My Favorite Retro Handhelds of 2024 (So Far)

Summary

In this video, Ruster Metro reviews the top five retro handheld gaming devices of 2024, highlighting their unique features and performance capabilities. The devices range from Game Boy-style to powerful Android-based machines, offering a variety of gaming experiences. The standout picks include the FP GBC for classic Game Boy nostalgia, the Amernick RG35 XXH and XXSP for budget emulation, the Miu A30 for micro handheld gaming, the Amernick RG Cube for its compact design, and the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro for its exceptional performance and value. The summary also mentions runner-up devices like the Amernick RG556 and the Odin 2 Mini, providing viewers with a comprehensive guide to the best retro handhelds available.

Takeaways

• 🕹️ The video is a roundup of Ruster Metro's top 5 favorite retro handhelds released in 2024.
• 📐 The handhelds are categorized based on their features and targeted gaming experiences.
• 🧩 The 'favorite Game Boy' is a self-assembling device that mimics the original Game Boy Color with modern upgrades like a rechargeable battery and backlit LCD.
• 🎮 The 'budget pick' features a tie between the amernick RG35 xxh and the RG35 xxsp, both capable of emulating PS1 and some Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 games.
• 🕹️ The RG35 xxh is preferred for its horizontal form factor and additional features like analog sticks and stereo speakers.
• 📺 The RG35 xxsp is favored for its nostalgic Game Boy Advance SP-like design and clamshell durability.
• 🔥 The 'favorite micro device' category highlights the gkd pixel, the amernick RG 28xx, and the Miu a30, with the latter gaining favor due to software and control improvements.
• 🎳 The 'favorite retro machine' is the amernick RG Cube, praised for its compact size, unique screen aspect ratio, and ability to emulate GameCube and PS2 games.
• 💰 The 'overall favorite' is the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro due to its excellent price-to-performance ratio, compatibility with modern systems, and high-resolution upscaling.
• 📲 The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro also supports widescreen gaming and streaming, making it versatile for various gaming needs.
• 🔄 The script mentions runner-up devices like the amernick RG 556 and the Odin 2 mini, which offer larger screens and different advantages but at a higher price point.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video by Ruster Metro?

The main topic of the video is a roundup of Ruster Metro's five favorite retro handhelds released in 2024.

What are the ground rules set by Ruster Metro for selecting the handhelds?

The ground rules are that each handheld must have been released in 2024 and they are all retro-based handhelds focused on emulation, with broad categories used to narrow down the selection.

What is the unique feature of the Game Boy-like handheld mentioned in the video?

The unique feature of the Game Boy-like handheld is that it is assembled by the user, similar to a Lego set, and it offers modern upgrades like a rechargeable battery with a USB-C connection and a backlit LCD display.

How does the FPGA technology used in the Game Boy-like handheld affect its performance?

The FPGA technology allows the handheld to behave like an original Game Boy and Game Boy Color, providing an authentic gaming experience.

What is the price of the Game Boy-like handheld after shipping?

The price of the Game Boy-like handheld is $83 after shipping.

What are the two devices that tied for Ruster Metro's favorite budget pick?

The two devices that tied for the favorite budget pick are the Amernick RG35 XXH and the RG35 XSSP.

What are the main differences between the RG35 XXH and the RG35 XSSP?

The RG35 XXH is a horizontal handheld with analog sticks and stereo speakers, while the RG35 XSSP has a clamshell design similar to the Game Boy Advance SP and is more nostalgic and durable.

What is the price range for the Amernick RG35 XXH and RG35 XSSP devices?

The devices can usually be found between $50 and $75 depending on the retailer.

What are the key features of the Mio A30 that made it Ruster Metro's favorite micro device?

The key features of the Mio A30 include its compact size, improved controls, and software updates that have enhanced the user experience.

What are the shortcomings of the GDK Pixel mentioned in the video?

The shortcomings of the GDK Pixel include its small size and cramped feel, making it less comfortable to use compared to other micro devices.

What makes the Amernick RG Cube unique among the handhelds discussed?

The Amernick RG Cube is unique due to its compact size, 720x720 square aspect ratio screen, and its ability to run Android while playing most GameCube and PS2 games.

