Aw crap I forgot to add Nintendo Wii to my spreadsheet. It would have had Steam Deck as my #1 choice because there are a lot of things you can do with Steam Input and gyro to (almost) replicate the original experience.
@@father042 You can map original wiimote to Dolphin emulator. I'm using a battery powered lightbar but you can use two candle or led light or anithing....
I AGREE WITH THIS! SO TRUE, I really do sit down with a snack and a drink and enjoy these. Banger videos, Russ is just always awesome. I could watch this man forever
yeah same, I modded my 2ds xl with such a huge library and have a pirate 2ds card with hundreds of games on it. I really have to charge it up again. Love that system.
And then we have the virtual boy emulator "Red Viper" on 3DS. Not only does it run well, but it also support 3D effect so that you can play those games with 3D effect with naked eyes :3
@@GameTechTalk It's awesome and you have to see it for yourself if you are interested. I was legit blown away when I saw those virtual boy games in 3D effect with naked eyes and it's basically a perfect way to experience the virtual boy library. And you can choose any other color you want if the original red color irritates you :3
DSi XL is my personal favourite to play DS games. Large 4.2" screens, better ergonomics due to the larger size, better battery life, and guaranteed dual-IPS panels as all units were produced with them
I've been waiting for a video like this for a year. Some people don't want to play everything in one device. I personally been hunting for the best way to play GBA outside of a regular GBA and this really helped. Thanks!
I'm in that group - while having the ability "to play every system pre x360/ PS3" sounds nice, I found that playing PS2 and Gamecube still feeld best for me on a PC with the appropriate screen size. Since Handheld means ultimately "smaller screen" I rarely play anything beyond PS1/ N64 on my RP4pro...
I'm new to your whole scene but I gotta say, the effort you put into your videos is amazing. Detailed and nuanced with high production quality to boot. Thank you
Hi Russ,I cannot thank you for getting me into this hobby. I just got my Miyoo Mini plus and RG35XX H. Setup both with Onion OS and Batocera with your guides. Playing Pokemon red on my miyoo mini plus with the colour scheme of Gameboy Pocket almost brought me to tears cos of the nostalgia and memories. I remember working at a local Food Centre washing dishes at 10 years old to save up to get the GB pocket and Pokémon red. That GB pocket and Pokémon cartridge got me through some really tough times growing up the years after. Love you Russ for showing me a way to reconnect to those memories ❤ Cheers! P.s. I find the miyoo mini plus the perfect handheld to emulate Gameboy pocket😁
I just started my retro handheld journey and I got these exact two and I think between the two of these and my steam deck I'm good and now am ready for anything
I have to admit: I got my Odin 2 Pro to play Dreamcast (especially) and GameCube with no fuss…but the thing I do the most is Game Pass! So much so that I got an Xbox for my birthday, and now use the Odin for remote play a lot as well. Great video! You always inspire me to play instead of just mucking about with emulators and setting up systems. ☺️
Here’s a for real real question.. for Russ or really anyone. How often do you actually play games outside of making/watching videos about them. Like how often do we sit down and play either a full game or significant amount of time in one game? With SO many options at our fingertips, how do you decide what to play? Do you play multiple games at once? Genuinely curious because find myself watching content about games and researching devices/building devices rather than actually playing games. When I do, I spend maybe 10-20 minutes here and there on retro games.
Honestly did not expect the RP2S to get a mention here but I'm so glad it did. I think that device is killer for Dreamcast and N64. I also really enjoy it for GB/GBC/GBA, once you get the right combination of video filters and shaders it looks spectacular and is roughly the same size as the original hardware.
sssly? watched this to help decide what to upgrade to from my Retroid Pocket 2S because I've found N64 to be basically unplayable on it. Many games just crash immediately and from the reading I've done it's only possible to get some to play acceptably after spending hours fiddling with the settings for each title. Is there some secret I'm missing???
This might be my favorite video that you have made Russ. This was a great idea and topic to cover. I haven't seen much vids done about this so I thank you for covering this. I have quite a few handhelds myself: Steam Deck LCD model, Switch OLED, Powkiddy RGB 10 Max vers 1 & 2, Miyoo Mini & Miyoo Mini Plus, Anbernic RG353P, modded Vita 2000 model, new edition 3DS LL (XL), DS Lite, og non modded GBC & og non modded GBA. I found that the RG353P is my favorite to use to play anything from NES to Sega 32x/TurboGrafx CD and MAME (also GBA) because of the ergonomics and Super Nintendo style controls even tho I'm not a fan of the small 480p screen. GB & GBC, I actually like the Miyoo Mini Plus because playing on a vertical handheld just feels nostalgic (also having small hands like me makes the Plus ergonomics much more tolerable). Vita, PSP & PS1 (PSP eboot versions) games, I play on my modded Vita. 3DS & DS, I play them on my new edition 3DS LL/XL for obvious reasons. While I love the Steam Deck, I'm just not a fan of using that dpad for retro games. If the dpad was better (I heard the OLED model has an improved dpad so maybe if I get that in the distant future I'll change my opinion on that), I would play more retro games from 8 bit to 16/32 bit era on it. Dreamcast, N64, GameCube, PS2, & Wii U I love playing on the Steam Deck. Xbox emulation & PS3 emulation, I'm not going to spend so much money on a handheld just to play those systems, not worth it. Switch games, as much as we can emulate Switch on the Steam Deck, even though I hate the official Nintendo joy cons, I just use the Switch since I already physically own most of the Switch games I want to play. But for games like Breath of the Wild & Tears of the Kingdom, I use my Binbok RGB Slim joy cons. For Smash Bros, I use a Mayflash GameCube controller adapter that can be used with the Switch and I just use my og Gamecube controller.
You’ve got way more picks than I do, but I tend to think about things the same way: which machine for which retro platforms. I play a lot of adventure and RPG games, so where possible I like to play systems that are dockable to a TV. My picks are: DS/3DS/Virtual Boy - modded New 2DS XL or 3DS XL (some games benefit from 3D, most I don’t care and use 2D which has a better screen imo) Everything up through 16-bit - Analogue Pocket PS1 - Powkiddy RGB30 Saturn/N64 to modern systems - Steam Deck I also use a MiSTer quite a bit, but that’s more for playing games that aren’t long. Arcade, action, puzzle, etc.
Why did you forget the Wii ? I'm playing a lot of Wii games on my Odin 2 like Mario Galaxy 2, Fragile Dreams, The Last Story, Kirby Epic Yarn, and Wario Land The Shake Dimension, they all work very well.
No one talks about Atari, which makes me really curious, but he left it out. I've been thinking about some Wii games in particular, like Endless Ocean, but a more shocking miss. The one time the WiiU gets recognition, while the Wii is forgotten
I left a pinned comment, I forgot to add it to my spreadsheet so when I was recording my voiceover I blanked on it! Odin 2 is great for it but like with GameCube I prefer the Steam Deck, especially because of the trackpads and Steam Input options.
My surprising winner for GBA is my Note 9 phone with my Gamesir controller. Really any Flag ship phone from the last 5 years would do. Wide screen, but the trick is the really high resolution, surpassing just about any handheld resolution, which allows for pixel scaling without losing real state. And it's OLED, so in addition to the integer scaling , it looks amazing.
I just got a G8 myself to use with my iPhone 15 Plus and its been a total blast to use. Delta emulator is great and so is the xbox/ps streaming experience. That controller really feels amazing.
I literally just ordered a Gamesir G8 for my recently retired Note 9! $59 off ebay new was the steal of the century especially compared to the backbone (still can't figure out how they charge a hundred bucks for that thing). Looking forward to turning that into my first ever retro game setup. I'm mainly interested in NES/SNES/N64/GB/GBC/GBA & PS1/PSP. Hopefully they all can run well on Android!
@@JV-tk9yn I've been playing Paper Mario on my phone, tablet, and PC and use SyncThing to keep my saves up to date. Retroarch has a nasty bug where it crashes if you minimize the app, though. So be careful with that!
I just found your channel and I can’t stop watching. You helped me narrow down my first emulator pick up, Miyoo Mini +, and I’m sure there will be more to come. Even though I don’t plan on buying anymore for awhile, I just can’t stop watching your break downs. Strangely comforting. Well done on a fantastic channel!
I find it incredibly interesting how mobile processors, like the snapdragon, are getting to the point where they match certain PC CPUs in performance per watt. It would be cool to see how the performance of snapdragons are scaling over time.
Great breakdown. In the end though for me I just use a Steam OLED for everything. A buy once and play nearly everything on this list well. For most people (who don't run tech youtube channels) I don't see much purpose in getting multiple form factors, except maybe the DS and 3DS for the reasons you pointed out. I mean for me why would I not just play SNES, NES, Gameboy all on my steamdeck and then not have to buy and manage multiple devices. Then I can still play most of my steam catalogue too. That OLED screen really makes those retro games pop too.
Agreed. It's the overall best device bar none. However, systems like the RGB30 really do have a place, and then the 35XX H is so portable you'll end up playing it on the go.
Can't find that DS parallel setup guide anywhere but I'll keep poking around. I gave my kids my 3DS and DS Lite and didn't know about the flashcards until now. Luckily I recently did a massive cataloging of roms, so I just get those cards and dump a bunch of games for them. This'll be way better than scanning flea markets and overpaying for carts. Super grateful!
