Handheld game console

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A handheld game console is a lightweight, portable, completely autonomous video game console, in that controls, screen and audio outputs are built into the unit. The Game Boy, released in 1989 by Nintendo, popularized the handheld console concept.

A handheld game console, as defined for the purpose of this article, meets the following standards:

It is a fully integrated unit, with a video display and audio output (speakers and/or headphone jacks)
(as such, systems like the Sega Mega Jet, which do not have an integral display, do not qualify)
The system has its own internal power source (removable batteries or rechargable battery pack); external power may be an option
The system is not hardwired to one game, meaning that different titles may be loaded into it via physical media, cables, or wirelessly

See also: console emulator

Chronological list of handheld game consoles

Milton Bradley Microvision (1979)
Nintendo Game Boy (1989)
Atari Lynx (1989) (right/left handed switchable)
Sega Game Gear (1991) (incl TV)
Nintendo Virtual Boy (1994) (semi-portable)
Sega Genesis Nomad (1995)
SNK Neo Geo Pocket (1996)
Tiger Game.com (1997)
Nintendo Game Boy Color (1997)
Cybiko (Around 1998)
Nintendo Game Boy Advance (1999)
SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color (1999)
Wonderswan (1999)
Wonderswan Color (2000)
Game Park GP32 (2001)
Nokia N-Gage (2003) (incl mobile phone)
Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP (2003) (clamshell design)
Nintendo DS (to be launched 2004) (dual-screen, dual CPU)
Sony PSP (to be launched in Japan 2004, U.S./Europe 2005)

Undated entries:

NEC Turbo Express
Supervision
Swan Crystal
TurboGrafx-16 TurboExpress

External Links

Console Database – handheld game systems info