Handheld

ASUS remains a few weeks away from fully unveiling the ROG Ally X. Leaker @MysteryLupin has now shared more details about the ROG Ally follow-up though, including battery life improvements.

Nintendo Switch comes with very dated hardware. Even at launch, the Nvidia Tegra X1 that powers the gaming handheld was two years old. But as it matured, people have started to find new ways to push the hardware to the extreme. One recent take on this comes from Twitter user PatRyk, who has shown off Windows 11 running on the game console. But the operating system barely works.

Analyst Dan Nystedt recently broke the news that Nvidia is reportedly working with MediaTek to co-develop an ARM AI processor for PCs. A new follow-up rumor suggests that the pair are also working to release a gaming handheld SoC. If this stands true, we may see more upcoming Nvidia-powered handhelds besides the rumored Nintendo Switch 2.

AYN Technologies has officially named its next gaming handheld. Arriving this summer as the Odin2 Mini, the gaming handheld will run Android with a Mini LED display and a PSP Vita design, all within a 320 g package.

Anbernic has now released the RG35XX SP, a clamshell gaming handheld that owes its design and form factor to the classic Game Boy Advance SP. Capable of emulating thousands of classic console games from the late 90s and early 00s, the Anbernic RG35XX SP is available for under $60 in numerous nostalgic colour options.

It seems as though AYN Technologies is taking its Odin gaming handheld division in a different direction. Having released the well-reviewed Odin2 last year, the company has now provided more details about its next Android gaming handheld, which looks awfully similar to the Sony PlayStation Vita.

AYN Technologies has provided early details for its next gaming handheld. Following on from last year's release of the Odin2, AYN Technologies has decided to shake up its gaming handheld offering in multiple areas, not least with the adoption of Mini LED display technology.

Details of the Switch 2’s hardware components have been unearthed from Nintendo’s shipping and customs records, suggesting a serious spec upgrade. The new device is expected to get 12 GB RAM with 7,500 MT/s, and 256 GB of storage, as well as a microphone. The size without the Joy-Cons will supposedly be 206 x 115 x 14 mm.

Anbernic has not officially announced the RG Cube yet. Nonetheless, the upcoming 1:1 retro gaming handheld has been shown in detail for the first time, confirming its similarities with the Powkiddy RGB30 and ZPG A1 Unicorn in the process.

Anbernic has not officially released the RG35XX SP yet. Nonetheless, the company has now confirmed all key device specifications, which the RG35XX SP shares with the likes of the RG35XX Plus and RG35XX H.

Leaker @MysteryLupin has shared new details about the ROG Ally X, ASUS' next Windows gaming handheld. While ASUS will not reveal more about the ROG Ally X until next month at Computex 2024, @MysteryLupin has outlined key specifications, the new device's colourway and US launch pricing.

Asus is back in the news for shady business surrounding warranty repairs. This time, Gamers Nexus is back at the forefront of it all with an Asus ROG Ally that needed warranty repair. Asus subsequently tried to charge GN for unnecessary repairs and completely missed the reason the ROG Ally was sent in for RMA. On top of all that, Gamers Nexus claims to have hundreds of emails from Asus customers recounting similar stories.

ASUS has just announced the ROG Ally X, its next gaming handheld. Nestled within its ROG Ally X announcement is also a significant update for existing ROG Ally owners with a focus on improving the overall user experience and expanding ROG Ally community options.

ASUS has offered another peak at the next ROG Ally. Not arriving as the ROG Ally 2 or ROG Ally 2024, the newer model will feature several changes from the current ROG Ally, including but not limited to a new battery and a re-positioned SD card.

Officially announced last month, the AOKZOE A2 Ultra got its pricing revealed. The base variant of the gaming handheld with Intel Core Ultra 5 125H is priced at CNY 4,999 (around $692), while the Core Ultra 7 155H model starts at CNY 6,399 (around $886).

It seems that Anbernic has the Powkiddy RGB30 and ZPG A1 Unicorn in its sights. While the company has only recently presented the RG35XX SP, it seems that the Anbernic RG Cube could be on the verge of becoming official, too.

