Best Portable Game Consoles

The Top Ten
1 Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS lite is what a handheld console should be. The clam shell design not only kept it safe when stuffed in your pocket or thrown in your bag, but also allowed you to quickly pause the game when you had to get off the train. The dual screen, touch controls and microphone allowed many different ways to play games and opened up the possibilities as to how a great could be played. The catalogue of games not only spanned the numerous DS titles but also included your favourite GBA games. The power of the console felt underpowered for its time compared to other handheld devices, but this kept the hardware cost low and crucially did not affect the quality of the games available. This has to be ond of the best handheld consoles. I would recommend anyone pick up a DS lite on eBay and you won't be disappointed with the plethora of great games at your leisure.

The DS had loads of games, and I would still play it today over the 3DS with its sickening 3d mode. Most of the games were replicated in making the Wii U, but this console was cheaper, and so were the games which meant that you could go to Best Buy and come out with 4 of these and money to spare on other games. You could easily get the DS, have most of the same games as the Wii U and more, but not pay nearly as much.

The thing is with the DS what should make it number 1 on the list is that it opened up the gaming world to virtually anybody. Where PSP made more serious games, the DS had games that appealed to everybody, no matter the age. The DS is much more diverse, and it has sold tens of millions of copies more than the PSP. That's why the DS should be number 1.

Far better than psp, the only thing going for the psp is graphics, the DS is original, and has way more great games than psp. Its also more durable incase anything would go wrong

2 Game Boy

Really fun to play teteris on and it brings back the good old memories of the 1960's. What a fun way to waste the hours playing games

It is why we even have handheld gaming right now.

This did not release in the 60s, this released in 1989.

Started handheld gaming. Should be #1.

3 PSP

While the DS 3DS and Gameboy Advance are also great consoles in my opinion this is the best portable console. The main reason I say that is I don't like game cartridges because overtime they'll slowly start to not work to the point where you have to clean the cartridge and even then it might not even work after that this console is not like those it uses Discs but even better they are in a case so that means they will usually work after just putting then into the console in terms of library of games Nintendo would win but whats the point if the games don't work?

The PSP is still the best portable gaming console today compared to the PSP2 the PSP2 may have a bigger edge on gaming and graphics but the old psp's are still very very good. I currently own a PSP 3006 and the color is pearl white and my sister owns a psp 3006 and her color is radiant red and one day I have an idea on what to do with my psp because I got pretty bored with the color of my psp and then I change the color of my psp and made it to a mix pearl white and radiant red colored psp 3006 system

Alright, this this is just objectively the best handheld console ever created. I'm a Nintendo guy. I grew up with my Gameboy Color, GBA SP, and DS lite. To this day, I love them all to death, and they all have great games that really pushed the boundaries of what could be done with a handheld. This year, I found a PSP 1001 on amazon for $50 and just decided on a whim to buy it, and that was a great decision that has held up. Firstly, the PSP has some amazing exclusive games on it. Its powerful specs enabled developers back 2004 to create some amazing games that to this day impress me. It's got Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles, Patapon, and much more. However, that's only scratching the surface of what this thing can do, because it has full support for the ENTIRE PSX library. That's right. This tiny thing in your pocket can play any original Playstation game, which alone would make it number 1 on this list, but there is one last thing to convince you. The ...more

The PSP was an incredible step up for handheld consoles when it was released in 2004. The graphics nearly matched the PS2's, it was packed full of all sorts of multimedia options such as music, videos, and internet browsing, to name a few. The games made the console really worth mentioning, however, especially if you were into rpg's or shooters, since the PSP was king when it came to thosse specific genres in the late 2000's. Also, if you ever got bored of it, you could easily hack it and find even more possibilities for your PSP, such as emulation of older systems.
Tl;dr: The PSP is easily the best handheld console to date due to it's graphics, multimedia functionality, games, and hackability.

4 Sega Game Gear

Very sleek design, comfortable to play, some games ported from genesis were actually better on game gear. Full colour display, better than master system slightly. The machine itself came in different colours. It was ahead of its time. Just needed better support from other parties. Battery life can be improved with a LED mod, or even just use rechargeable batteries...done!

Full Color desplay and a backlight! But the worst ever battery!

5 Nintendo 3DS

I had this console and took it wherever I went until one day when I took it to the swimming pool but my point is this can play 3ds games gb games ds games dsiware and gbc games (and the game and watch collection

This is so the best! This should be number 1! All the non-Nintendo ones should be removed especially the ipod touch. The ipod touch is not, I repeat NOT a game system.

I got it on Christmas last year and I love it my favorite games are cooking mama and style savvy

Best portable game ever. I love the 2 interactive screen and it looks unique! Graphics are cool and still fun to enjoy the fantasy. The games are way too many to choose because of the coolness.

6 TurboExpress

Best portableconsole on the market until the nomad. First 16 bit system and active lcd screen.

