How to choose the device that best meets your needs is not an easy task. For this reason 24 Channels We have prepared several recommendations to help you make a purchasing decision.

1. Purchasing budget

While it all starts with wanting a specific device, ultimately the decision comes down to how much money you’re willing to spend on the console. So it would be best to start with this – decide what it will be your purchasing budget.

upper console Nintendo Switch It costs $350, but only has 64GB of internal storage.

If you prefer PC games or games available on Steam, Steam Deck It starts at $400 for the 256GB model. But if you want the 1TB model, you’ll have to pay $650 or more; This is already far beyond the budget of a full console like PS5 or Xbox Series X.

Steam Deck portable console / Unsplash photo

basic model ROG Ally It costs $500, the same price as the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but it has a more powerful processor than those consoles. The ROG Ally with the Z1 Extreme chip costs $700 but is even more powerful and lets you play newer AAA games. While both ROG Ally models only have a 512GB solid-state drive, they also have a microSD card slot to further expand storage.

It certainly all looks pretty expensive, but it’s still cheaper than a gaming PC. Moreover, your goal is a portable gaming device, and not a full-fledged gaming station, the choice of which is a completely different matter.

2. What games do you plan to play?

Before purchasing a portable console, you should decide on your preferences in games.

• If you prefer PlayStation exclusive games PlayStation Portal Although this device isn’t actually a portable console and only streams games launched on your main PlayStation 5 console, it could be a good choice.
• It will definitely remain an ideal choice for fans of Nintendo games KeyBecause the company is active.
• If the main part of your game library is collected in Steam, then Steam DeckFrankly, it will be the best option for portable gaming.
• If you want to play games not on Steam and don’t want to install Windows on Steam Deck, PDAs like these ROG Ally or MSI ClawIt works on Windows. This will give you more options to install your favorite apps.

However, it is worth remembering that not all games are optimized for portable devices, and some, especially real-time strategies, are better played on a widescreen with a mouse and keyboard.

If you prefer these games, we recommend sticking with your desktop or purchasing a dock for your console, like the ROG Ally dock or Valve’s original Steam Deck dock.

3. Decide if you need a docking station

While handheld game consoles offer the ability to play anywhere, sometimes it’s better to play on the big screen. If you don’t have another console connected to your TV or don’t want to spend money on multiple gaming devices, consider a portable console with a docking station.

Nintendo Switch is a great example of such a console because the docking station comes with the device. Despite the fact that this is a six-year-old laptop, it remains a desirable device among gamers, especially considering that You also don’t need to buy additional controllers because the built-in Switch controllers can be removed and played together.

The Switch is equipped with a docking station out of the box / Photo: Unsplash

If your game library is on Steam or you play mostly on PC, you should consider: Steam Deck, ROG Pathor other portable minicomputers. However, in such cases, the docking station will have to be purchased separately.

4. Take limited autonomy into account

The main advantage of a portable gaming console is the ability to play games almost anywhere. However, due to the autonomy of portable devices, playback time can be quite limited.

For example a battery Steam Deck It takes about an hour and a half when playing demanding games, so you need to look for an outlet or have a powerful power bank with you to play more.

Of course, the portability of a portable console is a huge advantage over a desktop PC or laptop because you can easily pull the console out of your bag and start playing.

But if your games consume a lot of power, the mobility benefit diminishes due to the need for frequent charging.

5. Compare features

If you are going to buy a portable game console, be sure to be familiar with its technical specifications. Different consoles have different capabilities and not all are alike.

Example, PlayStation Portable (We remind you again that this is not a portable console) it only works in broadcast mode. So it’s essentially a screen with a gamepad that displays games launched from your main PlayStation 5 console. This means it won’t work without a PlayStation 5, and that device won’t be able to run any games on its own.

So, if you do not have a stable internet connection at home or in other places where you intend to use this console, it may not be the right option for you.

Logitech G Cloud it’s also a streaming device that requires high-speed internet and a subscription to a cloud gaming service.

For offline play, consider devices that store games locally. Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck or ROG Ally. It is also important to check the amount of memory and expansion or upgrade options of the selected console.

ROG Alloy portable console / Unsplash photo

It is also worth checking the list of games that are absolutely supported on your device, such as Steam Deck, which constantly updates the library of games specially adapted for this console. This means that the games on this list are guaranteed to run on a laptop without compatibility issues; This cannot be said for sure about other games in the Steam library.