Buying Guides
Best Budget Retro Handhelds Under $100
The best retro handhelds under $100 for Game Boy, GBA, SNES, and PS1 emulation, ranked by real compatibility grades and price.
You do not need to spend a lot to play the retro libraries that matter. The best budget retro handhelds under $100 cover Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, SNES, and PlayStation 1 cleanly, and a few stretch into N64 and Dreamcast. The trick is knowing which systems you actually want before you pick a price point.
For Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance, almost every handheld in this range is comfortable. The differences show up in screen quality, pocket feel, and how well the d-pad holds up during long sessions. A small vertical device is often the best fit here because the original games were built around compact screens.
SNES and PlayStation 1 raise the bar slightly. You want a device with a solid A or B compatibility grade on both, a screen that scales 4:3 content well, and enough battery for real play sessions. Most of the picks below clear this easily.
The best all-rounder: Anbernic RG-35XX 2024
The RG-35XX 2024 is the safest budget buy. It runs Game Boy, GBA, SNES, and PS1 at an A grade, adds N64 and Dreamcast at B, and costs around $50. The vertical layout feels like a classic Game Boy, the screen is sharp, and the Linux firmware is well supported by the community. If you want one device that does the core retro libraries without fuss, this is it.
Best for GBA and pocket carry: Miyoo Mini Plus
The Miyoo Mini Plus is the favorite for Game Boy and GBA fans who want something genuinely pocketable. It is small, light, and runs the core libraries at A grade for about $70. The tradeoff is that it stops at PS1 — there is no N64 or Dreamcast headroom. If your library is mostly GB, GBC, and GBA, this is the most comfortable pick in the range.
Best clamshell: Anbernic RG-35XX SP
The RG-35XX SP brings a clamshell design that protects the screen and feels like a classic handheld. It matches the RG-35XX 2024 on compatibility — A on GB, GBA, SNES, and PS1, B on N64 and Dreamcast — for around $65. The clamshell is a real advantage if you carry the device in a bag or pocket without a case.
Best for N64 and Dreamcast: PowKiddy RGB30
If you want to push past PS1, the PowKiddy RGB30 is the budget pick that reaches further. It runs the core libraries at A and handles N64 at B+ and Dreamcast at B for about $90. The square screen is unusual but works well for a mix of 4:3 and handheld content. It is the best way to get N64 and Dreamcast into a sub-$100 budget.
Best for a bigger screen: TRIMUI Smart Pro
The TRIMUI Smart Pro is the horizontal option with the largest screen in this range. It runs GB, GBA, SNES, and PS1 at A, adds N64 at B and Dreamcast at B-, and costs around $80. The wide display and comfortable horizontal grip make it a strong choice for longer sessions and for games that benefit from a bigger panel.
Best value under $50: Anbernic RG-28XX
The RG-28XX is the pick when the budget is tight. It runs the core libraries at A grade for around $48, with N64 and Dreamcast at B. The screen is smaller than the other options, so it is best for GB, GBC, and GBA play, but it is hard to beat at the price.
Which should you buy?
Match the device to your library, not the other way around. If you mostly play Game Boy, GBA, and SNES, the RG-35XX 2024 or Miyoo Mini Plus are the best value. If you want N64 and Dreamcast too, the PowKiddy RGB30 reaches furthest. If you want a bigger screen and a horizontal grip, the TRIMUI Smart Pro is the pick. And if the budget is under $50, the RG-28XX still covers the core libraries well.
The rule is simple: buy for the systems that are A or B on the device, and treat everything below that as a bonus. Every handheld in this list clears that bar for the libraries that matter most.