Many people love the concept of using a retro handheld every day, but the thought of lugging around a nearly 12-inch 1.5lb device such as the Steam Deck seems too inconvenient.

Luckily for you, there exist many small retro handheld options, and even smaller "mini retro handhelds" available. In this list, we'll take a look at the best options available now.

If you want to see the best (normal-sized) retro handhelds, view our top picks here.

RG Nano

ANBERNIC's $55 RG Nano is the smallest retro handheld on this list, and that comes with some positives and some negatives. Of course it's the most pocketable, and its tiny metal body will impress your friends more than any other mini handheld I mention here.

But what about the negatives? By themselves, the buttons and D-Pad are okay, but paired with their tiny size, it can be awkward at times to use them (especially if you have bigger hands). Not to mention the 1.54 inch 240x240 screen might be a bit too small for certain users.

But if those don't bother you, you will be happy to know the RG Nano can emulate all 8-Bit and 16-Bit games, most of your favorite arcade classics, and even some PlayStation One games. Some harder-to-run PS1 games won't be playable on here, so don't expect this handheld to become your perfect mini-PS1.

While issues like small controls, a small screen (with bezels or stretching for certain consoles, due to the 1:1 screen ratio), or imperfect PS1 emulation might bother some, the RG Nano certainly fits the bill for a mini retro handheld.

So if you are looking for something as small as possible, ANBERNIC's RG Nano will be a great fit for you!

Miyoo Mini V4

The Miyoo Mini is the most popular retro handheld on this list, and after seeing everything it can do, you'll know why. This specifically is in reference to the "V4" model, as there are other versions of the Miyoo Mini out there (but they are not usually available).

The Miyoo Mini V4 comes in at around $55-60.

The Miyoo Mini comes with a 2.8 inch 640x480 screen, which looks quite nice. You also get great controls, and an R1/R2 and L1/L2 shoulder buttons, which is different than most handhelds on this list which only come with R1/L2 buttons.

The Miyoo Mini arguably has the best emulation performance of any small handheld on this list, being able to play all 8-Bit and 16-Bit consoles, arcade games, pretty much all PlayStation One, and even Nintendo DS!

Not to mention the great community behind these Miyoo devices, you will be able to use great custom firmware options such as OnionOS that you won't have available on other handhelds.

So all things said and done, you will be getting better performance and community support than other handhelds on this list, as well as great controls. So if you are okay with the size of the Miyoo Mini V4, it is absolutely a top contender for best small retro handheld!

FunKey S

The FunkKey S is basically a "mini Gameboy Advance SP", being an absolutely tiny clamshell device. It comes with a 1.52 inch 240x240 screen and looks just like a cute keychain when it's closed. But for about $75, it's a very pricey keychain.

It has clicky controls, which are fine, but the D-Pad and ABXY buttons are very small and can lead to some accidental presses and possibly hand pain during long gaming sessions.

This handheld can run the usuals, 8-Bit and 16-Bit emulation, some arcade games, and the majority of PlayStation One games.

When it comes to the FunKey S, it's actually a really cool mini handheld. It has nice features like automatic power on/off (or sleep mode) just from closing the clamshell, which brings a more premium feel to the mini handheld space. And just a note, as of a while back the FunKey S did not ship with any ROMs.

The FunKey S is a really innovative handheld, but to me is a bit too small for regular use, it could be right for you (depending on your hand size, if you just want to use it for short gaming sessions, etc.). Also for around $75 I feel it isn't worth the novelty, but to each their own!

GKD Pixel

Coming in a metal shell, the GKD Pixel is a newer mini handheld that might fill a much-needed niche in this category. It's not as small as an RG Nano, but it's not as big as a Miyoo Mini. So if you found yourself wanting something in between those two, you're in luck.

As we previously mentioned, the GKD Pixel has a solid feeling build quality with its metal shell and has a nice snappy feeling D-Pad and buttons. And with a 2.4 inch 320x240 screen, it has the overall feel of a nice small handheld, without feeling too uncomfortably mini.