What are the main advantages of the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro according to Ruster Metro?

The main advantages of the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro are its excellent price-to-performance ratio, compatibility with a wide range of systems including modern ones, and its ability to upscale older games for a remastered experience.

What are the runner-up devices to the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro mentioned in the video?

The runner-up devices are the Amernick RG556, which has a larger AMOLED screen and better ergonomics, and the Odin 2 Mini, which has a mini LED display and is more powerful but more expensive.

What are the main concerns about the analog sticks on the Amernick RG Cube and RG556?

The main concerns are that the analog sticks do not provide full analog input and behave more like traditional joysticks with eight-way control.

What is the starting price of the Odin 2 Mini?

The starting price of the Odin 2 Mini is $340.

What is the main reason Ruster Metro prefers the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro over the Odin 2 Mini despite the price difference?

Ruster Metro prefers the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro due to its better value for money and overall performance, despite the price difference.

Outlines

00:00

🕹️ Retro Handhelds of 2024 Mid-Year Review

Ruster Metro introduces a mid-year 2024 roundup of his top five favorite retro handheld gaming devices. This overview sets the stage for a detailed look at each device, highlighting their unique features and the criteria for selection, which includes their release in 2024 and a focus on emulation-based handhelds. The video promises a deep dive into each favorite, with mentions of caveats and runners-up throughout the discussion.

05:01

🧩 Favorite Game Boy & Budget Picks

The script discusses the top picks for Game Boy and Game Boy Color emulation, emphasizing a device that replicates the classic experience with modern upgrades like a rechargeable battery and backlit LCD. The unique aspect of this device is its self-assembly feature, allowing for customization. Additionally, the budget category is highlighted with two devices from Amernick, the RG35 XXH and the RG35 XSSP, which offer versatility in form factor and performance, capable of emulating up to PS1 and some Dreamcast and N64 games.

10:02

📱 Micro Handhelds and the RG Cube

The focus shifts to micro handhelds, starting with the gkd pixel, a vertical metal handheld with a growing popularity despite its small size. The comparison then narrows down to the Amernick RG 28xx and the Miu a30, with the latter gaining favor due to software updates and improved controls. The script also introduces the Amernick RG Cube, a compact Android handheld with a unique square aspect ratio screen, suitable for certain types of games and capable of running more powerful systems like GameCube and PS2.

🏆 The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro: Ultimate Favorite

The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro is crowned as the ultimate favorite for its excellent price-to-performance ratio, capable of emulating a wide range of systems including PS2 and GameCube with upscaling. It also supports widescreen gaming and modern systems like PSP and PS Vita. Despite a smaller screen size, the device offers a comprehensive emulation experience and is praised for its compatibility and performance, making it the top recommendation for all-around handheld gaming.

Keywords

💡Retro Handhelds

Retro handhelds refer to modern devices that emulate the experience of playing games on classic handheld gaming consoles. They are central to the video's theme, showcasing various devices that allow users to enjoy retro gaming on the go. The script discusses several models released in 2024, emphasizing their ability to emulate older systems.

💡Game Boy

The Game Boy is a classic handheld gaming console by Nintendo, known for its simplicity and iconic design. In the video, the presenter mentions a device that emulates the Game Boy experience, highlighting its modern upgrades while retaining the original's charm, such as the FPGA-based emulation and the backlit LCD display.

💡Emulation

Emulation is the act of replicating the functions of one system on another, in this case, older gaming systems on modern handhelds. The video discusses devices that focus on emulation, allowing users to play a wide range of classic games. The term is used to describe the core functionality of the handhelds featured.

💡FPGA

FPGA stands for Field-Programmable Gate Array, a type of hardware emulation used in some retro handhelds for accurate system replication. The script mentions an FPGA-based device that behaves like an original Game Boy, emphasizing its authenticity in providing a classic gaming experience.

💡Backlit LCD Display

A backlit LCD display is a type of screen used in modern devices that provides better visibility and clarity compared to older models. The video script mentions this feature as a modern upgrade in one of the retro handhelds, enhancing the user experience by making the screen easier to see in various lighting conditions.

