Welcome to the latest edition of Retro Handhelds Weekly. This week saw a bunch of news in both the world of hardware and software, our writing team continues to be on an absolute tear, and there’s even a surprise or two sprinkled in! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and catch up on what’s happened this week in the world of Retro Handhelds.
Table of Contents
Hardware
If there’s one thing we know about retro handhelds, it’s that there is always something new around the corner. Seriously, it’s “worse” than smartphones, as some companies release new handhelds every other week. On the bright side, at least there’s no shortage of options.
Miyoo Flip Comes to AliExpress and Is Shipping Soon
Seeing the Miyoo Flip initially made available on Amazon came as a bit of a surprise, as we normally see new handhelds first arrive on AliExpress. Well, if you missed out on the initial Amazon pre-orders, you’re in luck. There’s a new listing for the Miyoo Flip on AliExpress, and you’ll be able to order one for yourself starting at 4 PM Beijing Time on December 30th.
The AYANEO 3 is Like Nothing We’ve Ever Seen
The AYANEO 3 is set to become the world’s first handheld to offer swappable controls. No, we aren’t talking about being able to customize it with Hall or TMR joysticks, but instead, AYANEO is implementing the “Magic Module.”
OneXSugar’s Dual-Screen Design Could Redefine Android Handhelds
It seems that OneXPlayer might be spreading out a bit beyond just the world of Windows, as the OneXSugar aims to be the company’s first Android handheld. It seems this was created in collaboration with Sugar Cubes, the same company that made the Small Universe X Sugar Cubes handheld in January 2024.
Lenovo Legion Go S Specs Leak: Worthwhile Compromises
Lenovo aims to launch two different versions of the Legion Go S, one with Steam and one with Windows. If spec sheets are to be believed, there is no currently known reason why someone would be unable to install SteamOS or Windows on a device meant for the opposite — but this is working off of reports.
We Could See a New Zotac Zone at CES 2025
ZOTAC Zone hero
It appears that Zotac could announce a new handheld at CES 2025. We’re already expecting to see at least one new handheld from Lenovo, but we won’t be surprised to learn about even more upcoming handhelds. So far, the Legion Go S is the only one that we feel confident will debut at the event, but the floodgates could open if AMD indeed debuts its next series of flagship chips.
Retroid Pocket 5 Now on AliExpress
We knew it was only a matter of time, but the Retroid Pocket 5 joins the Pocket Mini on the official Moorechip AliExpress storefront. It’s priced at $224, which is $5 more than if you were to buy it direct, but hopefully you’ll be able to save that (and then some) when the AliExpress discount codes start rolling through.
Software and Custom Firmware
Don’t get me wrong, hardware is definitely fun and exciting to talk about. But what good is an awesome handheld if it doesn’t even work? That’s where software and custom firmware come into play, so here’s everything you might’ve missed this week.
DuckStation for Android Updates
It’s been a little while since the last major DuckStation for Android update rolled out, but that’s for good reason. There are a boatload of changes in the latest release, including performance improvements, and even fixes for some rather specific issues that plagued Final Fantasy VIII.
Panda3DS Christmas 2024 Edition Release
Metroid Samus Returns – 3DS – 2017
While we await the arrival of Azahar, the developers behind Panda3DS had a big surprise for everyone to enjoy last week. Panda3DS Christmas 2024 Edition was released, bringing with it a swath of new features. These include things like a brand new UI, better Android performance, along with a new libretro core. The update is available to download now via the button below.
shadPS4 Updated to v0.5
One of the most exciting surprises of 2024 has been seeing the ongoing development of shadPS4. It’s sparked quite a bit of joy for many, as we’re seeing things that we never thought would be possible. On top of that, shadPS4 v0.5 is now available, and there are so many changes that it warranted a new “stable” release.
Xenia Manager v2.0.0 and v2.1.0 Released
It was the week of updates, and Xenia Manager was no exception. Not only did we see v2.0 released, but shortly thereafter, v2.1 of Xenia Manager was made available for download. Both versions are now available, however, if you were using v1, you’ll need to do “a full fresh reinstall.”
From the Writers
While there’s always a lot of news to cover and talk about, we also try to take a step back and give everyone something a bit different to enjoy. These are the more editorial-styled articles and reviews that you might have missed over the course of this week.
RH Picks: Best Retro and Modern Games of the Year
I have enjoyed putting together our What We’re Playing series this year. The year is finally wrapping up and it has been a solid one not just for handhelds, but for games as well. I compiled a list of some of us at RH’s favorite games we played this year. Some had a favorite retro game, some had a favorite modern, and some even had both! Let’s see what made our final list.
RH Games: What We’re Playing This Week
My sister and I had American McGee’s Alice as kids. Our PC was never strong enough to play it and honestly, I was probably too young to play it anyways. I would always stare at that box and think how cool it looked. Gross games like that and Parasite Eve fascinated me as a youth. I love Parasite Eve, but I still haven’t played Alice.
R36H Hands-On: New Horizontal Budget King or Half-Baked Clone?
Enter the R36H, Game Console’s attempt at a horizontal form factor that closely resembles the design of the Anbernic RG35XXH. The 36H comes in with a price tag of around $35 or less, which will likely continue to fall as we’ve seen with the R36S.
Fantech Maxfit Air 83 Review: Retro Meets Modern
When it comes to keyboards, there’s a lot of personal preference. What size do you want? What about the switches? Do you need wireless or just something to plug in and go? As someone who has fallen down the keyboard rabbit hole a few times, I know that the endless customization is both a benefit and a detriment to my mind and wallet. So when Fantech offered to send me over its Maxfit Air 83, I said “Why not?”. A low-profile, budget, 75%, wireless keyboard. What’s not to love?
A Year Without Buying Handhelds: How I Beat The Sickness
In 2023 I admitted I had “a problem” with purchasing too many retro handhelds. In response, I decided to spend a year going “cold turkey” and not spending any money on devices. This is an account of how my year went and what I learned.
Top 5 Cozy ROM Hacks to Play Over The Holidays
Let’s set the scene. It’s Christmas morning, you’ve opened your gifts and one of them is a new handheld. You’re beyond excited to play some games you remember from your childhood, but you also want something new. You want something that’s familiar, but maybe with slight tweaks and differences to make it feel like a breath of fresh winter air.
That’s where ROM hacks come in. Here are some great ones; ones worth playing while the snow melts outside as you stay warm inside. They aren’t necessarily honing in on wintery, seasonal themes, but they do offer a nice “gaming backdrop” while the holiday takes control.
Looking for Deals?
Another week, another set of deals to be had. However, with Christmas in the rearview mirror, there’s a bit of a break from any major deals. However, the next AliExpress Choice Day sale is right around the corner. That being said, there are still some pretty good deals to be had.
Retro Handhelds Deals of the Week
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