Nostalgia on the rise: 5 classic portable consoles to play in 2026
The search for timeless gaming experiences is not limited to the latest releases. Several portable consoles, introduced on the market in the last fifteen years, continue to offer many hours of entertainment, whether due to the strong nostalgia they provide, the vast library of titles already established or the ease of finding them for purchase today. The selection brings together five of these classic devices, evaluated by specialized publications, to help you decide which one best suits your playing style.
Among the options chosen, the Nintendo Switch Lite stands out as the most affordable alternative, available from R$1,435, allowing entry into Nintendo’s hybrid ecosystem with a smaller investment. On the other hand, the New Nintendo 3DS XL, recognized for improving the 3D capacity of the original model, is the highest value item in the selection, costing from R$3,798. All values were verified during research in August 2026 and may be modified without notice.
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- Nintendo Switch Lite: ideal for maximum portability;
- Nintendo Switch 1 + Super Mario Bros. Wonder: excellent for hybrid experience with initial game;
- PlayStation Vita: focused on detailed graphics and multitasking;
- New Nintendo 2DS XL: offers the best value for money in the 3DS family;
- New Nintendo 3DS XL: perfect for those looking for a 3D effect without giving up resources.
How the selection of portable consoles was defined
The list was drawn up based on the analysis of five devices that have been tested by various specialized publications over time. The criteria included design, control system, battery life and the general performance of each device in its respective category. Considering that these consoles belong to different generations and segments, the focus of the comparison was not to determine the most powerful, but rather the value and experience that each one still offers in the current gaming scenario.
Crucial Points to Consider Before Purchasing an Old Portable Console
- Actual battery life:Data from manufacturers tends to be optimistic. It is prudent to check autonomy in practical tests, which is generally lower, especially in games that demand more hardware.
- Storage and expansion capacity:Consoles from previous generations often have little internal memory. Checking compatibility with external memory cards is essential to avoid future problems.
- Control Type:The gaming experience can vary greatly depending on the format of the controls, whether with removable Joy-Con, physical directional pads or a touch screen. It’s important to choose the style that best aligns with your way of playing.
- Device condition:As many of these consoles are used or from remaining stock, it is essential to confirm the origin and condition before finalizing the purchase.
Nintendo Switch Lite: portability and savings for the Nintendo experience
Available from R$1,435, the Nintendo Switch Lite was introduced at the end of 2019 as a more compact version of the original Switch, focusing on practicality. Its hardware configuration is the same as the standard console, ensuring that the Nintendo Switch’s full library of games, including titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8, Pokémon and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, works without any performance degradation. The only caveat is in games that require the use of Joy-Con separately, such as 1-2-Switch, which are not compatible without purchasing additional controls.
Specialist analyzes indicate that the device does away with TV mode and removable Joy-Cons in favor of a more compact structure, with a 5.5-inch screen and an entirely plastic finish, resulting in a lower weight than the standard model. This decrease in size has been noted to significantly improve ergonomics, especially for users with smaller hands, offering a more comfortable fit. Another important modification is the inclusion of a physical directional pad in D-Pad format, which is advantageous for fighting games, such as Dragon Ball FighterZ, and also for platform titles that require more precise commands.
“The Switch Lite loses and gains in practicality, in terms of design. It provides a more focused ‘single player’ experience, while being lighter and more pleasant to hold. However, it loses a major attraction of the device that Nintendo itself uses in marketing to this day, which is the possibility of playing on larger screens and using separate Joy-Cons for multiplayer”, said Felipe Vinha.
Available from R$1,435, the Nintendo Switch Lite is especially recommended for users who prioritize mobility and solo games. The console offers the same system and the same vast library of games compatible with the Switch line, all in a more compact design. However, this practicality for daily transport comes at the expense of the versatility of the standard hybrid model.
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- Advantages:Lightweight design and lower cost than the original Switch; Physical D-Pad that improves gameplay in fighting and platform titles; Full access to the entire Switch catalogue, including hits like The Legend of Zelda and Mario Kart.
