Portable gaming is back. Forget about dealing with the GPD Win from 2018 and don’t wait for LowSpecGamer to save you. These great little machines have made significant progress in the last few years. Manufacturers like Valve, Asus, and Lenovo have also joined this space. There are many options available on the market right now, each bringing something different to the table. If the rumors are true, we might see Sony return to this sector with a portable PlayStation 6.
In summary, there’s no better time to invest in these compact consoles and enjoy playing games as they were designed to be played while lying down. And with my money (literally), the best portable gaming console you can buy right now is the Nintendo Switch.
Yes, you heard that right, the Switch, not the Switch 2. The original hybrid portable console that slides as smoothly as Mario’s kart. Now, before you label me crazy for recommending such a poorly performing machine, I have a few arguments. And by the end, you’ll see where I’m coming from when I claim that the Nintendo Switch will be the best portable gaming console to get in 2026.
The Class-Leaping Library of Exclusive Games
Full disclosure: The Switch is my first Nintendo console, aside from those pirate NES systems that are only good for playing Duck Hunt. I have always admired the publisher's game catalog from afar and wondered what all the excitement was about. Surely, these Mario sports games can’t be that good, right?
Eventually, my curiosity peaked, and I had to see for myself. So, I bought a second-hand Switch for just under $200, which came with eight physical games. This was an impossible deal to pass up, and after using this cheerful machine for a month, I believe that price tag was truly a steal.
It’s no exaggeration to say that letting go of this machine is impossible. Both my PS5 and Xbox have turned into paperweights because I’m chasing new records in MK8 Deluxe or collecting Nook Miles in Animal Crossing. When I want a more linear progression, I dive into Super Mario Odyssey, and it’s crazy to see how satisfying these controls are. This is the first 3D Mario I’ve played in a long time, but I was able to pull off movement tricks without the game needing to guide me.
This actually summarizes the overall spirit of Nintendo’s first-party games. These games prioritize fun over visuals or technical showiness. They are so full of charm that while wandering every inch of Hyrule, I enjoy the feeling of exploration while actively ignoring the markers on my Sheikah Slate.
Keep in mind that I haven’t even scratched the surface of the Switch’s first-party catalog. Metroid Prime Remastered, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Splatoon 3, Astral Chain, Bayonetta 3 – there’s truly so much to discover, and I haven’t even mentioned the number of Mario spin-offs or Pokémon games. All of these fantastic titles are exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, meaning you won’t find them on the Steam Deck or ROG Ally.
This is a sufficient reason to acquire this portable toy in 2026. If you just want to play your Steam library on the go, but with worse visuals and lower frame rates, that’s your choice. But if you want to experience top-tier exclusive games, most of which run smoothly and beautifully match the comfortable nature of portable gaming, then I invite you to consider the OG Switch.
As a side note, I’d also like to point out that the Switch is the ultimate destination for party games. There’s really no debate here. Between third-party classics like Jackbox and the true king of living room entertainment – Mario Party – your loved ones can be just as happy with your purchase as you are. I can’t express how satisfying it was to see my girlfriend, whose last video game was 8 Ball Pool, completely lose herself in Mario Kart 8 for two hours thanks to the fully accessible controls and the undeniable charm of the games on this console.
The Best Value for Any Portable Console
At this point, you might be wondering why I haven't campaigned for the newer and more powerful Nintendo Switch 2 – especially since it can run all the games mentioned above. The reason is that the original Switch currently offers much more value.
You will have a hard time finding a Switch 2 for under $399 – even for a second-hand model. In comparison, you can easily grab a second-hand Switch for $150, and it usually comes with a sufficient game collection to get started. This is an extremely safe starting point to enter the Nintendo ecosystem, especially if you're not sure whether the games will suit you.
If we extend this comparison to other portable devices like the Steam Deck, ROG Ally X, and Lenovo Legion Go, there’s a similar story. You won’t find one for under $399. Of course, these machines will technically be more long-lasting because their main platform is Steam. But still, the Switch continues to see impressive first and third-party support, and standout releases like Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Pokémon: Champions, BALL X PIT, and more are still coming.
Of course, there’s another, quite infamous 'quality' specific to the Nintendo Switch. I won’t say this explicitly due to the company's litigation reputation, and I really don’t want Nintendo Ninjas at my door. To be clear: Beebom does NOT APPROVE of modifying or tampering with your console in any way. You are free to make your own legally questionable decisions.
But hey, if you make that leap (without any encouragement from us), what I can say is that there’s a wonderful world of homemade applications on the other side. With a bit of tinkering, you can turn your Switch into the ultimate emulation machine or unleash the true power of its horrifically low clock-speed hardware. You might even do a little *ahem* sailing, which we do NOT APPROVE of.
On paper, recommending an eight-year-old console in a market filled with new and shiny hardware seems like the kind of advice that would cancel your gaming credentials. But the Switch's situation in 2026 really hinges on two things, and it's hard to argue with those.
First, software. There’s no other portable device on the market – at any price – that can match the quality and breadth of the Switch's exclusive catalog. These are games built with a level of appeal that is as easy to acquire as it is hard to let go of, found nowhere else. Second, the price. At around $150 for a second-hand unit, the Switch is the least painful entry point in the entire portable market, even before considering the quite interesting possibilities that come with a bit of tinkering.
So, if you’re looking for a new portable and haven’t experienced what the Nintendo Switch has to offer, find a second-hand unit, grab a few games, and give it a try over a weekend. I would be genuinely surprised if your PS5 or Xbox doesn’t start gathering dust by Monday.
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