As a PC gamer priced out of gaming laptops and PCs, these are the must-have PC gaming handhelds to get this Christmas

1. Computing
2. Gaming Computers
3. Gaming PCs

As a PC gamer priced out of gaming laptops and PCs, these are the must-have PC gaming handhelds to get this Christmas Features By Matt Hanson published 18 December 2025

Better value for gaming on-the-go

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: MSI / Asus / Lenovo / Valve / Edited by Gemini) Share Share by:

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Reddit
• Pinterest
• Flipboard
• Threads

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

As a PC gamer for over 30 years, I know our hobby can get pretty pricey, and with RAM prices increasing, having a knock-on effect on the cost of the best gaming laptops and gaming PCs, it could get even more expensive. That's why I'm dropping the advice I've been giving for decades and advising people not to buy a gaming laptop or PC at the moment, but instead go for a handheld gaming PC.

Ever since I first got the Steam Deck, which arguably kicked off this new category of gaming device, I've fallen in love with gaming handheld PCs. They have a much more convenient and portable design that allows you to easily play your favorite PC games pretty much anywhere, and while they aren't as powerful as high-end gaming rigs packed with cutting-edge GPUs, they can provide impressive performance in even demanding modern games.

Certain games, such as the brilliant Hades II, which I am currently obsessed with, actually feel better to play on handheld gaming PCs and their built-in controllers, rather than with a mouse and keyboard (again, as a PC gamer this is something I rarely say).

You may like

• Sorry, Microsoft – the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds just don’t make sense compared to the Asus ROG Ally or Steam Deck
• The MSI Claw A8's potential price could ruin the handheld gaming appeal
• In a world of obscene handheld gaming PC prices, Valve has just dropped a major Steam Deck LCD discount

Even better, handheld gaming PCs offer superior value to gaming laptops if you're on a budget. The entry-level model of the Steam Deck goes for $399, and you simply wouldn't find a gaming laptop at that kind of price. Meanwhile, the more recent Steam Deck OLED adds a stunning screen, while remaining relatively affordable, and its SteamOS operating system offers a fantastic console-like experience where browsing and playing games is incredibly easy.

If you like the idea of SteamOS but fancy a more powerful handheld, then the Lenovo Legion Go S is an ideal choice, as it comes in two versions, one running SteamOS, the other Windows 11.

There are also more powerful handheld gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, which are a bit more expensive, but offer increasingly impressive gaming performance. This Xbox-branded handheld is particularly good for people who own one of Microsoft's home consoles.

If you already have a healthy library of PC games, then these handheld gaming PCs let you access your games without having to re-buy them, which again adds to their value compared to consoles, especially the Nintendo Switch 2. While the Steam Deck works best with games bought through the Steam store, there are ways to get games from other retailers, such as Epic Games Store, to play. Meanwhile, handhelds like the MSI Claw A1M, and Lenovo Legion Go run Windows 11, which gives you greater flexibility as you're able to easily install most PC games as you would with a gaming laptop.

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The MSI Claw A1M is a brilliant affordable Windows 11 gaming handheld, but if you have the budget and want to go all-out, then the MSI Claw 8 is a fantastic premium handheld with a large 8-inch screen.

With a growing number of handheld gaming PCs on the market, all at different price points and offering different levels of performance, it might be tricky, so I'm here to help with my picks below.

Chosen byChosen byMatt HansonManaging Editor, Core Tech

I've been a PC gamer since the early 1990s, and have owned and reviewed loads of gaming PCs, laptops and gaming handhelds. I'm currently playing Hades II on my Asus ROG Ally X.

Essential handheld gaming PCs

ValveSteam Deck OLEDUS$676.95shop now18% OFFLenovoLegion Go S (SteamOS)US$529.99US$649.99shop now14% OFFLenovoLegion Go S (Windows 11)US$589.99US$684.09shop now18% OFFAsusROG Xbox AllyUS$489US$599.99shop now7% OFFMSIClaw A1MUS$560US$599shop nowMSIClaw 8US$1,099shop now Matt HansonSocial Links NavigationManaging Editor, Core Tech

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he's reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.

Show More Comments

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Sorry, Microsoft – the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds just don’t make sense compared to the Asus ROG Ally or Steam Deck    The MSI Claw A8's potential price could ruin the handheld gaming appeal    In a world of obscene handheld gaming PC prices, Valve has just dropped a major Steam Deck LCD discount    As Lenovo cancels some Legion Go 2 pre-orders, the first GPD Win 5 videos have landed – and I think it looks worth the premium price tag    Best handheld games consoles in 2025: the top systems we've tried    The 'world's first' glasses-free 3D PC handheld looks a little ridiculous, especially at $1,799 – and honestly, I'd rather have a Steam Deck    Latest in Gaming PCs The MSI Claw A8's potential price could ruin the handheld gaming appeal    It’s a great time to buy an eGPU – and UGreen’s new Razer rival has two major tricks up its sleeve    AMD's Redstone update could revitalize FSR for PC games    Dell and Lenovo's expected hardware price hikes are a very worrying sign    Two manufacturers warn of price hikes for new PCs, so now's the time to buy    The best gaming PC 2025    Latest in Features Apple Music app in ChatGPT    Meta just u-turned on the best VR announcement it ever made — and might have handed the win to Android XR    Mark Manson on the problem with self-help and why his AI app is different    I tested Gemini 3 Flash against Google Search    How Gemini in Google Maps makes travel more flexible    What we know about Samsung, LG, Hisense and TCL's imminent next-gen RGB TVs    LATEST ARTICLES

1. 1Oracle has one last Ampere hurrah - new cloud platforms offer up to 192 custom Arm cores, and aren't OCI exclusive, unlike Graviton or Cobalt
2. 2Apple Music app in ChatGPT
3. 3It's about time! Microsoft finally kills off encryption cipher blamed for multiple cyberattacks - RC4 bites the dust at last
4. 4This new ‘smallest’ subwoofer packs deep bass into a 10-inch cube
5. 5It's not just RAM getting more expensive - the tools to make chips are set to explode in cost too, experts warn