Anbernic RG ARC D Saturn handheld is the best thing I've bought in a long time. Use it more than my Steam Deck. Make sure to change your UI in the menu to retro 3. Love this thing, the 6 buttons are ❤
In the context of which handheld, besides the original hardware itself, is the best "controlling device" for Wii and DS, Steam Deck is the winner, thanks to its trackpads and Steam Input's vast configurations and gyro options. Wulff Den did a great video covering the trackpads and their use in Wii and DS games, if anyone wants to check that out. Steam Deck has also been an amazing way to re-experience Dreamcast shooter games, because you can easily remap shooter controls to be much more intuitive. DC lacked 2 analog sticks, typically the face buttons would be for movement while the analog stick would be for aiming, which was awkward. But on Deck, you can instead map the Deck's left stick to act as the DC's face buttons for movement and the Deck's right stick as the DC's left stick for aiming. But here's where things get wild and what sets the Steam Deck above the other handhelds... You can then do gyro aiming in Dreamcast games! So that when the right stick or right trackpad is merely being touched (as in the gyro is only activated when they're touched and isn't active all the time), the gyro can act as the Dreamcast's left stick, so you now have full on gyro aiming acting as the left stick in Dreamcast shooters. Or you can map the right trackpad to emulate the Dreamcast's left stick, and have trackpad + gyro aiming, which feels even more accurate. And speaking of the trackpad - on rail shooters for Dreamcast and Wii feel insanely good to play using the Steam Deck's trackpad and way more intuitive and faster than using an analog stick.
The process is always the same: I like the video, start playing it and put it into fullscreen mode. And when the music and title is playing, I have to check whether I've correctly already hit the like button before starting to play the video. You've been retro-ifying my world since the RG-351P.
Thanks for not forgetting the g cloud. I still love mine for retro gaming. The feel and the screen are amazing. I really hope they do another and fix their few mistakes and get a better starting price. I have steam deck, rp4, Odin 2,and others and I still pick this up more often just for random retro games and any given time.
I've personally settled on using steam deck oled for literally everything (with PS3 I stream from desktop) as my life really cannot fit faffing around with switching handhelds all the time. The oled + a 16:10 aspect ratio really is the perfect middle ground between 4:3 and 16:9 systems as thanks to the large screen you'll get a nice big screen with minimal black bars on both, and the black bars will not light up thanks to the oled screen. It has enough power for basically everything (though won't lie, battery life could be better), the controls are both quite ergonomic both for dual stick and button + dpad and are very flexible for werid controll setups thanks to the very large amount of extra, trackpads and touch screen. It also having access to a giant PC library is also freaking awesome, and leaves a lot of PS3 and beyond emulation obselete since I can just run the games nativly, especailly so with modern indie games Only thing I could see is me getting a smaller more portable and battery life oriented device for when the steam deck is too large to bring, because oh boy is it a big one, and then I'd likely go with stuff that's lower end of emulation than N64, so GBA/SNES and below with maybe ligher ps1/saturn games. Think that would round out the steam deck quite nicely
Thanks so much for this video. It actually pushed me towards getting some of the original handhelds- namely a New 3DSXL, DSiXL and a Vita. There is just no more authentic way of playing their games (especially with the 3DS being designed to be 3D if you choose). They will only get rarer as time goes by, which makes them very collectable. Also, once they are soft-modded, they can do a certain amount of emulation on them, which I'm having a lot of fun with.
I have a Miyoo Mini Plus and a TrimUI Smart Pro. I will say that from my own experience, the Miyoo Mini Plus is great for the portable consoles like Game Boy/Game Boy color, Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket/Color, and GBA. It’s also solid for SNES and Genesis (especially for RPGs), and playing PS1 games has been a great experience on it. I’m also binging Turbo Grafix 16 games on it, and I’m having an awesome time. As for the TrimUI Smart Pro, it’s ideal for 80’s and 90’s arcade games, especially using Final Burn Neo, and ESPECIALLY for fighting games. I’ve played every popular an obscure arcade fighting game on it, and the d-pad has allowed for some great playing experiences. PS1 games handle extremely well on the TrimUI Smart Pro. I found myself playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 on it, and I found myself breezing through levels on it. Part of it was muscle memory, but I have to compliment the buttons and d-pad on the TrimUI Smart Pro on their comfort and responsiveness.
9:14 - One other option not mentioned would be a larger Samsung tablet like an S8-S9. Those have stylus support, AMOLED screen and there's lots of room for both screens. Though, not the most pocketable choice so credit still goes to original hardware. 13:03 - It might be difficult to find now and RP4 is a great overall choice but if anyone can get a Pocket Air for a decent price, that's the one I'd recommend for PSP. It's amazing how nice the games look on modern AMOLED displays and then having the additional upscale to smooth out aliasing is icing on the cake. Really, it's the handheld Sony should've made for nostalgia. 28:57 - This is massive for home use but thinking back to Ben Heck and how he'd mod systems for military, this seems like such a better option for downtime. Curious about your thoughts on that Russ. This video is an insane amount of work and thanks for effort. Lots of choices and hope everyone can find solution for their needs. Steam Deck 2 will hopefully refine what is currently offered with x86 handhelds and deliver something really special. 14:38 - As a side note, one oddball system I was surprised by the look was the QLED PiMax Portal. It's such a beautiful screen with options for 4k at 5.5 inches surprisingly, the pixel density makes a difference with classic games. Granted, the original bluetooth only, weird tear drop shaped dpad really kills any sort of precision. Even with a replacement BSP D8 tablet controller and better dpad, it's filled with bizarre quirks so it's more of a novelty and maybe glimpse into the future for screen tech. Maybe future magnet tech with the Super Switch.
I hope the other handheld RUclipsrs do a video like this! I want to start collecting but I want to collect certain handhelds starting off but I’d love to see the other content creators make a video like this so I could narrow a lot down!
I'm sitting next to 4 awesome loaded handhelds but end up just watching one of your videos instead. Why? I think the tinkering and squeezing all the juice and performance out of these devices is more fun than playing the games themself.
Yes it feels like a missing piece in that generation now that GameCube and PS2 are beginning to emerge on handhelds. Does anyone know if there is an Xbox emulation Android app in development?
I'm thankful that I still have my original modded console with a 2tb HDD in it. I really wish the emulation scene for xbox was bigger. It really was my favourite console of that generation. So many memories.
Do we know what the challenges are when it comes to emulation? Afterall it was an x86 machine, I would imagine the steam deck or rog ally wouldn’t be perfect
@@mccoxsterWow that really brings back memories for me! My first ever console was an Xbox as a kid and it’s not until I powered it up and realized it was modded. My aunts bf really changed my life with that gift and made me the nerd I am today. I used to go to block buster to rent games and rip em to my console. Good times! Hope yours lasts forever!
Your videos are great even if I don’t need any more “upgrades” for my handhelds for a long time. I have a steam deck and rg35xx h now and they are perfect for what I need. In a way, the steam deck would be all I need for all options (I love playing docked on all my games, and it was a dream of mine to play handheld games on the tv), but I do find comfort in playing my games I grew up with handheld on something similar to a GBA. I don’t need anything else atm, but I love seeing these videos is nice to see and I enjoy Russ’s content a lot. The energy and vibe is just great to watch and seeing what the community is up to. Thank you!
I just ordered one from AliExpress as my first every retro handheld after lurking around this channel for a few weeks. So stoked to play it! Any reccs on what OS to install on it?
@@nathaniles5456 Sorry no, some have said custom firmware is good, but others have said the very latest update to the built in OS performs brilliantly. I guess if you are new try the stock firmware first to find your feet and go from there.
Thanks for a mention on best streaming handhelds. I already had my fill of retro game emulators back on my PC several years ago, so now i mainly use my Odin 1 for xbox series x, game pass, and ps4 streaming, as im lucky to have fast internet. However your review of G Cloud , has put that next on my big purchase list!
Surprisingly I disagree with a lot of your picks but I get that it's absolute personal opinion. Here's my list: GB/GBC/Game Gear -> Analogue Pocket (there's absolutely no way around this for me) DS/3DS -> New 3DS XL (hacked) Switch -> Switch OLED (hacked to enable mods, cheats and savegame backups) NES/SNES/SMS/SG/PCE/PSX/N64/GBA -> RG405M GC/Wii/Wii U -> Wii U (hacked) -> not a handheld but I can play them on the couch with the GamePad while my wife uses the PC so somehow that counts for me Any newer systems -> Steam Deck or don't care :)
I really love the Trimui Smart Pro for gba too. Ive been playing it nonstop and really feels great. Love how easy it is to save state and the screen looks awesome.
For me the RP4 Pro has been my choice for PS2 games lately. I am pretty active and running around all the time, so a pocketable handheld is a must. It just barely fits the bill for pocketability, but it worked out in the end.
@@kalvin. Armored Core games are always in my rotation, Persona 3 FES lately, Character Action games like DMC, a good bit of Shadow of the Colossus too. Performance, while not phenomenal is perfectly playable if you don't try to crank the resolution too high.
@@AlexDenton0451 thanks! I think I’ll just save up for Odin 2, as PS2 is the biggest draw for me beyond basic GBA emulation so I want plenty of headroom, and I’m not as interested in modern AAA titles as it feels too much of a graphic specs arms race to want to shell out for a handheld PC or build one. I do hope Xbox/360 finally gets emulators in the future also.
