There are many options for playing video games. You can play them on an official console or an emulator.
What is the best handheld emulator?
It's a tricky question knowing that there are so many options out there.
An emulator is software installed onto a computer or other devices that imitates the platform of an official console. In other words, it allows someone to play video games on it.
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Why are they popular?
Well, who doesn't want the convenience of playing favorite games on a single device?
Some portable emulators have hundreds, even thousands of pre-installed games and buyers don't need to pay big bucks to access them.
Another reason why people love emulators is because they come with retro titles that are hard to find these days as they are no longer on the market.
Most portable emulators are small-sized and equipped with a dedicated screen and speaker, so there is no need to connect it to a TV set or a speaker before playing.
Retro handhelds vary in price and features. The expensive ones usually have better display and build quality.
In addition, they also have a massive catalogues of games.
Playing Retro Games is like dreaming of some girl you meet in High School, and then a couple years later, your paths cross, and you get to experience something you wanted to but didn't get to.
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If you want to buy one, price should be a factor to consider given that it's a marker for quality.
The more you're willing to spend, the more you'd get from a console. Not just a high resolution display, but you'll also have an option to expand the memory in case you need to add more games.
If you are in the look out for the best retro handhelds, we've rounded up some of the top portable emulators below.
Contents
- The Best Handheld Emulators for 2021
- FAQs – Retro Gaming Handheld Emulators
The Best Handheld Emulators for 2021
1. PocketGo Portable Handheld Retro Game Players
This stylish console allows you to play GBA/SNES games comfortably thanks to the well-crafted L&R buttons.
A quality console isn't just one made of a tough material, but it should also encourage a fun gaming experience. In this case, this product really delivers.
The buttons have a good hand feel. Besides, the design is also professional. It comes with a 8GB micro SD card and newest firmware for better performance.
You can make use of the micro SD card to load more games into the device. The broad range of support systems is another thing that boosts its value.
Aside from NES, it also supports GBC, GBA, SMD, SMS, to name a few. Besides, it makes it easy to save and load games.
You don't have to worry about losing progress which could deflate your interest in the game.
If the default brightness seems low to you, adjust it through the brightness setting. Go to the main menu and then press Select, followed by the R button.
And if there's flashing on the screen, it's probably due to an error in the SD card system. Or another possible cause is low electricity.
The solution is to recharge the battery. If this doesn't work, try to upgrade to the latest firmware.
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Is this retro game console worth it?
Absolutely.
In terms of price to quality ratio, this device is probably still one of the best handheld emulators in the market today.
The range of game supports alone makes it worthwhile, not to mention that it also has a crisp 2.4″ IPS display.
It's protected with tempered glass, too. The device runs on a 1000mAh battery, has a RAM of 32MB, and supports up to 128GB extra storage.
2. Retro Handheld Game Console
The blue color scheme on this console looks striking, but what else does it have other than a nifty design? Let's find out.
For starters, the retro game console has a resolution of 960×480. It's pretty high considering the screen size and type of games played.
There are 3000 classic games loaded onto the device, some of which are probably your favorites.
It features a dual core 528MHz processor, storage expansion up to 32 GB. Take a look at the bottom left corner. There's a joystick installed there for a realistic gaming experience.
Speaking of the form factor, this will remind you of a lot of handheld emulators, but quality goes beyond that. You also have to consider compatibility and other important aspects.
As far as compatibility is concerned, this handheld console does a good job as it supports games across platforms. It's compatible with GBA, GBC, SNES NES, and Sega.
That's not the end of it. If other consoles are specifically created to play games, this one also has an option to play music. Besides, supports various formats, such as FLV, AVI, MP4, MP3, and WMA.
The battery capacity allows you to play for 5 or 6 hours. When it has run out of power, all it takes is a USB cable to recharge the battery.
3. BAORUITENG Handheld Game Console
Gaming consoles vary in features and number of preloaded games. This handheld portable game console has 3000 in total.
While it's not as packed as the previous console, 3000 is a lot of games to play.
They fall under different categories, such as action, racing, strategy, adventure, arcade, shooting, etc.
In case you want to play more, use the TF card slot to expand the storage. It can support up to 32 GB.
As for the display, the 3-inch screen produces decent colors for gaming.
It has a resolution of 960×480 and offers up to 4 hours of play time.
Sure, there are other devices with better displays, but for the price, it's hard to criticize much. Besides, its capability goes beyond playing games.
You can use the same exact device to read e-books, play music, browse pictures, and watch movies. It's a good bargain after all.
4. YuanWen Handheld Game Console
For those die-hard fans of retro games, this 8 bit emulator will relive childhood memories. While not having the fanciest design, at least it gets the job done.
