Q: How do I use the chart on different devices?

A: For the best experience, view this leaderboard on a wider screen like a computer monitor or tablet. You can instantly sort the data by clicking on any category header. On smaller screens like a phone, the chart automatically transforms into a mobile-friendly card layout; just use the "Sort by:" dropdown menu at the top to organize it. By default, selecting a category will sort the devices from highest to lowest score.

Q: What do the emojis in the "SteamOS Support" column mean?

A: We use these icons to give you a quick glance at how well a device runs Linux-based operating systems like SteamOS, Bazzite, or CachyOS:

✅ Supported: Fully compatible for a smooth experience.
⚠️ Functional, but inconsistent: It runs, but you may encounter software bugs, driver issues, or require workarounds.
❌ Not supported: Currently incompatible or lacks essential drivers.

While this indicator doesn't directly add or subtract points from the overall total, a device's SteamOS compatibility can influence its "User Experience" and "Features/Versatility" scores on a case-by-case basis.

Q: Why should I trust these scores?

A: Our goal is to be the most objective, trustworthy resource in the handheld community. To do that, our scores are a collaboration between our internal team and verified community members, governed by one strict rule: contributors must own at least two devices to ensure all feedback is based on direct, side-by-side comparison. Nobody here is loaned or gifted review units by manufacturers.

Our team’s baseline expertise also comes from a unique place—our physical repair and modding shop right here in Melbourne. We tear down, fix, and upgrade these devices daily. We see the hardware flaws, the thermal failures, and the reality of manufacturer customer support long after standard reviewers have moved on. Because our business is funded by actual services and not sponsorships, our perspective reflects the unfiltered reality of long-term ownership.

Q: Are these scores based on objective specs or subjective experience? 

A: Both, but we heavily weight the actual human experience. Standard tech reviews often rely on sterile metrics that don't tell the whole story. For example, a reviewer might hold a decibel meter to a fan exhaust, see a low number, and call it a day. We find this to be a dishonest way of reviewing acoustics because it ignores frequency and pitch—40dB of rushing air is infinitely more pleasant to listen to than 30dB of high-pitched motor whine.

Because of this, we apply subjective adjustments to categories like Fan Noise, Ergonomics, and User Experience based on real-world comfort and annoyance levels. A handheld might look incredibly powerful on a spec sheet, but if it drills a mosquito-like whine into your eardrum, requires endless software tinkering just to launch a game, or has terrible manufacturer support when something breaks, its score will be heavily penalized to reflect that reality.

Q: Why did the score for my handheld go down?

A: This chart is a living document! Our scoring is entirely relative, meaning devices are constantly judged against the rest of the market. When a new handheld drops that sets a higher benchmark for performance, screen quality, or battery life, the scores of older devices are naturally adjusted downward to accurately reflect their new place in the landscape.

Q: How can I contribute, disagree with a score, or join the community?

A: We actively rely on your feedback and criticism to keep these rankings accurate! The best place to challenge a score, share your side-by-side comparisons, or just talk hardware with fellow enthusiasts is in our official Facebook Group and Community Discord.

27/07/2026

•  Score Adjustment: Reduced the "Performance" score of all handhelds by 1 point, with the exception of the GPD Win 5 (AI Max+ 395). This adjustment reflects the arrival of Intel's new Arc G3 Extreme chipset, which has established a new benchmark for handheld performance.

• Feature Update: Added a "SteamOS Support" column to indicate compatibility with SteamOS, Bazzite, or CachyOS at a glance. The indicators used are: ✅ (Supported), ⚠️ (Functional, but inconsistent), and ❌ (Not supported). While this indicator does not directly impact the total score, SteamOS compatibility may influence a device's "User Experience" and "Features/Versatility" scores on a case-by-case basis.

• Critical Scoring Update: The "Value" metric is no longer factored into a device's total score. This change addresses the difficulty of standardizing prices for discontinued devices that lack a defined MSRP. Because value is highly subjective and market-dependent, readers are encouraged to evaluate this metric independently based on current pricing and availability.

• Score Adjustment: Decreased the MSI Claw A8's "User Experience" score from 6 to 4. This reflects ongoing software bugs affecting Bazzite and SteamOS compatibility, as well as the stock Windows experience via MSI Center, which currently lags behind competing software.

26/07/2026

• Score Adjustment: Decreased the Steam Deck OLED's "Value" score from 8.5 to 4.5. This large adjustment accounts for Valve's recent price hikes, the aging hardware, and broader community feedback.