I really loved this video. It is great to hear all the great reasons for each, but it also introduces those that are new to the retro handheld space to all these amazing devices. I want them all now, of course. My only "huh?" moment was picking a phone and controller over the G Cloud for GamePass and Series streaming. The sheer size of the screen and comfort of the G Cloud is just unbeatable. I also find that it is a smoother experience. I understand the feel of that particular controller might be nice, though, but it wouldn't work for me. I love the PS Portal, but even that wins mostly because of that screen! The rest is gravy.
DSi is better than the DSLite since you can just use an SD card instead of buying a flash card. There's a little bit of initial setup, but it's easy. The DSi's hinge is less likely to break. Plus the DSi has the XL version with the larger screen, which I prefer.
26:34 If you wanna go really over the top too, you can connect the Steam Deck to an external display, and then in desktop mode have it set up for dual monitors - for the super authentic Wii U experience.
Awesome stuff! Would you ever consider making a video on how to set up retro gaming for handheld and PC while sharing games and save files between devices? 🙏🙏
10:10 also worth noting: modding a dsi is incredibly easy and can allow you to not only play all ds games, but also nes, gbc, and GBA (and maybe SNES too)
I'm surprised you didn't mention your thoughts on Anbernic devices for PSP emulation. Their 505 has the same screen you praise the Vita for, and you acknowledged it as "an excellent PSP machine" in your in-depth review. Since then, they've released the greatly (especially that beautiful screen) improved 556, which is basically neck and neck with Retroid's offerings IMO. Care to elaborate, Russ?
It’s all about the buttons, I feel like they are too small to really “emulate” the SNES experience. So instead I focused on the visual experience of the RGB30!
@@RetroGameCorps I find the same logic applies to buttons for N64 handhelds. I am curious why no handheld exists with the option for the control stick & face buttons in a layout more reminiscent of N64 face buttons + C Buttons.
That 640 x 480 124 Hz display though (don't forget to set up G-Sync on Retroarch for buttery smooth FPS). ❤ This one gets my vote for all 4:3 retro content.
I would really love a video about your favorite games on these consoles 🤔 as a newcomer to this im always looking for recommendations. Thanks for all the great work 😘
Currently rocking a Vita for all things retro and anything more recent on my steam deck. I also have an Amazon fire stick that I need to put a little more time into setting up, but that of course isn't handheld
It's the default device everyone should own. Nothing is better. You start with SteamDeck and then augment it with these other handhelds if necessary. Get the OLED edition, yes it's worth the extra money.
Great video and idea! Id vote RP2S over 405M for PS1, but loved the justification for each system. Maybe I can let you know my list in an RH video soon! 😈🎉 Stubbs
ok, SHORT AND SWEET FOR ME.... I use the Steam Deck for most emulation. I just picked up (would love to see a final review of this one), the KT-R1. This thing is great. Now I can have PS2 and GameCube in my pocket, with an awesome 4:3 screen. My OG Miyoo Mini, My RG-353M and the R36s, I think I am going to sell off... I think I have what I need till a SteamDeck 2 comes out...
So basically get a Steam Deck + N3DS XL and play everything with the best possible experience in a handled package. Best balance between cost, library, and experience.
Been watching your videos since I got a Steamdeck a year or so ago and it’s been great! I should have never gone down the emulation rabbit hole but I have been playing through so many games! I also got anbernic RG35XX device since I don’t have a gameboy anymore and that has been fun as well. I would love another handheld for more emulation that’s smaller. But the Steamdeck is still my go to. 💪 I also got an and modded a 3DS xl with my bro and I have my personal modded 3DS and I can play dual screen games on there. It brought life back into my life 3DS which is cool.
every day my will to resist buying an Odin 2 grows smaller and smaller. its honestly not in the budget rn but ive been considering selling off my Switch and accessories and using the money from that to invest into an Odin2. the Switch is V1 but patched unfortunately and tbh i was disappointed when looking into the emulation power of the switch. looks like the Odin2 is way more powerful for software emulation. plus i only wanted the switch for Zelda and Pokemon. ive beat both Zelda games and licensed Pokemon games have been ass lately. Romhacks are the only saving grace for the pokemon franchise for me rn.
@@josecarlospadilla9883 agreed, however there isn’t a true “apple” like reliable device that is smaller and still has the same performance. We do have emulators that are awesome but they eventually have corrupted save points in games and don’t last long term. At least the save data.
I think the spirit of this video is, what handheld gives you the feel of the source content. The Anbernic he picked for the Sega games is a perfect example, it’s literally laid out specifically to feel like those consoles. Steam deck is just the bazooka of handhelds, yes it will run everything smoothly, but does it feel right in every scenario?
I'm using 3 handhelds_ Thanks for this detailed video! RG35XX DMG gray (I love the gameboy form factor) using it for GB, GBC, GBA, NES, SNES, SEGA MD, Commodore games, and some DOS games. (pocketable with a 3D printed cover) Retroid Pocket 3+ using it for PSP, NDS, Gamecube, DOS games mostly but some 3DS and wii games runs well. Gamepas, PS remote play, and steam remote play also comes handy. I really love this handheld. Steamdeck for retro games what I can reach in steam, and other steam games. (Using for emulators and puting file on the deck is pain in my a.... )
Cool recommendations, but I feel the 3DS and PSVita are very well rounded if you could only have two. They’ll do most of the retro 8 and 16 bit stuff well, and each can do something the other can’t. 3DS does DS and 3DS, and the Vita does PS1/PSP/PSVita. Neither does 64 well, but some of the best 64 stuff is on 3DS, and the pc port of Mario 64 is on both.
I think DSi XL is the best way to enjoy DS by a mile: - SD Card slot for easy homebrew - Huge (for a DS) 4.2” screen - Perfect pixels (unlike 3DS/2DS) - The best dome-style buttons and dpad Nintendo has ever produced
Plus there’s also the added context that the RP4 is a $150 Odin Lite that is the same size as the RP3+ and has the same sticks as the Odin 2. That’s not even getting into the RP4 Pro, which has a much stronger chipset and 8GB-RAM for only $50 more.
Great video. I love that you included a lot of fun smaller indie handhelds for retro systems, but in the end, even they look way way way better on a steamdeck oled. It's kinda ll you need
@@Whatsup_Abroad nope, always worth it, form factor, games, ease of use, experience and there’s a reason why RGC has it as the #1 spot. I’d rather carry a case for it than settle for an inferior gaming experience
I wish there was more options for device that could integer scale gba using most (if not all) of the screen that were closer to 4-4.5"". I find that above ~4" GBA games just don't *feel* right because of the low resolution being blown up so large. GBA on my DSi XL is basically the experience I want but with QoL stuff from emulation (also compatibility issues with gbarunner2).
I don’t want to own all those handhelds to emulate certain consoles. I prefer just playing on the Steam Deck because I want the convenience playing all my systems using one handheld or as less devices as possible. And all the recharging each device stuff gets annoying. But I’ll play along and pick the devices that I prefer playing a certain system. *Steam* *Deck* Wii (touchpads are perfect) Xbox GameCube PlayStation 2 Dreamcast PSP (thanks to upscaling) Jaguar *Switch* Switch Wii U (ports) *PS* *Vita* PS Vita Arcade (16-bit MAME) 32X Super NES Genesis NES Game Gear Game Boy *Galaxy* *Z* *Flip* *3* DS Consoles up to PS2/GameCube Razr 5G (cover screen is 4:3) Consoles from N64 to below Don’t really touch my modded PSP slim as of late because the standby time is atrocious and is usually dead from a full charge after a few days. But if I do use it, it’s to play PSP, PS1, Genesis, and NES games. It’s not great with Super NES but Vita isn’t perfect with it either. Steam Deck generally wins for most cases. My Flip 3 has trouble with Wii because I can’t emulate the pointer like the Deck does with the right trackpad. And Android doesn’t have an Xbox emulator that EmuDeck has. And Steam Deck handles upscaling better than Flip 3 for systems like PS2 and GameCube. I prefer to play older retro games from up to PS1 using a smaller device like a PSP or Vita. But for most cases, it’s the Steam Deck. I don’t want to own all those handhelds to play a certain system. Deck isn’t perfect for a few of them including DS but it’s good enough for most of my needs. I’m sorta wanting out of the retro emulation scene as of late and prefer playing newer AAA games released within the last 10-12 years. I played those 20 to nearly 40-year-old games so many times already back as a kid. I don’t need that nostalgia dopamine kick. Now I prefer playing AAA titles from like 2013 and later. The one I don’t have emulated is Saturn. I’m fine with that. I can play them on my Z Flip 3. I don’t know how to use CHDMAN, so I stopped caring. And I don’t have any Model 2, 3, and NAOMI arcade games. I can live without them and DS/3DS games on the Steam Deck. I prefer playing 8th generation games with endless indies. I’m currently obsessed trying to get my first platinum trophy playing FF7 Remake. I finally beat Jules yesterday! Pain in the ass. Took me like 100 attempts and about 5 hours. I got 46 pull-ups with Tifa while he got his usual 44. Now I’m going to beat every chapter in hard mode. I beat 7 out of the 18 so far. Best strategy before fighting Weiss is to beat all of hard mode first. I want to play games on a handheld with graphics like FF7R. With Unreal Engine 4 on the go. The past is great to revisit once in a while but some stuff is better left in the past. In the end, Deck usually wins. It gives me access to the past and I can still play most current releases. Odin 2 can’t play FF7 Remake natively and offline. Just mostly older retro consoles that a Steam Deck can already do. Don’t want to spend another $300+ on an Odin 2.
