A handheld game console, or handheld console, is a small, portable self- contained video game device with a built-in screen, controls, and speakers. It is designed for gaming on the go and is smaller than home consoles, integrating the console hardware, screen, controls, and speakers into one unit for easy portability. The first commercially successful handheld console was Merlin in 1978, while the Game Boy, released by Nintendo in 1989, popularized the handheld gaming concept.
Popular handheld consoles today include the Nintendo Switch Lite, Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck OLED, and retro-focused devices like the Super Pocket. These devices vary in features such as game compatibility, performance, display quality, and price. For instance, the Nintendo Switch Lite is compact and budget-friendly but cannot connect to a TV, while the Steam Deck OLED offers powerful PC gaming capabilities in a handheld form.
In summary, a handheld game console is a portable gaming device that allows users to play video games anywhere, combining all necessary components into a single, easy-to-carry unit.
