Can Anyone Recommend a Hand Held Game Console?

Can anyone recommend a hand held with HDMI and Bluetooth or wired separate controller support?
Actually looking for a rs36s-style/AliExpress cheap handheld game console with HDMI and separate controller support for mostly PS1, N64 and Arcade games.
Sorry, should have been more specific.

Comments

  • -5

    I can't.

    • +7

      Really pushing that shitpost monthly limit, jv. Good luck on this months stats.

  • +1

    Steamdeck?

  • +1

    We may need a bit more to go on.

    As a starting point, I don't think any handheld gaming console has HDMI as standard on the device… You need to plug it into a dock (usually through USB-C).

    Also, it depends on your preferred Games:
    If you've already got a decent sized Steam library, then you'll be looking at the Steam Deck.

    If Steam isn't your thing, but you've got games in other launchers (Epic, Amazon, EA, Blizzard) and you're also a bit weary of the Linux ecosystem, then you'll likely want to lean more towards the Lenovo Legion Go or an Asus ROG Ally.

    Some long-time hand-held gaming producers from China have been trying to cash in on the SteamDeck fame too.
    Ayaneo make some very good handhelds.

    If you're not a PC gamer at all, then your choices quickly become:
    Nintendo - Switch 1 or 2
    Sony - Playstation Portal (Doesn't have any HDMI capabilities - Just mirror's your PS5)
    Xbox - Asus ROG Xbox Ally (Same as one mentioned above, but more expensive)

    • +1

      Thanks for the info and taking the time to reply. Actually looking for a rs36s-style/AliExpress cheap handheld game console with HDMI and separate controller support for mostly PS1, N64 and Arcade games. Sorry, should have been more specific, but thanks for your reply anyway.

      • +1

        Haha - it sounds like you know exactly what you want.
        But now that we have more information to go on, I can suggest things that match your requirements much closer.

        Below are some great handhelds that use chipsets that allow for HDMI output. Not sure of Bluetooth controller support though:

  • +1

    I have both a Steam Deck and an ROG Ally. The Ally gets waaaaaaay more usage. The Steam Deck has been sitting for months not being used. I just finished installing SteamOS on my ROG Ally with dual-boot windows and a shared partition in between for the games files and it works well. You get better gaming performace under SteamOS and paired with the ROG Ally, it is much more powerful than the Steam Deck. The Zotac Zone is another good contender, think of it as an ROG Ally with a better screen and extra buttons and touch pads but with less optimised CPU for gaming (still -almost- on par with the Z1Extreme though)

    Going forward, if you want a little more performance and don't mind the price hike, I'd go the ROG XBox Ally X when it comes out but pricing is still unknown. I wouldn't upgrade from what I have but if I didn't have one, that would be my choice.

    If I wanted a much much more powerful one and money was no object, I think GPD have made a Ryzen AI 395-powered handheld now to be released soon which would be an absolute beast but expect almost nil battery life.

    You've got to weigh the battery/CPU&GPU performance/design to your needs. Legion Gos have bigger screens, detachable controllers; ROGs have better software updates, Steam Deck is good for indie games, Zotac Zone is good specs overall too.

  • -4

    Lenovo Legion Go first model with AMD Z1 Extreme APU running SteamOS or Bazzite!

    Forget SteamDeck, Legion Go Z1 Extreme leaves SteamDeck to dust.
    The new SteamDeck has OLED display which suffers dead pixels and are being returned.
    Lenovo Legion are still using IPS panels.

    Do not buy Lenovo Legion Go S, it comes with AMD Z2 APU, the battery last longer but terrible performance compared with Legion Go Z1 Extreme
    Lenovo Legion Go S Z1 Extreme is about to hit the market but it will cost a kidney.

    I have a Xbox Series X and would never buy Asus ROG Xbox Ally, Asus refuses to cover warranty and its display is small asf.
    Folks are getting fu with dead GPU and mobo coz Asus says f you, buying Asus handheld is a death sentence IMHO.

    The best option right now is to buy Legion Go Z1 Extreme (first model), upgrade its storage to 2TB and have both Windows if you care for games with kernel anti-cheat and SteamOS installed in dual boot because Linux provides better performance than Windows, there is nothing new there really.

    Stay away from Nintendo, games from Nintendo Switch 1 is not compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.
    Nintendo Switch 2 is a dog sh1t handheld, folks weren't even able to record its performance during Gamescom 2025 in Germany last week.
    Plus, Nintendo is going full mode into key card, all you get is a token to download the game, you own nothing anymore with Nintendo.

    Do your own homework but before you do that, do not buy Nintendo Switch at all costs, especially Nintendo Switch 2.

  • For modern games? For retro games?

    • Actually looking for a rs36s-style/AliExpress cheap handheld game console with HDMI and separate controller support for mostly PS1, N64 and Arcade games. Sorry, should have been more specific, but thanks for your reply anyway.

      • +1

        You've got loads of options. HDMI out limits you a but, but there's so many of these handhelds out there you should find a good one. Just make sure it has enough processing power for N64 and if your controller is RF then make sure it has RF built in, otherwise bluetooth is fine.

Login or Join to leave a comment