5 Best Handheld Video Game Consoles in 2023

A Handheld Video Game Console is a small and portable self-contained gaming-console with a built-in screen, controls and speakers. In fact, you will be able to carry your portable gaming console and play with it anywhere or at any time.

Likewise, these game-consoles will fit perfectly into the palms of your hands or on the tabletop. Additionally, some console models may make use of a variety of video displays such as; LED, VFD, or LCD.

So, Our team tested different Handheld Video Game Consoles on the market today and came to agree that Nintendo Switch video game console and GPD Win-3 Handheld PC Video Game Console are the Best Portable Gaming Consoles in 2023.

Review Of 5 Best Handheld Video Game Consoles To Buy In 2023:

#1-CHOICE: Nintendo Switch video game console:

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KEY-FEATURES:

An original Nintendo Switch model hac-001.
Provides single & multiplayer thrills at home.
Battery performance ranges from 2.5-to-6.5 hours.
The switch features a high-definition gameplay screen.
Unprecedented new play-styles through 2 Joy-Con controllers.
The portability of Nintendo Switch is enhanced by the 6.2″ screen.
The controllers feature a full complement of face & shoulder buttons.
The controllers feature built-in motion-sensing technology & HD-rumble.
The mobility of a handheld is now added to the power of a home gaming system.
The system instantly transitions to handheld-mode by simply lifting it from the dock.
It comes with 2 Joy-Con controllers that can act as a standalone controller with an analog stick.
It can be taken on the go so that players can enjoy a full home console experience anytime, anywhere.
At home, the system rests in the Nintendo Switch dock which lets you play with family & friends on a TV.
Includes: Nintendo Switch console, dock, Joy Con (L) & Joy Con (R), 2 Joy Con straps, 1 Joy Con grip, HDMI-cable, AC-adapter & a full game download code for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
The controller can be inserted into a Joy-Con grip accessory to be used like a traditional Controller held comfortably in each hand for independent left & right motion controls or shared between 2 players for instant multiplayer gaming in-front of TV or out on the go.

#2-CHOICE: GPD Win-3 Portable Handheld PC Video Game Console:

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KEY-FEATURES:

Dual Vibration Motors.
Features a Slid Open Screen.
Linear Analog Trigger Button.
RAM: 16GB LPDDR4x 4266.
White Backlit Touch Keyboard.
Features 1-TB NVME M.2 SSD Storage.
Unique Vibration Prompt When Touching.
Large Displacement Side-blowing Design.
5.5″ Mini Handheld PC Video Game Console.
Two Custom Buttons On The Back for Shortcut Keys.
An Inclination Angle Of 27-Degrees to Produce 256 States.
Thermal-Design: Active-Cooling, Big-Fan & Dual Heat Pipe.
Fingerprint Unlock to Avoid Entering The Password Every Time.
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96 EUs, Up to 1.3-GHz with DirectX 12.1 OpenGL 4.6.
Portable & weighs only 560-grams which makes it easy to take in your pocket on the go.
The Sound Cavity Is Built With Bass Materials And Adopts A 0.9cc Large Sound Cavity Design.
Extreme Vibration Effect And Fine Vibration Will Make You Feel Better Immersed In The Game.
AAC Top 3-dimensional Super Linear Speaker with Double Amplitude Enhancement & Super Lively Sound.
Protruding Alps Original Dual 3D Big Rocker Has Large Stroke with Large Swing Distance, Low Resistance.
Ports: 1 x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB Type-A , 1x MicroSD Card (A2) Slot, 1x 3.5mm Headset & Microphones.
The Touch Keyboard Of WIN 3 Is Hidden At The Bottom Of The Screen And Adopts The QWERTY Full Keyboard Layout.
Network: Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4G/5G Dual-band Wi-Fi, Dual-channel Maximum 2402-Mbps Transmission Rate.
CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7 with 4 Cores/8 Threads & Base Frequency 2.4/2.8-GHz, Max-Turbo Frequency Up to 4.2/4.7Ghz.
The Double Coil Drives The Diaphragm, Balances The Force Of The Diaphragm & Doubles The Amplitude for Super Lively And Loud Sound.
Display-Type: A 5.5″ Sunny-Screen, NTSC: 84% (type), Resolution: 1280×720, 400nit, 268ppi & Adopts Corning’s Fifth-generation Gorilla Glass with DC Dimming.
When The Internal Temperature Is Lower Than 40℃, The Fan Only Turns On At 20%. When The Internal Temperature Is Higher Than 40℃, The Fan Accelerates With 2% Pwm Increments Each Time, Up To 100% to keep the device cool.

#3-CHOICE: SONY PSP-3000 Portable Playstation Console:

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KEY-FEATURES:

SONY Handheld Gaming Console.
Portable & easy to carry when travelling.
It features a 4.3” widescreen LCD Display.
This console is designed to play more than 360-games.
Wi-Fi functionality for accessing & playing games online.
A truly integrated portable entertainment system designed to handle multiple applications.
Take your entertainment with you by placing your downloaded videos on the Memory Stick Duo.
It will allow you to listen to music, watch movies, check the Internet, watch live and recorded TV & jam to Internet Radio.
Combines more than 135-games & more than 430 feature films, TV-programs & videos on UMD from major studios and record labels as well as downloadable content from the internet.

