Vue lecture

The Best Budget VPNs

IGN

9 mai 2025 à 01:26

If you’ve ever shopped for a VPN, you’ve likely come across dozens of different providers. The fiercely competitive nature of the VPN market means you can find VPN services at a variety of different price points. What’s more, there are some excellent money-saving deals to be found, particularly if you’re willing to commit for one or two years.

That said, I’ve tested many VPNs and found that the best VPN for the budget-conscious isn’t simply the cheapest VPN. Countless free and cheap VPNs fall short of our testing standards. It’s only by taking a deep dive into each VPN and specifics such as server speed and security features that I’ve identified the best budget VPNs.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Budget VPNs:

With a VPN, short for Virtual Private Network, you can secure your online activities from prying eyes. Your data is encrypted while your IP address is hidden for anonymous browsing. Other benefits include the ability to sidestep content restrictions and even bypass bandwidth throttling. The best budget VPNs allow you to do all of this at an affordable price without compromising on quality.

1. Mullvad

Best Budget VPN

Mullvad is the best budget VPN that’s just €5 a month (approximately $5.65 at the time of writing). So if you’re looking for a quality cheap VPN without being tied to a long-term contract, Mullvad is your best bet. Just bear in mind that if you’re willing to commit to a two-year subscription, you can save over $3 a month with the base tiers of CyberGhost and Surfshark. That said, Mullvad offers just one subscription tier which includes access to all its features.

One thing that Mullvad has proven is that it’s possible for a VPN to offer top-notch privacy without compromising on performance. Mullvad stands out in that you don’t need to provide an email address and can pay by sending cash in the mail. It’s one of the fastest VPNs I’ve tested, has user-friendly apps, and operates a genuine no-logs policy. You won’t find as many features as with NordVPN and Surfshark, but it does offer MultiHop servers as well as split tunneling.

2. Surfshark

Best Budget VPN with Extra Features

Surfshark stands out for having the lowest monthly subscription price of any of the best budget VPNs. This is through its two year plan, which is priced at just $1.99. One caveat however is that this is the Surfshark Starter plan which doesn’t include Surfshark’s antivirus. Still, there’s no shortage of features here, including an ad blocker and MultiHop servers. One-year plans start from $3.19 a month, but single month plans are among the most expensive of any VPN at $15.45.

From what I found in my review, Surfshark is an excellent streaming VPN thanks to a combination of fast speeds and reliable unblocking. It worked with multiple Netflix libraries as well as the likes of BBC iPlayer and Prime Video in testing. Surfshark is bursting with features with the highest tier plans including an antivirus and access to Incogni, which is Surfshark’s data removal service. It doesn’t hurt that you can secure all of your devices simultaneously with a single subscription either.

3. Proton VPN

Best Budget VPN with a Free Tier

Proton VPN has one of the more affordable one-year subscriptions. With a savings of 50% over its monthly plan, it costs just $4.99 a month ($59.88 total). Proton VPN’s one-month plan isn’t terribly priced either, at $9.99. You can only save an extra 5% with the two-year plan ($4.49/month) so paying less upfront with the one year deal is arguably the safer bet if you want to balance getting a good deal with having the flexibility to switch VPNs if needed.

More than one of the best budget VPNs, Proton VPN has the best free VPN plan on the market. That’s because its free tier has no ads, no logging, and no data or speed limits. It’s hard to find fault with Proton VPN, a strong all-rounder. It’s one of the fastest VPNs I’ve tested and, unlike most VPNs, gives you the option to pay in cash. A growing feature list includes an ad, tracker, and malware blocker. It’s just a shame that live chat support isn’t available 24/7.

4. IPVanish

Best Budget VPN for Unlimited Devices

IPVanish has one of the lowest monthly subscription rates of any VPN. Its two-year plan costs just $52.56, which equates to $2.19 a month – a price only beaten by Surfshark’s lowest subscription tier and PrivateVPN. The one-year subscription is also affordable at $3.33 a month. If you don’t mind paying roughly a dollar more per month for the Advanced tier, you get extras including cloud backup and phone support, the latter of which is a rarity in the VPN landscape.

This is a popular option with North American users thanks to its 1,400 servers in the U.S. and Canada. It has made huge strides with regard to its server speeds and unblocking in recent years. There’s no limit to the number of devices you can connect at once either. More recently, IPVanish has introduced new features such as a secure browser, cloud storage, and Double VPN servers. Privacy enthusiasts may prefer that it isn’t headquartered in the US (a Five Eyes country) however.

Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, IGN's parent company.

5. CyberGhost

Best Budget VPN With a Free Trial

CyberGhost has one of the most affordable two-year plans, totaling $56.94 ($2.19 a month). It also offers a six-month plan, which is a rarity among VPNs. This is priced at $6.99 a month, providing a compromise between an expensive short-term subscription and the higher upfront costs of a multi-year plan. CyberGhost has a generous 45-day money-back guarantee and a 24-hour free trial for Windows and MacOS (no credit card required), so you can try it risk-free.

One area in which CyberGhost stands out is its large server network that covers 100 countries. This gives you greater flexibility for unblocking and is a big reason why it’s among our best VPNs for streaming. That said, CyberGhost is one of many VPNs that struggles to work in China. Gamers will appreciate CyberGhost’s gaming-optimized servers located in London and New York, which allow for lag-free gaming when playing the likes of Fortnite and Apex Legends.

