You don’t need to spend $450 to replay Chrono Trigger.
The retro handheld market has quietly exploded over the past few years. For $55 to $80, you can buy a dedicated device from China that plays virtually everything from the NES through the PS1 era, and does it well. These aren’t cheap toys. The best ones have gorgeous IPS screens, 5 to 7-hour battery lives, and custom firmware that runs circles around what came in the box.
The catch is that the market is overwhelming. Model numbers that sound like Wi-Fi passwords (RG35XX H? RG CubeXX?). Firmware acronyms everywhere (muOS, OnionOS, KNULLI). Dozens of devices that look identical but perform very differently.
This guide cuts through it. I’ll tell you what to buy in the first 200 words, then explain why.
The 30-Second Answer
Best overall: Miyoo Mini Plus (~$55), Plays NES through PS1 flawlessly, genuinely pocketable, excellent OnionOS software.
Best if you want analog sticks: Anbernic RG35XX H (~$70), Dual sticks, HDMI out, Wi-Fi, same great emulation.
Best for PSP games: TrimUI Smart Pro S (~$65), The fastest processor in this price range, best PS2/N64/PSP performance under $100.
Most unique: Anbernic RG CubeXX (~$67), Square screen, perfect for Game Boy games, the most visually interesting device in the category.
Now the explanations.
What Are These Things, Exactly?
Retro handhelds are small handheld devices designed specifically to run emulators, software that mimics old game consoles. You load your own game files (ROMs) onto a microSD card, and the device runs them as if it were the original hardware.
The hardware is powerful enough to handle anything from Atari through PS1 easily. N64 and PS2 emulation is workable on the better devices. Anything beyond PS2 (Xbox, Wii, PS3) requires spending $150+ and a different category of device entirely.
These are not iPhones with game controls duct-taped on. They’re purpose-built devices with physical buttons, D-pads, and shoulder triggers. They feel good to hold.
The Big Three Brands
Anbernic, Market leader at 32.7% market share. Releases new models constantly (too many, honestly). Build quality is good and improving. Software out of the box is mediocre, but the community custom firmware support is excellent. Most community guides, videos, and resources exist for Anbernic devices. Best choice for people who want maximum community support.
Miyoo, Fewer models, more focused lineup. The Miyoo Mini Plus is the most universally loved device in the under-$100 category. OnionOS, developed by the community specifically for Miyoo devices, is the best retro handheld custom firmware available. If you know you mainly want NES/SNES/GBA/PS1, Miyoo is your brand.
Powkiddy, Third-largest brand but genuinely the weakest of the three in 2026. Most devices lack Wi-Fi, have a smaller custom firmware community, and deliver less value per dollar than comparable Anbernic and Miyoo options. Fine if you find one on a deep sale. Not the first recommendation.
Device Recommendations
Miyoo Mini Plus, ~$55
The one that keeps showing up at the top of every community list for good reason.
3.5″ IPS screen, pocketable (fits in jeans), plays everything from NES through PS1 without issues. The Game Boy, SNES, and Sega Genesis libraries are completely native-feeling. PS1 games run at full speed with accurate sound.
The secret weapon is OnionOS, community firmware that boots in seconds, has a beautiful game-switching interface, scrapes box art automatically, and includes a blue light filter. Setup takes about 15 minutes from unboxing.
What it can’t do: No dual analog sticks (single thumbstick only), no HDMI out. N64 runs about 70% of games at playable speed. Skip this if analog sticks matter to you.
Best for: Someone who wants to replay the NES/SNES/GBA/PS1 era in the most streamlined, beautiful package available.
Anbernic RG35XX H, ~$65-73
The H in the name stands for horizontal (PSP-style form factor). This is the device to buy if you need dual analog sticks, PS1 games that used two sticks (Ape Escape, Crash Bandicoot 3, Spyro) play properly. HDMI out means you can connect it to a TV. Wi-Fi enables scraping box art and online features.
Same IPS screen quality as the Miyoo Mini Plus. Runs muOS or KNULLI as custom firmware, both excellent, though OnionOS (Miyoo-exclusive) is still the gold standard. Battery is 5 to 7 hours.
Emulation is virtually identical to the Miyoo for the systems both handle well (NES through PS1). N64 hits about 80% game compatibility.
Best for: Anyone who needs dual analog sticks, HDMI out, or plans to play more PS1 games that required the DualShock.
Anbernic RG CubeXX, ~$67
The most interesting device on this list and the one most people overlook.
Square screen at 720×720 resolution. This sounds weird until you realize that Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games have native square-ish aspect ratios, on this screen, they display pixel-perfect without black bars. Every GB/GBC/GBA game you loved looks exactly as it should.