I have a little over 20 handhelds including a steamdeck and Odin 2 pro but I play my ps portal more than any of the others. It's the perfect handheld for my use case. Thanks Russ another great video.
Honestly the biggest difference is that I'd put Switch in that "software emulation ain't there yet, just play on original hardware" category. I've got both a Steam Deck and an Odin 2 and I have fiddled with Switch emulation on both, but to borrow a Russ-ism, I have found that the juice isn't worth the squeeze on either compared to inserting a cartridge or pressing a button to download the same game on an actual Switch and just playing the dang game.
The ARC-D is a gem which has already largely been forgotten (and sadly lacking in much in the way of CFW) but it's SO SO comfy, one of the best 4:3 devices out there.
This is a video I wanted you to do for a loooong time! Loved it! However, I was a bit sad you didn't factor in portability for most of these choices, since it's something I value a lot (e.g I would have taken the MM+ over the fgpc because of portability alone)
15:30 MAN!!! I’ve been looking for the name of that game FOREVER!!! Wizards and warriors! Man that game was so fun and I’ve been wanting to play it for a hot minute! Thank you thank you thank you! Subbed strictly just for that. Although, I should anyways because the content here is 🔥
@@skycloud4802 I would of also said I’m surprised he didn’t pick the 351V for Gameboy and Gameboy color since it’s the same form factor and plays them well but it’s also an older handheld so makes since he wouldn’t bring up and handheld from a few years ago at this point even though he did mention the 351p.
I love this channel so much! I already have a steamdeck OLED and I'll never buy another emulation device because I know ill just keep buying a faster and new one every 3-6 months lol. My steamdeck is huge though but can emulate games on my iPhone and backbone better than any of these cheaper devices.
The DSlite is quite possibly the worst DS model you could use. The screens have all either yellowed or faded, and many came with severe ghosting. The buttons are all stiff, terrible trash and the shape of the DSlite has sharp edges that dig into your hands. The og phat NDS is the true way to go, for both DS and GBA compatability. Otherwise, a New 3DS or New 2DS.
Yeah I really try to not take mine out of the box so mines still 9.5/10 but also I should keep an eye out for the OG boxed too. Used to have the dark blue one when I was a young teen. Loved that thing
As a general take away for this video, I find it an interesting thought experiment, but ultimately, the best handheld emulator is the one you have on hand (and usually that comes down to cost). Now for more specific topics: FPGA: I feel somewhat conflicted. As a tech nerd, I find the concept of hardware level emulation fascinating. However, it's pretty much exclusively used to emulate consoles that are piss easy to emulate in software and they're usually absurdly expensive for what they do. DS and 3DS (and WiiU) emulation: Yeah, a lot of modern Nintendo consoles that have... unique hardware configurations make for some difficult emulation challenges to the point where it probably makes more sense just to stick with original hardware or accept a compromised experience. Luckily for the WiiU however, most games don't really make proper use of the dual screen feature of the console. Original Xbox: Yeah, I can speak from experience (I had to setup my dad's Steam Deck for Original Xbox emulation) that Original Xbox emulation is a bit of a pain in the ass and not just in performance either. Getting the correct ROMs is also kind of a pain in the ass as well, since you now have to deal with ROM files that may or may not be the correct file format. You need .xiso files, not .iso files and .xiso is not a proper file extension and the file will come up as an .iso. The only difference being that .xiso files are smaller than regular .iso files. You can convert .iso files to .xiso files, but it's a pain in the ass to do so and isn't guaranteed to work.
Awesome video! I pretty much use my Steam Deck for anything and everything. It just allows you to play many systems really well. The Steam Deck has run everything I have thrown at it even dozens of PC fangames only using Proton compatibility! It is a great all-in-one solution for gaming once you get it up and running! However, I am 100% in agreement with Russ on using original hardware for DS and 3DS games. Many of those games were built with dual screen/touch-screen in mind, so the DS/3DS just feel more natural on the native handhelds compared to other handheld options via emulation.
I've got a jail-broken Playstation Vita for PS1, PSP, and Vita games. I use a soft modded 3DS XL for DS and 3DS games. And I currently have a Powkiddy RGB30 for everything else.
For DS emulation I’ve started using an iPad with a controller. When you have the controller connected the Delta app will automatically make both screens fill the screen and it looks great when you prop the iPad up on a stand.
I have done this too, and it is a great solution. Hard to call it handheld however. Just using an iPhone is also a great experience (even sans controller).
Aw crap I forgot to add Nintendo Wii to my spreadsheet. It would have had Steam Deck as my #1 choice because there are a lot of things you can do with Steam Input and gyro to (almost) replicate the original experience.
Or just ignore the original experience and use the track pads instead 😁
Playing most Wii games without the Wiimote just doesn't make sense tbh
@@father042 Yah, it was weird replaying Harvest Moon Animal Parade without swinging my farming equipment with my character haha
@@father042 You can map original wiimote to Dolphin emulator. I'm using a battery powered lightbar but you can use two candle or led light or anithing....
@@Cooperage911 Yeah that's what I have been doing with the Dolphin Bar
Retro Game Corps is my comfort content. ❤
This. Retro game corps and thefineprint. Top notch.
I AGREE WITH THIS! SO TRUE, I really do sit down with a snack and a drink and enjoy these. Banger videos, Russ is just always awesome. I could watch this man forever
Put it better than I could’ve.
Dude. Me too!
Well said. I’m probably not gonna buy any of these handhelds but I just enjoy the content, haha
That really has inspired me to take my DS's and 3DS's out of retirement, haven't played with them in quite a while.
yeah same, I modded my 2ds xl with such a huge library and have a pirate 2ds card with hundreds of games on it. I really have to charge it up again. Love that system.
And then we have the virtual boy emulator "Red Viper" on 3DS. Not only does it run well, but it also support 3D effect so that you can play those games with 3D effect with naked eyes :3
I was literally thanking the same watching the video and then I see your comment lol, what a coincidence
@@LYK1003 Ohh I didn't know such an emulator existed, I need to check that one out, thanks @LYK1003
@@GameTechTalk It's awesome and you have to see it for yourself if you are interested. I was legit blown away when I saw those virtual boy games in 3D effect with naked eyes and it's basically a perfect way to experience the virtual boy library.
And you can choose any other color you want if the original red color irritates you :3
DSi XL is my personal favourite to play DS games. Large 4.2" screens, better ergonomics due to the larger size, better battery life, and guaranteed dual-IPS panels as all units were produced with them
Yeah the battery life on the XL is NUTS
I don't know why he picked the tiny as heck original DS. The XL is great.
Also better scaling on the larger screen. 3ds has an integer scaling option built in but it makes the screen considerably smaller so dsi is the best
the ips panel's on the dsi xl are also insanely good for when they came out
I cannot play ds games on anything else now
Agreed 💯 The DSi XL is amazing
I've been waiting for a video like this for a year. Some people don't want to play everything in one device. I personally been hunting for the best way to play GBA outside of a regular GBA and this really helped. Thanks!
Or have an entire collection of handhelds dedicated to per system.
I'm in that group - while having the ability "to play every system pre x360/ PS3" sounds nice, I found that playing PS2 and Gamecube still feeld best for me on a PC with the appropriate screen size.
Since Handheld means ultimately "smaller screen" I rarely play anything beyond PS1/ N64 on my RP4pro...
Abernick RG35XX PLUS/ H amazing for GBA
I'm new to your whole scene but I gotta say, the effort you put into your videos is amazing. Detailed and nuanced with high production quality to boot. Thank you
Thanks for watching!
So very happy to see the G Cloud get a little love it’s such an awesome handheld.
Hi Russ,I cannot thank you for getting me into this hobby. I just got my Miyoo Mini plus and RG35XX H. Setup both with Onion OS and Batocera with your guides.
Playing Pokemon red on my miyoo mini plus with the colour scheme of Gameboy Pocket almost brought me to tears cos of the nostalgia and memories. I remember working at a local Food Centre washing dishes at 10 years old to save up to get the GB pocket and Pokémon red. That GB pocket and Pokémon cartridge got me through some really tough times growing up the years after. Love you Russ for showing me a way to reconnect to those memories ❤ Cheers!
P.s. I find the miyoo mini plus the perfect handheld to emulate Gameboy pocket😁
I have the RG35XX PLUS and i think its the same as good
I just started my retro handheld journey and I got these exact two and I think between the two of these and my steam deck I'm good and now am ready for anything
I have to admit: I got my Odin 2 Pro to play Dreamcast (especially) and GameCube with no fuss…but the thing I do the most is Game Pass! So much so that I got an Xbox for my birthday, and now use the Odin for remote play a lot as well. Great video! You always inspire me to play instead of just mucking about with emulators and setting up systems. ☺️
Here’s a for real real question.. for Russ or really anyone. How often do you actually play games outside of making/watching videos about them. Like how often do we sit down and play either a full game or significant amount of time in one game? With SO many options at our fingertips, how do you decide what to play? Do you play multiple games at once? Genuinely curious because find myself watching content about games and researching devices/building devices rather than actually playing games. When I do, I spend maybe 10-20 minutes here and there on retro games.
