SNES

Sega Saturn

Wii U

Switch

Modern

Quality handheld gaming doesn't require a massive budget. Our curated selection features the best gaming handhelds under $50, from clamshell to vertical retro gaming devices from brands like Miyoo, Anbernic and Trimui. 

Find the best budget handheld gaming consoles under $50. We review and compare the top devices for retro gaming on a budget.

Best Gaming  Handhelds Under $50

Best Gaming Handhelds Under $50

Quality handheld gaming doesn't require a massive budget. Our curated selection features the best gaming handhelds under $70, from clamshell to vertical retro gaming devices from brands like Miyoo, Anbernic and Trimui. 

 Find the best budget handheld gaming consoles under $70. We review and compare the top devices for retro gaming on a budget.

Best Gaming  Handhelds Under $70

Best Gaming Handhelds Under $70

Quality handheld gaming doesn't require a massive budget. Our curated selection features the best gaming handhelds under $100, from clamshell to vertical retro gaming devices from brands like Miyoo, Anbernic and Trimui. 

Find the best budget handheld gaming consoles under $100. We review and compare the top devices for retro gaming on a budget.

Best Gaming  Handhelds Under $100

Best Gaming Handhelds Under $100

The $200 price range offers the sweet spot for handheld gaming, delivering serious performance without premium pricing. These carefully selected devices handle everything from retro classics to demanding PS2 and GameCube emulation with impressive capabilities.

Find powerful handheld gaming consoles under $200. Compare top devices for PS2, GameCube emulation and modern gaming performance.

Best Gaming Handhelds Under $200

The $300 price range represents the sweet spot for a lot of handheld gaming, offering premium emulation and light PC gaming performance without the steep cost of flagship devices. Whether you're seeking modern AAA gaming, comprehensive retro or Nintendo Switch emulation this price tier delivers exceptional value across multiple gaming categories.

Discover the $300 handheld gaming sweet spot with premium performance and retro emulation up to Nintendo Switch for gaming flexibility at great value

Best Gaming Handhelds Under $300

Relive the golden age of 8- and 16-bit gaming with these ten retro handhelds. Each pick balances authentic controls, crisp modern screens, robust community firmware and batteries that last a whole nostalgia-hit commute. Whether you grew up with Game Boy or Neo Geo Pocket, you’ll find a high-quality throwback that still feels great today.

Compare specs, screen quality and battery life on the 10 highest-rated retro handheld consoles you can still buy today.

Top 10 Retro Handheld Consoles

Top 10 Retro Handheld Gaming Consoles

Need desktop-class frame-rates in your backpack? We’ve rounded up the fastest x86 portable PCs, from SteamOS handhelds to Windows portable gaming machines. Per device you can check out the specs and performance, with the focus on emulating retro gaming systems.

See the top portable PC-class handhelds for AAA gaming away from your desk.

Best Portable Gaming PCs

Best Portable PCs for Gaming on the Go

Looking for flawless 240 × 160 action? Every device here runs GBA titles at full speed with zero frame-drops—often at 3× native resolution. We have an array of very different devices with each one their different strength and weaknesses. From pockatable GBA handhelds, to big-screen systems.

Discover pocket systems that run Game Boy Advance ROMs flawlessly.

Best Handhelds for GBA Emulation

Top 10 GBA-Emulator Handhelds to Relive Game Boy Advance Classics

If you love the Switch concept but want more flexibility in terms of gaming, then these ten handhelds deliver better graphics for retro gaming, custom launchers and ergonomic grips—without Nintendo’s pricing or drift issues. Dock them via USB-C for couch co-op or enjoy gaming yourself.

Find the best non-Nintendo handhelds that match or beat the Switch for performance, comfort and price.

Best Nintendo Switch Alternatives

Top 10 Nintendo Switch Alternatives for Portable Fun

OLED panels make sprites pop and HDR cut-scenes sing. We have ranked and listed different kinds of retro and pc gaming handhelds, so you can decide which one is your favorite. They all have a strength: each offers infinite black levels for much better contrast.

Our picks for handhelds with vivid OLED panels.

Best OLED Screen Handhelds

Top 10 OLED Handhelds with Stunning Mobile Displays

Dreaming of Shadow of the Colossus on the subway? Each handheld here hits or exceeds 30 fps, with precise analog triggers and enough cooling to survive long boss fights. Want to play any retro system below PS2? That is possible and most devices will have the ability to easily add games from other generations of gaming.

Portable handheld systems that play PlayStation 2 titles.

Best PS2 Emulation Handhelds

10 Best Handhelds for PS2 Emulation

Find the perfect handheld for playing original PlayStation classics. These devices offer smooth PS1 emulation for your favorite PSX games.

Compare the best handheld gaming devices for PlayStation 1 emulation. Great performance for classic PSX games on the go.

Top 10 PS1 Handhelds for PlayStation Classics

Discover handhelds that can handle Nintendo 64 emulation with excellent performance. Play classics like Super Mario 64 and Zelda on the go.

Find the best portable devices for Nintendo 64 emulation. Compare specs and performance for playing N64 classics anywhere.

Top 10 N64 Handhelds to Play Nintendo 64 Games

The top handhelds for running Sega Dreamcast games. Experience classics from Sega's final console with great emulation performance.

Compare portable gaming devices with excellent Dreamcast emulation. Play Sega DC classics on modern handhelds.

Top 10 Dreamcast Gaming Handhelds for Sega Classics

Find the best devices for PlayStation Portable emulation. These handhelds deliver smooth performance for PSP games on the go.

