The Best Retro Handhelds for Taking Your Favorite Classic Games on the Go
Any phone, gaming handheld, or severely underpowered mini PC can run emulation software for all your retro gaming needs. When it comes to the overall experience, though, nothing still comes close to dedicated retro handhelds. From their pocket-friendly size and tactile controls to the easy-to-use software, they make it very convenient to enjoy your favorite classic games on the go. Sure, ROMs and emulation software aren’t exactly the most legitimate way to play retro games, but there’s really nothing that rivals what they bring to the table. Plus, there are some retro handheld options out there that offer compatibility with old game cartridges for folks who want a more above-board retro gaming experience.
The best retro handhelds come in a wide range of designs. Some look like a smaller version of modern gaming handhelds like the Switch or the Steam Deck, with a screen in the middle flanked by controls on each side. Some take on the taller Game Boy form factor, while others embrace the clamshell design of handhelds like the Nintendo DS and the GameBoy Advance SP.
If you favor much older games from the 80s and 90s, then you’ll definitely want a retro handheld with a smaller 4:3, 3:2, or 1:1 screen aspect ratio, as those games will look their best on such smaller, more square-shaped displays. However, if you want a retro handheld for playing newer titles, such as those from the PS2, or even modern Android games, then you should opt for a handheld with a more contemporary 16:9 widescreen profile.
These are the best retro handhelds to let you enjoy vintage gaming on the go.
Miyoo Mini Plus
Pros
- Good build quality
- Smooth emulation
- Springy controls
Cons
- Barebones OS
Screen size: 3.5 inches
Resolution: 640 x 480 pixels (4:3 aspect ratio)
For some time since 2022, the Miyoo Mini was the equivocal choice for retro gamers wanting an inexpensive retro handheld. Problem is, the console got so popular, it ran out fast and it seemed like they had trouble sourcing the original parts (specifically, the screen, from what we’ve heard). It’s since been replaced with the Miyoo Mini Plus, which, essentially, combines the same hardware specs as the original with a bigger 3.5-inch display and less-than-faithful Gameboy aesthetics. The whole device is bigger, by the way, although still very pocketable, offering a particularly good fit in our pants’ back pocket. It has a modern chip with enough power to run all Playstation-era and older games very smoothly, with great controls that feel very springy. We do find the L1 and L2 button placements a bit unintuitive at first, but it’s something you do get used to after a bit of time with the console. You get around four to six hours of battery life, by the way, which is pretty decent for something you’ll likely be playing with for an hour or so at a time while you go about your day. It comes with a good-sounding speaker (70 percent max volume, though), a 3.5mm slot for headphones, and an SD card slot (we got the version with 128GB preloaded).
Super Pocket (Capcom Version)
Pros
- Very compact size
- 12 preloaded Capcom games
- Works with Evercade cartridges
Cons
- Pretty cramped control layout
- No button remapping
Screen size: 2.8 inches
Resolution: 230 x 240 pixels
This retro handheld doesn’t run unauthorized ROMs like many offerings in the category. It’s also emulation-based, but instead of letting you load ROMs, it comes with a set of 12 preinstalled Capcom classics, including Street Fighter II, Mega Man, Strider, and more. The console can also take Evercade’s modern cartridge game bundles, so you get access to hundreds (thousands?) of licensed retro games that you can order online. We love how pocketable it is, although that also means it has a smaller screen and a pretty cramped set of controls. Suffice to say, it takes some getting used to, but we absolutely appreciate being able to carry a game console very comfortably in any pocket. While the buttons aren’t bouncy as we’d like, they’re plenty fun to play on, although we do wish it offered some button mapping functions (we looked hard and couldn’t find any). We do love the overall aesthetic, too, which makes it look fancier than the cheap gaming handheld it actually is.
Anbernic RG35XXSP
Pros
- Fun clamshell form factor
- Smooth emulation performance
- Has HDMI for TV output
- Comes with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Cons
- L2 and R2 buttons hard to press
Screen size: 3.5 inches
Resolution: 640 x 480 pixels (4:3 aspect ratio)
The first time we saw this retro handheld, we absolutely thought it was a GameBoy Advance SP. We guess that’s a big part of its whole appeal, of course. It’s a well-made knock-off design, too, with a hinge that feels strong and well-made, allowing you to open it at whatever angle feels most comfortable. The hardware brings enough muscle to provide smooth emulation for N64, PSP, and Dreamcast games (it struggled a bit with bigger PS1 games, though), with the controls providing an excellent feel throughout, save for the slightly hard-to-reach L2 and R2 buttons, which require some heavy pressing to register. We love the fact that this comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and even an HDMI slot, allowing you to not just use it with wireless headphones, but even plug it in to a TV for big screen retro gaming. Seriously, this is surprisingly powerful and feature-packed for such a compact and affordably-priced retro handheld.
GKD Pixel 2
Pros
- Premium metal body
- Very compact size
- Smooth emulation
Cons
- Short battery life
Screen size: 2.4 inches
Resolution: 640 x 480 pixels (4:3 aspect ratio)
GKD has released a number of retro handhelds in the past. None of them come close to the Pixel 2. Suffice to say, this is the best one they’ve put out yet. First off, you need to be comfortable playing on a really small screen to enjoy this, since it only comes with a 2.4-inch display. If you’re fine with that, you get to enjoy a really well-made handheld. For one, the body is all-metal, making it feel more premium than your typical plastic console. The screen is nice and bright, too, with excellent color and resolution. Do note, some people have reported some light bleeding from their screen, but it wasn’t an issue in our case. All the emulated games we tried out ran well, including a couple of Playstation titles, although the OS is pretty limited, so there’s not much to play around with. We found the buttons a little noisy, but it makes for nice background sound during gameplay. We do wish it has better battery life, since ours drained out at around three hours of playing.
Retroid Pocket MINI
Pros
- Powerful premium hardware
- Bright AMOLED screen
- Comfortable controls
- Overall smooth gaming experience
Cons
- A bit too big for a “MINI”
- Might be too overpowered for most people’s needs
Screen size: 3.7 inches
Resolution: 1280 x 960 pixels (4:3 aspect ratio)
For us, the real value of retro handhelds is at the sub-$100 range. Those consoles are pocket-sized, inexpensive, and powerful enough to handle games up to the Playstation era. However, those who want more power can step up to more expensive options like this one, which houses more premium hardware, such as a Snapdragon 865 CPU, a whopping 6GB of RAM, and an exceptionally bright 3.7-inch AMOLED display with 1280 x 960 resolution. Heck, it even has hall effect joysticks, analog L2 and R2 buttons, and wireless connectivity (yay, Bluetooth headphones), so they, at least, made sure it’s well-appointed enough to justify the asking price. There’s enough muscle here to let it play some Gamecube and PS2 games, although the 4:3 aspect ratio, of course, leaves it better suited to PS1 era and earlier titles. It does, however, have DisplayPort output, so you can play those newer games on a TV instead for a much nicer experience. Gaming feels very smooth on this handheld, with the controls providing an excellent feel throughout. The device runs on Android, too, which means you can also use this to enjoy your favorite mobile games, provided, of course, they play well on a 4:3 aspect ratio, while the battery provides enough juice for around five to six hours of gameplay.
Retroid Pocket 5
Pros
- Powerful PS2 emulation
- Superb controls
- 1080p AMOLED display
Cons
- PS2 emulation kills battery life
- Expensive
Screen size: 5.5 inches
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
If your primary reason for a retro handheld is to play PS2 or Gamecube titles, you’ll best be served skipping everything else on the list and getting this console instead. Sure, it’s bigger than your typical retro handheld, looking almost like a miniature version of today’s modern consoles. As such, it’s definitely not pocket-friendly, so you’ll need to stash this in a bag, along with the rest of your gear. For the size, though, you get what feels like a modern version of the PSP, complete with hardware Sony’s old handheld can only dream of, including a Snapdragon 865 processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and 128GB of storage. It also gets all the goodies from the MINI above, including hall-effect joysticks, wireless connectivity, DP output, and more. We love the Retroid Launcher that runs on this, by the way, which allows for an overall smooth gaming experience. The hardware enables impeccable PS2 emulation like we’ve never seen on a handheld before, allowing you to finally enjoy your favorite PS2 classics on the go, complete with terrific controls that make playing on this thing an absolute joy. Obviously, not everyone will be up for a $220 emulation machine, but those who’ve always wanted to put a PS2 in their pocket finally have a suitable option.
Comments are closed.