The Best Gaming Handhelds in 2026
Updated June 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 equipped 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
database
of 250+ emulation consoles.Quick List:
- Best Overall:
- Best for Beginners:
- Best Dual-Screen:
- Best Under $100:
- Best for PC Games:
- Best Vertical Budget:
- Best Clamshell Budget:
- Best Horizontal Budget:
- Best High-End Windows:
- Best Tiny Console:
1. The Best Retro Handheld Overall: Retroid Pocket 6
- Released
- Jan. 2026
- OS
- Android 13
- Screen
- 5.5”, 16:9
- Up To
- Modern
- Best For
- PS2, GameCube
- Price
- ~$240
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 more compact devices. Some really need analog sticks while others 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 6.
Retroid devices have topped our ranking lists for a long time, and for good reason. They consistently release some of the highest quality devices at very competitive prices. This year's flagship is their best offering to date.
This handheld benefits from six years of iterations by Retroid. The high-resolution, high-refresh-rate AMOLED screen is gorgeous, the controls are great across the board, and the build feels premium. In terms of gaming performance, this device runs any Android emulator or game to its full potential. You can expect perfect performance on PS2, GameCube, and all of the older systems. It can even run many modern PC and Switch games really well.
The Retroid Pocket 6 also has all the bells and whistles you could wish for on a retro gaming handheld: WiFi, Bluetooth, video output, hall effect sticks, gyroscope, analog triggers, etc... Despite packing so much power and so many features, the device stays quite compact and lightweight compared to other popular devices like the
AYN Odin 3
or the Valve Steam Deck OLED
. It's also considerably cheaper.All in all, this is a nice step up from last year's
Retroid Pocket 5
and G2
, which were already excellent. It has even more power, a better OLED screen (120Hz vs. 60Hz), and a bigger battery. It's also equipped with two handy back buttons.All of the other handhelds in this list are the best options in their respective categories, but if you want a solid all-rounder that does it all, look no further than the
RP6
. Pros
- Two joystick layout options available
- Powerful enough for high-end emulation
- Great AMOLED screen with vibrant colors and perfect blacks
Cons
- Black bars when playing older retro systems
2. The Best Retro Handheld for Beginners: Miyoo Mini Plus
- Released
- Mar. 2023
- OS
- Linux
- Screen
- 3.5”, 4:3
- Up To
- NDS
- Best For
- PS1, SNES
- Price
- ~$50
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 seamless 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
- Well-supported by the community, multiple CFWs available
- Small device, very pocketable
Cons
- No Bluetooth
- Can't be connected to external monitors
3. The Best Dual-Screen Gaming Handheld: AYN Thor
- Released
- Oct. 2025
- OS
- Android 13
- Screen
- 6, 3.92”, 16:9, 31:27
- Up To
- Modern
- Best For
- 3DS, NDS
- Price
- ~$290
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 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
- Great handheld for multi-tasking
- Powerful enough for high-end emulation
- Great AMOLED screen with vibrant colors and perfect blacks
Cons
- The controls can feel a bit cramped because of the lower screen
- Device can feel bulky when closed
4. The Best Android Handheld Under $100: Mangmi Air X
- Released
- Oct. 2025
- OS
- Android 14
- Screen
- 5.5”, 16:9
- Up To
- 3DS
- Best For
- PSP, Dreamcast
- Price
- ~$100
One of my most used handhelds, this $100 gem should not be overlooked. It's a solid offering in terms of ergonomics, build quality, and performance. While gameplay is capped at PSP and very light GC and PS2, the experience itself is quite satisfying.
All older systems play well and look amazing on the sharp 1080p screen, especially PSP, which fits perfectly on this aspect ratio and can be upscaled to multiples of its original resolution. The ergonomic grips, 5000 mAh battery, and hall-effect analog sticks make this a great alternative to owning an original PSP.
Of course, PSP emulation is not the only use case of this handheld. Android works nicely here, I found myself playing lots of games from the Play Store (Stardew Valley, ScourgeBringer, Chants of Sennaar, etc.). I've also enjoyed running upscaled PS1, SNES, and Sega Genesis with CRT shaders.
In short, this handheld goes above and beyond what is expected of a sub-$100 device. The closest alternative is the
TRIMUI Smart Pro S
, which is a bit less powerful but is a nice choice if you prefer Linux on your handhelds. Pros
- Nice screen, much better than other offerings at this price point
- Great-feeling buttons and D-Pad
- Good community support, multiple CFWs available
Cons
- Speakers are good but not great
- Black bars when playing older retro systems
- No video out, can't be connected to an external display
5. The Best Gaming Handheld for PC Games: Valve Steam Deck OLED
- Released
- Nov. 2023
- OS
- Windows 11, Linux
- Screen
- 7.4”, 16:10
- Up To
- Modern
- Best For
- PS2, 3DS
- Price
- ~$545
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 the 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.
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
Cons
- Letterboxing (black bars) on classic retro systems
- Big device, portable but not pocketable
- Bulky form factor
6. The Best Vertical Budget Retro Handheld: TRIMUI Smart Brick
- Released
- Nov. 2024
- OS
- Linux
- Screen
- 3.2”, 4:3
- Up To
- Dreamcast
- Best For
- PS1, SNES
- Price
- ~$70
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 eagerly look forward to their next release.
Pros
- Build quality feels premium
- Well-lit screen
- Perfect EDC handheld
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: Anbernic RG-35XX SP
- Released
- May. 2024
- OS
- Linux
- Screen
- 3.5”, 4:3
- Up To
- Dreamcast
- Best For
- PS1, SNES
- Price
- ~$65
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 handheld 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 powerful enough to run anything up to the PSP, although 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
- Nostalgic design borrowing from the original GBA SP
- Good community support, multiple CFWs available
- Can be connected to external displays
Cons
- Device can feel bulky when closed
8. The Best Horizontal Budget Retro Handheld: MagicX Mini Zero 28
- Released
- Jan. 2025
- OS
- Android 10, Linux
- Screen
- 2.8”, 4:3
- Up To
- PSP
- Best For
- Dreamcast, N64
- Price
- ~$55
There are many good options in this category. This is many people's favourite form factor, so it makes sense that most manufacturers 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 particularly good. The device stays very light and portable at just 120g. It's slightly 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
- Feels comfortable in the hand thanks to the rounded edges
- Good community support, multiple CFWs available
- Access to mobile games and apps
Cons
- No touchscreen makes Android navigation difficult
- Older Android version, less compatibility with the Play Store
- 2.8” screen might be too small for some
9. The Best High-End Windows Gaming Handheld: Asus ROG Ally X
- Released
- Jul. 2024
- OS
- Windows 11
- Screen
- 7.0”, 16:9
- Up To
- Modern
- Best For
- PS2, GameCube
- Price
- ~$795
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 Extreme 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
- Powerful enough for high-end emulation
- Stable emulation for all systems
- Huge 80 Wh battery
Cons
- Black bars when playing older retro systems
- Big device, portable but not pocketable
- Device can feel bulky
10. The Best Tiny Emulation Console: Game Kiddy GKD Pixel 2
- Released
- Feb. 2025
- OS
- Linux
- Screen
- 2.4”, 4:3
- Up To
- NDS
- Best For
- PS1, SNES
- Price
- ~$80
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. Although 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 body
- Very small and pocketable
Cons
- No Wi-Fi (no RetroAchievements, box art scraping, file transfer etc...)
- 2.4” screen might be too small for some
- No Bluetooth
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