HardwareHandheld Gaming PCsI can’t think of a better last minute gift idea for a PC gamer than one of these handheld gaming PCs for under $500When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareHandheld Gaming PCsI can’t think of a better last minute gift idea for a PC gamer than one of these handheld gaming PCs for under $500When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Asus, Valve, Lenovo)
Jump to:1. Steam Deck2. Asus ROG Ally3. Lenovo Legion Go
Jump to:1. Steam Deck2. Asus ROG Ally3. Lenovo Legion Go
The holidays have a habit of sneaking up on us, don’t they? But have no fear, because if you’re having a last-minute panic trying to find the perfect gift for the PC gamer (or PC gaming curious) in your life, I can’t think of a better gift idea than one of these handheld gaming PCs.
Thebest handheld gaming PCsmake for perfect additions to a PC gamer’s life, enabling them to take their hobbies on the go, from long-haul flights to sneaking in the odd indie game session on a lunch break. We happy few on the hardware team love our handhelds and spend all year long testing the very best, so each of these options comes highly recommended as a handheld worth having.
From the still-very-cheap and still-very-brilliant Steam Deck to the big screen bruiser that is the Lenovo Legion Go, there’s sure to be something here to suit. So here are three handhelds that I reckon would make any PC gaming enthusiast jump for joy over the holiday season.
Steam Deck
Steam Deck (LCD) | 256 GB SSD | SteamOS |$399 at SteamOkay, the Steam Deck may have hadan OLED refreshand there are heaps of more powerful handhelds around, but the original version is still the archetype of what a mobile PC gaming device should be. It’s just as powerful as the most recent model so all those Steam Deck compatible games should run well. It’s the OG PC gaming handheld, and it still demands respect, although this particular model does have quite a small SSD. Replacing it later witha larger modelis no great hassle, however.View Deal
Steam Deck (LCD) | 256 GB SSD | SteamOS |$399 at SteamOkay, the Steam Deck may have hadan OLED refreshand there are heaps of more powerful handhelds around, but the original version is still the archetype of what a mobile PC gaming device should be. It’s just as powerful as the most recent model so all those Steam Deck compatible games should run well. It’s the OG PC gaming handheld, and it still demands respect, although this particular model does have quite a small SSD. Replacing it later witha larger modelis no great hassle, however.View Deal
Steam Deck (LCD) | 256 GB SSD | SteamOS |$399 at SteamOkay, the Steam Deck may have hadan OLED refreshand there are heaps of more powerful handhelds around, but the original version is still the archetype of what a mobile PC gaming device should be. It’s just as powerful as the most recent model so all those Steam Deck compatible games should run well. It’s the OG PC gaming handheld, and it still demands respect, although this particular model does have quite a small SSD. Replacing it later witha larger modelis no great hassle, however.View Deal
Steam Deck (LCD) | 256 GB SSD | SteamOS |$399 at SteamOkay, the Steam Deck may have hadan OLED refreshand there are heaps of more powerful handhelds around, but the original version is still the archetype of what a mobile PC gaming device should be. It’s just as powerful as the most recent model so all those Steam Deck compatible games should run well. It’s the OG PC gaming handheld, and it still demands respect, although this particular model does have quite a small SSD. Replacing it later witha larger modelis no great hassle, however.
Steam Deck (LCD) | 256 GB SSD | SteamOS |$399 at SteamOkay, the Steam Deck may have hadan OLED refreshand there are heaps of more powerful handhelds around, but the original version is still the archetype of what a mobile PC gaming device should be. It’s just as powerful as the most recent model so all those Steam Deck compatible games should run well. It’s the OG PC gaming handheld, and it still demands respect, although this particular model does have quite a small SSD. Replacing it later witha larger modelis no great hassle, however.
Steam Deck (LCD) | 256 GB SSD | SteamOS |$399 at SteamOkay, the Steam Deck may have hadan OLED refreshand there are heaps of more powerful handhelds around, but the original version is still the archetype of what a mobile PC gaming device should be. It’s just as powerful as the most recent model so all those Steam Deck compatible games should run well. It’s the OG PC gaming handheld, and it still demands respect, although this particular model does have quite a small SSD. Replacing it later witha larger modelis no great hassle, however.
View Deal
View Deal
View Deal
TheSteam Deckmight have been out for a while now, but it’s still absolutely worth considering as thebest budget handheldextraordinaire. We’ve regularly seen it on discount over the years, butfor $399 straight from Valve, this 256 GB model is definitely worth serious consideration.
256 GB might be a little tight for several large games installed at once, but it’s still a decent dose of storage to get started with—particularly if your beloved likes an indie game or 12. One of the nice things about the Deck is how easy it is to upgrade the storage later on, so there’s room for expansion here for anyone who knows which way around to hold a screwdriver.
Besides that caveat, the Steam Deck is considered a classic of the genre for a reason. It’s well-built, nicely sized, the controls feel great, and still has enough grunt to deliver surprising performance in some very demanding games.
There are faster, and there are newer, but anyone who’s owned a Deck will happily rave about it. Not least, virtually everyone here at PC Gamer.
Asus ROG Ally
Price check:Best Buy $499.99
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TheAsusROG Ally might have had a refresh in the form of theAsus ROG Ally X, but that means that the original can now be found at a discounted price—and it’s still a pretty mean machine.
