The Best Retro Handheld Gaming Consoles in 2023

After a long, dormant period, handheld and portable gaming consoles are on the rise again. Thanks to the Nintendo Switch, more and more gamers are looking for handheld gaming options again. Sony has even launched their portable console lineup in a renewed bid to challenge for market share. Besides the new handheld consoles, there is something even more exciting in the portable console world: the rise of retro handheld emulators. Gamers looking to relive the days of yore or younger gamers looking to see what it was once like can now jump feet-first into the world of retro games without worrying about digging out old consoles or finding a CRT TV that still works.

Related: The Best Gaming Consoles in 2023

These handheld consoles offer the nostalgic feeling of games that gamers grew up with but with modern-day creature comforts, like backlit screens, microSD card storage, and, for some, the ability to play multiple console generations on one machine. This list comprises some of the best consoles dedicated to retro game titles.

When picking a handheld console for handheld gaming, consider the following factors

To help buyers pick the right handheld retro gaming console, below are three tips worth noting:

• Nostalgia: Go for handhelds whose designs closely resemble the ones from the past.
• Supported games: One should buy consoles that can run the games they played in their childhood.
• Battery Life: Aim for a decent battery life. Anywhere between 3 and 5 hours is fine.

Game Rant's Best Retro Handheld Gaming Consoles to Buy in 2024

Miyoo Mini Plus+

Best Overall Retro Handheld Console

The Miyoo Mini Plus+ is the latest handheld gaming console after the now impossible-to-get Miyoo Mini Plus 2. It comes in four colors: Gray, White, Transparent Black, and Transparent Purple. The efficient but powerful processor allows gamers to enjoy their favorite 8- and 16-bit games all day.

Playing Time

Up To 7 Hours

Chipset

SigmaStar SSD202D Up to 1.2 Ghz

RAM

128MB LPDDR3

Storage

64GB via Included Micro SD Card

Wireless Connectivity

Wi-Fi

Display

3.5 Inch 640x480

Dimensions

4.25 x 3.09 x 0.88 inches

Pros

• Excellent gaming performance
• Buttons are responsive
• Comes with preloaded games

Cons

• Can be too small for gamers with larger hands
• The native OS is not the best out there

Miyoo, as a whole, has earned quite an excellent reputation with emulator fans, and the Miyoo Mini Plus+ is probably one of the best examples of why. This handheld console is about the size of a deck of cards and can emulate thousands of titles across multiple generations. With some well-done emulations, the Mini Plus+ can handle games up to the PS1 era, but it excels in Game Boy games. And because of the backlight 4:3 screen, these games can easily be played anywhere, even in the dark or fairly direct sunlight, with little to no visual problems.

Related: The Best Handheld Gaming Consoles under $75 in 2023

When it comes down to using the Miyoo Mini Plus+, the experience is even better. For gamers with larger hands, it might feel a little cramped, but for the most part, it is incredibly comfortable and easy to play games for hours without hand cramps. The 4 face buttons are raised out of the shell, making them easy to press but not too easy where accidental button presses are a concern. The Mini Plus+ makes it easy for first-time emulators to get started, with the console coming with thousands of games pre-installed. When gamers want to add games of their own, it is easy enough, thanks to the microSD storage.

ANBERNIC RG35XX

Best Budget Retro Handheld Console

$50 $56 Save $6

The RG35XX is a powerful handheld emulator that can run most games up to the PS1. The built-in 64 GB TF storage will hold up to 5,000 games. The 2600 mAh battery will give gamers up to 5 hours of playtime without recharging. Gamers who want to play some emulated games without being limited to the  D-pad and 4 buttons can connect any 2.4Ghz wireless-compatible controller and play games with a full-sized controller on the big screen.

