Best selling handheld game system

Consumers Consulted. Hours Researched. Updated December Table of Contents Buying guide for best handheld video game consoles Your first decision: retro arcade or cutting-edge gaming?

Buying guide for best handheld video game consoles Although it seems like everyone is gaming on their smartphones these days, the real action is happening on handheld gaming consoles — which have come a long way since the Nintendo Game Boy. Both consoles work with the same cartridge games. Other Products We Considered. The BestReviews editorial team researches hundreds of products based on consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. We then choose a shorter list for in-depth research and testing before finalizing our top picks.

These are the products we considered that ultimately didn't make our top 5. Handheld Game Console. Kids Retro Handheld Game Console.

Handheld Retro Game Console. Great Boy. Retro Handheld Game Console. Handheld Portable Game Console. Our Top Picks. Shop Now. Gamers who prefer 2D scrollers and simpler times will like this throwback. Top Pick. Those who prefer only handheld gaming can save money with the Switch Lite while still getting the same game quality and selection as the original Switch.

Although it's not the newest Nintendo console, it's definitely a tried and true customer favorite. The ability to take an notable number of eye-catching games on the road makes the Vita the perfect mobile companion to the PlayStation 4, and although it may be on the way out, this is the perfect opportunity to experience its entire backlog of top-tier portable titles.

Just be sure to bring a controller as well. The hybrid console offers two ways to play. At home, you can plug the Switch into a dock, then play on your TV using a standard controller.

When you have somewhere to go, simply unplug the Switch from its dock, attach the Joy-Con controllers to either side of the device, and bring it with you anywhere. Just be aware that more demanding games will drain the battery faster, and that backing up your saves requires a paid subscription to the convoluted Nintendo Switch Online service. Read our full Nintendo Switch Review. This version of the Switch features a seven-inch OLED screen, a sturdy kickstand, improved speakers and a dock with a built-in Ethernet port.

Otherwise, it's exactly the same as the base Switch, which is an excellent console thanks to its extensive game library and smart portable features. Without SSD storage or 4K support, the system feels a bit dated. Four years into the console's lifespan, we may get a more significant upgrade sooner rather than later.

The Nintendo Switch Lite is about two-thirds the size of the regular Switch, and delivers two-thirds of what we love about the full-size model. There are some drawbacks, though. Due to its smaller size, the Switch Lite has a smaller battery, meaning less playtime overall.

Read our full Nintendo Switch Lite review. The Apple App Store has some of the best smartphone games on the market, and it usually gets the best titles months before Android does. In addition to perennial favorites like Fortnite, Hearthstone and Minecraft, you can also play indie darlings like Monument Valley, Florence and Threes.

What really sets the iPad apart from Android tablets, though, is Apple Arcade. Some of the games are exclusive to the Apple Arcade service; others, you can get on a Switch or PC, but not an Android device. Read our full Apple iPad Air review.

The best handheld gaming console is arguably the one you already have on you, and that's why it's worth considering a dedicated gaming phone, like the Asus ROG Phone 5. This excellent albeit very large smartphone is powerful enough to run any game on Android, which means you can enjoy both casual handheld titles as well as longer sit-down-and-play experiences.

For the latter, it helps to have a controller. With the ROG Phone 5's large screen and fast refresh rate, you can play many of your favorite console and PC games from anywhere in your home — or anywhere with a strong enough Wi-Fi connection.

The New Nintendo 2DS XL is a fantastic system, with two large, colorful screens, a design that makes the system easy to stash in a bag or pocket, and a huge library of wonderful games. The console is well-stocked third-party tiles, too, featuring favorites from Square Enix, Atlus and Capcom. This console features a unique design that allows it to seamlessly transform from a mobile gaming device into a home game system. When you place the Switch in its dock, it automatically switches to allow gaming on the big screen.

The Switch offers entertainment in any environment, thanks to its portability and wide library of games. You can even kick back and watch Hulu on it. The console offers an extensive set of accessories , as well as five hours of battery life, and it's available in several different color configurations. If you want to game on the go, you can't go wrong with a Switch. Also available at Gamestop and Target. It's almost impossible to find in stock, both in stores and online, and there are even Twitter accounts and websites dedicated to helping shoppers score one.

What makes it so special is its highly immersive screen. It's bigger and brighter, and makes a load of difference for gamers who primarily play their Nintendo Switch in handheld mode. The 7-inch OLED Screen is nearly an inch bigger than its predecessor's, but the console itself isn't much bigger.

Surprisingly enough, the OLED Switch doesn't pack any faster chips to improve game performance, either — meaning you can play any Switch game across all three of Nintendo's Switch consoles. Besides the screen, the other major difference between this, the Switch Lite, and the standard Nintendo Switch is that the console has new buttons and an improved kickstand.

Overall, if you can afford to splurge on the Switch OLED and have enough luck finding one in stock , it's without an ounce of doubt the best Switch money can buy. Also available at Walmart and Target. This new handheld console proves that sometimes less is more. The console offers superb controls, a robust gameplay experience, and surprisingly entertaining sound.

We also appreciate that the gadget is equipped with a USB-C connector for charging. So, you can use other charging cords you have around the house. Also available at Walmart and Amazon.