Last updated: November 2026
The short answer: the Anbernic RG35XX Pro (about $49 at the maker’s store) is the best retro handheld under $100 for NES through PS1. If you want more power, the Mangmi Air X ($99.99) is the strongest Android handheld under $100 and adds PSP, N64 and Dreamcast on a 5.5-inch 1080p screen.
Under $100 is where most people buy their first retro handheld. Every device at this price runs NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy and GBA well, so the spec sheets list those and stop. What separates a $50 handheld from a $100 one is PS1, N64, Dreamcast and PSP, and that is what this ranking focuses on.
November 2026 update: Prices rechecked on maker stores on November 2, 2026. The Anbernic RG35XX Pro now leads (its price fell to about $49), the Mangmi Air X joins at $99.99 with its chip corrected to the Snapdragon 662, the Retroid Pocket Classic is noted as a final pre-order before discontinuation, and the R36S is no longer recommended. Weighted scores were removed; the ranking is now described in plain terms.
Quick Picks
| Pick | Device | About | What it plays well | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Anbernic RG35XX Pro | $49 | NES through PS1 | Linux |
| Best Android | Mangmi Air X | $100 | Through PSP, N64, Dreamcast | Android 14 |
| Best clamshell | Anbernic RG35XXSP | $52 | Game Boy, GBA, SNES, PS1 | Linux |
| Best vertical | Retroid Pocket Classic | $99 | GBA, PS1, PSP, Saturn (no sticks) | Android 14 |
| Most pocketable | Miyoo Mini Plus | $54 | 8-bit, 16-bit, most PS1 | Linux |
These picks agree with the under-$100 tier of the best retro handhelds of 2026 guide.
How These Were Ranked
The picks are ranked from published specs, the emulators’ own compatibility data and reviews from named outlets, each linked below. This site did not test these devices itself. Each device’s per-system ratings in the device database set the order, with the harder systems (N64, Dreamcast, PSP) counting most, then price and build as tie-breakers. Prices come from each maker’s own store on November 2, 2026, and change often.
Everything here assumes games dumped from cartridges and discs you own.
What $100 Buys
A handful of chips cover this price band:
- Allwinner H700 (RG35XX Pro, RG35XXSP, RG35XX H): full speed through PS1, solid in many N64 games, hit or miss on PSP and Dreamcast.
- Rockchip RK3566 (RG353VS, Powkiddy RGB30): a little stronger than the H700 on N64, Dreamcast and PSP.
- Sigmastar SSD202D (Miyoo Mini Plus): excellent through 16-bit, most of PS1, little above it.
- Allwinner A523 (TrimUI Smart Pro S): a newer Linux chip with a large screen, strong through PSP and Dreamcast.
- Snapdragon 662 and Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 (Mangmi Air X, Retroid Pocket Classic): Android chips that handle PSP, N64 and Dreamcast and can start lighter PS2 and GameCube games, though neither is built for them.
Nearly every Linux device here also takes custom firmware, covered in the custom firmware guide.
The Ranking
1. Anbernic RG35XX Pro: Best Budget Handheld
About $49 at the maker’s store (November 2026), on sale from $54.99
The RG35XX Pro is the cheapest handheld that is genuinely good. It has a 3.5-inch 640x480 IPS screen (4:3, so classic systems fill it with no stretching), two short analog sticks, Wi-Fi and a 3,300 mAh battery. The H700 runs NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy, GBA and PS1 at full speed, and N64 is solid in many games.
Who it is for: first-time buyers who mostly want the 8-bit, 16-bit and PS1 eras. Main weakness: PSP and Dreamcast are hit or miss, and the stock firmware is basic. Most owners install muOS or Knulli.
2. Mangmi Air X: Best Android Handheld Under $100
About $100 ($99.99) at the maker’s store (November 2026)
Mangmi’s own listing gives a Snapdragon 662, 4GB of RAM, a 5.5-inch 1920x1080 IPS screen, hall-effect sticks, a 5,000 mAh battery and Android 14. Time Extension found 8-bit, 16-bit and PS1 games run brilliantly. It is the cheapest pick here for PSP, N64 and Dreamcast on a big screen, and Android adds game streaming apps.
Who it is for: buyers who want PSP, N64 and Dreamcast on a large screen for about $100. Main weakness: the Snapdragon 662 is an old chip. PS2 and GameCube run poorly, so treat it as a PSP, N64 and Dreamcast device, not a PS2 one.
