The Best Gaming Handhelds in 2026
Updated January 2026
Handheld video game consoles have a long and varied history, starting with single-game electronic devices all the way back in the 1970s. In the 1990s, handhelds hit the mainstream with beloved consoles such as the Nintendo GameBoy and the Sega Game Gear. More recently, the Nintendo Switch continues to thrive as one of the best-selling consoles of all time.
Being able to easily transport your games wherever you go has a definite appeal. For many people, playing on a portable device with a smaller screen is the perfect way to enjoy retro games or even more modern titles.
A revival of handheld gaming is currently taking place. Many major electronics brands have been creating some very capable devices where modern PC games can be played portably (
Asus
, Lenovo
, MSI
, etc...). These handhelds usually have a complete set of controls for more compatibility; they'll often come equiped with a touchscreen, two joysticks and many additional buttons. In some cases, you can even find trackpads or a mini-keyboard. On the other hand, fueled by nostalgia for retro titles from the previous generations of video games, a few smaller companies have popped up offering a wide selection of affordable options with built-in emulators. These modern "retro" consoles differ from the older handhelds by benefiting from many decades of hardware and software progress, such as overscaling, save states, WIFI and Bluetooth support, fast forward and rewind, etc...
Companies such as
Anbernic
, Retroid
and AYN
have been putting out multiple releases every year, with varying form factors, features and performance. It's easy to get lost in the sea of choices, especially with multiple devices looking alike, having seemingly the same capabilities, and having some confusing naming conventions (looking at you Anbernic...).To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled this list with only the top handhelds from our 200+ database of emulation consoles.
Quick List:
- Best Overall:
- Best for Beginners:
- Best for PC Games:
- Best Dual-Screen:
- Best Horizontal Budget:
- Best Vertical Budget:
- Best Clamshell Budget:
- Best High-End Windows:
- Best Tiny:
1. The Best Retro Handheld Overall:
Released
Oct. 2025
OS
Android 15
Screen
5.5”, 16:9
Up To
Modern
Best For
PS2, GameCube
Price
~$210
Check
It's tough to choose one handheld that is the perfect fit for everybody. The gaming handheld market is built on variety. Some people enjoy larger screens while others prefer a more compact device with a high resolution, some really need analog sticks while other can do without, some prefer horizontals over verticals, etc...
Our choice for the handheld that covers the most ground for the best price is the Retroid Pocket G2.
The
Retroid Pocket 5
topped our best retro handhelds list for all of 2025. The G2 is basically the same handheld but with more power, so it naturally earns the top spot on our list once againThis handheld benefits from
6 years of iterations by Retroid
. The high-resolution AMOLED screen is amazing, the controls are great across the board, and the build feels premium. In terms of gaming performance, this device plays any Android game with ease, and runs any Android emulator to its full potential. You can expect perfect performance on PS2, Gamecube, and all of the older systems. This can even run many Switch games really well.The Retroid Pocket G2 also has all the bells and whistles you can wish for on your retro gaming handheld: WIFI, Bluetooth, video output, hall effect sticks, gyroscope, analog triggers...
It's amazing that with all this power and features, the device stays extremely compact and lightweight when compared to other popular devices like the
AYN Odin 2
or the Valve Steam Deck OLED
. It's also way cheaper.The homegrown Retroid Launcher is a welcome addition to the Android ecosystem. It will help you quickly setup your device by suggesting all the apps you need for running retro games. On the other hand, the ability to dual-boot to Linux is a great plus as well, giving access to a more retro-gaming focused experience, and to some emulators not available on Android.
All in all, this is a nice step-up from the
Retroid Pocket 5
. We're excited to see how the Retroid Pocket 6
will compare, but in the meantime, you can't go wrong with the G2. We also suggest you look at the other Retroid releases from this year, which offer the same level of performance and the same features, but with different form factors: the smaller Retroid Pocket Mini
, and the clamshell Retroid Pocket Flip 2 SD865
. This lineup is sure to have what you're looking for. Pros
- Capable of high-end emulation
- Great AMOLED screen - vibrant colors and perfect blacks
- High resolution display
- More...
