Reviews
Check out our thoughts on the latest retro handhelds, and retrospectives on ones we still can’t put down.
The Latest
This Mini Bluetooth Controller Has a Secret
I, dear readers, have a controller problem. I have but one set of hands and an insatiable desire to fill them with new handheld devices and controllers. The AliExpress marketplace is always pushing out something new or quirky at price points that exploit my total...
Anbernic RG35XX SP Review: It’s the One
For someone who already has a bunch of handhelds, there was one thing missing — a clamshell. I don't have the same attachment to the Game Boy Advance SP as others, but that didn't stop me from buying one from a buddy last year. I even went so far as to grab a...
Unhinged: Zelda II Deserved Better
Copium Inbound Prepared by Joe The year is 1986, and the resounding success of Nintendo's own Legend of Zelda left fans of the newly christened series going “Okay but if Zelda was so good where is Zelda II?”. 1987 answered that question in the form of Zelda II: The...
D-R35Plus Hands On: A Lesson in Deception
The more I've spent time here at RH writing about, well, retro handhelds, the more I realize that I'm carving out a niche for myself as the guy who writes about the clones. The cheap entries with price points are low enough to say "screw it" when buying something else...
Anbernic RG28XX Review: Is It Worth It?
The RG28XX is the newest handheld from Anbernic. My first impression is that I did not expect it to be as small as it is. At a size of 12cm X 5cm or 5in X 2in and a weight of 127 grams or .280 lbs. I am going to agree with Andrew that it isn’t for people with meaty...
RG35XX 2024 Review: Makes No Sense
Hello everyone! I hope you join me on this adventure as I tackle my first review for Retro Handhelds with the Anbernic RG35XX 2024. Without burying the lede, I wish something else had come out for me to review instead. The handheld market is starting to heat up, as...
Anbernic RG Arc: 6 Months Later
Over the past six months, we have seen so many different handhelds announced and released. Today, Ban takes a step back and gives his thoughts on the RG Arc.
Unhinged: Joe Reviews The Legend of Zelda
It deserves better and you should apologize to Miyamoto Prepared by Joe The Game is 40 Years Old…Why? The Legend of Zelda series is one of the defining trademarks of action-adventure gaming. It has stood the test of time as some of the most well-aged, seasoned, and...
MSI Claw – Can Intel Compete With AMD?
Are you intrigued by what the MSI Claw could potentially offer in an ever-growing market? Sit back, relax, and as Team Retrogue shares his MSI Claw review.
Funkey SP: Is Bigger Better?
Now I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but the Funkey S was a tiny clamshell handheld that, for $70 in 2020, you’d get “up to” PS1 in the palm of your hand! For 2020 that was pretty impressive, and I don’t know if it was the size or the sleeping upon closing feature,...
Is the Ayaneo Next Lite Worth $300?
Greetings friends and fellow enthusiasts! This is Mikhailov from Team Retrogue, where we like retro games and the devices that bring them to us. In this article, we are taking a look at the Ayaneo Next Lite. This is a budget Windows Handheld that runs a lower-powered...
Skull & Co. Jumpgate Dock Review
When Nintendo debuted the Switch in 2017, there was still a lot of hesitation after their misfire with the WiiU. Given the Switch's 100+ million console sales and ubiquity around the world, it's difficult to remember that people were once unsure about whether this...
RGB30: An Unhinged, Untimely, and Unnecessary Review
It'll be fun I swear By Joe Good Tidings, Sir or Madame What's going on fellow Smash Bros players? I too just took my semimonthly shower and fell into a bit of a pondering about retro handhelds from China. Without drying my hair I put on my thinking fedora and stepped...
OLED Anbernic Handheld Brings Power and Comfort To Android With The RG556
So here comes Anbernic to play. You ever have that friend who always arrives to the party late? Like later than fashionably late? Some of the early arrivers are starting to get a bit tired, all the big party people are already halfway under the table, and all the good...
