Best Retro Handheld

I'm looking to get my son a retro handheld for shortish car journeys, so don't need nothing really expensive but something pretty reliable, preferably something that will play super mario, sonic, street fighter.

Any ideas?
 
Rage85 said:
I'm looking to get my son a retro handheld for shortish car journeys, so don't need nothing really expensive but something pretty reliable, preferably something that will play super mario, sonic, street fighter.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Anbernic RG35XXSP, RG40XXV, RG35XXH, RG35XXPlus

The differences are

SP = flip closed
35 = 3.5" screen
40 = 4" screen
H = Horizontal
V = Vertical
Plus = the update to the original (The original was the RG35XX
 
Last edited:
I dug out my PS Vita a while back, have the original OLED model and jailbroke it. It's relatively competent at 16 bit emulation, does a good chunk of N64, some Dreamcast, near perfect PSX / PSP emulation and obviously the entire Vita library which is excellent for a 13 year old machine. I really like the build quality and screen on this device; and find it quite pocketable - it's missing LT, RT, L3 and R3 which can hold it back a bit. CEX have boxed ones for £150-165, but you'll need to add a memory card (if the OLED one) - but they are only a few quid and you don't really need more than 1GB; also a sd2vita adapter which are like a tenner and a 256GB MicroSD for about £30. The original one uses a proprietary charging/data cable - but the refreshed one uses MicroUSB.
 
Got the Anbernic RG Cube in black yesterday for my birthday. I've barely scratched the surface with it yet but seems like a really good bit of kit. Trying to get to know it first so watching Russ on retro game corps. When you press the button that takes you into Anbernic launcher it finds none of my games so trying to sort that. Works ok through retro arch though. Compared to steam deck it feels like a toy. I've also got a Odin Pro 2 but my girlfriend has wrapped for Christmas, will the battery be ok? I was amazed the Cube was fine considering it was bought months ago and left as a bday present. :)
 
Last edited:
Rage85 said:
I'm looking to get my son a retro handheld for shortish car journeys, so don't need nothing really expensive but something pretty reliable, preferably something that will play super mario, sonic, street fighter.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...
The Miyoo Mini Plus, it is cheap, small and light but decent build quality and has a fantastic custom operating system called Onion OS available. Easy to setup.

I've tried a ton of devices but returned them all and end up going back to the Miyoo.
 
Jimbo said:
Got the Anbernic RG Cube in black yesterday for my birthday. I've barely scratched the surface with it yet but seems like a really good bit of kit. Trying to get to know it first so watching Russ on retro game corps. When you press the button that takes you into Anbernic launcher it finds none of my games so trying to sort that. Works ok through retro arch though. Compared to steam deck it feels like a toy. I've also got a Odin Pro 2 but my girlfriend has wrapped for Christmas, will the battery be ok? I was amazed the Cube was fine considering it was bought months ago and left as a bday present. :)
Click to expand...

My advise would be to never use that button! The Anbernic launcher is terrible. Just use Daijisho as your frontend and customise it as you like :)

Example
1kIIqV0h.jpg



KraniX said:
The Miyoo Mini Plus, it is cheap, small and light but decent build quality and has a fantastic custom operating system called Onion OS available. Easy to setup.

I've tried a ton of devices but returned them all and end up going back to the Miyoo.
Click to expand...
It does look great for £26.99 (Aliexpress black friday price) RG35XX original is also fantastic with GarlicOS for basic games up to Playstation 1.
 
One thing I don't understand is when someone says here it is running at 2x or 3x resolution scale. I've done a quick Google search and sort of get the gist of it, more to do with aspect ratio? On my RG cube most games don't use all of the screen vertically, Amiga for instance so look tiny. Yet on the Steam deck they are perfect. I'll keep messing.
 
The RG35XXSP is hella tempting at 40 sheets but I keep seeing reference to Miyoo Flip which may be the better option but unsure how real that product actually is. The GBA flip design really appeals to me but would rather have an OLED option. Decision decisions.
 
Jimbo said:
One thing I don't understand is when someone says here it is running at 2x or 3x resolution scale. I've done a quick Google search and sort of get the gist of it, more to do with aspect ratio? On my RG cube most games don't use all of the screen vertically, Amiga for instance so look tiny. Yet on the Steam deck they are perfect. I'll keep messing.
Click to expand...

When they talk about resolution scale it is upscaling the graphics. So 3x on PS1 is equivalent of a 720p output.

Why your games are not fitting the screen is because they will be keeping their original aspect ratio. You can turn this off but it may distort the image.
 
Jimbo said:
One thing I don't understand is when someone says here it is running at 2x or 3x resolution scale. I've done a quick Google search and sort of get the gist of it, more to do with aspect ratio? On my RG cube most games don't use all of the screen vertically, Amiga for instance so look tiny. Yet on the Steam deck they are perfect. I'll keep messing.
Click to expand...
Amiga scales really well on the RG Cube. 320 x 256, so 1.25 aspect ratio.
On standard 4:3 TVs this would slightly pillar box and use 83.3% of the screen. 1:1 on the Cube will slightly letterbox and use 80% of the screen.
5:4 monitors were perfect (for who could afford them at the time)

Just stretch to fit, looks fine

AZBdK5xh.jpg
 
Thanks that's great to know. I'll give those settings a try. Does anybody know how to remove those fast forward icons from the screen and that annoying on screen controller thing? I'm going to watch retro corps rg cube setup guide though that should help.
 
Last edited:
I somehow ordered a TrimUI brick and Miyoo mini plus over the weekend! (Maybe due to too many beers)

That’s 3 devices on the way (rp5 shipping next week)

The list grows.

Steam deck
RG35XX
Retroid pocket mini
Retroid pocket 5
Miyoo mini plus
TriumUi brick
 
Guest2 said:
I somehow ordered a TrimUI brick and Miyoo mini plus over the weekend! (Maybe due to too many beers)

That’s 3 devices on the way (rp5 shipping next week)

The list grows.

Steam deck
RG35XX
Retroid pocket mini
Retroid pocket 5
Miyoo mini plus
TriumUi brick
Click to expand...

I have

Steam Deck
Miyoo Mini
Miyoo Mini Plus
Retroid Pocket 3 Flip
RG35xxH (bricked battery I think, have replacement on the way)
RGxx40v (Not done OS replacement yet)
Miyoo A30 (in transit)

I have given away as presents

RG35xx Plus
Miyoo Mini
Rg35xxh
Miyoo Mini Plus

I want to get the Retroid RP5 but it's quite a big chunk of change compared to the others and I play mostly SNES and MD games which the RG40xxV can fill the gap in terms of the larger screen.
 
Last edited:
Raymond Lin said:
I have

Steam Deck
Miyoo Mini
Miyoo Mini Plus
Retroid Pocket 3 Flip
RG35xxH (bricked battery I think, have replacement on the way)
RGxx40v (Not done OS replacement yet)
Miyoo A30 (in transit)

I have given away as presents

RG35xx Plus
Miyoo Mini
Rg35xxh
Miyoo Mini Plus

I want to get the Retroid RP5 but it's quite a big chunk of change compared to the others and I play mostly SNES and MD games which the RG40xxV can fill the gap in terms of the larger screen.
Click to expand...
The rg mini is great but i find myself wanting less clicky face buttons and a slightly larger screen.
Hopefully the rp5 doesnt feel too big.
 
Picked up a Trim UI Pro recently. Works great and feels good in the hand and feels sturdy.

I updated to a custom firmware which improves the emulation. Great value for money.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom