The Best Retro Handhelds market is growing rapidly, fueled by the convenience of emulation, which lets gamers enjoy classic titles without the skyrocketing prices of vintage hardware.
Having reviewed over 250 handheld gaming devices on Retro Dodo over the past five years, I’ve compiled this list of top recommendations. These are dedicated emulation handhelds running on Linux and/or Android, often preloaded with emulation software. Since users must provide their own ROMs, you won’t find official consoles from Nintendo, Sony, SEGA, or Microsoft here.
For retro gaming enthusiasts seeking a hassle-free way to relive classic games without expensive cartridges or lengthy downloads, this list features the best retro handhelds of 2025—ensuring you can experience nostalgia anytime, anywhere.
1. Analogue Pocket
- Superb build quality
- Access to FPGA-based emulation cores
- High-resolution screen
- Minimalist OS
- High price tag
- Frequently out of stock
- Limited software support from Analogue
- Release Date: Late 2021
- Price: $219.99
- Available At: Analogue.co, Amazon, eBay
The Analogue Pocket is a high-end retro handheld using FPGA technology rather than traditional emulation, offering a near-perfect replication of original hardware. Its 3.5-inch LCD with a 615 PPI resolution is protected by Gorilla Glass, making it one of the most premium handhelds available.
Despite its excellence, Analogue’s poor launch logistics and high price make it a tough purchase. However, for die-hard enthusiasts, it remains a must-have.
2. Funkey S
- Fits on a keychain
- Custom firmware is easy to use
- Great build quality for its size
- Good PS1 emulation
- Pricey for its performance
- Easy to misplace or damage
- Release Date: Mid 2022
- Price: $69.99
- Available At: Funkey’s Website
The Funkey S is the world’s smallest clamshell gaming handheld, offering solid PS1 emulation in a keychain-sized device. It features a custom OS for smooth navigation and game management.
While it’s not a device for long play sessions, it’s perfect for quick gaming on the go. The 1.5-inch screen is surprisingly bright, and the overall build quality is impressive. For those who love ultra-portable gaming, the Funkey S is a fantastic option.
3. AYN Odin
- Lovely display & size
- Android OS makes setup easy
- GameCube & Nintendo Wii emulation
- Large screen bezels
- Newer version available
- High shipping & import fees
- Release Date: Mid 2021
- Price: $199 – $249
- Available At: Amazon
The AYN Odin is an Android-based handheld featuring a Snapdragon SD845 processor, Adreno 630 GPU, and 7GB RAM, making it one of the most powerful handhelds in its category. Originally launched on Kickstarter, it quickly became a success due to its performance and affordability.
Its ability to emulate GameCube, PSP, Dreamcast, and PlayStation 2 titles with minimal tweaking sets it apart. The ease of Android 11 ensures a user-friendly experience, allowing players to install emulators directly from the Google Play Store.
Despite its strengths, the Odin does have some drawbacks. The large screen bezels feel outdated, and newer models offer better performance. However, for those looking for a mid-range handheld, the Odin remains a solid choice.
4. Steam Deck OLED
- User-friendly interface
- Massive game library support
- Competitive pricing
- Mappable buttons
- Battery life could be better
- Bulky design
- Not the most portable device
- Release Date: November 2023
- Price: $549
- Available At: SteamDeck.com, Amazon, and eBay
The Steam Deck OLED is not just a gaming PC; it’s one of the best retro handheld emulators. At $549, it outperforms even high-end gaming PCs in emulation power, thanks to its vast community support. Installing EmuDeck allows users to emulate Dreamcast, GameCube, PS2, and more.
While large and not the most visually appealing device, its ease of use and massive Steam library make it a must-have for serious gamers.
5. AYANEO Pocket Micro
- Premium build quality
- Excellent performance up to GameCube
- Crisp and bright display
- High analogue sticks make portability awkward
- AYASpace bugs and lack of pre-loaded apps
- Limited battery life
- Release Date: August 2024
- Price: $219 – $250
- Available At: AYANEO.com and Indiegogo
With a metal body, MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, and a 3.5-inch AMOLED display, the AYANEO Pocket Micro is a sleek and powerful handheld. Perfect for PS1, Dreamcast, and Game Boy Advance emulation, it delivers premium performance in a compact size. However, its battery life and high analogue stick placement could be improved.
