Xbox Handheld Console Wish List

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 7, 2024 2 Views 9 Min Read
Xbox Handheld Console Wish List

The Nintendo Switch kicked off a trend that few could have predicted at the time of its release, sparking a market for powerful handheld and hybrid gaming devices. This prospect may have enticed the likes of Xbo x, as rumors continue to build regarding Microsoft’s plans for a portable games console.




It should be noted that, at the time of writing, no official information about such a device from Xbox has come down the grapevine. However, it doesn’t seem implausible, as Xbox refraining from entering the handheld market could be needlessly bearish; if the company wants to remain competitive when it comes to gaming hardware, a handheld seems like a fairly strong move, especially as companies like Valve and Sony push ahead with the Steam Deck and PlayStation Portal, with yet another portable console from Sony allegedly on the way as well. But with this increased competition comes heightened expectations, which Xbox will need to strive to meet, lest it fall behind.

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What an Xbox Handheld Console Would Need to Succeed


Xbox Digital Library (and Physical Release) Access

If Xbox plans to include a handheld alongside its home console line, or even in lieu of it, then perhaps the most logical expectation would be for it to grant access to the entirety of each player’s digital library. For better or worse, a significant majority of game sales are digital, and many Xbox owners have amassed sprawling virtual libraries of titles over the years. They would need to be playable on this theoretical handheld device with few to no limitations or compromises.

That’s a basic requirement, but Xbox could go a step further by granting players access to their physical games as well. It’s rather unlikely that such a handheld device would have a disc drive, but maybe some sort of verification system could be implemented, allowing players to get a digital download for games that they can prove they currently own a physical copy of. Despite a nearly ubiquitous push by companies to adopt a fully digital ecosystem, many gamers have abstained from digital-only ownership, and Xbox’s emphasis on backwards compatibility has synergized nicely with this physical-first philosophy. It would be wise not to leave this demographic out in the cold, come a handheld console.


Great Battery Life

The Switch and the Steam Deck, for all their strengths, don’t have the best battery life:

  • Nintendo Switch OLED: 4.5 to 9 hours
  • Steam Deck OLED: 3 to 12 hours

This is to say nothing of other handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally, which has been reported to last as little as 2 hours with graphically demanding games.

The respective high-ends of each of these devices’ battery life are respectable, but these only apply when playing the least graphically-intensive games; for AAA titles like Tears of the Kingdom, the life expectancy of the battery is far lower. The next generation of both the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch will probably improve battery life, but Xbox could stand out by surpassing them in this area.


Since a big part of these handhelds’ appeal is their portability, offering a home console or PC-adjacent experience while traveling or commuting, battery longevity is always going to be an appealing feature. Of course, most players aren’t gaming for 9 or 12 hours straight on these devices, but the convenience of not having to worry about charging for long periods of time could be a massive boon for Xbox’s attempt in the handheld space. Even if it means sacrificing a compact form factor, Xbox’s handheld providing exceptional battery life could be just what’s needed to give it an edge over the competition.

An OLED Display, at the Very Least

When the first Switch launched in 2017, not much thought was paid to the quality of its display—the concept of the device itself seemed novel and exciting enough. Of course, this is no longer the case, as handhelds from Nintendo, Valve, and Asus all boast OLED screens, effectively making this the industry norm. The Lenovo Legion Go, while not featuring a built-in OLED, is also regularly praised for both its image quality and larger-than-average screen, which enhances the handheld experience for many users.


As these companies continue to enhance their handhelds with powerful displays, Xbox’s device certainly can’t afford to hold back. An OLED screen would be a good start, but additional features like HDR and a high refresh rate would go a long way toward helping it stand out in an increasingly competitive market. In some ways, a good display is even more important in the handheld space since, unlike with console or PC gaming, the display can’t be easily upgraded for a better one. As such, Xbox would need to rise to the occasion here, meeting or, ideally, surpassing the standards set by its competition.

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An In-the-Box Dock and Peripheral Compatibility

The Switch became famous for its hybrid nature, and while there are docks compatible with the Steam Deck and other handhelds, companies have generally leaned further into the portable side of these devices. Moreover, these non-Nintendo handhelds lack dedicated peripherals like controllers, which is obviously not the case for Xbox. In light of this, it would seem like an obvious choice for Microsoft to support docked play and compatibility with already-existing Xbox hardware, enticing players to welcome the device into their established tech ecosystem.


In all likelihood, there will be more rumors and speculation about Xbox’s handheld before any official confirmation arrives, if it ever does—it’s still unclear whether Xbox is actually planning on bringing such a device to market. But if it is indeed in the works, the company could very well have an uphill battle ahead of it: its hardware sales have lagged behind the competition during this generation already, and if Sony, with its larger install base, is also working on a portable console, then Xbox is going to need to bring out the big guns.

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