The days of the Nintendo GameBoy are behind us, but a new golden age of gaming handhelds has dawned. Companies like TrimUI, Miyoo, Anbernic, and others are cranking out devices that play everything from 8-bit classics to iconic titles from the GameCube and PS2 era. These little handhelds come in a wide range of sizes, prices, and hardware configurations, though. On top of that, it seems like new ones are released every month. Don’t let it make your head spin. Below, you’ll find the best retro gaming handhelds of 2025, including some juicy deals.
A quick note on AliExpress. There are great gaming handheld deals on AliExpress. However, these typically ship from China and returns can be time-consuming, so we’re careful about which shops we link to. We’ve included retro handheld deals from brands’ official AliExpress stores and verified sellers with a strong record of positive feedback. However, if you’re willing to pay a bit more for faster shipping and more convenient post-purchase support, we’ve also included Amazon links for each handheld as well. Either way, you can buy with confidence!
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Best vertical retro gaming handhelds
Miyoo Mini & Miyoo Mini Plus
The Miyoo Mini and Mini Plus are two retro gaming handhelds with a massive fan community. The original Miyoo Mini is a pocket-sized handheld with a 2.8-inch display, making it perfect for on-the-go retro gaming. Building on the success of its predecessor, the Miyoo Mini Plus version features a larger 3.5-inch IPS screen. A quad-core processor powers both handhelds, providing ample strength to emulate classic consoles ranging from Atari to the PlayStation 1. The iconic GameBoy-inspired styling doesn’t hurt its appeal, either.
Protip: For the best experience, install OnionOS. It’s a custom interface made just for the Miyoo Mini family, offering an excellent UI and other great features. Also consider replacing the included microSD card with one from a good brand like SanDisk. The included generic SD cards are usually slow and prone to failure. (This same advice goes for all gaming handhelds on our list.)
TrimUI Brick
The Brick is TrimUI’s take on the GameBoy-inspired retro handheld. It sports a gorgeous 3.2-inch 720p display that’s perfect for classic games and a noticeable improvement over the 480p screens found on many 4:3 handhelds. It’s also powered by the Allwinner A133P processor, ensuring efficient emulation of a wide range of consoles, such as the NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, and PlayStation 1.
What really makes the TrimUI Brick special is the build quality. It’s not called the “Brick” because it’s some chunky, clumsy thing (it’s not). It just feels substantial and solid in-hand with a very satisfying weight to it. No creaky plastic or rattling buttons here, and the controls are great as well. It feels like a $100+ device, but costs much less than that. With the Brick, TrimUI has set a new gold standard for quality in the “budget gaming handheld” market. It also looks fantastic in all of its four colors, which include white, black, red, and deep purple.
TrimUI devices run on a Linux-based OS, but you have multiple custom firmware options to choose from, including MinUI and StockMix (which is just a modified version of the stock OS with some quality-of-life improvements). As of yet, the excellent CrossMix custom firmware isn’t freely available on the TrimUI Brick, but the CFW devs say it’s coming soon. If you don’t want to wait, you can get a TrimUI Brick with a proprietary version of CrossMix OS from MechDIY, provided you’re willing to pay extra for that.
Anbernic RG35XX SP
Now, here’s one that GameBoy fans have been awaiting for a while. It’s here now, and Anbernic knocked it out of the park with the RG35XX SP. Admittedly, we’re cheating by classifying the RG35XX SP a “vertical” handheld, but its unique design makes it difficult to place. This clamshell harks back to the days of the GameBoy Advance SP, one of the best gaming handhelds ever made.
However, it’s capable of playing far more than just GBA games. Under the hood, the Anbernic RG35XX SP packs similar hardware to newer devices like the RG35XX+, so you can play a lot of different consoles on this thing (up to Dreamcast and even some PSP). Its iconic folding form factor also makes it perfect for throwing in your bag with no case required. It’s sturdy and well-built, too, with a great 3.5-inch IPS display. Let the nostalgia flow!
