The craze for handhelds over the last 24 months has driven a surge in portable gaming consoles. We’ve seen it all, right from retro handheld devices to modern consoles that can handle AAA titles without breaking a sweat. GAMEMT has been in the thick of things with a Android handheld released last month and a unique portable console with a dial knob.
Now the Chinese manufacturer has revealed yet another handheld, which is an eye turner for sure. This is the E5 MODX console based on the original E5 released in 2024. The console has a removable modular display that can be connected to your MagSafe-compatible smartphone. It would be safe to say that the handheld draws inspiration from the MCON controller, but we haven’t seen a detachable-display handheld yet. Now, that’s downright cool.
Designer: GAMEMT
In its native form, the handheld looks and feels just like any other 3:4 display device. However, when you detach the 5.5″ screen (1024 x 768) and connect its controller module magnetically to a mobile phone, it turns into an altogether different beast. The gaming machine comes with the MTK6771 Helio P60 chipset, which is not that highly rated in the tech circles, given its inconsistent performance. Still, it’ll be interesting to see what GAMEMT has managed to achieve with this microchip in terms of hardware and software compatibility in the E5 MODX. The chipset is paired with a 3GB RAM for optimized performance, and 32 GB internal memory is more than enough to store the suite of AA games.
You can expect to emulate PS1 games, or the option to pair with the Dreamcast/N64/PS2 and GameCube emulation. Clearly, you would better explore the retro arcade game library with this one, to be honest. The real magic happens when you connect the device to your flagship smartphone, and the fun of playing AAA games is again real. For now, it is unclear whether the magnetically detachable accessory pairs via Bluetooth or works with the physical connection, and also for low latency.
According to GAMEMT, the first 3D prototype of the E5 Modx is in the works, and there is no word yet on when the handheld will be released. For now, the idea sounds very interesting, given the landscape of handheld consoles that gamers now can choose from.
For retro gaming enthusiasts, few platforms have embraced nostalgia with the same dedication as the Evercade lineup. Developed by Blaze Entertainment, the Evercade ecosystem has steadily carved out a niche by doing something many modern gaming platforms have abandoned, delivering classic games through collectible physical cartridges.
Since the original Evercade gaming handheld console arrived in 2020, the brand has built a reputation for preserving classic titles while presenting them in a curated, officially licensed format. Now the company is taking a more ambitious step forward with the Evercade Nexus, a device designed to modernize the handheld experience without losing the retro soul that defines the platform.
The Nexus is a significant leap in hardware compared to earlier Evercade devices. One of the most noticeable changes is the 5.89-inch IPS screen (with 840×512 resolution) having a wider 16:9 aspect ratio. Previous Evercade systems focused primarily on the classic 4:3 format used by older consoles, but the wider screen allows the Nexus to better support enhanced versions of classic games as well as titles that benefit from a broader viewing area. The larger display also improves overall comfort for handheld play, giving retro games more space while maintaining the pixel clarity enthusiasts expect.
Controls have also received a major update. For the first time in the Evercade lineup, the Nexus includes dual analog sticks alongside the traditional D-pad and face buttons. While retro gaming is often associated with simpler control layouts, the addition of analog sticks expands the handheld’s compatibility with early 3D titles and games that demand more precise movement. The system also introduces TATE mode, allowing the console to be rotated vertically. This feature is particularly useful for classic arcade shooters originally designed for upright cabinets, recreating their intended orientation on a handheld device.
Under the hood, the Evercade Nexus runs on a quad-core processor clocked at around 1.5GHz. Power comes from a 5,000mAh battery that provides roughly five hours of gameplay on a single charge, while modern conveniences such as wireless headphone support bring the device closer to contemporary handheld expectations without sacrificing portability. Another notable addition is EverSync, a wireless multiplayer feature that allows two Nexus systems to connect locally. With EverSync, players can temporarily share a game from a single cartridge so both devices can participate, offering a simple way to enjoy multiplayer titles without requiring multiple copies.
Like every Evercade device, the Nexus remains fully compatible with the platform’s growing library of physical cartridges. The ecosystem now includes more than 700 officially licensed retro games spread across dozens of curated collections from classic publishers and arcade developers. Instead of relying on digital downloads, the Evercade philosophy continues to center on physical ownership and preservation. At launch, the Evercade Nexus will include a special cartridge featuring enhanced versions of classic titles such as Banjo‑Kazooie and Banjo‑Tooie, optimized for the handheld’s widescreen display.
