What is the oldest handheld game console?

The oldest handheld game console is the Mattel Auto Race, released in September 1976. It sparked the portable gaming revolution with its rudimentary LED display and simple racing gameplay. Here's the full breakdown:

🏁 1. Mattel Auto Race (1976)

  • Display: 11x11 grid of red LEDs (no traditional screen).

  • Gameplay: Dodge vertical rows of LEDs ("cars") while racing.

  • Tech: Powered by a single 9V battery; used calculator-style components.

  • Legacy: First battery-powered electronic handheld with a digital display.

  • Price: $25 (~$130 today).

  • Flaw: Limited gameplay depth, no sound.

  • Collector Value: Rare; mint units sell for $500+ today.

🔄 2. Milton Bradley Microvision (1979)

  • Innovation: First handheld with interchangeable cartridges.

  • Tech: 16x16 pixel LCD screen (prone to "screen rot").

  • Games: Block Buster, Pinball, Star Trek — 12 total.

  • Why Historic: Paved the way for Game Boy/DS cartridges.

  • Downfall: Fragile, poor battery life.

🕹️ 3. Nintendo Game & Watch (1980)

  • Impact: Perfected single-game LCD handhelds; sold 43M+ units.

  • Key Model: Ball (1980) — Nintendo’s first handheld.

  • Revolution: Introduced the D-pad (Donkey Kong, 1982).

⚖️ Why "Auto Race" Wins

Feature Mattel Auto Race (1976) Microvision (1979)
Release Year 1976 1979
Display LED grid LCD
Games 1 (fixed) 12 (cartridges)
Legacy First-ever handheld First cartridges

💎 The Significance

  • The Auto Race proved portable electronic gaming was possible — inspiring giants like Nintendo.

  • Its LED tech evolved into LCDs (Game & Watch) and later color screens (Game Boy Color).

  • Modern handhelds (Switch, Steam Deck) owe their existence to these 1970s experiments.

🔍 Where to See It Today

🕰️ Fun Fact: The designer, George Klose, repurposed LED tech from calculators — gaming’s first "hardware hack"!

The Mattel Auto Race is where portable gaming began — a humble grid of red lights that ignited a $50B industry 🚀.