6. NordVPN

Best Budget VPN for Gaming

NordVPN has four different subscription tiers with generous discounts of up to 77% per month depending on which you opt for. Of course, the biggest savings come with its two-year plans starting from $3.09 a month. One-year subscriptions are a little more expensive and start from $4.99 a month. If you prefer to opt for just one month, you’ll pay $12.99 for the Basic tier but the Plus tier represents better value at $13.99 a month because it includes anti-malware protection and a password manager.

This is arguably the best-known VPN provider and for good reason. NordVPN excels at bypassing content restrictions. It’s also our best VPN for gaming thanks to its vast server network (a highly impressive 7,000+ servers in 118 countries), consistent connections, and Meshnet feature for LAN gaming. However, the apps arguably suffer from having too many features squeezed in, as well as a server map that not everyone will find particularly useful.

7. PrivateVPN

Best Budget VPN for Unblocking

PrivateVPN offers one of the least expensive plans of the budget VPNs. As long as you don’t mind a three-year subscription, you can save significantly as it works out at just $2 a month ($72 total). PrivateVPN also has a three-month subscription ($6/month), while its one-month plan ($9.90) is one of the more affordable, albeit still nearly double the price of Mullvad. PrivateVPN may be a lesser-known provider but has some of the most beginner-friendly apps.

I’ve found that PrivateVPN’s IP addresses don’t get blacklisted as quickly as more popular providers, making it particularly suitable for accessing streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Prime Video. PrivateVPN only has a little over 200 servers but they’re located in 63 countries and this, of course, includes the UK, U.S., Canada, and Australia. Where PrivateVPN does fall short compared to other best cheap VPNs is that it’s relatively light on features.

How to Pick a Budget VPN

The best budget VPN is not the same as the cheapest VPN. Instead, it’s that which offers the best service for the best possible price. In testing each VPN service, I measure server speeds, check for DNS leaks, time the reply speed of customer support, and more. None of this changes when looking at more affordable VPNs, only that I’m also factoring cost into the equation.

The best cheap VPNs all meet the following key criteria:

Affordable short-term or long-term subscription
Speeds that are fast enough for lag-free streaming
High level of encryption and protection from leaks
Absolutely no logging of any identifying data of users
Live chat and email support, ideally 24/7
Minimum of seven simultaneous connections allowed

I’ve taken the one-month subscription rates of each VPN as well as their lowest possible monthly price (usually as part of a two-year subscription plan) and compiled an average, factoring this into my rankings.

Mullvad VPN is the cheapest VPN if you’re looking for a short-term option or simply don’t want to have to commit to a VPN long-term. Yet Surfshark is arguably the best value VPN as its two-year subscription costs 65% less per month.

How to Use a VPN:

If you haven’t used a VPN before, rest assured that getting set up and connected is simple:

Sign up with one of the best budget VPNs.
Download and install the VPN app compatible with your device.
Open the VPN app and log in.
Connect to a server in your preferred location.
You’re all set!

Cheapest VPNs FAQs

Are budget VPNs less secure?

Not necessarily. Factors that can dictate a VPN’s pricing include the number of servers it operates and the availability of extra features like specialty servers or an antivirus or password manager. The best cheap VPNs still offer all of the key security features required from a quality VPN. It’s just that they do so at a more competitive price point.

Can I use a free VPN instead of a budget VPN?

Few free VPNs are trustworthy and of decent quality. Free VPNs don’t offer many servers or server locations, and they also tend to throttle bandwidth and cap data, resulting in poor performance. Many don’t provide an adequate level of encryption and may log and sell your browsing data. If you do need to opt for a free VPN, I’d recommend Proton VPN’s free plan.

What’s the difference between monthly and yearly VPN plans?

When you opt for a one-month VPN subscription, you’ll pay more each month than with an annual plan. The advantage is that you have more flexibility to switch if you’re unsatisfied. However, the biggest savings come with yearly or even multi-year subscriptions. While you’ll ultimately pay less when you break the pricing down per month with a yearly subscription, you have to pay the full amount upfront.

Can I get a refund if I’m not satisfied with a VPN?

All of these VPNs come with a 30-day money-back guarantee (except CyberGhost, which is 45 days). This allows you to try any of them out risk-free. As long as you remember to cancel before the end of that period, you’ll receive a full refund.

Mark Gill is a freelance VPN writer for IGN, bringing over five years of dedicated experience from Comparitech, where he delves deep into the intricacies of VPNs. A journalism graduate with a passion for safeguarding digital freedoms, Mark has strengthened his expertise with a Google Cybersecurity Certificate and is now studying for the CompTIA Security+ certification. When he’s not testing VPNs, Mark is an avid gamer with a soft spot for the Sega Mega Drive, reliving the classics for a dose of nostalgia.

