Handheld Gaming PCs Challenge Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 is launching very soon, and while details are plentiful, its steep $449.99 price and $79.99 games are making me reconsider the purchase. Honestly, I've barely touched my original Switch since getting an Asus ROG Ally, and the issues I had with the first console seem even more pronounced in its successor—especially now, in an era filled with handheld gaming PCs.

The Asus ROG Ally Fulfills All My Gaming Needs

I’ve loved handheld gaming since I was a kid, moving from the Game Boy to the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable. It’s still my favorite way to play—there’s nothing cozier than bundling up under the covers and gaming from bed. I was even one of the few loyal PlayStation Vita fans, using it daily on my college train commute.

The Nintendo Switch amazed me back in 2017, but even though I bought mine near launch, I only played exclusives. PC gaming isn't that comfortable for me, so when a game felt better suited for handheld play, I'd save it for the Switch. Those titles went into a mental folder labeled "Handheld Only," and my brain wouldn’t let me play them anywhere else.

But if a game was free on the Epic Games Store, Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, or Humble Choice, I felt guilty buying it again on Switch. It didn’t help that Switch games are known for rare and shallow discounts compared to other platforms. This frustrating tug-of-war between "I shouldn’t rebuy a game I own" and "I really want to play this handheld" always ended the same way: I just didn't play the game at all.

Then the Asus ROG Ally arrived in 2023 and broke the cycle. As a Windows 11 handheld PC, it gives me access to Steam, Game Pass, Epic Games, and more. All those games I avoided on PC due to discomfort suddenly became perfect for cozy bed gaming.

Now, I'm exploring a treasure trove of indie titles on my Ally and finally tackling my backlog. Without it, I might never have experienced Celeste, Little Nightmares II, or the Resident Evil Remake. These are now some of my all-time favorites, and I didn’t have to spend extra—unlike if I’d repurchased them on Switch. The Ally has become my handheld of choice and has saved me a lot of money.

Even so, I was excited for the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement—Nintendo games have a special place in my heart. But after the Switch 2 Direct, I’m not sure where the new console fits into my life anymore.

When the original Switch launched, it offered more than just exclusives. Its versatile design and lower price made it a great entry into a unique ecosystem. At the time, it was the only real handheld option: affordable, packed with great exclusives, and completely one-of-a-kind.

The Switch 2 Faces Stiff Competition

Starting at $449, the Nintendo Switch 2 is entering a crowded market. That price brings it close to the $499 PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. In fact, the PS5 Digital Edition launched at an even lower $399. Worse, in the eight years since the original Switch, its design has inspired rivals. The Steam Deck kicked off the trend in 2022, followed by devices like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. Rumors even suggest Xbox is developing its own handheld. The Switch 2 is no longer unique, and it's a great investment mainly if you don’t already own another handheld—which I do.

Handheld gaming PCs boast powerful hardware that easily runs indie and third-party games. With a much larger library and access to your existing game collections, they’re excellent all-around platforms. Their chipsets are improving rapidly, too. The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme is poised to power even more capable devices, and it won’t be long before the Switch 2 is outperformed.

For current handheld PC owners interested in new Nintendo exclusives, the Switch 2 presents a high entry cost with limited use. If a device like the Asus ROG Ally already handles everything from indie to third-party titles, buying a Switch 2 would mean using it almost exclusively for first-party games.

Expensive exclusives add to the pain—Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza launch at $79.99 and $69.99 respectively. Since Nintendo games, especially first-party ones, are seldom discounted, it’s hard to get excited about buying them.

To be fair, Nintendo’s exclusives offer incredible value. The company has produced some of gaming’s greatest titles, and for many players, the Switch 2 will deliver years of amazing games that justify the cost. But for handheld PC owners like me, the system needs to offer a bit more.

The Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t a worthwhile buy for everyone, particularly if you already own a handheld gaming PC. Devices like the Legion Go offer strong performance and a huge catalog of indie and third-party games. My Asus ROG Ally handles everything I used to rely on my Switch for, and with access to multiple storefronts, it’s simply a better platform for gaming.