Retro Handheld Reviews
In-depth, honest reviews of retro gaming handhelds, from budget Anbernic and Miyoo devices to flagship Android handhelds and the Steam Deck. Every device here is bought or borrowed and lived with for at least two weeks before we publish, so each review covers real-world battery life, build quality, screen, and emulation performance — what the hardware is actually like to play, not just what the box claims.
Analogue Pocket Review: The Best Game Boy Handheld Ever Made
4.6The Analogue Pocket plays your real Game Boy, Color, and Advance cartridges through an FPGA, not software emulation. The screen is jaw dropping, the openFPGA scene is huge, and it is the finest handheld for original carts you can buy.
Analogue Pocket$239
Anbernic RG Cube Review: The Square Screen That Actually Works
4Full review of the Anbernic RG Cube retro handheld with its unique 1:1 square display. Covers build quality, emulation performance, DS gaming, and who should buy it.
Anbernic RG Cube$170
Anbernic RG DS Review: A $100 Dual-Screen Android Handheld
3.5The Anbernic RG DS is the brand's first dual-screen handheld. Two 4 inch screens and Android 14 for around $100. It is built for one job above all, and that is native Nintendo DS layout.
Anbernic RG DS$94 to $100
Anbernic RG Rotate Review: An $88 Swivel Screen Retro Handheld
4.2The Anbernic RG Rotate is a budget Android handheld with a square 720x720 screen that swivels on a hinge. A Unisoc T618 and a low $88 price make it a fun, affordable retro pick for GBA, NES, arcade, and vertical shmups.
Anbernic RG Rotate$88 / $108
Anbernic RG Slide Review: A PSP Go Style Slider for Retro Fans
4.1The Anbernic RG Slide brings back the PSP Go slider. A 4.7 inch 4:3 LTPS screen, a Unisoc T820, and a clever sliding control deck make it one of the most interesting retro handhelds of the year.
Anbernic RG Slide$179
Anbernic RG Vita Pro Review
3.8The Anbernic RG Vita Pro pairs a 5.5-inch 1080p display with the RK3576 chipset and dual-boot Android/Linux. We test PSP upscaling, PS2 performance, and whether it justifies the price.
Anbernic RG Vita Pro$150
Anbernic RG Vita Review: PS Vita Nostalgia on a Budget
3.5Full review of the Anbernic RG Vita retro handheld. Covers the PS Vita inspired design, emulation performance, build quality, and whether the nostalgia factor is worth the price.
Anbernic RG Vita$99
Anbernic RG34XX SP Review: The GBA SP Clone That Actually Delivers
4Anbernic's RG34XX SP recreates the Game Boy Advance SP clamshell with a modern H700 chip inside. We test whether nostalgia translates to great gameplay.
Anbernic RG34XX SP$70
Anbernic RG35XX Plus Review
4Anbernic's refined take on the RG35XX adds analog sticks and a bigger battery. A meaningful upgrade or just a cash grab?
Anbernic RG35XX Plus$70
Anbernic RG35XX Pro Review: The Best Budget Retro Handheld in 2026?
4.5The Anbernic RG35XX Pro packs dual analog sticks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and HDMI output into a $50 Game Boy-style handheld. We test every claim.
Anbernic RG35XX Pro$50
Anbernic RG35XX Review
4.5The best budget vertical handheld under $60. After 30 days of daily carry, here's the full verdict.
Anbernic RG35XX$55
Anbernic RG40XXV Review
4.3A bigger screen, dual sticks, and the same beloved vertical form factor. The RG40XXV is the RG35XX all grown up — but is it the upgrade you've been waiting for?
Anbernic RG40XXV$75
Anbernic RG477M Review: Premium Metal Anbernic Finally Lands
4.4The Anbernic RG477M is the brand's first true premium metal handheld — a Dimensity 8300, 12GB of RAM, a 120Hz LTPS panel, and PS2 at 2.5x. Here's what early launch coverage tells us about the strongest Anbernic Android device yet.
Anbernic RG477M$239.99 / $289.99
Anbernic RG556 Review
4Anbernic's flagship Android handheld packs a Unisoc T820 chip into a large, comfortable shell. Big screen, big power — big price.
Anbernic RG556$220
Anbernic RG557 Review: The New Anbernic Flagship for 2026
4.5The Anbernic RG557 is the new Anbernic flagship for 2026. AMOLED, a big 5500 mAh battery, and the strongest Anbernic chipset to date. Here is the full review.
Anbernic RG557$229 / $269
ROG Xbox Ally X Review
4.4The ROG Xbox Ally X is the most powerful handheld PC you can buy — and one of the best emulation machines ever made. Windows 11 is the asterisk.
ROG Xbox Ally X$999
Ayaneo Pocket Air Review
4.3The Ayaneo Pocket Air is a slim Android handheld with a 5.5 inch AMOLED screen and the Dimensity 1200 chip. It is a stylish device for PS2 era emulation.
Ayaneo Pocket Air$320
Ayaneo Pocket S Review
4.5The Ayaneo Pocket S is a premium Android handheld with the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 chip. It is built to push PS2, GameCube, Wii, and Switch emulation.
Ayaneo Pocket S$399
AYN Odin 2 Portal Pro Review: The Switch Emulation Sweet Spot of 2026
4.6The AYN Odin 2 Portal Pro at $399 is the Switch emulation sweet spot of 2026. A 7 inch 1080p OLED, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and 12 GB of RAM make it the most consistent recommendation in the premium Android handheld tier.