Discover handhelds with excellent PSP emulation capabilities. Play PlayStation Portable classics with great performance.

Top 10 PSP Handhelds for PlayStation Portable Gaming

The best portable devices for Nintendo DS emulation. Experience dual-screen DS classics on modern handheld gaming devices.

Compare handhelds with excellent Nintendo DS emulation support. Play your favorite DS games on portable devices.

Top 10 Gaming Handhelds for Nintendo DS

Discover powerful handhelds capable of running Nintendo GameCube games. These devices offer solid performance for GC emulation.

Find portable gaming devices with GameCube emulation support. Play Nintendo GC classics on modern handhelds.

Top 10 GameCube Handhelds for Nintendo GC Games

Top 10 Nintendo GameCube Gaming Handhelds

Explore handhelds with Nintendo 3DS emulation support. Play 3DS games on powerful portable devices with excellent performance.

Compare the best handhelds for Nintendo 3DS emulation. Find devices that can run 3DS games smoothly.

Top 10 3DS Handhelds for Experiencing 3D Nintendo Games

Find powerful handheld devices capable of Nintendo Wii emulation. Play Wii classics on the go with these capable portables.

Discover handhelds that can handle Nintendo Wii emulation. Compare specs for playing Wii games on portable devices.

Top 10 Gaming Handhelds for Nintendo Wii Emulation

The top handhelds for Sega Saturn emulation. Experience this challenging-to-emulate console on modern portable devices.

Find handhelds capable of Sega Saturn emulation. Compare devices that can handle this complex retro system.

Top 10 Sega Saturn Gaming Handhelds for 32-Bit Classics

Discover the most powerful handhelds that can tackle PlayStation 3 emulation. These high-end devices bring PS3 gaming to portable form.

Find premium handheld devices with PS3 emulation capabilities. Compare powerful portables for PlayStation 3 games.

Top 10 PS3 Gaming Handhelds for Playing PlayStation 3 Games

The most powerful portable devices capable of Nintendo Switch emulation. High-performance handhelds for modern Nintendo titles.

Discover premium handhelds with Switch emulation support. Compare powerful devices for playing Nintendo Switch games.

Top 10 Gaming Handhelds Powerful Enough for Emulating Nintendo Switch Games

Find powerful handhelds with Wii U emulation capabilities. These high-end devices can handle Nintendo's challenging console.

Compare premium handhelds capable of Wii U emulation. Find devices that can run Nintendo Wii U games portably.

Top 10 Gaming Handhelds Powerful Enough for Emulating Nintendo Wii U Games

Discover handheld gaming devices featuring dual displays for enhanced gaming and multitasking. Perfect for fans of Nintendo DS and 3DS style gameplay.

Compare the best dual-screen handheld gaming devices. Find handhelds with two displays for enhanced gaming experiences and multitasking capabilities.

Top 10 Modern Gaming Handhelds with Two Screens

Handhelds released in the last twelve months, ranked. From cheap retro devices to new Android flagships and Windows PCs, these are the latest models you can actually buy right now.

The latest handheld gaming consoles released in the past year, ranked and compared on specs, emulation performance and price.

Newest Gaming Handhelds You Can Buy

The Newest Gaming Handhelds

Prefer the classic Game Boy shape? These vertical handhelds put the screen on top and the controls below, just like the original. Great for retro classics and comfortable to hold in one hand.

Compare the best vertical, Game Boy style handhelds for retro gaming, ranked on specs, emulation performance and price.

Best Vertical Handhelds (Game Boy Style)

Best Vertical Game Boy Style Handhelds

Clamshell handhelds fold shut like a Game Boy Advance SP or a Nintendo DS, so the screen stays protected in a bag or pocket. These are the best flip handhelds, from budget retro devices to dual-screen powerhouses.

Compare the best clamshell and flip handhelds for retro gaming and emulation, ranked on specs, performance and price.

Best Clamshell Handhelds

Small enough to take everywhere: every handheld here weighs 300 grams or less, or measures under 15 cm on its longest side. Slip one in your jeans and play retro classics wherever you are.

The best small handheld gaming consoles that fit in your pocket, compared on size, weight, emulation performance and price.

Best Pocketable Handhelds

Best Pocketable Handhelds That Fit in Your Pocket

Android handhelds combine strong emulation with the Play Store, streaming apps and native Android games. These are the best Android gaming handhelds, from affordable retro devices to flagships that run Switch and PS2 games.

Compare the best Android gaming handhelds for emulation, streaming and Android games, ranked on specs, performance and price.

Best Android Gaming Handhelds

Pocket S Mini

Android 14

Pocket Nova

Android 13

Compare specifications, features, and gaming performance of AYANEO Pocket S Mini and Retroid Pocket Nova. Find the best handheld for you.

AYANEO

Compare specs for AYANEO Pocket S Mini. Pros: Premium build, Powerful performance, Compact size. Cons: Small screen, Software quirks, Pricey.

AYANEO Pocket S Mini

Online Retailers

Retroid

Compare specs for Retroid Pocket Nova. Pros: 4.5-inch AMOLED, Active cooling, Wi-Fi 7. Cons: Small screen.

AYANEO Pocket S Mini vs Retroid Pocket Nova comparison

AYANEO Pocket S Mini

Retroid Pocket Nova

Key Advantages

AYANEO Pocket S Mini

Retroid Pocket Nova

Devices you'll probably love:

AYANEO Pocket Micro 2

AYANEO Pocket ACE

Anbernic RG556

AYANEO Pocket S

Anbernic RG VITA

Detailed Comparison