I bought a retroid, but I still end up emulating all my games on my z6 flip ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Honestly did not expect the RP2S to get a mention here but I'm so glad it did. I think that device is killer for Dreamcast and N64. I also really enjoy it for GB/GBC/GBA, once you get the right combination of video filters and shaders it looks spectacular and is roughly the same size as the original hardware.
Let's go rp2s!!!
I still regret selling it for RP4Pro, because it was better for some of the older 4:3 systems.
sssly? watched this to help decide what to upgrade to from my Retroid Pocket 2S because I've found N64 to be basically unplayable on it. Many games just crash immediately and from the reading I've done it's only possible to get some to play acceptably after spending hours fiddling with the settings for each title. Is there some secret I'm missing???
The intro is like a retro hug. Always so cozy... The older intro was sugar on steroids haha
Another hit from Russ! Thanks for the awesome content
I've watched this 4 times now while researching different retro handhelds over the last few months.
This might be my favorite video that you have made Russ. This was a great idea and topic to cover. I haven't seen much vids done about this so I thank you for covering this. I have quite a few handhelds myself: Steam Deck LCD model, Switch OLED, Powkiddy RGB 10 Max vers 1 & 2, Miyoo Mini & Miyoo Mini Plus, Anbernic RG353P, modded Vita 2000 model, new edition 3DS LL (XL), DS Lite, og non modded GBC & og non modded GBA. I found that the RG353P is my favorite to use to play anything from NES to Sega 32x/TurboGrafx CD and MAME (also GBA) because of the ergonomics and Super Nintendo style controls even tho I'm not a fan of the small 480p screen. GB & GBC, I actually like the Miyoo Mini Plus because playing on a vertical handheld just feels nostalgic (also having small hands like me makes the Plus ergonomics much more tolerable). Vita, PSP & PS1 (PSP eboot versions) games, I play on my modded Vita. 3DS & DS, I play them on my new edition 3DS LL/XL for obvious reasons. While I love the Steam Deck, I'm just not a fan of using that dpad for retro games. If the dpad was better (I heard the OLED model has an improved dpad so maybe if I get that in the distant future I'll change my opinion on that), I would play more retro games from 8 bit to 16/32 bit era on it. Dreamcast, N64, GameCube, PS2, & Wii U I love playing on the Steam Deck. Xbox emulation & PS3 emulation, I'm not going to spend so much money on a handheld just to play those systems, not worth it. Switch games, as much as we can emulate Switch on the Steam Deck, even though I hate the official Nintendo joy cons, I just use the Switch since I already physically own most of the Switch games I want to play. But for games like Breath of the Wild & Tears of the Kingdom, I use my Binbok RGB Slim joy cons. For Smash Bros, I use a Mayflash GameCube controller adapter that can be used with the Switch and I just use my og Gamecube controller.
You’ve got way more picks than I do, but I tend to think about things the same way: which machine for which retro platforms. I play a lot of adventure and RPG games, so where possible I like to play systems that are dockable to a TV. My picks are:
DS/3DS/Virtual Boy - modded New 2DS XL or 3DS XL (some games benefit from 3D, most I don’t care and use 2D which has a better screen imo)
Everything up through 16-bit - Analogue Pocket
PS1 - Powkiddy RGB30
Saturn/N64 to modern systems - Steam Deck
I also use a MiSTer quite a bit, but that’s more for playing games that aren’t long. Arcade, action, puzzle, etc.
Why did you forget the Wii ? I'm playing a lot of Wii games on my Odin 2 like Mario Galaxy 2, Fragile Dreams, The Last Story, Kirby Epic Yarn, and Wario Land The Shake Dimension, they all work very well.
No one talks about Atari, which makes me really curious, but he left it out.
I've been thinking about some Wii games in particular, like Endless Ocean, but a more shocking miss. The one time the WiiU gets recognition, while the Wii is forgotten
@@washuaithe best way to play Atari games is to imagine it in your head because actually playing them is miserable
I left a pinned comment, I forgot to add it to my spreadsheet so when I was recording my voiceover I blanked on it! Odin 2 is great for it but like with GameCube I prefer the Steam Deck, especially because of the trackpads and Steam Input options.
Here is a text summary!
Atari VCS 2600: Panic PlayDate
Gameboy: PowKiddy RGB-20SX
NES: Anbernic RGB-35XX-H
GBC: Analogue Pocket
GameGear: Trimui Smart Pro
Genesis: PowKiddy A20
SNES: Anbernic RG-353-PS
GBA: Miyoo Mini+
32X-CD: Anbernic RG-ARC-D
Arcades: Anbernic RG-552
Saturn: Anbernic Win-600
PS1: Retroid Pocket 2S
N64: Anbernic RG-405M
NDS: PowKiddy RGB30
Dreamcast: PowKiddy 10Max3
PSP: Retroid Pocket Flip
PS2: Anbernic RG-556
3DS: Ayaneo Flip DS
GameCube: Retroid Pocket 4Pro
Wii: Refurbished SteamDeck
Xbox: MSi Claw
PS Vita: AYN Odin2
Xbox 360: GPD Win-Max-3
PS3: Ayaneo Kun
WiiU: Valve SteamDeck OLED
NSwitch: ASUS ROG Ally
XB1: Logitech G-Cloud (X-R-Play)
PS4: PS Play (stream to phone)
PS5: PS Portal (local stream)
XSX: xCloud (stream to tablet)
Another great video! Thank you
Small note - I think Celeste was mislabeled in the Switch segment
My surprising winner for GBA is my Note 9 phone with my Gamesir controller. Really any Flag ship phone from the last 5 years would do. Wide screen, but the trick is the really high resolution, surpassing just about any handheld resolution, which allows for pixel scaling without losing real state. And it's OLED, so in addition to the integer scaling , it looks amazing.
I just got a G8 myself to use with my iPhone 15 Plus and its been a total blast to use.
Delta emulator is great and so is the xbox/ps streaming experience.
That controller really feels amazing.
I agree.. my OLED Samsung galaxy S21+ with side controller is WAY WAY brighter and greater than any other handheld for playing GBA game.
I literally just ordered a Gamesir G8 for my recently retired Note 9! $59 off ebay new was the steal of the century especially compared to the backbone (still can't figure out how they charge a hundred bucks for that thing). Looking forward to turning that into my first ever retro game setup. I'm mainly interested in NES/SNES/N64/GB/GBC/GBA & PS1/PSP. Hopefully they all can run well on Android!
@@JV-tk9yn I've been playing Paper Mario on my phone, tablet, and PC and use SyncThing to keep my saves up to date.
Retroarch has a nasty bug where it crashes if you minimize the app, though. So be careful with that!
Try a z fold. The nearly 4:3 screen makes any old retro game look stunning. It is like holding a mini CRT in your hands.
Seeing this video pop as soon as I open YT and its been up for 9 seconds, must be a sign, have a good day Russ !
Are wee the same person?
I just found your channel and I can’t stop watching. You helped me narrow down my first emulator pick up, Miyoo Mini +, and I’m sure there will be more to come. Even though I don’t plan on buying anymore for awhile, I just can’t stop watching your break downs. Strangely comforting. Well done on a fantastic channel!
I find it incredibly interesting how mobile processors, like the snapdragon, are getting to the point where they match certain PC CPUs in performance per watt. It would be cool to see how the performance of snapdragons are scaling over time.
Great breakdown. In the end though for me I just use a Steam OLED for everything. A buy once and play nearly everything on this list well. For most people (who don't run tech youtube channels) I don't see much purpose in getting multiple form factors, except maybe the DS and 3DS for the reasons you pointed out. I mean for me why would I not just play SNES, NES, Gameboy all on my steamdeck and then not have to buy and manage multiple devices. Then I can still play most of my steam catalogue too. That OLED screen really makes those retro games pop too.
Agreed. It's the overall best device bar none. However, systems like the RGB30 really do have a place, and then the 35XX H is so portable you'll end up playing it on the go.
@@m4dp4ck3t Yeah, I can them from both a portability perspective and affordability perspective. They do seem like great devices.
Its cool that you are essentially creating somewhat of a historical video.
Can't find that DS parallel setup guide anywhere but I'll keep poking around. I gave my kids my 3DS and DS Lite and didn't know about the flashcards until now. Luckily I recently did a massive cataloging of roms, so I just get those cards and dump a bunch of games for them. This'll be way better than scanning flea markets and overpaying for carts. Super grateful!
Anbernic RG ARC D Saturn handheld is the best thing I've bought in a long time. Use it more than my Steam Deck.
Make sure to change your UI in the menu to retro 3.
Love this thing, the 6 buttons are ❤
That Sega inspired button and d-pad layout almost made me get one.
@@skycloud4802 you're missing out.
Are you using the vanilla or custom firmware?
@@skycloud4802 So get one already. You will not be disappointed.
I want the Arc-D and the 35xx SP. The SP looks so conveniently pocketable, but the Arc-D is ideal for some of my favorite games
In the context of which handheld, besides the original hardware itself, is the best "controlling device" for Wii and DS, Steam Deck is the winner, thanks to its trackpads and Steam Input's vast configurations and gyro options. Wulff Den did a great video covering the trackpads and their use in Wii and DS games, if anyone wants to check that out.