Evercade Nexus handheld is up for preorder at $199.99 with release set for October 2026, which is a long time away if you are already curious. You can also go for the $229.99 Nexus 64 Edition, which boasts an exclusive Hard Shell EVA Case themed with the Evercade Nexus 64 Edition style, screen protectors, and of course, the certificate of authenticity. It is going to be limited to 2,000 units with pre-order availability on Funstock.
The retro handheld market has a strange problem. The hardware keeps getting better, the screens get sharper, the processors get faster, and yet most of these devices land looking like prototypes someone forgot to finish. Generic shells, forgettable proportions, and LED lighting as a substitute for actual design thinking. For a category built entirely on nostalgia, very few of these devices actually look like they belong to any era at all.
That tension is what one Reddit user decided to address. Starting with a Retroid Pocket 5, a $199 Android handheld running a Snapdragon 865 and a 5.5-inch AMOLED display, the mod layers Sony and Nintendo branding onto the same shell. Vinyl decals, translucent polycarbonate, a 3D-printed volume rocker from Etsy, and a cable replaced in PS2 color. The result looks less like a sticker job and more like a concept render from an alternate 1999.
The translucent shell is doing most of the work. It pulls from the visual language of the N64’s Funtastic series, those clear and atomic-purple controllers Nintendo released in the late 1990s, where showing the circuitry was the design choice rather than concealing it. Over a piano-black grip body with PlayStation-colored face buttons, the frosted polycarbonate shifts from grey to near-white depending on the light. It shouldn’t feel considered. It does.
The branding placement is where intent becomes clear. The Sony wordmark sits centered on the upper face, exactly where it appeared on a PSOne. Below it, the PlayStation four-color logo. At the bottom bezel, the Nintendo badge mirrors its position on a Game Boy Advance SP. None of it is licensed, of course. These are adhesive vinyls placed by someone who grew up with both systems and wanted their coexistence on one device to feel inevitable rather than absurd.
Not everything here reaches backward. The analog sticks are translucent caps over hall-effect sensors, lit teal on the left and purple on the right, owing nothing to 1999. That generation didn’t have RGB anything. The lighting reads as a concession to the present; the one feature announcing this is still an Android device in 2025, not a prototype from some alternate Sony-Nintendo licensing meeting. Whether it sits comfortably alongside the retro shell is a fair question.
The rear view shifts the frame again. A large dual-grip body in smooth black rubber dominates the back, a clear plastic hinge connecting the screen to grip in full view, structural and unapologetic. The 3D-printed volume rocker at the top edge puts a physical control where fingers naturally land. The back half feels closer to a DualShock than a Game Boy, which is either the point or the problem, depending on what you wanted this thing to be.
Flip to the front screen, and the emulator grid makes the whole thing literal. DuckStation for PS1, Dolphin for GameCube, PPSSPP for PSP, melonDS for Nintendo DS, and a live PS2 wallpaper cycling behind all of it. This device runs both companies’ libraries simultaneously without asking permission from either. The branding on the shell, in that context, stops being a novelty and starts reading as a plain statement of what the hardware already does.
The retro handheld category is large enough now that sameness has become its default. The Retroid Pocket 6, the current flagship from the same manufacturer, drew community criticism for being indistinguishable from competitors: glass front, LED sticks, rounded edges, and no particular character. A fan mod building identity out of borrowed logos is one response to a problem the manufacturers haven’t solved. It’s also just someone enjoying a hobby and being honest about what they want.
The hardware to play PS1, PS2, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance all on one screen already exists and costs under $200. What the market hasn’t resolved is what that device should actually look like, or whose name should go on it. This mod doesn’t answer either question. It just makes the gap between what’s technically possible and what anyone has bothered to design feel a little harder to dismiss.
The gaming handheld continues to expand with new devices aimed at retro enthusiasts and mobile gamers. One of the latest additions is the GameMT EX8, a portable gaming console designed to deliver a capable Android-based gaming experience while maintaining a relatively affordable price point. With a high-resolution display, a familiar handheld layout, and hardware suited for emulation and mobile gaming, the EX8 represents GameMT’s attempt to compete with other budget-friendly handhelds in the growing retro gaming segment.
