{"id":2361,"date":"2020-01-07T17:59:47","date_gmt":"2020-01-07T17:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/?p=2361"},"modified":"2023-05-30T17:44:09","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T17:44:09","slug":"the-5-best-portable-gaming-consoles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/the-5-best-portable-gaming-consoles\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Best Portable Gaming Consoles"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>The Nintendo Switch<\/b><\/h2>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Nintendo-Switch-Neon-Blue-x2011\/dp\/B07VGRJDFY\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><div class=\"amazon-card\"><div class=\"product-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Nintendo-Switch-Neon-Blue-x2011\/dp\/B07VGRJDFY\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img title='' alt='' src='https:\/\/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/61JnrafZ7zL._AC_SL1457_.jpg' \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-details\"><h3 class=\"product-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Nintendo-Switch-Neon-Blue-x2011\/dp\/B07VGRJDFY\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Are You Switched On?<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"product-summary\">There have been many worthy competitors through the years, but Nintendo continues its legacy as the king of portable gaming. <\/div><\/div><div class='product-award'><div>Best Overall<\/div><\/div><p class=\"find-in-btn-wrap\"><a class=\"find-in-btn btn-amazon product-amazon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Nintendo-Switch-Neon-Blue-x2011\/dp\/B07VGRJDFY\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Find on Amazon<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In all likelihood, the Nintendo Switch\u2019s reputation precedes it. You&#8217;re probably already aware that the Switch can transform from a home console to a mobile console faster than you can say <em>Super Smash Bros<\/em>, or how the Joy-con controllers can be used for multiplayer right out of the box. Nintendo even upgraded the hardware in mid-2019, adding a more powerful processor and an improved battery life. Some will lament the limited number of titles and the lack of web browsing, and it certainly isn&#8217;t the first choice for hardcore gamers. But for those of us who love the action of multiplayer games like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mario Kart 8<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> or the immersion of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the Switch is the obvious choice for portable gaming. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Durable build can take a beating<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Many famous titles<\/li>\n<li>Up to 9 hours of battery life<\/li>\n<li>6.3-inch 1280&#215;720 touchscreen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No web browsing<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Only supports Nintendo releases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>GPD Win 2<\/b><\/h2>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Handheld-Portable-Gameplayer-Notebook-Graphics\/dp\/B07CK7DRYS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><div class=\"amazon-card\"><div class=\"product-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Handheld-Portable-Gameplayer-Notebook-Graphics\/dp\/B07CK7DRYS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img title='' alt='' src='https:\/\/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/61%2B1OHfv%2BeL._AC_SL1000_.jpg' \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-details\"><h3 class=\"product-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Handheld-Portable-Gameplayer-Notebook-Graphics\/dp\/B07CK7DRYS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">You Might Love to Win 2<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"product-summary\">With the GPD Win 2, you can now enjoy the power of PC gaming in the palm of your hand.<\/div><\/div><div class='product-award'><div>Best Premium Console<\/div><\/div><p class=\"find-in-btn-wrap\"><a class=\"find-in-btn btn-amazon product-amazon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Handheld-Portable-Gameplayer-Notebook-Graphics\/dp\/B07CK7DRYS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Find on Amazon<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once you\u2019ve seen the terrifying price tag and then regained consciousness, you might begin to see why the GPD Win 2 is the gold standard for serious gamers. Essentially a laptop computer with a controller built-in, the specs on this beast are truly unmatched by any other handheld console. In fact, the goal of the GPD Win 2 was to make a portable gaming console that could run AAA games&#8211;and it can (albeit on low to medium render settings). With an Intel HD 615 Graphics card and a 2.6 GHz Intel processor, the GPD Win 2 can run the latest big-name titles on-the-go. The price varies considerably depending on the amount of internal memory you choose, but you can always opt for extra memory by using a microSD card.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">6\u201d Gorilla-glass touchscreen<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">8Gb of RAM<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">lntel HD Graphics 615 Graphics Card<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">256 GB of internal memory<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Quite expensive<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Setup requires some tinkering<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Nintendo New 2DS XL<\/b><\/h2>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Nintendo-New-2DS-XL-Black-Turquoise\/dp\/B071KWZ8L9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><div class=\"amazon-card\"><div class=\"product-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Nintendo-New-2DS-XL-Black-Turquoise\/dp\/B071KWZ8L9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img title='' alt='' src='https:\/\/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/716%2BUi40HcL._AC_.jpg' \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-details\"><h3 class=\"product-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Nintendo-New-2DS-XL-Black-Turquoise\/dp\/B071KWZ8L9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Past is Never Dead<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"product-summary\">For those of us on a budget, the Nintendo 2DS is a no-brainer. Buy Nintendo DS games second-hand or download them onto a microSD card to amass a colossal collection of classic games. <\/div><\/div><div class='product-award'><div>Best Budget<\/div><\/div><p class=\"find-in-btn-wrap\"><a class=\"find-in-btn btn-amazon product-amazon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Nintendo-New-2DS-XL-Black-Turquoise\/dp\/B071KWZ8L9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Find on Amazon<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Maybe you aren&#8217;t flush with cash, but you still want a reliable, pocket-sized console \u2013 and it doesn&#8217;t hurt if it has access to more than 2,000 games. That\u2019s where the Nintendo 2DS comes into play. Throw it in your bag and you\u2019re good to go. Yes, seriously \u2013 you can throw it. <em>(What are these things made out of, NASA-grade plastics?)