Handheld

Without Battlefield or Call of Duty, the Switch 2 isn’t yet an essential purchase for some gamers. However, a new leak suggests that Activision may launch its shooter franchise on the handheld in 2026. It’s unclear whether Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is on the way or if a mobile port is more likely.

The ever-privileged ETA Prime gets an exclusive first look at the Ayaneo Pocket Vert Android handheld, and impressions point toward an ambitious Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1-powered handheld in a familiar Game Boy-like form factor.

Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) could be an asset to Switch 2 games with wavering frame rates. Unfortunately, screen tearing remains an issue, particularly with titles that run at lower than 40fps. Ubisoft solved the problem in Assassin's Creed Shadows and is now sharing its wisdom with Nintendo.

GuliKit previously partnered with Asus to release Hall effect joystick modules for the ROG Ally X. The new TMR-based ROG Xbox Ally (X) modules eliminate stick drift while offering smoother and even more precise input.

For many fans, the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle was a no-brainer purchase. A leaked internal memo confirms that the package with the popular Switch 2 game will soon no longer be available. Nintendo hasn’t revealed a new bundle at the same price to replace it.

Anbernic has now launched its latest 4:3 vertical gaming handheld. Offered for under $200 in two colour options, the Anbernic RG477V also features a 120 Hz display with a powerful MediaTek chipset and up to 12 GB of RAM.

Mangmi has chosen to provide details of its upcoming handheld, the Pocket Max, in bits. Following a reveal of the design and display specifications, it has now provided images that show the Pocket Max in two new colors.

Released in 2022, the Steam Deck LCD quickly attracted a devoted following. Those fans are bemoaning the news that Valve will soon retire its cheapest gaming handheld. The Steam Deck OLED ships with improved specs, but has a price that’s on par with the ROG Xbox Ally and Legion Go S.

If the Final Fantasy 7 Remake demo is any indication, the Switch 2 game will impress fans. Even at lower resolutions, DLSS bridges the gap between the handheld and more powerful consoles. Image clarity is closer to the PS5 and Xbox Series X than expected, while looking crisper than the Series S.

As cars become more robust entertainment centers, PlayStation sees opportunities for growth. The Sony Honda Afeela 1 EV will launch with a PlayStation Portal handheld attached to its backseats. Even so, it may rely on PS Remote Play, which requires a console at home to enjoy PS5 games.

The Legion Go 2 is one of the most expensive gaming handhelds around produced by a major laptop manufacturer. According to a new leak, that could well change soon with a forthcoming refresh.

MSI now also offers its gaming handheld Claw 8 with an AMD processor. The question is why though, because our review reveals some ergonomic drawbacks compared to the Intel SKU and you also get 8 GB RAM less. The price is identical, so why should you get the AMD version?

Retroid has ended the first batch of pre-orders for the Pocket 6, with a plan to begin shipping in January 2026. However, it has begun accepting a new batch of pre-orders without the launch discount that earlier buyers enjoyed, but a further delayed shipping date.

A Dispatch artbook is being portrayed differently on some Nintendo eShop listings. Fans recognized that the characters on the North American page are wearing more conservative outfits. The censorship exists even though the Switch game with copious adult content is likely unaltered.

The Anbernic RG477V is yet to be released, but early reviews have already surfaced. One review praises several aspects of the handheld but also highlights some issues, including its Mali GPU.

We have more confirmation that Sony is working on a portable PlayStation 6 console. A new leak from Moore's Law Is Dead claims that Sony is pushing developers to optimize their games for different CPU configurations. This suggests that there could be multiple PS6 consoles, which gives weight to rumors that there will be a PS6 home and a PS6 handheld console.

In November, Nintendo lost ground to PlayStation, with U.S. PS5 sales claiming the number one rank. Sony’s performance ends a winning streak that began when the Switch 2 debuted in June. Regardless, total console sales are lagging behind the pace of previous years.

The only conventional physical option for Nintendo Switch 2 games is costly 64GB media. That could soon change, after reports that smaller cartridges are in the works. The decision may be a response to higher storage prices, but Game-Key Cards are likely to remain prevalent.

Anbernic will be offering one final gaming handheld before Christmas. After teasing the device earlier this month, a reliable source has learned of launch details relating to the Anbernic RG477V and how much the new retro gaming handheld costs, too.

Nintendo Switch Online on the Switch 2 offers a growing selection of classic GameCube games. Sadly, input lag often makes gameplay less enjoyable than expected. After a new update, players are reporting more responsive controls in selections like The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.

A unique Zelda experience may be on the way, with Monolith Soft leading development. The Xenoblade Chronicles studio has already assisted with Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom. A new interview hints that Nintendo now trusts the company to build a new game from scratch.

Ayaneo has revealed that its upcoming Windows handheld, the Next II, will be launched on Indiegogo. It has begun accepting registrations for the handheld, with a promise of an early bird discount for those who register.

Anbernic has shared an extensive video of the RG477V on YouTube. Signalling that a full global launch is close, the video also reveals new details about the device that Anbernic has held back until now.

The KT Pocket KT-R1S has been a long time coming. Now, it seems that KT Pocket is finally ready to replace the KT-R1 with a more powerful option. Ahead of its full launch, the KT-R1S has already been pictured in multiple designs.

