The 15 Best Handheld Consoles Throughout The Years, Ranked

Release date: 2004

Units sold: 154 million+

Pros: A giant step in from the GBA (which was already a step up from the Game Boy Color), the original DS featured two screens, improved graphics, and it came with its own stylus. It was also backwards compatible with all GBA games.

Cons: The stylus wasn't all that great and while the idea of having two screens was revolutionary, the result is still seen as a little cumbersome. Subsequent DS releases (2DS, the DSi, etc.), would help streamline the design.

*Nintendo DS Lite, DSi, and DSi XL were also part of the DS line.

Release date: 2011

Units sold: 60 million+

Pros: The 3DS took everything that was great about the 2DS (and its subsequent redesigns) and fused them together to create an awesome 3D handheld console. Naturally, it featured backwards compatibility with all DS games.

Cons: While the 3D option was a brilliant idea, the original execution was a bit lackluster. Fortunately, most gamers simply toggled the option off and played on with ease.

*Nintendo 3DS XL, 2DS XL, and 2DS are all part of the 3DS line.

Release date: 1989

Units sold: 118 million (all Game Boy combined)

Pros: First handheld console of its kind revolutionized mobile gaming forever. It offered an amazing gaming library, something which many other handheld consoles lacked.

Cons: The OG Game Boy was a lot bulkier (and heavier) than subsequent releases, and the battery life wasn't great. The graphics also weren't anything to write home about, even during its initial run.

Release date: 2001

Units sold: 81.51 million

Pros: The Game Boy Advance was a huge step forward in terms of design, tech specs, and build. It featured brand-new left-and-right buttons and was backwards compatible with all Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges.

Cons: The Game Boy Advance didn't include a backlight, which, to be fair, helped boost the GBA's battery life. It solely ran on two AA batteries, meaning it didn't include its own rechargeable battery.

* The Game Boy Advance SP was released in 2003; the Game Boy Micro was released in 2005

Release date: 2004

Units sold: 80 million

Pros: The PlayStation Portable was arguably one of the greatest handhelds of the decades. Sporting sleek graphics, and smart streamlined designed (including an analog pad!), and a decent library, the PSP was one of the first real competitors to Nintendo handheld chokehold in years.

Cons: The PSP was a portable powerhouse, and as such it didn't come cheap. The PSP utilized disc in lieu of cartridges, which resulted in laggy load times.

Release date: 1998

Units sold: 118 million (all Game Boy combined)

Pros: After nearly 10 years, the Game Boy Color finally brought Nintendo's favorite handheld into full 8-bit color. What's more, it even enhanced most of your old Game Boy with a custom color palette.

Cons: Again, the Game Boy Color didn't include a backlit screen, which made it even harder to discern the various colors. The GBC only ran for a few years, so there weren't a whole lot of Game Boy games to take advantage of the new hardware.