Cons
- Black bars when playing older retro systems
2. The Best Retro Handheld for Beginners:
Released
Mar. 2023
OS
Linux
Screen
3.5”, 4:3
Up To
NDS
Best For
PS1, SNES
Price
~$50
Check
While quite different from our top pick, the Miyoo Mini Plus is well worth your time and money, especially if all you want to play are the old consoles like the Game Boy lineup or the PlayStation 1.
This handheld will deservedly feature on any list or video ranking retro handhelds, and for good reason. The controls are stellar, the small screen is beautiful and colorful, which makes retro games look amazing. It runs PS1 and every system below it flawlessly, and is extremely portable.
It has a dedicated community team that has maintained one of the best - if not THE best - custom operating systems, Onion OS. Frankly, This OS is a big part of why this handheld ranks so highly in this list. It provides a seemless and snappy experience with many additional features not found on the stock OS (Game switcher, blue light filter, box art scraper, etc...).
This handheld, as well as its smaller sibling the
Miyoo Mini
, are what introduced many people to this hobby. The fact that they're still being recommended many years after release goes to show how good they are. Pros
- Colors look great on this screen
- Good community support, multiple CFWs available
- Small device, very pocketable
- More...
Cons
- No Bluetooth
3. The Best Gaming Handheld for PC Games:
Released
Nov. 2023
OS
Windows 11, Linux
Screen
7.4”, 16:10
Up To
Modern
Best For
PS2, 3DS
Price
~$540
There are so many good handhelds in this category that have come out from some of the biggest players in the gaming hardware scene in the past couple of years (
Asus ROG Ally X
, MSI Claw 8 AI+
, etc...). Valve, the makers of Steam and a software company at heart, blew it out of the park with the Steam Deck. For this entry, we've chosen to go with OLED model, the amazing screen makes it worth the upgrade over the original LCD model, even though they're pretty similar in most other aspects.This handheld, in our opinion, is the best way to play PC games portably. The controls are snappy and well placed, the trackpads and touchscreen greatly enhance navigation and make strategy games a joy to play. The screen is large enough to play any game comfortably. The only downside is that to fit all of this, the handheld is quite big and can feel bulky.
Since the device is built around Steam and owners are sure to buy games on the platform, Valve can stand to offer this product at an extremely attractive price, beating out all the competition in this space. It's even cheaper than most gaming laptops.
With direct access to the Steam library and thousands of games verified to run perfectly on the device, it's the perfect way to finally go through some of your PC games backlog. We especially enjoy playing indie games on the device, but lots of AAA games run equally well. Emulation is also really good on the Steam Deck, it will run any Linux emulator you throw at it really well.
Pros
- Unmatched price for the features and performance of the device
- Out of the box access to SteamOS and the Steam Library
- Well-designed device with really good ergonomics
- More...
Cons
- Black bars when playing older retro systems
- Big device, portable but not pocketable
- Device can feel bulky
4. The Best Dual Screen Gaming Handheld:
Released
Oct. 2025
OS
Android 13
Screen
6, 3.92”, 16:9, 31:27
Up To
Modern
Best For
3DS, NDS
Price
~$290
Check
Last year was the year of dual-screen handhelds. Major players in the portable console scene released dual-screen devices for the first time: AYANEO with the high-powered
Pocket DS
and Anbernic with the budget-friendly RG DS
. But one handheld stands above them all, the AYN Thor.The Thor excels at many things, but its most obvious use case is DS and 3DS emulation, which it handles with impressive performance, even allowing for resolution upscaling and fast-forwarding. These systems shine on the two beautiful high-resolution OLED screens, making this the definitive way to play all the great dual-screen games.
Of course, this device isn't only for dual-screen games. The second screen enables more play styles than traditional handhelds. While you play, you can have a video running, view guides and walkthroughs, manage your music or podcast player, or run any other Android app.
