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 in 2025.

Compare specs, screen quality and battery life on the 10 highest-rated retro handheld consoles you can still buy in 2025.

Best Retro Handheld Consoles 2025

Top 10 Retro Handheld Gaming Consoles (2025)

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 2025

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

10 Best 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 2025

10 Best 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 2025

Top 10 OLED Handhelds with Stunning Mobile Displays

Emulators are only as good as the hardware driving them. Our picks chew through everything from NES to Wii thanks to big-little CPUs, Vulkan-ready GPUs and good cooling. Each unit ships with enough RAM and storage to house an entire retro library and a front-end like ArkOS or Knulli.

Ten handhelds that can emulate everything from NES to Wii.

Best Multi-System Emulation Handhelds

10 Best Emulation Handhelds with Support for Many Gaming Systems

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 2025

10 Best Handhelds for PS2 Emulation (2025)

SteamOS 3

SNES

Modern

Switch

Wii U

Sega Saturn

ROG Ally X

Windows 11

ChimeraOS

Legion Go

Claw A1M (2024)

OnionOS

Steam Deck (OLED)

SteamOS

Steam Deck

Flip DS

ROCKNIX

Pocket 5

Android 13

Pocket Flip 2

LineageOS 20

Odin 2 Mini

Odin 2 Portal

ASUS

Compare specs for ASUS ROG Ally X. Pros: 24GB RAM, 80Wh Battery, 120Hz Display. Cons: Price Increase, Heavier Weight, No Thunderbolt.

ASUS ROG Ally X

Amazon

Lenovo

Compare specs for Lenovo Legion Go. Pros: 8.8 Inch 144 Hz Screen, Detachable Controllers, Powerful Z1 Extreme. Cons: Very Heavy, High Power Draw, Expensive.

Lenovo Legion Go

Compare specs for MSI Claw A1M (2024). Pros: Smooth 120 Hz screen, Comfortable hall-stick controls, Intel XeSS boosts AAA titles. Cons: Battery drains fast, Early driver issues, Only one USB-C port.

MSI Claw A1M (2024)

Online Retailers

Valve

Compare specs for Valve Steam Deck (OLED). Pros: 7.4-inch HDR OLED 90Hz, Longer battery life, Lighter & cooler, Fast Wi-Fi 6E. Cons: Bulky, Pricier, Loud fans, Drains fast on AAA titles.

Valve Steam Deck (OLED)

Compare specs for Valve Steam Deck. Pros: Cheapest full PC handheld, Comfy grips, Micro-SD support, Frequent updates. Cons: Dull LCD screen, Shorter battery then its OLED version, Heavy, One color only.

Valve Steam Deck

AYANEO

Compare specs for AYANEO Flip DS. Pros: Unique dual-screen design, Full Windows versatility, Hall-sensor sticks and triggers. Cons: Short battery life, Heavy for handheld use, High launch price.

AYANEO Flip DS

Retroid

Compare specs for Retroid Pocket 5. Pros: 5.5-inch AMOLED, Snapdragon 865, Active cooling, Hall-effect sticks. Cons: Loud fan, Average battery, Changing brightness is finnicky, Android setup tricky.

Retroid Pocket 5

Amazon & AliExpress

Compare specs for Retroid Pocket Flip 2. Pros: Flip screen protects display, Snapdragon 865 or D1100, Hall-effect sticks, Wi-Fi 6 & Bluetooth 5. Cons: Thicker design, Heavier hinge, Smaller battery, Limited shoulder button travel.

Retroid Pocket Flip 2

Compare specs for AYN Odin 2 Mini. Pros: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 power, Mini-LED screen, Hall sticks. Cons: Smaller battery than full-size Odin 2.

AYN Odin 2 Mini

Compare specs for AYN Odin 2 Portal. Pros: Premium build quality, 120Hz OLED screen, High performance. Cons: Expensive, Heavier than Mini, Larger footprint.