Anbernic RG406V
Last on our vertical handhelds list, but certainly not least, is the Anbernic RG406V. This baby might be the ultimate vertical gaming handheld. Size-wise, the RG406V is about the size of the original GameBoy DMG (which is to say: it’s a chonky boy). Those of us who grew up with the classic GameBoy in our hands will feel right at home here. But this Android-powered handheld can do a lot more than play GameBoy games.
In fact, its octa-core system-on-chip is powerful enough to emulate many GameCube and PlayStation 2 games (although not all may run at 100%). Its 4-inch touchscreen is also 720p, which is better than the 480p usually sees on these devices. Furthermore, since it’s Android-based, the RG406V can play many of the best Android games and ports, such as Stardew Valley. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and HDMI connectivity are the icing on the cake.
Best horizontal retro gaming handhelds
Anbernic RG35XX H
Some of the best gaming handhelds feature a GameBoy-like vertical design. However, if you have bigger hands or want something more ergonomic, consider a horizontal device like the Anbernic RG35XX H. This is essentially the same hardware as the Anbernic RG35XX but in a horizontal layout. These horizontal handhelds offer a retro gaming experience in a very comfortable (yet still portable) form factor.
Another nice thing about the Anbernic RG35XX H is that dual analog sticks make PS1 and N64 games more enjoyable. N64 emulation is far from perfect, however. These Switch-style joysticks sit low to the face of the device, so they won’t get in the way when you’re not using them. If you value practicality and comfort over retro style, the Anbernic RG35XX H is an excellent gaming handheld.
Trimui Smart Pro
The Trimui Smart Pro is a sleek and compact gaming handheld that beautifully blends modern functionality and retro gaming capabilities. It resembles the iconic Sony PSP or PS Vita, featuring a slim, ergonomic design that comfortably sits in the hands. The Smart Pro has a 5-inch IPS display, giving you a larger screen than most retro gaming handhelds. Powered by a quad-core processor, the device offers smooth emulation of a wide range of classic systems, including the NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, and PlayStation 1. It can also handle many PSP titles (but can struggle a bit with heavier ones like God of War), making it a versatile option for gaming.
The horizontal layout of the controls, including a responsive D-pad, well-placed buttons, and analog sticks, closely mirrors the PSP, providing a familiar feel. Additionally, the Smart Pro runs on a Linux-based operating system that accommodates multiple emulators. You also have some great custom firmware options to choose from to streamline the software experience a bit.
Anbernic RG40XX H
In many ways, the Anbernic RG40XX H could be considered an update to the RG35XX H. It sports a similar horizontal form factor and internal hardware, but this new handheld features a bigger 4-inch LCD screen that makes games pop. A half-inch increase may not sound like much, but it amounts to 30% more screen area.
Despite the increased screen size, the RG40XX H is still quite compact. It’s actually not much larger than the RG35XX H due to the slimmer bezels surrounding the display. Its rounded edges also give it a very comfortable PSP-like feel in the hand, unlike many retro handhelds, which are pretty blocky.
Best compact retro gaming handhelds
GKD Pixel 2
The GKD Pixel 2 is a super-compact handheld for retro gamers who want a device they can toss into their pocket. Despite its size, the Pixel 2 is surprisingly comfortable and has a tough metal shell so you don’t have to worry about durability. It has a recessed 2.4-inch full color display that’s perfect for playing classic games on the go. A capable quad-core RK3326s processor ensures smooth emulation of retro gaming libraries up to the PlayStation 1.
The GKD Pixel 2’s small frame still manages to fit a responsive D-pad, four face buttons, and four shoulder buttons. With its blend of portability and ruggedness, the Pixel 2 is a great choice for those looking to enjoy retro games on a small, pocketable device. Like the original GKD Pixel, the Pixel 2 is going to be a limited run. Grab one now before they’re gone!
