Handheld game consoles combine the fun of gaming with the convenience of portability! If you do not own a home console, a handheld console is perhaps the best thing ahead of playing mobile games.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy playing Pokemon Go and Clash of Clans, but there’s only so much fun you can have on a mobile device. Even if some games are free.

Why should you play handheld consoles?

Portability is the first best thing about them. For handheld systems, this pretty much goes without saying. They are excellent for travel too. Any game you can take to the oval office can be seen as a very convenient thing 😛 All joking aside, If you want to take games with you while on the go, going with a handheld is a good option.

Affordability is the next thing that makes me choose a handheld over a console any day. These days, home consoles such as the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 cost way more than any handheld system, due to the slew of features they provide. The games are also a lot cheaper, with some handhelds typically being about 20 bucks cheaper than that of the consoles.

Home consoles are very powerful, almost at the point of competing with the standard PC (not quite, but getting there!) Naturally, these powerhouses can empty the wallet just as fast as a trip to Vegas.

Handhelds are very accessible. You can literally take them out of the box and start playing without too much else. They have a battery integrated into the system, so you need only plug it in when not in use, and you’ll have a full battery in no time at all!

If you have a console, you also need to have a TV… scratch that, make it a 4K HDTV. If you have a powerful console, why skimp on a small TV? … See what I mean? Oftentimes owning a console means having a lot more equipment to worry about. Not to mention the stress of moving everything…

Why a handheld console may not be a good option for you?

I wouldn’t be doing my job of helping people choose game systems if I didn’t go over the setbacks and concerns to consider. Read on for a few things that may make you less inclined to purchase a handheld console.

Graphics and Performance may turn you off

Don’t get me wrong, the handheld systems of today are certainly a step ahead of the old Game Boy, but compared to PC gaming and home consoles, you won’t see much 4K gaming. Even the games are not the most graphically advanced compared to what you see on the big screen. Even the Nintendo Switch has only a 720p screen.

Risk of Damage is greater with a portable device

I haven’t been one to drop my smartphone very often, but every time it falls, it’s like watching a wine glass fall to the ground. You wait for that inevitable shatter… Luckily, most phones these days have a reasonably well built exterior, but they still have a fragile screen.

The same can be said for any handheld. You take them everywhere with you. Moving them around increases the chance of potentially dropping them somewhere or worse, misplacing them somewhere they could get lost.

You may want to consider a screen protector or a carrying case to secure your handheld system. If you damage it, there’s the chance that you may have to buy a whole new one.

A Grim Future … or No Future at all

I know this goes against my earlier point about how there’s only so much fun you can have on a mobile device. That’s true for some, but not the majority of people. People like free games, even the freemium ones that have you wait for several hours before you can play another level.

What do you do when you run out of free moves? You close the app and go onto Facebook, or YouTube. Or any other app, because mobile devices are very quickly taking the place of handheld consoles, and fast!

Even Nintendo may have plans to phase out their line of handhelds with the release of the Switch. A new Pokémon game is rumored to be in development, which has traditionally been reserved for handhelds.

The Bottom Line

A handheld system is portable, cheap, and very easy to pick up and play, which makes it ideal for anyone who lives a busy and bustling lifestyle. If you are the type who would rather unwind on the couch, then a handheld may not be a good investment. In the end, handheld game consoles do exactly what they say on the box; they let you play games on the go.