Stay tuned for more in-depth reviews on the remaining handheld devices on our list!
6. Retroid Pocket Mini
- Premium build quality
- Bright, AMOLED, border-less display
- Incredibly comfortable
- LED hall-joysticks & analogue shoulder buttons
- Too much power for a 3.7-inch display
- Awkwardly placed on the market
- Visible screws
- Not as "mini" as expected
- Release Date: September 2024
- Price: $199
- Available At: GoRetroid.com
The Retroid Pocket Mini aims to dominate the 3.5″-4″ retro handheld market, boasting a Snapdragon 865 CPU, 6GB RAM, and a high-quality GPU, making it incredibly powerful for its size.
This device features a glass front panel, a 3.7-inch AMOLED touch display with a 1280×960 resolution, and a 4000mAh battery offering over 5 hours of playtime. The ergonomic design ensures comfortable handling, with LED hall-joysticks and analogue triggers enhancing gameplay.
It supports emulation for GameCube, Dreamcast, N64, and select PS2 titles, proving just how quickly handheld technology is advancing. However, while the performance is outstanding, the small display feels cramped for some higher-end emulation. The visible screws also detract from the overall aesthetic.
While the $199 price tag is high, the build quality and power make it a top-tier choice. However, with the Retroid Pocket 5 launching shortly after with more RAM and a larger screen for only $20 more, some may find the Mini a tough sell.
7. ANBERNIC RG556
- Beautiful OLED display
- Comfortable ergonomics
- GameCube & PS2 emulation
- LED joysticks
- Poor OS & UX
- Cumbersome setup
- Slippery plastic shell
- Release Date: Early 2024
- Price: $184.99
- Available At: ANBERNIC.com, Amazon
The ANBERNIC RG556 is a powerful handheld featuring a Unisoc T820 CPU, 8GB RAM, a 5.4-inch AMOLED display, and a 5000mAh battery. Priced at $185, it offers great specs at a competitive price point.
Its OLED display is a standout feature, making retro games look stunning. However, the user experience is hindered by ANBERNIC’s poorly optimized launcher. Despite its power and premium screen, usability issues prevent it from ranking higher.
8. ANBERNIC RG35XXSP
- Clamshell design similar to the GBA SP
- Affordable
- Good PSP & Dreamcast emulation
- Average user experience
- Sometimes the screen doesn’t sleep when closed
- Release Date: Early 2024
- Price: $59.99
- Available At: ANBERNIC.com and Amazon
ANBERNIC’s RG35XXSP is an affordable clamshell emulator that looks like a Game Boy Advance SP but offers far more power. It supports N64 and Dreamcast games, making it an excellent entry-level emulation device. The hinge is sturdy, and the 4:3 screen is perfect for retro gaming.
9. TRIMUI Brick
- Sleek, minimalist design
- Pocket-friendly size
- Intuitive Linux-based OS
- Competitive pricing
- Shoulder buttons can feel awkward
- Games requiring an analog stick may be tricky
- Screen bezels are noticeable
- Release Date: Late 2024
- Price: $69.99+
- Available At: MechDIY.com and Amazon
The TRIMUI Brick is a beautifully crafted handheld designed for portability. It supports Game Boy, N64, Dreamcast, and PlayStation 1 emulation. Its unique feature is its interchangeable shoulder buttons, allowing users to customize their experience. This ultra-compact device is perfect for everyday carry.
10. Retroid Pocket 2S
- Affordable
- Android 11 OS
- Easy setup
- Strong N64 & Dreamcast emulation
- Doesn’t come preloaded with games
- Large screen bezels
- Long shipping times
- Release Date: 2023
- Price: $99 – $119
- Available At: ebay
Though it lacks major design changes, the Retroid Pocket 2S remains a solid choice for budget-conscious gamers. Its updated hardware allows for GameCube, PSP, and Dreamcast emulation at an unbeatable price.
11. Retroid Pocket 5
- Incredible PlayStation 2 emulation
- Easy-to-use launcher/OS
- Premium build quality
- AMOLED display
- Minor bugs in the new Retroid Launcher
- Battery drains quickly during PS2/GameCube emulation
- No fingerprint reader like its competitors
- Release Date: Late 2024
- Price: $219
- Available At: GoRetroid.45rcom
The Retroid Pocket 5 is a powerhouse of a retro gaming handheld. It feels like a modern-day PSP, featuring a 5.5-inch AMOLED touchscreen, LED hall-joysticks, 8GB RAM, 5000mAh battery, and Android 13. Setup is effortless, with the best Android emulators pre-installed and a user-friendly launcher guiding you through the process.
