Handheld

CheckMag According to recent reports, Microsoft will be dipping its toes into the gaming handheld market later this year with a device designed in collaboration with Asus. From new suggestions that Microsoft will charge at least $499 for an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go APU to it being 'a proof of concept' that will not play Xbox games, Xbox 'Project Kennan' already sounds dead on arrival.

PicoCalc is a new handheld that is based on a Raspberry Pi and comes with a dedicated keyboard for text input. Design wise, the device is clearly inspired by a calculator, although there are significant limitations in terms of performance.

Retroid has now revealed when its next vertical gaming handheld will be available and for how much. While a few details about the Retroid Pocket Classic remain unknown for the time being, it has now confirmed launch pricing and offers too.

The new 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller works with both Windows and Android devices. If you plan to use it with an Android smartphone, especially when on the go, it is best to get a mobile clip. 8BitDo has now released a mobile clip specifically made for the new controller.

It seems that Anbernic is preparing to release a new gaming handheld after a period of silence. Next up on the list may be the Anbernic RG557, which should be a direct successor to last year's Anbernic RG556 with a Snapdragon G2 Gen 1 chipset and 8 GB of RAM at its disposal.

Retroid has now revealed launch information for its next-generation Pocket Flip gaming handheld. Arriving next week, the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 will start at under $200 in a choice of various colour options.

Ayaneo has revealed that it has yet another gaming handheld in the works. Returning to its Android division once again, the company has dropped a few hints about what it has in store for the Pocket Ace and how it will differ from its existing gaming handhelds.

The second version of its Miyoo Flip has officially arrived. Available worldwide for under $100, the Miyoo Flip V2 should get closer to the Anbernic RG35XX SP with a superior hinge mechanism, among other reported changes.

The Verge has learned that Microsoft is working with Asus to launch its first-ever Xbox-branded handheld console. This is different from Microsoft's own SKU slated to debut sometime in 2027.

Ubisoft has confirmed Assassin's Creed Shadows will be Steam Deck certified before launch. The process appears to be in its final stages, with the game maker awaiting confirmation from Valve.

In recent months, the Anbernic RG35XX SP and Miyoo Flip have sought to redefine the clamshell gaming handheld scene. Now, Powkiddy has teased the return of the V90 in the form of a Powkiddy V90 V2.0 variant.

Retroid may be busy teasing its forthcoming Pocket Flip 2 and Pocket Mini gaming handhelds. However, it has been caught up in the fallout from its initial attempt to resolve a hardware issue affecting all Retroid Pocket Mini units. Now, it has revealed plans for a future hardware revision while also providing updates for existing compensation packages.

MSI's new Claw 8 AI+ is currently one of the best gaming handhelds on the market, but at $899.99, it also isn't cheap. Its hardware is good, but MSI really needs to improve its software.

Retroid has now revealed more technical specifications for its next vertical gaming handheld. While plenty more is known about the Retroid Pocket Classic, the company has left the device's chipset up to speculation for the time being.

Microsoft is reportedly working with a well-known PC OEM to develop what could be the world's first Xbox-certified handheld code-named Project Keenan. It will run Windows 11 and likely be powered by a Ryzen Z2 chip.

GameMT has another retro gaming handheld waiting in the wings. Called the E5 Ultra, the device appears to represent a significant upgrade over the existing E5 Plus thanks to more RAM, storage and a much faster chipset.

Steam is holding a limited-time sale, which has discounted many top-rated Steam Deck-compatible games. Among all, there are many action games that are enjoying limited-time discounts, dropping as low as $4.99.

11 bit Studios has released a new trailer for its upcoming game, The Alters. The new trailer shows how the new game takes inspiration from the publisher's 2014 video game, This War of Mine. Unfortunately, there's still no release date yet.

In a few weeks Nintendo will reveal more details about the Switch 2, but just before then, an FCC listing has provided some key specs, particularly related to communication features. The documents reveal the return of some features and the upgrade of others.

Retroid has posted another teaser for one of its new retro gaming handhelds. This time, the company has confirmed display specifications for the Retroid Pocket Classic, which will surpass the Ayaneo Pocket DMG and Analogue Pocket in crucial areas.

Jsaux's latest product is a battery mod kit that replaces the battery of the Asus ROG Ally with a much bigger one. The kit also comes with an aluminum heatsink and a bigger back cover for the handheld gaming PC.

Retroid has clarified ongoing display issues affecting the Pocket Mini. While the company hoped that it could fix the reason behind some shaders failing to work properly, it has now provided a solution in lieu of a direct fix.

Retroid has revealed more details about its Game Boy Color and Analogue Pocket lookalike. Not only will the Retroid Pocket Classic be sold in six classic colour options, but Retroid has also created an optional 6-button model inspired by the Sega Saturn.

Unlike most modern games, Stardew Valley doesn't have a large development team to test patches. Even so, serious bugs have been rare for the farming and life simulator. Its creator identified issues resulting from a recent Stardew Valley Switch update and has released a fix today.

MagicX has now revealed specifications for a device aimed squarely at Nintendo DS emulation. While the MagicX Zero 40 looks unusual, its tall display is perfectly suited to showing the two displays of a Nintendo DS simultaneously.