Anbernic RG28XX
The Anbernic RG28XX is a compact and surprisingly powerful gaming handheld that punches well above its weight. With a 2.8-inch IPS display, it’s the perfect size to slip into your pocket, so you’re never without your retro game library. The device is powered by an H700 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor, which can handle up to PS1 and beyond. Although the controls aren’t the best for N64 and Dreamcast, this little guy can handle many titles from those systems.
The RG28XX runs on a user-friendly Linux-based OS, and you’ve got a few options for custom firmware if you want to spruce up the UI a bit. Additionally, it includes two microSD card slots. This lets you keep your ROMs on a separate SD card from your OS (that’s completely optional, though).
Miyoo A30
The A30 is Miyoo’s take on a pocket-sized horizontal gaming handheld. Like the RG28XX or the original Miyoo Mini, it features a 2.8-inch IPS display. Despite its small size, the Miyoo A30 packs a separate GPU that allows it to handle 3D systems better. Temper your expectations with anything more powerful than PS1 games, though. Still, it can handle a few less-demanding N64 and Dreamcast games, and the analog stick comes in handy here.
Even if you don’t care for the stick, the larger controls on the A30 are more comfortable than the RG28XX. You get a classic D-pad, a Switch-style joystick, four face buttons, and four shoulder buttons. Sadly, Onion OS isn’t currently available for the Miyoo A30. Still, some users have already put together a few custom UIs that clean up the stock firmware a lot. Check out Spruce or MinUI for a much better firmware experience.
Retro gaming handhelds FAQ
Which gaming handheld should I buy?
To find the best gaming handheld for you, determine how much you’re willing to spend and what you plan to do with it. Specifically, what games do you want to play? If you want to enjoy GameCube or PS2, you won’t do it with a $50 handheld like the Miyoo Mini. If your retro library consists of PS1 and earlier games, however, any good $40-60 device should do the job. (Our current favorite in this category is the TrimUI Brick, if you were wondering.)
Also, do you want something you can carry in your pocket? Will you take your handheld on the go or mostly play it at home? How big of a screen do you want? Do you need an analog stick (or two) to enjoy your favorite games? Consider all these factors carefully. Then, narrow down your choices to find the right handheld for your gaming preferences and habits.
What games can I play on a retro handheld?
The games you can play on your retro handheld depend on the device. Typically, devices in the $40-60 range are ideal for games up to (and including) the PlayStation 1 library. That means NES/SNES, Genesis, GameBoy, GameBoy Advance, PS1, and similar systems from those generations. Many can even handle limited Dreamcast and N64 emulation, provided you temper your expectations. These gaming handhelds can typically run arcade games, too. However, some are better than others for this due to screen size and aspect ratio.
If you want something that can emulate sixth-gen consoles like GameCube or PS2, expect to spend $150 to $200 on something like the Anbernic RG556 or Retroid Pocket 4. (We didn’t include any of these higher-end handhelds here, although we may in future updates.) Right now, those sixth-generation consoles are the upper limit for what the readily available gaming handhelds can play.
What are the best retro gaming handheld brands?
The best gaming handheld brands include Miyoo, Anbernic, Powkiddy, and Retroid. Devices from these makers are typically reliable, and as popular brands, they have large communities surrounding them. That gives you more options for custom firmware, themes, accessories, etc. Brands like Trimui and GKD also make some great handhelds, even if they offer a smaller range of devices.
When and where are the best gaming handheld deals?
You’ll almost always find the best gaming handheld deals on AliExpress. Stick to trusted sellers with good feedback and a high number of sales (official brand stores are usually safe). However, these deals ship from China, which can take a couple of weeks and makes returns tricky. If you want your handheld faster and want some extra purchase protection, you can find many of these devices on Amazon. You’ll pay a higher price, but get better post-purchase support, faster shipping, and easier returns if you get a lemon.
As far as when to find the best gaming handheld deals, it depends. AliExpress runs frequent sales every couple of months or so. If you’re willing to wait, consider bookmarking an item you want or adding it to your cart, then check back regularly to catch it on sale. Don’t be afraid to search Google for AliExpress coupon codes, too!
