10 Handheld Gaming Devices Worth Knowing After the ROG Xbox Ally X20

ASUS has turned its twentieth-anniversary ROG hardware into a £1,299 OLED handheld, but the interesting story is the market around it. Windows machines now range from an accessible white Xbox Ally to detachable-controller Legion models, MSI is offering both Intel and AMD ideas, Steam Deck remains the clearest SteamOS reference, and Nintendo Switch 2 keeps the console-first route distinct. This guide maps ten current UK devices by the experience they are built to deliver.

This guide contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, Hiinghams may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The quick take

Why now

The ROG Xbox Ally X20 went on sale on 15 October 2026, putting OLED screens, battery life, ergonomics and price back at the centre of the handheld conversation.

The first choice

Choose the software model before the specification sheet: Windows offers the widest launcher access, SteamOS feels more console-like, and Switch 2 is built around Nintendo's own games and simple docked play.

The design split

The market now spans compact fixed-control devices, large OLED screens and detachable-controller machines that can sit on a table like a tiny games console.

Recommendations

How to choose

Start with your library. Windows handhelds are the flexible option for Game Pass and several PC stores, while SteamOS prioritises quick suspend, controller-first navigation and a more focused Steam experience. Then decide how portable the device genuinely needs to be: an 11-inch-style machine or detachable controllers are useful at a table but make a different travel proposition from Steam Deck or the smaller Xbox Ally. Screen quality and battery capacity matter, but so do grip shape, fan behaviour, charger size and whether the controls can be repaired or replaced. Finally, budget for storage and a case rather than comparing the headline machine price alone.

The X20 is useful because it makes every compromise visible. Some buyers will want its premium OLED hardware; others will be better served by a cheaper Xbox Ally, a SteamOS machine or the uncomplicated Nintendo route. The right handheld is the one whose software, size and controls fit where you actually play.