Your next gaming handheld might cost double, or not exist at all

The gaming handheld market is under severe pricing pressure in 2026, driven by rising component costs and tariff impacts. Devices like the Steam Deck OLED and Lenovo Legion Go 2 have seen price increases of over 80% since launch. Unlike Valve, which can offset hardware costs through its Steam ecosystem, OEMs like ASUS and Lenovo rely solely on device sales, pushing prices into laptop territory. Ayaneo was forced to halt sales of its Next 2 console entirely. If prices keep climbing, consumers may migrate to gaming laptops, and the handheld segment risks shrinking significantly. Secondary market options like the Nintendo Switch Lite and PS Vita are suggested as affordable alternatives in the meantime.