With so many gaming handhelds hitting the market, we summarize all of the upcoming handhelds coming in 2024 that we think you should keep your eyes on.
The popularity of handheld gaming devices has exploded since the launch of the Nintendo Switch, with the Steam Deck only pouring fuel on the fire.
The range of devices on the market can be bewildering. Ranging from powerful portable gaming PCs to more modest emulation-focused devices. We take a look at a few of these devices that have yet to come to market and tell you what you can expect.
Upcoming Ayaneo handheld consoles
Ayaneo was quick off the mark. It was among the first few companies to bring a Windows-based portable gaming console to market following the release of the Nintendo Switch.
Since then, Ayaneo has carved out its own niche by providing high-end portable gaming devices that feature good build quality and impressive specs. They’ve also become known for launching many devices, usually offering them via IndieGoGo before making these devices available via its official store.
Ayaneo Pocket EVO
Like the Pocket S, the Ayaneo Pocket EVO forgoes being the Windows-based device you’d expect, and instead brings another Android handheld to the Ayaneo table. This time, with a stunning world’s first 7-inch OLED 1920 x 1080 full-screen display.
While the screen may be new, the chassis isn’t entirely. For this new Pocket EVO, Ayaneo drew inspiration from their back catalog. Its rounded curved edges and ergonomic design take after the Ayaneo S.
Even the RGB hall-sensing joysticks make an appearance, this time just a bit bigger to provide a wider range of motion and more precise and sensitive feedback.
The upcoming handheld also takes after the Pocket S, with both being powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 gaming platform. Where the handheld sets itself apart is with its massive over 8000mAh battery. This makes it one of the largest battery-capacity Android devices on the market.
The Pocket EVO is available now via the IndieGoGo page. An Early Bird price for the 128GB version is set at $389, with the official retail price at $499. The 1TB version has an Early Bird price of $589. The official retail price of this top-end model is $759.
Ayaneo Next II
The Ayaneo Next 2 is one of the company’s many upcoming handheld Windows gaming consoles and is one of the few to sport an 8-inch LCD display. The company shared a teaser for the Next 2 sometime back, which hinted at the presence of Steam Deck-like trackpads that make it easy for users to play games that require touch input.
This console is also confirmed to come with an AMD Ryzen 7000 series processor and will have discrete Radeon 780M graphics. While the exact details about the configurations of the Next 2 are unclear, it will offer Steam Deck users a Windows alternative.
Ayaneo Pocket DMG
Many of Ayaneo’s current products pay homage to the 8-bit era of gaming. Devices such as the Ayaneo AM02 Mini PC drawing on the Nintendo NES for design inspiration. The Ayaneo Pocket DMG seems to also be following this trend, this time taking cues from the classic Game Boy.
The Pocket DMG is set to be a premium handheld, despite its budget inspiration, featuring four action buttons labeled as A, B X, and Y as well as an analog stick of some kind, indicating the device will go further than just the 8-bit era.
The Pocket DMG will be powered by the high-end Snapdragon G2X chipset with an OLED display. It’s expected to be shipped to backers of the IndieGoGo campaign in October 2024.
The Pocket DMG retails for $299 and $419 for early backers. Meanwhile, after its official launch, the Ayaneo handheld’s MSRP will be set at $449
Ayaneo Pocket Micro
Like the Ayaneo Pocket DMG, the Pocket Micro wears its inspiration on its sleeve. The upcoming compact handheld is Ayaneo’s answer to the Nintendo Game Boy Micro, and sports a machined aluminium design and a 3.5-inch 640 IPS display, ideal for Game Boy Advance games.
The compact handheld runs on a Helio G99 chip, which isn’t the most high-powered. However, it’s more than enough to run Game Boy Advance titles, all the way up to to PS2 games.
The Ayaneo Pocket Micro is available from the IndieGoGo page starting from an early bird price of $189. A ‘retro color limited edition’ will be available at an early bird price of $249.
Other Windows handhelds
Devices like the Asus ROG Ally, MSI Claw, and Lenovo Legion Go were backed by some of the biggest PC companies in the world, but their popularity still fell short of the Steam Deck. All three of these devices had one main thing in common – they all used Windows 11.
Some of those companies are working on successor devices to improve the flaws that held back their handhelds, whilst still keeping the Windows OS.
