Gaming handhelds are growing in popularity and 2024 has seen several notable releases spanning a spectrum of gaming. There were emulation handhelds from Anbernic and Retroid, many new PC handhelds from Ayaneo, and retro-oriented devices from Analogue and Modretro. It’s been a busy year, and the device that the AP team voted king of 2024 is the Asus ROG Ally ‘tweaked to give it a glorious shine.
If you’re looking for performance, a good directional pad, and ergonomics designed for all-day gaming, the ROG Ally X is a handheld that meets all needs without compromise. It also looks good doing it. How could we not recognize the handheld as the best gaming handheld of 2024?
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The ROG Ally X is basically everything I wanted from a gaming handheld refresh
Enthusiasts gather, this one is for you
The ROG Ally X is the AP gaming handheld of the year
Asus ROG Ally
The ROG Ally X is a device designed for enthusiasts looking for the best performance in a handheld, and it offers an ergonomic design. Whether you want to play AAAs or indies, this machine can play them.
After spending a lot of time with the ROG Ally X this year, testing game after game for personal edification, there’s no doubt that this handheld is a capable device. Whether you want to play at 720P and upgrade to 1080p or play at the default 1080p resolution, a range of options make it easy to select your performance. Looking to play AAA games? You can play on the go and play longer with Model X’s larger battery.
The improved D-pad makes fighting games enjoyable to play. With more ergonomic trigger positions, racing games are also enjoyable. The ROG Ally X fixes what Asus failed to achieve with the first model. Asus claims to have designed this device for enthusiasts, and it shows when you get your hands on it.
That’s why the ROG Ally X won the AP Gaming Handheld of the Year award. This device is designed for gaming fans, with the rendering and polish you’d expect, not to mention a price tag to match $800. If you’re looking for the best gaming handheld for playing the latest PC games, you could do worse for more money, which is why the ROG Ally X strikes the right balance between price and performance.
The Ayaneo Pocket Micro is the pocket computer for emulation minimalists
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The Ayaneo Pocket Micro is the best handheld for retro emulation
The perfect platform to emulate GBA games
On the opposite end of the spectrum is the Ayaneo Pocket Micro. It’s similar to the Game Boy Micro, with a name that makes things obvious, and it’s easily the team’s favorite for emulating Game Boy Advance games. It’s a competent little handheld that emulates many systems, up to the PS2, which is why those tiny analog sticks come in handy. The Ayaneo Pocket Micro shines as a GBA emulation device. If you fondly remember your days playing Pokémon Emerald and Metroid Fusion, reliving them with AP’s finalist for Best Handheld of the Year is the best way to do it.
Ayaneo Pocket Micro
$191 $221 Save $30
The Ayaneo Pocket Micro offers a similar look and feel to the classic Game Boy Advance Micro, with the ability to emulate classic consoles up to the PS2.