Steam Deck has also been an amazing way to re-experience Dreamcast shooter games, because you can easily remap shooter controls to be much more intuitive. DC lacked 2 analog sticks, typically the face buttons would be for movement while the analog stick would be for aiming, which was awkward. But on Deck, you can instead map the Deck's left stick to act as the DC's face buttons for movement and the Deck's right stick as the DC's left stick for aiming.
But here's where things get wild and what sets the Steam Deck above the other handhelds... You can then do gyro aiming in Dreamcast games! So that when the right stick or right trackpad is merely being touched (as in the gyro is only activated when they're touched and isn't active all the time), the gyro can act as the Dreamcast's left stick, so you now have full on gyro aiming acting as the left stick in Dreamcast shooters.
Or you can map the right trackpad to emulate the Dreamcast's left stick, and have trackpad + gyro aiming, which feels even more accurate.
And speaking of the trackpad - on rail shooters for Dreamcast and Wii feel insanely good to play using the Steam Deck's trackpad and way more intuitive and faster than using an analog stick.
The process is always the same: I like the video, start playing it and put it into fullscreen mode. And when the music and title is playing, I have to check whether I've correctly already hit the like button before starting to play the video. You've been retro-ifying my world since the RG-351P.
Thanks for not forgetting the g cloud. I still love mine for retro gaming. The feel and the screen are amazing. I really hope they do another and fix their few mistakes and get a better starting price. I have steam deck, rp4, Odin 2,and others and I still pick this up more often just for random retro games and any given time.
I've personally settled on using steam deck oled for literally everything (with PS3 I stream from desktop) as my life really cannot fit faffing around with switching handhelds all the time. The oled + a 16:10 aspect ratio really is the perfect middle ground between 4:3 and 16:9 systems as thanks to the large screen you'll get a nice big screen with minimal black bars on both, and the black bars will not light up thanks to the oled screen.
It has enough power for basically everything (though won't lie, battery life could be better), the controls are both quite ergonomic both for dual stick and button + dpad and are very flexible for werid controll setups thanks to the very large amount of extra, trackpads and touch screen. It also having access to a giant PC library is also freaking awesome, and leaves a lot of PS3 and beyond emulation obselete since I can just run the games nativly, especailly so with modern indie games
Only thing I could see is me getting a smaller more portable and battery life oriented device for when the steam deck is too large to bring, because oh boy is it a big one, and then I'd likely go with stuff that's lower end of emulation than N64, so GBA/SNES and below with maybe ligher ps1/saturn games. Think that would round out the steam deck quite nicely
Trimui smart pro is perfect for light emulation on the go
Thanks so much for this video. It actually pushed me towards getting some of the original handhelds- namely a New 3DSXL, DSiXL and a Vita. There is just no more authentic way of playing their games (especially with the 3DS being designed to be 3D if you choose). They will only get rarer as time goes by, which makes them very collectable. Also, once they are soft-modded, they can do a certain amount of emulation on them, which I'm having a lot of fun with.
Thanks for making such a comprehensive video. If I go retro handheld shopping in the future, this is gonna be my reference point :)
Thanks Russ, have been waiting for a well needed guide for each system. So this is spot on!
I have a Miyoo Mini Plus and a TrimUI Smart Pro. I will say that from my own experience, the Miyoo Mini Plus is great for the portable consoles like Game Boy/Game Boy color, Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket/Color, and GBA. It’s also solid for SNES and Genesis (especially for RPGs), and playing PS1 games has been a great experience on it. I’m also binging Turbo Grafix 16 games on it, and I’m having an awesome time. As for the TrimUI Smart Pro, it’s ideal for 80’s and 90’s arcade games, especially using Final Burn Neo, and ESPECIALLY for fighting games. I’ve played every popular an obscure arcade fighting game on it, and the d-pad has allowed for some great playing experiences. PS1 games handle extremely well on the TrimUI Smart Pro. I found myself playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 on it, and I found myself breezing through levels on it. Part of it was muscle memory, but I have to compliment the buttons and d-pad on the TrimUI Smart Pro on their comfort and responsiveness.
Ordered a Miyoo Mini Plus and am excited to explore it!
9:14 - One other option not mentioned would be a larger Samsung tablet like an S8-S9. Those have stylus support, AMOLED screen and there's lots of room for both screens. Though, not the most pocketable choice so credit still goes to original hardware.
13:03 - It might be difficult to find now and RP4 is a great overall choice but if anyone can get a Pocket Air for a decent price, that's the one I'd recommend for PSP. It's amazing how nice the games look on modern AMOLED displays and then having the additional upscale to smooth out aliasing is icing on the cake. Really, it's the handheld Sony should've made for nostalgia.
28:57 - This is massive for home use but thinking back to Ben Heck and how he'd mod systems for military, this seems like such a better option for downtime. Curious about your thoughts on that Russ. This video is an insane amount of work and thanks for effort. Lots of choices and hope everyone can find solution for their needs. Steam Deck 2 will hopefully refine what is currently offered with x86 handhelds and deliver something really special.
14:38 - As a side note, one oddball system I was surprised by the look was the QLED PiMax Portal. It's such a beautiful screen with options for 4k at 5.5 inches surprisingly, the pixel density makes a difference with classic games. Granted, the original bluetooth only, weird tear drop shaped dpad really kills any sort of precision. Even with a replacement BSP D8 tablet controller and better dpad, it's filled with bizarre quirks so it's more of a novelty and maybe glimpse into the future for screen tech. Maybe future magnet tech with the Super Switch.
here's mine:
ps2/psp/switch: Odin 2
ps1/gba/gbc/nes/snes/pico-8: MM+ or RGB30
pico-8/nintendo ds: RGB30
I hope the other handheld RUclipsrs do a video like this! I want to start collecting but I want to collect certain handhelds starting off but I’d love to see the other content creators make a video like this so I could narrow a lot down!
The R4i Gold is what I use for normal DS games, but I jailbreaked my DSi to play DSiWare games as well.
I'm sitting next to 4 awesome loaded handhelds but end up just watching one of your videos instead. Why? I think the tinkering and squeezing all the juice and performance out of these devices is more fun than playing the games themself.
Knowing that Xbox is hard to make portable is the biggest bummer.
Definitely the one console that holds a very special place in my heart.
Yes it feels like a missing piece in that generation now that GameCube and PS2 are beginning to emerge on handhelds. Does anyone know if there is an Xbox emulation Android app in development?
Maybe this will be fixed once the rumored Xbox handheld comes out.
I'm thankful that I still have my original modded console with a 2tb HDD in it. I really wish the emulation scene for xbox was bigger. It really was my favourite console of that generation. So many memories.
Do we know what the challenges are when it comes to emulation? Afterall it was an x86 machine, I would imagine the steam deck or rog ally wouldn’t be perfect
@@mccoxsterWow that really brings back memories for me! My first ever console was an Xbox as a kid and it’s not until I powered it up and realized it was modded. My aunts bf really changed my life with that gift and made me the nerd I am today. I used to go to block buster to rent games and rip em to my console. Good times! Hope yours lasts forever!
Your videos are great even if I don’t need any more “upgrades” for my handhelds for a long time. I have a steam deck and rg35xx h now and they are perfect for what I need. In a way, the steam deck would be all I need for all options (I love playing docked on all my games, and it was a dream of mine to play handheld games on the tv), but I do find comfort in playing my games I grew up with handheld on something similar to a GBA.
I don’t need anything else atm, but I love seeing these videos is nice to see and I enjoy Russ’s content a lot. The energy and vibe is just great to watch and seeing what the community is up to. Thank you!
The 35XX-H is just an amazing little device. Cheap, small, but runs quite a few old games and some PSP. And has analogue sticks.
I just ordered one from AliExpress as my first every retro handheld after lurking around this channel for a few weeks. So stoked to play it! Any reccs on what OS to install on it?
@@nathaniles5456 Sorry no, some have said custom firmware is good, but others have said the very latest update to the built in OS performs brilliantly. I guess if you are new try the stock firmware first to find your feet and go from there.
Thanks for a mention on best streaming handhelds. I already had my fill of retro game emulators back on my PC several years ago, so now i mainly use my Odin 1 for xbox series x, game pass, and ps4 streaming, as im lucky to have fast internet. However your review of G Cloud , has put that next on my big purchase list!
Surprisingly I disagree with a lot of your picks but I get that it's absolute personal opinion.
Here's my list:
GB/GBC/Game Gear -> Analogue Pocket (there's absolutely no way around this for me)
DS/3DS -> New 3DS XL (hacked)
Switch -> Switch OLED (hacked to enable mods, cheats and savegame backups)
NES/SNES/SMS/SG/PCE/PSX/N64/GBA -> RG405M
GC/Wii/Wii U -> Wii U (hacked) -> not a handheld but I can play them on the couch with the GamePad while my wife uses the PC so somehow that counts for me
Any newer systems -> Steam Deck or don't care :)
I really love the Trimui Smart Pro for gba too. Ive been playing it nonstop and really feels great. Love how easy it is to save state and the screen looks awesome.
For me the RP4 Pro has been my choice for PS2 games lately. I am pretty active and running around all the time, so a pocketable handheld is a must. It just barely fits the bill for pocketability, but it worked out in the end.
What games do you normally play for PS2? Have you found its performance to have improved since some of the early reviews?
