Last updated: September 2026
PS2 is where cheap retro handhelds stop pretending. Everything below about $100 runs 8-bit and 16-bit games flawlessly and then falls over the moment you load a PS2 disc image, because the Emotion Engine needs a modern ARM chip with real GPU headroom, not a $10 Allwinner part. I keep the emulation ratings for all 29 devices in one database, and this page is that database filtered to the handhelds that rate “good” or better on PS2, then ranked.
The short answer: the Steam Deck is the best PS2 handheld in the database, and the Anbernic RG556 at $150 is the cheapest one I would trust with the library. Everything in between is a trade of money for headroom on the heavy titles.
Quick Picks
| Pick | Device | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Steam Deck | $399 | Highest weighted score (192); perfect on Wii, 3DS and PS2 |
| Best value | Retroid Pocket 6 | $244 | 158 points for $244, the same ratings in a different shell |
| Budget pick | Anbernic RG556 | $150 | Cheapest device rated great on PS2 |
What PS2 Emulation Needs
PS2 emulation on a handheld means NetherSX2 or AetherSX2 on Android, or PCSX2 on the Steam Deck. On Android the chip is the whole story. A Snapdragon 865 handles most of the library at native resolution, a Dimensity 1100 sits in the same class, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Retroid Pocket 6 and the G3x Gen 2 in the AYANEO Pocket S add upscaling headroom. The Unisoc T618 and Dimensity 6020 handhelds at $110 to $130 rate good, which in practice means the 2D and lighter 3D half of the library; nothing on a Rockchip RK3566 or Allwinner H700 belongs on this page, which is why the $60 handhelds are missing. You also need the PS2 BIOS from your own console; my PS2 BIOS guide covers dumping it.
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 15 of 29 devices rated good or better on PS2, 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 great on PS2; the value pick is the best score per dollar among devices sharing the top rating.
The Ranking
1. Steam Deck, $399
Valve’s PC gaming handheld that also happens to be the most powerful emulation device you can buy.
At $399 it runs an AMD APU (Zen 2 + RDNA 2) with 16GB LPDDR5 behind a 7.0-inch 1280x800 IPS / OLED (2024 model) screen, a 16:10 panel, with a 12500mAh battery, 669g in the hand, a horizontal body and SteamOS (Linux) as the operating system. Controls: D-pad, 2 full-size sticks, L2/R2 triggers, trackpads, back grips. Wi-Fi: WiFi 6E.
On PS2 it rates perfect: the full library at full speed.
Perfect on NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PSP, DS, PS2, GameCube, Wii and 3DS. Great on Wii U and Switch. Good on PS3.
2. 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 PS2 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. 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 PS2 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. 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 PS2 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. 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 PS2 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.
6. 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 PS2 it rates great: 90 percent or more of the library at full speed, with a few heavy titles needing settings.
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.
7. 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 PS2 it rates great: 90 percent or more of the library at full speed, with a few heavy titles needing settings.
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.
Side by Side
| Device | Price | Chip | Screen | OS | PS2 rating | Weighted score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Deck | $399 | AMD APU (Zen 2 + RDNA 2) | 7.0" 1280x800 | SteamOS (Linux) | perfect | 192 |
| 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 | great | 127 |
| Anbernic RG556 | $150 | MediaTek Dimensity 1100 | 5.48" 1080x1920 | Android 13 | great | 122 |
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 PS2 is the ceiling of what you want to play, buy the Anbernic RG556. It rates great on PS2, costs $150, and the extra money above it buys generations you said you do not need. If PS2 is the floor and you want the systems above it too, the Steam Deck at $399 has the most headroom on this page. The Retroid Pocket 6 at $244 is the compromise: the top PS2 rating at the best score per dollar.
Related reading: Best PS2 Emulator in 2026 — The Only Guide You Need, PS2 BIOS Files for PCSX2 and NetherSX2: Setup and Dumping Guide, NetherSX2 Setup Guide: PS2 Emulation on Android Done Right, RPCSX Android Setup Guide: PS3 Emulation on a Handheld.
FAQ
What is the cheapest handheld that runs PS2 games?
In my database the Anbernic RG556 at $150 is the cheapest handheld rated great or better for PS2. The Unisoc T618 handhelds from $110 rate good, which is the 2D and light 3D half of the library; anything cheaper runs PS1 well and PS2 not at all.
Can the Anbernic RG35XX or Miyoo Mini Plus run PS2?
No. The Allwinner H700 and Sigmastar chips in those devices top out at PS1 and a slice of N64. PS2 needs an Android handheld with a Snapdragon 865 class chip or better.
Which emulator should I use for PS2 on a handheld?
NetherSX2 on Android handhelds, PCSX2 on the Steam Deck. AetherSX2 still works but is no longer updated. All three need a PS2 BIOS dumped from your own console.
Does the Steam Deck count as a PS2 handheld?
Yes, and it is the most capable one here. PCSX2 through EmuDeck runs nearly the whole library at 2x to 3x resolution. It is also the heaviest and most expensive device on the list.
PCSX2 project | Every device in the database | Comparison tool
Last verified: September 2026