It was recently confirmed that the Asus ROG Ally 2024 will come later this year as a refresh of the popular handheld Windows gaming PC. Now, it seems as though Asus has sneakily teased the ROG Ally 2024 — in black, no less — in a throwaway birthday celebration post on social media.

Anbernic has now officially revealed the RG35XX SP, a 3.5-inch gaming handheld modelled after the Game Boy Advance SP. Soon available in multiple colours, the Anbernic RG35XX SP has already been shown to be powerful enough to emulate games from PS1, PSP, N64, and Dreamcast libraries.

Nintendo confirmed it will announce its next-generation Switch model before March 2025. A Nintendo Direct has also been scheduled June, but the event will not reveal any information about the upcoming console.

The Asus ROG Ally 2 (or 2024) will apparently make an appearance at Computex 2024. While details on the new handheld device are still unclear, it could really use an update to the display, controls, and ports, as well as a proper fix for the pesky microSD card issue. Here's what Asus should do, in one writer's humble opinion.

A DIY hardware modder known as YesItsKira has modded the Asus ROG Ally and converted it into a Nintendo 3DS-like gaming handheld. The secondary DIY screen even closes like a clam, just like the classic console.

Earlier this year, ASUS hinted that it would release a second-generation gaming handheld in 2024. According to a fresh report, the new model will contain incremental hardware revisions with no APU upgrade in sight.

The M19 is a 3.5-inch retro gaming handheld powered by a 3,000 mAh battery and a Rockchip RK3566 chipset. Available for under $55, the M19 has a bizarre control layout that goes against contemporary designs.

We recently had a leak on an upcoming Microsoft Xbox gaming handheld from Jez Corden, a reputed source for Xbox-related news. It suggested that the portable console is on track for a 2026 launch. Now, the company is fueling such rumors by sending out surveys asking what gaming handhelds the survey takers are using and whether they would consider buying another in the next five years.

Gaming on Linux can be a little complicated, but the open-source community has put into the software surrounding the Linux gaming experience. Here is a pick of four of the best tools and software packages to make the most of your gaming hardware running on Linux.

Lenovo has confirmed that it is working on a Legion Go 2. Lenovo's original gaming handheld is and was an impressive device, but the next iteration definitely needs a better screen, variable refresh rate, and a better controller experience to make it a worthy competitor to the likes of the Asus ROG Ally and Nintendo Switch.

The MSI Claw has received new BIOS and driver updates. It promises an impressive performance boost in games such as GTA V, Cyberpunk 2077 and Diavlo IV.

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a nice little handheld gaming device but replacing the screen is a herculean task. If there's a successor such as a Switch 2 Lite, then Nintendo has to make repairing it much easier.

AYANEO has now started selling the Pocket S, its 6-inch gaming handheld that relies upon the relatively under-utilised Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 chipset. Available from $399, the AYANEO Pocket S should be more powerful than other high-end Android options like the AYN Odin2 and Razer Edge.

Bazzite Linux 3.0 has officially launched, bringing with it Gnome 46, KDE Plasma 6, as well as improved HDR gaming on the Steam Deck OLED and more features for more handhelds, including the Lenovo Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally, and two Ayn handhelds.

Miyoo has now officially released the Mini A30, a retro gaming handheld that was previously thought of as just the A30. The Miyoo Mini A30 retails for under $50 and rivals the Anbernic RG28XX, among other modern small gaming handhelds.

More specifications for the MagicX XU Mini M have been revealed online ahead of its launch to rival the Anbernic RG28XX and Miyoo A30. The MagicX XU Mini M contains a Rockchip RK3562 chipset, 1 GB of LPDDR4 RAM, a 2,600 mAh battery and dual hall effect joysticks, among other features.

Anbernic is now selling the RG28XX globally, its latest interpretation of a 2.8-inch horizontal gaming handheld. Arriving for under $50, the Anbernic RG28XX should be as powerful as the larger Anbernic RG35XX H but with a more pocketable design.

