If you already own a Steam Deck, then why not just use that?
this post was submitted on 28 May 2026
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https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+Battery+Replacement/149070
Looks like replacing the battery of a Steam Deck is possible but an experience. Not sure how it compares to other handhelds though.
I use my phone and a cheap controller that the phone slots in to. Has not failed me yet. Well, that's not true, it's powerful enough to emulate Wii games but the motion controls are hard to replicate without an actual Wii remote. That, and I want for a PS2 emulator, failing that, it's been great.
Seconding @SippyCup@lemmy.world here - if you have a smartphone that’s less than 5 years old, long-term I think it makes more sense to use that with a split/mount controller (something like an 8BitDo Ultimate or Razer Kishi V2).
You could probably get an older Android phone and do some cool stuff with a telescopic controller. For those, Snapdragon chips usually have the best drivers for emulation. There are many Android phones, particularly older ones, with plentiful replacement parts and solid custom ROM support. If you live in the EU, the Fairphone is super repairable, but I'm not sure how the chip performs for emulation. I think the GameSir X5 Lite is a good option for a phone controller, it is cheap with a USB-C bit at the end, and the green colourway looks really nice. Unless you want to do portrait orientation with a tablet, wireless options are worse since it's an additional non-replaceable battery to charge that will die in a few years.
You could also get old consoles, and in many places you can purchase them pre-modded too.
About batteries, check if any from other devices, like phones and the sort, match the output yours has.