Budget Android Handhelds Rise as the Xbox Ally X Stumbles
Release Date: 10/21/2025
Living in the Past: Wii Pizza and the Return of the Virtual Boy
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, the guys tackle a load of weird news from playing Game Boy games on e-readers and ordering pizza from a Wii in 2026, the upcoming Virtual Boy Switch 2 accessory. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes. You can...
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A Bigger Brick and AYANEO Overload
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, Federico and John go it alone without Brendon to cover Game Pass on ARM, an avalanche of AYANEO announcements, and why the TrimUI Brick Pro has shot up their most-anticipated handheld list for 2026. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the...
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Foldables, Fex, and a Forgettable CES
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week on NPC, rumors swirl about the Steam Machine’s pricing, AYANEO pauses to collect itself, GameSir’s Pocket Taco goes live, the lack of foldable phone controllers, and our first videogames. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular”...
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CES 2026: Foldables, Rollables, and Robot Punches
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, a whirlwind tour of the handheld news from CES 2026, Switch 2 grips, AR glasses, new chips from AMD, the OneXSugar Wallet, and more. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Portable Gaming News from CES Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes. You can subscribe here:...
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The 2025 Handhelds of the Year Awards
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, Brendon, Federico, and John pick their top handheld consoles of 2025. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The 2025 Handhelds of the Year Awards The Contenders: Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole Leave Feedback...
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New Phones and Tablets Take Aim at Portable Gaming
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, handhelds are shipping for the holidays, AYANEO makes a bold bet on a phone, a new Strix Halo tablet one-ups the ASUS ROG Flow Z13, and John dips a toe in the Bazzite waters. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News The Odin 3 and are starting to ship for iPhone and iPad Another Strix Halo Tablet - John installs Bazzite on the Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record...
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Monster Handhelds and Valve's Big Bet on ARM
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, AYANEO goes big, very, very big, and we read the tea leaves from Sean Hollister’s interview of Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes. You can subscribe here:...
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Anbernic Stumbles and SteamOS Dreams
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, the Retroid G2 and Anbernic DS look like duds, the Xbox full-screen experience for PCs is out to more users, and John flirts with the idea of a mini PC for SteamOS. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Topics Building a Strix Halo Mini PC for SteamOS mini PCs Displays Other Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a...
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Living on the Emulation Edge with the Odin 3
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week, Brendon, Federico, and John catch up on a grab bag of news before diving deeper into the Ayn Odin 3’s emulation and streaming potential, the possibility that the rumored TrimUI Smart Pro S could become the default budget recommendation for horizontal handhelds, and the 11" 3D Abxylute 3D One. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes Follow Up and The Latest Portable Gaming News Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico,...
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SteamOS Goes Wide: From a Cube to the Frame
NPC: Next Portable Console
This week in a special early release of NPC, the guys dig into Valve’s announcement of the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Stream Controller, a trio of SteamOS devices poised to make a big splash in 2026. Also available on YouTube . Links and Show Notes Valve’s Announcements More on the New Hardware Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released...
info_outlineThis week, Steam Deck, Switch 2, and Vision Pro accessory follow up, Thunderbolt 5 eGPUs, Android handhelds break into the budget category, and the ROG Xbox Ally X is a bust.
On NPC XL, Apple’s M5 chip promise gaming advances on the iPad, but can it deliver?
NPC is also available on YouTube here.
Subscribe to NPC XL on Patreon here.
Links and Show Notes
Follow Up
- Steam Deck Folios are now available for anyone to buy for $40
- Apple Vision Pro PSVR 2 controllers are $250
- Mechanism Switch 2 Basecase
The Latest Portable Gaming News
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 5090 AI BOX Thunderbolt 5 eGPU launches at $2999, 27% slower than desktop RTX 5090 in gaming
- OneXfly Apex handheld gaming PC with AMD Strix Halo is on the way
- REDMAGIC 11 Pro could be the first liquid-cooled smartphone you can actually buy
- MagicX One35 Finally Available For Pre-Order
- MANGMI Air X Is Finally Here Snapdragon Power, Sub-$100 Price
- Xbox Ally and Ally X review this is not an Xbox
Subscribe to NPC XL
NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.
Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole
Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon
Credits
- Show Art: Brendon Bigley
- Music: Will LaPorte