HDMI out, Wi-Fi, dual analog sticks, solid build quality. Runs muOS well. The Sega-style D-pad placement (lower left instead of upper left) divides opinions, some people love it, some hate it.
Best for: Anyone who primarily wants to play Game Boy or Game Boy Advance games, or anyone who wants the most visually distinctive device in the category.
TrimUI Smart Pro S, ~$60-70
The least well-known recommendation on this list, but it earns its spot because of one thing: its Allwinner A523 processor is noticeably faster than the H700 chip in most Anbernic devices, and that difference shows up in exactly the systems where the others struggle.
PSP emulation: roughly 80 to 85% game compatibility (compared to ~60% on H700 devices). N64 and Dreamcast: stronger performance. PS1: flawless like everything else.
If you specifically want to play PSP games, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, God of War: Chains of Olympus, Crisis Core, Persona 3 Portable, the TrimUI Smart Pro S is the clear pick under $100.
5000mAh battery, Wi-Fi 5G, Bluetooth 5.4, 4.96″ IPS screen at 1280×720.
Best for: PSP fans or anyone pushing the N64/Dreamcast/early PS2 era.
What These Devices Can Actually Play
Here’s the honest system-by-system breakdown:
| System | Performance on Budget Handhelds |
|---|---|
| NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBC | Perfect on all devices |
| Sega Genesis / Master System | Perfect on all devices |
| Game Boy Advance | Perfect on all devices |
| PS1 | Perfect on all recommended devices |
| N64 | ~80% on Anbernic H700; ~90% on TrimUI A523 |
| Dreamcast | ~70% on H700; ~80% on A523 |
| PSP | ~60% on H700; ~80-85% on A523 |
| PS2, GameCube | Not possible at this price range |
| 3DS, DS | Limited; better on $150+ devices |
The sweet spot for these devices is NES through PS1, that’s what they’re built for and what they do perfectly.
Custom Firmware: It’s Easier Than You Think
Every device above ships with mediocre factory software. Custom firmware replaces it with something much better. This sounds scary if you’ve never done it. Here’s what it actually involves:
- Download the firmware file from the project’s website
- Flash it to a microSD card using Balena Etcher (free, takes 5 minutes)
- Insert the card into your device
- Turn it on
That’s it. No Linux command line. No voided warranties. Just a better operating system.
muOS (for most Anbernic devices) and OnionOS (for Miyoo) both do this in 10 to 20 minutes and transform the experience. Automatic game detection, box art scraping, retroachievements support, better battery management.
One important warning: always replace the included microSD card with a brand-name card (Samsung, SanDisk, Lexar). The stock cards in cheap retro handhelds fail at a much higher rate. Spend $10 on a quality 64GB card and save yourself frustration.
The ROM Question
Emulators are 100% legal. This was established in US courts in Sony v. Connectix (2000) and Sega v. Accolade (1992). The emulators themselves, the software, are legal to download and use.
ROMs are where it gets complicated. Downloading a ROM of a game you don’t physically own is technically copyright infringement under US law, regardless of how old the game is. Companies like Nintendo are aggressive about enforcing this for modern emulators (Yuzu was shut down in 2024, Ryujinx in 2025) but have never pursued individual users for personal retro emulation of classic games.
The practical reality: most people in this hobby use ROMs. I’m not going to pretend otherwise or tell you what to do. What I will say is that knowing the actual legal landscape is more useful than vague disclaimers.
The Under-$100 Retro Handheld Market Is Growing Fast
Search interest in retro handhelds jumped 400% year-over-year as of early 2026, hitting over 90,000 monthly searches. The global retro gaming market is projected at $4.18 billion in 2026. There’s a reason: TAG’s audience, adults who grew up with these games in the ’90s and early 2000s, is exactly who these devices are made for.
A $65 Anbernic playing Final Fantasy VII on a train commute is not a lesser experience than a $449 Switch 2 doing the same. For what it does, it does it at a fraction of the price.
More from the handheld cluster:
Which games are you hoping to replay? Drop them in the comments, I’ll tell you which device handles them best.
About the Author: Fred is one half of Two Average Gamers, a community-focused gaming site dedicated to helping regular folks enjoy gaming without the toxicity. He has strong opinions about the Miyoo Mini Plus’s screen quality for a $55 device.
More from the Handheld Gaming Guide
This article is part of our Handheld Buyer’s Guide, everything you need to know about portable gaming in 2026.
- Steam Deck Optimization Guide
- Best Retro Handhelds Under $100
- Switch 2: Essential Accessories and Setup Guide
- 20 Must-Play Games on Steam Deck
- Best Games for Your Commute
Also from TAG: The Busy Gamer’s Survival Guide | The Ultimate Couch Co-Op Guide
