A 113-Year-Old Patent Just Became the Most Creative EDC Pocket Multi-Tool of 2026

MetMo has a very particular way of working. The Leeds-based engineering team finds a mechanical concept from history that was ahead of its time, studies it carefully, then rebuilds it with the materials and precision manufacturing the original inventor could never have accessed. The MetMo Pen went back to an 1892 dual-thread screw. The Fractal Vise revived a gripping technology too complex for most workshops. Both became substantial hits, and if you follow our work, you know we covered them. Their next one follows the same formula, and it might be the most satisfying yet.

Patent no. 1,070,656, filed by J. Anderson in 1912 and granted in 1913, described a double-ended parallel wrench that never quite found its moment. MetMo took that silhouette and used it as a chassis, assigning a specific function to every surface: a hex drive zone at the centre, adaptive parallel jaws drawing directly from their Fractal Vise technology, plier teeth, a V-groove for square drive tools, and an edge nipping point. It’s five tools in one slim body, after a 113-year wait for the right team to come along and finally build it properly.

Designers: Sean Sykes & James Whitfield

Click Here to Buy Now: $134 $167 (20% off). Hurry, only 4/600 left! Raised over $438,000.

The original Anderson patent was a ghost, a clever idea that lacked the context to thrive. You can picture it being made from rough-cast metal with loose tolerances, a tool that worked in theory but was probably clunky in practice. What MetMo does is take that core mechanical logic and run it through a modern filter of CNC machining and advanced metallurgy. The result is a tool that fulfills the original’s promise in a way Anderson himself likely couldn’t have imagined. It’s the same double-ended, central-pivot concept, but executed with a precision that makes it feel entirely new. Coupled with tiny tools and details stuffed into every empty spot MetMo could find.

What’s really clever is how they packed in so much function without making it a brick. A typical multi-tool suffers from compromise, with each function feeling a bit clumsy to accommodate the others. The Pocket Grip avoids this by making existing geometry do double duty. The central pivot, a structural necessity in the 1913 design, is now a perfectly machined 1/4-inch hex drive for standard bits. The jaws aren’t just serrated; they’re divided into a ‘chomping zone’ for aggressive grip, dedicated points for round or flat objects, and even an edge nipping point. Every surface has a purpose, a level of design efficiency that makes the final object feel intentional and integrated.

That’s especially true of the adaptive parallel jaw, which is a direct technological inheritance from their own Fractal Vise. We wrote about that vise when it came out, admiring how its interlocking jaws could conform to almost any irregular shape. MetMo has miniaturized that same logic and engineered it into the Pocket Grip. One jaw remains fixed while the other adjusts, staying perfectly parallel up to a 20mm opening distance. This gives you a clamping stability that a simple pair of pliers could never match. It’s proof that MetMo isn’t just reviving old ideas; they’re building a cohesive design language and iterating on their own innovations.

All of this engineering is packed into a form that is genuinely pocket-friendly. The tool measures just 95.5mm long by 45.5mm wide, and a remarkably slim 10mm thick. The aerospace-grade aluminum version weighs a scant 83.6 grams. These numbers are key to its success as an everyday carry item. But the specs only tell half the story. The other half is the tactile experience, the so-called ‘desk toy’ factor. The smooth action of the TR6x2 drive screw, the satisfying resistance of the knurled brass adjuster, and the balanced weight in your hand make it something you instinctively want to pick up and fiddle with.

The jaws on all versions are machined from 17-4 PH hardened stainless steel, heat-treated to a Rockwell C hardness of 45, with an ultimate tensile strength of 1448 MPa. In simple terms, they are incredibly tough and designed to retain their edge. The body itself comes in three flavors: hard-anodized 7075-T651 aluminum for lightweight durability, Grade 5 titanium for the ultimate strength-to-weight ratio, or a solid stainless steel build for those who prefer a bit of heft. This isn’t a disposable product; the jaws are removable and serviceable, a direct counter-statement to the throwaway culture common in tool manufacturing.