💡Budget Pick

The term 'budget pick' is used in the script to describe handheld devices that offer good performance at a lower price point. The video presents two devices tied for this category, emphasizing their ability to play games from older systems like PS1, Dreamcast, and Nintendo 64 within an affordable range.

💡Micro Device

A micro device, in the context of the video, refers to small, portable handheld gaming devices that can be easily carried around. The script discusses several micro devices released in 2024, comparing their features and performance, and highlighting the Mio a30 as a top pick in this category.

💡Retro Machine

The 'retro machine' keyword is used to describe a specific type of handheld device that excels in playing retro games. The script features the Amernick RG Cube, which runs Android and has a unique square aspect ratio screen, making it ideal for playing certain types of classic games.

💡Android

Android is an operating system used in the RG Cube, allowing it to run a variety of applications and games. The video mentions this feature as part of what makes the device versatile, capable of playing not only emulated games but also Android-based games and applications.

💡Retrode Pocket 4 Pro

The Retrode Pocket 4 Pro is a handheld gaming device mentioned as the presenter's overall favorite due to its price-to-performance ratio. The script describes its ability to play a wide range of retro games, including PS2 and GameCube titles, and its compatibility with modern systems, making it a versatile choice for gamers.

💡Price-to-Performance Ratio

The price-to-performance ratio is a measure of how well a product's cost compares to its capabilities or features. In the video, this concept is used to evaluate the value of different handheld devices, with the Retrode Pocket 4 Pro being highlighted for its excellent performance relative to its cost.

Highlights

Ruster Metro presents a roundup of the top 5 retro handhelds released in 2024.

The handhelds are evaluated based on their performance, features, and value for money.

Ground rules for selection include release in 2024 and broad categorization based on emulation focus.

The FP GBC is highlighted for its authentic Game Boy experience with modern upgrades like a rechargeable battery and backlit LCD.

The amernick RG35 XXH and RG35 XXSP are praised for their performance, playing games up to PS1 and some Dreamcast and N64 titles.

The RG 35xx H is recommended for its functionality and comfort with analog sticks and stereo speakers.

The RG 35xx SP is favored for its nostalgic Game Boy Advance SP-like design and durability.

The gkd pixel is noted for its unique vertical metal design but criticized for its small size and cramped feel.

The amernick RG 28xx and Miu a30 are compared, with the latter gaining preference due to software and hardware improvements.

The Miu a30 is favored for its tactile controls and software updates that enhance the user experience.

The amberik RG Cube is lauded for its compact size, unique screen aspect ratio, and ability to play most GameCube and PS2 games.

The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro is chosen as the overall favorite for its price-to-performance ratio and compatibility with modern systems.

The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro's 16x9 aspect ratio is praised for enhancing the visual experience of retro games.

The amernick RG556 and Odin 2 mini are mentioned as runner-ups, offering larger displays and powerful performance.

The Odin 2 mini is noted for its high price and powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.

The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their favorite handhelds of 2024 and anticipation for upcoming releases.

Transcripts

[Music]

hey everybody this is Ruster Metro

gamecore Believe It or Not 2024 is now

halfway over and so I think it's a good

time to just pause and reflect on all

the different retro handhelds that have

released so far this year so we're going

to do a Roundup of my five favorites

altogether and there have been a ton of

different handhelds releasing so far

this year and so it was very hard to

narrow it down to five I spent a lot of

time hemming and haing and I will have

some caveats and Runners up that I'll

mention throughout the video as well and

when you put them all together it's

pretty exciting how many good quality

handhelds have released so far this year

and it does make me excited to see what

we'll see throughout 2024 and so without

any further delay let's go ahead and

Dive Right

[Music]

