Upcoming handheld gaming consoles to look out for in 2024
DexertoHandheld gaming devices have become extremely desirable items, but the sheer number of them can be a bit bewildering. This guide will help you know which device deserves your attention.
Only a few short years ago it would be difficult to imagine that a handheld device could have the power to run most modern AAA games, but since the launch of the Nintendo Switch and Valve Steam Deck, this has become the world we live in.
Since then, there has been a surge in gaming handhelds, ranging from small devices for retro gaming to complete portable gaming PCs. Some of these run Android, some Linux, and some have their own custom OS.
Which device is worth your time? This guide will examine some upcoming devices and highlight a few that deserve a closer look.
Contents
- Upcoming Ayaneo handhelds
Ayaneo Next Lite - Steam Deck 2
- Nintendo Switch 2
- Miyoo Mini Flip
- Orange Pi
- PocketMan P1
- MSI Claw
- Asus ROG Ally 2
Upcoming Ayaneo handheld consoles
Ayaneo is among the first few companies to release a portable gaming console to the market. It followed the release of the highly successful Nintendo Switch. The company has been able to carve out a niche for its Windows-powered consoles.
The company has been known for introducing many devices with iterative hardware updates and fancy designs in a short period of time, often launched via IndieGoGo.
Ayaneo Next Lite
AyaneoThe Ayaneo Next Lite uses an older chassis from the Ayaneo catalog and comes equipped with a 7-inch, 1,200×800 IPS screen and 47Wh battery. It’s powered by both an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U and AMD Ryzen 7 4800U processor, coming with a custom dual-copper-pipe and a large-sized PC-grade turbofan cooling system.
The Ayaneo Next Lite will launch in three different variations, starting from a 128GB model at $299, and ranging upwards of $399. The device will also come in three different colorways – jet black, pastel blue, and bright white, each featuring contrasting design accents. Each version of the budget-friendly handheld is set to release on February 10, 2024.
Ayaneo Next II
AyaneoThe 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 Flip
Another Windows gaming console with a retro-inspired design, the Flip will remind you of a Nintendo DS or a GameBoy Advance SP gaming console from yesteryear.
The Flip will be available in two different models, the Ayaneo Flip KB Edition, and the Ayaneo Flip DS Edition. The KB Edition sports a clamshell design with a screen that can be swiveled up, revealing a full-size keyboard, while the aptly named DS Edition, features a clamshell design that can be opened to reveal a dual-screen setup.
Both versions of the Flip device are set to be powered by AMD Ryzen 7 7840U flagship processors, and feature 7-inch, 1080p displays, with the DS Edition having an additional 3.5-inch screen. Each device will come equipped with a standard handheld layout, featuring two joysticks, directional pad, and ABXY buttons, and will be available in both classic black and white colorways.
The IndieGoGo page for the Ayaneo Flip is currently active, with the Ayaneo Flip DS available at an Early Bird price of $739, while the Flip KB starts at $699.
Ayaneo Pocket DMG
Retro Dode, AyaneoAyaneo seems to be announcing a new handheld every week, or at least it feels that way. The latest tease from the company is regarding the Remake Initiative, which will conclude with Ayaneo’s updated take on the venerable Nintendo Game Boy called the Pocket DMG.
Even compared to Ayaneo’s other high-end device, the Analogue Pocket, the Pocket DMG is set to be a premium handheld, 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 choice of internal hardware has not yet been revealed, so the full device specs are not yet known.
Steam Deck 2
ValveWhile 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
NintendoThe Nintendo Switch started it all in 2017, and while we’ve had a couple of variants – Switch Lite and Switch OLED released in 2019 and 2021, respectively, we are still waiting for a successor to the original Switch.
Various rumors have repeatedly hinted that the company is indeed working on a powerful Switch Pro with a Tegra 9 SoC and will support advanced features such as DLSS 2.2 and ray tracing.
