5 Great Gaming Handhelds Under $100 in 2026
Not everyone wants to spend $400+ on a Steam Deck or Analogue Pocket. The good news: the budget handheld market in 2026 is stacked with capable devices that deliver genuinely great retro gaming for under $100. We bought and tested five of the best options to help you find the right one.
Miyoo Mini Plus ($69.99) — Best Overall
The Miyoo Mini Plus is the people's champion for a reason. Its 3.5-inch IPS display is bright and sharp, the Onion OS custom firmware transforms the experience from janky to polished, and it handles everything up to PS1 flawlessly. GBA games in particular look stunning on this screen. Battery life hovers around 6–7 hours, and the whole thing fits in a jacket pocket. The d-pad is excellent for 2D games, though the analog stick nub is best avoided. At $70, it's the easiest recommendation on this list.
Anbernic RG35XX Plus ($59.99) — Best Budget Pick
If even $70 feels steep, the RG35XX Plus delivers 90% of the Miyoo experience for $10 less. The build quality is surprisingly solid, the screen is decent (though not quite as vibrant as the Miyoo's), and it runs GarlicOS or muOS for a clean, fast frontend. PS1 performance is strong, and retro handhelds up through GBA run without issues. The main trade-off is the slightly mushy d-pad — acceptable for RPGs, less ideal for precision platformers.
Powkiddy RGB30 ($79.99) — Best for Arcade & Vertical Games
Here's a weird one: the RGB30 has a square 4-inch IPS screen that's perfect for arcade and Game Boy games displayed at their native aspect ratio. If you primarily play MAME, Neo Geo, or Game Boy titles, the RGB30 is the only budget handheld that doesn't letterbox them. It runs Jelos or ArkOS, handles PS1 well, and the build quality is decent for the price. The square form factor isn't for everyone, but for its niche, nothing else competes.
Trimui Smart Pro ($49.99) & RG28XX ($39.99) — Ultra-Budget Options
The Trimui Smart Pro packs an impressive 5-inch widescreen IPS into a slim, Switch Lite-style shell for just $50. It's great for GBA and SNES on the go, though PS1 performance can be hit-or-miss. The RG28XX is the cheapest option worth considering at $40 — a tiny clamshell device (think GBA SP) that's perfect as a dedicated Game Boy or NES machine. Neither matches the Miyoo or Anbernic in polish, but they're fun impulse buys that punch above their price.
The Verdict
The best budget handheld for most people is still the Miyoo Mini Plus — it's the total package of screen quality, firmware maturity, and build quality. But every device on this list has a valid use case, and none will leave you with buyer's remorse. Pair any of them with a good set of ROMs and you've got hundreds of hours of portable retro gaming for less than the price of a new Switch game.
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