The Best Mini Gaming PCs Worth Buying in 2025

IGN

Par :Jacqueline Thomas

9 mai 2025 à 00:00

There's this idea that a gaming PC is inherently a giant tower of metal and plastic that takes up so much space that you need to have a dedicated desk to handle it. These days, you don't need a massive hog of a tower to get incredible gaming performance. Instead, the best mini PCs can take up as little space as a cable box.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Mini PCs for Gaming:

There are inevitably some downsides when going with a mini gaming PC instead of a full tower. For one, the smaller form factor means there's simply less space for high-end graphics cards and CPU coolers. As such, you probably won't find many mini gaming PCs out there with an RTX 5090 and an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, at least not at a price that doesn't rival a down payment on your house. Instead, you're more likely to find something like the recently announced GMKTec Evo-X, which uses a powerful APU, rather than discrete graphics.

Different PC manufacturers deal with the space constraints in different ways. For instance, Asus bought out the NUC (next unit of computing) brand from Intel to make desktop PCs that use mobile hardware to fit into extremely small cases. Other companies, like Zotac, will find a way to shove powerful desktop-class hardware into a tiny chassis. They'll be inherently harder to service or upgrade than other towers, and also much more expensive, but hey, at least they're tiny.

Additional contributions by Kegan Mooney

1. Asus ROG NUC

Best Mini PC for Gaming

When I first opened up the Asus ROG NUC, I was surprised by how small and light it was. Sure, it's using all mobile-class hardware, but for something I'm hooking into my TV, it has surprisingly little heft to it. Couple that with the fact it looks exactly like a cable box, and this is a mini gaming PC that's perfect for blending into a living room. It's great for a media center PC already, but the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 means it's no slouch when it comes to gaming – up to a point at least.

The wall I kept running into again and again when I reviewed the Asus ROG NUC is that the mobile-class hardware is always a limiting factor, especially when it's connected to a 4K TV. Don't get me wrong: The ROG NUC absolutely can power through any PC game on the market, including demanding ones like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong... at 1080p. If you connect this to a 4K TV, you will have to turn down some settings in some of the flashiest games if you want to maintain a solid framerate.

It is still quite a bit more powerful than the PS5 even with its limitations, and the Nvidia graphics do allow it to use DLSS to narrow the gap at 4K. Just keep in mind that you're not going to be maxing out Black Myth: Wukong with full ray tracing or anything, and you should be fine. To be clear, with how tiny the Asus ROG NUC is, there's no way a full desktop-class graphics card would even fit inside.

The Asus ROG NUC is probably one of the best mini gaming PCs you're going to find anywhere, but just like any mini gaming PC, you'll have to do some calculus about whether or not it's worth just going with a gaming laptop instead.

2. MinisForum Venus Series UM773

Best Budget Mini PC for Gaming

If you're on the hunt for a wallet-friendly mini PC that doesn't skimp on performance, then the MinisForum Venus Series UM773 is worth considering. Despite its budget-friendly price tag, the UM773 packs a punch with an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, with dedicated AMD graphics. There isn't a discrete GPU, but the integrated AMD Radeon 680M GPU can rival some lower-end dedicated graphics cards, especially in esports games.

Stepping into the next generation, the UM773 features 16GB of speedy DDR5 RAM and a generous 512GB SSD. You may need to consider an upgrade later down the line, but for now, it will definitely serve you well for just $450.

3. Zotac ZBox Magnus One

Best Mini PC with Desktop Graphics

The Zotac Magnus One doesn't look like much, but its tiny chassis is hiding a beefy RTX 3070 GPU. This graphics card is a powerhouse, delivering solid 1440p gaming performance. While the CPU is quite old, it’s still a solid performer that won't bottleneck the GPU, ensuring you get the best gaming experience possible. While 16GB of RAM might seem a bit modest compared to some other mini PCs on the market, it's more than enough for gaming and general use.

In terms of pricing, the Zotac Magnus One is on the more expensive side. You could arguably get a more powerful full-sized gaming PC for the same amount of money. However, if you're looking for a compact, space-saving solution without sacrificing gaming performance, the Magnus One is worth every penny. Its sleek design, impressive specs, and solid gaming performance make it one of the best mini PCs for gaming enthusiasts who value form factor and functionality.

4. Mac mini M2

Best Mini PC for Mac

You might not think of gaming when you think of the Mac mini M2, but it delivers surprisingly good performance, allowing you to play a wide range of games at a decent frame rate. Given its cost, it’s hard not to consider the Mac mini M2 as a capable gaming mini PC. With a noticeable performance increase over the M1 chip, the M2 chip comes with eight CPU cores and 10 GPU cores, supporting strong performance, whether you're playing games or getting work done.

Thanks to its many ports, the Mac mini M2 supports up to two 4K displays at 120Hz, and because the M2 natively supports Thunderbolt, you can even back it up with an external GPU later down the line. It also comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, so you can plan to game online. For pure gaming performance, a Windows PC is a better option, but if you want a Mac and just want to dabble with playing games here and there, it’s a solid option. See our roundup on the best monitors for Mac Mini when you're ready to pick a display to pair it with.

How to Pick the Best Mini PC for Gaming

Just like with any gaming PC, finding the best mini PC for gaming is all about what games you're looking to play, and at what resolution. Mini PCs are much smaller compared to desktop PCs, and even some laptops, and size constraints naturally limit the components included.

