Xbox handheld console wishlist

The Nintendo Switch sparked a trend that few could have predicted at the time of its release, igniting a market for powerful handheld and hybrid gaming devices. That prospect might have seduced people like him Xboxas rumors continue to mount about Microsoft's plans for a portable gaming console.

It should be noted that at the time of writing, there is no official information about such a device from Xbox. This doesn't seem implausible, however, as Xbox's abandonment of the handheld market might be unnecessarily pessimistic; If the company wants to remain competitive in gaming hardware, a handheld seems like a pretty strong move, especially with companies like Valve and Sony pushing the Steam Deck and PlayStation Portal and rumored to have another portable console from Sony on the market as well so. But with this increasing competition, the expectations that Xbox has to live up to in order not to fall behind are also increasing.

What an Xbox handheld console needs to be successful

Access to the Xbox digital library (and physical release).

If Xbox plans to include a handheld alongside or even in place of its home consoles, perhaps the most logical expectation would be that it grant access to every gamer's entire digital library. For better or worse, a majority of game sales are digital, and many Xbox owners have amassed massive virtual libraries of titles over the years. They should be playable on this theoretical handheld device with little to no restrictions or compromises.

That's a basic requirement, but Xbox could go one step further and give players access to their physical games too. It's unlikely that such a handheld device would have a disc drive, but perhaps some sort of verification system could be implemented that would allow players to receive a digital download for games that they can prove they currently have a physical copy of own. Despite the near-ubiquitous push by companies to adopt a fully digital ecosystem, many gamers have eschewed digital-only ownership, and Xbox's emphasis on backwards compatibility has meshed well with this philosophy of physical focus. It would be wise not to leave this demographic out in the cold when it comes to a handheld console.

Great battery life

The Switch and 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

Not to mention other handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally, which reportedly only lasts 2 hours in graphically demanding games.

The respective peak battery life values ​​of these devices are respectable, but only apply to games with the lowest graphics intensity; for AAA titles like Tears of the Kingdomthe life expectancy of the battery is significantly lower. The next generation of Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch will likely improve battery life, but Xbox could prevail and surpass them in this area.

Since a big part of the appeal of these handhelds is their portability, allowing for a home console or PC experience while traveling or commuting, battery life will always be an attractive feature. Of course, most gamers won't play on these devices for 9 or 12 hours straight, but the convenience of not having to worry about charging for extended periods could be a huge boon for Xbox's foray into the handheld space. Even though that means sacrificing a compact form factor, the Xbox handheld's exceptional battery life could be just what you need to get a leg up on the competition.

At least an OLED display

When the first Switch launched in 2017, not much thought was given 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 have OLED screens, making this practically the industry standard. Although the Lenovo Legion Go doesn't have built-in OLED, it's regularly praised for its picture quality and larger-than-average screen, which improves the handheld experience for many users.

As these companies continue to upgrade their handhelds with powerful displays, the Xbox device certainly can't 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 in helping the device stand out in an increasingly competitive market. In some ways, a good display is even more important in the handheld space because, unlike console or PC gaming, the display cannot easily be upgraded for a better one. Therefore, Xbox would have to rise to the challenge and meet or ideally even exceed the standards set by the competition.

An in-the-box docking station 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 focused more on the portable side of these devices. Additionally, these non-Nintendo handhelds lack dedicated peripherals like controllers, which is obviously not the case with the Xbox. With that in mind, it seems like an obvious choice for Microsoft to support docked gaming and compatibility with existing Xbox hardware, enticing gamers to welcome the device into their established tech ecosystem.

In all likelihood, there will be more rumors and speculation about the Xbox handheld before official confirmation arrives, if that ever happens – it's still unclear whether Xbox actually plans to release such a device. But if it's actually in the works, the company could well have an uphill battle ahead: its hardware sales have already lagged the competition this generation, and if Sony, with its larger install base, is also working on a portable console, then Xbox will have to bring out the big guns.