Features
Check out our thoughts on the latest retro handhelds, and retrospectives on ones we still can’t put down.
The Latest
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.
Don’t Miss Out on the Best Cyber Monday Deals on Gaming Handhelds, Accessories, Games, and More!
Cyber Monday is here, and we’ve has rounded up the absolute best deals across retro handhelds, Android handhelds, x86 powerhouses, accessories, and must-have gaming gear. Whether you’re hunting for your first pocket emulator or upgrading to something beefier, the biggest discounts of the year are all in one place.
Game Over: Sony’s 2011 Dual-Screen PlayStation
Sony’s 2011 Tablet P was a dual-screen folding Android oddity: clever idea, broken software, pricey hardware. A bold, doomed precursor to modern foldables.
Retro Handhelds Black Friday Deals 2025: Save Big on Handhelds, Controllers, and More!
Find the best retro handheld, Android, and x86 Black Friday deals for 2025 with huge savings from Amazon, AliExpress, Anbernic, AYANEO, and more.
Racing Retrospectives: Forza Horizon
From its unforgettable soundtrack to its smooth driving physics, Forza Horizon’s debut still shines. Rediscover the festival racer that defined a genre.
XU Retro XU20 V32 Review: Boring but Functional
Looking for a cheap Android handheld? Ban gives us his take on the XU20 V32, which offers sharp visuals, solid controls, and surprising power for under $50.
Anbernic RG DS First Impressions
Anbernic’s RG DS looks great but fails at DS emulation. Sharp screens, weak D-pad, glitches everywhere. A nostalgic mess of promise and compromise.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: AYN Thor, RG DS, Analogue 3D, and Much More!
Catch up on the biggest retro handheld news of the week with new hardware drama, software updates, reviews, mods, and deals in Retro Handhelds Weekly.
AYN Thor Review: Lightning in a Bottle?
AYN Thor brings dual OLED screens, Android 13, and big power to a clamshell form factor. Is it the ultimate 3DS handheld or held back by bad ergonomics?
Game Over: The History Of Barcode Gaming
From Battler to Skannerz, many devices chased the barcode-gaming fad, experimenting with scanning toys, cards, and everyday items bridging real and digital play.
Game Console R40XX Review: The Clone Wars Continue
Nick reviews the new Game Console 40XX. Does this latest clone console stack up against its budget and mid-tiered competitors?
Aiffro K100 Review: Pricey, Pocketable, Performant?
Want a quiet SSD NAS for ROMs or media storage? Our Aiffro K100 review covers setup, transfer speeds, and whether the $299 price makes sense.
EasySMX X05 Pro Review: A Quiet Champion?
The EasySMX X05 is one of my top picks for budget controllers of 2024. Just like a lot of controllers on that list, EasySMX joins the list of “improving the old for the new year” with the X05 Pro. The Pro model changes up a few, adds a few new features, and makes for...
Game Over: No Supervision
The Watara Supervision was a cheap 1992 Game Boy clone with poor screens, forgettable games, and inconsistent branding—an ambitious flop in handheld history.
PortMaster Roundup: November 1st-15th
PortMaster drops a packed November schedule with new ready-to-run games, titles needing extra files, and premium ports for handheld fans.
Retro Handhelds Weekly: Steam Hardware, TrimUI Smart Pro S, Pokemon Lazarus, and Much More!
Catch up on the biggest handheld news of the week, from new Valve hardware to fresh firmware, new games, reviews, and deals you will not want to miss.
Mangmi Air X First Impressions: The New Budget War Has Begun
The new Mangmi Air X lays down the hammer when it comes to price to performance. At only $90, Nick gives his first impressions on what could be the new budget king for under 100 bucks.
The Deal With the AYN Thor’s Ergonomics
The AYN Thor feels like a modern 3DS with stronger specs, smoother controls, and some baffling ergonomic choices that can shift from comfy to painful fast.
Retro Pixel Pocket V2: Better than Before?
The Retro Pixel Pocket 2025 aims to be the ultimate Pico-8 machine with a crisp 720×720 screen, AmberElec, Wi-Fi, and plenty of charm for $50.
INNOCN GA27T1M: MiniLED Mouthful of a Name
A brighter MiniLED screen, 320Hz refresh rate, and sleek white design make the INNOCN GA27T1M tempting. Find out if it earns its higher price tag.
Retroid Pocket G2 First Impressions: Serious Firepower
Nick gets his hands on the brand new Retroid Pocket G2 and shares his initial thoughts after 24 hours with the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2-chipped device.
Game Over: The Mega Duck (aka Cougar Boy)
Mega Duck: a 1990s handheld with endless aliases—Cougar Boy, Super Junior, Game Duck—each more ridiculous than the last. Pure 8-bit identity crisis.