With so many gaming handhelds hitting the market, we’ve got a rundown of all the upcoming devices coming in 2025 that 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 sheer range of devices can be bewildering. They range from powerful portable gaming PCs to more modest emulation-focused devices. If you’re wondering what upcoming devices you may want to pick, you can find all the information you need below.
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, they’ve carved out their own niche by providing high-end portable gaming devices with good build quality and impressive specs. Their devices are typically offered to buyers via IndieGoGo before being added to the official store.
Ayaneo Next II
The Ayaneo Next 2 is one of the few handhelds from the company to sport an 8-inch LCD display. A teaser was shared 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.
It will be powered by the high-end Snapdragon G2X chipset with an OLED display.
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. According to a website listing it’s expected to be released on January 17, 2025.
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 successors to improve the flaws that held back their handhelds, whilst still keeping the Windows OS.
Lenovo Legion Go 2
After a lot of speculation, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 was officially revealed in January 2025 at CES.
The device will feature a native 144Hz landscape OLED touch display, up to double the RAM compared to the previous generation, and a bigger battery. This processor has also been upgraded to the AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme.
If the final version matches the prototypes, fans will be able to purchase it with up to 2TB of storage space, which is ideal for anyone with a big library of games.
The release date or pricing information for the handheld is still unknown but we’ll be sure to update this page when further details are confirmed.
Lenovo Legion Go S
Another device Lenovo revealed at CES 2025 was the Lenovo Legion Go S. This is a more budget-friendly and lightweight version of the main handheld.
A $729.99 Windows 11 Lenovo Legion Go S will be available to order January 2025. The device will feature an 8-inch screen with VRR support, and utilize either the AMD Ryzen™ Z2 Go processor or AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor. It will contain up to 32GB of storage space.
It will also come in separate versions that support Windows 11 and SteamOS, with the Powered By SteamOS version being the first officially licensed handheld powered by SteamOS not made by Valve.
The SteamOS version will launch in May 2025 for $499.99, alongside a $599.99 Windows 11 version with just 16GB of RAM.
MSI Claw 8 AI+
Announced at Computex 2024, the MSI CLAW 8 AI+ is set to be the first handheld powered by Intel’s New Lunar Lake CPU. It will also feature Intel® XeSS technology which should ensure a smooth gaming experience even on more demanding AAA titles.
This handheld is set to launch with a larger 8-inch FHD+ display, sporting the same smooth 120Hz fresh rate as the previous model, including VRR support, which was confirmed by site Lowyat.net.
The device is currently out of stock on the official website but pre-ordered units are set to ship on January 15, 2025.
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.
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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 11
The Acer Nitro Blaze 11 is set to be Acer’s biggest gaming handheld yet with an 11-inch display, and up to 120 Hz refresh rate.
It will be powered by AMD Ryzen 8040 Series processors with up to 39 total AI TOPS, up to 2 TB of storage, and 16 GB LPDDR5x memory. It also includes detachable controllers which will allow you to play while keeping the screen on a desk.
Fans will be able to purchase it during Q2 of 2025 for a starting price of $1,099.
Acer Nitro Blaze 8
The Acer Nitro Blaze 8 is similar to the Blaze 8 but features a smaller 7-inch screen, has non detachable controllers, and weighs significantly less than the other device.
It’s also powered by AMD Ryzen 8040 Series processors with up to 39 total AI TOPS, up to 2 TB of storage, and 16 GB LPDDR5x memory.
It will be available in Q2 of 2025 to purchase at a starting price of $899.
Upcoming Non-Windows Handheld consoles
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 the ones we’d recommend you look out for.
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 it will remain a hybrid device. In January 2025, an accessory maker shared a mock-up of the Joy-Con design that matches the description of previous leaks.
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.
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 been used in several devices 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 launched in China, a launch date for the USA and Europe has yet to be confirmed.
Those are the most exciting upcoming handheld consoles at the moment! While you’re here, check out our guides for How to play Xbox & PC Games on Steam Deck, the Steam Deck vs Nintendo Switch, and everything we know about Nvidia RTX 5080, and the Nvidia RTX 5070 & 5070.