This handheld will be able to handle all 8-Bit and 16-Bit consoles, most arcade classics, and will even be able to handle the vast majority of PlayStation One (a few more demanding PS1 games will experience a bit of slowdown here and there, and will require frameskip). But overall, the GKD Pixel does everything you would want a mini retro handheld to do.

You even have custom firmware options available such as MinUI, which is an amazing simple option for small retro handhelds.

So for around $80, the GKD Pixel is certainly a solid pick, but it isn't the most affordable option out there.

TRIMUI Smart

Being the only horizontal handheld on the list, the TrimUI Smart brings a comfortable but mini feel for only around $60. If you feel like the vertical handhelds mentioned on this list would be too uncomfortable for your hands, the TrimUI Smart might be for you.

Coming with a 2.4 inch 320x240 screen, paired with a nice and clicky D-Pad and buttons each placed on the opposing side of the screen, the TrimUI really brings a premium feel to the mini retro handheld scene.

This small handheld will be able to emulate everything up to the 8-Bit and 16-Bit consoles, most arcade games, and the majority of PlayStation One games. So the emulation is pretty normal for around $60.

The TrimUI Smart also has MinUI support, so you will have the ability to install that fantastic custom firmware if you like. Not to mention that this handheld comes with WiFi and Bluetooth, which is something most mini handhelds can't say.

The TrimUI smart is a fantastic option for around $60, and is seriously worth considering for its horizontal form factor (especially if you feel you might have trouble using these other handhelds if your hands are on the bigger side).

ANBERNIC RG280V

The ANBERNIC RG280V might get the award for the strangest looking handheld on this list, but don't let that fool you, the RG280V is pretty great. For around $70, you'll get a small but powerful handheld.

It comes with a 2.8 inch 320x480 screen, and solid-feeling controls. The RG280V comes with R1/R2 and L1/L2 shoulder buttons, instead of just R1 and L1 like many other mini handhelds on this list do.

This handheld is a bit more powerful than the others on this list, you will be able to handle 8-Bit and 16-Bit consoles with no problem, your favorite arcade classics, and pretty much all PlayStation One emulation.

ANBERNIC made a very decent handheld with the RG280V, and its slightly wider size might make it the most comfortable to use vertical handheld on this list.

Powkiddy V90

While the Powkiddy V90 doesn't appear too small once it's opened, it is an incredibly compact device when it's closed. Being one of the few retro handhelds to use a clamshell design, I felt the need to include it here.

Truth be told, the Powkiddy V90 isn't super powerful. For around $40 you can play all 8-Bit games most 16-Bit games (it has some trouble with the hardest to run SNES games), and some PlayStation One games.

But with decent controls and a 3 inch screen, some people might feel more comfortable using a handheld such as the V90 than a much smaller one with microscopic controls and a tiny screen.

If the reason you want a mini handheld is that you just don't want to have to lug something around in your pocket that feels too big, the clamshell Powkiddy V90 might be right for you.

Which Is The Best Mini Retro Handheld Game Console (Or Best Small Retro Handheld Game Console)?

The ANBERNIC RG Nano, FunKey S, GKD Pixel, ANBERNIC RG280V, TrimUI Smart, Miyoo Mini V4, and Powkiddy V90 are the top picks for the best small retro handhelds.

Out of all of them, which one would I recommend as the best? Of course, it depends on exactly which features you want. But I believe the Miyoo Mini V4 and the TrimUI Smart are the best small retro handhelds.

This is because they both come in at around $60 or a bit under $60. Not to mention they aren't so small they feel super uncomfortable to use (of course this is subjective), I feel like these two handhelds are the perfect middle ground of all of these mini retro handhelds.

Smallest Retro Handheld Game Console

The ANBERNIC RG Nano is the smallest retro handheld that isn't a novelty item, and if you want something super small and portable it is what I would recommend.

Technically the FunkKey S is smaller when it's closed (as it's a clamshell GBA SP type handheld), so it is also a competitor for the best mini retro handheld.

Of course, everyone is different, and you might want something different than I do. If that's the case, buy whichever small retro handheld you want! After all, every handheld here has its own positives and negatives. Happy gaming!