If you're looking for a single device that can play all Pokémon games throughout the generations, look no further. For the first time ever, all titles can be emulated to their full potential on one handheld—from the original Pokémon
Red
/Blue
on the Game Boy, to dual-screen classics like Pokémon Diamond
/Pearl
on the DS and Pokémon X
/Y
on the 3DS, to modern Switch titles.AYN has been around for a long time and has released some of the most beloved handhelds ever, notably the
Odin 2
and Odin 2 Portal
. The Thor incorporates many of the tried-and-tested internals, components, and features from these previous releases. It feels like the culmination of years of iteration. Even though this was their first foray into dual-screen handhelds, they've pulled it off impressively. Pros
- Capable of high-end emulation
- Great AMOLED screen - vibrant colors and perfect blacks
- Huge 6000 mAh battery
- More...
Cons
- Device can feel bulky
5. The Best Horizontal Budget Retro Handheld:
Released
Jan. 2025
OS
Android 10, Linux
Screen
2.8”, 4:3
Up To
Saturn
Best For
Dreamcast, N64
Price
~$50
Check
There are many good options in this category. This is many people's favourite form factor, so it makes sense that most manufacturer's offer some version of their handhelds in this format. Some great ones to look out for are the
Anbernic RG-40XXH
and the Retroid Pocket 2S
.We've only chosen handhelds with really good screens for this list, and the IPS display on this one is no exception.
The analog sticks feel particularily good. The device stays very light and portable at just 120g. It's slighly more chunky than similar handhelds, but we find that that improves ergonomics, not to mention that it makes the handheld look adorable. The design and color options are simple but very pleasing.
If the Android compatibility is a big selling point for you, keep in mind that it doesn't have a touch screen so navigation is a bit clunky at times. Otherwise, we recommend running Linux on it.
Pros
- Good community support, multiple CFWs available
- Access to mobile games and apps
- Very affordable
- More...
Cons
- No touch screen, difficult to navigate on Android
- Older Android version, less compatibility with the Play Store
- 2.8” screen might be too small for some
- More...
6. The Best Vertical Budget Retro Handheld:
Released
Nov. 2024
OS
Linux
Screen
3.2”, 4:3
Up To
Saturn
Best For
PS1, SNES
Price
~$70
Check
In terms of pocketable and affordable vertical handhelds, there are quite a few good choices, such as the
Miyoo Mini
and the Anbernic RG-40XXV
. These devices take inspiration from the beloved old classics, the GameBoy and GameBoy Color.Compared to most other chinese handhelds, the TRIMUI Smart Brick feels really premium. The attention to detail is exceptional. For instance, the D-Pad is very precise, the small face buttons are clicky and provide a nice feedback. The Brick also comes with a set of 3 interchangeable shoulder buttons to fit your preferred ergonomics.
The screen is very sharp, bright, and colorful. When put side to side with other handhelds in the same size and price point, it comes out as a clear winner in this regard. The 1024 x 768p resolution might even be overkill at this size, but it makes retro games look crisp and amazing.
You can expect to run all DS, PS1, and older systems perfectly. Dreamcast and Saturn mostly play really well, and you can even run some PSP and Saturn games with no major technical issues, although the small screen might be a turn-off when it comes to these systems.
TRIMUI did something really special with this handheld, we eargerly look forward to their next release.
Pros
- Build quality feels premium
- Well-lit screen
- Good community support, multiple CFWs available
- More...
Cons
- May heat up noticeably during heavy play
- Some users report a bug where the device can stay on while powered off and become unresponsive
- 3.2” screen might be too small for some
7. The Best Clamshell Budget Retro Handheld:
Released
May. 2024
OS
Linux
Screen
3.5”, 4:3
Up To
PSP
Best For
PS1, SNES
Price
~$60
Check
For many people, the clamshell form factor is the most nostalgic. It's no wonder, the GBA and DS/3DS systems are some of the best-selling consoles of all time, and they have some of the most memorable games of the era.