Its Snapdragon 865 CPU and Adreno 650 GPU allow for smooth emulation of most retro consoles, including PS2 at high resolutions. If you’re looking for the best $200 Android retro handheld, this is it.
12. ModRetro Chromatic
- Metal shell with premium build
- Pixel-perfect GBC display
- Flawless cartridge gameplay
- Built by a passionate team
- Inactive expansion modules
- No wireless charging
- Release Date: December 2024
- Price: $199
- Available At: ModRetro.com
The ModRetro Chromatic is a beautifully designed handheld dedicated to Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges. With a pixel-perfect screen, sapphire glass protection, and a sturdy metal shell, this device is built to last. It supports link cables for trading Pokémon and even takes AA batteries like classic Game Boys. If you love GBC games, this is the ultimate way to play them.
13. AYN Odin 2
- Incredible PS2, PSP & GameCube emulation
- Large and beautiful display
- Comfortable ergonomics
- Android and cloud gaming support
- Expensive after shipping and import fees
- Overkill for retro games
- Release Date: Early 2024
- Price: $299 – $459
- Available At: AynTec.com, Amazon, and eBay
The AYN Odin 2 is an elite retro gaming handheld that plays nearly every classic console flawlessly. While its price ranges from $299 to $459 before import fees, it delivers top-tier performance.
Featuring a 6-inch 1080p IPS LCD, Qualcomm Kyro CPU, Adreno 740 GPU, up to 16GB RAM, and an 8000mAh battery, the Odin 2 is a powerhouse. It runs Android 13, allowing seamless installation of emulators, cloud gaming apps, and entertainment software. The device emulates PS2, GameCube, PSP, and Dreamcast games at high frame rates, and even some Nintendo Switch games.
The ergonomic design, hall joysticks, analogue triggers, fingerprint sensor, and efficient cooling make it an exceptional device. While the price is steep, those who invest in the Odin 2 will find it to be one of the most capable handhelds on the market.
14. Miyoo Mini
- Ultra pocket-friendly
- Excellent GBA/NES/SNES/Wonderswan emulation
- Cute and memorable design
- Good build quality
- Hard to find
- Easy to misplace due to size
- Stock firmware is lacking
- Release Date: 2022
- Price: $49.99
- Available At: AliExpress & eBay
The Miyoo Mini is a compact handheld that resembles a mini Game Boy. It runs on a 1.2GHz CPU with 128MB RAM and a 2.8-inch IPS display. Though tiny, it emulates PlayStation 1 games well and features flared shoulder buttons. Its intuitive firmware ensures that even beginners can start playing quickly.
Due to manufacturing issues and high demand, the Miyoo Mini has been difficult to acquire, but its “Plus” version offers a slightly larger screen and battery. If you can find one, it’s one of the best pocket-sized retro handhelds available.
15. ANBERNIC RG35XX Plus
- Modern display
- Very affordable
- Pocket-friendly
- Solid build quality
- Better alternatives exist within ANBERNIC’s lineup
- Basic OS
- Uncomfortable shoulder buttons
- Release Date: Late 2023
- Price: $63.99
- Available At: ANBERNIC.com, Amazon
The RG35XX Plus is an upgraded version of ANBERNIC’s budget handheld. With a 3.5-inch 640×480 display and improved RAM and battery life, it offers solid performance at an unbeatable $65 price tag.
While it handles Dreamcast, Nintendo DS, PS1, and GBA games well, its stock OS is lackluster, though installing Garlic OS improves functionality. Despite minor flaws, it remains one of the best entry-level retro handhelds available.
16. RG405M
- High-quality metal shell
- Crisp 4:3 display
- Good PSP & Nintendo DS emulation
- Superb build quality
- Gets warm after prolonged use
- Stock firmware is underwhelming
- Release Date: Early 2023
- Price: $157.99
- Available At: ANBERNIC.com, Amazon
The RG405M is a premium metal handheld featuring a Unisoc T618 CPU, Mali G52 GPU, and 4GB RAM. Its 4-inch 640×480 IPS display and 4500mAh battery make it a strong competitor in the market.
It emulates PSP, Dreamcast, Game Boy, NES, SNES, Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo DS effortlessly. Some PS2 and GameCube titles are playable, though performance varies. The Android OS and premium build make it an excellent option for gamers seeking quality.
17. ANBERNIC RG40XX H
- Superb build quality
- Incredibly comfortable
- Competitively priced
- Small screen light bleed
- Poor front-end user experience
- Release Date: August 2024
- Price: $69.99
- Available At: ANBERNIC.com, Amazon
The RG40XX H is a horizontal handheld featuring a rounded design, stacked shoulder buttons, a 4-inch IPS display, and LED hall-effect joysticks. Its 1.5GHz H700 CPU supports PS1, Nintendo 64, and Dreamcast emulation smoothly.
Though the UI lacks polish, the device’s performance, screen quality, and ergonomic design make it a worthwhile option for budget-conscious gamers.
18. PlayDate
- Unique handheld design
- Fun and innovative crank control
- Incredible battery life
- Great monthly indie game releases
- Screen difficult to see in the dark
- Expensive for its capabilities
- Can become uncomfortable after extended play
The PlayDate is one of the most unique handhelds ever made, featuring a crank as part of its gaming experience. Built for indie game discovery, it releases two new titles every week after launch.
Its reflective black-and-white screen mimics the Game Boy DMG era, requiring proper lighting for visibility. Though limited in power, it offers a fresh take on handheld gaming and is a must-have for indie enthusiasts.
19. Game Kiddy Pixel
- Incredibly portable
- Durable, high-quality metal body
- PS1 emulation in your pocket
- Small battery life (1300mAh)
- Expensive due to metal shell
- More powerful devices available for the same price
- Release Date: Early 2024
- Price: $75.99
- Available At: KeepRetro.com
The Game Kiddy Pixel is a top-tier mini retro handheld featuring a 2.4-inch screen, 128MB RAM, and a solid metal shell. It offers strong PS1 emulation, along with flawless Game Boy, GBA, MAME, Wonderswan, and Mega Drive support.
Though its battery life is limited, and the speakers could be better, its durability and sleek design make it a standout mini handheld worth considering.
20. Evercade EXP
- Nostalgic cartridge collecting
- Great build quality
- TATE mode for vertical games
- Supports physical media and game trading
- Needs more popular licensed games
- Cartridges can get expensive
- Screen brightness could be improved
- Clicky, loud buttons
The Evercade EXP embraces physical game cartridges, reviving the old-school experience of trading and collecting. With over 300 officially licensed games from Bandai Namco, Capcom, ATARI, and more, it delivers a unique retro experience without the need for ROMs.
Its impressive D-pad and pre-loaded Capcom games make it a great pick for nostalgic gamers, though the limited library and slightly expensive cartridges may not appeal to everyone.
21. Super Retro Champ
- Supports SNES, Genesis, and Mega Drive cartridges
- 7-inch display & detachable controllers
- Rechargeable battery for long play sessions
- Bulkier than other handhelds
- No built-in game library
- Released: Early 2020
- Price: $149.99
- Available At: Amazon
The Super Retro Champ brings classic gaming on the go, supporting SNES, Sega Genesis, and Mega Drive cartridges. Its 7-inch screen and detachable controllers make it great for solo or multiplayer play. While bulkier than other handhelds, the rechargeable battery ensures extended gaming sessions. A must-have for cartridge collectors!
22. Super Pocket
- Pocket-sized and lightweight
- Preloaded with classic retro games
- Supports Evercade cartridges
- Crisp display and responsive controls
- Limited built-in game selection
- Small screen for some players
- Released: 2023
- Price: $59
- Available At: Amazon, Hyper Mega Tech
The Super Pocket is a compact and lightweight handheld that brings retro gaming anywhere. Preloaded with classic games from legendary developers, it also supports Evercade cartridges, expanding your library. With a crisp display and responsive controls, it delivers a great nostalgic experience in a portable form. Perfect for quick gaming sessions on the go!
These additional handhelds expand the variety of retro gaming choices in 2025. Whether you’re looking for premium, budget-friendly, or ultra-portable options, this list of Best Retro Handhelds has something for every retro gaming enthusiast. No matter your preference, you’ll find the Best Retro Handhelds to suit your nostalgic gaming needs!
