What’s the Most Ergonomic PC Gaming Handheld?

[killamch89]

What are your recommendations for handhelds that prioritize comfort, with well-placed buttons, good grip, and overall ease of use? I'd love to hear about your experiences with models that prevent hand fatigue during extended play. Bonus points if it has great performance too.

[Anders]

On 12/9/2024 at 10:56 PM, killamch89 said:

What are your recommendations for handhelds that prioritize comfort, with well-placed buttons, good grip, and overall ease of use? I'd love to hear about your experiences with models that prevent hand fatigue during extended play. Bonus points if it has great performance too.

Personally I can only speak on the Steam Deck, as that's the only PC handheld that I've actually used, but at least in my hands, the Steam Deck feels extremely comfortable. Before i ordered mine I debated whether to get the Steam Deck or the ROG Ally X, as they both cost exactly the same in my country. Both have advantages and drawbacks, but the thing that ulitimately made me go for the Deck was the ergonomics. The Deck has some pretty beefy grips on the back that fit perfectly in my hands, while the Ally X looks a lot more flat. I also like the placement of the thumb sticks a lot better on the Deck. On the Ally X, the right tumbstick looks like it's placed similarly to the Switch joycons, which means that your right thumb will constantly be curled, which to me at least feels really uncomfortable after a while. On the Deck both thumbsticks are placed so that both your thumbs can be fully extended

[killamch89]

On 1/20/2025 at 4:33 AM, Anders said:

Personally I can only speak on the Steam Deck, as that's the only PC handheld that I've actually used, but at least in my hands, the Steam Deck feels extremely comfortable. Before i ordered mine I debated whether to get the Steam Deck or the ROG Ally X, as they both cost exactly the same in my country. Both have advantages and drawbacks, but the thing that ulitimately made me go for the Deck was the ergonomics. The Deck has some pretty beefy grips on the back that fit perfectly in my hands, while the Ally X looks a lot more flat. I also like the placement of the thumb sticks a lot better on the Deck. On the Ally X, the right tumbstick looks like it's placed similarly to the Switch joycons, which means that your right thumb will constantly be curled, which to me at least feels really uncomfortable after a while. On the Deck both thumbsticks are placed so that both your thumbs can be fully extended

I agree. I've only owned the Steam Deck and It’s surprisingly comfortable despite its size, and Valve’s button placement is solid. The trackpads are a game-changer too, especially if you're into precise control. You can easily adjust the grip with customizations, and the performance is top-notch for its class.