| 1. | PlayStation Portable (2004/2005) - First use of optical media; uses Memory Sticks for saved data; plays movies and music and views JPEG pictures. |
| 2. | Sega Game Gear (1991) - Architecturally similar to Sega Master System, notable accessory firsts include a TV tuner |
| 3. | PlayStation Portable Slim & Lite (2007) - Redesign of PlayStation Portable (PSP), including smaller size, lighter weight, Video out capability, USB charge, and other changes. |
| 4. | Game Boy Advance (2001) - First 32-bit handheld |
| 5. | Nintendo Game Boy (1989) - First internationally successful handheld game console[citation needed] |
| 6. | Neo Geo Pocket (1996) - Unrelated to Neo Geo consoles or arcade systems save for name |
| 7. | Nintendo Virtual Boy (1994) - Monochromatic (red only) 3D goggle set, only semi-portable; first 3D portable |
| 8. | Nintendo DS Lite (2006) - Redesign of DS, including smaller size, brighter screen levels, and other subtle changes. |
| 9. | Game Boy Color (1998) |
| 10. | Game Boy Advance SP (2003) - Redesign of GBA: slimmer, clamshell form factor; frontlit screen |
| 11. | Sega Nomad (1995) - Played normal Sega Genesis cartridges, albeit at lower resolution |
| 12. | Game Boy Micro (2005) - Redesign of GBA; smallest Game Boy form factor to date, first transflective LCD screen in a handheld. |
| 13. | Game Boy Advance SP (Backlit) - A low key re-release of the GBA SP with a backlit screen. |
| 14. | Milton Bradley Microvision (1979) |
| 15. | Epoch Game Pocket Computer - (1984) - Japanese only; not a success[citation needed] |
| 16. | Atari Lynx (1989) - First backlit/color screen, first hardware capable of accelerated 3d drawing |
| 17. | NEC TurboExpress (1990, Japan; 1991, North America) - Played huCard (TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine) games, first console/handheld intercompatibility |
| 18. | Watara Supervision (1992) - first handheld with TV-OUT support; although the Super Game Boy was only a compatibility layer for the preceding game boy. |
| 19. | Sega Mega Jet (1992) - no screen, made for Japan Air Lines (first handheld without a screen) |
| 20. | Mega Duck/Cougar Boy (1993) - 4 level grayscale 2,7" LCD - Stereo sound - rare, sold in Europe and Brazil |
| 21. | Game Boy Pocket (1996) - Slimmer redesign of Game Boy |
| 22. | Game Boy Pocket Light (1997) - Japanese only backlit version of the Game Boy Pocket |
| 23. | Tiger game.com (1997) - First touch screen, first Internet support (with use of sold-separately modem) |
| 24. | Cybiko (Around 1998) |
| 25. | Playblock (around 1998, possibly earlier) |
| 26. | Sony PocketStation (1998) - Japanese only PS1 memory card / portable mini console in one. |
| 27. | SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color (1999) |
| 28. | Bandai WonderSwan (1999) - Developed by Gumpei Yokoi after leaving Nintendo |
| 29. | Bandai WonderSwan Color (2000) |
| 30. | Game Park GP32 (2001) - first with full homebrew support |
| 31. | Bandai Swan Crystal (2002) - Minor redesign of WonderSwan Color |
| 32. | N-Gage (2003) - Game system and GSM cell phone (first combination of the two); first included mp3 player and FM radio; used Bluetooth (first wireless multiplayer); first use of GPRS for online play |
| 33. | Gameking (2003) - first handheld developed by a Chinese company. |
| 34. | Tapwave Zodiac (2004) - First PDA/game handheld hybrid; Palm OS PDA with game-focused form factor and features |
| 35. | Nokia N-Gage QD (2004) - Redesign of N-Gage, removed mp3 playback and radio |
| 36. | Nintendo DS (2004) - First inclusion of dual screens, built-in microphone, and Wi-Fi for wireless multiplayer; touchscreen |
| 37. | Gizmondo (2005) - Uses GPRS network; first inclusion of GPS for location-based games, first built-in camera |
| 38. | XGP (2005) and Game Park Holdings GP2X (2005) - Successor units to the GP32 handheld, each being developed by the two companies that split off from Game Park. |
| 39. | Ez MINI (2005) by Shanda |
| 40. | VG Pocket Caplet Upgraded VG Pocket Max. |