#4-CHOICE: NVIDIA SHIELD Portable Game Console:

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KEY-FEATURES:

NVIDIA SHIELD Portable Game Console.
Features a Blazing-Fast Mobile Processor.
It features Wi-Fi for fast PC game streaming.
SHIELD puts amazing entertainment in the palm of your hands.
High-Fidelity Speakers Engineered to Immerse You in great Audio.
Sync a Bluetooth controller and play your Android and PC games in HD.
A vibrant 5″ LCD display makes text, colors & images look sharp at every angle.
Features: Mini-HDMI port, Bluetooth-4.0, Micro-USB 2.0 & a 3.5-mm audio jack.
A Console-Grade Game Controller ergonomically designed for maximum comfort.
Gamepad-mapper allows you to add gamepad support to native touch Android games.
Free up your SHIELD memory by moving your app and game files to an external microSD card.
4K Ultra-HD Ready to allow you play your favorite movie files like FLV, MKV & 4K media on 4K TVs.
Supports the latest KitKat operating system for easy access to all your favorite Android games & applications.
Console Mode transforms the NVIDIA SHIELD into a full living room gaming and entertainment experience on your big-screen TV.
It features a 72-core NVIDIA GeForce GPU & quad-core ARM A15 CPU for graphic-intensive Android games without compromising battery life.
NVIDIA GameStream lets you stream games from your GeForce GTX-based PC and play them on SHIELD’s integrated console-grade controller with ultra-low latency.
NVIDIA TegraZone gives you access to your personal library of Android & PC games, search for the hottest SHIELD- optimized games & stay current with the latest SHIELD news.

#5-CHOICE: Nintendo Switch Lite Portable Video Game Console:

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KEY-FEATURES:

Handheld Nintendo Switch Gaming Console.
It is Optimized for personal, handheld playing.
This is a small and light Nintendo Switch system.
The Game-console features a built-in plus Control Pad.
This Game-Console features a wise & clear 5.5” Touch Screen.
Features a sleek, unibody design with fully integrated controls.
This console is always ready to hit the road whenever you are.
Compatible with microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC memory cards.
Output: USB Port (USB 2.0 compatible), System connector, AC adapter port & HDMI port.
Compatible with all physical & digital Nintendo Switch games that support Handheld mode.
Audio output: Compatible with 5.1ch Linear PCM output & Output via HDMI connector in TV mode.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):

What is a handheld gaming console?

A Handheld Video Game Console is a small and portable self-contained video game console that features a built-in screen, game-controls and speakers.

What is the best handheld gaming console?

The “Nintendo Switch” is actually the best and most affordable portable game console or handheld gaming system. In fact, this gaming-console can play a variety of Nintendo games or indie games and can also dock with a TV for an amazing gaming experience.

Does PlayStation still make handheld game consoles?

Yes, It even has the latest handheld gaming console called the “PS-Backbone“. This console will allow you to play your PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games remotely. You can also play the console and PC games you have with Backbone’s support for PS Remote Play, Xbox Remote Play, and Steam Link mobile apps. Lastly, this gaming-console works even better with PS5 & Xbox Series X.

Why handhelds are better than consoles?

The lower price makes handheld gaming consoles an easier option for parents than larger-consoles. Additionally, their portability makes them a flexible entertainment option for most kids.

What are the different types of games?

Sandbox-games.
Puzzle and party games.
Action & adventure games.
Survival and horror games.
Shooter-games (FPS and TPS).
Simulation and sports games.
Real-time strategy games (RTS).
Role-playing games (RPG, ARPG, etc).
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA).

Why are consoles better than PCs?

Because consoles have better graphics and performance than PCs. Likewise, consoles are usually cheaper than PCs and are also much easier to use than PCs.

What do you call a person who loves games?

A “gamer” is a proactive hobbyist who plays interactive games like; video-games, tabletop role-playing games, and skill-based card games for long periods of time.

Can you turn a PC into an Xbox console?

No, there is no way you can turn a PC into a gaming console that runs Xbox One or PlayStation games. However, you have an option of turning your computer into a PC game console.

Are games better on PC or console?

PC gaming is actually better than console gaming because of its customization and improved gaming experience. In fact, gaming on a computer allows you to achieve maximum performance. However, every gamer has a preference on whether to play on a computer or gaming console.

What are positive effects of playing video games?

Improved motor skills.
Improved cognitive abilities.
Greater multi-tasking ability.
Increased hand-to-eye coordination.
Better eyesight (attention to detail).
Improved problem-solving skills & logic.
Faster and more accurate decision-making.

What are negative effects of playing video games?

> Dehydration.
> Lack of motivation.
> Lead to poor social skills.
> Obesity and heart problems.
> Less reading & lower grades.
> Eye straining when played for long.
> May cause depression in some people.
> Less exercise and becoming overweight.
> Alexithymia and emotional suppression.
> Decreased sleep and poor quality sleep.
> Less time socializing with friends and family.
> Aggressive thoughts & behaviors in some people.

Advantages of Handheld Game Consoles:

+ They are small & portable.
+ They don’t require upgrades.
+ Consoles are simple & easy to use.
+ Feature built-in screens and controls.
+ They don’t require as much maintenance.
+ consoles are much easier to use than PCs.
+ Are easy to take with you when traveling.
+ They come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
+ Most portable gaming consoles are affordable.
+ Handheld video game systems will keep you entertained.
+ Handheld consoles are good for mobility & accessibility.
+ Feature controllers that are specifically designed for gaming.
+ They allow people to carry them and play them at any time or place.
+ Physical buttons and joysticks are still better for playing hardcore games.
+ Portable game consoles are fast and can startup in minutes to allow you enjoy the game.
+ Many gamers will choose to play with a game-console because they are designed for easy set-up & maintenance.
+ They are convenient for gaming on-the-go and are often less expensive than their large-console counterparts.

Disadvantages of Handheld Game Consoles:

– Limited customization.
– They are easy to lose.
– Limited upgradeability.
– Battery life remains a limitation.
– Consoles lack backward compatibility with games.
– High-end, advanced gaming consoles are expensive.

CONCLUSION:

All the featured Video Game Consoles are very portable, functional and have been optimized for personal, handheld playing in 2023.