Lenovo Legion Go 2
The Lenovo Legion Go was only released in October 2023, but rumors are already spreading about its possible successor.
According to attendees of the Lenovo Innovate 24 Conference, the Legion Go 2 has been confirmed. The handheld was mentioned during a casual chat at the conference between tech journalists and Lenovo Gaming Category Manager Clifford Chong.
Chong revealed that the company plans to use the experience they have gathered since the launch of the current Legion Go and plan to use it in the next generation to provide more features and improve the user experience.
Windows Central reported that a lite version of the Lenovo Legion Go, aptly titled the ‘Lenovo Legion Go Lite’ is in the works. A recent update of the Lenovo product page for its handheld showed that a 7-inch handheld model would soon be available.
This smaller model was also said to have three cooling fans and a HDMI port. Two features that the current version of the Legion Go lacks. It has not yet been confirmed if this is the same version mentioned at the Lenovo Innovate 24 Conference, or a different model entirely.
At the moment there is no word of a release window, or much other concrete information on this upcoming handheld.
MSI Claw 8 AI+
MSI is already keen to release yet another handheld into the wild with the MSI Claw 8 AI+. Announced at Computex 2024, the new device is set to be the first handheld powered by Intel’s New Lunar Lake CPU.
With the Lunar Lake CPU in tow, this could significantly improve the performance of the Claw 8 AI+, as could its new massive 80 Wh battery capacity.
MSI handheld is also set to launch with a larger 8-inch FHD+ display, sporting the same smooth 120Hz fresh rate as the previous model, including VRR support. This was later confirmed by site Lowyat.net, who stated they were recently briefed by MSI on the new handheld.
An MSI representative at an event in Germany went into detail on the new MSI claw model. As reported by ComputerBase, the Claw 8 AI+ will have a larger M.2 2280 storage capacity and a second Thunderbolt 4 port. It is believed that the device will have Hall Effect analog sticks, though this has not yet been confirmed.
Those who purchase the Claww 8 will receive one month of Xbox Game Pass for free. The device is intended to go on sale in early 2025.
Zotac Zone
More widely recognized for creating mini PCs, Chinese-based company Zotac is now launching a PC gaming handheld dubbed the ‘Zotac Zone’. This Windows-based device was first shown off at the company’s booth at the annual tech trade show, Computex 2024, and later at Gamescom 2024.
The handheld is expected to be powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U APU and features 16GB of LPDDR5X memory, a 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD, along with WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 support.
Along with a 7-inch AMOLED 120 Hz display, the Zotac Zone will also feature hall effect sticks and a rear-front camera, similar to that of the PS Vita.
Zotac officially announced that the Zotac Zone will be priced at $799 at launch. Pre-orders are now available for the handheld, but an official release date is still unknown.
German tech site Caseking, notes an “expected restock” for the handheld will be available from September 19, which could hint at its expected release date.
Unnamed Xbox handheld
Microsoft hasn’t yet officially confirmed it’s brewing up a handheld gaming console of its own, however, rumors surrounding a proposed portable Xbox device have been swirling around for quite some time.
Interest in the alleged handheld peaked after Xbox Head Phil Spencer revealed at GDC 2024 that the Xbox Hardware team was considering “different hardware form factors.”
While reputable leaker eXtas1s hinted that Microsoft was to broadcast a teaser of its Xbox handheld during the Xbox Showcase on June 9, the alleged handheld was nowhere to be seen.
When pressed about the proposed handheld during an interview with IGN after the showcase, Phil Spencer added fuel to the Xbox handheld rumor fire stating, “I think we should have a handheld too.” Phil Spencer went on to explain that while the Xbox Showcase was about the games, there will “be a time to come out and talk more about the platform and we can’t wait to bring it to you guys.”
Acer Nitro Blaze 7
Acer has announced in a press release its first ‘handheld gaming PC’. Named the Acer Nitro Blaze 7, it features a 7-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen display.
Despite early indications that Acer was planning on utilizing Intel hardware, the Nitro Blaze is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU.
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Few other details have been made available, though the available images show a fairly standard asymmetrical layout for the analog sticks and face buttons. The D-pad appears to be a shield-type similar to those found on the old Mega Drive controllers. No programmable back paddles are visible on the images, however.
