Features
Check out our thoughts on the latest retro handhelds, and retrospectives on ones we still can’t put down.
The Latest
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.
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.
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?
Game Over: Tiger R-Zone
Tiger’s R-Zone (1995-97) was a head-mounted LCD gaming system that projected red images into your eye. Multiple models, licensed games, all equally terrible.
Anbernic RG477V First Impressions
It’s bigger, but is it better? The Anbernic RG477V is its biggest and most powerful vertical to date. But with some odd design choices, is it still good?
Retro Handhelds Weekly: Anbernic RG477V, ModRetro, Steam Winter Sale Highlights, and Much More
Retro Handhelds Weekly is back covering RG477V deals, Steam Deck LCD news, Pocket Max reveals, and the week’s top hardware and software updates.
Steam Winter Sale 2025 Highlights: What We’re Buying
The Steam Sale is back. We highlight must-buy indie games, hidden gems, and handheld-friendly picks worth grabbing before prices jump back up.
Last Minute Deals for Handheld Gaming Gifts
Short on time? These last minute deals on handhelds and accessories round up the best options you can still grab before Christmas without wasting money.
Game console L35 Review: TrimUAin’t
Nick reviews the new L35 clone system, and discovers what is perhaps one of the most bizarre design choices we’ve seen on a handheld yet.
Game Over: Casio PV1000
Casio’s 1983 PV-1000 was a rushed, underpowered Z80 console with only nine games that sold poorly and vanished quickly, now prized mainly by collectors.
Guide: How to Install GammaOS Next on the Mangmi Air X
Follow our step-by-step guide to get the amazing GammaOS Next up and running on your new Mangmi Air X handheld and enjoy a more streamlined Android experience.
Red Dead Redemption on Android is Weird, Here’s How to Fix It
What should have been a straightforward Android release has turned into a compatibility minefield. Red Dead Redemption runs great on some devices, poorly on others, and refuses to install on many popular handhelds.
AISLPC R36T MAX Review
The AISLPC R36T MAX is here to fulfill all your 1:1 faux-CRT dreams. Is this flashy nod to nostalgia worth your hard-earned bucks?
PortMaster Roundup: November 16th – December 15th
Because Jim can’t read a calendar, today’s PortMaster roundup is for a full month’s worth of games and apps, and it is a stacked one!
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
Game of the Month: Wish List Brings Holiday Cheer
Wish List gives the Retro Handheld Discord members a chance to grant Game of the Month wishes for their fellow gamers during the month of December.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: ModRetro M64, Anbernic and AYANEO Handhelds, Launcher Drama, and Much More!
New handheld announcements, iiSU launcher drama, fresh firmware builds, and standout community reviews made this a wild week in retro gaming, here’s the full recap.