With about two weeks left before Christmas, you might be scrambling trying to figure out what to get to put under the tree or in a stocking. Especially if you know that they’re into the world of retro handhelds and gaming, but you don’t exactly know where to start. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite devices, controllers, and accessories that will hopefully help you find the perfect gift to surprise them with.
Table of Contents
Handhelds
Kicking off the Retro Handhelds Gift Guide are our recommendations for different handhelds. Instead of just putting a bunch of handhelds on a list, we separated some of our favorites into price brackets. This could be especially helpful if you’re on a budget and want to know what options are available.
For Starters (Under $50)
Miyoo Mini / Mini Plus
OLED Game Boy Color and Miyoo Mini Plus playing Links Awakening
For the time being, the Miyoo Mini and Miyoo Mini Plus are the default suggestions for anyone getting into the realm of retro handhelds. Just do yourself a favor and get OnionOS installed and set up before you start wrapping up this excellent gift.
Powkiddy V10
The 10Xs baby brother, the V10
The Powkiddy V10 has largely flown under the radar, much like many other Powkiddy handhelds in 2024. It makes the cut here thanks to its unique form factor, big screen, and its $40 price tag.
MagicX XU Mini M
2024 wasn’t the smoothest of years for MagicX, however, the XU Mini M has remained a fan favorite. For one, it’s a pocketable handheld that features dual analog sticks, but custom firmware solutions have turned this into quite an impressive handheld.
Others:
Mid-range ($50 – $100)
Anbernic RG CubeXX
After Anbernic released the Android-powered RG Cube earlier in the year, many were left wondering whether a budget-friendly option would surface. Enter the RG CubeXX, powered by the same H700 chip as every other Anbernic retro handheld released in 2024. With its 1:1 display and comfortable ergonomics, the CubeXX is easily one of our favorites.
Anbernic RG35XX SP
Speaking of H700 devices, the RG35XX SP took the world by storm when it was introduced. It sold so well that Anbernic decided to release another iteration, this time with more colors and some slight tweaks to the controls. As a result, we now have the perfect clamshell that pays homage to the Game Boy Advance SP.
TrimUI Brick
Little Nemo shines on the Brick screen
There’s a good chance that the TrimUI Brick could overtake the Miyoo Mini Plus as the de-facto choice for starter handhelds. Despite it being priced a little bit higher, the Brick is more comfortable to use, and custom firmware developers are quickly adopting and including the Brick with updates.
Others:
High-end ($100 – $200)
Anbernic RG406V / RG406H
What if you’re looking for a dedicated gaming handheld, but want something with a bit more power? We recommend starting back with Anbernic, as the RG406H and RG406V are two of the best Android handhelds.
Anbernic RG406V Anbernic RG406H
Retroid Pocket 4 / 4 Pro
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro in-hand
Although it’s since been replaced by the Retroid Pocket 5 and Pocket Mini, the Retroid Pocket 4 and 4 Pro might be enticing as these 2023 handhelds are now a bit cheaper. They don’t pack quite the punch as the newer models, but these still offer a fantastic experience.
AYN Odin (Base)
Released in 2022, the AYN Odin is still a formidable handheld and one that AYN has actually kept in stock. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 845, and thanks to newer versions being available, you can usually find the original Odin on sale for around $149.
Premium ($200 and Above)
Retroid Pocket 5
If I were to tell you that you could get an Android handheld with an OLED screen for under $220, you might laugh me out of the room. Yet, that’s exactly what the Retroid Pocket 5 offers. What makes the Pocket 5 really special is that you can actually boot into ROCKNIX, giving you the Xbox emulation via Xemu.
AYN Odin 2 Mini
We were interested to see how AYN would follow up after seeing the success of the Odin 2. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, the Odin 2 Mini is practically the PS Vita successor we’ve always wanted.
AYANEO Pocket EVO
AYANEO is attempting to get one more handheld out of the door before the end of the year with the Pocket EVO. This is a beast of a machine, in more ways than one. The Pocket EVO offers the ergonomics and cooling of an AYANEO Windows handheld while sporting a gorgeous 7-inch OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate.