Many companies have banked on this nostalgia and released devices that are heavily inspired by these handheld classics. Our current pick is the RG-35XX-SP.
Heavily inspired by the GBA SP model, this handhelds ticks all the boxes for a portable 'flippy' gaming device. It's compact and lightweight. The screen has some beautiful colors and is protected by the hood when not in use.
The device is powerfull enough to run anything up to the PSP, altough we suggest sticking to retro systems such as GBA, SNES, or PS1, because of the small screen and the lack of analog sticks.There are a few reports of malfunctioning hinges, but since the handheld sold incredibly well, the small number of these reports seem to suggest that the hinges are generally fine.
Pros
- Good community support, multiple CFWs available
- Can be connected to a larger display
- Access to some PC ports with PortMaster
- More...
Cons
- Device can feel bulky
8. The Best High-End Windows Gaming Handheld:
Released
Jul. 2024
OS
Windows 11
Screen
7.0”, 16:9
Up To
Modern
Best For
PS2, GameCube
Price
~$790
If you're looking for the highest level of performance currently available in the portable handheld format, you should be aware of the ROG Ally X.
Running the tried and tested AMD Ryzen Z1 Exteme Chipset and the Radeon 780M GPU, this handheld is the equivalent of a mid-tier gaming laptop. RAM and battery capacity have been greatly enhanced over the original
Asus ROG Ally
, going from 16GB to 24GB and 40Wh to 80Wh respectively. These improvements allow the device to handle heavy gaming much more smoothly and over longer periods.Center stage is a new top of the line 1080p 120Hz screen that looks really sharp and colorful.
The ROG Ally X runs Windows, which has its ups and downs. The tradeoff for the flexibility and completeness that Windows offers is that mouse and keyboard navigation is replaced with touch screen, analog sticks, and buttons. Windows was clearly not made with that in mind. Thankfully, the device comes preinstalled with Armoury Crate SE, a customization layer from ASUS that's been built specifically for their handheld PC lineup, giving you quick access to many screen and performance settings, as well as the option to simulate the mouse with the left joystick.
All of this comes at a high cost though. This is easily the most expensive device in the list. If all you want to play on your handheld are retro games and indie titles, we suggest you stick with one of the other entries on the list. However, if you want a handheld that can do it all and competently handle AAA games, this is a great choice.
Pros
- Capable of high-end emulation
- Stable emulation for all systems
- Huge 80 Wh battery
- More...
Cons
- Black bars when playing older retro systems
- Big device, portable but not pocketable
- Device can feel bulky
9. The Best Tiny Emulation Console:
Released
Feb. 2025
OS
Linux
Screen
2.4”, 4:3
Up To
PSP
Best For
PS1, SNES
Price
~$80
Check
You might think that very tiny handhelds are just novelty devices that don't actually get that much use, but some people vouch for them. Being this tiny means that you can throw them in your pocket or bag and forget about them. Then when the time is right and the boredom kicks in, you always have a retro game to keep you company.
Currently, the best device for this particular use case is the GKD Pixel 2.
This handheld packs just enough punch to comfortably run DS and PS1 games, as well as anything below these systems. Altough it can also play some Dreamcast and PSP, we don't see this as a comfortable experience. The screen is just too small. You're better off sticking to older retro systems (DS, GBA, GBC, GB, SNES, NES, etc...), and you won't find the choice of great games lacking when it comes to those older consoles.
The second iteration of the Pixel feels sturdy and well-built. All things considered, it's also surprisingly comfortable to hold for quick retro gaming sessions, especially when compared with the smaller
Anbernic RG-NANO
. Pros
- Premium-feeling metal shell
- Tiny device, extremely pocketable
Cons
- No Wi-fi (no retro achievements, box art scraping, file transfer etc...)
- 2.4” screen might be too small for some
- No Bluetooth
