The retro handheld market has grown crowded over the past few years, but three brands have emerged as the clearest options for most buyers: Anbernic, Miyoo, and Retroid. Each has carved out a genuinely distinct position rather than just competing on identical specs.
Here's how they actually compare for a buyer trying to choose between them.
Anbernic ships more SKUs per quarter than either competitor, covering an enormous range of form factors from clamshell GBA SP-style devices to larger, more powerful handhelds. That breadth means there's almost always an Anbernic device that matches a specific nostalgia form factor or price point you're looking for.
The tradeoff is that Anbernic's sheer release volume can make it harder to identify which specific model is the current best pick, since older models don't always get clearly discontinued before newer ones launch.
Miyoo has built its reputation less on hardware variety and more on strong community-driven custom firmware support through the OnionOS ecosystem. The Miyoo Mini Plus in particular has become a favorite for its combination of accessible pricing and excellent screen quality relative to its size.
For buyers who care about deep firmware customization and an active modding community, Miyoo's devices tend to have more community resources built up around them relative to their release volume than Anbernic's broader catalog.
Retroid has positioned itself at the top of the performance spectrum, pushing into Switch and even GameCube-level emulation territory with devices like the Retroid Pocket 6 and Pocket Nova. These handhelds command higher prices than typical Anbernic or Miyoo releases but deliver meaningfully stronger performance for later-generation console emulation.
Buyers specifically chasing higher-fidelity emulation of more demanding systems will find Retroid's lineup the most capable of the three, though at a real cost premium.
If nostalgia form factor and price flexibility matter most, Anbernic's broad catalog gives you the most options to choose from. If community firmware support and value pricing matter more, Miyoo is worth prioritizing. If raw emulation performance for later-generation systems is the goal, Retroid is generally the strongest choice despite the higher price tag.
Many serious retro handheld collectors end up owning devices from more than one brand specifically because each excels at a different use case rather than one being universally superior.
Beyond initial hardware specs, how actively a manufacturer supports firmware updates after launch significantly affects long-term satisfaction with any of these devices. Anbernic has built a reputation for consistent post-launch updates, which is worth weighing alongside raw specs when comparing similarly-priced options across brands.
Checking recent firmware update history for a specific model, rather than assuming all devices from a brand receive equal support, is a smart step before committing to a purchase.
Anbernic, Miyoo, and Retroid devices span a wide range of screen sizes and emulation power, from small pocket-friendly screens suited to retro consoles up through larger, more powerful screens capable of handling more demanding systems. Matching device power to the specific systems you plan to emulate matters more than simply picking the most powerful option available.
Overbuying performance for simple retro emulation needs adds unnecessary cost, while underbuying for more demanding systems leads to a frustrating, choppy experience.
Each brand has a different relationship with its user community around custom firmware and software updates, which affects long-term usability and feature access well beyond the initial purchase. Checking which brand has the most active modding and firmware community for your specific use case is worth researching before buying.
A device with strong community firmware support tends to stay useful and feature-current longer than one with limited ongoing development.
The most common mistake is buying based purely on marketed processing power without checking real-world reviews, since build quality, screen response, and button feel matter just as much as raw specs for actual day-to-day satisfaction.
The second mistake is not checking what firmware and default software a specific unit ships with, since this can vary by region and retailer even within the same brand and model.
Whichever brand you choose, proper display and storage keeps your handheld protected between sessions. The EVORETRO Adjustable Easel Stand works well for displaying a handheld on a shelf when it's not in active use.
For collectors building a multi-device collection across brands, the EVORETRO Acrylic Modular Case offers configurable sizing for multiple handhelds. The EVORETRO Clear Acrylic Figurine Case is a good budget option for smaller accessories.
Which brand is best for beginners? Miyoo's accessible pricing and strong community support make it a reasonable starting point for buyers new to the retro handheld hobby.
Which brand has the best emulation performance? Retroid generally leads on raw performance, particularly for later-generation console emulation.
Is Anbernic's release volume a problem for buyers? It can make choosing a specific model harder, but it also means more form factor and price options than either competitor offers.
Can I own devices from multiple brands? Yes, many collectors do, since each brand tends to excel at a different specific use case rather than one being universally best.
There's no single best retro handheld brand; the right choice depends on whether you value form factor variety, community firmware support, or raw emulation performance most. Matching your actual priorities to each brand's real strength will get you a device you're happy with far more reliably than chasing whichever model is trending.
For more retro handheld coverage, see our guide to the Anbernic RG SP and the Anbernic RG34XX SP Metallic Blue.
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