2026

Steam Deck, PS5, Xbox, and the Switch 2 have all gotten more expensive in 2026. Here's every confirmed price hike, the memory shortage driving them, and which handhelds are still safe from it.

Battery numbers on a spec sheet lie. A 7,000 mAh device can die faster than a 3,000 mAh one. Here are the longest-lasting retro handhelds in 2026, split by what you actually play.

The best retro handhelds for kids are cheap enough not to stress over, tough enough to survive a backpack, and simple enough to hand over without a tutorial. Here are six picks under $75.

Want to play retro games on the TV? Some handhelds have a real HDMI port; others output video over USB-C. Here are the best handhelds with TV output in 2026 and exactly what you need to connect each one.

The best handhelds for PS3 emulation in 2026 — which PC handhelds can actually run RPCS3 well, ranked by CPU power, ease of setup, and value.

RPCS3 had a major 2026 breakthrough — but can a handheld actually run PS3 games yet? Here's the honest state of PS3 emulation on portable hardware, which devices can do it, and what to expect.

PS4 emulation went from a tech demo to genuinely impressive in 2026 — but can a handheld run shadPS4? Here's the honest state of PS4 emulation on portable hardware and what to realistically expect.

Valve raised Steam Deck OLED prices by up to $300 on May 27, 2026. Here are the new prices, why it happened, and the best cheaper handheld alternatives to buy instead.

Valve's new Steam Machine is a SteamOS living-room PC promising ~6x the power of the Steam Deck. Here's every confirmed spec, the leaked pricing, the release window, and what it means if you already play handhelds.

Valve's new Steam Machine promises ~6x the power of the Steam Deck, but it's a living-room console rather than a handheld. Here's how they compare on emulation, price, and use case in 2026.

The 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.

The Mangmi Pocket Max is the wild card of 2026. A 7 inch 144Hz AMOLED, magnetic swappable controls, and a $349 price. Here is whether it earns a place in your collection.

AMOLED is the new $200 default in retro handhelds. Here are the seven premium AMOLED handhelds worth buying in 2026, ranked by use case and budget.

Three Switch emulators dominate the Android handheld scene in 2026. Eden, Kenji NX, and Citron each have strengths. Here is how to pick the right one for your device and your library.

EmuDeck for Android is now in open beta and turns the painful multi emulator setup ritual into a one click install. Here is how to get it running on your Snapdragon or MediaTek handheld in 2026.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite is the next leap forward for Android handhelds. AYN Odin 3 leads the wave. Here is what the 8 Elite changes, which handhelds will ship with it, and whether you should wait.

AMOLED went mainstream, Switch 2 emulation arrived, Snapdragon 8 Elite hit handhelds, and the brand wars sharpened. Here is a mid year recap of the retro handheld market in 2026.

Switch 2 emulation is the hottest topic in retro handhelds this year. Here is an honest look at where the projects stand in May 2026, which handhelds can realistically run them, and what to expect if you give it a try with games you already own.

Two Anbernic 2026 flagships, two different philosophies. The RG557 AMOLED with a huge battery, or the RG477M with a 4:3 LTPS panel in a metal chassis. Here is the full comparison.

Three premium Android handhelds, one Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset class, three different priorities. Here is how the AYN Odin 2 Portal Pro, Retroid Pocket 6, and Anbernic RG557 stack up in 2026.

The best retro gaming handhelds of 2026 ranked by price tier. Budget picks under $50, mid-range options under $150, and premium Android powerhouses for PS2 and GameCube emulation.

The global memory crisis is driving up prices and killing popular handhelds. Here's what happened, what's been affected, and which devices to grab before they get more expensive.