If you want to play the latest titles without any hiccups, you'll want to aim for a mini PC with a solid GPU. Look for models that come equipped with modern graphics like the Nvidia RTX series or AMD Radeon cards rather than integrated graphics. However, if you’re on a budget and you’re not fussed about playing games that have just been released, you could get away with something less powerful.

A good CPU is crucial for gaming performance and overall system responsiveness. Aim for mini PCs with mid-to-high-end CPUs, ideally with around 4 cores, 8 threads, and a high clockspeed – around 4.0GHz or higher – just so your computer doesn't grind to a hault when you're trying to multitask. Similarly, you’ll need a decent amount of RAM (at least 16GB) and storage (at least 512GB SSD) to run and store your games smoothly.

Once you’ve nailed down the specs, make sure the mini PC has enough ports for your peripherals, as well as HDMI or DisplayPort outputs for connecting to external monitors or TVs. Thunderbolt ports are also a nice bonus if you plan on connecting high-speed external storage or other devices.

Mini PC FAQ

Are mini PCs good for gaming?

It kind of depends on what you mean by "good for gaming." It's unlikely that you're going to find any mini gaming PC that's going to be great at 4K gaming, but lower your expectations a bit and these tiny machines can surprise you. If you mostly play games at 1080p, especially if you play a lot of indie games, even mini gaming PCs with integrated graphics are good enough these days to give you a solid gaming experience. We're entering an age of PC gaming where basically any PC can play PC games to some extent and mini gaming PCs are certainly no different.

What is better: mini PC or PC?

Again, this depends entirely on what you're looking for. Because, yeah, a full-sized gaming PC with a Ryzen 9 processor and an RTX 5090 is going to wipe the floor with every mini gaming PC on the market when it comes to pure performance numbers. But no matter what you've heard on Reddit, performance isn't everything. Take it from someone that lives in a tiny NYC apartment: Sometimes having a small gaming PC is extremely important and can make up for the lack of performance, especially if you're pairing it with a lower-resolution gaming monitor.

What are the downsides to a mini PC?

When you're getting a mini gaming PC, you're going to have to make compromises in at least one of three categories: price, performance, and upgradability. There are some tiny gaming PCs that pack high-end desktop components, but you're going to have to fork over a huge wad of cash for them. On the other hand, there are some really affordable mini gaming PCs out there, but those are mostly using integrated graphics and are really only good for playing PC games at 1080p with medium-high settings. If you want a PC with swappable components, you really only have a few options in a small form factor, though these tend to be more powerful (and expensive) than other mini gaming PCs.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

Gaming Laptops Are Apparently More Popular Than Ever

IGN

Par :Jacqueline Thomas

6 mai 2025 à 21:13

Every month, Valve releases the results of its hardware survey, and the results are usually predictable, especially when it comes to what graphics cards most people are using. Most months, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 – or an equivalent XX60 class card from another generation – is on top. And while the RTX 4060 is technically the top GPU on Steam right now, this time it's the mobile version.

Since December 2024, the RTX 4060 for gaming laptops has grown from 4.19% of Steam's userbase to 4.99% of it. That seems like a minor change, but in the same time frame the RTX 3060, which has been the the most popular graphics card for a while shrunk from 5.01% to 4.72%, allowing the mobile GPU to take the lead. This is the first time in my memory that a mobile graphics card was at the top of the list.

Why Gaming Laptops? Why Now?

It's no secret that graphics cards are getting more expensive. Even the RTX 4060 is leagues more expensive than its equivalent was in the pre-RTX days. And while gaming laptops certainly aren't cheap, when you take the marked-up prices retailers attach to GPUs into consideration, it actually starts to make sense to just grab a gaming laptop and call it a day, especially if you need more than just a graphics card.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 for laptops isn't the most powerful GPU in the world, either, but it is still enough to play most games at 1080p without much of a struggle, moreso if you disable niceties like ray tracing and enable DLSS. It's not surprising that's enough for a lot of people, especially as we start to contend with the prospect of everything getting more expensive.

That's probably also a factor in why the only current-generation GPU that makes it into Valve's report is the RTX 5070 Ti, and that's coming in with just 0.27% of the playerbase. That puts it behind the GTX 1030, a cheap graphics card that launched 8 years ago, and it was bad back then.

I've been hearing gaming laptop manufacturers tell me for years that gaming laptops are the future or whatever, but now that a laptop GPU is sitting securely at the top of the Steam Hardware Survey, I'm actually starting to believe it. After all, when everything costs an arm and a leg, it starts getting really hard to justify dropping $1,000 on a graphics card, even if it comes with Multi-Frame Generation, or whatever Nvidia's next big thing will be with the RTX 6080.

The Future of PC Gaming

The magic of PC gaming is that it's flexible. While playing games on PS5 requires you to have one specific piece of hardware, you can basically configure a PC however your heart (or budget) requires. There are games out there like Assassin's Creed Shadows that can bring the RTX 5090 to its knees, but that's not why PC gaming is awesome. Instead, the indie games that spring up out of nowhere are where the real magic happens, and you don't need super-expensive hardware to tap into that.

I don't think high-end gaming PCs are going anywhere, but this hardware survey makes it pretty clear that the niche is shrinking a little bit. Instead, mid-range gaming laptops and handheld gaming PCs are starting to look like the way many people will engage with PC games going forward.