In practice, the Pocket Grip finds its place everywhere. For a model maker or miniatures painter, it’s a precise third hand, clamping onto a base to hold a project steady. For a cyclist, it’s a compact wrench and driver for quick adjustments on the go. Around the house, it’s the tool you grab for that one awkward fitting that nothing else can quite get a handle on. The V-groove is a subtle but brilliant touch, perfect for holding 3-6mm square drive tools like taps and drill bits, adding another layer of utility for detailed work. With the ability to apply over 21kg of clamping force with just finger pressure, it has more than enough power for most daily tasks.

The Pocket Grip is available in three primary configurations based on the body material. The lightweight choice is the hard-anodized aluminum at 83.6g. For those wanting a balance of weight and extreme durability, the titanium version comes in at 103.6g. Finally, the stainless steel model offers the most substantial feel at 141g and includes an upgraded ‘Snip Grip’ with hardened cutting jaws. Pricing starts at £99, positioning it as a premium, investment-grade tool. And MetMo backs that up with what they call a 200-year guarantee, a confident statement that this is a tool built not just for you, but for the person who finds it in your workshop generations from now.

Click Here to Buy Now: $134 $167 (20% off). Hurry, only 4/600 left! Raised over $438,000.

The post A 113-Year-Old Patent Just Became the Most Creative EDC Pocket Multi-Tool of 2026 first appeared on Yanko Design.

5 Best Retro Handhelds That Play PS1 Classics for Under $130

Sony’s next console is on the horizon, but a growing number of gamers are looking backward instead. The PS6 will almost certainly launch north of $500, and for that price, entire libraries of PlayStation classics remain locked behind aging hardware, digital storefronts, or subscription tiers that rotate titles in and out on a whim. Meanwhile, a parallel market of pocket-sized emulation handhelds has quietly exploded over the past two years, putting decades of retro gaming into devices that cost less than a single DualSense controller.

These handhelds won’t run God of War Ragnarök, and nobody is pretending they will. What they can do is play through Final Fantasy VII, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Crash Bandicoot, and thousands of other PS1 titles at full speed, often with save states, fast-forward, and display filters that the original hardware never offered. Search interest in retro gaming handhelds has grown 173% year over year, and the devices fueling that demand sit at a price under $130. Five of them stand out from the flood.

Miyoo Mini Plus

The device that started the modern budget handheld craze still holds its own, even two years after launch. The Miyoo Mini Plus runs on a Sigmastar SSD202D processor with just 128MB of RAM, specs that sound laughable on paper but prove more than sufficient for everything up to and including PS1. Its 3.5-inch IPS display at 640×480 fills a vertical body small enough to disappear into a jacket pocket, and the 3000mAh battery stretches to seven hours with the right custom firmware installed.

Designer: Miyoo

That firmware, OnionOS, is the real reason this device remains so widely recommended. Built and maintained by a dedicated community of developers, OnionOS transforms the Miyoo Mini Plus from a competent emulator into one of the most polished retro gaming experiences available at any price. Features like automatic save-on-shutdown, RetroAchievements integration, and a game switcher that lets you hop between titles without returning to the menu give it a level of software refinement that devices costing three times as much still struggle to match.

What we like

  • OnionOS custom firmware with a polished, intuitive interface
  • Genuinely pocketable
  • Strong PS1 performance despite modest hardware

What we dislike

  • Extended sessions can cause hand cramps
  • No Bluetooth audio, no HDMI output

Anbernic RG35XX Plus

Anbernic’s answer to the Miyoo Mini Plus arrived with a meaningful hardware advantage and a familiar form factor. The RG35XX Plus swaps in an Allwinner H700 quad-core Cortex-A53 processor with 1GB of LPDDR4 RAM, a substantial leap over the Miyoo. That additional horsepower translates directly into smoother PS1 emulation and opens the door to Dreamcast and Nintendo DS titles that the Miyoo simply cannot handle, all wrapped in a horizontal Game Boy-inspired shell.

Designer: ANBERNIC

Connectivity is where the RG35XX Plus pulls further ahead. Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, and a mini HDMI port come standard, which means this handheld can double as a TV-connected retro console when paired with a wireless controller. Dual microSD card slots support up to 512GB each, and the 3300mAh battery delivers around eight hours of play. The trade-off is software: the stock firmware is rough enough that most owners immediately replace it with GarlicOS, a community-built alternative that requires sideloading via SD card.