<\/em> Anyway, durability aside, the Nintendo DS has enjoyed a long history and, consequently, has a staggering number of fantastic games. Buy them secondhand or download them to a microSD card, and you have a formidable library of games in your pocket for a fraction of the cost of newer systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There have been six iterations of the 3DS\/2DS line of consoles, and any choice is probably as good as the next. That being said, we chose the New 2DS XL because of its price, ergonomic design, and its extra-large screen. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Huge library of games to choose from<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feels good in the hand<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">~4.5 hours of battery life<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Speakers are not very loud<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No new game releases on the horizon<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>GPD XD Plus<\/b><\/h2>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07CG7BDGB\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><div class=\"amazon-card\"><div class=\"product-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07CG7BDGB\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img title='' alt='' src='https:\/\/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/61UaadDHAJL._AC_SL1000_.jpg' \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-details\"><h3 class=\"product-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07CG7BDGB\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">A Super Saiyan Emulator<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"product-summary\">For techy folks willing to put a little work into the initial setup, the GPD XD Plus is an excellent portable console for running emulators. <\/div><\/div><div class='product-award'><div>Best for Emulators<\/div><\/div><p class=\"find-in-btn-wrap\"><a class=\"find-in-btn btn-amazon product-amazon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07CG7BDGB\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Find on Amazon<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You don\u2019t have to be a computer programmer to get an emulator up and running on the GPD XD Plus, though you may have to do some research and watch a few instructional videos. Once you\u2019ve soldiered through the setup, however, the GPD XD Plus makes gaming on your phone look like amateur hour. With 4GB of RAM, 32Gb of internal storage, and a Hexa-core processor, this console can run thousands of games. The 5\u201d screen is bright and colorful, and the whole device fits nicely into your pocket. It even comes with SNES emulators pre-installed, in case you want to dive right in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Perfect fit for pocket<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">High processing power<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Low price for the number of games you can potentially play<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Android 7.0 OS<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Setup may be tricky for some<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Sony Playstation Vita<\/b><\/h2>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sony-PlayStation-Vita-WiFi\/dp\/B00F27JDTU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><div class=\"amazon-card\"><div class=\"product-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sony-PlayStation-Vita-WiFi\/dp\/B00F27JDTU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img title='' alt='' src='https:\/\/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/71BZhCrPUSL._SL1500_.jpg' \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-details\"><h3 class=\"product-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sony-PlayStation-Vita-WiFi\/dp\/B00F27JDTU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Livin' La Vita Loca<\/a><\/h3><div class=\"product-summary\">With a multitude of high-profile game titles, the Playstation Vita is renowned for its cutting-edge hardware and quality design. \r\n<\/div><\/div><div class='product-award'><div>Best Design<\/div><\/div><p class=\"find-in-btn-wrap\"><a class=\"find-in-btn btn-amazon product-amazon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sony-PlayStation-Vita-WiFi\/dp\/B00F27JDTU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Find on Amazon<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/a>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A pioneer in mobile gaming hardware and design when it first hit shelves in 2012, the Playstation Vita still has a huge fanbase, and with good reason. Players love the vibrancy of the screen and the responsiveness and comfort of the controls. The battery life also continues to hold its own, offering up to 5 hours of gaming or video playback. It even has a web browser and WiFi connectivity (take <em>that, <\/em>Nintendo Switch). The PS Vita was also one of the first portable consoles to release high-profile game titles, such as Minecraft, Assassin\u2019s Creed, and Call of Duty.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Pros:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Plenty of beloved games, including PSP titles<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Controls are responsive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No new releases expected<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<p><b>Should I get the Nintendo Switch or the Nintendo Switch Lite?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This really depends on what you are looking for in a game console. Although 2\/3rds the price, the Nintendo Switch Lite has no external display port, meaning you won\u2019t be able to play it on your TV. The Joy-cons also do not detach, meaning it is a single-player machine. The Lite also has a smaller screen, at 5.5\u201d compared to the original Switch\u2019s 6.2\u201d screen. All that being said, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a popular choice among people who want a dedicated portable console and are willing to do without the multiplayer capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is the best Portable Gaming Console for my kids?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Nintendo 2DS XL is the obvious choice for parents of young children. Besides its uncanny ability to withstand falls and mild abuse, it has tons of great kid-friendly games. For those looking for 2DS games to entertain and engage their youngsters, we recommend games like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cooking Mama 4<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Disney\u2019s Frozen: Olaf\u2019s Quest<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nintendogs + Cats<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Nintendo Switch In all likelihood, the Nintendo Switch\u2019s reputation precedes it. You&#8217;re probably already aware that the Switch can transform from a home console to a mobile console faster than you can say Super Smash Bros, or how the Joy-con controllers can be used for multiplayer right out of the box. Nintendo even upgraded [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[961,1030],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2361"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2406,"href":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361\/revisions\/2406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gamerevolution.engagingreview.com\/reviews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}