The handheld features a 4.88-inch display with a resolution of 1080 × 1620 pixels and a 3:2 aspect ratio. This format is particularly appealing for retro gaming because it better accommodates older console titles that do not match modern widescreen displays. The panel is also noticeably sharper than the screen used in some competing handhelds, such as the Ayaneo Pocket Micro, which uses a smaller 3.5-inch display with a lower resolution. The larger and sharper screen is expected to improve the visual experience when playing classic games from platforms like the PlayStation and PSP. With its combination of a high-resolution 3:2 display, capable mobile processor, and expandable storage, the GameMT EX8 aims to deliver a balanced handheld gaming experience.
Designer: GameMT
Powering the device is MediaTek’s Helio G99 processor, a chipset commonly found in mid-range smartphones. The chip is paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, providing enough performance for Android gaming and a wide range of emulated titles. The Helio G99 has already proven capable of handling many retro systems and even some more demanding platforms through emulation, making it a practical choice for a handheld of this category. For users with larger game libraries, the EX8 also includes a microSD card slot that allows the storage to be expanded beyond the built-in capacity.
In terms of design, the EX8 adopts a horizontal handheld layout with symmetrical analog sticks positioned on both sides of the display. Each thumbstick is surrounded by an RGB ring light, giving the device a more modern aesthetic. A traditional D-pad and ABXY button arrangement sits alongside the sticks, while shoulder buttons are integrated along the top edge. The device also appears relatively thick compared to some competitors, likely to accommodate its internal hardware and cooling system. Thermal management is supported by an internal cooling fan, which helps maintain stable performance during extended gaming sessions. Audio is delivered through bottom-firing speakers, and the handheld is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery that charges through a USB-C port. These features are designed to ensure the device can sustain longer play sessions without overheating or running out of power too quickly.
The GameMT EX8 will be available in two color options. A black version pairs dark hardware with red D-pad and face buttons, while a white variant features purple buttons and matching accents. This contrast gives the handheld a distinctive visual identity within the crowded retro gaming market.
At some point in the last couple of years, something quietly shifted in the gaming world. Not in the blockbuster, billion-dollar-franchise sense, but in the more personal, “why am I actually having more fun with this tiny device than my main console” sense. Search interest in retro gaming handhelds jumped 400% year-over-year, hitting 90,500 monthly searches in January 2026 alone. That’s not a blip. That’s people rediscovering something they forgot they wanted, and then telling everyone they know about it.
What’s driving it isn’t hard to understand. Modern gaming has gotten heavy, with big installs, long tutorials, and games that feel like part-time jobs. A retro handheld sidesteps all of that. You pick it up, you’re playing something in thirty seconds, and it fits in your jacket pocket. The designs themselves have become worth caring about, too, from machined aluminum bodies to translucent clamshells to square screens that look like props from a ’90s anime. These aren’t budget toys. Some of them are genuinely beautiful objects that happen to play games. Here are seven that are worth your attention.
Anbernic RG Cube: The one with the square screen that somehow works
The first thing you notice about the RG Cube is the screen shape, a perfect square, and your brain immediately goes: that can’t be right. Gaming moved to widescreen fifteen years ago. A 1:1 display in 2024 looks like a design mistake, or at best a gimmick. It is neither. The 3.95-inch IPS panel at 720×720 turns out to be native to more retro games than you’d expect, with Game Boy, arcade titles, and Nintendo DS with dual-screen stacking all living here without compromise.
The broader package is hard to argue with. An octa-core Unisoc T820 processor and 8GB of RAM run Android 13, with emulator support up through PS2 and GameCube, though more demanding titles on those systems will push its limits. The asymmetric thumbstick layout borrows from the Steam Deck playbook, and the Saturn-inspired D-pad is precise without drama. At around $170, it comes in Beige White, Radiant Purple, Black, Grey, and the radiant purple has no right looking as good as it does.
