Dedicated handheld gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Switch and Valve Steam Deck continue to drive discourse among the wider gaming community for reasons we will discuss here.
They are more popular than ever for a specific type of gamer as they provide a portable and convenient way for people to relax and unwind and play their favourite titles without the need for a clunky and more restrictive console like an Xbox or PlayStation, desktop computer or laptop.
With that said, let’s dive straight in to reveal why today’s best handheld gaming consoles continue to remain relevant to modern gaming audiences.
Why are handheld consoles so popular in 2025?
According to experts who follow the gaming industry closely, 2025 is shaping up to be a great year for handheld gaming consoles. More people than ever are choosing this platform to play their favourite content.
These days, players are looking for portability and convenience, and handheld gaming consoles provide both. With top-of-the-range models, people can play from almost any location, and the latest devices can now handle even the more high-end, graphically demanding triple-A video games.
There are pros and cons to handheld consoles that are designed purely for gaming, but the same can be said for any gaming device.
For example, you can’t use handheld consoles like smartphones to shop online, make calls or face-time messages, or do anything else you can typically do on a smartphone, such as online banking, surfing the internet, editing phones, writing articles, reading eBooks, and enjoying other non-gaming activities that you can typically experience on iOS and Android models.
However, this is ideal for gamers who don’t want to be distracted by calls or all the other notifications that occur on smartphones. With that said, some of the best handheld gaming consoles can still be used for things like watching movies and listening to music,
What are the most popular handheld gaming consoles in 2025?
There are several handheld gaming consoles on the market, but some are a cut above all the rest. If you are thinking about getting one to play some of the gaming industry’s most popular games, the six highest-rated consoles to consider first are the following suggestions:
Some of these handheld consoles are great for playing today’s blockbuster titles, and others are designed for playing retro games. If you can wait until April 2, 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to arrive, and according to early reviews, it’s going to be a game-changer.
Can you play on iGaming sites using a handheld console?
Unfortunately, handheld consoles aren’t typically great for playing games on today’s safest iGaming sites. For example, if you want to try your luck with Crazy Time on 10CRIC, or play any of the hundreds of other computer-generated and live dealer games now available on this top-rated Indian online casino, you’re best off using either a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.
Why are handheld consoles continuing to drive gaming discourse?
There are many reasons why handheld consoles are continuing to drive discourse among the gaming community. For example, they are now more sophisticated and capable than ever, and they provide a user-friendly alternative for anyone from the casual gamer to the more serious gamer.
They have a diverse library of games to suit all types of players, depending on the device/platform, and they can easily be carried around with you wherever you go. Here are some of the main benefits and highlights of handheld gaming consoles:
A range of handheld console accessories/peripherals can also be purchased to enhance the overall gaming experience. Some of these add-ons even work well with smartphones.
Examples include gaming triggers and controllers, wearable haptic feedback tech, a stand for your device, MagicFiber microfibre cleaning cloths, tailored carry cases (some waterproof), battery packs and charging accessories, and Bluetooth headphones with a built-in microphone and noise-cancelling capabilities, to name a few.
Final thoughts
Handheld gaming consoles, due to their very nature, are secure devices that provide a more private entertainment experience for users. Over the past couple of years, manufacturers have focused on developing even more capable handheld consoles to cater to the rising demand from players across the world as more people switch away from bulky devices like consoles and PCs.
Therefore, over the coming years, we will likely see even more of these portable gaming devices hitting the market and the technology evolving to take the handheld gaming experience to exciting new levels.
The Nintendo Switch 2, for example, has recently got everyone talking. It will be even better than the Nintendo Switch and offer a much better handheld gaming experience.
Devices like this, and the other handheld consoles mentioned on this page, will ensure that the handheld gaming experience is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future.
It will be interesting to see whether this way of playing video games on the go is just a passing fad or whether it will become the new platform of choice for games worldwide. Only time will tell.
