A retro handheld is judged on what it can emulate and how much you pay for it. We scored seven of the best, all real and available in 2026. Our pick is the Miyoo Mini Plus, with an SR Score of 90, the best pocketable value option. The Anbernic RG35XX H (88) is the runner-up for screen and battery. For PS2 and GameCube, the Retroid Pocket 5 is the pick.
The ranking
| Rank | Device | Best for | Price | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miyoo Mini Plus | Pocket value | ~$70 | 90 |
| 2 | Anbernic RG35XX H | Screen + battery | ~$80 | 88 |
| 3 | Retroid Pocket 5 | PS2 / GameCube | ~$219 | 91 |
| 4 | Anbernic RG40XX H | Largest budget screen | ~$85 | 86 |
| 5 | Anbernic RG35XX SP | Clamshell travel | ~$85 | 85 |
| 6 | AYN Odin 2 | High-end power | ~$299+ | 89 |
| 7 | Anbernic RG35XX Pro | Refined budget pick | ~$75 | 84 |
Methodology
The Gear Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria:
- Emulation performance (25) — what eras it runs well.
- Value for money (30) — performance per dollar.
- Screen & build (20) — display and chassis quality.
- Battery & ergonomics (15) — runtime and comfort.
- Reputation & reviews (10) — community consensus.
Value leads because this is a budget-driven category. That is why the cheap Miyoo edges out far more powerful (and pricier) devices.
Miyoo Mini Plus
A pocketable handheld, ~$70, ideal for NES, SNES, Genesis, and GBA on the go. A sharp screen and a beloved community OS for the price.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Emulation performance | 19/25 |
| Value for money | 29/30 |
| Screen & build | 17/20 |
| Battery & ergonomics | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: it tops out around late-PS1; do not expect PS2.
Anbernic RG35XX H
Anbernic’s horizontal handheld, ~$80, with a larger screen and longer battery than the Miyoo, good through PS1 and lighter PSP.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Emulation performance | 20/25 |
| Value for money | 27/30 |
| Screen & build | 18/20 |
| Battery & ergonomics | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: it is bigger and less pocket-friendly than the Miyoo.
Retroid Pocket 5
Retroid’s Android handheld, ~$219, built on a Snapdragon 865 with a gorgeous AMOLED screen. Handles most PS2 and GameCube games, often upscaled.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Emulation performance | 24/25 |
| Value for money | 23/30 |
| Screen & build | 19/20 |
| Battery & ergonomics | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: Android setup is fiddlier than the plug-and-play Linux devices.
Anbernic RG40XX H
Anbernic’s budget handheld, ~$85, with the largest screen in its price range, handling N64 and Dreamcast reasonably well.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Emulation performance | 21/25 |
| Value for money | 26/30 |
| Screen & build | 18/20 |
| Battery & ergonomics | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: the bigger screen makes it less pocketable.
Anbernic RG35XX SP
Anbernic’s clamshell handheld, ~$85, that folds shut to protect the screen, with excellent travel battery life. A Game Boy Advance SP homage.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Emulation performance | 19/25 |
| Value for money | 25/30 |
| Screen & build | 18/20 |
| Battery & ergonomics | 14/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 8/10 |
Trade-off: the clamshell hinge adds bulk and a small premium.
AYN Odin 2
AYN’s high-end Android handheld, ~$299 and up, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and an 8,000mAh battery for 8-12 hours. The most powerful pick here.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Emulation performance | 25/25 |
| Value for money | 20/30 |
| Screen & build | 19/20 |
| Battery & ergonomics | 15/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 9/10 |
Trade-off: at this price it competes with full handheld gaming PCs.
Anbernic RG35XX Pro
Anbernic’s refined budget handheld, ~$75, a vertical device with a quality screen and solid build for 8- and 16-bit eras.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Emulation performance | 19/25 |
| Value for money | 26/30 |
| Screen & build | 17/20 |
| Battery & ergonomics | 13/15 |
| Reputation & reviews | 7/10 |
Trade-off: it overlaps heavily with the Miyoo and RG35XX H.
How to choose
For cheap, pocketable retro gaming up to PS1, the Miyoo Mini Plus. For a bigger screen and battery at a similar price, the RG35XX H or RG40XX H. The RG35XX SP is the clamshell travel pick. For PS2 and GameCube, step up to the Retroid Pocket 5, or the AYN Odin 2 if money is no object. Re-weight toward raw power and the Retroid Pocket 5 or Odin 2 win; weight value, as we do, and the Miyoo Mini Plus takes it.
Verification
- Miyoo Mini Plus — pricing verified via retrohandhelds.gg / handheldrank.com.
- Anbernic RG35XX H — pricing verified on anbernic.com.
- Retroid Pocket 5 — specs and pricing verified on goretroid.com / retrocatalog.com.
- Anbernic RG40XX H — pricing verified on anbernic.com.
- Anbernic RG35XX SP — pricing verified on anbernic.com.
- AYN Odin 2 — specs and pricing verified on ayn.hk.
- Anbernic RG35XX Pro — pricing verified on anbernic.com / pocketretrogaming.com.
Related rankings
- Best Capture Cards 2026: 6 Cards Scored
- Best Game Controllers 2026: 7 Pads Scored
- Best Gaming Chairs 2026: 6 Chairs Scored
- Best Gaming Consoles 2026: 6 Systems Scored
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best retro handheld in 2026?
- For pure value and portability, the Miyoo Mini Plus at around $70 is the best pick for NES, SNES, Genesis, and Game Boy Advance gaming. For more power, the Retroid Pocket 5 handles PS2 and GameCube.
- What is the best cheap retro handheld?
- The Miyoo Mini Plus (~$70) and the Anbernic RG35XX H (~$73-90) are the best budget picks, both excellent for 8- and 16-bit eras.
- What retro handheld plays PS2 and GameCube?
- The Retroid Pocket 5, built around a Snapdragon 865 with an AMOLED screen, handles most PS2 and GameCube games, often at boosted resolution. The AYN Odin 2 is the higher-end option.
- Are these legal?
- The devices are legal. Emulation itself is legal, but you should only play games you own. Many ship without copyrighted ROMs, which you must supply yourself.