What we liked
Square 1:1 screen is genuinely ideal for Game Boy, arcade, and DS emulation
RGB lighting and color options make it a genuinely attractive object
What we disliked
Widescreen games require letterboxing or aspect-ratio compromise
Demanding PS2 and GameCube titles push the processor to its limits
ModRetro Chromatic: The Game Boy Color that Nintendo never made
There’s a version of this product that could have been embarrassing: a magnesium alloy Game Boy Color clone bundled with a new Tetris cartridge, sold at $199. On paper, it sounds like a premium nostalgia trap. In practice, it’s one of the most carefully considered handheld devices released in years. It’s FPGA-based, meaning it reconstructs the Game Boy hardware at the circuit level rather than emulating it in software, which produces zero input latency and a millisecond-accurate match to original hardware behavior.
The physical design earns its price in ways spec sheets can’t capture. The curved battery compartment gives your hands something to grip. A physical volume wheel, a detail so obvious it’s shocking how rarely it appears on modern devices, lets you kill the sound without touching a menu. Colors run from Inferno and Bubblegum to a very wearable Wave blue, with English or Japanese button labeling as an option. It plays physical Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges only, which is either a dealbreaker or a feature, depending on how you think about focus.
What we liked
FPGA hardware delivers true zero input lag, not a software approximation
Magnesium alloy shell feels premium and genuinely durable
Comes bundled with a new Tetris cartridge
What we disliked
Plays only Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges, no ROMs or other systems
AA battery requirement adds ongoing cost; rechargeable Power Core is sold separately
Analogue Pocket: The one photographers keep picking up
The Analogue Pocket is the device that made the retro handheld conversation respectable. It uses an FPGA rather than software emulation and plays Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and GBA cartridges out of the box. Via cartridge adapters, it adds Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Atari Lynx, TurboGrafx-16, PC Engine, and SuperGrafx. Via its microSD slot and the OpenFPGA community platform, it loads cores for nearly every retro system that ever existed. The 3.5-inch LCD at 1600×1440 and 615 ppi is, simply, one of the sharpest displays ever put in a handheld.
At $239, it sits at the premium end of this list, and it’s also frequently out of stock. Firmware updates require a microSD card reader, which feels like friction that shouldn’t exist on a $239 device. TV output needs the separately sold $99 Dock. These aren’t dealbreakers so much as signals that Analogue built this for the dedicated enthusiast first. If you want one device to handle everything in your retro library for the next decade, this is probably it.
What we liked
OpenFPGA community support covers an enormous range of retro systems
Plays GBA in addition to GB and GBC, plus many more with adapters
MicroSD slot enables ROM loading
Premium aluminum build with a distinctly modern design language
What we disliked
Frequently out of stock; restocks sell out within minutes
Firmware updates require an external microSD card reader
TV output requires a separately purchased $99 Dock
Retroid Pocket Flip 2: The clamshell that brought the GBA SP back with PS2 power
The GBA SP was the handheld that arguably peaked the clamshell form factor: it folded, it protected its own screen, and it had a backlit display before that was standard. The Retroid Pocket Flip 2 arrives in 2025 with that same closing-hinge energy, but with a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon 865 processor, and enough emulation horsepower to run PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Wii. When closed, it has roughly the same desk footprint as a modern smartphone. Closing the lid puts it to sleep; opening it wakes it up.
Color options include a translucent Ice Blue, GameCube Purple, a two-tone 16-bit US, and Black. Retroid clearly understands its audience. The AMOLED panel brings deep blacks and accurate color to games designed for CRTs, and the results are often striking for titles you’ve played a hundred times. At $229 for the Snapdragon variant, there is no meaningful clamshell competitor at this performance level. One persistent note from extended use: the form factor rewards shorter sessions more than marathon ones, which is maybe appropriate for a device meant to live in a bag pocket.
What we liked
5.5-inch AMOLED at 1080p is impressive for the price
Handles PS2, GameCube, Wii, and Dreamcast emulation
Translucent Ice Blue colorway is a design highlight
What we disliked
Thicker than it looks in product photos
Extended sessions can feel less comfortable than flat handhelds
AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic: The one that fits in an actual pocket
The Game Boy Micro launched in 2005 as Nintendo’s most polarizing hardware decision. It was tiny, it was beautiful, it only played GBA games, and it was discontinued within a year. Design historians were kinder to it than the market was. The AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic is clearly in conversation with that history. It removes the analog joysticks, uses a CNC-machined aluminum alloy frame with a seamless all-glass front, and produces something that slides into a front jeans pocket without catching on anything.
