Envy comes in many forms. House, car, looks, education, even job envy.
In the case of the latter of the list, there’s a shed-load of variety involved, which makes getting truly envious almost too exhausting to be bothered with. You see, some people dig holes in the ground but get to be outside, some sit in offices in relative comfort but long to break free, and some put up with the public in shops, supermarkets and hospitality, enjoying the ‘sociability’ but secretly loathing their cretinous customers. When it comes to me, I’ve always been envious of those who manage to make a living while doing absolutely…
“I though you were supposed to be working?!” came the train of thought derailing and all too repetitive questioning call of envy from my study doorway. “I AM working!” I reply, waving a Nintendo Switch OLED in the air over my head by way of explanation. “Reviewing handheld game consoles. For ES Best.” Yes, textbook job envy.
And to be fair, what a job this one has been, frittering away the days of the dullest month of the year, playing video games with all the absolute responsibility abandon of a self-sufficient singleton, delving into gaming material both thrillingly new and cockle-warmingly retro in equal measure.
What did I learn from this? Two things: 1) how easily frustrated my 11-year-old can get when his old man shows him how it’s done in head-to-head Mario Kart, and 2) Sunlight is vital to avoid both rickets and attaining the complexion of an eczema-ridden vampire.
What will you learn? In a nutshell, you are mere words away from learning exactly which of the following five examples of handheld gaming excellence is just right for you! And also, hopefully, to take in some vitamin D occasionally between gaming bouts…
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Nintendo Switch
Best for: All-round epic enjoyment
Launched way back in the carefree days of 2016, the only portable games console to have (so far) outsold the Nintendo Switch are Nintendo’s earlier DS and, earlier still, Game Boy and Game Boy Colour, which pretty much tells you all you need to know about the Big N’s untouchable reputation in this arena. And why is the Switch such a long-term love of gaming obsessives?
Simply because Nintendo called upon all its years of expertise when engineering it, ensuring it delivered on every demand portable players could ever ask straight out of the box and, basically, it has never been bettered.
So, what do you get in the box? Well, there’s the Switch Dock that allows you to hook the console up to your TV via HDMI (included) when not on the move, two Joy Con controllers for ergonomic one-person play or Nintendo for two in TV or Tabletop mode, a Joy Con grip, wrist straps, and an AC adapter. Then there’s the console itself: an NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor CPU driven gaming powerhouse with stereo speakers, hidden behind a gloriously vibrant 6.2-inch LCD touchscreen display with a 1280 x 720-pixel resolution.
Games are accessed via the insertion of a Switch game card or over the ether using your Wi-Fi and a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online where, depending on membership option, you can buy and play games both brand-new and timelessly classic. And when armed with enough entertainment to see out the Switch’s 4.5- to 9-hours of battery life (game demand dependent), you can roam free, relishing the epically immersive gameplay and instantly responsive controls as time ticks by almost utterly unnoticed.
Sound-wise, the stereo speakers are fine for home use, but a better audio experience can be achieved through Dock connection to the TV and – I can’t stress this enough – if playing publicly, I absolutely insist you use the 3.5mm jack port and stick on some noise-confining cans!
The uncontested king of portable consoles for all the reasons named above, even with rumours now circulating about the imminent arrival of a Nintendo Switch 2, thanks to the UK government’s Competition and Markets Authority playing fast and loose with info on Nintendo and Activision mid-February, until we see it, the original Switch’s crown remains secure.
Tech Spec
Play Modes: TV, Tabletop, Handheld
Joy-Con Controllers: Included
Nintendo Switch Dock: Output via HDMI cable in TV mode
Size: 102 x 239 x 13.9mm
Screen: 6.2-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen, 1280 x 720-pixels
Weight: Approx. 297g (With Joy-Con controllers attached: 398g)
Storage: 32GB (expandable via microSD)
Buy now £259.00, Amazon
Evercade EXP
Best for: Nostalgic retro-rollers
Now I love a flashy new video game adventure as much as the next failed-to-grow-up man-child, but then I am also now officially old enough to be allowed VIP entry and bottomless cocoa at Club Nostalgia, too. Yep, having been there and done that back when video gaming took its first true tentative steps into the home environment back in the late 70s and early 80s (I know, I don’t look a day over cough, cough, cough), there are many games of yore that I have long wished I could revisit. But the past is the past and dinosaurs like me need to move with the times, don’t we? Au contraire, because, since 2020, a company called Evercade has existed.
