Handheld Consoles vs Home Consoles

[Yoshi155]

Which is better: having a more powerful console that you can only really use at home, or a less powerful one that you can take wherever you want?

I don’t really have a preference. They’re both good for their own things.

 

[Croconaw]

I talked about this on another thread, but for Nintendo specifically, I strongly prefer handhelds. I have an XBOX Series X, and I prefer to only have one console hooked up to the television at a time. The games I mainly play release on the XBOX, so I like to keep it hooked up for easy access.

 

[Suguri]

I consider myself a casual player (I don't like being called a "gamer"), so I prefer handheld consoles. As long as the game in the handheld is fun, it's all good for me.

 

[Rainy.Nights]

Just whichever one has the specific game I want to play at the time. I more often end up playing on the TV, but I still play 3DS and Switch handheld a bunch too.

 

[Alolan_Apples]

As someone who just played Animal Crossing: New Horizons in the car and have recently played it in a hotel room, you probably know my answer. Less power for more portability.

 

[Xara]

I've always preferred handheld consoles. I like holding my console in my hands while I play, and I prefer the gaming screen to be a part of the console rather than a separate screen. I have an easier time gaming when the screen and controls are on the same device, if that makes sense.

I also like the portability of handheld consoles! I rarely bring my gaming consoles out and about with me these days, but I still like having the ability to do so if I ever want to. Handhelds are often less expensive as well!

 

[skarmoury]

Handheld 100%!! I like laying on my tummy a lot of the times when I play casual games, which I can't do when i'm on PC. :] I think that's why I have such a solid bias for handheld games compared to PC games, even though I have lots of PC games. I haven't touched my PC games for so long plus with handheld games I can switch between my iPad games & my switch games, and for the most part I'm obsessed with the games on there!

 

[Drawdler]

PC above all, does that count as a home console?

I prefer handhelds to traditional home consoles most of the time though, less bloated OSes, more convinient and I prefer a lot of their libraries. The 3DS is the best.

 

[Dunquixote]

I’ve been preferring handheld lately to consoles like my ps4. I like being able to lay down while playing my games and the option to bring it with me if I’m going somewhere. I rarely leave the house but it’s still nice to have the option in case there comes a time when I have to go somewhere like to my sister’s.

 

[Neb]

Depends on my mood and what phase of my life I’m in. If I’m really busy and need to do car trips and I have nothing else to do in the car I prefer handhelds. I don’t enjoy using them for long periods of time though because I get eye strain from them easily thanks to my eye condition. I find most handhelds uncomfortable to hold without a grip too. I didn’t use my Switch in handheld mode much until I bought a third party grip a few weeks ago since I hated how the system felt in my hands.

For longer sessions or when I’m at home I prefer consoles for sure. Playing on the TV is easier on my eyes for longer sessions and console controllers are way more comfortable than handhelds by themselves.

I hope Nintendo continues the hybrid thing since the Switch is the best of both worlds.

 

[-Blue-]

I like both. But I enjoy playing the Switch hooked up to a TV more than handheld. It's there as a convenience, but I prefer the bigger screen. Now if the joycons were just garbage it might be voted higher by me, but the pro controller makes it an easy decision for me.

 

[Doo]

Handheld - it’s a lot easier when you live with other people

 

[Halloqueen]

Whenever it's an option, I prefer to play video games on a bigger screen, whether that's a television or a computer monitor. I also prefer to utilize a controller. As such, my first inclination is to say that I prefer home consoles over handheld.

That said, there are a number of games that I enjoy that are exclusively handheld, and after taking my 3DS and Switch with me on trips at different points, I've come to appreciate portability. Granted, just like at home I still played the Switch docked while at my destination instead of playing it handheld, but I still liked being able to bring it with me and having access to its games. I don't really have worthwhile public transportation around here and don't really have downtime when out and about to get much use out of a handheld's portability, so for me it's like 8 times out of 10 a sub-optimal way to play when compared to playing on a big screen, but when it's applicable like on a trip, it's quite nice.

I'll still give my vote to home consoles, but it's not necessarily a clear cut.

 

[S.J.]

I love playing games (by myself) in handheld mode, however, I really enjoy playing local co-op/multiplayer (and also online multiplayer, but that's irrelevant here), so it's important to me that I have a console that has the ability to do so!

I'm not super concerned about the power of the device. Dual handheld/home consoles like the Switch are ideal, even though I've rarely taken my Switch outside my house.