.

The Pocket AIR Mini is the final name of Ayaneo's Code R or Code R-1 project. Launching with a 4:3 display, the Pocket AIR Mini appears to be Ayaneo's attempt at rivalling compact retro gaming handhelds like the Anbernic RG406H.

The Win 5 is expected to be the first AMD Strix Halo gaming handheld that will be available to purchase soon. GPD has already showcased the device's external battery design and has now demoed a battery extension cable.

Several official images of the Lenovo Legion Go 2 have surfaced in a new leak. The images confirm already known details about the handheld but also reveal new ones.

How well Microsoft can accommodate console gamers may determine the fate of the ROG Xbox Ally X. Digital Foundry discovered that its interface is in a rough state. With the ROG Xbox Ally X release date approaching, multiple aspects of the UI are works in progress.

Leaked gameplay footage for Star Wars Outlaws shows pretty consistent gameplay, though at a lower resolution. The footage is said to be from docked mode so it would be interesting to see how the game runs in handheld mode.

Ayaneo has detailed some of the software features of the Pocket DS dual screen handheld gaming device. Details such as multitasking, quick settings, and compatibility with third party software show that Ayaneo is working on providing users with a great experience right out of the box.

The Odin 3 is now confirmed to come with an "exclusive" feature, a custom 6-inch bezel-less AMOLED screen. Besides confirming the display specs, AYN has also shared that the Android device will feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

A September Nintendo Direct is even more likely after a trusted leaker has verified rumors. NateTheHate2 believes a September 11th or 12th date for the presentation is probable. Nintendo could finally pinpoint a Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date or unveil a new Mario game.

MSI has quietly started offering its first AMD Ryzen-based gaming handheld in the UK. Available in two colours, the MSI Claw A8 combines AMD's latest Ryzen Z2 Extreme chipset with 24 GB of RAM, an 80 Wh battery and a 120 Hz VRR display for £849.98.

The Legion Go 2 could be available much later than expected in North America. Worse still, the Legion Go 2 could start at significantly more than even the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X in the US. By contrast, Lenovo's next gaming handheld will be price-competitive against the MSI Claw A8 in Europe.

Asides the Konkr sub-brand, Ayaneo also has a new line of entry-level handhelds coming soon. It has now revealed the design of the first product from the line which is currently referred to as the Code R or Code R-1.

The DSpi is a new retro handheld powered by a powerful Raspberry Pi and comes with two separate touchscreens. Further features include a 5000mah amp battery, an Xbox pattern controller with dual analog sticks and melon DS for dual screen DS emulation.

Just days before the Silksong release date, gamers can finally pre-order Team Cherry’s Metroidvania sequel. Gamestop has listed the Switch version of the game for just $19.99. Even though Hollow Knight was affordable, as a larger project, the Silksong price may be lower than players expected.

The statistics further cement feedback from various quarters about the popularity of physical media for AAA releases, even as Nintendo grapples with criticism for its Game Key Card approach as an alternative.

A Russian video game store may have leaked the release date for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. The game could arrive on September 18, about a week after the rumored Direct event.

The Game Bub is finally available to purchase. A horizontal FPGA gaming handheld and free of being associated with an arms dealer like one of its rivals, the Game Bub is available to back on Crowd Supply in a choice of Transparent Purple and Transparent White editions.

It seems that the long-awaited launch of the so-called Lenovo Legion Go 2 is on the horizon. A reliable leaker has now indicated that the ROG Xbox Ally X rival will be gracing IFA 2025 next week. In the meantime, the same leaker has posted the handheld's first promotional video ahead of time.

AYN has provided a first look at the Odin 3 which will succeed the Odin 2 that was released in 2023. The upcoming handheld looks nothing like its predecessor but more like the Odin 2 Portal.

A new source now states that Valve’s next-gen Steam Deck 2 is rumored to arrive in 2028, which aligns with earlier statements about the company waiting for major performance gains before releasing a true successor.

While much more powerful than the OG Switch, the Nintendo Switch 2 is still relatively weak by modern standards. This lack of performance has been most evident in third-party games, where the Switch 2 has been shown to run poorly. A new leak now claims that more Switch 2 games will incorporate Nvidia DLSS starting next year, which will go a long way in addressing these issues.

Moore's Law is Dead has revealed new information about the Canis SoC that will power Sony's rumoured handheld console. It includes a mix of Zen 6 and RDNA 5 parts, along with a hefty amount of LPDDR5X memory.

The MagicX Two48 is a new horizontal retro gaming handheld equipped with a sub 5-inch and 4:3 display, just like the Anbernic RG477M. Featuring a similar layout but a 1080p native resolution, the MagicX Two48 may well fall short of the RG477M when it comes to raw performance.

