Handheld Gaming Console Comparison: Screen, RAM & Storage

So, you’re ready to take your PC library on the road? Handheld gaming consoles are booming in South Africa, offering a brilliant escape during load shedding or a long commute. But with so many options, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This handheld gaming console comparison cuts through the noise, focusing on the three specs that truly define your experience: the screen you stare at, the RAM that juggles tasks, and the storage that holds your games.

Logitech F710 Wireless Gaming Gamepad / 2.4GHz Wireless / Broad Game Support / Familiar Button Layout / 940-000142

R849.00In Stock

MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console / Intel Core Ultra 7 258V / 32GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8" FHD+ (1920 x 1200), 120 Hz, Touchscreen Display / Intel® Arc 140V Graphics / 2 x USB Type-C (Supports Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Micro SD Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / 1x Fingerprint Reader / Intel® Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 Wireless LAN / Bluetooth 5.4 / Windows 11 Home (64bit) / 2 × 2W Speakers, Hi-Res Audio ready / 6-Cell, 80Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / CLAW-8-AI-A2VM-067ZA

R18999.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL iPad & Android Tablet Gaming Controller / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Fits Phones and Tablets up to 10” / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-05470100-R3M1

R5199.00In Stock

Adata SC735 1TB High-Performance External SSD with USB-C / 1,050MB/s Read & 1,000MB/s Write Speeds / Cable-Free Mobile Phone Compatibility / Gaming Handheld Compatible / Supports Latest Game Consoles / Multi-OS Support / SC735-1000G-CCBK/GY

R2199.00In Stock

Turtle Beach Atom Mobile Game Controller with Bluetooth for Cloud Gaming on Android Mobile Devices with Compact Shape, Console Style Controls, Low Latency Bluetooth - Red / TBS-0766-05

R2499.00In Stock

Lenovo Legion Go S 8APU1 Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console - Black / AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8.8" WUXGA (1920 x 1200), Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Display/ Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 2x USB Type-C support (DisplayPort™ 1.4 / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / AMD Wi-Fi® 6E RZ616 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.3 / SteamOS / 2 Stereo Speakers / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 55.5Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 83N6002ESA

R17499.00In Stock

Handheld Gaming Console Comparison: The Screen

The screen is your window to virtual worlds, and not all windows are created equal. It's the first thing you notice and can make or break your immersion. When comparing handheld consoles, you’ll mainly encounter two types: vibrant OLEDs and crisp, fast LCDs.

OLED screens, like the one on the Steam Deck OLED, offer perfect blacks and incredible colour contrast. Each pixel lights itself, meaning dark scenes in games like Alan Wake 2 look truly dark, not a washed-out grey. On the other hand, high-refresh-rate LCDs found on powerhouses like the ASUS ROG Ally offer smoother motion, which is fantastic for fast-paced shooters.

Consider this:

• Resolution: Is 720p enough for a 7-inch screen, or do you want the sharpness of 1080p or even higher? More pixels demand more power.
• Refresh Rate: A 120Hz screen provides a much smoother experience than a 60Hz one, but again, it will use more battery.
• Brightness: For gaming outdoors in sunny SA, a brighter screen is non-negotiable.

RAM: The Unsung Hero of Handheld Performance

Think of RAM (Random Access Memory) as your console's short-term memory. It holds all the data the processor needs right now—the game world, character models, and the operating system itself. In a handheld gaming console comparison, 16GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM has become the gold standard.

Why does it matter? With 16GB, you can run demanding AAA titles smoothly and even have a few background apps like Discord open without a stutter. Consoles like the Lenovo Legion Go use this amount to ensure a seamless experience whether you're playing Cyberpunk 2077 or multitasking on the Windows 11 desktop. Less than 16GB could lead to performance issues in modern titles, so it's a key spec to watch. ✨

SteelSeries Stratus + Wireless Anroid Controller / Android & Chromebook Wireless Gaming Controller / Bluetooth LE + USB-C PC Support / Adjustable Slim Phone Mount Included / 90-Hour Battery Life with Fast Charge (15 min = 12 hrs) / ALPS Thumbsticks with L3/R3 / Hall Effect Magnetic Triggers for Lifetime Precision / 69076

R999.00In Stock

MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console / Intel Core Ultra 7 258V / 32GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8" FHD+ (1920 x 1200), 120 Hz, Touchscreen Display / Intel® Arc 140V Graphics / 2 x USB Type-C (Supports Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Micro SD Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / 1x Fingerprint Reader / Intel® Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 Wireless LAN / Bluetooth 5.4 / Windows 11 Home (64bit) / 2 × 2W Speakers, Hi-Res Audio ready / 6-Cell, 80Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / CLAW-8-AI-A2VM-067ZA

R18999.00In Stock

Lenovo Legion Go S 8APU1 Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console - Black / AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8.8" WUXGA (1920 x 1200), Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Display/ Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 2x USB Type-C support (DisplayPort™ 1.4 / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / AMD Wi-Fi® 6E RZ616 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.3 / SteamOS / 2 Stereo Speakers / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 55.5Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 83N6002ESA

R17499.00In Stock

Lenovo Legion Go S 8ARP1 Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console - Black / AMD Ryzen™ Z2 Go / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM / 512B NVMe SSD / 8.8" WUXGA (1920 x 1200), Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Display/ Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 2x USB Type-C support (DisplayPort™ 1.4 / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / AMD Wi-Fi® 6E RZ616 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.3 / SteamOS / 2 Stereo Speakers / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 55.5Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 83L3004VSA

R13499.00In Stock

Logitech F710 Wireless Gaming Gamepad / 2.4GHz Wireless / Broad Game Support / Familiar Button Layout / 940-000142

R849.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Gaming Controller / Supports Android and iPhone / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Dual mouse-click back buttons / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-03550100-R3M1

R2999.00In Stock

Storage: Speed, Space, and Your Game Library

Modern game sizes are… well, massive. Call of Duty can easily gobble up over 200GB. This makes storage one of the most critical aspects of any handheld console. You need to consider both the size and the speed.

All modern handhelds use fast NVMe SSDs (Solid State Drives), which means lightning-fast loading times. The real question is how much space you need. A 512GB model is a good starting point, but if you hate uninstalling games, a 1TB model from brands like MSI is a worthy investment. Most devices also include a microSD card slot for easy, affordable expansion. 🚀

Ultimately, the best handheld gaming console for you depends on your priorities. Do you value a stunning OLED display for story-driven games, or do you need the smoothest performance and largest screen for competitive play? By comparing the screen, RAM, and storage, you can make an informed choice that perfectly fits your gaming style.