The 3.5-inch borderless IPS display at 960×640 in a 3:2 ratio is built for GBA emulation, with 4x pixel-perfect upscaling. Available in Obsidian Black, Charm Red, Vintage Grey, and Gold, each colorway has a different character. The Gold skips “gaming device” and lands somewhere closer to “considered object.” The MediaTek Helio G99 handles everything up through PS1 confidently. If your retro library is 8-bit and 16-bit with a strong GBA presence, the Pocket Micro Classic is probably the most beautiful way to play it.
What we liked
CNC aluminum and all-glass build is genuinely premium for the category
No joysticks make it notably slimmer and more pocketable
Android 13 with Play Store access expands utility beyond emulation
What we disliked
No joysticks limit N64, Dreamcast, and PSP playability
The original TrimUI Brick arrived in 2024 with an unusually sharp 3.2-inch IPS screen at 1024×768, giving it a pixel density of 405 PPI, a number that belongs on a premium smartphone, not a $55 device. The Brick Hammer edition, launched in 2025, replaces the plastic shell with a full CNC-machined aluminum alloy in Gunmetal Gray, Rose Gold, and Fluorescent Green. The metal shell doubles as a heatsink, dropping operating temperatures noticeably. Three interchangeable shoulder button sets ship in the box.
The software runs CrossMix OS on a Linux base: clean, fast, minimal overhead. Load your ROMs, pick a game, and play. Battery life lands around four to six hours. The processor handles Game Boy through PS1 without complaint; N64 gets through most titles; Dreamcast is inconsistent. The CNC backplate can be engraved, which no other device at this price point offers. The Rose Gold aluminum version sitting next to a MacBook on a desk looks less out of place than it has any right to, and that’s a strange and interesting thing to say about a $99 handheld.
What we liked
CNC aluminum Hammer shell runs noticeably cooler than the original plastic
Swappable shoulder buttons and engravable backplate are genuinely rare customization options
Rose Gold and Gunmetal colorways punch well above the budget tier
What we disliked
No analog joysticks, which limits 3D game compatibility
Dreamcast and demanding N64 titles run inconsistently
Miyoo Mini Plus (and Mini Flip): The one that started the whole obsession
If there’s a single device responsible for bringing this category to mainstream attention, the Miyoo Mini Plus is probably it. It weighs 200 grams, fits in a jeans pocket, has a 3.5-inch IPS screen at 640×480, and runs OnionOS, a community-built firmware that turns a modest Cortex-A7 processor into a near-perfect front end for everything from the NES to the original PlayStation. The interface is clean, the emulator library covers over a hundred platforms, and save states work the way save states should.
The Miyoo Mini Flip takes the same hardware and wraps it in a GBA SP-style clamshell, adding screen protection and an extra wave of nostalgia. Early production runs had hinge concerns, though those appear to have been addressed in more recent batches. At $69-99, this is the gateway to the category that doesn’t feel like a compromise. The honest question isn’t whether this device is worth the money, since it clearly is. It’s whether starting here will satisfy the itch, or simply make you want to own the other six devices on this list as well.
What we liked
Genuinely pocketable at 200g, fits in a jeans pocket without bulk
Covers NES through PS1 with confident performance
Mini Flip clamshell adds nostalgic GBA SP energy and screen protection
Long before today’s ultra-powerful handheld PCs began chasing console-grade performance in a portable shell, there was something undeniably charming about simpler gaming machines. The kind that fit easily into your pocket, turned on instantly, and transported you straight back to pixelated worlds without menus, downloads, or updates getting in the way. Honoring that era, the HyperMegaTech Super Pocket Rare Edition is here to bring cartridge-ready gaming to your pocket.
Developed by HyperMegaTech (who surprised us with the Micro Keychain Gamer) in collaboration with the British game developer Rare, the original Super Pocket is designed to make retro gaming accessible and refreshingly straightforward. Its vertical layout echoes classic handheld silhouettes, pairing nostalgia with modern practicality. A 2.8-inch IPS display with a 320 × 240 resolution sits at the center, offering sharp visuals suited to 8-bit and 16-bit titles.