The operating system has not been confirmed, but it is likely that Acer will follow the route of Lenovo and Asus by using Windows 11.
Non-Windows Handhelds
The Steam Deck has seen great success without needing to rely on Windows for compatibility. Other upcoming handhelds are also using this model, relying on Android or Linux to power the devices. Here are a few of them worth keeping an eye on.
Steam Deck 2
While Valve has not openly confirmed the launch date of a Steam Deck’s successor, an interview with some folks behind the Deck mentioned that the Steam Deck 2 might not be launching anytime soon.
Valve has, however, confirmed that a “multi-generational product line” is in the works. It will be “supported well into the foreseeable future” and the company promised to “build new versions to be even more open and capable than the first version of Steam Deck has been.” This more or less confirms Steam Deck 2’s existence.
That said, this upcoming handheld gaming console could carry a different moniker, and Steam Deck Pro cannot be ruled out either.
Whatever it may be called, we hope this new console from Valve is priced aggressively, similar to the first-gen Steam Deck.
Nintendo Switch 2
Excitement is slowly building in the Nintendo community as they await the official reveal of the Switch 2. Rumors about this device have been fairly consistent, claiming it will feature a custom Nvidia SoC codenamed ‘Drake’ along with an 8-inch LCD screen and an Ampere-based GPU.
These specs will allow the Switch 2 to access high-end features such as DLSS, but insiders warn that the performance improvements will be modest and that customers should expect ‘an iteration, rather than a revolution’.
Other rumors claim that the Switch 2 will feature redesigned Joy-Cons that will attach magnetically, lending credence to the idea that the Switch 2 will remain a hybrid device.
Nintendo partners have indicated that they are expecting a big announcement in early 2025, and a report has claimed that March 2025 will be the release window. As usual, until Nintendo releases official confirmation, all this needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
Sony PSP 2
Sony’s PlayStation Portal’s lack of an individual game library and need for a stable internet collection left some PlayStation fans disappointed. Luckily, some leaks suggest that the gaming tech giant is looking to re-enter the handheld market with a proper successor to the PSP and PlayStation Vita.
Reliable leaker and Russian journalist Anton Logvinov was the first to reveal that Sony was working on a more full-featured handheld, stating, “I can confirm that Sony is preparing a new PSP for release, but damn – they are only PS4 games in the launch lineup, which are generally available on PC, and therefore on Steam Deck.”
This was later confirmed by known hardware leaker Moore’s Law is Dead, who stated in February 2024 that the new PlayStation handheld was in development and that AMD was working on a chip to power it.
While a PSP 2 may be incoming, Sony has not officially said anything about the device. Moore’s Law is Dead describes it as still in a “high-level design phase.” With that in mind, it may be a while until we find out its full specs, release date, and expected price point.
Miyoo Mini Flip
The next handheld from Miyoo. Following on from the A30, the Flip will follow in the steps of the Gameboy SP. Anbernic has released their SP clone, but Miyoo is packing joysticks.
The Miyoo Mini Flip will use the RK3566 chip, putting it on par with the Anbernic Arc. With full capabilities to play up to PlayStation 1 generation, and some light PSP gaming, this would explain the joysticks.
Anbernic’s RGXX35SP doesn’t have these, giving the flip a potential edge over its competition.
As of March 14, the Miyoo Flip was in “final testing” according to a stock tracking account. The same account followed it up on June 11 by stating that they expect it at the end of July. They reiterated this on July 14.
On May 20, they also shared a look at a render of the final product.
Remember that the previous video of the miyoo flip is a prototype yet, it is not the final version, of course the plastic will be of a higher quality like all miyoo products, don't worry#miyooflip pic.twitter.com/Chpps3UFPy
— Miyoo Mini Stock Alerts (@miyoomini) May 20, 2024
It’s also been shown that the handheld will finally support USB-C to USB-C charging.
Orange Pi Neo
The Orange Pi Neo is a handheld created by the hobbyist electronics company Orange Pi. It has teamed with Arch Linux distribution project Manjaro to create a new gaming handheld that can match the mighty Steam Deck.
The base model of the Orange Pi Neo is set to be powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, though there will eventually be a more expensive version with a more powerful 8840U chip. The 7840U has already seen use in several handhelds and is a very capable chip.