In now before we jump into my favorites

let's set a couple ground rules the

first is that every handheld shown here

today was released in 2024 there have

been a bunch that came out in 2023 and

are still awesome but I rounded all

those up in my favorite handhelds of

2023 video I'll leave that one link down

below if you haven't seen it already in

addition in order to narrow it down to

just five different handhelds I did have

to keep the categories pretty Broad and

so these are all going to be retr based

handhelds that are focused on emulation

but we're not going to do a deep dive

into each of these categories in fact

just a couple months ago I did a video

about my favorite handhelds under $100

and that I would say is a a lot deeper

into the whole budget category than what

we're going to talk about here so I'll

also leave that video link down below

because I think it's one of my favorite

categories all together I love the idea

of being able to play as many games as

possible for the least amount of money

as possible as well and so that's really

it when it comes to the ground rules has

to be released in 2024 and we are going

to use somewhat broad categories but I

think other than that we're ready to go

so let's start with what I'm calling my

favorite game boy and this is going to

be the funny playing Game Boy Color like

with all the devices we'll talk about

today I have in-depth reviews about them

and in this review I found that I really

enjoyed this for just a very typical

game boy style experience for example if

you just grew up playing the game boy or

Game Boy Color and you want to relive

that experience then I think this is

going to be your best bet it really does

have that same level of Simplicity you

can throw in your cartridge flip on the

switch and Away you go now this one's

unique in that you actually put it

together yourself think about it like a

Lego set so it takes about 20 minutes to

put together and that's part of the

satisfaction as well is that you can

choose all the different color options

that you want and then put it together

into something of your own and

thankfully the shell that they have is a

Game Boy Color clone and so it feels

almost exactly like the original so I

really enjoy that as well now besides

just feeling like an original console it

does have some Modern upgrades including

a rechargeable battery with a USBC

connection and then also a backlit LCD

display which looks night and day better

compared to the original now this device

is actually using an fpga which is a

sort of Hardware emulation and so it

really will behave like an original Game

Boy and Game Boy Color and it comes with

both of those cores so you can boot it

up and it'll think that it's a Game Boy

or you can switch it over to Game Boy

Color and it'll think that it's a Game

Boy Color now in addition to the old

Game Boy and Game Boy Color carts you

can put in the back it also is

compatible with a flash cartridge so

you'd be able to put a bunch of games

onto an SD card and then boot them from

that and so really it is very much so

like a Game Boy or Game Boy Color but

upgraded for 2024 and the best thing

about it is that it is relatively cheap

it's only $83 after shipping and all

that and I think that a great deal

especially if you tried to update an old

game boy or Game Boy Color it's going to

cost you a lot more than that and I

don't think that a modded game boy is

going to be as good as an FP GBC anyway

and so this is definitely a top pick for

me and my favorite way to play game boy

right now now let's say you don't have a

hankering for just Game Boy and Game Boy

Color you want to try out some other

systems so let's move into the next

category which I'm calling my favorite

budget pick and this one is actually a

two-way tie and I know it's totally

cheating but hear me out here to start

let's talk about my choices so we have

the amernick rg35 xxh and then the rg35

xxsp and both these devices use the same

chip and they have the exact level of

performance and they can even share

software in terms of performance you can

expect it to play all the way up through

PS1 perfectly and you can play a good

amount of Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 as

well now because these devices are so

similar in terms of the software and

even the hardware underneath it really

comes down to the form factor and what's

a better fit for you let's start with

the RG 35xx this this is a horizontal

handheld and has a couple perks over the

other one including analog sticks as

well as stereo speakers so I think this

one's a better pick if you're going to

be focusing on whether or not it's going

to be functional and comfortable because

I think the rg35 xxh is better in that

regard now the RG 35xx SP excels in

different ways I think number one is the

fact that it is just so nostalgic it

looks so much like a Game Boy Advance SP

but a little bit upgraded as well and I

know there are a lot of people who are

driven by a love for this form factor

and so I totally get it and I think this

is an excellent match right there on top

of that because it's a clamshell I think

it's more durable you can just kind of

close it up throw it in your pocket or

your bag and you don't really have to

worry about using a case with it and so

both of these devices are very good and

are my top pick it really is going to

come down to what fits you the best and

like I mentioned there are a ton of

different software options for these

devices and they're compatible between

the two you can even swap micro SD cards

to try them out between one and the

