Retro Handhelds General Thread

[x_lodx_lod's icon]

QueThis console, which all Brazilians had to disagree with, was rich.

 

[JG5009]

I personally think that the AYN Thor could be the one that convinces many people to jump on the wagon of new handhelds since it replicates the 3DS experience that a lot of people wanted for years, now with a proper polished product without the many atrocious design errors of past attempts, while also having power to play PS2/Gamecube. Just another all in one package with plenty of possible interesting utility with the second screen

Post automatically merged: Nov 2, 2025

If I didn't already have a steam deck on my sight I would pick this definitely.

 

[mrrgrrgrr]

I was actually looking into an emulation handheld for a family member earlier this year. All they wanted was something that would play Gameboy and Gameboy Advance games, which is admittedly a pretty low bar to clear.

It was tough to find something at first, since I wanted to give them a handheld that was of decent build quality but not at too high of a cost. I'm glad that someone made that emulation handheld comparison spreadsheet, because it seems like there's a new emulation handheld released every week and they can be difficult to keep track of.

I ended up getting them an Anbernic RG35XXSP with muOS loaded on it and they love it. My relative isn't really knowledgeable about the emulation scene, so they were blown away at the fact that something looked like a GBA SP but could play more than just Gameboy and Gameboy Advance games. They especially loved the fact that the Gameboy emulator on it had a fast forward button. It definitely helps when grinding in Pokemon.

As for myself, I was always into Nintendo handhelds. I got everything from the Gameboy to the Switch. I haven't bought a Switch 2 yet, and I probably won't for a while. I'd say the DS is my favourite of the bunch. It definitely got the most amount of playtime out of any other handheld I've owned (yes, even more than my Switch).

I used to have a flashcart for the DS, which I loaded emulators on for the Gameboy, NES, SNES, and Genesis. That was the first time that I got a little taste of what it's like to have games from multiple consoles onto a small handheld that weren't weird ports. The compatibility of the SNES and Genesis emulators was very mixed, but that didn't matter to me too much. Just the fact that those games ran at all on my DS was amazing! I remember JEnesisDS and how exciting it was when the creator got the sound working. Remember when the creator of JEnesisDS was hired by SEGA to make that Sonic Classic Collection on the DS? Ah, those were the days...

 

[x_lodx_lod's icon]

Pessoalmente, acho que o AYN Thor pode ser o console que vai convencer muita gente a entrar na onda dos novos portáteis, já que ele replica a experiência do 3DS que muitos desejavam há anos, agora com um produto refinado e sem os inúmeros erros de design grotescos das tentativas anteriores, além de ter potência suficiente para rodar jogos de PS2/Gamecube. É mais um pacote completo com diversas possibilidades interessantes, principalmente com a segunda tela.
View attachment 124487

Post automatically merged: Nov 2, 2025

Se eu já não tivesse um Steam Deck na minha lista de desejos, com certeza escolheria este.

I wanted to buy this portable console to play DS.

 

[Eduardo2010]

snes, mega drive, ps1, psp and vita (+homebrew) - i see no reason to move in from the vita any tie soon...

 

[Deleted member 58254]

the didj had a game where you can be el tigre so it wins whatever competition we have here

 

[Max]

I got this thing, I already installed a CFW on it and I might buy one of those protective cases for it.
I'm really having a hard time trying to figure out how Portmaster works

 

[x_lodx_lod's icon]

View attachment 124672
Eu comprei esse aparelho, já instalei um CFW nele e talvez compre uma daquelas capas protetoras.
Estou tendo muita dificuldade para entender como o Portmaster funciona.

QualWhat games are you playing right now?

 

[Max]

QualWhat games are you playing right now?

Symphony of the Night, ps1 goes really well on MuOS

Post automatically merged: Nov 4, 2025

I'd also like to ask, is it easy to install a backlit screen on a GBA SP?

 

[Vardalis]

I'm very tempted by that Miyoo Mini Flip that's just come out. I may have more powerful devices but I'm a sucker for the clamshell form factor and it looks so much better without the garish sticks.

 

[waterxwraith]

Thank you but, with all respect, I was asking something really different. We get that GBA was better in every single way.

Not that I'm expecting many people here to actually own it considering it was exclusive Japan, sadly. But it always affascinated me, especially for Klonoa, Digimon and the Final Fantasy I-II remakes.

wonderswan is actually dope as hell, play the chocobo raising game

 

[Dyne]

I'm very tempted by that Miyoo Mini Flip that's just come out. I may have more powerful devices but I'm a sucker for the clamshell form factor and it looks so much better without the garish sticks.

