The retro handheld scene has been slowly bubbling up behind the scenes for a few years, and with perfect timing, as they finally begin to enter into the mainstream in 2024, there are now better options available than ever!
Whether you want to buy a retro handheld for under $50 to play older games, or a handheld for around $200 to emulate more recent consoles, this list will cover the best retro handhelds in 2024. Let's check it out!
Best Retro Handhelds
Miyoo Mini Plus
The Miyoo Mini Plus is an extremely well-known retro handheld, and is probably the handheld that is most commonly recommended to newcomers to the portable emulation scene. Once you see everything it can do, you'll surely understand why.
The Miyoo Mini Plus will run you around $45-55, but you can sometimes find it a bit cheaper than this if you can catch it on sale. It doesn't come with anything too fancy, but that's the appeal of the Miyoo Mini Plus: it's a simple handheld that gets the job done well.
It comes with a 3.5 inch 640x480 screen, a Dual-core 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A7 CPU, and 128MB of DDR3 RAM. While the specs aren't the most powerful around, it can do a surprising amount of emulation.
The Miyoo Mini Plus can easily handle emulating everything up to the PlayStation One, and you can even play Nintendo DS on this handheld. And with custom firmware, you can emulate some consoles that are not supported by the stock OS.
While I'm on that topic, I'll just quickly mention that the custom firmware situation is great for the Miyoo Mini Plus. Options such as the extremely popular OnionOS provide an advanced and sleek-looking OS for your handheld, and there is still a very active community that is always developing new things for the Miyoo Mini Plus.
The controls are very nice on the Miyoo Mini Plus, you get an accurate D-Pad, nice feeling buttons, and comfortable shoulder buttons. It also includes built-in WiFi, which is something that many other handhelds in this price range can't say.
Overall this is the best budget vertical handheld out there, and has mastered everything from the 8-Bit and 16-Bit era (and even a bit more past that).
Miyoo Mini Plus
The Miyoo Mini Plus is a great handheld for first time buyers, or someone more experienced looking for a smaller device. With great controls and a robust custom firmware scene, this small handheld is great for emulating everything up to PS1 and DS.
Retroid Pocket 2S
If you like the idea of getting a cheap retro handheld, but feel the budget options aren't powerful enough for your liking, the Retroid Pocket 2S might just be for you! The 4GB RAM model (which will be the model referenced here) comes in at only $99, and around $10-15 shipping depending on where you live.
The Retroid Pocket S2 is a pretty compact device, coming with a 3.5 inch screen that might be more usual on a cheaper handheld like the Miyoo Mini Plus, but don't let that deceive you: the Retroid Pocket S2 truly packs a punch considering its $99 price tag.
You'll be able to play all 8-Bit and 16-bit games, tons of arcade classics, and pretty much all Nintendo 64 and Sega Dreamcast perfectly. You'll even be able to play a decent amount of GameCube games on the RPS2 (some have estimated around 50% of its library), a big portion of the 3DS library (some of the harder to run 3D games won't be perfect), and some PlayStation 2 games (maybe around a third).
The Retroid Pocket S2 is the cheapest Android retro handheld on this list, so you get access to the customization options that come with Android, and even the ability to play some Android games.
The controls are super nice on the Retroid Pocket S2, it includes Hall analog sticks, analog trigger buttons, and good feeling ABXY buttons. No complaints here about the controls!
If you have a budget of around $100, the Retroid Pocket S2 is a fantastic option, and is surely an upgrade beyond the other budget handhelds on this list!
Retroid Pocket 2S
The Retroid Pocket 2S is a shockingly great value and brings perfect N64 and Dreamcast emulation, as well as some GameCube and PS2 emulation for just $99. Along with Android and a touchscreen, this retro handheld feels much more expensive than it really is.
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro
The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro's $199 (plus shipping) price tag is an indicator that we are getting out of the budget retro handheld tier. But once you see everything the RP4P can do, you will see that it's extremely affordable for something as powerful as it is.