other I just recently made an entire

starter guide about this series where I

talk about to your custom firmware

options and even show you how to get

some of them up and running and these

devices are relatively affordable you

can usually find them somewhere between

50 and $75 depending on where you shop

and so I think that's well worth it

considering the amount of performance

that you're going to get here and even

for me I'm just torn about which one I

like the best there are times when I'm

playing the SP and I'm like oh yeah this

one's definitely the best of the bunch

but then other times I grab the H and

I'm like oh no this one's the best and

so I'll let you decide which one you

think is the best fit for you but either

way you just can't go wrong with picking

up either of them okay next we're going

to scale things down a little bit and

talk about my favorite micro device

right now and this is a pretty hot topic

because there have been three that have

released so far this year that I think

are really great the first is the gkd

pixel this one is actually a vertical

metal handheld it's a really unique

device and this one's been slowly

winning over the hearts of people who

have been buying it but I still think

that it has quite a few shortcomings

including the fact that it just feels

pretty small and cramp to use when it

comes to this category of Micro Devices

which are smaller handhelds that you can

kind of just throw in your pocket and

take around town then I've always found

that horizontal versions work the best

for me just because they're a lot more

comfortable to use and so the two that

I've been weighing back and forth over

the past 6 months or so have been the

amernick RG 28xx which is just a smaller

version of the other budget ones we were

just talking about and then the new Miu

a30 and both these devices released

around the same time and initially I

really preferred the RG 28xx it has a

little bit more performance and I think

that the screen is better as well

however since then the Miu a30 has

slowly but surely been upgrading itself

in fact I ordered a new model maybe

about a month ago and that came in the

mail and this one actually has better

controls than the review unit that I had

it's a little bit less mushy and more

tactile it's not quite to the point of

passing the Contra test but it is a lot

closer than it was previously in

addition there have been some software

updates that have fixed the overall

experience including a firmware update

but then also custom software as well it

all started with ra30 which is an SD

card overhaul made by one of these same

develop Vel opers for the original onion

OS and so this has basically improved a

lot of the preconfiguration for the

device to streamline the user experience

after that another OS solution came out

called Spruce which builds upon ra30 but

then gives it a nice streamline skin as

well so this allows you to navigate

through your games much like the

original operating system but then when

you boot it up it has all those

preconfiguration and so this is a really

good mixture between the two and has

definitely tipped me over in favor of

the a30 over the ambern RG 28xx another

thing that doesn't help with the amberik

model is that I've never gotten used to

these really small face buttons I think

these could have been a lot bigger and

that would have made the whole

experience a lot better for me now among

all the micro handhelds that have

released so far this year none are

perfect even the a30 still has some

other issues including the fact that it

gets a little bit more warm than I would

like however among all of them I

surprise myself in finding that it's the

Mio a30 that I like playing the most and

I think as long as we keep seeing

software updates for it over the rest of

this year it'll continue to be one of

the Front Runners among this category

okay next we have a category which I'm

calling my favorite retro machine and

this one is going to be the amberik RG

Cube which just recently released I'll

leave the whole review video link down

below but in a nutshell this one is a

compact and smaller handheld that runs

Android and has a unique 720 X 720

Square aspect ratio screen and even

though that might seem like a weird

aspect ratio it actually works out

really well for certain use cases and so

when it shines it really does shine some

of my favorite types of games to play on

this include vertical shooter games as

well as Square aspect ratio systems

including p8 Game Boy Game Boy Color

neoo Pocket color and so on I've also

found it to be surprisingly good when it

comes to standard 4x3 content you're

going to get some black bars at the top

and bottom but they are very easy to

ignore When You're In the Heat of the

Moment playing a game and the device has

quite a bit of power it's able to play

most GameCube in PS2 games and I found

that to be one of my favorite things

about it is that it's so Compact and

small and comfortable to use but it also

packs enough power to be able to play

some Gen 6 systems and so I've been

playing through games like Paper Mario

and really enjoying that experience now

like with all these devices this one is

not perfect for example it's quite

expensive it's about $170 or $180 but

then also the analog sticks on this are

just not the best they don't have much

of an analog style input to them instead

they behave more like a traditional

joystick with an eight-way control

additionally there have been issues with

light bleed with this screen especially

with these early units and so I talk

about this a lot in that review video