Following the ESRB rating, another sign hints at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond inching closer to release. A couple of testers, on contract with Retro Studios, have reportedly completed working on the game.

MagicX has shared early details about a device it now calls the Two58. Previously known as the Two45, the MagicX Two58 features a comparatively powerful MediaTek Dimensity chipset and a display so tall it can emulate 4.4-inch and 3.5-inch displays stacked on top of each other.

Hardly any time has passed since Ayaneo released the Pocket DS as a new OLED clamshell gaming handheld. Nonetheless, the company has now started teasing that it will soon fully unveil the Ayaneo Code R-1 with a focus on the entry-level market.

MagicX has revealed Touch One 35 and Retro 45 retro gaming handheld release plans. Both set to arrive before the end of the year, the Touch One 35 and Retro 45 will target different audiences with up to PSP Vita and Tate emulation for the former and Nintendo 64 or Sega Saturn emulation for the latter.

MagicX has just released the Zero 40 for those wanting to emulate Nintendo DS games. Now, the company has presented the Retro DS, a comparatively powerful dual-display gaming handheld that aims to attract those wanting to play Nintendo 2DS and Nintendo 3DS games.

Microsoft has confirmed which existing gaming handhelds will be eligible to receive Windows 11's new Xbox Handheld Gaming Mode. While the functionality will debut on the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, it will also be making its way to the MSI Claw 8 AI+ as well as the Lenovo Legion Go S and the Asus ROG Ally X.

The R39 Max is a new gaming handheld with a 1:1 and 720p IPS display. Seemingly an R36S Plus by another name, the R39 Max comes in multiple colours and should be powerful enough to emulate many classic systems including the extensive Game Boy back catalogue.

AYN Technologies is now selling its first clamshell gaming handheld worldwide. Available with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the AYN Thor directly rivals the Ayaneo Pocket DS with dual OLED displays but for a significantly lower starting price.

Studios attending Gamescom continue to wait for Nintendo to send essential Switch 2 dev kits. A Digital Foundry video details how the company encourages developers to release titles on the Switch instead. Gamers struggle to understand why Nintendo is not eager for more third-party Switch 2 games.

The OneXPlayer Super X was recently announced as a new convertible tablet with the Ryzen AI Max+ 395. This Strix Halo gaming handheld has now been fully detailed, and the company has showcased its gaming performance with demos.

During its last livestream, Ayaneo revealed a new starting price for the Konkr Pocket Fit Android handheld. The new price is lower and should be enough to win over more customers who are undecided about the handheld.

Ayaneo's Konkr sub-brand will not only launch the Pocket Fit handheld but a second model called the Pocket Fit Elite that is pricier and likely more powerful. While most of its specs and price have been revealed, the manufacturer has kept its processor a secret which is speculated to be the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Abxylute has two new controllers for the Nintendo Switch 2 on the way. The controllers are the N6 Switch Deck and the N9 Switch Grip, both of which are designed to replace the Switch 2's Joy-Con 2 controllers.

The Metroid Prime 4 release date remains a vague 2025 projection. A Gamescom demo is keeping players invested in the Switch 2 game, but it hasn’t relieved all fears of a delay. A YouTube podcaster was “incredibly disappointed” with its cumbersome mouse mode and the lack of new gameplay shown.

Ahead of the AYN Thor's arrival later this year, the manufacturer has also revealed a slew of official accessories for the handheld. The lineup includes protective cases, screen protectors, and travel cases.

XU Retro has detailed the XU35 H40 before its release later this year. Arriving with a 4-inch and 720p display, the XU35 H40 appears to be positioned as a cheaper and slightly less powerful alternative to Anbernic's RG406H, with which it shares various features.

MSI is gradually and silently releasing more batches of its first AMD Ryzen-powered gaming handheld in more countries. Having made its way to Germany last month, the MSI Claw A8 has now reached France but with significantly lower launch pricing.

XU Retro has already responded to Mangmi's first release. Apparently arriving in October, the XU Retro XU35 H50 will take on the Mangmi Air X at the same $75 starting price and comparable hardware to boot.

AYN Technologies has already confirmed that the AYN Thor will initially launch for $150 less than the Ayaneo Pocket DS. Now, the company has revealed from when its dual OLED display clamshell gaming handheld will be available to purchase and when pre-orders should start shipping.

Zotac has re-branded its second Zotac Zone gaming handheld. Initially shown in January, the device now known as the Zotac Zone Pro is slated to launch this October running Linux with OLED display and dual trackpads but a comparatively small battery.