Proudly retro, Evercade produce officially licenced olde worlde video games in cartridge form where its collections include some of the greatest names in video gaming history. What’s more, following on from the launch of their original Handheld console, the end of 2022 saw the release of the all-new iteration, the rip-roaring retro EXP.
So, old school it may be in the content it breathes back to life, but the EXP is nothing less than bang up to 2023 technology code. Up front you’ll find a 4.3-inch IPS screen that’s sharp and bright, plus colourful enough to do real justice to the sometimes quite lurid-look games of yesteryear. But if that’s not enough for you, a handy 720p Mini HDMI allows you to hook it up with your TV to take the likes of Street Fighter II, Galaga, 1942, Centipede and on and on to the ultimate big-screen conclusion.
With a cartridge back library comprised of – quite literally – absolutely all the classics, the new EXP even comes with a whopping 18 games from Capcom already built-in, getting you right into the retro the moment its charged up. The controls are spaciously arranged, responsive and intuitive enough for you to get into the action immediately too.
Wi-Fi-enabled for easy updates, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack to let you delve deeply into your gaming past without disturbing others, while the battery give you play time for 4- to 5-hours.
All this for just £130? Even the cost is retro.
Tech Spec
Play Modes: Handheld, TV
Size: 241 x 157 x 52mm
Screen: 4.3-inch IPS LCD, 800 x 480-pixels
TV Connection: Mini HDMI out
Weight: Approx. 531g
Storage: 4GB
Buy now £129.99, Amazon
Nintendo Switch OLED
Best for: Switching on-the-go gaming right up
The big screen upgrade to Nintendo’s all-dominating Switch, offering a seven-inch endowment instead of the standard 6.2-inch, when word reached me from Nintendo’s PR that the OLED review model would be with me by a certain date, it was as though the planets had aligned. You see, in my days as a young wastrel, I burnt away day after day on my Nintendo 64 with the best game shoot ’em up ever made: Goldeneye. Based on the 1995 James Bond film of the same name, but with a multiplayer stage that was to die for, many attempts to replicate came and went over the years, each utterly failing to hit the target.
And so it came to pass, the very same day as the loan model was due in my hands, Nintendo was also releasing its remaster of Goldeneye in all its glory online, and I would be licenced to kill all my time all over again.
But before I get all bogged down in Bond, let’s get back to the gear. Pay attention, 007. So, what is the difference between the Switch and the Switch OLED that justifies the swell in price? Well, first and foremost, if you’re playing out and about and not tied to the TV via the Switch Dock, size matters, and that vibrant 7-inch screen makes all the difference; as does the improved audio, the increased internal storage and, for use in Tabletop mode, the far sturdier rear stand which stops it toppling over every time the train or plane you might be on gets over-enthusiastic.
Weighing in at 420g with the included Joy-Con controllers in place, the OLED feels solid and more than manageable in my massive man-hands, but if you’re Switch-shopping for more mini mitts, then the smaller Lite or standard Switch may prove better suited.
Gameplay is slicker than a freshly epilated eel, smooth and flowing, making everything from Mario Strikers Battle League Football to Splattoon 3 and, yes, Goldeneye time-crushingly immersive and a bucket-full of fun whether you play on the 7-inch display or on your TV via the included Switch Dock. But away from Docking-up, the upgraded speaker system on the OLED truly comes into its own, enhancing the whole experience, with audio not only benefitting from increased volume but also increased quality too.
Do I love the Switch OLED? Yes, yes, I do. Do the nice people who set my copy filing deadlines love the fact that I love the Switch OLED? No, no, I suspect not. But then, when it comes to testing kit of this calibre, acquainting myself with the latest of the Nintendo game batch or re-Bonding with the classics, I have All the Time in the World.
Tech Spec
Play Modes: TV, Tabletop, Handheld
Joy-Con Controllers: Included
Nintendo Switch Dock: Output via HDMI cable in TV mode. LAN port for use in TV mode
Size: 102 x 242 x 13.9mm
Screen: 7-inch OLED capacitive touchscreen, 1280 x 720-pixels
Weight: Approx. 320g (With Joy-Con controllers attached: 420g)
Storage: 64GB (expandable via microSD)
Buy now £297.95, Amazon
Valve Steam Deck
Best for: Access-all-areas handheld gaming ingenuity
Launched at the end of February 2022, the wonderfully conceived and built Steam Deck from Valve is truly something else and, I might add, an absolute essential in the portable playing arsenal of any genuine gamer.