Over the next year or so, as RTX 5000 laptops become more common and the AMD Z2 Extreme powers up next-gen gaming handhelds, it's going to be interesting to see if desktop graphics continue to shrink, or if this was just a brief hiccup. Only time will tell.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

Switch 2 Has to Face a Problem the Original Didn’t: Handheld Gaming PCs

IGN

Par :Jacqueline Thomas

6 mai 2025 à 00:15

The Nintendo Switch 2 is coming out incredibly soon, and while we know a lot about it, its steep $449.99 price tag and $79.99 games make me less likely to invest than expected. After all, I’ve barely used my Nintendo Switch since getting an Asus ROG Ally, and my problems with the original console are only exacerbated in its successor, especially in a post-handheld gaming PCs world.

Asus ROG Ally Is All I Need

I’ve been a handheld gamer since childhood, having jumped between the Game Boy, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable. It's still my favorite way to play games, as there’s nothing cozier than snuggling beneath a layer of blankets and playing from the comfort of my bed. I was even among the painfully few PlayStation Vita believers, and played it during my college train commute every day.

The Nintendo Switch blew my mind in 2017, yet even though I bought mine close to launch, I only used it for exclusives. Playing on PC isn’t comfortable, so when a game seemed mechanically or graphically suited for handheld, I wanted it on the Switch. Those games entered a mental drawer in my head labeled “Reserved for handheld,” and it’s as if my brain was incapable of letting me play them elsewhere.

But if that game was available for free on Epic Games Store, Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, or Humble Choice, I felt guilty repurchasing it on Nintendo Switch. It didn’t help that Switch games are notoriously less likely to receive discounts, and when they do, they’re nowhere near as steep as on other storefronts. This painful cycle of “Why waste money on a game I already own” into “I want to play this on a handheld” yielded the same result every time: I wouldn’t play the game at all.

The launch of the Asus ROG Ally in 2023 broke my curse. It’s a handheld gaming PC that runs on Windows 11, so it has access to Steam, Game Pass, Epic Games, and more. Those games I’d never play on PC due to discomfort could now be enjoyed from the comfort of my own bed.

Nowadays, I play a treasure trove of indie games on my Ally, and I’m still catching up on my backlog. If it wasn’t for the Ally, I would’ve never played Celeste, Little Nightmares II, or Resident Evil Remake. Those are now amongst my favorite games ever, and I didn’t need to spend additional money on any of them, whereas I would have had to repurchase them on Switch. The Ally has become my go-to handheld of choice and has saved me tons of money.

Regardless, I was still excited for the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, as Nintendo games hold a special place in my heart. But after the Switch 2 Direct, I’m uncertain where the console fits in my life anymore.

When the original Switch launched, it held significance beyond exclusives. The versatility of its design and lower price of entry compared to the competition made it an excellent ecosystem to get into. It was the only viable handheld at the time: It was cheap, had great exclusives, and nothing else like it existed.

The Switch 2 Isn’t Alone Anymore

Priced at $449 (to start), the Nintendo Switch 2 finds itself in competitive waters. That launch price brings it close to the $499 PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. In fact, the PS5 technically launched cheaper with its $399 digital edition. What’s worse, in the last eight years since the Switch’s launch, its design has inspired competition. Steam Deck started the trend in 2022, but manufacturers have released handheld gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. There are even rumors that Xbox is working on its own handheld. Switch 2 is no longer one-of-a-kind, and it’s only a great investment if you don’t already own another handheld, and I do.

Handheld gaming PCs have powerful hardware, and are more than capable of playing indies and third-party games. With a far larger library, and the ability to access all of the games you already own, it’s an excellent place for everything. The chipsets powering handheld gaming PCs are only getting better with time, too. The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme is waiting to be implemented into something powerful, and it won’t take long before Switch 2 finds itself outmatched by the competition.

Handheld gaming PC owners who want to play new Nintendo exclusives are faced with a steep price of entry and the promise of little use. If a machine like the Asus ROG Ally is more than capable of playing everything from third-parties to indies, then handheld gaming PC owners investing in a Switch 2 are only going to use it for first-party games.

The high price of exclusives makes the Switch 2 an even more painful endeavor, with Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza launching at $79.99 and $69.99 respectively. Considering Nintendo Switch games, especially first-party games, are rarely discounted, it’s hard to get excited about the prospect of having to buy them.

To be fair, there is plenty of value to be found in Nintendo exclusives. The company is responsible for some of the greatest games in history, and for many, there will be plenty of Switch 2 games over the next few years to make the system worth its high price. But for handheld gaming PC owners like me, we just need a little more.

The Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t a worthwhile investment for everyone, especially if you already have a handheld gaming PC. Systems like the Legion Go deliver excellent performance, and an enormous library of indie and third-party games. My Asus ROG Ally does everything I used to need a Switch for, and with a wide range of storefronts available, it’s just a better place to play games.

Claire finds joy in impassioned ramblings about her closeness to video games. She has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Media Studies from Brooklyn College and seven years of experience in entertainment journalism. Claire is a stalwart defender of games as an artform and spends most days overwhelmed with excitement for its past, present and future. When she isn't writing or playing Dark Souls, she can be found eating chicken fettuccine alfredo and gushing about handheld gaming PCs.

