Retro
Handhelds
Your complete retro handheld gaming source
We’re glad you made it! Retro Handhelds is a news, reviews and guides website, youtube channel, discord and facebook community dedicated to the celebration of classic gaming on the go. Whether you’re replaying old favorites or digging for hidden gems, RH is here to offer camaraderie, support, and news on the latest portable gaming developments!
The Latest
AYN Delays Odin 3 ‘Ultra’ Pre-Orders, Offers Alternative Solutions
Bad news for Odin 3 Ultra buyers. AYN has officially delayed remaining orders until mid-January 2026, citing surging memory costs. Buyers can either switch to the Odin 3 Max or hold their place in line.
AYANEO Pocket Air Mini: First Impressions
AYANEO doesn’t usually mean budget. But when it does, is it done right? The Pocket Air Mini is its first go-around. And as Ban always says. It’s SOLID.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: KTR1 S, AYANEO, Mangmi, GammaOS, and Much More
New handhelds appeared, software drama erupted, and several standout reviews dropped. If you missed anything this week in retro handhelds, this is the recap you’ll need to stay up to date.
KTR1 S Revealed In New Photos
The KTR1 S swaps the Helio G99 for a Dimensity 7300, adds magnesium shell option, three color options, and two stick layouts. Pre-orders coming soon.
AYN Odin 2: Two Years Later
The AYN Odin 2 reshaped Android handheld gaming in 2023. Ban revisits its controls, performance, flaws, and long-term impact to see if it is still worth buying.
The GameMT EX5 is Coming Soon, Complete With a Performance Dial
GameMT’s latest teaser shows off the EX5: an Android handheld with a 1080p screen, single thumbstick design, and a unique “kitchen timer” style performance switch.
Retro Handhelds Deals of the Week
Tired of scrolling through pages and pages of websites trying to find the best deals on retro handhelds and accessories? We’ve got you covered with a few picks.
Mangmi Pocket Max Could Be a Bigger, More Powerful Air X
After the success of the Air X, Mangmi appears ready for round two. The Pocket Max is already generating buzz thanks to rumored specs and early benchmarks.
Long-Lost NES Game Xcavator Announced At Day Of The Devs
iam8bit is releasing Xcavator, a finished version of a lost NES game, for $100, with all profits funding the Video Game History Foundation.
AYANEO Pocket Play Revealed: A Modern Twist on the Xperia Play
It looks like the dream of a modern Xperia Play is finally coming true. AYANEO has unveiled the Pocket Play, a gaming-focused smartphone that tucks its controller away when you don’t need it.
Oblast Elevates Classic Blasto Gameplay on Commodore 64
Oblast is a new Commodore 64 remake of 1978’s Blasto arcade game, featuring 384 procedural levels, advanced SID audio, and screen-shake explosions.
CATii Frontend Announced, Immediately Declares War On iiSU
CATii aims to be a new all-in-one Android emulator app for dual-screen handhelds. It runs multiple emulator cores in one process with cloud sync for settings.
Mangmi Air X Review: A Budget Banger
The budget market has exploded in 2025, but now Mangmi is coming from the woodwork with its Air X, a budget PSP-capable Android handheld. But is it worth it?
GammaOS Next Comes to Anbernic RG476H, RG Slide, and Others
From the RG406V to the RG Slide, GammaOS Next brings scoped storage, button remapping, and more to Anbernic’s lineup. See the full device list here.
Game Console R36H ProMax Review: Is Good Enough Still Good Enough?
The RK3326 is the chip that just refuses to go away. Nick reviews the new Game Console R36H ProMax to see if there’s any gas left in the tank of this classic.
Abxylute E1 Is a $69 Handheld That Looks Suspiciously Familiar
With its RK3566 chip, 3.5-inch screen, and Android + Linux support, the Abxylute E1 promises flexibility. Its looks, though? Practically an upgraded RX6H.
Game Over: Goodbye DVD Gaming, We Hardly Nuon
Nuon: a doomed attempt to merge DVD players and consoles. Eight games, one great Minter title, inconsistent hardware, eclipsed by PS2. A fascinating dead end.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: Anbernic RG477, GammaOS on RG DS, New Android Launchers, and More
Another wild week in the world of retro handhelds. Anbernic dropped a new RG477V teaser, AYANEO refreshed the Pocket DMG with a sleek new finish, and OneXPlayer quietly leaked Panther Lake benchmarks. On the software side, GammaOS Next landed, Lair Launcher shared its roadmap, and Anbernic finally patched the RG DS.
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Retro Handhelds Youtube & Podcast
Stubbs & Zu review, mod, showcase & setup your favorite retro handhelds on camera! Also, every Monday night @ 6pm Pacific Time, Stubbs, Rob (The Retro Tech Dad), Ban & Andrew get together for a live podcast where they discuss the latest handheld and emulation news, games they’ve been playing, and interview guests from around the retro scene about their latest projects!