Best Retro Gaming Consoles Under $60 in 2026

You don't need to spend $200 on a Steam Deck or $150 on a Retroid Pocket to get into the world of retro gaming. Some of the best handhelds for playing NES, SNES, Game Boy, and PS1 classics cost less than dinner for two at a nice restaurant.

I've tested an absurd number of budget handhelds over the past year (my desk looks like an electronics graveyard), and I've narrowed down the list to the five best retro handhelds under $60 in 2026. Let's dive in.

One thing needs saying up front, because it's the most common trap at this price: the R36S. You'll see plenty of "R36S" listings at around $40, and many of them are clones or fakes that only look like the real thing in the photos. The original R36S we sell costs a bit more, from €69.99 ($79.99 in the US), so it sits above this list's $60 line. I've kept it at #1 anyway, and I'll show you why, and how to spot a clone, below.

Quick Rankings

Rank	Device	Price	Best For
1	R36S	from €69.99 / $79.99 (original)	Best overall value
2	Anbernic RG35XX Plus	~$55	Game Boy fans
3	Miyoo Mini Plus	~$50	Maximum portability
4	Powkiddy V90	~$25	Ultra-budget
5	TrimUI Smart Pro	~$55	Big screen on a budget

1. R36S: Best Overall Value (Original, from €69.99 / $79.99)

The R36S is the handheld I recommend to basically everyone who asks, as long as it's the original. From €69.99 ($79.99 in the US), it delivers way more than the price suggests.

What makes it amazing:

• 3.5" IPS screen at 640x480 — sharp and colorful, perfect for retro games
• Two analog sticks — essential for N64 and PSP emulation
• 3200mAh battery — 6-8 hours on a single charge
• Dual TF card slots — separate system from games
• Runs PS1, N64, and most PSP games smoothly with ArkOS
• Comfortable vertical layout with two analog sticks

The honest negatives:

• Build quality is good but not premium (slight flex in the back)
• Speaker is adequate but nothing special
• If you buy from random AliExpress sellers, the setup can be a headache
• The original costs more than the ~$40 "R36S" listings you'll see everywhere, and many of those listings are clones

Watch out for $40 "R36S" clones

The R36S has no big brand behind it, so marketplaces are full of lookalikes. Many listings around $40 are clones or fakes: same photos, same box, but often a weaker chip, sometimes only 512MB of RAM instead of 1GB, lower-quality parts, or a system that can't run the standard ArkOS firmware. Three quick checks:

• Ask for the board revision. Recent original R36S boards include the R36S-V21 (2024-12-18) and the R36S-V30 (2025-10-18), both with a Rockchip RK3326 chip. Clone boards are often marked G80C, G80CA, G80D or RF35XE, or not marked at all. A number alone isn't proof, so combine it with the next two checks.
• Check the RAM. In RetroArch's system information, an original shows about 1GB, while many clones show around 497MB. Through a transparent shell, count the RAM chips: the original has two, and a single chip is a clone sign.
• Try standard ArkOS. On a blank SD card, the original boots. A clone usually shows a black screen with a blinking red LED.

Our R36S original vs clone guide walks through every check, with photos.

For whom: Anyone who wants the best combination of performance, comfort, and price. It's the "buy this and be done" recommendation.

Why ours costs a bit more

Because it's the original R36S, not a lookalike. Our supplier's factory photos show the boards inside our consoles: the R36S-V21 (2024-12-18) with its Rockchip RK3326 chip and two RAM chips, and the newer R36S-V30 (2025-10-18) revision. Both are listed as original R36S boards by the community wiki and by an open-source firmware project, and standard ArkOS runs on them. See the board photos in our original vs clone guide, or get the original R36S here.

2. Anbernic RG35XX Plus — Best for Game Boy Fans ($55)

Anbernic is the most established brand in budget retro handhelds, and the RG35XX Plus is their best offering under $60.

What makes it amazing:

• Premium build quality
• GarlicOS support — one of the fastest and cleanest firmwares
• Built-in Wi-Fi — for wireless ROM transfers
• Allwinner H700 chipset, a different chip from the R36S's Rockchip RK3326

The negatives:

• Vertical layout is less comfortable for long sessions
• Essentially the same specs as the R36S
• Smaller 2600mAh battery

For whom: If you specifically want the vertical Game Boy form factor and value Anbernic quality.

3. Miyoo Mini Plus — Most Portable ($50)

The Miyoo Mini Plus is the handheld that actually fits in your jeans pocket.

What makes it amazing:

• Incredibly compact — fits in any pocket
• Beautiful 3.5" screen
• OnionOS is one of the best custom firmwares

The negatives:

• No analog sticks — rules out N64 and most PSP
• Weaker chipset — PS1 is hit-or-miss
• Cramped controls for large hands

For whom: If portability is priority #1 and you mainly play NES/SNES/GBA.

4. Powkiddy V90 — Ultra-Budget King ($25)

At just $25, the Powkiddy V90 is the cheapest way to get into the world of retro handhelds.

What makes it amazing:

• $25. That's it. That's the sales pitch.
• Flip design protects the screen
• Runs NES/SNES/GBA/Genesis without issues

The negatives:

• Small 3" screen with lower resolution
• Very weak processor — forget PS1 or N64
• Build quality is... what you'd expect for $25

For whom: If you want to spend as little as possible or a fun gift for a retro gaming fan.

5. TrimUI Smart Pro — Premium Look ($55)

What makes it amazing:

• 4.96" IPS screen — the biggest in this price range
• Sleek design that looks more expensive than it is
• Decent analog sticks and good controls

The negatives:

• Factory firmware is poor — custom firmware is practically mandatory
• Bigger screen = bigger device (less portable)
• Some QC issues reported

For whom: If you want the biggest screen possible under $60 and don't mind using custom firmware.

So, Which One Should You Buy?

For most people: Buy the R36S. Best combination of performance, comfort, battery, and price. The two analog sticks open up N64 and PSP, the vertical layout is comfortable for hours, and even at €69.99 ($79.99 in the US) for the original, it's hard to beat.

The only reasons to choose another:

• You specifically want vertical Game Boy layout → RG35XX Plus
• Pocket size is absolutely critical → Miyoo Mini Plus
• Super tight budget → Powkiddy V90
• You want the biggest screen possible → TrimUI Smart Pro

Tips for Buying Budget Retro Handhelds

Avoid random AliExpress sellers

Seriously. Shipping takes forever (20-45 days), the firmware is usually outdated or broken, and good luck getting support if something goes wrong. Buy from a dedicated store that pre-configures the device.

Custom firmware is almost always better

Whatever factory firmware your handheld comes with, there's a community-made alternative that's better. ArkOS for the R36S, GarlicOS for the RG35XX, OnionOS for the Miyoo Mini.

Don't obsess over specs

In this price range, all these devices run games from 20+ years ago. They all run NES, SNES, and GBA perfectly. The differences only matter for more demanding systems like PS1, N64, and PSP.

Invest in a good SD card

Many budget handhelds come with cheap and unreliable SD cards. Invest in a brand-name card (Samsung EVO, SanDisk Ultra) and your device will be more reliable and faster.