What’s Next? Handheld Game Consoles Through the Years

2001: Nintendo Game Boy Advance

The 32-bit successor to the Game Boy Color is the third highest-selling handheld game console of all time with over 80 million sold. It sported a 2.9″ screen, rechargeable battery and backwards compatibility with all Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. It underwent two later redesigns known as the Game Boy Advance SP in 2003 (right) and the Game Boy Micro in 2005 (bottom).

2003: Nokia N-Gage

You may laugh at it now, but to date it’s actually sold more units than the PlayStation Vita (3 million vs 2.2 million).

2004: Nintendo DS

For the DS (Dual Screen), Nintendo returned to the clamshell design first introduced in the Game Boy Advance SP, except this time there were two screens, with the lower display being touch sensitive. It also featured built-in Wi-Fi. Two redesigns would follow: the DS Lite (bottom left) in 2006 and the DSi (bottom right) in 2008. The Nintendo DS is the top-selling handheld game console of all time and second  among all game consoles.

2005: Sony PlayStation Portable

Sony’s first handheld gaming console used an optical disc (UMD) for games, featured a large 4.3″ display and could connect with the Playstation 2, Playstation 3 and the web. Some movies and TV shows were also released on UMD. The PSP underwent several revisions, including the slimmer PSP 2000 in 2007 and the totally redesigned PSP Go in 2009, which actually had a smaller 3.8″ screen and no UMD drive. The PlayStation Portable was the first big success in handheld gaming outside of Nintendo, selling over 70 million units.

2011: Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo’s latest handheld gaming device features 3D effects without the need for special 3D glasses. It can play regular Nintendo DS/DSi games. The 3DS has sold extremely well in the U.S. (over 30 million in two years), but it’s an even bigger success in Japan. In 2012, Nintendo released the 3DS XL, which features 90% larger screens, but with the same resolution.

2012: Sony PlayStation Vita

As the successor to Sony’s popular PSP, the PS Vita has received accolades for its powerful hardware, but so far has fallen short in the software department, lacking a standout game. Sales have been a disappointment; to date the Vita has sold just over 2 million units.

2013: Nvidia Shield

With a price tag of $350, this Android-based handheld game console is aimed squarely at gamers who want a more powerful experience than you’d find on your average smartphone. You’ll also be able to stream select Steam games (PC required, of course).