3. Anbernic RG35XXSP: Best Clamshell
About $52 at the maker’s store (November 2026), on sale from $64.99
The RG35XXSP copies the Game Boy Advance SP clamshell. It uses the same H700 chip as the RG35XX Pro, the lid sleeps the device, and it has HDMI out. Details are in the RG35XXSP review, and the Miyoo Flip vs RG35XXSP comparison covers its closest rival.
Who it is for: Game Boy, GBA and SNES players who value pocketability. Main weakness: no analog sticks, so analog-heavy N64 and PS1 games feel worse.
4. Retroid Pocket Classic: Best Vertical Handheld
About $99 at the maker’s store (November 2026), pre-order
The Pocket Classic puts Qualcomm’s handheld-focused Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 inside a Game Boy-style vertical shell with a 3.92-inch 1240x1080 AMOLED screen and Android 14. GBA, PS1, PSP and Saturn are easy work, and Android Authority found it can manage some GameCube and PS2. See the Pocket Classic review for the full breakdown.
Who it is for: Game Boy-era fans who want an OLED screen and more power than the Linux picks. Main weakness: no analog sticks, which rules out most 3D games. Retroid’s store says current pre-orders ship at the end of November and the model is then discontinued, so buy now or skip it.
5. Miyoo Mini Plus: Most Pocketable
About $54 without a card at Miyoo’s official store (November 2026)
The Miyoo Mini Plus is the smallest good handheld here, with a sharp 3.5-inch 640x480 screen and Onion OS, one of the most polished Linux front ends. It is excellent for Game Boy, GBA, SNES and Genesis. See the Miyoo Mini Plus review and the RG35XX Plus vs Miyoo Mini Plus comparison.
Who it is for: players who want a true pocket device for 8-bit and 16-bit games. Main weakness: no analog sticks, and it stops at PS1. N64, Dreamcast and PSP are out of reach.
6. Anbernic RG353VS: Best RK3566 Linux Handheld
About $68 at the maker’s store (November 2026)
The RG353VS is a vertical Linux handheld on the Rockchip RK3566 with a 3.5-inch 640x480 4:3 screen and one analog stick. The RK3566 has a bit more headroom than the H700 for N64, Dreamcast and PSP. The Android dual-boot RG353V shares the same listing but was sold out on November 2, 2026. See RG353V vs RG353VS.
Who it is for: vertical-handheld fans who want more N64 and PSP headroom than the H700 picks. Main weakness: a single stick limits dual-analog games, and the chip is older than the H700 devices it competes with on price.
7. TrimUI Smart Pro S: Best Big-Screen Linux
About $90 to $110 at resellers (November 2026)
The Smart Pro S runs Linux on an Allwinner A523 with 1GB of RAM and a 5-inch 1280x720 IPS screen with two sticks. Retro Handhelds calls it good value. It is strong through PSP and Dreamcast.
Who it is for: Linux fans who want a widescreen and simple setup. Main weakness: PS2 and GameCube are not realistic, it has 1GB of RAM, and the reseller price can land just over $100.
8. Anbernic RG35XX H: Best Horizontal H700
About $50 at the maker’s store (November 2026), on sale from $67.99
The RG35XX H puts the H700 in a wider horizontal body with two sticks side by side, which some players find more comfortable for long sessions than the RG35XX Pro’s layout.
Who it is for: buyers who want the RG35XX Pro’s emulation in a wider grip. Main weakness: the same PSP and Dreamcast limits as every H700 device.
Also in this range: the Powkiddy RGB30 has a square 4-inch 720x720 screen that suits GBA and vertical shooters. Powkiddy’s store lists it at $69.99 but showed it sold out on November 2, 2026.
A note on the R36S
The R36S is often the first result for a cheap handheld. This site does not recommend buying it: most R36S units sold online are clones with mixed parts, and many ship with preloaded game cards. Budget buyers get a known maker and better support from the RG35XX Pro or the Miyoo Mini Plus. The R36S vs RG35XX page explains the difference.