That said, while an upgrade is long due, there needs to be concrete information about the launch or specifications. A recent report suggests we can expect the Switch successor in 2025. While that may still be a long wait for some, it’s claimed that the launch was set back to prevent resellers from picking up the new console and selling it for profit.
Miyoo Mini Flip
The community that loves retro gaming consoles is excited about the upcoming release of Miyoo Mini Flip. As the name suggests, the Mini Flip will ship with a flip-out clamshell design. The display on this console is expected to be a 3.5-inch LCD panel. Miyoo makes some of the most popular gaming handhelds in this segment, like the Miyoo Mini Plus.
While not much is known about the specifications or the launch date of Miyoo Mini Flip, as it is expected to run 8-bit/64-bit games, we can anticipate an affordable price tag and slightly more powerful hardware specs than its predecessors.
Orange Pi handheld
Orange PiOrange Pi, known for its open-source microcomputer boards, is rumored to be working on a powerful handheld gaming console. It has a Rockchip RK3588S processor for Android/Linux gaming or AMD Ryzen 7 7800U/6800U for Windows gaming.
It might sport a 7-inch LCD panel, stereo speakers, a couple of microphones, three USB C ports, and two customizable buttons at the back. The top-end Windows variant might come with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage.
The handheld is expected to launch in China at an approximate starting price of $217, up to $506 for the flagship variant. There needs to be clarity on its availability in China as well as international markets.
PocketMan P1
Retro Dodo, Twig StudioAn unusual entry into the handheld gaming space comes from Twig Studio, who are working on a concept for a handheld device that uses a sleek metal shell in a vertical configuration roughly resembling an early Game Boy.
The PocketMan P1 features four face buttons, two analog sticks, and a circular d-pad along with three function buttons labeled Star, Select, and Menu, with four shoulder buttons on the rear of the device, placed on an odd ridge behind the screen.
The screen itself appears to be a bezel-free 4×3 3.5 inch IPS display, a choice that has served a number of pocket handhelds well in the past couple of years.
The PocketMan P1 is only a concept at the moment, and it is unknown if or when it will go into production, or what internal components would be used to power it. The sleek aluminum shell and minimalist design still have a lot of gaming enthusiasts interested, though.
MSI Claw
MSIMSI is more recognized today for its gaming laptops, motherboards, and ferociously cool hardware collabs, but now the Taiwanese-based manufacturer is making a name for itself with the ‘Claw’, its first foray into the world of PC gaming handhelds.
Originally teased online, the first in-depth look at the MSI Claw was revealed during CES 2024. At the tech tradeshow, it was revealed that the PC gaming handheld will be Windows-based, and the first of its kind to be powered by an Intel Core Ultra chip.
The handheld makes use of a similar form factor to that of the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally, and comes equipped with a 7-inch 120Hz 1,920 x 1,080 touchscreen display. Alongside the Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, the device is powered by Intel Arc Graphics, 16GB LPDDR5-6400 RAM, and comes with a 52Whr battery with fast charging.
The MSI Claw is expected to be available sometime during the first half of 2024. According to videocardz, the Spain-based online store PC Componentes states the MSI Claw release date may be as soon as April 1. However, UK-based retailer Currys lists the MSI Claw handheld release date even earlier, as March 20.
The MSI website revealed that three different variants will be available come launch, ranging in price from $699 to $799.
Asus ROG Ally 2
AsusThe first Asus ROG Ally handheld launched in June of 2023, and is widely known as one of the earliest competitors for the Steam Deck’s dominance over the land of PC gaming handhelds. The follow-up handheld, the Asus ROG Ally 2, may come sooner than expected, according to a recent interview with Asus India’s Vice President of Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group, Arnold Su.
During the interview, Arnold Su shared that Asus has plans to “launch a second generation handheld this year” and that it’ll retain Windows features. The Vice President also revealed that the upcoming handheld will focus more on gaming, however, nothing else has been revealed about the inevitable follow-up.