With Manjaro involved, you might be able to guess that the Orange Pi Neo will have a Linux-based operating system. Though the Orange Pi Neo has already seen a launch in China, a launch date for the USA and Europe has yet to be confirmed.
Z-Pocket Game A1 Unicorn
The A1 Unicorn is just one of a new raft of emulation-focussed handhelds. This new breed of device aims to replicate the 1:1 ratio screen seen in devices such as the original Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Neo Geo Pocket.
To provide this, the A1 Unicorn had a perfectly square 4-inch display with a resolution of 720 x 720 pixels. It is powered by a Helio G99 processor, which incorporates two ARM Cortex A76 cores running at 2,2 GHz, along with six Cortex A55 cores running at 2GHz and Mali-G57 MC2 graphics. In terms of other specs, it has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Poer is supplied by a 4,500 mAh battery.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the A1 Unicorn is the use of a shield-type D-pad. Though seen on many consoles, it is usually associated with the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive and SEGA Saturn. This type of D-pad is considered particularly useful in fighting games. This feature might give this Android-powered handheld an edge against some of the competition.
Retroid Pocket Mini
Retroid, known for its catalog of ‘Pocket’ branded retro devices, first teased the Retroid Pocket Mini handheld on its social media platforms on August 21, 2024.
While Retroid is keeping the full specs for the handheld under wraps for now, a teaser trailer showed off its compact form factor, white colorway, and deep red colored button layout. Similar to the Ayn Odin 2, the handheld will have RGB-illuminated sticks, and likely be chargeable through USB-C, if the port in the footage is anything to go by.
While the full specs will be “provided at a later date”, Retroid posted a hint on X/Twitter that the device will be powered by a Snapdragon chip. This was later confirmed by another post on Twitter/X that showed a Snapdragon logo with the number ‘865’ underneath.
A social media post also shared some additional info regarding the display on social media, which is set to come with a 3.7-inch AMOLED screen, with a 1280 x 960 resolution, and a 4:3 aspect ratio.
Retroid teased some additional images of the upcoming console on August 23, showing off its now confirmed 165 x 77 x 17 mm size. This sets the compact handheld just bigger than that of the Retroid Pocket 2S.
The Pocket Mini is also confirmed to be 215g, weighing in at 19g more than the Retroid 2S’s 196g, and will be available in a variety of different colorways at launch.
On social media, the Retroid team has announced that the Pocket Mini and its larger sibling will run on a version of the Linux OS. Retroid also promised official support for Batocera and Armbian, as well as an open Linux kernel for community developers.
The Pocket Mini is available to order now from the official Retroid online store for $199. Each variant, including the Saturn, Orange, Black, SFC, and 16 Bit models will start shipping at the end of September 2024.
Retroid Pocket 5
Retroid first teased their next high-powered handheld on August 28 through its official X/Twitter page. There, two images of the device were unveiled, alongside the vague but intriguing “broaden your horizons” tagline.
Since the initial reveal, Retroid hasn’t released the full specs for the device. However, just like the Retroid Pocket Mini, details about the device are slowly unveiled on social media, like its 5.5-inch AMOLED 16:9 1080p display. Another social media post suggested that the RP5 and the Mini would be powered by a Snapdragon 865 chip.
The device was later revealed to be the Retroid 5, the next in line of the brand’s main high-end handhelds. Retroid later shared on X/Twitter that the Pocket 5 will be available in multiple colorways, which includes a GameCube-inspired design, and DIY back shell options for “those that love to customize.”
The Retroid 5 will also be longer than its predecessor, coming in at 199.2mm x 78.5mm x 15.6mm over the Pocket 4’s 184.8mm x 82.6mm x 15.8mm form factor. Retroid also revealed it’ll weigh 280g, just 19g more than that of the previous handheld.
Interestingly, Retroid posted to Twitter/X announcing: “A new horizon of Linux Gaming.” This suggests that the Retroid Pocket 5 and the Mini will use the Linux operating system. Retroid also promised official support for Batocera and Armbian, as well as an open Linux kernel for community developers.
The Retroid Pocket 5 is available on the official Retroid online store for $219 are is available in four different variants. Each version, which includes the GC, 16 Bit, Black, and White models will start shipping at the end of October 2024.