7 PlayStation Vita

Playstation Vita from Sony has it all, from photographs to connections and custom settings that will find the user in engaging situations and entertainment bundle that does not disappoint. It is 100% what it should be and one of the best 8th Generation hand held consoles ever built. Amazing graphics and stunning details much to gain from the device. Beautiful!

I can't understand why anyone would say that the PSP is better than the PS Vita.
Vita has front and rear touchpad, PSP doesn't.
Vita has dual joysticks who actually feel like joysticks, PSP has 1 awkward joystick.
Vita has way better graphics.
Vita has a huge amount of games compared to the PSP (almost every PSP game can be played on the Vita, as well as a vast amount of PS1 games)
It doesn't break as fast (in my case at least), I had 3 PSP's, but I still have my first Vita, and I probably have over several 1000 hours playtime on it.

When I first saw this systen I had a psp at the time and couldn't wait to get this in my hands now I do and its the best portable system in the country, but it needs more games, its great for fps games psp games and ps1 games also has some great ps vita games can't wait till 2014 for the new games =)

This is the best handheld ever, best portable psone ever, best graphics ever on a handheld, best touch screen ever, this console is perfect, it's like an Xbox 360/PS3 but portable, who would not want that?

8 Neo Geo Pocket Color

Microswitched stick, 40 hour battery life, an insane selection of games, and the ability to link to a Sega Dreamcast should put this system on the list.

9 Game Boy Advance

Great handheld with excellent fit and finish. The original GBA uses just two AA batteries, pop in new batteries and it works like new to this day. The only drawback is no backlight but this gives the GBA an incredible amount of battery life for cord free game play! Other handhelds using proprietary batteries are dead in the water due to the battery no longer holding a charge.

Fantastic handheld that had far more durability and a massive graphical upgrade from its predecessor, the GBC. Its library is fantastic also; a few examples include A Link to the Past, the Mario Advance titles, Fire Emblem, Advance Wars, FF6, Superstar Saga, Pokemon Emerald, Metroid Fusion, and Castlevania Aria of Sorrow. The pinnacle of handheld gaming in my opinion.

Great game library on an older system that was way ahead of its time

You don't 'vote for it because you have not been in the game for so long as I have

10 Atari Lynx

Well ahead of it's time. Great system.

underrated

The Contenders
11 Game Boy Advance SP

Back light. Played ALL game boy games. Vibrant screen. Biggest library of games. What more do you want.

I've had this thing for over 11 years and have not once had a single problem with it. It's simple but can play and endless amount of titles, small enough to fit in your pocket, nice loud speaker, backlit screen, durable, great colors. Not enough I can say about it.

This is the best gameboy I mean you can play all gameboy games on it

It's the gameboy advance, but you can play in the dark

12 Game Boy Color

It is a blast from the past the good past and I know this without this we wouldn't have #9, #5, #6, #3, #4

Very authentic, this and Vita should be best two on chart in my opinion.

13 Wonderswan

The Wonderswan is a great console with a unique design and good library of games. It is very underrated in my opinion.

14 Nintendo Switch

Easily the best console of its generation, the only better system ever made is the Wii

It is the best portable console in the world

"Revolutionary for it's time! "

Amazing console

15 PSPgo

It is awesome! No problem for me! You Justin have to master don't follow wich is am easy this game in my opinion!

The best handheld console fits a pocket and also better than the original PSP or even the nintendo 3ds

Psp go is good its way too underrated

Can't believe this failed.

16 Nvidia Shield

Graphics should alone put it at number 1! The other companies aren't even trying anymore besides Sony.

This is the most powerful machine on this list. Nothing even comes even close to it and it can emulate almost this entry list.

Nvidia is the best as it has the best design and overall game library compared to the others

Guys this monster can emulate all of the above and below. this is the perfect handheld console

17 Nintendo DSi
18 New Nintendo 3DS XL

This device has face-tracking 3d(awesome) which allows you not to be so stiff when you play. Also, Pokemon and Super Smash are both on there! What else can beat that?

19 Nintendo 2DS

Opened lots of youtubers the idea to make funny videos of the non-existent 1DS

We can play all games Nintendo games on it

My favorite console is this

20 Nintendo 3DS XL

This is practically the same as the 3ds. They both should be one in this list.

Hands down the best handheld console. End of discussion.

This system should be instead or with the 3ds

Can not be beaten. Still using mine now.

21 PSP 3000

This one is a better and upgraded version of the original PSP, though it has improved a lot until the Vista came along

Psp 3000 is awesome its way too low it should be in top 10

22 SEGA Mega Drive Portable

Sega Nomad was great and still is. Just have extra batteries on hand. You did not need to buy new games because most likely you already has them if if owned a Genesis. Still have mine- love it and always will. The Nomad ROCKS!

It is called a sega nomad

23 Game Boy Micro

Small but perfectly formed. High pixel density and overall cuteness make this a treat for the eyes.

Pocket size, perfect portability

24 Gameboy Pocket
25 DSI XL
8Load More
PSearch List