Side by Side
| Device | About | Chip | Screen | OS | Sticks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anbernic RG35XX Pro | $49 | Allwinner H700 | 3.5" 640x480 IPS | Linux | Two |
| Mangmi Air X | $100 | Snapdragon 662 | 5.5" 1920x1080 IPS | Android 14 | Two, hall-effect |
| Anbernic RG35XXSP | $52 | Allwinner H700 | 3.5" 640x480 IPS | Linux | None |
| Retroid Pocket Classic | $99 | Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 | 3.92" 1240x1080 AMOLED | Android 14 | None |
| Miyoo Mini Plus | $54 | Sigmastar SSD202D | 3.5" 640x480 IPS | Linux (Onion OS) | None |
| Anbernic RG353VS | $68 | Rockchip RK3566 | 3.5" 640x480 IPS | Linux | One |
| TrimUI Smart Pro S | $90 to $110 | Allwinner A523 | 5.0" 1280x720 IPS | Linux | Two |
| Anbernic RG35XX H | $50 | Allwinner H700 | 3.5" 640x480 IPS | Linux | Two |
Open any device for the full spec sheet, or put two of them into the comparison tool.
What System Do You Want to Play?
| System | Good starting pick under $100 |
|---|---|
| NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy, GBA | RG35XX Pro, RG35XXSP, Miyoo Mini Plus |
| PS1 | RG35XX Pro |
| N64 | Mangmi Air X |
| Dreamcast, PSP | Mangmi Air X, Retroid Pocket Classic |
| PS2, GameCube | None under $100; see the best retro handheld under $200 |
Per-system guides: PS1, N64, PSP, GBA.
Buying Advice
Linux or Android. Linux handhelds boot straight into a game menu with almost no setup. Android handhelds take an hour of setup but run stronger standalone emulators (Android emulation guide).
Screen ratio. Most consoles before 2005 output 4:3, so a 4:3 screen like the RG35XX Pro’s fills edge to edge. A 16:9 screen like the Mangmi Air X’s suits PSP and shows bars on older systems.
Sticks. N64 and 3D PS1 games need analog sticks. The RG35XXSP, Pocket Classic and Miyoo Mini Plus have none.
Storage. Buy a known-brand microSD card. The SanDisk Ultra 128GB covers a budget handheld’s library. No-name cards fail and corrupt saves.
Avoid preloaded bundles. Skip any listing sold with a game-filled card.
Which One Should You Buy?
Buy the Anbernic RG35XX Pro if your library stops at PS1: it is the best value under $100. Spend up to the Mangmi Air X only if you want PSP, N64 and Dreamcast on a big screen. Choose the RG35XXSP or Miyoo Mini Plus for pocket size, and the Retroid Pocket Classic only if you want its OLED screen and vertical shape before it is discontinued. If PS2 or GameCube is on your list, skip this tier and read the best retro handheld under $200.
Related reading: Best Retro Handhelds in 2026, Best Handheld Emulators in 2026, Best Custom Firmware for Retro Handhelds.
FAQ
What is the best retro handheld under $100?
The Anbernic RG35XX Pro, about $49 at Anbernic’s store, for NES through PS1. If you want Android, a 5.5-inch 1080p screen and PSP, N64 and Dreamcast, the Mangmi Air X at $99.99 is the pick.
Can any handheld under $100 run PS2 or GameCube?
Not reliably. The Mangmi Air X and Retroid Pocket Classic can start some lighter PS2 and GameCube games, but neither is a PS2 device. For PS2 and GameCube, start at the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro ($159) or the Retroid Pocket 5 ($179).
Is the R36S worth buying?
This site does not recommend it. Most R36S units sold online are clones, and many ship with preloaded game cards. The Anbernic RG35XX Pro (about $49) or the Miyoo Mini Plus (about $54 without a card) cost a little more and come from known makers.
Should I install custom firmware on a budget handheld?
Usually yes. Stock firmware on the Linux budget handhelds is basic, and muOS, Knulli or Onion OS improves the menus, save states and emulator settings. It runs from the microSD card, so it is a card swap, not a hardware mod.
Update Log
- November 2, 2026: Rechecked every price on maker stores. Re-ranked around the RG35XX Pro (about $49), added the Mangmi Air X ($99.99, Snapdragon 662) and Miyoo Mini Plus, noted the Retroid Pocket Classic’s final pre-order, and removed the R36S as a recommendation. Dropped the weighted scores, the RG35XX Plus and RG353V (sold out or unlisted at the maker) and the original TrimUI Smart Pro.
- September 23, 2026: Initial publication.
RetroArch | Every device in the database | Comparison tool
Last verified: November 2026