The budget gaming handheld space is mostly ruled by the likes of the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck, but a number of sub-$300 ARM-powered handhelds also exist, and the PowKiddy X55 is one of them. Specifically, the PowKiddy X55 retails for as low as $90 from their website (for the 16GB base model, and on a discount from the usual $110) and starts at $145 on Amazon for a 64GB model.
Unlike most ARM-powered handhelds in this price range, the PowKiddy actually stands out by using a custom Linux distribution rather than Android, which is the usual fare for these devices. Support for the device is also being added to the mainline Linux kernel, which bodes well for both it and other devices in its class.
