emulation

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

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'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.

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.

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.

Community decomp and recomp projects are turning classic Nintendo games into native ports. Here is what those terms mean, which projects are active, and what changes for retro handhelds.

EmuDeck for Android automates 2–4 hours of emulator installation, BIOS pathing, and front-end configuration into about 20 minutes. Here's how to install it on a Retroid Pocket 6 or AYN Thor — and the manual tweaks that make a real difference, especially for DS emulation.

The GameCube games that run well on handheld emulators and suit portable play. Tested on Retroid Pocket 6, Steam Deck, and AYN Thor with Dolphin performance notes.

The best retro handhelds for PSP games at every budget. We test PPSSPP performance across 12 devices to find the ones that deliver upscaled, full-speed PSP emulation.

The PS2 games that actually run well on retro handhelds in 2026. Tested on Retroid Pocket 5, Retroid Pocket 6, and Steam Deck — with performance notes for each.

The best PlayStation Portable games that run flawlessly on retro handhelds. Curated for short sessions, optimized performance, and handheld-friendly controls.

Step by step guide to setting up AetherSX2 for PS2 emulation on Android retro handhelds like the Retroid Pocket 5, Retroid Pocket 6, and other Snapdragon devices.

The best Sega Dreamcast games to play on your retro handheld. Curated for emulation compatibility, visual quality on small screens, and session-friendly design.

The best retro handhelds for Nintendo 3DS emulation in 2026. Which devices run Citra and Lime3DS well, what specs you need, and how 3DS differs from DS emulation.

The best retro handhelds for GameCube emulation in 2026. Which devices run Dolphin well, what specs you need, and how to get the best performance from your personal game library.

The best Nintendo 64 games to play on your retro handheld. Curated for emulation compatibility, session length, and how well they work on a small screen.

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 difference between FPGA and software emulation for retro gaming. How they work, when each matters, and which approach is right for your retro handheld buying decision.

Step by step guide to setting up the Retroid Pocket 5. Covers initial Android setup, emulator installation, BIOS files, controller mapping, and game library organization.

30 Nintendo DS games that shine on modern emulation hardware. Curated for save states, fast-forward, and upscaled dual-screen play.

How to install and configure Dolphin on your Android retro handheld for GameCube and Wii emulation. Covers settings, performance tips, and controller mapping.

Step-by-step guide to setting up RetroAchievements for Nintendo Wii games using Dolphin. Covers PC, Steam Deck, and Android handhelds.

A practical guide to GameCube and Wii emulation on Android retro handhelds — which devices can handle it, which games run well, and how to optimize Dolphin.

How to get the best N64 emulation performance on budget and mid-range retro handhelds. Core selection, per-game settings, and performance tweaks for every popular title.

How to get the best PSP emulation on retro handhelds using PPSSPP — resolution scaling, frameskip settings, and a compatibility list for popular titles across budget and mid-range devices.

The best handhelds for PS2 emulation in 2026 — which devices can actually run God of War, Shadow of the Colossus, and your PS2 library at full speed.

The complete setup guide for the Retroid Pocket 6 — install emulators, transfer your games, configure a frontend, and get the most out of Android-based emulation.

The 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.

The Steam Deck is arguably the best retro gaming device ever built. Here's what it can emulate, how to set it up, and why it belongs in every retro gamer's hands.

The 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.

The 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.

The complete guide to setting up EmuDeck on the Steam Deck — from storage decisions and installer setup to Steam ROM Manager and launching games from Game Mode.

AetherSX2 vs NetherSX2 — which PS2 emulator should you use on your handheld in 2024?