Best retro handhelds in 2025: a buyer's guide

Retro handhelds have gotten weirdly good. A $40 device in 2025 plays PS1 better than my actual PS1 did, and for $200 you can run PS2 games in your pocket. The problem isn’t quality anymore — it’s figuring out which one to buy when there are dozens of options. We’ve spent months testing these devices so you don’t have to guess.

How we test

Every device goes through the same process: emulation benchmarks across 13 platforms (Game Boy through PS2), screen pixel analysis with our Screen Visualizer tool, hands-on build quality checks, real-world battery life testing, and firmware ecosystem evaluation. No device gets ranked without at least a week of daily use.

Quick Picks

Budget	Best Pick	Price	Top Platform
Under $50	Anbernic RG28XX	$40	PS1
Under $75	Miyoo Mini Plus	$59	PS1
Under $100	Anbernic RG35XX H	$49	PS1
Under $150	Anbernic RG Cube	$149	PS2
Under $200	Retroid Pocket 5	$199	PS2/GameCube
Best Overall	Retroid Pocket 5	$199	PS2/GameCube

1. Retroid Pocket 5 — best overall ($199)

Editor Score: 9.3/10

The Retroid Pocket 5 is the most capable retro handheld you can buy right now. Snapdragon 865, 5.5” AMOLED, and enough horsepower to run PS2 and GameCube. Nothing else in this category comes close.

Why it wins:

• PS2 and GameCube at near-full speed — this is the main reason to buy it
• 5.5” AMOLED at 1080×1920 (401 PPI) — dark scenes in particular look fantastic on OLED
• 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128GB UFS 3.1 storage
• Full controls: dual analog sticks, 6 shoulder buttons, rumble, gyroscope, touchscreen
• Android-based, so you get AetherSX2, Dolphin, and every other standalone emulator

Who it’s for:

You want PS2, GameCube, PSP, and Dreamcast without compromises. If that’s not your target, keep reading — you’re overpaying.

View full specs → | Check pixel fit →

---

2. Miyoo Mini Plus — best for classic gaming ($59)

Editor Score: 9.0/10

The Miyoo Mini Plus has been the community’s darling for a reason: for Game Boy through PS1, the combination of OnionOS and a perfect 4:3 IPS screen is hard to beat at any price.

Why it’s special:

• OnionOS — the best custom firmware out there. Beautiful UI, RetroAchievements, Wi-Fi sync
• 640×480 IPS at 3.5” — perfect integer scaling for every classic platform
• $59 for a device that punches way above its weight
• Small enough to forget it’s in your pocket

Screen Pixel Analysis:

Platform	Scale	Fill	Verdict
Game Boy	4×	67%	✅ Integer
GBA	2×	50%	✅ Integer
NES	2×	100%	✅ Perfect
SNES	2×	89%	✅ Integer
PS1	2×	100%	✅ Perfect

Limitations:

• N64 is playable but not ideal
• No PSP or PS2 support
• Single analog stick on some versions

View full specs → | Check pixel fit →

---

3. Anbernic RG Cube — the weird one that works ($149)

Editor Score: 8.5/10

Square screen. Seriously. The RG Cube has a 720×720 IPS display in a 1:1 aspect ratio, and against all expectations, it’s actually great for retro games. Classic 4:3 content fits with minimal letterboxing, and the thing looks like nothing else on your shelf.

What makes it interesting:

• 1:1 square screen — classic platforms fit surprisingly well
• Unisoc Tiger T618 — handles PS2 and Dreamcast reasonably
• Detachable controller — handheld or tabletop mode
• 8GB LPDDR4X RAM

Best for:

People who want something different. The square screen is a genuine conversation piece, and the PS2 performance is solid enough for most of the library.

View full specs → | Check pixel fit →

---

4. Anbernic RG35XX H — best budget ($49)

Editor Score: 8.2/10

$49 for a quality retro handheld. The RG35XX H has the same 640×480 IPS screen as the Miyoo Mini Plus, but in a horizontal PSP-style body with dual analog sticks.

Why we recommend it:

• $49 — the price-to-quality ratio is absurd
• Dual analog sticks — better PSP support than the Miyoo Mini Plus
• GarlicOS, muOS, and MinUI support — good firmware options
• PSP-style layout — comfortable for long sessions

How it compares to the Miyoo Mini Plus:

Same 640×480 screen, same pixel scaling. The differences: RG35XX H has dual sticks (better for PSP), Miyoo Mini Plus has OnionOS (better firmware).

Can’t decide? Read our full comparison.

View full specs → | Check pixel fit →

---

5. TRIMUI Smart Pro — the good-looking one ($69)

Editor Score: 8.0/10

If you care about how your handheld looks (no judgment), the TRIMUI Smart Pro is hard to ignore. Translucent shell, bright 4.96” IPS screen, and a design that looks more expensive than it is.

Highlights:

• Translucent design — genuinely attractive hardware
• 4.96” IPS at 1280×720 — good for widescreen PSP games
• Allwinner A133 Plus — solid for everything up to PS1
• KNULLI firmware support — active community

View full specs → | Check pixel fit →

---

Platform compatibility at a glance

Use this table to quickly see which devices can handle your favorite platforms:

Device	GB/GBC	GBA	NES/SNES	PS1	N64	PSP	PS2
Retroid Pocket 5	🟢	🟢	🟢	🟢	🟢	🟢	🔵
Miyoo Mini Plus	🟢	🟢	🟢	🟢	🟡	🔴	🔴
RG Cube	🟢	🟢	🟢	🟢	🔵	🔵	🔵
RG35XX H	🟢	🟢	🟢	🔵	🟡	🔴	🔴
TRIMUI Smart Pro	🟢	🟢	🟢	🔵	🟡	🟡	🔴

🟢 Perfect · 🔵 Great · 🟡 Playable · 🔴 Poor/Unplayable

Explore detailed compatibility for every device × platform combination in our Compatibility Matrix.

How to choose

Do you want PS2 or GameCube?

• Yes → Retroid Pocket 5 ($199) or RG Cube ($149)
• No → keep going

Budget?

• Under $50 → RG35XX H or RG28XX
• $50-75 → Miyoo Mini Plus
• $75-150 → TRIMUI Smart Pro or RG405M

Care about firmware?

• A lot → Miyoo Mini Plus with OnionOS
• Not really → pick based on form factor and price

Wrapping up

Whether you spend $40 or $200, you’ll get a device that can play thousands of classic games well. For most people, the Miyoo Mini Plus at $59 hits the sweet spot. For PS2 and GameCube, it’s the Retroid Pocket 5.

Check our Screen Visualizer to preview how games look on any device before buying, and our Firmware Tracker for the latest software updates.