The Best MicroSD Express Cards for Nintendo Switch 2

IGN

Par :Jacqueline Thomas

2 mai 2025 à 23:00

The Nintendo Switch 2 is right around the corner, and if you’re planning on grabbing it, keep in mind that it only has 256GB of storage built-in. If you want to load up on games without having to deal with uninstalling and reinstalling over and over, you’re going to want to expand that storage. However, unlike the original Nintendo Switch, the new console now requires a MicroSD Express card – which are faster, but more expensive than other UHS-based SD cards.

MicroSD Express cards have theoretically been around for a while, but there are only a few of them on the market right now, as creative professionals haven’t really found much of a use for them. However, with the Switch 2 launching in the next month, there will likely be a deluge of Express cards to fill that gap.

Just remember that because the system isn’t out yet, I haven’t tested any of these Nintendo Switch 2 SD cards yet. However, most of them come from reputable manufacturers that have a track record of making excellent storage expansion cards.

Why MicroSD Express?

Unlike many devices, the Nintendo Switch 2 is mandating a MicroSD Express card for storage expansion. Nintendo hasn’t really explained its reasoning behind the decision, but it’s not hard to see why it might want to require faster storage.

For one, the flash storage built into the system is the same kind of UFS flash that powers most smartphones. This storage is much faster than the eMMC drive in the original Switch, and it’s likely Nintendo wanted its developers to be able to count on that kind of storage speed, no matter if the game is being stored internally or on an expansion card.

The only thing you can use a regular old MicroSD card for is loading screenshots and videos you took on your first-gen Switch. That means unlike something like the PS5, which allows you to store last-generation games on slower external drives, Nintendo isn’t allowing for any wiggle room here. If you want to expand the Nintendo Switch 2 storage, you’re going to need a MicroSD Express card.

1. Lexar Play Pro

The Best MicroSD Express Card

Out of the two MicroSD Express cards that are theoretically "out," the Lexar Play Pro is faster and more capacious. Supporting read times up to 900MB/s and storage space up to 1TB, this is the best MicroSD Express card out there right now. Unfortunately, with the increased demand that the Switch 2 has brought, I can’t seem to find it in stock anywhere.

This will likely change in the future, as stock normalizes and people slow down on excitedly buying any accessory related to the Nintendo Switch 2. If you do want the best SD card for your Switch though, it’s worth keeping your eye on the Lexar Play Pro, especially the 1TB version, and scooping it up if it comes in stock somewhere. As for right now, your best bet is to order it through Adorama, which has it on backorder until July.

2. SanDisk MicroSD Express

The MicroSD Express Card You Can Actually Buy Right Now

I have so many SanDisk SD cards lying around, and that shouldn’t be super surprising. Over the years, SanDisk has become one of the most prolific SD card manufacturers, and now it has a MicroSD Express card. Unlike the Lexar version, SanDisk doesn’t have a fancy name for its card, and it also only goes up to 256GB, which would simply mirror the internal storage of the Nintendo Switch 2.

Still, doubling your storage isn’t a bad deal, especially if you can find this MicroSD card at a lower price. It’s also not quite as fast as the Lexar Play Pro, coming in with a read speed of up to 880MB/s. That’s a minor enough disparity that you’re not going to notice any difference when you’re loading up Mario Kart World, but 20MB/s is still 20MB/s.

The SanDisk MicroSD Express card is also much more readily available at the time of writing, so if you just want to grab it and forget it, this might be the card to go for. However, if you’re willing to wait until you have the console in-hand, there will be plenty more options for you.

3. Samsung MicroSD Express for Switch 2

The Official Option We Know Very Little About

Samsung’s MicroSD Express card isn’t out yet, but this is the expansion card that’s being sold directly by Nintendo, which definitely gives it some weight. The problem, though, is that I have no idea what its storage speeds are going to be, or whether or not the 256GB model being sold directly by the likes of Nintendo and Gamestop will be the only version you can buy.

Still, it’ll probably provide some comfort to get an SD card that has Nintendo’s seal of approval, no matter what the actual specs of the card end up being. I have reached out to Samsung to learn more about this SD card, and I’ll update this article as soon as I learn anything.

MicroSD Express FAQ

How fast is MicroSD Express?

SD Express is theoretically much faster than older SD cards, and that largely comes down to how it interfaces with the device. Rather than connecting to a bespoke SD card interface, SD Express uses PCI Express 3.1, which is what SSDs use on PC.

Don’t go expecting a MicroSD Express card to be as fast as the NVMe SSDs in handheld gaming PCs, though. While the full-sized SD Express cards can come close, with read speeds up to 3,940MB/s, the MicroSD Express cards can only hit a maximum of 985MB/s. Still, that’s much faster than the older MicroSD cards used by the original Nintendo Switch.

How long will a MicroSD Express card last?

