Handheld prices aren't coming back down, and the one worth buying now isn't the new one

Published Aug 19, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT Samir Makwana is a technology journalist and editor from India since past 18 years and his work appears on MakeUseOf, HowToGeek, GSMArena, BGR, GuidingTech, The Inquisitr, TechInAsia, TechWiser, and others. He has written news, features, and gadget reviews for national technology media publications. His passion is to help people with their technology problems and gadget purchases. For that, he has worked for some of the biggest international technology publications, covering news, explainers, how-to guides, listicles, and product-buying guides. He has worked as an editor and managed teams since 2015. His expertise broadly covers computers, smartphones, game consoles, headphones, smart home products, browsers, and apps. The handheld gaming market is vastly different today. While there are plenty of options, their sticker prices feel like they belong in a different league than two years ago. It’s tempting to treat this supply-demand blip as a temporary situation and assume that MSRPs will drift down once component costs settle. That’s not how this plays out. The pricing floor for gaming handhelds has moved several notches higher, and it’s not coming back. When it comes to a gaming handheld that can run PC games, the smart buy isn’t getting whatever has just launched. It’s best to look for older-generation handhelds, preferably used or refurbished, at a price that makes sense. Handheld prices reset higher; they didn’t just spike Don’t wait for a price correction to happen Undoubtedly, memory prices are the primary reason handhelds cost more today than they did two years ago. DRAM and NAND costs skyrocketed over the past year, and every device maker building anything had to adjust the final price accordingly. There’s no point in contesting the specifics further, since the memory crisis has already been covered in detail. Yet the thing that really matters about buying a handheld is what happens next. We need to accept that MSRPs aren’t backing down to match those from before the memory crisis hit. Once a new product line is priced based on current costs and the number is made public, it becomes the new baseline for the next refresh as well. As it is, handheld makers haven’t shown any intention of cutting prices on their current hardware lineup. So if you’re holding off on a purchase expecting a price correction, unfortunately, that’s not happening. Previous-gen handhelds are still a relatively better deal The gap widened even though the prices didn’t drop Here’s a nuance that often gets overlooked. None of the previous-gen handhelds have gotten a price cut. Manufacturers raised the prices on their older products too, not just the new launches. That’s part of why used handheld listings have gone up too. Sellers list against the current official pricing. So when the manufacturer’s own price of a previous-gen unit climbs, the upgraders offloading theirs raise their asking price to match. What matters is that previous-gen handheld prices rose by less than new-gen prices did. The result is a wider gap than a year ago, even though every number went up. The deal is that the previous-gen handheld today costs relatively less than the current flagship model. There’s no absolute price drop, but a comparative discount. Buy with that distinction in mind, not by expecting previous-gen prices to fall. The performance gap is narrower than the price gap Most games don’t need the latest chips The instinct to chase the latest hardware does make sense, since more power is always nice to have. Handhelds run at modest resolutions and frame rate targets to begin with, and those haven’t shifted dramatically between generations. The overwhelming majority of Steam libraries handle games with FSR or XeSS upscaling even on a generation-old chip. None of the indie titles, AAA games, competitive shooters, or emulations are leaning specifically towards the newer silicon. The only premium bragging rights of the new chips are running the most demanding AAA titles at higher settings and benefiting from ray tracing support. If that’s why you want to buy a handheld, then you've got it sorted. However, most people aren’t willing to shell out a substantial premium for a marginal performance headroom they’ll rarely touch. Previous-gen handhelds still make you trade a few things Battery life is the first to take a hit While a previous-gen handheld is a sensible buy right now, there are a few things worth noting. For starters, a used unit has already undergone battery charge cycles, resulting in a shorter battery lifespan than a new unit out of the box. You might need to find a replacement battery to swap in if the handheld can hardly make it through an hour. A previous-gen chip and its RAM configuration weren’t designed for the upcoming titles, and the thermals will feel that strain. You’d obviously miss the hardware refinements like updated analog sticks, a better screen, and better cooling. Though the spec sheet comparison doesn’t show that, it becomes apparent after daily use. Another tradeoff you’ll need to live with is the device warranty. Individuals don’t offer a warranty. It’s usually the resellers offering a warranty for a few months. So if the analog sticks, microSD slot, or power button stops working, you’ll have to find a repair service to replace the component. This isn’t exactly a dealbreaker, but you should factor that into what you’re willing to pay. You can buy a used handheld without regrets A few things worth checking beforehand Buying a secondhand handheld means all the best practices for buying anything on a classifieds site apply. For starters, physical inspection matters the most. Check the battery health or cycle count if the handheld’s software reports it. That’ll give you a fair idea of whether you also need to look for a replacement battery. Test out the analog sticks and D-pad for drift or stickiness before you commit. It’s the most common wear issue on handhelds and pretty annoying to live with. Of course, there are repair and upgrade options available, but that costs extra. After all, the physical hardware is replaceable. And you can always reinstall software to test any lingering issues. Buying from platforms that offer manufacturer-certified refurbished units will always carry a premium. Still, it’s preferable to a local or social media listing, where there's no buyer protection and the risk is higher. For instance, Valve sells refurbished Steam Decks directly through its own store. Those units are tested and backed by a warranty. That’s a solid middle ground if you want used pricing without secondhand uncertainty. Stop waiting for handheld prices to drop New handheld prices aren’t reverting anytime soon, and betting on that price correction is a bet you'll lose. There’s a gap that still works in your favor. A previous-gen handheld costs meaningfully less than the current flagship, even though nothing got cheaper in absolute terms. Besides, there’s a performance deficit that most people will never notice. Stop waiting for a discount that isn’t coming. Buy a generation behind, inspect it thoroughly, and put the difference towards games rather than hardware that you’ll barely push beyond its limits.