Here is my personal list of the top 8 retro handhelds this year that are not only affordable (some priced under $50), but also efficient and very much user friendly. See which of these devices I own, and what I have to say about each of them. Let’s get straight into the news!
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What Can These Devices Really Do?
Handheld emulators can do a lot, both in terms of retro gaming and their bonus features that you might not have been aware of when clicking on this article. The features that are present on most retro handheld models, even the most basic ones include (to name a few):
- Quick saves and quick loads, game save slots, fast-forward function, all quickly accessible using simple button shortcuts.
- Extensive set of physical controls compatible out-of-the-box with tens of different emulated consoles, with the possibility of almost unrestricted input buttons customization within the software.
- Hundreds of pre-loaded retro games, in case of most of the listed consoles.
- Long hours of battery life – especially when it comes to emulating older systems.
- Firmware made specifically for emulation, which most of the time has tons of well-thought quality-of-life features, with many devices having the option of easily sideloading custom 3rd party community made firmware.
And that’s certainly not all! Depending on your chosen model, you might have even more features on hand, especially with the higher end devices (you can find them at the very end of this list). There are a few reasons why retro handhelds are getting popular lately, and there’s also a reason why I already own more than one! Read on to learn even more.
Is An Emulator Handheld Worth It If You Already Have a Smartphone?
This is a question I get almost every day. No, seriously. And the straightforward answer would be that it really depends on a few factors: Do you like having physical controls on hand? Do you like the thought of having a separate pocketable device for some on-the-go gaming that is different from your phone?
For me, having a small emulator device on me when I’m traveling or in commute is really great, not only because of the “cool factor”. Having the ability to make use of button layouts which resemble the actual handhelds and controllers from the olden days, carrying a device with a battery separate from the one on my smartphone, having almost instant access to hundreds of different games without cluttering my phone’s memory, and being able to play without being distracted by notifications are only a few things from the top of my head.
If these sound good to you, plus you don’t like to use external controllers for your smartphone, or suffer using the overlay on-screen display controls, then if I were you I wouldn’t think twice before getting myself a brand new emulator handheld. The only question now is: which one to choose? Well, here is a list of the top retro handheld devices available this year, hand-picked and reviewed by me for your convenience!
1. R36S Retro Handheld
- Excellent screen quality.
- Emulates systems up to PS1 and PSP.
- The analog sticks are a pleasure to use.
- Replaceable battery.
- Comes full of pre-loaded games.
- Performs well only up to the PS1 console generation.
- Certainly won’t fit in all pockets.
- Somewhat stiff controls.
The R36S is definitely my favorite handheld on this list, and the one I personally use as my pocket “daily driver” for my on-the-go retro gaming sessions. You can see my full hands-on review of this device here. This little console is not only powerful enough to pretty much run all systems up to PS1 (included) without any trouble, but it can even tackle some PSP games like Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection!
Gaining popularity extremely quick in the last few months, this is definitely one of the first emulator handhelds you should consider when planning to purchase one this year. And one more thing – the price. It makes it even more worth it when you see what it is!
2. Miyoo Mini
- Arguably one of the best designed handhelds on this list.
- Has an updated version with larger screen – Miyoo Mini Plus.
- Excellent community support.
- Onion OS as optional 3rd party firmware.
- Might not be the best for people with large hands.
- If you want to emulate consoles like N64 and newer, this device is not for you.
Before the R36S hit the market, the Miyoo Mini was the king of pocket emulators, and for some (including me) it is still in the top 5 of the best designed small form factor consoles out there. In terms of functionality and performance it’s very close to the R35S/R36S console lineup, and in terms of overall handling it’s arguably even better for many people out there (this time not including me).
It also has one of the most well-maintained custom firmware projects going on – the Onion OS. This community made system has so many quality-of-life features, I was tempted to get the Miyoo instead of my R36S just because of that! If I got you interested, wait until we get to the Miyoo Mini Plus, which is the updated version of the basic Mini with a larger screen and a few other upgrades on board. We’re going to talk about it in a very short while!
3. Powkiddy V90
- Classic retro clamshell design based on the Gameboy Advance SP.
- Alongside the Anbernic RG280V, this device can actually fit in your pocket.
- One of the best budget picks out there.
- Not that powerful compared to the other handhelds listed.
- The hinge can easily get worn out with lots of use.
- Has some reported issues with screen-tearing.
Another console I keep on hand quite often, and the other one I own is the Powkiddy v90. This is the only device on this list with clamshell foldable design based on the classic Gameboy Advance SP, and simultaneously the most pocketable console on this list!
While this one isn’t quite as powerful as the two previously mentioned, it’s form factor and price really do make up for that. If you’re all about having your console always on you for quick gaming sessions in transit or during commute, this is the one you should keep an eye on. Oh, and the Anbernic RG280V, which is the number 5 on this list!
4. XU10 Handheld
- Very similar to the R36S.
- Sleek & modern shell design.