Playing Time

5 hours of gamplay (2600 mAH battery)

Chipset

quad-core ARM Cortex-A9

RAM

DDR3 256MB

Storage

64GB TF/MicroSD

Wireless Connectivity

2.4 ghz for wireless gamepad connection

Display

3.5-inch IPS full viewing angle, OCA full lamination

Dimensions

11.7x8.1x2 cm

Weight

165 grams

Output resolution

640x480

Pros

• Excellent GameBoy emulation
• Very affordable price

Cons

• Pre-loaded OS is a bit disappointing

For gamers who like the GameBoy-esque design but would like a slightly bigger screen and overall handheld, the ABBERNIC RG35XX is an excellent option. This budget handheld console offers fantastic performance in games from the Game Boy era, but it starts to hitch up a bit when pushing it to PS1 or PSP games. But at this price point, most gamers should be able to overlook a few laggy moments for the overall excellent experience the RG35XX provides.

The build quality feels robust and comfortable for long gaming sessions. And for gamers who don't want to rely solely on the handheld to play games, the RG35XX can display on a TV via HDMI, and gamers can connect to a controller for a Switch experience. The operating system on this handheld has become a sore point for many users. It is plain and has kind of a roundabout way to get to some settings. However, some users have figured out how to install GarlicOS on the RG35XX, making the whole experience much more likable.

Retroid Pocket 3+

Best Mid-Range Retro Handheld Console

$125 $149 Save $24

The Retroid Pocket 3 is a newer and far more powerful upgrade than the Retroid Pocket 2. Built with its powerful Unisoc Quad-core Tiger T310 processor and fast 2GB/3GB LPDDR4 RAM. Powered by a 4000mAh rechargeable battery, gamers can enjoy hours of entertainment. Its built-in Wi-Fi 2.4G/5G + BT 5.0 combo means players have fast and reliable wireless connectivity on the go.

Storage

128GB eMMC 5.1

What's Included

Includes official game launcher and emulator frontend

Screen

Touch screen: 4.7 inch, 750x1334@60fps, 450nits

Battery

4500mAh battery

4K Capability

No

Brand

Retroid

CPU

2*A75@2.0GHz + 6*A55@2.0GHz

Connectivity

Wifi

Ports

720p Micro HDMI + 3.5mm Audio Jack + USB TypeC

Pros

• Impressive gaming performance
• Comfortable design

For gamers who can stretch their budget, the Retroid Pocket 3+ is one of the best retro handheld consoles available. This portable console can be picked up for $149, and it can handle a ton of games, including Gamecube games. The Pocket 3+ is powered by an Octa-core T618 CPU with 4 GB of RAM and a fantastic 4.7" touch display. In many ways, this handheld feels like a mini-me Nintendo Switch.

Retroid has one of the most straightforward setup processes for their consoles, and for first-time emulator gamers, minimal tinkering is needed to get gaming. After getting it out of the box, gamers can install their favorite console emulators with one touch, and then they can start installing their ROMS. Besides some questionable release tactics by Retroid, the Pocket 3+ is a fantastic retro handheld: the powerful performance combined with the slim and comfortable design makes this a great handheld for any gamer looking for a bit more power.

Steam Deck

Best Premium Retro Handheld Gaming Console

$456 $499 Save $43

Valve's long-awaited portable console is here, and it's taking the handheld gaming market by storm. Valve partnered with AMD to create Steam Deck's custom APU, optimized for handheld gaming. It is a Zen 2 + RDNA 2 powerhouse, delivering more than enough performance to run the latest AAA games in a very efficient power envelope.

Storage

64 GB - 512 GB

Screen

7" diagonal 1280 x 800px (16:10 aspect ratio) 60Hz

Battery

40Whr battery. 2 - 8 hours of gameplay

4K Capabilities

Yes

CPU

AMD APU Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.0 and Dual-band Wi-Fi radio, 2.4GHz and 5GHz

Ports

1x USB-C with DisplayPort 1.4 Alt-mode support; up to 8K @60Hz or 4K @120Hz, 1x USB 3.2 ,1x Micro SD slot, 1x 3.5 audio jack

Dimensions

298mm x 117mm x 49mm

Weight

Approx. 669 grams

Pros

• Extremely powerful gaming performance
• Versatile use cases
• A large community of emulators

Cons

• Larger form factor than most other options
• High price tag

While technically not a retro console, the Steam Deck is one of the most powerful handheld gaming PCs, and because of that, it is also one of the most powerful Retro handheld emulators. It is easily one of the most expensive handhelds. Still, because of the raw performance it offers, plus the amount of community members working together to make emulation on it more accessible, the Steam Deck is a great way to try out emulation without being locked into just playing retro games.