@@kalvin. Armored Core games are always in my rotation, Persona 3 FES lately, Character Action games like DMC, a good bit of Shadow of the Colossus too. Performance, while not phenomenal is perfectly playable if you don't try to crank the resolution too high.
@@AlexDenton0451 thanks! I think I’ll just save up for Odin 2, as PS2 is the biggest draw for me beyond basic GBA emulation so I want plenty of headroom, and I’m not as interested in modern AAA titles as it feels too much of a graphic specs arms race to want to shell out for a handheld PC or build one. I do hope Xbox/360 finally gets emulators in the future also.
I really loved this video. It is great to hear all the great reasons for each, but it also introduces those that are new to the retro handheld space to all these amazing devices. I want them all now, of course.
My only "huh?" moment was picking a phone and controller over the G Cloud for GamePass and Series streaming. The sheer size of the screen and comfort of the G Cloud is just unbeatable. I also find that it is a smoother experience. I understand the feel of that particular controller might be nice, though, but it wouldn't work for me. I love the PS Portal, but even that wins mostly because of that screen! The rest is gravy.
DSi is better than the DSLite since you can just use an SD card instead of buying a flash card. There's a little bit of initial setup, but it's easy. The DSi's hinge is less likely to break. Plus the DSi has the XL version with the larger screen, which I prefer.
26:34 If you wanna go really over the top too, you can connect the Steam Deck to an external display, and then in desktop mode have it set up for dual monitors - for the super authentic Wii U experience.
Awesome stuff! Would you ever consider making a video on how to set up retro gaming for handheld and PC while sharing games and save files between devices? 🙏🙏
10:10 also worth noting: modding a dsi is incredibly easy and can allow you to not only play all ds games, but also nes, gbc, and GBA (and maybe SNES too)
I'm surprised you didn't mention your thoughts on Anbernic devices for PSP emulation. Their 505 has the same screen you praise the Vita for, and you acknowledged it as "an excellent PSP machine" in your in-depth review. Since then, they've released the greatly (especially that beautiful screen) improved 556, which is basically neck and neck with Retroid's offerings IMO.
Care to elaborate, Russ?
Agreed on this one. RG505 have an amazing screen and with PPSSPP it surpassed what Vita and PSP could do for PSP games.
My favourite binge-watch channel, even though I love my Steam Deck and dont't need another system( I also have Retroarch on my iPhone).
Shocked that the RG353p or PS didnt win for SNES lol
It’s all about the buttons, I feel like they are too small to really “emulate” the SNES experience. So instead I focused on the visual experience of the RGB30!
@@RetroGameCorps I find the same logic applies to buttons for N64 handhelds. I am curious why no handheld exists with the option for the control stick & face buttons in a layout more reminiscent of N64 face buttons + C Buttons.
That 640 x 480 124 Hz display though (don't forget to set up G-Sync on Retroarch for buttery smooth FPS). ❤
This one gets my vote for all 4:3 retro content.
I would really love a video about your favorite games on these consoles 🤔 as a newcomer to this im always looking for recommendations. Thanks for all the great work 😘
Currently rocking a Vita for all things retro and anything more recent on my steam deck. I also have an Amazon fire stick that I need to put a little more time into setting up, but that of course isn't handheld
My number one pick for Game Boy / Game Boy Color / Game Gear is now my PowKiddy B20SX! The display is on point.
Seeing your videos make me need a SteamDeck.
It's the default device everyone should own. Nothing is better. You start with SteamDeck and then augment it with these other handhelds if necessary. Get the OLED edition, yes it's worth the extra money.
Great video and idea! Id vote RP2S over 405M for PS1, but loved the justification for each system. Maybe I can let you know my list in an RH video soon! 😈🎉 Stubbs
What would you like to play everything on?
ok, SHORT AND SWEET FOR ME.... I use the Steam Deck for most emulation. I just picked up (would love to see a final review of this one), the KT-R1. This thing is great. Now I can have PS2 and GameCube in my pocket, with an awesome 4:3 screen.
My OG Miyoo Mini, My RG-353M and the R36s, I think I am going to sell off... I think I have what I need till a SteamDeck 2 comes out...
So basically get a Steam Deck + N3DS XL and play everything with the best possible experience in a handled package. Best balance between cost, library, and experience.
Soo many games but so little time to play any 😢
Amen. This is the best combo possible. All I would add honestly is PS Vita and Nintendo Switch for those consoles’ games.
@@sebastianc1110 that'd be covered by emulation on Steam Deck
Been watching your videos since I got a Steamdeck a year or so ago and it’s been great! I should have never gone down the emulation rabbit hole but I have been playing through so many games! I also got anbernic RG35XX device since I don’t have a gameboy anymore and that has been fun as well. I would love another handheld for more emulation that’s smaller. But the Steamdeck is still my go to. 💪 I also got an and modded a 3DS xl with my bro and I have my personal modded 3DS and I can play dual screen games on there. It brought life back into my life 3DS which is cool.
every day my will to resist buying an Odin 2 grows smaller and smaller. its honestly not in the budget rn but ive been considering selling off my Switch and accessories and using the money from that to invest into an Odin2. the Switch is V1 but patched unfortunately and tbh i was disappointed when looking into the emulation power of the switch. looks like the Odin2 is way more powerful for software emulation. plus i only wanted the switch for Zelda and Pokemon. ive beat both Zelda games and licensed Pokemon games have been ass lately. Romhacks are the only saving grace for the pokemon franchise for me rn.
Legends arceus was pretty good for a pokemon game
Android emulation is dying. I wouldn't dump that kind of cash on something that has a questionable future support.
Great content. For me, I'm happy playing the following:
Anbernic 35xx = GB, GBC, GBA, NGP, SNES
DSXL = DS
N3ds = 3ds, Virtual Boy
Vita = PS1, PSP, PSV
Switch = switch games
Steam deck = everything else.
So basically, go out and buy a steamdeck if you can afford one. Got it
I love the steam deck but i find it too heavy to take around with me, i like the portability of the shown devices
@@josecarlospadilla9883 agreed, however there isn’t a true “apple” like reliable device that is smaller and still has the same performance. We do have emulators that are awesome but they eventually have corrupted save points in games and don’t last long term. At least the save data.
And if you can't afford one, or it's too bulky for your needs, get an Odin 2 instead :^)
I think the spirit of this video is, what handheld gives you the feel of the source content. The Anbernic he picked for the Sega games is a perfect example, it’s literally laid out specifically to feel like those consoles. Steam deck is just the bazooka of handhelds, yes it will run everything smoothly, but does it feel right in every scenario?
It’s not pocketable. Even the switch is smaller to carry, and that’s too much already.
I'm using 3 handhelds_
Thanks for this detailed video!
RG35XX DMG gray (I love the gameboy form factor) using it for GB, GBC, GBA, NES, SNES, SEGA MD, Commodore games, and some DOS games. (pocketable with a 3D printed cover)
Retroid Pocket 3+ using it for PSP, NDS, Gamecube, DOS games mostly but some 3DS and wii games runs well. Gamepas, PS remote play, and steam remote play also comes handy. I really love this handheld.
Steamdeck for retro games what I can reach in steam, and other steam games. (Using for emulators and puting file on the deck is pain in my a.... )
They made a mistake making the bottom screen so small on the Aya Neo Flip DS.
Glad your channel is thriving. Used to follow you more frequently. Always remember you were a service member. Hope you’re doing well.
Cool recommendations, but I feel the 3DS and PSVita are very well rounded if you could only have two.
They’ll do most of the retro 8 and 16 bit stuff well, and each can do something the other can’t. 3DS does DS and 3DS, and the Vita does PS1/PSP/PSVita.
Neither does 64 well, but some of the best 64 stuff is on 3DS, and the pc port of Mario 64 is on both.
What about only having one?
@@LuisPerez-5 maybe one of the retoid pockets, or the Odin 2. Neither is gonna do Vita games well, and the DS/3DS are best on original hardware.
I think DSi XL is the best way to enjoy DS by a mile:
- SD Card slot for easy homebrew
- Huge (for a DS) 4.2” screen
- Perfect pixels (unlike 3DS/2DS)
- The best dome-style buttons and dpad Nintendo has ever produced
Russ always worrying about us getting a snack & drink.
That's good command right there. Morale keeps the troops moving.
A thing to mention about Wii U is that if you connect the Steam Deck to a monitor you can perfectly use the Deck itself as the Wii U gamepad.
I feel like the Retroid Pocket 4 Didn't get enough love!
4gb model is over 150$
Widescreen, so not optimal for most retro gaming.
Great but little expensive
@@Rayu25Demon The AYANEO Flip DS is over $700 and isn’t a pocketable device like the RP4. That still got a shoutout for both Wii U and 3DS.
Plus there’s also the added context that the RP4 is a $150 Odin Lite that is the same size as the RP3+ and has the same sticks as the Odin 2. That’s not even getting into the RP4 Pro, which has a much stronger chipset and 8GB-RAM for only $50 more.
Great video. I love that you included a lot of fun smaller indie handhelds for retro systems, but in the end, even they look way way way better on a steamdeck oled. It's kinda ll you need
Waaay too big for anyone planning to take a gaming device on the go. Sold mine and never looked back.