What distinguishes the Super Pocket from many low-cost retro handhelds is its hybrid approach. Each edition ships with a curated lineup of pre-installed games, typically centered around a specific publisher or theme. Earlier versions celebrated arcade and console heavyweights such as Capcom, NEOGEO, Taito, Atari, and Data East, giving players immediate access to recognizable classics straight out of the box. The console runs on a 1.2GHz processor and is powered by a rechargeable battery that delivers roughly four hours of gameplay per charge. USB-C charging and a 3.5mm headphone jack round out the essentials, keeping the device practical for everyday use.
The upcoming Rare Edition expands that idea a step further. The Super Pocket Rare Edition, launching in June 2026, includes 14 classic titles from the legendary British developer Rare. The selection spans decades of the studio’s catalog, bringing fan-favorite experiences like Banjo-Kazooie, Battletoads, and Conker’s Pocket Tales into a compact, dedicated handheld format. For many players, this built-in lineup alone justifies the device.
Beyond the preloaded games, the Super Pocket is fully compatible with Evercade cartridges, significantly expanding its potential library. With more than 75 cartridge collections available and access to over 650 officially licensed retro games, users are not limited to the internal storage. This physical-media ecosystem adds a collector-friendly dimension rarely seen in modern budget hardware. If you are already in the Evercade ecosystem, this cross-compatible compact handheld is a no-brainer.
The Super Pocket does not attempt to rival high-end emulation handhelds or modern gaming consoles. Instead, it is a compact machine built purely for classic titles, free from distractions. For those who value tactile buttons, curated libraries, and the satisfaction of slotting in a physical cartridge, nothing gets better than this. In fact, the bright yellow shoulder buttons bring functional clarity and seamless sync with the design.
Despite the retro focus, the Super Pocket Rare Edition, in its signature vibrant blue, red, and yellow theme, remains competitively priced. It is expected to retail for around $69 in the United States, £49 in the United Kingdom, and €59 across Europe, keeping it within reach of casual players and seasoned collectors alike.
Gaming handhelds have quietly become the most interesting category in consumer electronics, and also the most awkward one to travel with. They’re too big to ignore in a bag and too small to replace a laptop, which means plenty of people end up carrying both anyway, one for the flight, one for the hotel desk, each doing half a job. The Legion Go Fold Concept, unveiled by Lenovo at MWC 2026, is a direct argument against that arrangement.
The device is a foldable handheld with a POLED display that opens from 7.7 inches to 11.6 inches, with detachable controllers that clip onto either side via a rail system. Folded with the controllers on, it functions as a conventional handheld for tighter spaces. Open it flat, reattach the controllers in landscape orientation, and the full screen takes over for a more immersive session.
Designer: Lenovo
For longer stints that call for a keyboard, the included wireless accessory with an integrated touchpad turns the whole system into something closer to a compact laptop. The right controller doubles as a vertical mouse for FPS games, carrying over a feature from the Legion Go Gen 2. That same controller has a small circular secondary display on its face, handling performance metrics, touchpad input, and customizable hotkeys without requiring a trip into any menu.
An Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor and 32GB of RAM handle the performance side, paired with a 48Whr battery. For a device expected to run demanding titles across multiple screen configurations, that battery figure is the one that will matter most in practice, and it’s also the one hardest to evaluate from a spec sheet alone.
The fold crease is the honest question the concept doesn’t answer. Running horizontally through the center of the display, it’s a non-issue in split configurations where the fold becomes a natural border. In full 11.6-inch mode, with a single uninterrupted game filling both panels, its visibility depends entirely on how well Lenovo has managed the panel gap and hinge tension, two things that vary considerably between announcement renders and finished hardware.
What the Legion Go Fold Concept gets right is identifying that the handheld’s biggest limitation isn’t processing power or battery: it’s the fixed screen. A device that can be a pocket-sized handheld on a commute and a proper gaming surface at a desk is genuinely more useful than two separate devices doing those jobs independently. Whether the folding display holds up to the kind of use that makes it worthwhile is the part that a concept can only promise, not prove.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gaming handhelds and controllers for mobile devices have had so much innovation lately, it seems there’s not much more left to explore. We’ve seen controllers with a steering wheel, handhelds with dual screens, or one with a 3D display, and controllers with dual-orientation mode support. Now, there’s a handheld by GameMT with a knob for the second analog joystick, because why not?
The Android gaming handheld dubbed Pocket Super Knob 5000 has a knob that can be turned to select from one of the four performance profiles in games where the function is supported. One advantage that dedicated gaming handhelds have over a phone-controller setup is the freedom of a full-blown set of physical controls. This handheld is another example of a gaming console with a specific set of control inputs targeted at a niche set of gamers.
Designer: GameMT
GameMT’s super-thin handheld has been teased on X by user Retro Gaming With Deadfred, hinting at the most important specs and details that would pique the interest of gamers. Pocket Super Knob 5000 has a 5-inch display and is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 processor. Definitely not the most powerful processing power in there, but it should be suited to play arcade titles and RPGs that are not demanding. On the left, there is the Hall Effect thumbstick for the customary control input for movement. On the right is where things get a little interesting, as the handheld has a twistable knob that can be cranked for linear game input to choose the options. By our assumption, it cannot be used for actual game input because it would be highly impractical and ergonomically challenging.
If we go by what they’ve released last year (the EX5 handheld), the Super Knob 5000 should have the same functionality. Having the freedom to toggle the power and performance balance with the twist of a knob should come in handy for gamers who love to change the settings frequently. However, this should sacrifice the input of directional panning in first person shooter or 3D games. Meaning, the handheld should only be good for playing a specific set of titles that don’t require the second thumbstick input for the major in-game controls.
Other than this novelty, the handheld has the other control inputs, like the shoulder buttons and triggers. GameMT claims the handheld has 5-8 hours of extra battery life when the battery saving mode is turned on. The metal backplate should keep things cool, and the lightweight form of 13.2mm thickness and 200 grams weight should make it an interesting buy.
For us, replacing the second thumbstick with a limited functionality knob doesn’t make much sense unless GameMT has a hidden feature that they’ll reveal when the handheld is launched in April.
Current-generation handhelds have a much wider 16:9 screen ratio than older ones, and Ayaneo wants to get that right. Unlike the Pocket PLAY or the Pocket Fit Elite, which are intended for playing modern titles, the newly launched Pocket Mini S handheld targets the more novel 4:3 aspect ratio, which fits well with older titles from PlayStation 1 and Nintendo 64 that are emulated on modern devices. So, retro gamer lovers will not freak about those thick black bands on either side of the screen to make up for the aspect ratio adjustment.
For gamers who prefer the horizontal orientation for playing titles like Stardew Valley, Ayaneo has brought this handheld alongside the affordable Pocket Air Mini and the Pocket VERT, which has a more retro handheld feel to it with the 4:3 aspect ratio. The new handheld brings more meat to the equation for gamers who want better performance, compared to the Pocket VERT. This gives gamers more options to choose from the Ayaneo line-up.
Pocker Mini S comes with a 4.2-inch LCD screen having 1280×960 resolution for rendering classic games that hardcore gamers like to play now and then. The ideal aspect ratio means there is no cropping or stretching of the in-game elements. This flagship gaming device is powered by the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 SoC, and the graphics are handled by the 8-core CPU and 4nm technology Adreno A32 graphics card. The top variant of the handheld comes with 16GB of ultra-fast LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage for enjoying demanding emulated games without any lag or overheating. To keep the latter at bay, Ayaneo has a built-in active cooling fan and the biomimetic fishbone design to ensure maximum frame rates are sustained over long gaming sessions.
Buttons on the handheld follow the Pocket VERT’s trail with crystal-texture, and two small Hall Effect RGB joysticks adopting the Pocket ACE’s design aesthetics. The D-pad with conductive rubber internals adds to the premium feel of the Pocker S Mini. Weighing a respectable 305 grams, the unibody metal body handheld is CNC-milled and measures a comfortable 167.1 x 77.85 x 18.5mm with flat aesthetics and contoured edges for better ergonomic grip and reach of the shoulder buttons. The Android 14-powered device has a 6,000mAh high-density battery that supports PD fast charging.
Ayaneo Pocket S Mini is available in three color variants – Ice Soul White, Obsidian Black, and Retro Power (available in the top variant). The handheld can be preordered from the official website for early bird pricing of $319 for the 8GB+128GB model and $479 for the 16GB+512GB Retro Power edition model. Early buyers will also get the exclusive accessory bundle. Later on, the retail prices will jump to $399 and $599, respectively.