A new teaser video for Mangmi's upcoming Pocket Max handheld is now live, revealing the 7-inch gadget's visual design in detail, and shedding light on some key specs in the process.

The MSI Claw A8 with its AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme launched in August 2025, but the gaming handheld has not yet made a proper debut in the US. Now, it seems that the US launch may be around the corner, as the device has been listed on Newegg.

With so many Steam bundles for sale, buyers often miss out on deals. Valve now notifies them of lower prices before finishing the checkout process. Social features already warn players about issues with new Steam games, giving the marketplace an advantage over the Epic Games Store.

The EX5 is a 5-inch gaming handheld quite clearly modelled after the PS Vita. Equipped with a reasonably powerful MediaTek processor, the GameMT EX5 will surpass many of its rivals visually thanks to its 1080p IPS display.

Following the success of the Mangmi Air X, Mangmi has teased its next gaming handheld. Called the Pocket Max, the upcoming handheld is billed to be more powerful than the Air X.

A leak has shared a first look at TrimUI's next handheld release. A return to vertical handhelds, the new TrimUI Brick is said to surpass the current model with at least two key upgrades.

ETA Prime has awarded his favourite x86 gaming handhelds of 2025. While there has been plenty of noise lately about AMD Strix Halo, the popular YouTuber's top picks may surprise fans of high-end gaming handhelds.

The Ayaneo Pocket Air Mini has begun shipping after being available to pre-order since October. The first batch of orders will include those who backed the project on Indiegogo.

Anbernic has confirmed full specifications for its next gaming handheld. In the process, the company has indicated that the Anbernic RG477V will be released soon with a global launch likely on the cards.

The Nintendo Virtual Boy add-on accessory for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 is now available to pre-order. However, you must have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription to be able to pre-order the device.

Abxylute has announced the E1 dual-OS retro game console, designed for the emulation of classic games from systems such as the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, as well as cloud gaming. The $69 handheld comes with a 640 x 480 LCD screen and dual carbon-film analog joysticks running Android and Linux OSs. Update: Specifications updated

The GPD Win 5 has undergone major design changes compared to its predecessor, with the external battery being one of them. A modder who goes by PureDIY has now shown off a mod for the gaming handheld that fixes many design complaints.

The Abxylute E1 is Abxylute's newest and cheapest handheld, but its low price could be because it isn't an original design. The handheld shares a lot of its DNA with the Game Console RX6H, a sub-$40 handheld that was announced in February 2025.

The R36H Pro Max is a new retro gaming handheld equipped with a 768p IPS display and dual joysticks. Offered in multiple colours including a translucent variant, the R36H Pro Max also supports Wi-Fi connectivity for under $50.

Backward compatibility is a major advantage of owning Microsoft’s gaming systems. Unfortunately, the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds and other new Xbox consoles may struggle with Windows limitations. A respected leaker claims that Microsoft is exploring ways to ensure more Xbox 360 games are playable.

A new benchmark has offered fresh insights into the state of Intel Panther Lake gaming handhelds. Equipped with 10 Xe3 cores packaged within an Arc B370 iGPU, the first Panther Lake handheld has already been spotted boosting beyond 35 W even at this early stage.

Anbernic has teased the gaming performance of its next retro gaming handheld release. A replacement for the RG406V, the RG477V combines a 120 Hz display with a powerful chipset to deliver 4x resolution scaling in PS2 games and 3x scaling in popular GameCube and Wii titles.

The Anbernic RG DS has received a custom OS that replaces the stock one that ships with it. Available for several other handhelds, GammaOS brings several new features and fixes some of the issues of the stock OS.

After a release date price hike, the ROG Xbox Ally wasn't tempting enough for some buyers. However, with a discount of over $100, it’s a better match for the Steam Deck OLED or Legion Go S. For much less than the ROG Xbox Ally X, the gaming handheld runs a vast collection of Windows titles.

The Lenovo Legion Go 2's Truestrike controllers are compatible with the original Legion Go. Now, available to buy on Amazon, interested buyers can purchase them for their improved ergonomics and additional features they have over the original Truestrike controllers.

Several leaks have highlighted specifications for the first Intel Panther Lake handheld. Equipped with a different processor and iGPU than expected, the new OneXPlayer X1 will feature more RAM than competing AMD and Intel gaming handhelds too.

The Anbernic RG DS will begin shipping very soon to those who pre-ordered it. However, when it arrives to the owners, it should run a new software version that has fixed issues that were discovered by early testers.

Developers appear to be meeting their optimization targets for the delayed Elden Ring Tarnished Edition. Despite other ports taking advantage of Switch 2 specs, previous demos were concerning. At a recent event, a Spanish YouTuber experienced smoother performance without sacrificing visual quality.

According to leaked emails, Sony is not treating the PS5 power saver mode as optional. Moore’s Law Is Dead believes that the company needs developers to optimize games for the PS6 handheld. That could result in lower-resolution PS5 games, as Sony prioritizes frame rates.

Ayaneo has updated the Pocket DMG over a year after its original release. Still one of the most powerful vertical gaming handhelds around, the Ayaneo Pocket DMG now comes in a fresh limited edition colour option with a cheaper starting price to boot.