Want to play classic games on the couch, the train, or during lunch? Modern retro handhelds make it painless. No cartridges, no soldering—just a pocketable system with a clean menu, save states, and a giant library ready to go. Below are the handhelds I recommend to beginners and casual modders based on ease of setup, community support, and day-to-day comfort.
1) Anbernic RG35XX (Best Entry-Level Pick)
- Why it’s great: Cheap, small, and reliable with a bright screen and great community guides.
- Good for: NES, SNES, GB/GBC/GBA, Genesis—pick-up-and-play classics.
- Beginner vibe: Simple menus, save states, and tons of starter tutorials.
See RG35XX options on Amazon →
2) Retroid Pocket Flip (Best Clamshell for Travel)
- Why it’s great: Folds shut to protect the screen, comfy controls, and solid performance for 8/16-bit and beyond.
- Good for: Portable SNES/PS1-era gaming with an easy travel footprint.
- Beginner vibe: Android-based, so you can add apps later without deep tinkering.
See Retroid Flip listings on Amazon →
3) Miyoo Mini Plus (Pocketable & Affordable)
- Why it’s great: Feather-light, friendly price, and a vibrant community with beginner-friendly setup guides.
- Good for: Game Boy-through-SNES eras; perfect “always in the bag” handheld.
- Beginner vibe: Quick to learn, fast boot, fun for short sessions.
See Miyoo Mini Plus on Amazon →
4) Anbernic RG405M (Premium Build, Easy Daily Driver)
- Why it’s great: Metal shell, crisp screen, and solid sticks/buttons—feels like a premium gadget.
- Good for: 8/16-bit up through PS1 comfortably; great “one device” daily driver.
- Beginner vibe: Smooth setup, good battery life, and lots of ready-made configs.
See RG405M listings on Amazon →
5) PowKiddy RGB20S (Budget Horizontal with Big D-Pad)
- Why it’s great: Super affordable with a comfy D-pad for 2D games; great starter handheld.
- Good for: NES/SNES/Genesis/GB/GBA staples; weekend nostalgia machine.
- Beginner vibe: Friendly menus, lots of pre-made themes/skins, and helpful community packs.
See RGB20S options on Amazon →
Buying Tips (Keep It Simple)
- Form factor: Vertical (Game Boy-style) is great for quick hits; horizontal feels better for longer sessions.
- Screen: IPS with decent brightness helps outdoors and cuts eye strain.
- Controls: A good D-pad is everything for 8/16-bit; sticks matter more if you’ll dabble past PS1.
- Storage: Two microSD slots are handy—one for OS, one for your library/backups.
- Community: Pick devices with lots of guides/themes; it makes setup painless.
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Connecting Retro Consoles to Modern TVs