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
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.
Anbernic RG DS Gets First Official Update Addressing Major Bugs
The RG DS’s rocky launch may be getting a smoother landing thanks to firmware 1.4, which fixes the top-screen performance bug and optimizes Nintendo DS game handling.
Anbernic RG DS Gets Massive Overhaul with GammaOS Next
The Anbernic RG DS is getting a massive upgrade thanks to GammaOS Next. This build tackles everything from shader consistency and reduced latency to fixing the annoying 40Hz screen bug and improving Drastic performance.
LEGO Is Releasing Another Buildable Retro Handheld!
LEGO is releasing another buildable Retro Handheld and it’s…exactly what you’re expecting. BUT what about the impact on your wallet over the $60 LEGO GameBoy?
The Best Retro Handhelds for Every Budget (As Chosen by You)
Handhelds cover the gamut from cheap to expensive. But what’s going to be the best for your budget? It’s time to use the community to help figure that one out.
Game Over: RDI Halcyon
The RDI Halcyon was a costly, voice-controlled laserdisc “console” with only two games, launched and vanished in 1985. A rare, ambitious dead end in gaming.
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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!