The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro comes with a Mediatek Dimensity 1100 CPU, Mali G77 MC9 GPU, 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM, 128GB of internal storage (along with a MicroSD card slot), and Android 13. These are incredibly impressive specs for just $199, and you will be very pleased with this handheld's emulation performance.
You will be able to emulate all lower end consoles and handhelds perfectly (PS1, N64, Dreamcast, DS, etc.). 3DS games will be able to play consistently at a 2x resolution, Gamecube games will be able to be played well also at a 2x resolution, and even the Wii runs well at a 2x resolution! The majority of PlayStation 2 games will be playable at a 2x resolution, but a few titles here and there will have some slowdown.
And I'm sure many people are wondering: what about Nintendo Switch emulation? Well, surprisingly some Switch games are playable on the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, but only the lighter-weight games (such as some indie 2D platformers) will be playable. Unfortunately, we don't have enough power here to play bigger games such as anything in the Legend of Zelda series.
Since this handheld uses Android 13, you also have the ability to play many Android games (if that's your thing). So if you want to switch between Super Mario 64 and Genshin Impact, you're in luck.
And paired with such powerful hardware, the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro also comes with excellent controls. We get a touchscreen (useful for Android navigation), Hall analog sticks, good feeling Retroid ABXY buttons, and stacked shoulder buttons with analog triggers.
So for just $199, the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro is super impressive. If you want solid emulation in harder to emulate consoles such as the PS2 or GameCube, the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro is the cheapest handheld to be able to handle them consistently (even at a 2x resolution).
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro
The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro is the most powerful handheld on this list, and is simply phenomenal for $199. It has mastered every retro system, and can even play a bit of Nintendo Switch here and there. There are really little flaws with this device.
ANBERNIC RG35XX Plus
The ANBERNIC RG35XX Plus is truly an interesting device. It comes in at about $70 after shipping, so it's somewhere between a budget handheld and a premium handheld.
Looking at it from the outside, you can see it's a standard vertical handheld with no bells or whistles. You get a sharp 3.5 inch 640x480 screen, a super nice D-Pad, ANBERNIC's classic glossy buttons, and comfortable shoulder buttons.
Officially this handheld is the upgraded model of the original RG35XX, but it could also be looked at as an upgraded version of the Miyoo Mini Plus, which I included on this list. So what makes this vertical handheld worth the increased price tag?
For starters, you get a 1.5 GHz H700 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, and a
Dual-core G31 MP2 GPU, along with 1GB of LPDDR4 RAM. So for those who don't care about specs: this means it will be able to emulate a lot more than less powerful retro handhelds like the Miyoo Mini Plus.
The RG35XX Plus can handle all 8-Bit and 16-Bit consoles, and can even handle a large amount of N64 and Dreamcast emulation. Neither will be absolutely perfect, and a few harder to run N64 games will not run at full speed, but large amounts of them will. You also get great Nintendo DS emulation, as well as a pretty good amount of PSP games being able to be played as well.
As we went over earlier, the ANBERNIC RG35XX Plus comes in at about $70 after shipping. In my opinion, this is still a great deal for the money and is a solid option if you are looking for a no-frills vertical handheld.
ANBERNIC RG35XX Plus
If you love the vertical form factor, but feel the Miyoo Mini Plus (or the original RG35XX) isn't powerful enough for you, the RG35XX Plus might be perfect for you! For about $70 you get great controls, and enough power to play PS1 at 2x resolution and most N64 and Dreamcast games.
R36S
Coming in at just $40, the R36S is probably the best value if you have a super tight budget. Just take a quick glance at this retro handheld and you will see that it appears to be a lot more premium than something you can buy for just $40
The R36S is technically a "clone" device, meaning it was made to look very similar to a more expensive ANBERNIC device, but don't let that make you think it's not a good purchase: the R36S is a surprisingly good handheld.
It comes pre-loaded with ArkOS, which is a very capable OS. Along with a commonly used chip in retro handhelds, the RK3326, you will be able to emulate a lot more than you might think for $40.
The R36S excels in 8-Bit and 16-Bit emulation, and can even play many PlayStation 1 games a 2x resolution, which is something cheaper handhelds like the Miyoo Mini Plus can't consistently do. The R36S also can emulate Nintendo DS very well, some PSP, a smaller amount of N64 games, and a good amount of Dreamcast games (but they won't be perfect).
For only $40, you shouldn't be disappointed that the R36S can't play every N64 or Dreamcast game, you should be shocked it can play any at such a low price point. So with all of my praise for the R36S, there have to be some negatives, right? It sounds too good to be true. Well, there are some negatives, unfortunately.
The biggest negatives with the R36S are the controls, mainly being the D-Pad is somewhat stiff and not super accurate (which might not matter for some users, as you get two nice-feeling analog sticks), as well as the fact the ABXY buttons feel like they need to pressed harder than the average retro handheld button. The shoulder buttons are pretty loud and don't feel great too, but they're not too bad.
Overall, especially with the analog sticks and the excellent 3.5 inch screen, I think the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to the uber-cheap R36S. There might be some concerns such as poor quality control when it comes to buying a "clone" handheld as opposed to something from a more known brand, but I think for $40 you can't go wrong.
R36S
The R36S comes in at about $40, and you can sometimes find it for cheaper than that. The controls aren't the best out there, but they will be fine for most users. But surprisingly for $40, you can play Nintendo DS, some N64, Dreamcast, and PSP. If you're tight on cash, the R36S might be a perfect fit for you.
Powkiddy RGB30
The Powkiddy RGB30 is the most unique handheld on this list, but for many people it fills a void in the retro handheld scene that has never been filled before.
The RGB30 comes in at around $90, and you can clearly see it has some distinct features. Most notably it comes with a 4 inch 720x720 screen which looks absolutely stunning!
Of course it is more suited for playing games that are in a 1:1 screen ratio, but it still is fully capable of playing consoles that are in other screen ratios such as N64 or PlayStation One. The RGB30 comes with a 1.8GHz quad-core ARM RK3566 chip along with 1GB of LPDDR4 RAM, so it can handle some more demanding emulation.
The controls are pretty decent, but not perfect. It comes with two analog sticks, which feel nice and are accurate. The ABXY buttons are clicky (but not too loud), and the D-Pad is pretty good, but some users have complained about the occasional accidental diagonal. And its inline shoulder buttons are completely satisfactory.
Overall the use case of the Powkiddy RGB30 is more niche, but it is still a great handheld. This handheld would be a great fit if you want to play more consoles that are in a 1:1 ratio such as GameBoy Color or Pico-8, but even for emulation that is not, such as the PSP, it will still work great (it just won't fill out the screen completely).
Powkiddy RGB30
Powkiddy has sure made a unique handheld with the RGB30, and some users will love the 720x720 screen. While for $90 it's powerful enough to handle most N64, Dreamcast, PSP, etc., this handheld truly shines in playing systems such as the Gameboy Color, as the screen ratios are so similar.
Data Frog SF2000
Out of any handheld I could have included here, the Datafrog SF2000 is the absolute cheapest, coming in at anywhere from $10-15. You might be thinking that anything that is this cheap would just be a toy, but you might be surprised by what this can do.
The SF2000 comes in a really interesting shape, taking inspiration from an SNES controller, but with an analog stick. And speaking of the SNES, this cheap handheld can play some SNES games! It can handle pretty much all 8-Bit and 16-Bit consoles (although it doesn't come with games from everything from those generations).
So if you want to get into retro handheld gaming and play some older consoles like the NES, SNES, Gameboy Advance, etc. the SF2000 might be the best choice for you! The controls are decent, and I think you can't ask for too much for only around $15.
Data Frog SF2000
The SF2000 is the cheapest handheld available that is considered to be somewhat decent. For about $15 you can achieve some lower end emulation such as GBA and NES. But if you want to go anywhere above the 16-Bit era, you will have to pay a bit more.
So Which One Is The Best Retro Handheld Game Console in 2024?
The Miyoo Mini Plus, Retroid Pocket 2S, Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, R36S, ANBERNIC RG35XX Plus, Powkiddy RGB30, and the Datafrog SF2000 are all great handhelds in their own right. Such a large amount of retro handheld game consoles might feel overwhelming, so which one should you choose?
Each handheld will be somewhat unique in what features it offers, therefore some are missing features that are important to some users. For some, dealbreakers could include internal WiFi, Bluetooth, or HDMI video out. Above is an infographic detailing prominent differences between the devices on this list that you can consult for some help.
Don't forget, at the top of this article there is a graphic comparing which console every retro handheld on this list can emulate.
Do you value build quality and controls over performance? Do you only want to play NES, do you want to be able to play PlayStation 2 at an enhanced resolution? These factors will obviously play an important role in which handheld is the best for you, so I will give my view on the best handheld for certain common parameters.
Cheapest Retro Handheld
The cheapest retro handheld that actually is good and not a cheap toy is the Datafrog SF2000. For $15 you are able to play NES, SNES, Megadrive, and GBA, just to name a few.
If you are willing to spend a bit more, you will be able to get the R36S for just $40. This will allow you to emulate many more consoles, including PlayStation One and some N64 and Dreamcast.
Best Small/Mini Retro Handheld
When it comes to getting a small or "mini" retro handheld, there is really a personal preference for what you consider to be small. For example, ANBERNIC's RG Nano handheld has a 1.5 inch screen, but that is way too small for many users.
So it depends on what you consider to be "mini", but in my view the Miyoo Mini Plus is the best small handheld on this list. You could also consider the Miyoo Mini, which is essentially just a smaller version of the Miyoo Mini Plus.
Best Retro Handheld for GameCube Emulation
Out of any handheld on this list, the only one that can consistently emulate every GameCube game (most at an enhanced resolution) is the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro. Sure, the Retroid Pocket 2S can play some GameCube games, but not the entire catalog, and even the ones that it can play would be more prone to the occasional slowdown.
Best Retro Handheld for PS2 Emulation
The answer for the best PlayStation Two emulation is the same for GameCube emulation: the best is the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro. This handheld can play almost every PS2 game at a 2x resolution, and there is only a small handful of games the RP4P can not handle.
While cheaper handhelds such as the Retroid Pocket 2S can emulate a small amount of PS2 games, there's no way I'd recommend it as a handheld specifically for playing PS2 games.
Best Retro Handheld for N64 Emulation
When it comes to Nintendo 64 emulation, the Retroid Pocket 2S is the best affordable option for great N64 emulation. Sure, cheaper handhelds such as the ANBERNIC RG35XX Plus can play quite a few N64 games well, the performance just won't be perfect for every game.
Best Retro Handheld for Dreamcast Emulation
Dreamcast emulation can be done pretty well on cheaper handhelds such as the ANBERNIC RG35XX Plus, but you will need to use frameskip frequently, and the performance won't be perfect for every game. I would again recommend the Retroid Pocket 2S for near-perfect Dreamcast gameplay.
Best Retro Handheld for PlayStation One Emulation
PS1 is generally pretty easy to emulate, so if PlayStation One is the main console you're interested in, you won't need to break the bank when buying a retro handheld. The Miyoo Mini Plus is a great option that can handle pretty much any PS1 game you can throw at it.
But for example, if you want to be able to play PlayStation One games at a 2x resolution, a more powerful handheld such as the ANBERNIC RG35XX Plus would suit your needs better.
While what I previously mentioned is important, there are of course other factors that might be important to you when choosing the best retro handheld game console. So I'll leave the choice up to you on which is the best one for you, so for now, happy gaming!