CheckMag | Gaming handhelds: better than ever but don't buy one now

When it comes to PC gaming hardware, anyone who's been around the block a few times will know that upgrade cycles are a point of contention. Generally, there are those who argue in favour of upgrading right when the newest tech launches, so that it isn't rendered obsolete in two months when the next generation launches. On the flip-side, there are those that argue you should upgrade whenever you need a new system, because you need a new system now, not in two months.

However, when it comes to PC gaming handhelds, things seem to be a little more nuanced. Right now, in June 2024, for instance, is both the best and worst time to buy a new handheld gaming device.

The good news for anyone looking to buy a new gaming handheld in June 2024 is that there are plenty to choose from, between the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, Nintendo Switch, and Steam Deck and Deck OLED. This means that prices are competitive. The Steam Deck now retails from $399 from Valve.

However, with exception of the Steam Deck OLED, basically all of the mainstream gaming handhelds from large manufacturers are soon to be superseded by their replacements, and those replacements are stacking up to be worth the extra cost and wait. 

Rumours indicate that the new AMD Zen 5 CPUs that will make their ways into next-generation gaming handhelds — specifically of the Windows variety — will pack IPC improvements of up to 40%. While most games are not CPU-bound, an increase in performance could mean an efficiency bump, which would be big news for a device that is designed for portability.

The rumour mill has also been buzzing with talk of a Nintendo Switch 2 and Lenovo Legion Go Lite, both of which seem to be readying for a late 2024 or early 2025 release. While the Legion Go Lite probably won't improve on the existing Legion Go, it might offer a more affordable alternative and drive down prices for the existing AMD Ryzen Z1-powered gaming handhelds, like the base model ROG Ally.

The Asus ROG Ally X has already been announced as a 2024 update to the Asus ROG Ally, bringing double the battery capacity, revised button placement, and updated internals — although the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme will still power the Ally X. Meanwhile rumours and leaks are flying about a new Lenovo Legion Go and Nintendo Switch 2, potentially making both of those existing handhelds seem obsolete.

While it's true that there are exciting next-gen gaming handhelds on the horizon, the silver lining is that existing gaming handhelds, like the Lenovo Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally, and Nintendo Switch, have all come down in price as a result of their imminent replacement. What's more, Asus has confirmed that it will continue to sell the ROG Ally alongside the new Ally X, meaning availability for the original ROG Ally will likely continue to drop as it ages.

Speaking of price drops, we're already seeing the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go drop in price. The ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is down to as little as $549 at Best Buy, while the Lenovo Legion Go can be had from Lenovo US for just $629.99. While these discounts are attractive, they're likely to get even more so closer to the launch of Lenovo's next-generation handheld.

It's also not as if replacing those gaming handhelds with newer models — especially in cases like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch — will degrade the gaming experience of the older version. You're still going to be able to run Hades at half a million FPS on your ROG Ally after the Ally X officially goes on sale in July.

All that is to say that, while both pricing and performance on gaming handhelds have never been better, things are only going to improve going forward, especially for existing hardware. The best advice for prospective buyers of gaming handhelds — especially those of the Nintendo persuasion — is to wait a little before buying anything, unless you absolutely need one.

Either way, waiting a few weeks or months will work out in your favour. Either you score a deal on a current-generation gaming handheld, or you spend more or less what you would have spent on current-gen hardware on an updated handheld with more features and a more polished user experience.