- Disadvantages:Lack of support for TV mode; Integrated Joy-Con, which restricts local multiplayer and games that require separate controls; hardware performance identical to the previous model, without improvements.
Nintendo Switch: the original hybrid console with Super Mario Bros. Wonder
With a starting price of R$1,859, the Nintendo Switch, launched in March 2017, consolidated the concept of a hybrid console, which allows you to switch between playing on TV and in portable mode on a single device. It features a 6.2-inch screen with 720p resolution, a custom Nvidia Tegra processor and 32 GB of internal space, expandable via microSD card.
Its Joy-Con, which can be detached and has HD motion and vibration sensors, enables local multiplayer sessions from the first use. This feature was a positive point in games released with the console, such as 1-2-Switch and Snipperclips. The 4,310 mAh battery has an announced autonomy of up to six hours, but real tests indicated a duration closer to three hours in games that demand more processing, such as Breath of the Wild.
Currently, the console’s game library has expanded considerably since its launch, with classics like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet working without problems. The package that includes Super Mario Bros. Wonder, one of the most acclaimed 2D platformers of the generation, offers an excellent reason to dive into this universe. Experts in the field note that the ability to transition between portable and TV modes is the console’s biggest differentiator, allowing games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to continue without interruptions when removing the device from the dock.
A comment from a specialized publication points out that Nintendo has always demonstrated boldness in creating video game hardware, and this approach has often generated positive results. Examples such as the two-screen portable (DS) and the motion control system (Wii) sold more than 100 million units each, establishing themselves among the best-selling consoles in history.
The set, available from R$1,859 and including Super Mario Bros. Wonder, is ideal for those who want the full experience of the original hybrid model, offering the flexibility to play both on the television and in any room in the house, without sacrificing the local multiplayer fun with the detached Joy-Con.
- Advantages:Smooth transition between TV and laptop modes; Joy-Con equipped with HD motion and vibration sensors, ready for local multiplayer sessions; the package already comes with Super Mario Bros. Wonder, allowing immediate access to a vast collection of exclusive titles.
- Disadvantages:Actual battery life is considerably lower than promised in games that require more resources; the friend code system for adding contacts is not very intuitive; only 32 GB of internal storage, requiring a microSD card for larger games.
PlayStation Vita: Sony’s portable with advanced graphics and controller innovations
With a starting price of R$2,247, the PlayStation Vita, introduced in Brazil in 2012, represented the pinnacle of Sony portables at its time. It featured a 5-inch OLED screen and a graphic quality that was close to desktop consoles of that period, according to expert reviews. The device integrates two analog sticks, classic buttons and two touchscreen panels, one front and one rear, designed to expand the possibilities of interaction in games.
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Titles like Uncharted: Golden Abyss made good use of these touch features when the console launched. It was possible, for example, to determine a character’s climbing path with a simple touch on the screen, or ascend a rope by sliding your fingers on the back panel. In games like FIFA, players could make passes by indicating the target on the front screen and finish the move using the rear panel, providing a unique experience for a laptop of that generation.
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“The PS Vita is an impressive laptop. The graphics quality leaves behind its competitors, such as the Nintendo 3DS, and stands up to the main desktop consoles, such as the PS3 and Xbox 360. The design and features are also two major attractions, but the cameras leave something to be desired”, said Diego Borges.
The ability to multitask was also a point praised in the reviews, allowing applications such as Netflix, PS Store and messaging platforms to remain open while playing, an unusual feature for notebooks of that era. On the other hand, the battery lasted only around two and a half hours in intense use during the tests. Furthermore, the console requires an exclusive memory card, as it does not have internal storage to install games such as Persona 4 The Golden and Gravity Rush, titles much appreciated by fans.
Available from R$2,247, the PS Vita is recommended for those looking for a superior visual experience and are willing to purchase a memory card separately, in order to take advantage of the console’s library of exclusive games.