Anbernic RG556: A Comparison to the RP4 Pro
2024 has been off to an interesting start. Ayaneo released a few handhelds already, Powkiddy has their Max 3 (non-pro), and the Gameforce Ace is finally shipping. Amongst the crowd of randomly released handhelds came a pair of devices in the $150-$200 price point that...
Cartridges Renewed – Super Pocket Review
I am not that old. Kind of odd to hear in a Retro Handhelds community where everyone is gushing about Atari 2600, or their Sega Genesis, but it’s true. I only know the 2000’s, my first system was a PS2, and my first handheld was a GBA SP. Despite all that, I love...
Arduboy FX – A Pint-Sized Portable
It’s small, it’s upgraded, and it’s not an emulator. Interested? Well good! Check out the details on this impressive and unique little treat: The Arduboy FX!
Retroid Pocket 4 (Pro): An Unhinged, Untethered, but Pleasant Smelling Review
Hey sweaty, I hope you like retro gaming because… well you being here would otherwise be weird. Who are you? The IRS? No, I'm not buying things from China again. It's a business expense, I swear. Okay, let's start over: Since the time that this group was birthed from...
Loki Max – Reaching the Summit?
One of the most capable handhelds of 2023: the Loki Max. If you are looking for power and comfort, in a smaller-than-average-for-an-x86 device, look no further.
Steam Deck OLED: An Unhinged, Freaky Fresh Review
A somewhat absurd but mostly realistic take on the new OLED Steam Deck. Does it really improve THAT much? Is it like, super cool? Hop in and find out.
Ayaneo Pocket Air: A Full Review
A full-coverage look at an Ayaneo device that runs Android. Does their departure from the Windows environment hold its own in the Android realm? Let’s find out.
RH Reviews – The Ayn Odin 2
We look at the successor to the venerable Ayn Odin and examine whether or not it manages to fill the boots left behind for it. Does it uphold the Odin legacy?
CRKD Nitro Deck: In-Depth Review
The Switch may be aging, but it still has new add-ons coming out for it. We take a look at the CRKD Nitro Deck, a full-coverage controller case for the NS.
Budget Gem Battle – X39 Pro or M17?
A few years ago, if you wanted to buy a handheld under 50 dollars, you were likely looking at e-waste, a famiclone (more e-waste), or a knock-off GBA that you were sure was the real deal. Spoilers: It was not. But as we come to a close on 2023 you can genuinely get a...
Retroid Pocket 3+: An Unhinged, Spooky, But Cozy Retrospective
"PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE!!!" Whats good gamers? Please put down your pirated copies of Super Mario Wonder on Steam Deck because we are coming in hot with an important news bulletin. Papa Stubbs let me out of the dungeon in his basement just long enough to talk about our...
Playdate Review – The Cheese Wedge with a Crank?
Do you enjoy the niche world of handhelds that don’t run off of emulation using Rockchip processors? Do you like pre-ordering a handheld in 2021 with the possibility of receiving it within a year, only to find out you’re going to receive it even later as in 2023? What...
The Ayn Loki 6600U Model: An In-Depth Review
Greetings friends and fellow enthusiasts! This is Mikhailov from Team Retrogue, where we like retro games and the devices that bring them to us. After a very long wait Ayn Loki units are finally starting to ship and land in people's eager hands. While many reviewers...
KTR1 – Game On or Game Over?
If you're deeply immersed in the world of retro gaming, there's a device you should know about – the KTR1. For those who haven't yet crossed paths with this gadget, prepare to dive into a new gaming dimension. The KTR1 started as a rumor, and now that it's in the...
RH Reviews – The Anbernic RG405V
This is it, ladies and gentlemen (and Gary), the moment we've all been waiting for. We've had traditional horizontals, and even clamshells, but your chipset library just isn't complete until you have a vertical handheld now is it? That's right, those madlads over at...
RGB30 – Does it Check the Right Boxes?
Instagram… Square. Minecraft… Cube. Pico 8… Square. Rubiks… Cube. RGB30… Square. Yeah… the RGB30 is definitely a square alright. At least square in the screen. That’s right, the RGB30 is the topic of today’s article if you couldn’t tell by the Thumbnail, or the title,...