@@Whatsup_Abroad nope, always worth it, form factor, games, ease of use, experience and there’s a reason why RGC has it as the #1 spot. I’d rather carry a case for it than settle for an inferior gaming experience
I wish there was more options for device that could integer scale gba using most (if not all) of the screen that were closer to 4-4.5"". I find that above ~4" GBA games just don't *feel* right because of the low resolution being blown up so large. GBA on my DSi XL is basically the experience I want but with QoL stuff from emulation (also compatibility issues with gbarunner2).
I know you are legit when you said the best way to play the DS games is with a DS. Subscribed!
I never knew I was holding an Odin 2 phone, basically, with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and all. Curious...*starts downloading emus*
I don’t want to own all those handhelds to emulate certain consoles. I prefer just playing on the Steam Deck because I want the convenience playing all my systems using one handheld or as less devices as possible. And all the recharging each device stuff gets annoying. But I’ll play along and pick the devices that I prefer playing a certain system.
*Steam* *Deck*
Wii (touchpads are perfect)
Xbox
GameCube
PlayStation 2
Dreamcast
PSP (thanks to upscaling)
Jaguar
*Switch*
Switch
Wii U (ports)
*PS* *Vita*
PS Vita
Arcade (16-bit MAME)
32X
Super NES
Genesis
NES
Game Gear
Game Boy
*Galaxy* *Z* *Flip* *3*
DS
Consoles up to PS2/GameCube
Razr 5G (cover screen is 4:3)
Consoles from N64 to below
Don’t really touch my modded PSP slim as of late because the standby time is atrocious and is usually dead from a full charge after a few days. But if I do use it, it’s to play PSP, PS1, Genesis, and NES games. It’s not great with Super NES but Vita isn’t perfect with it either.
Steam Deck generally wins for most cases. My Flip 3 has trouble with Wii because I can’t emulate the pointer like the Deck does with the right trackpad. And Android doesn’t have an Xbox emulator that EmuDeck has. And Steam Deck handles upscaling better than Flip 3 for systems like PS2 and GameCube.
I prefer to play older retro games from up to PS1 using a smaller device like a PSP or Vita. But for most cases, it’s the Steam Deck. I don’t want to own all those handhelds to play a certain system. Deck isn’t perfect for a few of them including DS but it’s good enough for most of my needs.
I’m sorta wanting out of the retro emulation scene as of late and prefer playing newer AAA games released within the last 10-12 years. I played those 20 to nearly 40-year-old games so many times already back as a kid. I don’t need that nostalgia dopamine kick. Now I prefer playing AAA titles from like 2013 and later.
The one I don’t have emulated is Saturn. I’m fine with that. I can play them on my Z Flip 3. I don’t know how to use CHDMAN, so I stopped caring. And I don’t have any Model 2, 3, and NAOMI arcade games. I can live without them and DS/3DS games on the Steam Deck. I prefer playing 8th generation games with endless indies.
I’m currently obsessed trying to get my first platinum trophy playing FF7 Remake. I finally beat Jules yesterday! Pain in the ass. Took me like 100 attempts and about 5 hours. I got 46 pull-ups with Tifa while he got his usual 44. Now I’m going to beat every chapter in hard mode. I beat 7 out of the 18 so far. Best strategy before fighting Weiss is to beat all of hard mode first.
I want to play games on a handheld with graphics like FF7R. With Unreal Engine 4 on the go. The past is great to revisit once in a while but some stuff is better left in the past. In the end, Deck usually wins. It gives me access to the past and I can still play most current releases. Odin 2 can’t play FF7 Remake natively and offline. Just mostly older retro consoles that a Steam Deck can already do. Don’t want to spend another $300+ on an Odin 2.
I see new RGC video.
I click new RGC video.
I love New RGC video.
I'm a simple nerd 😂
I have a little over 20 handhelds including a steamdeck and Odin 2 pro but I play my ps portal more than any of the others. It's the perfect handheld for my use case.
Thanks Russ another great video.
Honestly the biggest difference is that I'd put Switch in that "software emulation ain't there yet, just play on original hardware" category. I've got both a Steam Deck and an Odin 2 and I have fiddled with Switch emulation on both, but to borrow a Russ-ism, I have found that the juice isn't worth the squeeze on either compared to inserting a cartridge or pressing a button to download the same game on an actual Switch and just playing the dang game.
The ARC-D is a gem which has already largely been forgotten (and sadly lacking in much in the way of CFW) but it's SO SO comfy, one of the best 4:3 devices out there.
Agreed. It's a rare ocassion Anbernic release something truly different.
No Anbernic RG556?! What’s up Russ? Alone the screen would lead me to take it over a bunch of these options…
The controls are ass compared to the many options mentioned. Beautiful screen though.
This is a video I wanted you to do for a loooong time! Loved it!
However, I was a bit sad you didn't factor in portability for most of these choices, since it's something I value a lot (e.g I would have taken the MM+ over the fgpc because of portability alone)
Playing n64 on something with 4 face buttons is brutal imo
15:30 MAN!!! I’ve been looking for the name of that game FOREVER!!! Wizards and warriors! Man that game was so fun and I’ve been wanting to play it for a hot minute! Thank you thank you thank you! Subbed strictly just for that. Although, I should anyways because the content here is 🔥
Steam Deck OLED is best girl
Is the best girl*!!!
You should also do Part 2!! My favourite games/ franchises for each retro system
I’m really surprised he didn’t choose the 353p for SNES since it’s just like playing with an SNES controller.
Yes it seemed a good for it.
@@skycloud4802 I would of also said I’m surprised he didn’t pick the 351V for Gameboy and Gameboy color since it’s the same form factor and plays them well but it’s also an older handheld so makes since he wouldn’t bring up and handheld from a few years ago at this point even though he did mention the 351p.
I love this channel so much! I already have a steamdeck OLED and I'll never buy another emulation device because I know ill just keep buying a faster and new one every 3-6 months lol. My steamdeck is huge though but can emulate games on my iPhone and backbone better than any of these cheaper devices.
The DSlite is quite possibly the worst DS model you could use. The screens have all either yellowed or faded, and many came with severe ghosting. The buttons are all stiff, terrible trash and the shape of the DSlite has sharp edges that dig into your hands. The og phat NDS is the true way to go, for both DS and GBA compatability. Otherwise, a New 3DS or New 2DS.
Yeah I really try to not take mine out of the box so mines still 9.5/10 but also I should keep an eye out for the OG boxed too. Used to have the dark blue one when I was a young teen. Loved that thing
You must be fun at parties.
@@ddrnold I host parties while you... reply to months old RUclips comments without nothing of substance or value. Who are you to talk, sloth?
@@Bendilin must be taking a break from hosting if you're replying again 😂
@@nickmorris521 Who hosts parties on a Monday...? 🤔
As a general take away for this video, I find it an interesting thought experiment, but ultimately, the best handheld emulator is the one you have on hand (and usually that comes down to cost). Now for more specific topics:
FPGA: I feel somewhat conflicted. As a tech nerd, I find the concept of hardware level emulation fascinating. However, it's pretty much exclusively used to emulate consoles that are piss easy to emulate in software and they're usually absurdly expensive for what they do.
DS and 3DS (and WiiU) emulation: Yeah, a lot of modern Nintendo consoles that have... unique hardware configurations make for some difficult emulation challenges to the point where it probably makes more sense just to stick with original hardware or accept a compromised experience. Luckily for the WiiU however, most games don't really make proper use of the dual screen feature of the console.
Original Xbox: Yeah, I can speak from experience (I had to setup my dad's Steam Deck for Original Xbox emulation) that Original Xbox emulation is a bit of a pain in the ass and not just in performance either. Getting the correct ROMs is also kind of a pain in the ass as well, since you now have to deal with ROM files that may or may not be the correct file format. You need .xiso files, not .iso files and .xiso is not a proper file extension and the file will come up as an .iso. The only difference being that .xiso files are smaller than regular .iso files. You can convert .iso files to .xiso files, but it's a pain in the ass to do so and isn't guaranteed to work.
Russ did you post this at 5 in the morning? 😭
Awesome video! I pretty much use my Steam Deck for anything and everything. It just allows you to play many systems really well. The Steam Deck has run everything I have thrown at it even dozens of PC fangames only using Proton compatibility! It is a great all-in-one solution for gaming once you get it up and running!
However, I am 100% in agreement with Russ on using original hardware for DS and 3DS games. Many of those games were built with dual screen/touch-screen in mind, so the DS/3DS just feel more natural on the native handhelds compared to other handheld options via emulation.
Wait! A ps vita doesn't "Emulate" a PSP, it has the hardware of a PSP.
Not really, right?
@@deadvoicegame I don't know. I thought it did. Might be a Mandela effect
@@Peaches4Rentit's not mandela effect, the Vita has a psp cpu and gpu built in.
My only surprise was that this list didn’t finally mention the Surface Duo / Duo 2 for DS and 3DS.
Popcorn time!
I've got a jail-broken Playstation Vita for PS1, PSP, and Vita games. I use a soft modded 3DS XL for DS and 3DS games. And I currently have a Powkiddy RGB30 for everything else.
Rg505 got hosed here
For DS emulation I’ve started using an iPad with a controller. When you have the controller connected the Delta app will automatically make both screens fill the screen and it looks great when you prop the iPad up on a stand.
I have done this too, and it is a great solution. Hard to call it handheld however. Just using an iPhone is also a great experience (even sans controller).