The 7 Best Retro Handhelds for 2026
From budget-friendly all-rounders to powerhouse performers. Our picks for different needs, use cases, and budgets.
Find Your Next Handheld
There are a lot of retro handhelds out there now. We research, test and analyze to help you get the most out of whatever ends up in your hands.
Latest guides
- What Is a Handheld Retro Gaming Device? A Buyer’s Guide
If someone told you there’s a small handheld gadget, not much bigger than a deck of cards, that plays Turtles in Time, Streets of Rage, Crash Bandicoot, and Mario … Read more - Best Budget Retro Handhelds Under $70: Top Picks for 2026
Around $70 is one of the most compelling price points in retro handheld gaming right now. While most handhelds below $50 are confined to simple sub-PS1 vertical or horizontal … Read more - Retroid Pocket Duo Vs. AYN Thor: What We Know so Far
Note: This article will be updated as more information about the upcoming Retroid Pocket Duo is released. The handheld community has been buzzing in recent weeks. After months of … Read more - Miyoo Mini+ Vs. TrimUI Brick: Which Budget Handheld to Actually Buy?When choosing a budget vertical handheld under $100, the Miyoo Mini+ vs. TrimUI Brick is the definitive matchup. While both deliver rock-solid performance across 8-bit, 16-bit, and PlayStation 1 … Read more
- TrimUI Brick Comparison: Brick vs. Hammer vs. Pro vs. Pro UUnderstanding the TrimUI Brick Series The Brick series is TrimUI’s line of vertical handhelds. The first iteration of the device, simply called the TrimUI Brick, was well received by … Read more
Handheld News
- Retroid Pocket Duo Vs. AYN Thor: What We Know so FarNote: This article will be updated as more information about the upcoming Retroid Pocket Duo is released. The handheld community has been buzzing in recent weeks. After months of … Read more
- (US) Deal Alert: Miyoo Mini+ and Miyoo Flip V2 under $50For HandheldRanks American readers we’ve just found a Labor day deal too good to pass on! The legendary Miyoo Mini+ and Miyoo Mini Flip V2 for under both under … Read more
- Retroid announces first dual screen handheld: Retroid Pocket DuoThe Retroid Pocket Duo is coming. Ever since dual screen handhelds started taking off last year in 2025 people have been eagerly awaiting a dual screen Retroid device. After … Read more
- The AYN Thor gets a Price Hike and Storage Downgrade: Is it still worth it?Due to the ongoing “RAMpocalypse”, an AI driven supply chain crunch gripping the tech world in 2026, the AYN Thor gets its third price hike this year, as well … Read more
- Anbernic RG Rotate: Full Specs, Live Price, and Is It Worth Buying?Update: This article was originally published before the official announcement of the RG Rotate. It has since been updated to reflect the latest information. The Anbernic RG Rotate is … Read more