That’s thanks to the AMD Z1 Extreme APU nestled inside, which is the very same chip as the newer model. Our hardware overlord Dave James gave the ROG Ally a score of 86% inhis review, and when you’ve used as many handhelds as him, that really does mean something.
Not only is the ROG Ally a superb gaming companion on the move, but as a Windows-based handheld, it also makes a mean little portable PC with the addition of a dock. It’s got a lovely screen, it’s decently lightweight, and it even runs quiet under load, making this a consummate all-round performer. And for$459 at Amazonright now, it makes for a compelling device for the cash.
Lenovo Legion Go
Lenovo Legion Go | Z1 Extreme | 8.8-inch screen | 16 GB RAM | 512 GB SSD |$699.99$499.99 at Amazon (save $200)The Legion Go is one of the more polished handhelds on the market, with a sleek 8.8-inch screen and detachable controllers. That screen is a little overkill for the lil' AMD chip inside this machine, the Z1 Extreme is also found in the ROG Ally, but it’s great for playing indies on while relaxing. One of the controllers also becomes a mouse if you need it, which is a bit of a gimmick but works pretty well.Price check:Newegg $539.99|Best Buy $749.99 (1 TB version)View Deal
Lenovo Legion Go | Z1 Extreme | 8.8-inch screen | 16 GB RAM | 512 GB SSD |$699.99$499.99 at Amazon (save $200)The Legion Go is one of the more polished handhelds on the market, with a sleek 8.8-inch screen and detachable controllers. That screen is a little overkill for the lil' AMD chip inside this machine, the Z1 Extreme is also found in the ROG Ally, but it’s great for playing indies on while relaxing. One of the controllers also becomes a mouse if you need it, which is a bit of a gimmick but works pretty well.Price check:Newegg $539.99|Best Buy $749.99 (1 TB version)View Deal
Lenovo Legion Go | Z1 Extreme | 8.8-inch screen | 16 GB RAM | 512 GB SSD |$699.99$499.99 at Amazon (save $200)The Legion Go is one of the more polished handhelds on the market, with a sleek 8.8-inch screen and detachable controllers. That screen is a little overkill for the lil' AMD chip inside this machine, the Z1 Extreme is also found in the ROG Ally, but it’s great for playing indies on while relaxing. One of the controllers also becomes a mouse if you need it, which is a bit of a gimmick but works pretty well.Price check:Newegg $539.99|Best Buy $749.99 (1 TB version)View Deal
Lenovo Legion Go | Z1 Extreme | 8.8-inch screen | 16 GB RAM | 512 GB SSD |$699.99$499.99 at Amazon (save $200)The Legion Go is one of the more polished handhelds on the market, with a sleek 8.8-inch screen and detachable controllers. That screen is a little overkill for the lil' AMD chip inside this machine, the Z1 Extreme is also found in the ROG Ally, but it’s great for playing indies on while relaxing. One of the controllers also becomes a mouse if you need it, which is a bit of a gimmick but works pretty well.Price check:Newegg $539.99|Best Buy $749.99 (1 TB version)
Lenovo Legion Go | Z1 Extreme | 8.8-inch screen | 16 GB RAM | 512 GB SSD |$699.99$499.99 at Amazon (save $200)The Legion Go is one of the more polished handhelds on the market, with a sleek 8.8-inch screen and detachable controllers. That screen is a little overkill for the lil' AMD chip inside this machine, the Z1 Extreme is also found in the ROG Ally, but it’s great for playing indies on while relaxing. One of the controllers also becomes a mouse if you need it, which is a bit of a gimmick but works pretty well.Price check:Newegg $539.99|Best Buy $749.99 (1 TB version)
Lenovo Legion Go | Z1 Extreme | 8.8-inch screen | 16 GB RAM | 512 GB SSD |$699.99$499.99 at Amazon (save $200)The Legion Go is one of the more polished handhelds on the market, with a sleek 8.8-inch screen and detachable controllers. That screen is a little overkill for the lil' AMD chip inside this machine, the Z1 Extreme is also found in the ROG Ally, but it’s great for playing indies on while relaxing. One of the controllers also becomes a mouse if you need it, which is a bit of a gimmick but works pretty well.
Price check:Newegg $539.99|Best Buy $749.99 (1 TB version)
View Deal
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And for my final trick, how about something a bit different? TheLenovo Legion Gomakes use of the same APU as the ROG Ally above, but it’s got some interesting tricks up its sleeve.
For a start, it’s got clever detachable controllers like the Nintendo Switch, which means you can sit back and take advantage of its other headline feature—an 8.8-inch screen.
That’s huge for a handheld, and it’s a truly impressive thing. The 144 Hz IPS panel looks fantastic in motion, and it’s even got a 1600p native resolution.
There are some caveats, however. That 1600p res means demanding games are going to prove too much for the AMD Z1 Extreme, although you can of course adjust it down to improve the framerates. And it must be said that the mega panel size means the Legion Go is a chonky device overall, so it’s less portable than the others on this list.
But for$500 at Amazon, I reckon this is a huge amount of handheld for the cash. It’s a multi-talented marvel with clever ideas, and something any PC gamer would be happy to spend many hours with come this non-specific-holiday morning.
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HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS
1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
1
Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
2
Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop
3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
3
Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most
4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
4
Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands
5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
5
Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested
1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review
1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review
1
Thank Goodness You’re Here! review
2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review
2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review
2
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review
3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
3
WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review
4Ikea Utespelare desk review
4Ikea Utespelare desk review
4
Ikea Utespelare desk review
5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
5
Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review