ASUS has announced a new set of updates for the ROG Ally. Arriving later today, the updates include provide AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF) support, among other changes, which should deliver improved frame rates across the board for the popular gaming handheld.

The Miyoo A30 is a new retro gaming handheld with an Allwinner A33 chipset and a 2.8-inch display. Arriving before devices like the Anbernic RG28XX and the MagicX XU Mini M, the Miyoo A30 is available in four colours and two memory configurations.

AYANEO has outlined that the 'official launch event' for its AYANEO Pocket S gaming handheld will occur later this week. However, one of its regional social media channels has revealed that the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2-powered device may not actually receive a full release for a while yet.

A modding group called Superstar South Studios was able to get GTA 5 running on the Nintendo Switch. While the handheld gaming console could play through the prologue chapter, it eventually crashes after a few minutes. Also, even with heavy modding done to the game, it’s still a very choppy experience.

After a bit of delay, the Razer Edge has now also been put through our review process. The device managed to impress us within its intended use case, but comes with a few pitfalls that may dampen the experience in everyday use. We've summarised our review for you again in this article.

The MagicX XU Mini M is another 2.8-inch gaming handheld designed to play retro games. Likely competing with the Anbernic RG28XX and Miyoo A30 when it launches globally next month, the MagicX XU Mini M will distinguish itself from its peers with dual hall effect joysticks that both Anbernic and Miyoo's alternatives lack.

Anbernic has announced launch pricing and a release date for its latest compact gaming handheld. Arriving later this week for under $50, the Anbernic RG28XX contains an Allwinner H70 chipset, 1 GB of RAM and a 2.8-inch display for a pocket gaming experience on the go.

The Miyoo A30 is on the horizon and is set to rival the Anbernic RG28XX. According to new reports, the Miyoo A30 will utilise an Allwinner A33 chipset that will be capable of emulating up to Nintendo 64 and PlayStation games across the device's 2.8-inch display.

The Lenovo Legion Go with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage is now enjoying a cool $70 off the $699.99 retail price. While difficult to recommend against the competition at full retail, Lenovo’s handheld offers a lot of goodies that are hard to resist at the discounted price. These include a sharp display, detachable controllers, and good gaming performance.

The MSI Claw might’ve just gotten the performance boost it required to catch up to its competitors. As announced by the company, with the new BIOS and GPU driver update, the Intel Meteor Lake gaming handheld can offer up to 43.5% better FPS. However, we have yet to see a proper benchmark comparison with the new BIOS and graphics driver installed.

A hobbyist has transformed a popular gaming handheld into a compact Linux terminal. Built around an Anbernic RG353V, the AnberDeck also adds a Blackberry BB9900 keyboard with a USB Type-C port, among other hardware changes.

Macho Nacho Productions modded the classic Sony PSP 1000 and made it gain two features found in modern gaming handhelds: an IPS screen and an HDMI port. While both require a fair amount of DIY skills, they did turn out to be worth it, as the gaming experience improved after the mods.

CheckMag If you have a gaming PC, it’s never been easier to stream games to any device in your house. Steam streaming is probably one of the most accessible solutions to stream games from your gaming PC, Valve even released their own hardware (the Steam Link), which is sadly no longer available. However, combined with Steam, Parsec or Sunshine / Moonlight, pretty much anything that has a screen can be turned into a client for game streaming.

Certified refurbished models of Valve Steam Deck are currently available for way less than their new options. For example, you can grab the 512 GB configuration of the gaming handheld for just $359, which is a generous $90 slashed from the new retail unit. The base refurbished config, on the other hand, goes for just $279.

ASUS has finally acknowledged that it shipped some ROG Ally units with SD card readers that 'may not perform as expected'. While the company has not finalised a resolution for damaged SD cards and has expanded its warranty coverage, this does not apply to most markets.

The SZDiiER R35 Plus is another retro gaming handheld that resembles recent Anbernic RG35XX releases. Available for under $40, the SZDiiER R35 Plus features a 3.5-inch IPS display, a 3,000 mAh battery and twin joysticks, among other features.