Features
Check out our thoughts on the latest retro handhelds, and retrospectives on ones we still can’t put down.
The Latest
AYN Odin 3 Review: The New Go-To
In the last two years since the Odin 2 release, the handheld market has made drastic changes. Three handhelds later AYN releases the Odin 3, but is it any good?
Five PSP Games on the Mangmi Air X
Who doesn’t love a top-five list? We take a look at five great PSP games on the Mangmi Air X, a budget handheld that feels made for the PlayStation Portable.
PortMaster Roundup: January 1 – January 15
There haven’t been a huge run of new PortMaster games so far this month, but there’s a heavy emphasis on free, ready-to-run titles!
Guide: Crank Up Steam Deck Performance on the cheap with Lossless Scaling
Want smoother Steam Deck performance without new hardware? Use LSFG VK to unlock Lossless Scaling style frame gen on SteamOS and tune per title.
Epomaker RT82 Review: Retro Modern?
Retro colorways, tiny screens, thocky sound. Sound good to you? Then the Epomaker RT82 might be the keyboard you’re looking for. But is it really any good?
Budget Beatdown: Mangmi Air X vs. AYANEO Pocket Air Mini
The Mangmi Air X and AYANEO Pocket Air Mini are both heavy hitters in the budget retro handheld space, so we compare the two to see who comes out on top!
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.
How To Upgrade Your ASUS ROG Xbox Ally Internal Storage
Follow this simple how-to guide to upgrade the internal storage in your new ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and give your game library the space it needs.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: AYANEO Saga Continues, CES 2026, MiniLoong Pocket 1, and More
Hardware, software, reviews, and CES ’26: Retro Handhelds Weekly rounds up the biggest stories, standout community finds, and what to watch next.
Game Over: Bally Astrocade
The 1977 Bally Astrocade had arcade-quality graphics and expandability, but chaotic distribution, hardware failures, and the Atari 2600 killed it by 1983.
AYANEO Promises To Do Better
AYANEO responds to criticism from creators and the retro handheld community, promising to do better and releasing some service improvement plans for 2026.
AYN Sending Bag to Thor and Odin 3 Backers
AYN has been sending mystery packages to members of the retro handheld community, which turns out to be an AYN branded sling bag for Thor and Odin 3 backers.
MagicX One 35 First Impressions
MagicX hits the scene again with the One 35. A sub $100 Android handheld with a good experience AND TATE mode? This could be the one for a lot of people.
CES 2026 Recap: 8BitDo, MSI, OneXPlayer, ASUS, Genki, and Everything Else We Could Find
It’s been a long week but CES is finally over. With a lot of announcements, here’s what stood out as some of the most interesting to the Retro Handhelds team.
AceMagic M1 Review: CPU Power Isn’t Everything
AceMagic is back again with an update to their Matrix M1. With an upgraded CPU, and GPU, is this going to come out ahead? Or is it still behind in the long run.
DSpi Turns A Raspberry Pi Into A DIY DS
The DSpi is a 3D-Printed, CM5-powered dual-screen handheld, with a breakout board that will eventually power a whole suite of homebrew handhelds.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: AYANEO, OneXSugar Wallet, PICO-8 on iOS, NHL ’94 Updates and Much More
Catch up on the week’s biggest retro handheld headlines: Another AYANEO debacle, foldable handhelds, and upcoming price hikes, plus fresh emulator and software updates.
Game Over: Pioneer LaserActive
The Pioneer LaserActive was a LaserDisc game console for rich people, and was quickly buried by the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn.
AYANEO Refuses to Accept Responsibility, Puts Blame on Everyone Else for Delays
AYANEO announced nearly 20 devices in 12 months, but backers are still waiting. See the status of every 2025 reveal and why fans are fed up right now.
PortMaster Roundup: December 16 – December 31
PortMaster rounds out 2025 with ten new games, including a full-featured reimplementation of Warcraft 2 and four ready-to-run freebies!
Game of the Month: January is for the Backlog
For January, GotX will be revisiting previous winners, giving old and new participants alike the chance to play games they may have missed out on before.
AYN Odin 3 Setup Guide
The long wait is over, and the AYN Odin 3 is finally here. Get from unboxed to gaming as quickly as possible with this Odin 3 setup guide.
Manba One Review: An Odd One
Most controllers follow the same formula, however the Manba One does things differently. With a 2-Inch screen, and heavy customization, there’s a lot to love.
Game Over: Mattel’s Hyperscan “Console”
Mere weeks before the launches of the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, Mattel stormed confidently back into the console wars with a truly terrible idea.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: Retroid Pocket 6, KTR2, Xbox FSE on Legion Go 2, and Much More
Catch up on the week’s biggest retro handheld headlines: KTR2 shakeup, Pocket Vert details, Pocket 6 photos, plus fresh emulator and software updates.
ASUS ROG Xbox Ally Beginners Guide: Windows, Armoury Crate, and Emulation
Got an ASUS ROG Xbox Ally for Christmas? Here’s the ultimate Beginner’s Guide, including everything from Windows updates, to Armoury Crate firmware, and emulation setup.
Odin 3 First Impressions: Alright, This Is What I’ve Been Wanting
We share our first impressions with AYN’s newest handheld on the market, the AYN Odin 3. Spoilers: it’s pretty darn good.
AYANEO Pocket Ace Review: Not Quite One & Done
Is 3:2 the ideal retro handheld aspect ratio? The AYANEO Pocket Ace delivers peak GBA vibes, but compromises elsewhere hold it back.
ASUS ROG Xbox Ally Review: The New Steam Deck?
With Steam Deck levels of performance, is the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally the budget x86 to get in 2025? With the LCD Steam Deck now discontinued, this might just be it.
Fantech EOS Mini Review: A Mini Winner?
Does your controller really need to be big? The Fantech EOS Mini is here to show you can get a lot out of a small package. But is it as good as it sounds?