A little like the Nintendo Switch in terms of what it offers, the Steam Deck just takes you deeper down the rabbit hole, allowing access to games neither Nintendo-specific or staunchly old school, but rather an intoxicating blend of old and new, here you have your pick of anything from the extensive Steam library, including those formerly just Windows PC-based. This means that you can flip from the likes of the unrelenting Fallout 4 to the peaceful relaxation of Farm Together as easily as your weird gaming moods change.
Featuring a vivid 7-inch display that’s ideal for portable playing, the Steam Deck is available in three different variations depending on how much storage you think you might need, while the custom APU, created in conjunction with AMD, is optimised for handheld gaming so that, once you logged into Steam Deck and browsed your library, you can guarantee an experience enhanced to whole new levels of gaming glee.
Control-wise, the Steam Deck gives you all the options of full-sized controls, trackpads and thumbsticks to tackle any title’s demands, while the system’s stereo speakers and dual microphone array put the ability to team-up online literally in your hands.
Capable of anywhere between 2-8 hours of game play depending on the which you go for, the Valve Steam Deck is a serious piece of handheld gaming designed from the bottom up to allow serious gamers to game seriously.
Tech Spec
Play Modes: Handheld, TV (via third-party dock systems)
Compatible Games: Full Steam library, plus Windows PC games
Size: 298 x 117 x 49mm
Screen: 7-inch IPS LCD, 1280 x 800-pixels (16:10 aspect ratio)
Weight: Approx. 669g
Storage: 64GB, 256GB or 512GB
Buy now £422.00, Amazon
Nintendo Switch Lite
Best for: The more casual game-getter
Bringing powerful portable gaming more to the masses, the Switch Lite was launched at the latter end of 2019, offering much of the standard Switch’s abilities but at a much lower price-point, making it an ideal and affordable time-killer for those living in a country about to plunge itself into a series of lockdowns.
The smallest of the Switch trio it may be, but with a 5.5-inch LCD touchscreen display delivering all the brightness, vibrancy and contrast of its bigger siblings, the Lite is no lightweight. Okay, it’s for handheld use only and, as such, doesn’t come with a Switch Dock or Joy Con controllers and only supports Nintendo’s Handheld mode games, but otherwise the Lite is just a more pocket-sized play on the original Switch; and most games are compatible anyway.
Weighing just 275g and featuring a battery life of anywhere between 3-7 hours depending on the power-requirements of the games you play, the Switch Lite offers hours of comfortable play, although those with mightier meat-hooks may suffer a little cramp after a while.
Also, appealing more to the gaming demographic that also errs on the side of ‘style’, the Switch Lite is available in a range of case coverings, some of which are just as bright as its display.
Smaller and slightly stripped back it may be, but still perfect in performance it undeniably is, the Lite is just ludicrously good gaming on the go.
Tech Spec
Colours: Blue, Coral, Grey, Yellow, Turquoise
Play Modes: Handheld
Size: 91.1 x 208 x 13.9mm
Screen: 5.5-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen, 1280 x 720-pixels
Weight: Approx. 275g
Storage: 32GB (expandable via microSD)
Buy now £187.00, Amazon
GameSir X2 Pro
Best for: Xbox antics on your Android
Yes, officially licenced by the Microsoft Xbox itself, have you ever wished you could have a console-quality gaming experience without an actual console? Ever wished that experience could take place on a piece of tech you already own, such as, oh I don’t know, your Android OS smartphone? Well, make your grateful sacrifice of choice to the Gods of Gaming and rest your eyes on this: the GameSir X2 Pro.
The first of two cool phone-converting console-creators I’ve over-fiddled with for this feature, this Xbox cloud-centric has a robustly reassuring build quality and features a spring-loaded action that gives even owners of obscenely sized smartphones to easily slide their blower into the midst of the X2 Pro, connecting it via USB-C and then you simply sign into either Xbox Cloud, Steam Link, Rainway or Moonlight to access all the console game goodness you could ever imagine.
Sized just nicely for the average human hands, everything you need to get to grips with the latest AAA games is perfectly positioned at your thumb tips, including Hall Effect analogue triggers, Alps 3D joysticks, Kailh microswitch bumpers, 2x mappable back buttons, all just like a true console control, plus textured rubber grips to stop the thing following out of your sweaty mitts when your gaming fervour gets too frenetic.
Coming complete with a robustly reinforced carry case with an additional pocket inside for accessories, changeable convex and concave thumbstick caps to give complete controller comfort, the GameSir X2 Pro also features a pass-through charging that’s compatible with some phones. Finally, the absolute cherry on the icing on the top of the console gaming on the go cake for out-and-out exhibitionists, one-click capture lets you save, savour and share all your finest thumb-bashing moments.
