cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/25623315
Taken with my Nikon Coolpix S51 (in pink).
Anbernic RGP35XXSP on the left sporting MuOS. Fits just fine in my original GBA case!
On the right is my Miyoo Mini+ in a 3D printed hard case (from Etsy) running OnionOS.
The Anbernic is quickly becoming my go-to due to the RTC, which makes Pokemon games easier to enjoy. And being able to just flip the lid shut to sleep and power off after ten minutes is very nice. But I still vastly prefer the UI of OnionOS on the MM+.
What's everyone else carrying these days?
Nothing, but I've been thinking about picking something like these up, are they what you'd recommend?
Important questions: What do you want to play? Do you prefer vertical (GB), flip (GBA SP), or horizontal (GBA) form factor? How do you want to carry? Is there a handheld you have particular fondness for?
Depending on what you say, there are systems of all these form factors, some pocketable, some not, and varying in power from “anything up to certain Dreamcast games) down to “stick to 16-bit generation or lower”. Some recent efforts have admirably mimicked the designs of the original GBA and GBA SP, while many have a pretty generic but effective form factor.
Want to play anything that doesn't have ads like everything on the phone. No real preference on orientation, small enough to fit in my coat pocket, liked my Vita years ago.
A coat pocket can handle all kinds of things. The Retroid Pocket 5 is very popular, has a lot of power to emulate up to Dreamcast and even PS2 generation consoles, and runs Android so it’s incredibly flexible. It’s very Vita-like in form factor and will probably be a solid Anything Device. It’s pricey, but it’s a real One and Done machine.
Myself though, I’m partial to the TrimUI Model S (also rebranded as the Powkiddy A66) and the TrimUI Smart. They are older, far less powerful, and lack L2/R2 buttons and analog sticks so you’ll mostly want to stick to pre-PlayStation for the most part, but they’re insanely pocketable. Plus they can be had rather cheaply, so they’re a pretty easy impulse treat.
EDIT: seeing elsewhere that your budget is closer to $100, you might look at anything RG__XX__ from Anbernic. The RG35XXSP (rolls right off the tongue) is much loved because it’s exactly like a slightly chonky GBA SP. Performance tops out just north of the PlayStation 1 generation, but the price is well within your budget.
They're definitely my two favorites! RG35XXSP (or the non-SP variant) if you don't mind a bit of complexity and want RTC. Miyoo Mini+ if you want a dead simple UI that's super clean (OnionOS).
Yea complexity isn't an issue for me, just want to maximize what I can play on it and hopefully be as unlimited as possible for around 100.
Definitely go RG35XX line then. In addition to retro games, a ton of freeware and indie PC releases are playable on those through Portmaster.
Then either is honestly a great choice, but the RG35XXSP does have a very slight feature advantage. But it does also have very clicky buttons (think original GPA SP but stiffer), so if you're a button-feel person then that might be a deciding factor.
Real time clock, for anyone else wondering what the hell RTC stood for.
Yes, sorry lol. RTC as in real time clock, for stuff like Pokemon games that use time of day in-game.
No worries, I was just trying to fire up my only two brain cells left to figure it out, but they failed me so I was forced to look it up.
I picked up the small one, the miyoo mini. It's a pretty great little handheld with particularly good community support. The buttons, D-pad, and screen are excellent, and it can support up to ps1 games.
The only downside I've found with it is that my fingers can cramp up slightly if playing fast-paced games that require intense trigger or d-pad use. For short sessions it's fine, but I wish it was able to fill the hand more for certain games. There is an attachment for it that gives it a more normal controller shape, though I've held off on it.
Overall a great little device, especially for the price.