Ayaneo has updated its Pocket series with the Pocket Micro Classic. Available to pre-order now in a choice of three colours, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro Classic should be even more portable than the Pocket Micro, thanks to the removal of the latter's twin joysticks.

ChatGPT and AI features have made their way to ball point pens with the One Smart AI Pen. The Kickstarter campaign for this steel and plastic, 30-gram pen is live with a goal of $10,000.

GoRetroid has revealed the design of its upcoming gaming handheld with a design akin to the Game Boy Color. Teased as ''coming soon'', the handheld will be available in a variety of colors when it launches.

Game Console is preparing to release a budget retro gaming handheld. This time, the company has decided to borrow heavily from the RG40XX V, albeit with perhaps an even less ergonomic design than Anbernic's recent handheld.

The clamshell gaming handheld market has settled on the design pioneered by Nintendo and the Game Boy Advance SP. A new concept seeks to change that approach though, with a horizontal layout and two foldable elements.

Samsung Display has revealed the Flex Gaming, having received approval for the design last year in the US. Not only has the subsidiary confirmed initial specifications for the concept, but it has also hinted that it can run high-end PC games.

The Steam Deck has been around for three years, but hasn't received a single hardware performance upgrade since launch. The console's aging 6 nm APU based on Zen 2+ and RDNA 2 unsurprisingly struggles in many modern titles. Although a recent shipping manifest hinted at a refreshed APU for the Steam Deck, an industry expert was quick to shoot it down.

Monster Hunter fanatics would enjoy the freedom of taming beasts on handhelds. Sadly, Steam Deck performance is even worse on the system than on a desktop PC. Mobile Monster Hunter Wilds gamers currently have few options except waiting for patches.

Ayaneo has clarified reports about the discontinuation of the Ayaneo Flip series. According to the Chinese manufacturer, production will continue and there will be future iterations.

Early details about a new Helegaly gaming handheld have emerged online. Sporting a design that leans heavily into the recent Powkiddy X35H, the device is said to get close to the Anbernic RG405V and RG405M in terms of performance.

The RX6H by Game Console is a new cheap retro gaming handheld built around a 3.5-inch display. Considered relatively comfortable by early reviewers, the Game Console RX6H also already supports ArkOS thanks to its usage of a Rockchip RK3326 chipset and 1 GB of RAM.

The Steam Deck Folio is a new case designed for the Steam Deck that takes the concept of lightweight to the extreme. Aimed at those who like to take their Steam Deck travelling but dislike cases, the Steam Deck Folio also contains a built-in kickstand and integrated thumbstick locks.

Ayaneo has commented on the ongoing availability of Flip DS and Flip KB. Until now, the company has offered little by way of an explanation for why numerous orders of its Nintendo DS lookalikes have remained unfulfilled.

Retroid has revealed new details about its next clamshell gaming handheld. Not only will the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 be available in four colours, but it will also be available with a choice between two powerful chipsets. All Retroid Pocket Flip 2 models will feature a bright AMOLED display too.

Samsung has now officially presented 9100 PRO series SSDs in 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB capacities. All sporting PCIe 5.0 speeds, the fastest 8 TB variant will not be available until at some point this year.

Retailers are a popular target for buyers desperate to learn Switch 2 details. However, a former Nintendo worker believes stores aren't trustworthy sources to confirm a Switch 2 price. Appearing on a popular podcast, this employee shared his prediction for a release date.

Ayaneo has confirmed that it has a new compact retro gaming handheld in the works. Currently referred to as the Ayaneo Classic, the device appears to be a cheaper and simpler version of the Ayaneo Pocket Micro that could rival the tiny Anbernic RG28XX.

The G350 is another vertical gaming handheld based around the evergreen Rockchip RK3326 chipset. Also sporting a 3.5-inch and 640 x 480 display, the G350 is said to surpass the usability of the Game Console R36S while adopting a smaller footprint than the Anbernic RG353V.

Advancements to the Nintendo Switch 2's CPU, GPU, and RAM have game developers excited. Not only will the Switch 2 likely be able to run games more smoothly than the original Switch, but the increase in processing power also means that games will be easier to port.

Retroid has now confirmed various details about its Nintendo DS lookalike. Not only does the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 feature an OLED display, but it also features Hall effect joysticks and triggers. A separate leak has offered an insight into the clamshell gaming handheld's release date, too.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch this year, but its exact release date and other details remain a mystery. A new report suggests that the console may debut with a price increase over its predecessor.

After the Analogue Pocket comes the Game Bub. Over the past 18 months, engineer Eli Lipsitz has been working on a retro handheld in the iconic Game Boy form factor, which is supposed to play original cartridges for the Nintendo Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance. It can also emulate games from an SD card.

Nintendo is ending its My Nintendo Gold Points reward system after seven years. The game giant has provided no reason for the discontinuation which will take effect in late March 2025.

CheckMag The market for gaming handhelds is booming. New devices are springing up everywhere and more and more manufacturers are venturing into the segment. Too much choice can be paralyzing, so knowing what makes a good handheld is certainly worthwhile.