A clever bit of kit that’s comfortable to use for far too long when other things need to be done without any hand-cramp creeping in. £80 for a portable gaming console? What’s not to love?
Tech Spec
Compatibility: Android 8.0 upwards
Play Modes: Handheld
Size: 184 x 8.5 x 3.7cm
Screen: Dependent on phone
Weight: 179g (without phone)
Storage: N/A
Buy now £71.99, Amazon
Backbone One PlayStation Edition
Best for: PS iPhone fun
Yes, officially licenced by the Sony PlayStation itself, the Backbone One in this special PS Edition ignores Android for iOS and takes the original Backbone One and gives it a nice new PS5-aping black and white skin. There’s DualSense labelled action buttons, a similar directional button pad, standard R1/2 and L1/2 triggers, and oddly asymmetrical joysticks as utterly opposed to those of the DualSense. This is a minor detail in the grand scheme of things, as the PS Backbone looks good, feels solid and well-weighted and offers a lot to the phone player.
Snapping in your iPhone using the spring-loaded mechanism (watch your fingers, it’s strong), the Lightning connector slots in neatly. Next, launch the Backbone app as your gaming hub using the dedicated button and a galaxy of games awaits.
Now, despite the PS branding, the hub allows you access to games from any online service that supports controllers, including Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Game Pass, Google Play, Apple App and Arcade, and Steam Link, so not just PS titles. And the flexibility doesn’t end there as, with both PS and Xbox Remote Play included, you can stream games from your home consoles too.
Featuring a 3.5mm headphone jack, you can add privacy and a microphone to the action too, plus the Lightning port pass-through means you can charge your phone as you play, if near a plug socket, obviously.
With the capability to capture screenshots and clips to show off with later, the Backbone One PlayStation Edition is the ultimate next-gen gaming enabler for the iPhone owner.
Tech Spec
Compatibility: iOS
Play Modes: Handheld, Tabletop
Size: 18 x 10 x 3.7cm
Screen: Dependent on phone
Weight: 281g (without phone)
Storage: N/A
Buy now £99.99, Argos
BackBone One – PlayStation Edition for Android
Best for: PS Android fun
Reasonably hot on the heels of the iOS-only BackBone featured above, the super-slick, PS Edition of BB’s remarkably good-looking little gaming-maker has recently regenerated into a model that now brings all the action to Android.
Similar to its sibling in almost every conceivable way save for the OS, the new iteration also flaunts all the design cues of the PS5 console’s DualSense controller, with the expected icons and classic buttons all in place - this being down to the fact that it was designed in close collaboration with PlayStation.
Snapping in your Android phone is equally as easy and, as long as you’re hooked up to a reliable broadband connection, you can swiftly download the PlayStation Remote Play app and immediately immerse yourself in the glorious world of PS4 and PS5 gaming on your phone!
What’s more, if you’re looking further afield so sate your gaming appetite, the BackBone app itself can open up an epic array of additional options from the likes of SteamLink, Nvidia GeForce and, indeed, and online service that supports controllers.
Simplicity itself to set-up and utterly intuitive to operate for anyone who has ever picked up a DualSense controller, for unlimited on-the-go gaming fun on your Android phone, bag yourself a BackBone.
Tech Spec
Compatibility: Android
Play Modes: Handheld, Tabletop
Size: 18 x 10 x 3.7cm
Screen: Dependent on phone
Weight: 281g (without phone)
Storage: N/A
Buy now £100.00, Argos
SanDisk microSD cards for Nintendo Switch
Best for: Bigger memory, more games
In much the same way that Sesame Street was brought to you by the letter ‘M’ and the number ‘7’, my Switch reviews here were brought to you with the glittery, glamorous assistance of officially licenced assistance of microSD memory expansion cards from SanDisk.
Available in 16-, 128-, 256-, 400- and 512GB flavours, unless you’re the kind of absolute oddball who is happy only having a few games downloaded to hand on your Switch, then you’re going to want to up your memory oomph.
The standard Switch and the Lite come packing 32GB of built-in storage and the OLED some 64GB, but bulking that out means more games on the go, which – without wishing to state the Switching obvious – is the whole purpose of a portable gaming console.
What’s more, for those big into the Battle Royale scene, SanDisk even produce an officially licenced Fortnite edition (128- and 256GB) that lets you drop into brutal battle any time, any place, anywhere.
Hey, I’ve just had a belting idea for a Sesame Street-based Battle Royale game…
Buy now £10.99, Western Digital