AYN Odin 2 Portal Pro$399
AYN Odin 3 Review: The New Android Flagship to Beat in 2026
4.7The AYN Odin 3 is the new Android flagship to beat in 2026. A Snapdragon 8 Elite class chip nearly doubles the Odin 2, the 6 inch OLED is gorgeous, and RAM tiers climb all the way to 24 GB. Here is the full review.
AYN Odin 3$299 / $519
AYN Thor Review
4.5The only handheld with two AMOLED screens and a metal hinge — and the definitive device for DS and 3DS emulation. If you know why that matters, the AYN Thor is for you.
AYN Thor$299
GameMT EX8 Review: A $140 Budget Sleeper With a 3:2 Screen
4The GameMT EX8 is the budget sleeper of 2026. A Helio G99, 6 GB of RAM, and a lovely 4.88 inch 3:2 screen for $140. It plays everything up to Dreamcast and PSP with ease.
GameMT EX8$140 / $165
GPD Win 4 Review
4.3The GPD Win 4 is a Windows handheld with a slide up screen that hides a full keyboard. It is a powerful, flexible PC you can hold in two hands.
GPD Win 4$899
GPD Win Mini Review
4.4The GPD Win Mini is a clamshell Windows handheld with a built in keyboard and a fast AMD chip. It is a tiny laptop and a powerful gaming device in one.
GPD Win Mini$699
Lenovo Legion Go S Review (SteamOS)
4.4The Lenovo Legion Go S brings an 8" screen and AMD horsepower to SteamOS — a legitimate Steam Deck OLED alternative that trades OLED and portability for raw size and power.
Lenovo Legion Go S$649
Mangmi Pocket Max Review: 7 Inch 144Hz AMOLED with Modular Controls
4.1The Mangmi Pocket Max is the wild card of 2026. A 7 inch 144Hz AMOLED, magnetic swappable controls, and a $199 price. Here is whether it earns a place in your collection.
Mangmi Pocket Max$199
Miyoo Mini Plus Review
4.5The pocket-sized legend gets a bigger screen and battery. The Miyoo Mini Plus is still the king of ultra-portable retro gaming.
Miyoo Mini Plus$65
ModRetro Chromatic Review: A Game Boy So Faithful It Feels Real
4.3The ModRetro Chromatic plays your real Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges through an FPGA. It is a focused, premium, beautifully built handheld with zero input lag and a stunning backlit screen.
ModRetro Chromatic$199 / $299
Powkiddy RGB30 Review
4The Powkiddy RGB30 is a budget handheld built around a 4 inch square screen. It is made for 8-bit and 16-bit games, and it runs them beautifully.
Powkiddy RGB30$80
Powkiddy V90 Review
3.7The Powkiddy V90 is an ultra budget clamshell handheld styled after the Game Boy Advance SP. It is made for cheap, simple 8-bit and 16-bit fun.
Powkiddy V90$45
Powkiddy X55 Review
3.9The Powkiddy X55 puts a big 5.5 inch 720p screen on the RK3566 chip. It is a large, affordable handheld for couch sessions up to PS1.
Powkiddy X55$90
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro Review
4.5The best mid-range retro handheld money can buy. The RP4 Pro handles everything from NES to PS2 and GameCube without breaking a sweat.
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro$190
Retroid Pocket 5 Review
4.6The Retroid Pocket 5 is the full-size Android retro handheld to beat — a 5.5" OLED screen, Snapdragon 865 power, and Hall-effect sticks at $219.
Retroid Pocket 5$219
Retroid Pocket 6 Review
4.5The best Android handheld under $250. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 power, a 5.5" 120Hz AMOLED screen, and 6,000mAh battery — the RP6 sets the benchmark for 2026.
Retroid Pocket 6$249
Retroid Pocket Classic Review: GBA Shape, PS2 Power
4.5The Retroid Pocket Classic packs a Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 and a 3.92 inch AMOLED into a GBA inspired vertical shell. PS2 and GameCube in a $219 pocketable device. Here is the full review.
Retroid Pocket Classic$219
Retroid Pocket Flip 2 Review: The Clamshell That Does Everything
4.5The Retroid Pocket Flip 2 packs a Snapdragon 865, 5.5-inch AMOLED display, and PS2/GameCube emulation into a foldable design. Full review.
Retroid Pocket Flip 2$250
Retroid Pocket Mini Review
4.7The Retroid Pocket Mini packs a Snapdragon 865 chip into a pocketable body with a stunning 3.7" OLED screen — one of the best compact retro handhelds of 2024.
Retroid Pocket Mini$149
Steam Deck OLED Review
4.7The best emulation handheld ever made — if you can justify the price. The Steam Deck OLED is a retro gaming powerhouse hiding inside a PC gaming device.
Steam Deck OLED$789
TrimUI Brick Hammer Pro U Review: A Premium Snapdragon Brick
4.2The TrimUI Brick Hammer Pro U takes the Brick shape upmarket. A Snapdragon G2 Gen 1, hall effect sticks, CNC aluminum, and USB-C video out turn the budget icon into a premium Android handheld.
TrimUI Brick Hammer Pro U$239 and up
TrimUI Brick Pro Review: A Bigger, Sharper Budget Brick
4The TrimUI Brick Pro takes the beloved Brick formula and gives it a bigger 3.95 inch screen. It is a budget Linux handheld built for sharp 2D retro gaming up to PS1.
TrimUI Brick Pro$85 to $100
Trimui Brick Review
4.4The Trimui Brick is a tiny vertical handheld with a stunning 3.2 inch 1024x768 screen. It became a budget favorite for a reason.
Trimui Brick$40
Trimui Smart Pro Review
4.2The Trimui Smart Pro is a budget widescreen handheld with a 4.96 inch 720p screen, dual sticks, and a big battery. It is a strong value up to PS1.
Trimui Smart Pro$70