Top 10 Retro Handhelds to Buy This Holiday Season (2026)
A retro handheld is one of the easiest gadget gifts to get right and one of the easiest to get wrong. Prices run from about $40 to well over $300, and the right pick depends on which games the person actually plays. Here are ten that make good gifts this year, ranked, with a clear "best for" on each.
Short on time? The Anbernic RG Cube is the best all-rounder, the RG28XX is the cheap stocking stuffer, and the AYN Odin 2 is the splurge for PS2 and GameCube fans.
The 10 at a glance
| Handheld | Price | Screen | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anbernic RG Cube | Around $170 | 3.95" square (1:1) IPS, 720×720 | One device that covers everything from Game Boy to PS2 |
| AYANEO Pocket Air Mini | From about $110 | 4.2" 4:3 display | Android flexibility and premium build on a budget |
| TRIMUI Brick | Around $70 | 3.2" 4:3 IPS, 1024×768 | A sleek, pocket-sized handheld that just works |
| Anbernic RG35XXSP | Around $65 | 3.5" IPS, 640×480 | Game Boy Advance SP nostalgia |
| AYN Odin 2 | Roughly $300–$460, depending on RAM and storage | 6" 1080p IPS | Someone who wants to play PS2 and GameCube without compromise |
| Analogue Pocket | Around $220–$240 | 3.5" LCD, 615 PPI | Game Boy collectors who want to use their real cartridges |
| MagicX Zero 40 | Around $76–$87 | 4" vertical IPS, 800×480 | DS fans and arcade shmup players |
| Anbernic RG477M | Around $240–$290 | 4.7" LTPS, 120Hz | A premium-feeling Android handheld with strong PS2 performance |
| Evercade Super Pocket | Around $60–$70 | 2.8" IPS | Kids, gamers who hate tinkering and anyone who likes physical cartridges |
| Anbernic RG28XX | Often under $40 | 2.83" IPS, 480p | A tiny, cheap handheld that fits in any pocket |
Ranked: the top 10
Anbernic RG CubeBest Overall
The most versatile pick on the list. The square screen sounds like a gimmick, but it makes DS games and arcade shooters genuinely playable while still handling 8- and 16-bit classics cleanly. Reviewers at GamesRadar named it their best retro handheld overall.
- Screen: 3.95" square (1:1) IPS, 720×720
- Chip / RAM: Unisoc T820 / 8GB
- Battery: 5,200mAh
- OS: Android 13
- Plays well: Up to PS2 and Dreamcast with upscaling (some stutter), plus DS and 3DS
- Square screen suits Game Boy, arcade and DS games without stretching
- Hall-effect sticks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and video out
- Comfortable rear grips and a big battery
- Square screen is not ideal for widescreen games
- Not a vertical Game Boy shape
Best for: One device that covers everything from Game Boy to PS2
Check price on Amazon →
AYANEO Pocket Air MiniBest Value Android
Retro Dodo ranks it first in its list, largely on price-to-quality. It is the cheapest way here to get an Android handheld with proper sticks and triggers. If screen ghosting bothers you, check the return policy and test it early.
- Screen: 4.2" 4:3 display
- OS: Android 11 (AYASpace front-end)
- Controls: Hall joysticks and analog triggers
- Plays well: Up to Dreamcast upscaled; only a handful of PS2 and GameCube games
- Build quality that feels like a more expensive device
- 4:3 screen fits retro games well
- Hall sticks and analog triggers at this price
- Thick around the grips
- Limited PS2 and GameCube performance
- One reviewer reported visible screen ghosting
Best for: Android flexibility and premium build on a budget
Check price on Amazon →
TRIMUI BrickBest Pocket Carry
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
- Sharp, bright screen for its size
- Swappable shoulder buttons in the box
- Easy stock OS and good community support
- 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 RG35XXSPBest Clamshell
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
- Folds shut to protect the screen
- Fits a pocket neatly
- Far nicer backlit screen than an original GBA SP
- 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 →AYN Odin 2Best Power
GamesRadar names it the best handheld for PS2, and Retro Dodo calls it close to flawless. It is the splurge pick, and the right one if the person you are shopping for already owns a big retro library.
- Screen: 6" 1080p IPS
- Chip / RAM: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 / up to 16GB
- Battery: 8,000mAh
- OS: Android
- Plays well: PS2, GameCube, PSP and everything older; Android games and cloud streaming
- Handles PS2 and GameCube with smooth frame rates
- Big, sharp 1080p screen
- Comfortable shape for long sessions
- Expensive and overkill if you only play 8- and 16-bit games
- Face buttons are on the small side
Best for: Someone who wants to play PS2 and GameCube without compromise
Check price on Amazon →Analogue PocketBest for Real Cartridges
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
- Superb build quality and a stunning screen
- Plays real cartridges with high accuracy
- Large community of extra cores
- 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 →MagicX Zero 40Best for DS & Arcade
A niche pick that does its niche well. GamesRadar tested it for a month and liked it for DS games and arcade shooters, with the caveat that a used DS can cost less.
- Screen: 4" vertical IPS, 800×480
- Chip / RAM: Allwinner A133P / 2GB
- Battery: 4,300mAh
- OS: Android 10
- Plays well: Nintendo DS and vertical arcade shooters
- Tall screen suits DS and vertical shooters
- Hall-effect stick and save states
- Surprisingly comfortable
- Not ideal for every console's aspect ratio
- Buttons can feel crunchy
Best for: DS fans and arcade shmup players
Check price on Amazon →Anbernic RG477MBest Metal Build
The hardware is excellent and the software is the weak spot, according to Retro Dodo. Early coverage calls it the strongest Anbernic Android device so far.
- Screen: 4.7" LTPS, 120Hz
- Chip / RAM: Dimensity 8300 / 12GB
- Weight: About 350g
- OS: Android
- Plays well: PS2 and GameCube at 2–3x resolution
- Metal shell and gorgeous display
- Comfortable sticks and face buttons
- Great PS2 and GameCube performance
- Clunky launcher and pre-installed AI apps
- Loud fan and clicky shoulder buttons
Best for: A premium-feeling Android handheld with strong PS2 performance
Check price on Amazon →Evercade Super PocketBest No-Setup Gift
The least fussy gift on this list. It is not a ROM machine, and that is the point: the games are included and the cartridge library keeps growing.
- Screen: 2.8" IPS
- Games: Pre-installed set (Capcom or Taito editions) plus Evercade cartridges
- Extras: 3.5mm audio jack, USB-C charging
- Pick up and play, with nothing to set up
- Officially licensed games
- Works with the Evercade cartridge library
- You cannot add your own game files
- D-pad is not to everyone's taste
Best for: Kids, gamers who hate tinkering and anyone who likes physical cartridges
Check price on Amazon →Anbernic RG28XXBest Stocking Stuffer
A fun little device for the price. GamesRadar picked it as the best budget retro handheld and notes that it handles PS1 better than you would expect.
- Screen: 2.83" IPS, 480p
- Battery: 3,100mAh
- Weight: About 125g
- Extras: Mini HDMI out, USB-C controller support, microSD up to 512GB
- Plays well: 8- and 16-bit systems and PS1; some Dreamcast
- Truly pocketable, Game Boy Micro style
- Good battery life
- HDMI out for the TV
- Small and a bit cramped
- Shoulder buttons rattle
- No PS2
Best for: A tiny, cheap handheld that fits in any pocket
Check price on Amazon →Before you buy: gift-giving tips
- Bring your own games. Most emulation handhelds ship without games. Players use backups of games they own. The Evercade Super Pocket and the Analogue Pocket are the exceptions, since they use licensed built-in games or real cartridges.
- Add a microSD card. Most of these use one for storage, and it is the one accessory that makes the gift usable on day one. Browse microSD cards on Amazon or read our microSD card guide.
- Check who sells it. Buy from the brand's own storefront or a seller with solid reviews. Rebranded clones with big markups are common in this category.
- Linux or Android? Linux handhelds (TRIMUI Brick, RG35XXSP, RG28XX) are simple and fast to set up. Android handhelds (RG Cube, Odin 2, RG477M) need more setup but run PS2, GameCube and mobile games.
Quick answers
What is the best retro handheld for a beginner?
The TRIMUI Brick or the RG35XXSP. Both run simple Linux software and play Game Boy through PS1 without fuss. For zero setup at all, the Evercade Super Pocket comes with its games built in.
Which handheld plays PS2 games?
The AYN Odin 2 and Anbernic RG477M are the strongest picks here. The RG Cube can run many PS2 games with some stutter.
What is the best retro handheld under $100?
The TRIMUI Brick for pocketability, the RG35XXSP for a clamshell, and the MagicX Zero 40 for DS games. Our buying guide by price goes deeper.
Are prices on this page current?
They are rough figures reported by reviewers in November 2026. Amazon prices change often, so use the button on each pick for the live price.
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.
- Retro Catalog: best budget handhelds
- Retro Handhelds reviews
- GamesRadar: best retro handheld
- Retro Dodo: best retro handhelds
- Joey's Retro Handhelds: best for every price point