Handheld gaming consoles and PCs have seen a massive resurgence, with the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck championing the charge back into relevance. Plenty of companies besides Nintendo and Valve are trying to get skin in the game with various gaming handhelds promising several different features for different curious consumers, and some are getting great deals as a part of Black Friday this year. Here are some of the most interesting offers from weird gaming handhelds many players have likely never heard of.
Logitech G Cloud
Many potential buyers might be a little wary of the buy-in price for most of the newer gaming handhelds. Even with the Black Friday sales, some prices still exceed $900-$1,000. It’s still cheaper than most new iPhones, but it’s not like everyone has $1,000 around to spend on a baby-sized portable computer. The Logitech G Cloud comes with one of the most affordable price tags on this list. Of course, with this significantly lower price tag comes the understanding that this is also one of the lower-spec machines here. Many reviews mention that this device is mainly good for cloud gaming, mobile gaming, and emulation up to the PlayStation 1.
Current price: $299.99 (Retail: $349.99) on Amazon.
Ayaneo Air
Ayaneo was one of the first on the market competing with the Steam Deck and Switch and has several different models for players to choose from. It’s got essentially everything that’s to be expected from a handheld gaming PC. The main edge the Ayaneo Air supports is its style, from its sleek, thin, and light design to an OLED screen and many different colors available, it’s one of the best-looking handhelds here. It has received some complaints on sites like Amazon for faulty hardware, though.
Current price: $649.99 (Retail: $899.99) on Ayaneo.
Razer Kishi V2
The Razer Kishi V2 isn’t technically a gaming handheld, but rather a peripheral that turns your phone into a proper gaming handheld. Since it’s from Razer, it’s naturally very stylish and works well with most current smartphones, but its power is then naturally limited to the cellphone’s. For gamers comfortable with a mobile experience that would be enhanced by a device like this, which could be very useful with the mobile versions of titles like Fortnite, this could be the right choice, especially since it’s the only tech on this list under $100.
Current price: $76.99 (Retail: $99.99) on Best Buy.
Asus ROG Ally
The Asus ROG Ally may be the most well-known gaming handheld outside of the main two (Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck) right now. Asus is definitely trying to market itself as the premium alternative to the Steam Deck with its ROG Ally, boasting a bit higher price range than what’s found with higher-end Steam Decks but simultaneously a killer design and more powerful specs.
Current price: $694.99 (Retail: $829.99) on Walmart.
GPD Win 4
GPD has been experimenting all over the place with different handheld gaming PCs, whether it’s the Win Max 2, which looks like a small laptop with a controller attached, or this fascinating device, the Win 4. The Win 4 resembles a PS Vita with a screen that slides up to reveal a keyboard. This is the most malleable device on this list with a number of different control features, including an optical mouse, making the Win 4 feel like it has something for whatever someone interested in a handheld PC is looking for. It is the most expensive device on this list with all of its extra perks, but it’s clear the money isn’t just for a name brand here. It’s one of the best pieces of tech on this market.
Current price: $863.95 (Retail: $950.00) on Amazon.
