Last updated: September 2026
N64 is the system that separates the $35 handhelds from the $70 ones. The chip that runs SNES and PS1 flawlessly for pocket money gets tripped up by the N64’s odd rendering hardware, so half of the budget devices manage a playable Mario 64 and then choke on Conker or Goldeneye. This page is the device database filtered to handhelds rated good or better on N64, ranked by that rating and then by everything else they run.
The Retroid Pocket 6 is the strongest N64 handheld in the database. The Anbernic RG35XX H at $60 is the cheapest device I rate as properly playable for the N64 library, and there is a real gap between it and the sub-$50 devices.
Quick Picks
| Pick | Device | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Retroid Pocket 6 | $244 | Highest weighted score (158); perfect on PS2, GameCube and N64 |
| Best value | Retroid Pocket Classic | $99 | 109 points for $99, the best ratio on the page |
| Budget pick | Anbernic RG35XX H | $60 | Cheapest device rated good on N64 |
What N64 Emulation Needs
N64 emulation on handhelds runs through Mupen64Plus-Next inside RetroArch, or the standalone M64Plus FZ app on Android. The rendering plugin matters more than raw clock speed: GLideN64 is the accurate one and it needs a real GPU. The Rockchip RK3566 in the RG353 line and Powkiddy RGB30 handles most of the library, the Allwinner H700 in the RG35XX family manages the lighter titles, and the RK3326 in the R36S is a coin flip per game. Any Android handheld on a Unisoc T618 or better runs the whole library. My RetroArch cores guide lists which core to load.
How I Ranked These
Every device in my database carries an emulation rating per system on a five-step scale: perfect, great, good, limited, none. I turn that into a weighted score where the hard systems count for more, so PS2 and GameCube are worth four times an NES rating, N64, Dreamcast and PSP three times, PS1 and DS twice. For this page I kept the 25 of 29 devices rated good or better on N64, sorted them by that rating first and total weighted score second, and broke ties on price. The budget pick is the cheapest device at or above good on N64; the value pick is the best score per dollar among devices sharing the top rating.
The Ranking
1. Retroid Pocket 6, $244
Retroid’s flagship: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 6-inch AMOLED, and raw power that handles everything up to Switch.
At $244 it runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with 12GB LPDDR5X behind a 5.99-inch 2560x1440 AMOLED screen, a 16:9 panel, with a 5500mAh battery, 330g in the hand, a horizontal body and Android 14 as the operating system. Controls: D-pad, 2 hall-effect sticks, L2/R2 triggers. Wi-Fi: WiFi 6E.
On N64 it rates perfect: the full library at full speed.
Perfect on NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PSP, DS, PS2 and GameCube. Great on Wii and 3DS. Good on Wii U and Switch.
2. AYN Odin 2 Portal, $259
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 behind a 7-inch 120Hz OLED; the biggest and best screen on any Android handheld.
At $259 it runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with 8GB LPDDR5X behind a 7.0-inch 1920x1080 OLED screen, a 16:9 panel, with a 8000mAh battery, 415g in the hand, a horizontal body and Android 13 as the operating system. Controls: D-pad, 2 hall-effect sticks, analog triggers, 2 back buttons. Wi-Fi: WiFi 7.
On N64 it rates perfect: the full library at full speed.
Perfect on NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PSP, DS, PS2 and GameCube. Great on Wii and 3DS. Good on Wii U and Switch.
3. AYANEO Pocket S, $300
Premium Android handheld with Snapdragon G3x Gen 2: high-end power in a polished package.
At $300 it runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 with 12GB LPDDR5X behind a 6.0-inch 2560x1440 AMOLED screen, a 16:9 panel, with a 6000mAh battery, 305g in the hand, a horizontal body and Android 14 as the operating system. Controls: D-pad, 2 hall-effect sticks, full trigger set. Wi-Fi: WiFi 6E.
On N64 it rates perfect: the full library at full speed.
Perfect on NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PSP, DS, PS2 and GameCube. Great on Wii and 3DS. Good on Wii U and Switch.
4. AYN Thor, $329
Dual-screen Android clamshell on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2; the only handheld that plays DS and 3DS on two real screens.
At $329 it runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with 8GB LPDDR5X behind a 6.0-inch 1920x1080 AMOLED (dual: 6.0-inch top, 3.92-inch bottom) screen, a 16:9 panel, with a 6000mAh battery, 380g in the hand, a clamshell body and Android 13 as the operating system. Controls: D-pad, 2 hall-effect sticks, analog triggers, dual touchscreens. Wi-Fi: WiFi 7.
On N64 it rates perfect: the full library at full speed.
Perfect on NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PSP, DS, PS2 and GameCube. Great on Wii and 3DS. Good on Wii U and Switch.
5. Retroid Pocket G2, $219
A big-screen Android gaming handheld built for PS2 and GameCube: the grip and display make the difference.
At $219 it runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 with 8GB LPDDR5 behind a 5.5-inch 1920x1080 IPS screen, a 16:9 panel, with a 5000mAh battery, 310g in the hand, a horizontal body and Android 13 as the operating system. Controls: D-pad, 2 hall-effect sticks, L2/R2 triggers. Wi-Fi: WiFi 6.
On N64 it rates perfect: the full library at full speed.
Perfect on NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PSP and DS. Great on PS2, GameCube and Wii. Good on 3DS. Limited or unsupported: Switch.
6. Anbernic RG556, $150
Anbernic’s flagship with a Dimensity 1100 chip: serious PS2/GameCube performance at a competitive price.
At $150 it runs a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 with 8GB LPDDR4X behind a 5.48-inch 1080x1920 AMOLED screen, a 16:9 panel, with a 4400mAh battery, 290g in the hand, a horizontal body and Android 13 as the operating system. Controls: D-pad, 2 hall-effect sticks. Wi-Fi: WiFi 5 (dual band).
On N64 it rates perfect: the full library at full speed.
Perfect on NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PSP and DS. Great on PS2 and GameCube. Good on Wii and 3DS. Limited or unsupported: Switch.
7. Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, $175
The mid-range workhorse from Retroid: reliable PS2/GameCube performance at a competitive price.
At $175 it runs a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 with 8GB LPDDR4X behind a 4.7-inch 1334x750 IPS screen, a 16:9 panel, with a 4000mAh battery, 260g in the hand, a horizontal body and Android 13 as the operating system. Controls: D-pad, 2 analog sticks, L2/R2. Wi-Fi: WiFi 5 (dual band).
On N64 it rates perfect: the full library at full speed.
Perfect on NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PSP and DS. Great on PS2 and GameCube. Good on Wii and 3DS. Limited or unsupported: Switch.
8. Retroid Pocket Classic, $99
Game Boy-shaped Android handheld with a 3.92-inch AMOLED and a Snapdragon G1 Gen 2; discontinued September 2026, $99 on clearance.
At $99 it runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 with 6GB LPDDR4X behind a 3.92-inch 1240x1080 AMOLED screen, with a 5000mAh battery, 223g in the hand, a vertical body and Android 14 as the operating system. Controls: D-pad, 4 or 6 face buttons, L1/L2/R1/R2. No sticks. Wi-Fi: WiFi 5.
On N64 it rates perfect: the full library at full speed.
Perfect on NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PSP and DS. Good on PS2, GameCube and 3DS. Limited or unsupported: Wii and Switch.
9. Anbernic RG35XX H, $60
Horizontal form factor variant of the RG35XX family with a larger 3.5-inch screen and better grip.
At $60 it runs an Allwinner H700 with 1GB DDR4 behind a 3.5-inch 640x480 IPS screen, a 4:3 panel, with a 3300mAh battery, 195g in the hand, a horizontal body and Linux (custom) as the operating system. Controls: D-pad, 2 analog sticks. Wi-Fi: WiFi 4 (2.4GHz).
On N64 it rates good: most games playable, with tuning on the heavy ones.
Perfect on NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA and Genesis. Great on PS1. Good on N64 and DS. Limited or unsupported: Dreamcast, PSP, PS2 and GameCube.
Side by Side
| Device | Price | Chip | Screen | OS | N64 rating | Weighted score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retroid Pocket 6 | $244 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | 5.99" 2560x1440 | Android 14 | perfect | 158 |
| AYN Odin 2 Portal | $259 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | 7.0" 1920x1080 | Android 13 | perfect | 158 |
| AYANEO Pocket S | $300 | Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 | 6.0" 2560x1440 | Android 14 | perfect | 158 |
| AYN Thor | $329 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | 6.0" 1920x1080 | Android 13 | perfect | 158 |
| Retroid Pocket G2 | $219 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 | 5.5" 1920x1080 | Android 13 | perfect | 127 |
| Anbernic RG556 | $150 | MediaTek Dimensity 1100 | 5.48" 1080x1920 | Android 13 | perfect | 122 |
| Retroid Pocket 4 Pro | $175 | MediaTek Dimensity 1100 | 4.7" 1334x750 | Android 13 | perfect | 122 |
| Retroid Pocket Classic | $99 | Qualcomm Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 | 3.92" 1240x1080 | Android 14 | perfect | 109 |
| Anbernic RG35XX H | $60 | Allwinner H700 | 3.5" 640x480 | Linux (custom) | good | 42 |
Weighted score is the same number the ranking uses. Open any device for the full spec sheet, or put two of them into the comparison tool.
Which One Should You Buy?
If N64 is the ceiling of what you want to play, buy the Anbernic RG35XX H. It rates good on N64, costs $60, and the extra money above it buys generations you said you do not need. If N64 is the floor and you want the systems above it too, the Retroid Pocket 6 at $244 has the most headroom on this page. The Retroid Pocket Classic at $99 is the compromise: the top N64 rating at the best score per dollar.
Related reading: RetroArch Best Cores by System — The Definitive List (2026), Best Handheld Emulators in 2026 — Every Budget, Every Need, Best Custom Firmware for Retro Handhelds — muOS vs OnionOS vs Knulli vs ROCKNIX (2026).
FAQ
What is the cheapest handheld that runs N64 well?
The Anbernic RG35XX H at $60 is the cheapest device in my database rated good or better on N64. The R36S and original RG35XX run some N64 games but not reliably.
Why is N64 harder to emulate than PS1?
The N64 used a custom rendering pipeline that emulators have to translate through a GPU plugin, and accurate plugins are heavy. PS1 rendering is simpler and has had 20 years of low-level emulator work.
Which N64 emulator should I use on a handheld?
Mupen64Plus-Next in RetroArch on Linux handhelds, and M64Plus FZ or the RetroArch core on Android. Both use the GLideN64 plugin by default.
Do the analog sticks matter for N64?
Yes. N64 games were built for analog movement, so a handheld with real sticks beats one with membrane nubs. Every device in this ranking has at least one usable stick.
Mupen64Plus | Every device in the database | Comparison tool
Last verified: September 2026