Handheld consoles have been around for a long time, and they have been loved since they were released. If you're debating whether you should buy a gaming PC or a handheld console, here are some points that will tip the favor toward handhelds.
1. Lower Cost
Of course, an entire desktop will cost way less than a handheld console. Especially since you plan to play games with the PC, you'll have to spend more money so it will be able to perform smoothly since games are a lot to process.
A mid-range PC will have the same performance and graphics as most handhelds. However, the difference will be noticeable since you'll be playing on a bigger screen with a PC You can build one for the same price as a console, but you might find it struggling to run AAA games.
2. Portability
This is the main selling point of a lot of handhelds. Since they are small in size and can even fit in your pockets, you can carry them wherever you want, even outside your house. You can also play comfortably as opposed to sitting on a computer chair for hours.
You can purchase gaming laptops for portability as well, but that will cost significantly more than handheld consoles and it will be harder to carry around due to its size. Furthermore, there are not a lot of options for customizing laptops, meaning cheaper ones won't be able to run heavy games.
3. Less Energy Use
Since the smaller consoles like the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch don't need much power, you'll save up on your electricity bill. Depending on the kind of PC you plan to build or buy, it can cost you up to $20 a month for eight hours of daily use.
Handhelds like the Nintendo Switch are required to be charged, which will take about three hours before it's full. However, they require so little energy that the estimated cost for it would be $20 a year, which means that PCs can be 12 times more expensive in terms of energy consumption.
4. Some Can Serve As PCs
While a Nintendo Switch can only be a gaming console, some handhelds like the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck are technically gaming PCs. The ROG Ally costs $699, which is about the same price range as a mid-tier PC.
With a desktop, you won't be able to carry it around, so handhelds win on portability. On the other hand, some handhelds also work as computers. All you have to do is connect a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse, and you have yourself a desktop.
5. You Won't Have to Worry About Wires
Since PCs carry a lot of hardware, you will also need a lot of wires to power each component. Even though most are inside the PC tower, there are still external cords that can become bothersome. For instance, you have to plug in your monitor and PSU for it to work.
If you also go for wired accessories like the keyboard, the mouse, and headphones, that's more wires to organize. Handhelds don't require much since the battery powers it all. The only wire you'll use is headphones, but you can play without those or you can opt for wireless ones.
