As the performance of PC handheld gaming consoles increased to a level capable of running demanding AAA titles, this segment of the market quickly moved out of the enthusiast niche and towards a wider range of users. During the year 2025, handheld consoles have become one of the most popular hardware trends in the gaming world.
However, the former president of Blizzard Entertainment, Mike Ybarra, believes that the euphoria surrounding these devices is not fully justified. He recently stated on the X Network that buying expensive high-end handheld PC consoles is a poor investment compared to classic gaming consoles.
Expensive handheld PCs are questionable
As an example, Ybarra cited the GPD Win 5, whose price ranges around $1,500, while the PlayStation 5 Pro sells for $749.99. In his opinion, the PS5 Pro with the additional purchase of more games is a far more sensible choice for most gamers.
In his announcement, he directly said that the problem lies precisely in the price of such devices. Although handheld consoles offer the ability to play on the go, Ybarra believes that for the same money, it’s smarter to buy a PS5 Pro and a larger collection of games.
He further pointed out that manufacturers of classic consoles often sell hardware with subsidies, which enables them to have a long life cycle that can last up to four years. On the other hand, expensive handheld consoles depend on increasingly expensive mobile components, making it harder for them to maintain long-term profitability and relevance.
According to Ybarra, this is precisely why such devices, despite their technical capabilities, do not offer good value for money, especially for more demanding and long-term oriented gamers.