- Advantages:OLED screen with graphics considered advanced for its period; two touchscreen panels that expand interaction possibilities in games like Uncharted and FIFA; good multitasking ability, supporting the simultaneous execution of multiple applications.
- Disadvantages:Battery life of just over two hours under intense use; need for a proprietary memory card, sold separately, due to the lack of internal storage; low image quality cameras.
New Nintendo 2DS XL: access to the 3DS catalog without the three-dimensional effect
Launched in 2017 and with a starting price of R$2,879, the New Nintendo 2DS In this console, spaces for game cards and memory are discreetly located under a cover, a feature that was well received in reviews for preventing accidental ejection during gameplay.
On the other hand, the design presented some points considered to be setbacks, such as the stylus pen that is shorter than the previous version and the relocation of the augmented reality cameras to the bottom. However, these changes do not prevent access to games like Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon or Fire Emblem Echoes Shadows of Valentia.
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Expert evaluations indicate that the device maintained almost all of the features of the New 3DS XL, such as the C-Stick and the Amiibo reader, ensuring compatibility with the same game library as the higher-cost model. The design has been improved at the top, which is now thinner as it only houses the screen, while the other components have been concentrated at the base of the console. This change in proportions, according to the analyses, helped the device adapt comfortably to different hand sizes, facilitating gameplay in titles that use the touch screen, such as Hey! Pikmin.
A journalist from a trade publication expressed great appreciation for the design of the New Nintendo 2DS XL. According to him, the system’s dimensions were significantly reduced, with a reduction in weight, width and height, resulting in a compact and comfortable device for hands of any size. The author, who has large hands, highlighted that the format adapted perfectly.
Sold from R$2,879, the New Nintendo 2DS
- Advantages:Full access to the 3DS catalog for a lower cost; ergonomic design that adapts to hands of different sizes; card compartments protected by a cover, preventing interruptions during matches.
- Disadvantages:Does not offer the 3D effect present in the more expensive model; the stylus is smaller and less comfortable; the augmented reality cameras are positioned in an inconvenient way.
New Nintendo 3DS XL: Enhanced 3D effect and performance for demanding games
With a starting price of R$3,798, the New Nintendo 3DS XL, launched in 2015 as an update to the original 3DS, introduced Super-Stable 3D technology, which adjusts the three-dimensional effect according to the player’s head movements. Expert reviews indicate that the functionality operates effectively, making a good impression by demonstrating the ability to move the head sideways and watch the 3D adapt quickly. However, a slight delay in response was noted, which may cause visual discomfort during periods of prolonged use.
The C-Stick, a tiny extra analog stick, similar to those found on ThinkPad notebooks, was also a notable point in the analysis, mainly because it simplifies camera control in games that support the Circle Pad Pro accessory. On the other hand, the additional triggers, positioned in a not so intuitive way next to the standard shoulder buttons, generated divergent opinions in the tests carried out.
Specialized publications classified the New Nintendo 3DS XL as a transition console, similar to the Nintendo DSi, which implements improvements without constituting a complete generation change. The system’s main improvement lies in loading speed: although gaming performance is comparable to the previous model, boot times have been drastically reduced, especially in longer titles like Super Smash Bros.
The console’s screen was an aspect that generated attention: the resolution remained unchanged compared to the previous model, and the automatic brightness adjustment was considered inferior to that of smartphones at the time, according to reviews. However, support for games such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, which exclusively required the more robust hardware of the New 3DS to operate, and the agility in reading Amiibo, continue to add value to the device for those who wish to explore the entire 3DS line library without limitations.
Sold from R$3,798, the New Nintendo 3DS
- Advantages:Effective Super-Stable 3D technology, with automatic adjustment to head movement; significantly faster loading speeds compared to the original 3DS, especially in large games; the C-Stick enhances camera control in supported titles and exclusively supports games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3D.
- Disadvantages:The screen resolution showed no advances compared to the previous model; adaptive brightness has been shown to be inconsistent during use; Super-Stable 3D may, in certain cases, cause visual discomfort in some individuals.