Others:
x86 Gaming
Android and retro handhelds are a lot of fun, but you’re still fairly limited in what’s possible. Thankfully, there are plenty of x86 handhelds to choose from, and we’re kicking off this section with an obvious choice.
Handhelds
Steam Deck
There’s a running joke in the handheld gaming world — “Just get a Steam Deck.” A brand new LCD Steam Deck is priced at $399, with the OLED jumping up to $549. But, there’s even more value to be had if you opt for a “Valve Certified Refurbished” Steam Deck, as pricing starts at $279.
ASUS ROG Ally X
For the time being, the ASUS ROG Ally X is the best overall handheld for the majority of people. This arrived earlier this year as a sort of “mid-cycle refresh” while we wait for AMD to unveil its Ryzen Z1 successor. However, it took everything that was great about the original ROG Ally and made it better with more RAM and an enormous battery.
Lenovo Legion Go
Epic Games via Junk-Store on Lenovo Legion Go running Bazzite
Lenovo’s Legion Go holds a soft spot in my heart, as the 8-inch screen is simply divine. More importantly, the detachable controllers add another layer to the gaming experience. With the Legion Go 2 expected in 2025, the Legion Go is regularly on sale.
AYANEO Flip DS / KB
AYANEO Flip DS gameplay
The clamshell form factor isn’t exactly unique to the AYANEO Flip, but the Flip DS offers something you won’t find elsewhere. To go along with the 7-inch 120Hz IPS main screen, the Flip DS is also equipped with a 3.5-inch screen on the “bottom.”
Mini PCs
Are you tired of waiting for Valve to finally release a “Steam Box” to bring x86 gaming to your living room? Well, the world of mini PCs has exploded in 2024, and when paired with something like Bazzite, you can basically create your own living room gaming console.
Accessories
It’s all fine and dandy being able to have a plethora of devices and ways to play games, but why not turbocharge the experience? You would be surprised at how much of a difference something as simple as a controller can make.
Mobile Gaming
Storage
Chargers
Docks
- JSAUX 6-in-1 Docking Station
- VITURE Pro Mobile Dock
- SABRENT USB Type-C 3-Port Gaming Hub
- Anker Charging Station
- JSAUX RGB Docking Station
- Mechanism Bundles
Cases and Bags
Headphones
- ASUS ROG Cetra
- KZ EDX PRO In-ear Monitors
- Shure SE215 PRO Wired Earbuds
- HyperX Cloud Earbuds II
- Lenovo Legion RGB USB-C Earbuds
Grips
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- Mechanism Console Grip for Nintendo Switch
- Satisfye ZenGrip Pro Gen 3
- CRKD Nitro Deck
- JSAUX Handle Strap Kit for Legion Go
Controllers and Keyboards
Editor’s Note: Nobody needs this many controllers
I always knew there were a lot of different controllers out there, but I really didn’t expect to see so many new options released at any given time. Although the list below is dominated by 8BitDo, there’s no shortage of controllers to choose from. All we can do now is hope you don’t fall down a rabbit hole like Ban or Nick.
Stocking Stuffers
Odin 2 Mini playing Halo via Xbox Game Pass
- Nintendo eShop Gift Card
- Xbox Game Pass Gift Card
- Sony PlayStation Store Gift Card
- My Arcade Tetris Pocket Player Pro
- TinyCircuits Thumby
- RepliCade Insert Coin Keychain
Nostalgia Gifts
The Legend of Zelda – Game & Watch
- NES Cartridge Retro Drink Coasters
- Paladone Nintendo Gameboy Digital Watch
- Retro Video Game Gaming Poster Prints
- The Game Console 2.0: A Photographic History from Atari to Xbox
- My Arcade Mega Man Micro Player Pro
- Nintendo Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros
- Tiny Arcade Atari 2600
- Tetris Arcade in a Tin
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