After gamers install EmuDeck, it can easily handle any retro console title from Dreamcast to Gamecube and most PS2 games. The fact that gamers can swap between playing Crazy Taxi to the latest Triple AAA game in a few moments is absolutely ridiculous. It is a step in the right direction for the emulating community to grow larger. The Steam Deck is the way to go for gamers who want a handheld console that can handle everything thrown its way and doesn't mind the larger form factor.

Analogue Pocket

Best Retro Handheld For Game Collectors

A multi-video-game-system portable handheld. A digital audio workstation with a built-in synthesizer and sequencer. A tribute to portable gaming. Out of the box, Pocket is compatible with the 2,780+ Game Boy, Game Boy Color & Game Boy Advance game cartridge library. Pocket works with cartridge adapters for other handheld systems, too. Like Game Gear. Neo Geo Pocket Color. Atari Lynx & more.

Screen

3.5" LCD. 1600×1440 resolution. 615ppi.

Game support

Compatible with Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance game cartridges.

Battery

Rechargeable lithium ion 4300mAh battery

Ports

micro SD card slot USB-C charging Original-style link port 3.5mm headphone output

Audio

Stereo speakers

4K Capability

No

Storage

Micro SD card is only storage

Pros

• Can use actual game cartridges
• Stunning display
• Gameplay feels like original hardware

Retro game fans who don't want to mess with emulating retro games and much prefer the physical act of putting a cartridge into a console will probably fall in love with the Analogue Pocket. This premium handheld console is made using FPGA technology. FPGA technology is essentially modern hardware made to be as close as possible to the original hardware. So, when combining that with using actual Game Boy cartridges, there is nothing closer to playing a real Game Boy than the Analogue Pocket.

It feels very similar to a Game Boy in every way except the screen. Some purists might say that a higher resolution screen is not an improvement, but this display is absolutely stunning. The 3.4" LCD has a PPI of 615 and reproduces colors that have the same feeling as the old Game Boy screen. If gamers don't want to be limited to just Game Boy games, Analogue also makes adapters for Atari Lynx, Neo Geo, and Sega Game Gear games. For gamers with a collection of retro cartridges or gamers looking for a good excuse to start collecting, the Analogue pocket is an excellent choice and pretty much one of a kind.

Playdate

Most Unique Handheld Console

Playdate is familiar but unlike anything gamers have ever seen. It has a very special black and white screen – not backlit, but super reflective. Because of the low power screen, this little handheld console has an 8-hour active battery life and 14 days of standby battery.

Storage

4 GB Flash Storage

What's Included

24 original Playdate games, delivered weekly, at no extra charge and a USB-C to USB A cable

Screen

400 × 240 1-bit

Processing Power

168 MHz Cortex M7 SDK supports Lua, C

Battery

14 days standby clock 8 hours active

Connectivity

2.4GHz Wi-Fi

Dimensions

76 × 74 × 9 mm

Power Source

Rechargable Lithium battery

Pros

• Lovable design
• Comes with a decent game library

Cons

• Skips on backlight feature

Gamers looking for a unique retro gaming experience should look no further than the PlayDate. This handheld has a crank as one of the main control mechanics. In all the years of video game innovation and different control types, a crank is probably one of the weirdest ways to control a game, but it is quite fun and has a satisfying feel to it. The PlayDate is made for gamers who want to experience games in different ways and to help indie game developers get heavily involved with the growth of the PlayDate. Rather than gamers having to buy games or install emulators, PlayDate plans to have a weekly release of games, almost like a game subscription, without the subscription cost.

