The Rise of High End Gaming Handhelds in 2025
Gaming handhelds have come a long way from basic portable consoles. In 2025 they are basically compact gaming PCs you can throw in a backpack. This year has been especially interesting for handheld hardware with powerful new chips from AMD and Intel and some big name collaborations.
Not every new chip has landed perfectly. AMD launched its mighty Strix Halo at CES but it is too power hungry and hot to fit realistically into a handheld right now. The more efficient Z series chips are still the main stars in this space. The older Z1 Extreme remains a strong mid range option while the newer Z2 Extreme powers one of the most impressive handhelds to date.
On the Intel side the desktop lineup has been underwhelming but its mobile chips are seriously competitive. The Core Ultra 7 258V in particular has helped one handheld push right up alongside AMD powered rivals in modern games.
On top of the raw silicon the ecosystem is shifting too. Valve did not release new Steam Deck hardware this year but more manufacturers now have access to SteamOS. That means you can get a console like experience without running Windows while still tapping into your Steam library.
Out of everything released this year three handhelds stood out enough to be nominated for Best Gaming Handheld 2025. Each one targets a slightly different gamer and budget but all deliver serious performance for their size.
Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS
The Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS edition is built around AMD’s Z1 Extreme chip. That processor is no longer the newest kid on the block but it still offers excellent performance for a handheld especially when paired with Valve’s Linux based SteamOS instead of Windows.
SteamOS gives the Legion Go S a more console like feel. You boot straight into your games and the overhead is lower than a full Windows install which often means extra frames per second for free. The trade off is compatibility. Many multiplayer titles use anti cheat systems that do not play nicely with Linux so some popular games are simply not available or require workarounds.
In practice you can expect a few hours of gameplay on a charge with frame rates typically landing between 30 and 60 frames per second in many titles. That will not beat a desktop PC but for a portable device under the thousand dollar mark it is a solid balance of performance and battery life.
The hardware design is another strong point. The Legion Go S looks stylish and feels comfortable to hold for longer sessions. It is not perfect though. The built in trackpad is still disappointing months after launch. It only works natively in a handful of games and does not stay active when not in direct use so it can feel inconsistent and awkward.
For players who mostly stick to controller friendly games on Steam and want a device that behaves more like a console than a tiny Windows laptop the Legion Go S SteamOS version is an appealing mid range choice.
Asus ROG Xbox Ally X
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is a premium collaboration between Asus and Xbox that aims straight for the top end of the handheld market. It uses AMD’s Z2 Extreme chip with upgraded RDNA 3.5 graphics and a higher GPU boost clock. On pure numbers it is the fastest handheld the reviewers have tested so far.
In benchmarks and real world gaming the Ally X tends to sit above everything else with roughly five to ten frames per second more than direct rivals. That might not sound huge but in demanding games it can be the difference between dipping below 30 frames or staying comfortably above it.
There is more to it than just raw power. The Xbox Full Screen Experience software layer ties the whole thing together into a slick interface. It makes it easier to launch games and manage the device more like a living room console than a regular Windows handheld. The physical design is also strong with a comfortable grip and a surprisingly quiet cooling system even when running in turbo modes.
Battery life lands around two hours in gaming tests which is competitive for the level of performance. The main drawbacks are price and the screen. You are paying hundreds more than other high end handhelds for that performance lead yet the display itself does not feel as premium as the rest of the package.
For most people the cost will be hard to justify especially when cheaper devices get close in performance. But if you want the fastest Windows based gaming handheld available right now and like the idea of a tight Xbox integrated experience the ROG Xbox Ally X makes a strong case as the flagship option.
MSI Claw 8 AI+
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the standout Intel powered handheld of the year. At its heart is the Core Ultra 7 258V a mobile chip that finally lets Intel go head to head with AMD in this space.
In testing the Claw 8 AI+ delivered performance that matches the AMD Z1 Extreme in some titles and even beats it in others. In Wukong its scores are nearly identical but in Cyberpunk it can edge out both the Z1 Extreme and the Strix Point powered OneXPlayer OneXFly F1 Pro. That is impressive for a device that often comes in cheaper than the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X.
Before the Ally X arrived the Claw 8 AI+ sat at or near the top of the performance charts for handhelds. Even now it is still effectively a podium finisher making it one of the fastest options you can buy.
MSI did not just focus on speed. The Claw 8 AI+ includes a vivid 8 inch screen that makes games and media look great and a comfortable chassis that should suit longer portable sessions. The downside is weight. At close to 800 grams you will feel it more than some slimmer rivals but the ergonomics help offset that.
Battery life is roughly two hours during gaming which puts it in the same general ballpark as other high power handheld PCs this year. For players curious about Intel’s latest mobile chips and looking for a powerful yet slightly more affordable alternative to the Ally X the Claw 8 AI+ is a very strong contender.
All three nominated handhelds aim high and none of them hit true budget pricing. This year did not do much for ultra cheap portable gaming PCs and that is something many players hope will change. For now though these devices show just how close handheld systems are getting to full gaming PCs in both performance and features and whichever one takes the official top spot they all prove that 2025 is a great year to be into PC style gaming on the go.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/handheld-gaming-pcs/pc-gamer-hardware-awards-the-best-gaming-handheld-of-2025/
