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Look, I don't want to slap your hand away from expensive handheld PCs this Prime Day, but I will. I can envision some of you out there seeing the price of the freshly released MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, thinking other portables are cheap since they're not $1,800, and subsequently ending up spending over a grand. Please don't do that, pretty please? I promise there are still options for less.
The big, nasty problem with handheld PCs we face as Prime Day gaming deals roll out is obnoxiously high prices. I don't want to be too harsh on device makers that have hiked prices, as even my knight in affordable armor, the Steam Deck OLED, now costs a grand for the 1TB version.
However, I can't imagine a situation where it'd be acceptable to pay $1,800 for one of the best gaming handhelds today, as the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ could be outshone in 12 months. Plus, while it's Intel Arc G3 Extreme should boost fps compared to last-gen models, I really don't think it needed 32GB RAM considering the climate. Simply put, the tech giant hasn't really helped its pricing situation, and I reckon you should look to cheaper alternatives, even if they lack the same oomph.
Keeping gaming handheld costs reasonable in 2026 requires a bit of creativity. Personally, I don't like feeding the beast that is tech price inflation, so in an effort to signal to retailers and portable PC makers that today's price tags are not okay, I like to check out open-boxed and refurbished options.
Opting for "second-hand" devices doesn't come with the grimy caveats you'd think. Having previously worked in a tech retail environment in my youth, stores will check any returns and grade them appropriately (provided they're doing their job right). So, when the likes of Best Buy say it has a ROG Xbox Ally with $100 off in "excellent" condition, you'll find it stays true to its word, and the result is getting the same flagship Ryzen Z2 Extreme handheld for a bit less.
I also love doing some virtual dumpster diving and finding old models that by rights should be long gone, but are somehow still on the "shelves". This time around, the handheld in question is the lowest spec original MSI Claw A1M with an Intel Arc 135H chipset. At full price, it's laughable since it only manages to just keep up with the Steam Deck, but for under $400? It's actually going to provide you with a decent Windows handheld experience for a chunk less than the other last-gen chumps.
I should also give kudos to Asus and Microsoft's duo of current-gen handhelds, as both the Xbox Ally and Ally X have managed to resist price hike temptation. I'm hoping that means there's still room to give current inventory a nice Prime Day cut to get some stock shifted, even if that comes with the risk of retailers replenishing with higher-priced units. Ideally, we'll see $100 come off the price of the flagship and lower-spec white version, with the latter serving as this year's sub $500 star.
You could call highlighting handhelds that aren't over a grand handheld hopeium, but it's all we can do when pricing is this bananas. I also need to keep my spirits high, seeing as the Steam Machine just barged onto the scene today with a $1,049 starting point, and that particular pickle has me thinking about using Steam Link to beam my rig to the living room instead. Sigh.
Sticking with the classics? Check out the best retro handhelds for Game Boy clones and powerful emulators.