The first set of games PlayDate has released with the testing models are a ton of fun and really explore how gamers interact with the games. That being said, there will be no recognizable game titles on the PlayDate, so for gamers who are looking to relive retro games of their childhood, this handheld might not be the best choice. Currently, the PlayDate is on pre-order, but they are set to ship in late 2023, so any gamers who want to experience a unique way to interact with games, be sure to keep an eye on the PlayDate.

Nintendo Switch Lite

Best Retro Handheld for Nintendo Classics

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a more affordable, portable solution for players who want to play all the most exquisite Nintendo games on a tight budget. Nintendo Switch Lite provides an affordable and portable option, ensuring players on a tight budget can still enjoy the finest selection of Nintendo games on the go.
 

Battery

Approx. 3 – 7 hours

Dimensions

3.6” high 8.2” long .55”

Brand

Nintendo

Weight

Approximately .61 lbs

Display

5.5” Touch Screen

Pros

• Smaller build
• Very affordable

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a smaller, yet powerful variant of the best-selling Switch console. Unlike the regular Switch, users can’t remove the Lite’s Joy-Cons, as they're in-built. Despite this, the Switch Lite can play every game that the regular Switch runs in handheld mode. Many of these are retro titles that should stir up nostalgia among users.

Users simply have to subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online for $20 per year to get access to classics from legendary consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo Entertainment (SNES), and Game Boy. Upgrading to the Family Plan ($50 yearly) unlocks access to titles like Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64), The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Game Boy Advance), and Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (SEGA Genesis). Of course, gamers can also simply purchase their favorite titles individually, if they prefer.

Aside from being a great way to relive the thrill of retro hits, the Switch Lite battery is quite decent and should be playable for up to 7 hours at a time, according to Nintendo. Its smaller build makes it comfortable to hold for long periods compared to other Switch models, too. It's also less expensive than the regular Switch or OLED variant, making it a great purchase for consumers not looking to break the bank on a new console.

How To Pick The Perfect Retro Handheld Console

When looking for handheld retro gaming consoles, below are three key factors to consider.

Nostalgia: Nostalgia and supported games go hand in hand. When playing a 2D platforming game from the Game Boy era, gamers don't want to have to use a joystick when a D-pad feels much more nostalgic. At this point, many handhelds of the time are harder to find, especially in working conditions, and the price of some games is insane. That's why a lot of these handhelds are based on designs from the original portable consoles of the day.

Supported Games: Seeing as technology has progressed quite a bit from when a lot of the games played on these consoles came out, these games aren't always limited to handheld emulations. Finding out what games or generation of games a gamer wants to play will make it easier to determine which handheld to pick up.

Take the Miyoo Mini +, for example. This handheld will easily run games from the Game Boy, but it can also handle games from the PS1 era and almost everything in between. So, for gamers who want to play games like Super Mario Bros. or play through the original Silent Hill, the Miyoo Mini + will be a great option. On the other hand, if gamers want the option to choose from pretty much any retro console, the Steam Deck might be a better option.

Battery Life: When selecting a handheld console, check whether its battery life is decent or mediocre. One of the strong points of a handheld is its ability to deliver on-the-go gaming. Even if it becomes necessary to plug it into the nearest power outlet or a power bank, it should last at least a couple of hours.

More: The Best TVs for Gaming on an Xbox Series S|X

FAQ

Q: What is the most powerful handheld gaming console? 

While the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally are quite competent, the Ayaneo 2S is considered the most powerful handheld console for gaming. Unfortunately, it's expensive and has an underwhelming battery life.

Q: Why is retro gaming popular?

Many gamers love returning to the basics when nobody cared about graphics or FPS. Since retro games can deliver that feeling of simplicity alongside nostalgia among older gamers, their popularity continues to increase.

Q: What is the most sold gaming console?

Sony's PlayStation 2 is the most-sold game console, with more than 150 million units bought since its release in 2000.