Thats exactly why I still love my RG 35xx SP.
But the Miyoo Mini Flip is just a bit too small for me. The 3.5 inch screen on the SP is about the very smallest I can comfortably play and I honestly wish there was a 40xxSP.

 

[thetwaz]

Thats exactly why I still love my RG 35xx SP.
But the Miyoo Mini Flip is just a bit too small for me. The 3.5 inch screen on the SP is about the very smallest I can comfortably play and I honestly wish there was a 40xxSP.

I recently bought an RG35XXSP and am enjoying it. As it seems that we are all alpha and beta testers for these devices, my rule with a lot of them is that I really want to wait at least a year for the kinks to be ironed out, and for 3rd party OSs to be more stably developed before pulling rhe trigger.

 

[Vardalis]

Thats exactly why I still love my RG 35xx SP.
But the Miyoo Mini Flip is just a bit too small for me. The 3.5 inch screen on the SP is about the very smallest I can comfortably play and I honestly wish there was a 40xxSP.

I've got an RG35XX SP but I never really stuck with it. I think it started with trying Knulli twice and having tons of issues with it not picking up games for some reason, then I ended up just continuing to use my TrimUI Smart Pro while the RG35XX SP sat and gathered dust.

Maybe I'll try doing it as a daily carry and see how I like it, I don't know.

 

[Spoopz]

My Ayn Thor got here today. It's pretty neat. I will say dpad centric games that use the L/R buttons a lot are not comfortable to play at all.

View attachment 122779

But I will stick around with the device a while and then if I find that aspect a deal breaker I'll sell the thing to someone else. I do still have the Odin 2 Mini after all.

What version did you get? lite, base, pro? I was looking into this exact color way and they dont have it in lite and base (unless it normally doesn't come in that)

 

[Darklink]

What version did you get? lite, base, pro? I was looking into this exact color way and they dont have it in lite and base (unless it normally doesn't come in that)

Ayn only does its additional not black color options in Pro or higher. I got a Thor Pro because I didn't want a downgrade in RAM from my previous Odin 2 Mini Pro.

 

[Boo Man]

I've got an RG35XX SP but I never really stuck with it. I think it started with trying Knulli twice and having tons of issues with it not picking up games for some reason, then I ended up just continuing to use my TrimUI Smart Pro while the RG35XX SP sat and gathered dust.

Maybe I'll try doing it as a daily carry and see how I like it, I don't know.

you could try GarlicOS? thats what i use on my SP and its been reliable from my experience

 

[SpectreOverflow]

I've been using the Miyoo A30 for about a month now and it's been such a wonderful little device. I picked it up for pretty cheap - about $30 USD - and for that price, it's absolutely fantastic. It's not perfect - it gets pretty warm at times and mileage with cores beyond what it comes with may vary wildly - but for the price, having this thing to pull out and play on it just a delight. Even though it can only comfortably handle PlayStation and prior (although my testing with Spruce's Dreamcast, PSP, and Nintendo 64 cores has gone moderately well), that's still an absolutely massive library of games. Definitely worth the money... just make sure you install Spruce first, and ditch that stock SD card for a brand name one!

 

[MajesticSiN]

Looks pretty cool, does it have all the shoulder buttons?

 

[SpectreOverflow]

Looks pretty cool, does it have all the shoulder buttons?

Yep! L1, R1, L2, R2. I have somewhat large hands and I can comfortably reach all four.
Official render:

It also technically has an L3 because the analog stick clicks in, but I haven't found a need for such a button yet.

 

[Aldia Aldia]

but I haven't found a need for such a button yet.

Can this thing take screenshots? If yes then perhaps you could map it for that

 

[Tonberry]

Anyone here have experience with the Retroid Pocket G2?

My brother is considering buying one, and thought it would be neat if there were some firsthand experience from people here so he'd know what to expect.

He originally wanted to get the Retroid Pocket 6 but would have to wait like a year what with pre-order batches etc since it's not out yet.

I’m actually kinda tempted to get one myself too but I don’t have that kind of money right now

 

[Badseed Badseed]

My Mattel Merlin circa 1978

Is this "retro" enough?

 

[diet_orange]

My Mattel Merlin circa 1978

View attachment 138592

Is this "retro" enough?

My mom had one! Could never figure out how to play it

 

[Badseed Badseed]

My mom had one! Could never figure out how to play it

Here you go thanks to the wonder of the interwebs: