Last updated: September 2026
PS1 is the last system that the cheap handhelds run properly, and the first one where the screen size starts to matter for reading text. Everything in my database on a Rockchip RK3566 or better, which starts at $65, rates perfect on PS1, and the $55 to $85 Allwinner H700 devices rate great, so this page ranks by total headroom and price rather than pretending there is a big performance gap. If PS1 is your ceiling, buy near the bottom of the list. If PS1 is your floor, buy near the top.
The Retroid Pocket 6 tops the ranking. The Powkiddy RGB30 at $65 is the cheapest device I rate perfect for the PS1 library, and it is the pick if the goal is Final Fantasy VII on a bus.
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 | Powkiddy RGB30 | $65 | Cheapest device rated perfect on PS1 |
What PS1 Emulation Needs
Two emulators cover every device here. PCSX ReARMed is the RetroArch core on the Linux handhelds; it runs the PS1 library at full speed on a Rockchip RK3566 and at near full speed on an Allwinner H700, where a few heavy titles want frame skip. DuckStation is the standalone on Android and the Steam Deck, and it adds upscaling, PGXP geometry correction and texture filtering that need an Android chip to run at 2x or higher. Both need a PS1 BIOS from your own console; my PS1 BIOS guide covers which file each emulator wants. A 4:3 screen is the correct shape for PS1, which favors the RG35XX family and the Miyoo Mini Plus.
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 28 of 29 devices rated good or better on PS1, 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 perfect on PS1; 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 PS1 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 PS1 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 PS1 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 PS1 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 PS1 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 PS1 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 PS1 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 PS1 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. Powkiddy RGB30, $65
A unique 1:1 square screen handheld: perfect for GBA and vertical shooters, surprisingly fun form factor.
At $65 it runs a Rockchip RK3566 with 1GB LPDDR4 behind a 4.0-inch 720x720 IPS screen, a 1:1 panel, with a 4100mAh battery, 190g in the hand, a horizontal body and Linux (custom) as the operating system. Controls: D-pad, 2 analog sticks. Wi-Fi: WiFi 5 (dual band).
On PS1 it rates perfect: the full library at full speed.
Perfect on NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis and PS1. Great on N64, Dreamcast and DS. Good on PSP. Limited or unsupported: PS2 and GameCube.
Side by Side
| Device | Price | Chip | Screen | OS | PS1 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 |
| Powkiddy RGB30 | $65 | Rockchip RK3566 | 4.0" 720x720 | Linux (custom) | perfect | 66 |
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 PS1 is the ceiling of what you want to play, buy the Powkiddy RGB30. It rates perfect on PS1, costs $65, and the extra money above it buys generations you said you do not need. If PS1 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 PS1 rating at the best score per dollar.
Related reading: Best PS1 Emulator in 2026: Every Platform, Every Option, Honest Picks, PS1 BIOS Files: Which Ones You Need for DuckStation and RetroArch, DuckStation: The PS1 Emulator That Gets Everything Right, RetroArch BIOS Files — What You Need and Where They Go (2026).
FAQ
What is the cheapest handheld for PS1 emulation?
The Powkiddy RGB30 at $65 is the cheapest device in my database rated perfect on PS1. The $55 to $85 Allwinner H700 devices rate great, a few heavy games need frame skip, and the $35 R36S rates good.
Do I need a BIOS for PS1 emulation?
Yes. PCSX ReARMed and DuckStation both need a PS1 BIOS file dumped from your own console. SCPH1001 for US games is the usual one.
Can a cheap handheld upscale PS1 games?
Not the Linux handhelds. Upscaling and PGXP need DuckStation on an Android chip. Native resolution on a 3.5-inch 4:3 screen still looks good, because that is close to how the games were seen on a CRT.
Which screen shape is best for PS1?
4:3. PS1 games are 4:3, so a 640x480 screen shows them with no borders. The Retroid 16:9 screens show pillarboxing unless you stretch, which I do not recommend.
DuckStation | Every device in the database | Comparison tool
Last verified: September 2026