Best Retro Handhelds (2026): Anbernic, Miyoo Mini & Retroid

2026-05-25 · 9 min read · By Justlikegames Editorial

The best retro emulation handhelds in 2026 — Anbernic, Miyoo Mini, Retroid Pocket and Analogue Pocket ranked for Game Boy, SNES, PS1 and beyond.

Retro emulation handhelds are having a golden era. Where there used to be only the Game Boy Advance and the PSP, in 2026 you have 30+ devices spanning $40 to $400 — and the cheap ones are genuinely great. Here are the six we recommend.

1. Best Value: Miyoo Mini Plus

The cult favorite. $80, runs OnionOS (gorgeous custom firmware), 3.5" screen with a perfect 4:3 aspect ratio for SNES / Genesis / Game Boy. The single best "first emulation handheld" — pre-loaded SD card, charge it, play instantly. Battery lasts 8+ hours.

2. Best Mid-Range: Anbernic RG35XX H

H stands for horizontal — landscape-style like a Game Boy Advance. Dual analog sticks unlock N64 and PSP emulation in addition to everything the Miyoo does. Linux-based, runs Garlic OS / Knulli for the polished experience.

3. Best Premium Anbernic: RG Slide

Slider form factor (like the PSP Go) with a 4.7" touchscreen, Android. Plays everything up through Dreamcast and PSP, decent N64. Build quality is the best Anbernic has shipped.

4. Best AMOLED Pick: Retroid Flip 2

AMOLED screens make retro games pop. The Flip 2 is a clamshell design (DS / 3DS style) with a 5.5" 1080p AMOLED and Snapdragon 865. Plays everything from GameCube to PS2 to Dreamcast. This is the "I want one device for everything" pick.

5. Best Pocketable: Retroid Pocket Classic

3.92" OLED touchscreen, Android, fits in any jacket pocket. The lightest premium-feeling retro handheld on the market. Pairs perfectly with Bluetooth headphones and an 8BitDo controller for couch play.

6. Best Hardware-Accurate: Analogue Pocket

The Analogue Pocket isn't an emulator — it's FPGA hardware that recreates Game Boy / GBA / Game Gear / Lynx / Neo Geo Pocket at the chip level. Plays original cartridges (no ROMs needed) plus jailbroken FPGA cores for SNES / Genesis. The collector pick.

How to choose

- **Want to spend under $100?** Miyoo Mini Plus, every time. - **Want N64 / PSP / Dreamcast?** Anbernic RG35XX H or RG Slide. - **Want PS2 / GameCube?** Retroid Flip 2 (Android-based, more horsepower). - **Want original cartridges & FPGA-accurate hardware?** Analogue Pocket. - **Want it for kids?** Miyoo Mini Plus — cheap, no Wi-Fi distractions, simple buttons.