GAME BOY-STYLE HANDHELDS

Best Game Boy-Style Handhelds to Buy in 2026

Updated November 11, 2026

Want the Game Boy feel, with a backlit screen and a battery that lasts? Game Boy-style handhelds are small, light and affordable, and they play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, SNES and PS1 games. Here are the best Game Boy-style handhelds you can buy on Amazon, from a tiny pocket pick to one that plays your real cartridges.

Short on time? The TRIMUI Brick is the best pocket pick, the Anbernic RG35XX Plus is the budget classic, the RG35XXSP is the best GBA SP-style flip, and the Analogue Pocket is the one for real cartridges.

Game Boy-style handhelds at a glance

Handheld	Price	Screen	Best for
TRIMUI Brick	Around $70	3.2" 4:3 IPS, 1024×768	A sleek, pocket-sized handheld that just works
Anbernic RG35XX Plus	Around $50–$70	3.5" IPS, 640×480	The cheapest solid Game Boy-style handheld
Anbernic RG35XXSP	Around $65	3.5" IPS, 640×480	Game Boy Advance SP nostalgia
Analogue Pocket	Around $220–$240	3.5" LCD, 615 PPI	Game Boy collectors who want to use their real cartridges

What makes a handheld Game Boy-style?

These devices copy the classic shapes: a tall pocket-sized body with a D-pad and buttons below the screen (like the original Game Boy), or a fold-up flip design (like the Game Boy Advance SP). They are cheap, easy to carry, and built for 8-bit, 16-bit and handheld classics. They do not have analog sticks, so for N64, PSP or PS2 games look at our dual-joystick handhelds.

Ranked: the best Game Boy-style handhelds

TRIMUI BrickBest Pocket Carry

Around $70 · $50–$100 tier

A tiny, well-designed brick that plays the 8-, 16- and 32-bit libraries well. Retro Catalog named it best budget handheld overall, and Retro Dodo compares the feel to a deck of cards.

Screen: 3.2" 4:3 IPS, 1024×768
Battery: 3,000mAh
OS: Linux (simple stock OS, custom firmware available)
Plays well: Game Boy through PS1; some N64 and Dreamcast

Pros

Sharp, bright screen for its size
Swappable shoulder buttons in the box
Easy stock OS and good community support

Cons

No analog sticks (D-pad can mimic one)
Small screen and no video out
Can run warm in heavy use

Best for: A sleek, pocket-sized handheld that just works

Check price on Amazon →

Anbernic RG35XX PlusBudget Classic

Around $50–$70 · $50–$100 tier

Still a solid starter handheld, though Retro Dodo notes Anbernic has newer alternatives. Good if the budget is tight and you do not mind installing custom firmware.

Screen: 3.5" IPS, 640×480
Chip / RAM: Allwinner H700 / 1GB
OS: Linux (custom firmware recommended)
Plays well: Up to Dreamcast, DS, PS1, some PSP

Pros

Very affordable
Wi-Fi and a bigger battery than the original RG35XX
Pocket-friendly DMG-style shell

Cons

Basic stock OS (custom firmware helps)
Uncomfortable shoulder buttons

Best for: The cheapest solid Game Boy-style handheld

Check price on Amazon →

Anbernic RG35XXSPBest Clamshell

Around $65 · $50–$100 tier

If you want the fold-up shape, this is the easy buy. GamesRadar calls it the best clamshell, and it can play more than GBA games, including PS1 and some Dreamcast.

Screen: 3.5" IPS, 640×480
Chip / RAM: Allwinner H700 / 1GB
Battery: 3,300mAh
Extras: HDMI out, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microSD up to 512GB
Plays well: GBA, SNES, PS1, some Dreamcast

Pros

Folds shut to protect the screen
Fits a pocket neatly
Far nicer backlit screen than an original GBA SP

Cons

Flat D-pad and buttons, like the original SP
Gets warm under load
No PS2 support

Best for: Game Boy Advance SP nostalgia

Check price on Amazon →

Analogue PocketBest for Real Cartridges

Around $220–$240 · $200+ tier

Not an emulation handheld in the usual sense, which makes it a distinctive gift for a collector. Reviewers rate it among the finest handhelds for original carts. Stock is inconsistent, so check who is selling it on Amazon.

Screen: 3.5" LCD, 615 PPI
Tech: FPGA hardware recreation, not software emulation
Plays: Original Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges; adapters add Game Gear, Lynx and Neo Geo Pocket

Pros

Superb build quality and a stunning screen
Plays real cartridges with high accuracy
Large community of extra cores

Cons

High price
Often sold out, so verify the seller before buying

Best for: Game Boy collectors who want to use their real cartridges

Check price on Amazon →

How to choose

Original Game Boy shape: the TRIMUI Brick and the RG35XX Plus.
Game Boy Advance SP shape: the RG35XXSP. For a faster flip, see Miyoo Flip vs RG35XXSP.
Real cartridges: the Analogue Pocket plays original Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges.
Games and storage: most emulation handhelds ship without games, so you supply backups of games you own. Add a microSD card from our microSD card guide.

Quick answers

What is the best Game Boy-style handheld?

For most people, the TRIMUI Brick. It has a sharp screen, a simple operating system and a pocket-friendly size.

What is the best Game Boy-style handheld for real cartridges?

The Analogue Pocket. It plays original Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges.

What is the cheapest Game Boy-style handheld?

The Anbernic RG35XX Plus is one of the cheapest solid options, often around $50 to $70.

Is there a Game Boy Advance SP-style handheld?

Yes, the Anbernic RG35XXSP folds shut like the GBA SP.

More guides: Top 5 Flip Handhelds, Top 5 Vertical Handhelds, Top 5 Joystick-Free Handhelds, the handheld database and our microSD card guide.

Where this guide comes from

We have not hands-on tested every device here. These picks are based on published reviews and buying guides from the sites below, and we only include handhelds that we found listed on Amazon. Specs and prices are as reported by those reviewers in November 2026 and move around, so always check the current Amazon listing.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon on this page may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Details.