What we like

  • Best price-to-performance, handling PS1, Dreamcast, and DS titles
  • Mini HDMI output and Bluetooth

What we dislike

  • Stock firmware can be a bit clunky

Powkiddy RGB30

Most handhelds in this price bracket borrow their proportions from the Game Boy or the PS Vita, but the Powkiddy RGB30 charts its own course with a 4.0-inch square IPS display running at 720×720. That 1:1 aspect ratio is a deliberate choice, not a gimmick. Retro games from the NES through the PS1 era were designed for 4:3 screens, and a square panel accommodates that ratio with minimal letterboxing while giving Game Boy titles a perfect native fit. The taller body this requires also gives the D-pad and dual analog sticks room to breathe.

Designer: POWKIDDY

Under the hood, a Rockchip RK3566 quad-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz, and 1GB of LPDDR4 RAM keep things moving. PS1 games run without issue, and the device extends into Dreamcast, some N64, and limited PSP territory. The 4100mAh battery is the largest on this list, rated for eight hours. Stereo speakers and Wi-Fi round out a feature set that punches above its $70 price point. Build quality, though, remains a step behind Anbernic’s hardware, with a plastic shell that feels lighter and less refined than the competition.

What we like

  • The 1:1 square screen is a thoughtful design decision for retro titles
  • Large battery at 4100mAh

What we dislike

  • Unremarkable build quality

Trimui Smart Pro S

The Trimui Smart Pro S occupies the top of the sub-$100 bracket and makes a strong case for spending the extra money. It packs an Allwinner A133P processor and a Mali-G57 GPU that Trimui claims delivers 2.5 times the graphics performance of the original Smart Pro. In practice, this means PS1 runs flawlessly, Dreamcast and N64 titles play at full speed, and most PSP games are smooth enough to enjoy without constant tweaking. A 4.96-inch IPS display at 1280×720 presents all of it on the largest screen in this roundup.

Designer: Trimui

The hardware refinements extend beyond the processor. TMR hall-effect analog sticks eliminate drift concerns and support L3/R3 clicks, larger trigger buttons improve ergonomics over the predecessor, and an active cooling fan prevents thermal throttling during extended sessions. A 5000mAh battery provides around five hours of play, and stereo speakers with a vibration motor round out a surprisingly complete package. The PS Vita-inspired form factor is comfortable for long stretches but makes the device less pocketable than smaller alternatives, and the 16:9 widescreen wastes real estate when displaying 4:3 retro content.

What we like

  • Powerful hardware
  • Hall-effect analog sticks and active cooling
  • Large 4.96-inch screen

What we dislike

  • The 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio isn’t good for retro gaming
  • Bulky and heavy

Retroid Pocket Classic

The Retroid Pocket Classic pushes past the $100 mark at $129 for the current available model, but it earns its place on this list by being the only device here running Android and the only one with an AMOLED screen. That 3.92-inch panel at 1240×1080 delivers deeper blacks and more saturated colors than any IPS display in this bracket, and the Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 processor paired with up to 6GB of RAM puts it in a different performance class entirely. PS1 is effortless here. GameCube, PS2, and Saturn emulation become viable options.

Designer: Retroid

Running Android 14 with Google Play Store access means the Retroid Pocket Classic can function as more than a dedicated emulator. Streaming apps, cloud gaming services, and native Android titles all run alongside the retro emulation suite. A 5000mAh battery with 27W fast charging, active cooling, and Bluetooth 5.1 complete the picture. The vertical Game Boy-inspired body lacks analog sticks, which limits comfort with 3D-heavy titles from later console generations. Unlike the Linux devices on this list, the Retroid Pocket Classic ships without any pre-loaded games, requiring users to supply their own ROMs from the start.

What we like

  • 3.92-inch AMOLED display
  • Android 14 with Google Play Store access
  • Powerful Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 processor

What we dislike

  • A bit costly for a retro gaming handheld
  • No analog sticks

The post 5 Best Retro Handhelds That Play PS1 Classics for Under $130 first appeared on Yanko Design.