- High quality input buttons.
- Its size makes it semi-portable at best in my eyes.
- It’s default OS might be a little bit clunky here & there.
The XU10 is a console which is nowadays most commonly compared to the R36S. And for a good reason. In terms of performance these two consoles are nearly the same, and when it comes to their design and ergonomics, it’s really the question of personal preference, as they both feature almost identical control layouts.
The only thing that I would say is a little bit off on the XU10 is its default OS, which doesn’t really shine in comparison with the ArkOS on the R36S and the default operating system of the Miyoo Mini. When the custom firmware for this one arrives though, I will surely consider getting myself one!
Check out also: R36S Handheld Game Console Hands-On Review
5. Anbernic RG280V
- The very definition of a “portable” emulator handheld.
- Great build quality and nicely thought out control layout.
- Overall premium feel despite its small size.
- This form factor is certainly not for everyone.
- If you’re not aiming for pocketability, it might be too small for you.
This one is a little bit different. The Anbernic RG280V is a console that takes the pocket approach to the next level. With its 2.8-inch screen and well thought out control layout it’s surprisingly convenient to use, despite it’s rather unorthodox design. One thing I can say is about it for sure is that it feels and handles way different from what you would think by just looking at it on the product photos!
If you’re aiming for the “pocket factor”, this might just be your goto console. It’s honestly quite amazing how these days such small devices can emulate hundreds of games from tens of consoles back from the olden days. You won’t find a smaller sized device in this whole roundup!
6. Miyoo Mini Plus
- All in all, an updated version of the Miyoo Mini.
- Larger shell & screen, larger battery, added Wi-Fi module.
- Comes full of pre-loaded games.
- Pretty much the same guts as the original Miyoo Mini, no real bump in performance.
- Once again, for some it might be a little too big for a “pocket” emulator.
As promised, here is the Miyoo Mini Plus, which is the successor of the original Miyoo Mini, with a larger screen, larger battery and a built-in Wi-Fi chip allowing for multiplayer gameplay and easier firmware updates. While being a little bit bigger than the original Mini it still retains its ergonomics, and is a real beast when it comes to emulating classic consoles, once again up to the PS1 era. The previously mentioned Onion OS is also available for this model.
If you’re wondering if it’s better to choose the plus over the standard Miyoo Mini, it’s best to think about how you’re going to handle the console. If you need a device that will fit inside your pocket with no trouble and you can go with the smaller form factor, pick the earlier version. Otherwise, you can safely go with the Plus model, as the overall experience is about the same.
7. Anbernic RG405M
- A real powerhouse in terms of performance.
- Can emulate most PS2 games!
- Great quality controls.
- Solid & sturdy build.
- A little bit pricier than the other consoles listed.
- Personal bias: I don’t really like Android-based handhelds that much.
This one is yet again, a little bit different from the others. The Anbernic RG405M runs on Android, and on a much more powerful chipset than the previously mentioned consoles. It also has a large 4500 mAh battery. This means, among other things, that it can run systems like PSP and PS2 with no problem, and you can even use it with Moonlight game streaming software if you’d like to.
This little console is a step up from the simpler handhelds running on less powerful processors, and is a great pick for those of you who want to emulate more recent consoles without any hiccups. While I always prefer custom firmware over Android-based handhelds, this console alongside with the next one were the ones I also seriously considered to use as my goto daily devices both in terms of their design and sheer hardware performance.
8. Retroid Pocket 4 Pro
- Outstanding emulation performance, no.1 device on this list.
- Can even run some Switch games!
- High quality screen & large battery.
- Certainly not the cheapest option.
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro offers an even larger 5000mAh battery, a 4.7 inch, 750×1334 display, and is currently one of the best performing pocket emulators you can get. It’s also based on an Android operating system, and it can run virtually every game from the very basic retro consoles, up to the PS2, GameCube and even Nintendo Switch (!).
This console is definitely the strongest one on this list when it comes to performance. If you’re searching for the absolute top-notch device for your retro gaming sessions – go for it and you certainly won’t regret it!
Which One Do I Use?
As I’ve already mentioned quite a few times, from all the consoles listed here, I have used both the R36S Handheld, which is for me a clear winner when it comes to the best pocket retro handheld console this year emulating systems up to PS1, and the Powkiddy v90 which I keep as my spare portable emulator for the on-the-go use. With that said, there are also two special devices I need to mention here that are just wonderful when it comes to emulation performance and can handle much newer systems.
These two devices are my Steam Deck (the very first generation – see my full review here if you plan on getting yourself one this year), and my old PS Vita which I have modded to use it with all sorts of emulators and homebrew applications. If you’re searching for a device from this very list with similar top-notch emulation performance, you’d be best off getting the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro.
Besides that, there are many other devices available on today’s market, however all that are listed here are the ones I can personally get behind, and that I considered when picking the perfect set of handheld emulators for me. Hope I was able to help you out at least a bit! Until next time!
