From classic monstrosities like the Atari Lynx to refined icons like the Game Boy Advance SP to modern absurdists like the Playdate, handheld game consoles have had a lot of unique designs throughout the decades. Some designs, however, stand out from the rest. Whether that be due to their ergonomics, standout features, or impactful construction that would go on to influence future generations, certain handheld designs deserve to be highlighted as being some of the best the industry has seen. So here are the top seven handheld gaming console designs we feel are the cream of the crop.
Honourable Mentions
PSP 2000 a.k.a “Slim”
Sony’s first foray into the portable market was incredibly successful with their original PlayStation Portable. From its unique design and immense power that could play genuine console-quality titles like Daxter, the PSP quickly became one of the best-selling handheld consoles of all time. A couple of years after its release, Sony revised the system with the PSP 2000, colloquially known as the “Slim.” Aside from being thinner and lighter, the new colourways also added to the brilliant revision, making this (and the 3000 with its better screen) the best version of an already iconic design.
Game Boy Pocket
You’re going to be seeing a trend on this list: handheld console revisions are (mostly) always better. Such was also the case for one of the industry’s very first revisions; made by a company whose handhelds will no doubt be recurring guests on this list. The original Game Boy shattered what we thought was possible with handheld gaming in the late 80s. That being said, it still doesn’t mean the console was perfect. From its chunky design to its less-than-stellar screen, the OG Game Boy still needed some tweaks. Which is why the Game Boy Pocket gets a shoutout on our list. With a far slimmer overall package and a better-quality screen, the Pocket was the perfect refinement for one of the industry’s most influential consoles.
GPD Win Mini (2024)
Possibly a contentious choice seeing as the Win Mini veers away from being a “traditional” handheld. Nevertheless, one can’t argue the ingenuity of this device; made by a lesser-known company whose been making unique handhelds for over a decade. Effectively a micro laptop, the most recent revision of GPD’s Win Mini brings the most powerful AMD chip into a form factor akin to that of a 3DS XL – its size isn’t that much larger, either. With a 7-inch, full-HD 120hz IPS display with VRR, built-in Hall-effect joysticks, and a full QWERTY keyboard, this small clamshell acts as a Swiss Army knife that can do everything from playing Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p to 4K video editing.
Logitech G-Cloud
Irrespective of your thoughts on cloud gaming, trust me when I tell you that as soon as you pick up Logitech’s cloud-only device, you’ll know that you’re holding something premium. As an owner of numerous handhelds including the Switch, this is one of the most comfortable handhelds I’ve ever held. Its lightly textured grips curve perfectly into your palms, and not having to rely on the beefiest hardware means the G Cloud is incredibly lightweight as well. Its screen, though nothing to write home about, is still better than the Steam Deck in terms of resolution and colour. All of its buttons and triggers are well-placed and feel solid, and its eggshell white and green-tinted yellow colourway keeps it from looking bland. If Xbox ever made a cloud-only device, this should have been it.
7. Lenovo Legion Go
As the handheld PC market bustles along, some manufacturers are looking at making the most compact device possible with the fewest bells and whistles. Lenovo are not such a manufacturer, as evidenced by their first leap into the market with the Legion Go. A handheld boasting an outrageous(ly beautiful) 8.8-inch QHD display and large controllers that are not only detachable like the Switch’s Joycons, but one of them can be transformed to be used like an old-school joystick to play first-person shooters. Its sleek design with an impressive screen-to-body ratio that would have even the most die-hard Steam Deck fan leer with jealousy, coupled with a sturdy kickstand makes it an all-around versatile handheld that’s both striking to look at and to hold.
6. PS Vita 2000 a.k.a “Slim”
Just like its predecessor, the revision for Sony’s second handheld came with impressive refinements that made it a joy to hold. Although it lost the OLED screen from the OG, the LCD screen was more than serviceable and the trade-off resulted in a far superior battery life. The Slim being 20% thinner and 15% lighter meant the result was an incredibly sleek device that still holds up to this day. The dual thumbsticks that are leagues better than the PSP’s “nub” and tactile buttons all made this a solid handheld on all fronts; a shame that it was released during the smartphone boom, which resulted in lacklustre sales.
5. DS Lite
The original DS, though innovative with the dual touchscreens, was far from a looker. Its jagged edges and overall harsh exterior came across as a tad gauche and almost like a dev kit rather than a full-fledged product by Nintendo. The DS Lite, released two years after the original, fixed all of the design woes from the original. So much so that we consider it to be one of the best-designed, best-looking handhelds ever made. Its beautifully chamfered edges on a sleeker and lighter design, bigger and more vibrant screen and softer buttons all make this a beaut of a device, even in 2024.
4. 2DS XL
Possibly the most underrated of Nintendo’s handhelds, the 2DS XL strips away all of the unnecessary “fluff” and keeps things as simple as possible. The result is a clamshell that has a better screen-to-body ratio than its higher-end brethren, is substantially lighter and comes in an array of wondrous colours and limited edition designs. Although the 3DS could be argued as the better-built console, that quality comes at the cost of heft. Frankly speaking, I was also never a fan of the 3D effect, choosing instead to leave the feature either off or at its minimum. As such, the 2DS XL is simply a cleaner design overall with a more robust offering of colours.
3. PSP Go
Four years after its original released, Sony hadn’t finished iterating on their portable console. The PSP Go, coming out in 2009, was a drastic change from the console’s inception. Though it was by all accounts a failure due to its digital-only nature, the design has held up remarkably well over the years. Its sliding mechanism that unveils the classic PSP controls is ever-so-satisfying, and its overall footprint when closed is pocketable even for the tightest of millennial skinny jeans. Not to mention it was ahead of its time with Bluetooth functionality, meaning you could pair your favourite pair of wireless earbuds even today. The Go has become the go-to console for retro enthusiasts due to its pocketability and satisfying sliding mechanic; one that is considered by many to be one of the most fun and unique handhelds ever made.
2. Switch OLED
Nintendo spurred the handheld renaissance with their original Switch, whose immense success that continues to print money has kept Nintendo from releasing a proper follow-up even seven years after the console’s release. Thankfully, though, they have at least given us a much-needed revision to the popular hybrid. The Switch OLED has a larger screen on a body that is only slightly bigger than the original, fixing the rather dated screen-to-body ratio of the original for a look that is far more modern. Beyond the screen, whose OLED panel is stunning, the new model also comes equipped with a drastically improved kickstand; forgoing the finicky little piece of plastic on the original. Although not the Switch “Pro” that everyone was hoping for, the OLED perfects an already incredible (and revolutionary) handheld, making it one of – if not the – best-designed consoles in the modern day.
1. Game Boy Advance SP
It felt like the world stopped spinning for a minute when the Game Boy Advance SP was announced. Its design jumped out and looked so vastly different than anything we’d seen up until that point in the games industry, including the handheld that the SP was iterating from. A design so iconic that it still holds up over twenty years later. Pick one up today and you’ll still find it difficult to contain a smile as you feel the little console sit perfectly in your palms. Flip it open and you’ll feel that the hinges have just the right amount of resistance and snap into the perfect angle to meet your eyes. The buttons are clicky and satisfying and the ergonomics of the whole device are surprisingly comfortable, even though you wouldn’t think so upon looking at it. Nintendo outdid themselves with this little guy. Creating a compact and playful design that would go on to influence their future generation of consoles, though never quite recapturing the magic of the SP.
Do you agree with our list? Probably not, but that’s okay! What are some of your favourite handheld designs? Let us know in the comments below!