Just like any SD card, MicroSD Express cards aren’t meant to be used for long-term data storage, and so they have a shelf life. How long they’ll last depends largely on the environment it's being used in, and whether or not you’re dropping it. I wouldn’t expect a MicroSD Express card to last more than 5-10 years before it needs to be replaced, so be sure to keep anything important backed up.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

The Best Handheld Gaming PCs to Take Your Games on the Go

IGN

Par :Jacqueline Thomas

2 mai 2025 à 22:06

Valve may have revolutionized mobile PC gaming with the Steam Deck, but more and more handheld gaming PCs are coming to market, giving it some stiff competition. The Asus ROG Ally X knocked Steam’s offering from our top spot thanks to its impressive performance, fast memory, and long-lasting battery. With the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 announced at CES 2025, you'll have plenty of options for gaming on the go. Whether you’re after the Steam Deck itself or one of the best Steam Deck alternatives, we’ve selected excellent handheld gaming PCs ready to chew through the top PC games.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Handheld Gaming PCs:

Rather than dealing with the bulk of one the best gaming laptops, handheld gaming PCs keep far more compact dimensions, making it easier to play from just about anywhere. Even though these devices are significantly smaller than the best gaming PCs, it doesn’t mean they’re underpowered, as many handheld gaming PCs are packing the performance prowess to cruise through AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Ghost of Tsushima. And if you get sick of playing on a smaller screen, the best Steam Deck docks work seamlessly with most handheld gaming PCs so you can hook up to your gaming TV.

While we’re on the cusp of a handheld gaming PC revolution, we've gotten our hands on a good chunk of these highly-capable devices. Below are the seven we deem worthy of consideration. From the high-performing Lenovo Legion Go to a slightly less powerful option for indie games like the Asus ROG Ally Z1, something is bound to suit your needs.

Contributions by Danielle Abraham, Ural Garrett, Georgie Peru

1. Asus ROG Ally X

The Best Handheld Gaming PC

The Asus ROG Ally X we reviewed last year might use the same AMD Z1 Extreme processor as the original ROG Ally, but Asus has made enough little changes to the handheld that catapult it into its place as the best gaming handheld on the market right now. The Z1 Extreme is accompanied by 24GB of LPDDR5 memory, clocked at 7,400MHz, a massive increase over the 16GB of RAM on the original model. And because the RAM is faster this time around, too, it results in a surprising performance lift that averaged around 12-15% in my testing.

Asus also made the chassis a little thicker and heavier. It's not enough to notice most of the time, but there's a reason behind the madness. The Asus ROG Ally X has an improved cooler and a battery that's twice as large as the original model. This means you can play games for multiple hours before you have to start running for the charger. The improved cooler also helps long gaming sessions by wicking hot air away from the touch display, avoiding the hot touch screen issue that plagued the original model.

The Asus Mobile XG port on the original model has been removed, and has been replaced by a second USB-C port, which is compatible with Thunderbolt 4. Asus has also replaced the controversial MicroSD card slot with one that will hopefully be a little more resistant to damage. (After all, Asus got into some hot water with the original ROG Ally thanks to some lackluster customer support that was documented by YouTuber Gamers Nexus.)

Despite that, the Asus ROG Ally X, by itself, is the best handheld gaming PC experience you can get right now.

2. Valve Steam Deck

The Best Steam Deck

Responsible for popularizing the handheld gaming PC revolution, the Valve Steam Deck doesn’t actually come with Windows installed. Instead, it uses Valve’s custom SteamOS, and thanks to the API Proton, the Steam Deck supports dozens of games optimized for the portable from Cyberpunk 2077 to Forza Horizon 5.

There are ways to get Windows running on the 7-inch display portable by booting directly from the USB-C port. Beyond that is one of the best input controls available for any portable gaming handheld. See our full comparison between the Steam Deck and ROG Ally here.

There’s also the OLED version of the Steam Deck to consider for users who prefer a larger, brighter, and more vibrant screen. While still displaying at 1200x800, the Steam Deck OLED offers a noticeable difference, providing more clarity for a better visual experience. You'll also get improved battery life, a higher refresh rate, and more storage than the 256GB offered in the tradtional LCD model.

3. Lenovo Legion Go

The Best High Performance Handheld Gaming PC

When you're setting out to buy any kind of gaming PC, there's a balance you need to look for: You want something with incredible performance, but still looks like the premium product that you paid for. Handheld gaming PCs are no different, and that's why the Lenovo Legion Go is such a catch. The Legion Go measures in at a massive 11.76 inches long and 5.16 inches tall with the controllers attached, and that's primarily because of the large display.

Unlike other handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck or the Asus ROG Ally Z1 that take a lot of inspiration from the Nintendo Switch, the Legion Go sports an 8.8-inch 1600p display, almost making it a Windows 11 tablet with a controller stapled onto it. Luckily, Lenovo was able to keep the weight down a little bit, just 1.41lbs. Even if it's lighter than it looks, it's probably going to be hard for folks with smaller hands to use it.

The 1600p display causes a bit of a hassle, too. Because this is using the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chipset as the ROG Ally, some games can have a bit of trouble running at the native resolution. This is easily solved by tinkering with your in-game settings to lower the resolution. If you're not comfortable doing the hands-on troubleshooting, this might not be the product for you. But if you're a long-time PC gamer like I am, you'll love just how flexible – and beautiful – the Lenovo Legion Go is. This is the handheld gaming PC for the hardcore PC gaming crowd.

If the complicated nature of the Lenovo Legion Go is a bit of a turnoff, the Lenovo Legion Go S did just come out. However, in my review, I found it to be slower than the original Legion Go and at a higher price point. There will be a version launching later this year with a slightly lower-end configuration and running SteamOS, and that's going to be the lite-version of the Legion Go to keep an eye open for.

4. Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme

The Best Windows Handheld Gaming PC

If you’re after a Windows-based handheld that puts the Steam Deck’s Linux-based SteamOS to shame, look no further than the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme we reviewed back in 2023. It runs on Windows 11, so just about any PC game and storefront are easy to use and bounce between with this device, including Xbox Game Pass and Epic. There are no significant caveats, like when attempting to play non-Steam games on the Steam Deck. However, during our review, we found the Armoury Crate software a bit clunky.

Equipped with a speedy Z1 Extreme mobile processor offering an 8-core Zen 4 CPU and RDNA 3-powered graphics, the ROG Ally has one of the most powerful chips available – if you’re looking for something cheaper with a little less oomph, check out the ROG Ally Z1. During testing, the Z1 Extreme could play many games at high or even ultra settings while hitting commendable framerates with just a bit of tinkering, something that can’t be said for the Steam Deck. But pushing those higher settings comes at a significant cost to battery life, making a power bank a sound investment.

The ROG Ally is sleek and lightweight, featuring a vibrant 7-inch touchscreen with an adjustable resolution from 1080p to 720p and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The controllers flanking the screen’s sides have responsive ABXY face buttons and a slightly cheap feeling D-pad. We wish a touchpad were available for mouse-based games, but luckily the joysticks are reliable. A wireless mouse can always be connected if need be. Still, with everything on offer, the ROG Ally is essentially a mini Windows PC masquerading as a gaming handheld.

5. GPD Win 4

The Best Handheld Gaming PC with a Keyboard

More like a mini laptop than gaming handheld, the GPD Win 4 we reviewed looks almost like Sony’s PSVita until you look beneath the surface. The portable has a AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and AMD Radeon 780m GPU. All of that is hiding behind a 6-inch 1080p screen. One of the highlight features of the GPD Win 4 is a sliding Windows keyboard, which makes using the desktop operating system on the go a breeze.

There are three versions available, including a base configuration with 16GB RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, going up as high as $1,599 for 32GB and 2TB of SSD storage.

6. Ayaneo Air

The Most Portable Handheld Gaming PC

One of the smallest handheld gaming PCs available, the Ayaneo Air has a 5.5-inch OLED FHD screen. Performance-wise, you should be able to get quite a bit of horsepower of the 6-core AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and AMD Radeon GPU. A little under 2 inches thin, the Ayaneo Air also weighs 2.6lbs. With 512GB SSD storage, there’s also room to expand via Micro SD slot. Though it may lack the sheer power of many portable Windows handhelds on the list, the size alone makes it a worthy buy.

7. Asus ROG Ally Z1

The Best Handheld Gaming PC for Indie Games

If you like the looks of the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme but want something nearly as powerful for less money, grab the Asus ROG Ally Z1. Running the show is Windows 11 and a 30W AMD APU featuring a Zen 4 processor paired with a GPU with four RDNA 3 CUs. Admittedly, those graphics will struggle to keep up with AAA games at their highest settings on this 120Hz FHD handheld with a 7-inch display. Turning down the settings does help make games more playable, but the device truly shines in indie games.

Upcoming Handheld Gaming PCs

Now that the Lenovo Legion Go S is here, we have a first glimpse of the next generation of handheld gaming PCs. It's a rough note to start on, but keep in mind that the AMD Z2 Go is the weakest of the new generation of handheld chips. There will be handheld gaming PCs coming out over the rest of the year that are powered by the more powerful versions, like the Z2 Extreme. Just keep an eye out for the Lenovo Legion Go 2 and the Asus ROG Ally 2 – or whatever it will be called. Another handheld announcement from CES 2025, the Acer Nitro Blaze 11, comes with a massive 11-inch screen, the biggest we've seen on a handheld from a major company.

Finally, there's the upcoming Switch 2 handheld that we will hear more about during the Nintendo Direct in April. While it isn't a PC gaming machine exactly, it does appear to include mouse-like Joy-Con controllers that could make it feel similar.

Handheld Gaming PC FAQ

Should I buy a handheld gaming PC or a gaming laptop?

Depending on how you want to game and what games you want to play will determine whether you should grab a gaming laptop or handheld PC. Handhelds score higher points in longevity, battery life, optimization, portability, and thermals. But handhelds are only designed to play games up to a certain specification. Gaming laptops cram in the latest GPU, CPU, and RAM, likely sacrificing battery life, thermals, and price. However, some are absolute beasts ready to take on even the most graphically intensive games. Laptops offer more functionality when it comes to editing and other work.

Check out our guide on the Steam Deck vs. gaming laptops for more information.

What’s the best Steam Deck alternative?

The Asus ROG Ally X is our top pick and also one of the best Steam Deck alternatives. This gaming handheld offers an easy-to-use interface, speedy performance, and stunning design. Most importantly, the Windows 11 gaming handheld lets you access your entire PC gaming library.

How does the Switch 2 compare to the Steam Deck?

It's too early to say for sure, but given that the Switch 2 is using newer hardware, it will probably be a little bit more powerful – though by how much we won't know until it's out on June 5. Check out our in-depth comparison to find out more.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra