One of my favorite handhelds growing up was the Game Boy Advance SP (It was also important to Joe White). That thing had such a hold on my life that finding another in 2016 became the thing that pushed me into collecting physical games again, and later on emulation handhelds.
It also helps that the Game Boy Advance had a pretty stellar library of games I knew about, and ones I didn’t learn about until I was a part of RH (see: Kuru Kuru Kururin). Because of that, one of the things I’ve been hunting down has essentially been the best options for replacing the Game Boy Advance, if not for me, for someone else.
Leading up, the past few years were sparse along the way, and I was settling for 16:9 options in the place of 3:2. But 2026 has been the year of resurgence for GBA-focused displays, and I think now’s the time to really start talking about it again, and what might be the best option for you. Or at least, the best for me.
The Setup
I know there’s going to a lot I end up missing, but I also don’t want to be an article to dump 7,000 words in front of you with no clear resolution so I’m going to set this up into a few categories. Linux, small screen Android, and big screen Android. That way if you know what you’re looking for you can go there yourself. There are a few 3:2 devices I’m missing that I’d love to have for this, but their age generally makes it a harder recommendation.
That includes the Anbernic RG351P, RG351M, Powkiddy RGB10, RGB10S, RGB20, and V10, and the Odroid Go Advance. Alongside that I am missing two Ayaneo devices at the time; the Konkr Pocket Advance & Pocket Michael 2. All this because I just haven’t recieved my units just yet. Aside from that, I believe I have the main bulk of handhelds that should interest you.
The Linux Only Options
Generally the most sparse, but I’ve had a good bit of experience with most of the options here. In this category as a whole, you really only have two CPU’s to decide from. The Rockchip RK3326, and the Allwinner H700.
I’m phrasing it like that, as I know some of the expensive Android devices have Rocknix support, but I’m focusing on pure Linux devices. To add to the whole “minimal options” you really only have two options for screens as well. The older 3.5”, 480×320 display, or the newer 3.4” 720×480 panel.
This category includes a lot of Anbernic but you’re looking at.
RK3326 Options:
- Anbernic RG351P
- Anbernic RG351M
- Powkiddy RGB10
- Powkiddy RGB10S
- Powkiddy RGB20
- Powkiddy V10
- Odroid Go Advance
H700 Options:
Oh yeah.. That really is a lot to look at in this section. So what are the recommendations? The standouts even. The only 3326 options I’d really recommend are the RG351P, and the Powkiddy (or DYNPLY) V10 due to their prevalence, ease of access, and lower price point. The biggest route to go with support on those will likely be dArkOS and that should give you some easy PortMaster support as well.
Otherwise, Anbernic’s 3:4 XX options are a bit pricier, but a bit more performant as well with higher scaling for GBA. My personal favorite is the RG SP, but the 34XXSP is great if you want the most features you can muster. Alongside that you get a litany of software options. MuOS, Knulli, Rocknix, and upcoming options from teams like Spruce means you have plenty of choice for customization. For GBA only enthusiasts. You could really stop here.
Anbernic RG SP
Anbernic
Small Screen Android
Why did I split this off into two categories? Well if you’re going Android you should get the choice of how big a screen you want. And luckily there are now a bunch of options in this regard. Starting with the small ones, they’re all using essentially the same screen. A 3.5”, 960×640 IPS panel.
That’s the same size as your Linux options, but even a higher resolution than before. Your power options are also fairly limited. The MagicX One35 rocks a Helio G85, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro a Helio G99, The Konkr Pocket Advance a Helio G90T, and the Upcoming Pocket Michael 2 a Snapdragon 865.
For the most part you’re either stuck on the Dreamcast/N64/PSP tier comfortably, or you’re awkwardly shoehorning yourself into a bit of PS2 and Gamecube. Unless you’re spending the extra for a Snapdragon 865 Micro handheld in which you can get full GC and PS2, as well as some tiny x86 emulation.
So what route should you go? Well I find it hard to recommend the original Ayaneo Pocket Micro anymore due to its miniscule 2600mAh battery, one that’s smaller than most of your Linux options. The Konkr Pocket Advance closely follows the original GBA, and if that’s your vibe it’s your vibe. Otherwise it may not be good for you.
The MagicX One35 strikes a good balance between build quality and budget price. It may look a bit awkward, but it plays your GBA incredibly well. And last but certainly not least. The Pocket Micro 2. It’s expensive, it’s overspecced for the screen, but if it’s what you want, and you want premium. Go for it.
Big Screen Android
When it comes to this category; you have four options. One of which I can’t really recommend anymore, and three that fill the “cheap”, “midrange”, and “high end” spaces. The GameMT EX8, KTR1, KTR2, and Ayaneo Pocket Ace. The former uses a 4.88”, 1620×1080 panel, while the latter three use a slightly smaller 4.5”, 1620×1080 display.
For performance you’re either looking at a G99, D7400, or G3X Gen 2. All of which to say you’re getting a bare minimum of GameCube across all three options. So what don’t I recommend? The KTR1 at a minimum. Despite the improvements made over multiple revisions, I still have seen screen issues with this one specifically, and the D-pad has never been too ideal for me. So what about the other three?
Well I’ve had reviews for those, but for $100-$120 the EX8 is fine albeit awkward in ergonomics and has sticks that stick out way too much. For $180-$300, the KTR2 has been an excellent example of what time can do to produce a quality product. And while the value isn’t quite there compared to its similarly priced 4:3 counterparts, it really stands out for its customization and boutique nature.
Speaking of boutique; the Ayaneo Pocket Ace aims to be that, but at a minimum of $350 for a used handheld that’s officially sold out, I can really only recommend it if you find it for a decent price. The performance is way better, the dpad and face buttons are your best options in this category, and it just feels good in hand. It’s your best choice in this category, but it’s the hardest to get, especially new. So at this point, I’ll shockingly recommend the KTR2 in this category.
Performance Scaling
This is a quick note for those curious, but if you’re looking for what has the most power, it shouldn’t be a surprise on how they scale. The Rockchip RK3326 caps out at lower-end Dreamcast/N64/PSP, and I’d consider them bonus systems. The H700 sits just above that, getting a good bit more of that library, but still not perfect.
Jumping up into the Android devices, your Helio G85, and Helio G90T are similar in performance, and sit a bit below the G99 in the EX8, KTR1, and Pocket Micro. Then there’s seemingly a gap as you jump to PS2 capability in the KTR2, overshadowed by the Pocket Micro 2, and its Snapdragon 865. All of which to say the Ayaneo Pocket Ace takes the crown with the absolute overkill of a G3X Gen 2.
All of this will do GBA perfectly fine, and scaled up to match the screen resolution, but if you want to do anything else past that, you should be aware of where performance lies. And hey. Here’s a pair of Geekbench graphs for you.
Final Thoughts
Rather than leave you with just a barrage of words and no true conclusion, I’ll give you what I actually prefer in each section, and what are your best options. For Linux, I like the RG SP the most, and unless you need the sticks, it’s what you would probably be happiest with too. The DYNPLY V10 gets an honorable mention just for how cheap it is at $45. Small screen Linux devices?
My personal use has gone to the Ayaneo Pocket Micro 1, though I would rather recommend the MagicX One35 unless you need better build quality. The Konkr Pocket Advance could easily change this recommendation though.
Last up, the KTR2 gets my go-ahead more so than the other options. The EX8 is good if you can’t afford to spend that much, and the Ace is better if money is no object, but I find the magnesium build of the KTR2 hits the sweet spot. If you get it, the D-pad top of course.
Handhelds, like everything else are subjective and up to opinion. But having used just about every 3:2 handheld that’s been released, I can say these are really my favorite options in terms of emulation. Yes I still go back to my aluminum SP, and I still pick up the Game Boy Micro from time to time, but for the ease of use, the higher quality screens, and just general availability. These have become my go to devices for Game Boy Advance. Cause I mean, really. Who’s spending $75 for Final Fantasy VI?