This portable emulator features a 3-inch LCD screen, which is typical for this type of console, but it produces good images.
In case you aren't used to playing games on small screens, you can use it in TV mode. Just connect the end of the AV cable to a TV set and you're good to go.
It's powered by a 1020mAh lithium battery, which takes about 1.5 hours to fully charge and 4 hours to drain out with continuous play. Another benefit of using this console is it it's light in weight.
The compact design makes it easy to store for traveling. Besides, it's pretty solid thanks to the ABS construction.
How many games are included?
That information is pretty much in the product title.
All those 400 games come in different categories, such as arcade, shooting, strategy, adventure, and fighting.
Besides the gamepad, other items you can find in the package include a controller, a charging cable, an AV cable, a battery, and a user manual.
5. Retro FC Handheld Game Console
This classic game console has only 168 games, but it shouldn't keep you from buying because it's pretty affordable. Some devices have thousands of games, but do you really have the time to play them all?
Best Retro Emulator For Pc
If you want an emulator just to remind you of the old days when you played your favorite 8-bit games, this is more than enough.
You can play the games on the console or display it on TV because it has TV support for a real gaming experience.
The unit is lightweight and fits in the pocket. You can carry it wherever you go.
There is a rechargeable battery inside. A full battery can get up to 6 hours of play.
To properly connect it to a TV, the device needs to be turned off first. After that, switch to Audio/Video channel on the TV screen.
6. HigoKids Retro Classic Handheld Game Console
Compared to other handhelds, this has a decent price. It's not the costliest, but can't be considered cheap, either.
Would it live up to your expectations? Let's see.
First of all, the whole construction is made of ABS. This material is used widely for gaming consoles because it has numerous advantages.
Apart from having strong impact resistance, it's also not prone to scratches and high temperatures.
There are a total of 218 games in the unit that you can play on the 3.5-inch HD display.
It's slightly larger than the typical 3-inch display used in many handheld consoles.
Speaking of the design, the first you'll notice is the ergonomic body.
It's more comfortable to hold a console with this type of design. Besides, the controls also offer a good grip. They feel firm, but at the same time not too floaty.
And there's a backlight to create a unique atmosphere while playing games.
If you're not too satisfied with the speaker quality and want to hear the sound more clearly, the device has a headphone jack to connect to any stereo headset.
FAQs – Retro Gaming Handheld Emulators
1. Can I save game progress on a handheld emulator system?
It depends. For a more expensive device, it's totally possible, but if you use a low-cost version, this option is probably not available.
If a console does offer this option, learn how to save and load game.
2. How much does a retro handheld cost?
Handheld emulators come in a range of prices. One can cost as low as $15 to over $100.
Higher prices mean better specs. If you're willing to invest in an expensive emulator, it can give you a top-notch gaming experience.
The display, sound quality, game library, everything else should be better than cheaper alternatives.
3. What games can a handheld emulator console play?
A cheap emulator is usually limited in features. It can play several classic games of various categories.
But the best handheld emulators that usually come with higher prices can play extensive video game systems, such as NES, SNES, SFC, FC, MD, SMS, NEOGEO, PS1, CPS1, CPS2, and much more.
The number of games may also vary. Some contain over a thousand titles, while others have fewer than 200.
It's all up to you to decide which one works best for you.
4. Can I play games on a larger screen?
Actually, yes. Some consoles have TV support, which means you can connect them to a TV set. Just read the description if TV support is included.
There's usually a specific cable to transmit an audio and/or visual signal. Read the instructions on how to connect because if you do it wrong, nothing would show up on TV.
It might require you to turn off the device and take other additional steps.
5. Can I play in multiplayer mode?
Check out in the box if there is an extra controller included.
The independent controller shows that you can play in two player mode. Even for cheaper controllers, this option is often available.
Hence, you can invite friends and family to play with you.
Retro Handheld Emulators: Final Thoughts
The slew of emulators flooding the market makes it difficult to choose. To get the best handheld emulator, start with what you consider the highest priority.
If you want a cheap emulator, then sort them out by price. This way, you can exclude more expensive products.
If you expect high-end features like a quality display and incredible build quality, then don't be too tight on the budget.
By paying more, you'll get a well-rounded device that not only has an excellent display, but also a vast library of games. You will also be pampered with extra features like movie player, music player, etc.
However, the main function of an emulator is to play games, so make sure to check out all the games.
Best Arcade Emulator
Some have more, but they aren't necessarily the best for you. Just tailor it to the needs and budget.
If you have the money to purchase a premium console and have the time to explore the games, then why not?
Many of those games come from older consoles.
They will certainly take you back to that era when classic games were the most exciting thing ever.
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