which I'll have linked down below but

yeah it's not a perfect device but when

it comes to just playing retro games I

found that I've really enjoyed that

experience now I get it this device kind

of looks like a toy but that's part of

the appeal for me because it reminds me

of a GameCube which if you look at it it

kind of does look like a little bit of a

toy as well and when you combine that

with the fact that this can play

GameCube games I found it to be an

excellent match so in terms of just

playing older retro games this has been

my top pick and finally we're going to

go into my last category which is going

to be my favorite device all around and

this one is actually one that came out

right at the beginning of the year and

it's called the retroid pocket 4 Pro now

the reason why this handheld gets My

overall pick in terms of just favorite

handheld device is because of that price

to Performance it cost $199 before

shipping but the performance on this is

quite a bit better than anything else

we've talked about so far here today

this is a device that can reliably play

just about every PS2 in GameCube game

but then also upscaled to increase the

resolution and of course every system

below it including things like Sega

Saturn which is pretty hard to run also

plays really well now in addition to all

that Retro Game emulation it also has a

widescreen 16x9 aspect ratio which is

going to be really good in many contexts

to start there are many games up through

like Dreamcast Nintendo 64 GameCube and

PS2 that work with widescreen sheets or

hacks and so you can blow up the image

to the entire screen and it's going to

look great it almost feels like a

remastered version of these older games

in addition if you wanted to play more

widescreen systems like PS P or even try

your hand at Nintendo switch or PS Vita

emulation those are all going to play

pretty well on the screen too and then

finally if you wanted to use it for game

streaming either from like a PlayStation

or an Xbox or maybe using some game pass

on the cloud or even streaming it from

your home PC you can do all that here

and it's going to scale really nicely on

that 16x9 display and so that's the

reason why the retroid pocket 4 Pro is

my favorite allaround because for the

price you get some really excellent

performance and it's compatible with

more systems especially the more modern

ones now my my only complaint about the

retroid pocket devices is that the

screen just feels a little bit small

when you're playing more modern games

it's only 4.7 in I think that if it was

actually a full 5 in it would be much

better and that actually leads to my two

runnerup devices within this category

and I want to give them a quick shout

out because these both have 5 in or

larger displays and so they might be

worth your consideration as well the

first will be the ambern RG 556 this one

has a better screen it is 5 1/2 in and

AMOLED and it looks amazing I also think

it has better ergonomics it's just a lot

comfier of a grip even though it is a

larger device as a result and this one

has the same processor as the RG Cube

and so same performance here it can

basically play most PS2 and GameCubes

not all of them like the retroid pocket

4 Pro but very close and I think this

one is priced right as well it's about

$175 which I think is a good price to

Performance ratio as well just bear in

mind this one like all the others is not

perfect and this one has those same

analog sticks as the RG Cube which just

don't give you that full analog inp that

you might expect and then finally my

last runner up in this category is going

to be the Odin 2 mini now this one is

excellent in many ways it has a 5-in

display which is actually mini LED and

super bright and it's also a very

Compact and comfortable handheld and it

looks like a PS v which is kind of

amazing in addition this one is quite a

bit more powerful than all the others

we've talked about this has a Snapdragon

8 Gen 2 which means that anything that

can play on Android this will be able to

play however I do have two Hang-Ups with

this device the first is that it's

relatively expensive it starts at

$340 and I don't think that there's a

$140 price difference between this one

and the retroid pocket 4 Pro and so if

you are looking for the best bank for

your buck again the retroid is going to

win that $140 price difference between

the two is pretty large and also the way

that I see it if you are going to buy a

high-end Android device this one is not

my top pick I prefer the original Odin 2

which came out last year which again was

on my list of top devices of 2023 and of

course I'm not saying Odin 2 is a bad

device obviously it's a runner up in

this category but if I had to choose

between the two and with that price

difference in mind I think that the

retroid pocket 4 Pro is my overall

favorite in this category and so really

that just about wraps it up I wanted to

categorize each of my favorites so far

in 20124 and just show you which ones I

like the best now I'm really curious to

hear which ones you like the best that

have come out so far this year like I

mentioned there have been so many good

handhelds that have come out and I'm

really excited to see what's going to

happen throughout the rest of 2024 so

let me know what you think in the

comments down below and if you want to

learn more about any of these devices I

will have links to their full reviews

down below as well as always thank you

for watching and be sure to like And

subscribe if you found this helpful and

we will see you next time happy gaming

[Music]