Guides
Black Friday retro handheld deals in the UK: how to judge one
No price list, just a checklist for judging a retro handheld deal in the UK: the maker's price, import VAT, returns, warranty, stock and charger.
8 min read
All guides
Accessories
Steam Deck dock explained: ports, outputs and what a hub needs
What Valve's Steam Deck Docking Station does, the ports and display outputs it lists, and what any third-party USB-C hub needs to match.
7 min read
PC Handhelds
Steam Deck OLED vs ROG Ally X: which should you buy?
The Steam Deck OLED lists SteamOS, a 7.4 inch OLED and 640 g; the ROG Ally X lists Windows 11, a 7 inch 1080p 120Hz panel and an 80Wh battery.
7 min read
PC Handhelds
Handheld PC chips explained: Z1, Z2, Steam Deck APU and Intel Arc
The chips in six handheld PCs, as the makers state them: cores, threads, boost speed, graphics and power range, with no performance claims.
7 min read
PC Handhelds
SteamOS vs Windows on handheld PCs: what the makers state
Valve lists SteamOS 3 on the Steam Deck OLED; ASUS and MSI list Windows 11 Home; Lenovo describes both. Here is what each maker says.
8 min read
PC Handhelds
What is a handheld gaming PC? How it differs from a retro handheld
A handheld gaming PC is a portable computer with built-in controls, running a full PC operating system. Here is how that differs from retro handhelds and consoles.
8 min read
PC Handhelds
Best PC handhelds in the UK: six Windows and SteamOS devices
Six PC handhelds compared on the makers' own figures: chip, screen, battery, weight and operating system, with what to check before you buy.
10 min read
Accessories
Power banks for handheld gaming: capacity, PD output and what to check
How to read power bank capacity and output against the battery and charging figures retro handheld makers state, with a note on travel.
7 min read
Accessories
Best accessories for retro handhelds: chargers, docks and cases
Six accessories chosen only from maker-listed specs: two chargers, two docks, a screen protector and a carrying case, with a comparison table.
8 min read
Accessories
Cases and screen protectors for retro handhelds: what makers state
What handheld makers actually state about their official cases, grips and screen protectors, and the size figures to check before you order one.
7 min read
Accessories
Handheld docks and TV output explained: USB-C, DisplayPort and HDMI
How retro handhelds output video to a TV, what makers state about USB-C DisplayPort and HDMI, and what the docks they sell list.
8 min read
Accessories
USB-C charging for handhelds: PD, wattage and cables explained
What USB Power Delivery is, what handheld makers state about charging, and what to check on a charger and cable before you plug in.
7 min read
Controllers
Mobile controllers: clip-on vs Bluetooth pads, as makers describe them
How clip-on phone controllers from Razer and GameSir differ from Bluetooth pads from 8BitDo on connection, charging, phone fit and software, from maker pages only.
7 min read
Controllers
8BitDo controllers compared: Ultimate, Pro, Lite and Micro ranges
A table of 17 8BitDo controllers with the figures the maker states, plus how to choose between the Ultimate, Pro, Lite, Micro and wired ranges.
7 min read
Controllers
Best controllers for retro handhelds and phones: six picks
Six phone and handheld controllers from 8BitDo, Razer and GameSir, picked from what each maker states about connection, battery, compatibility and features.
10 min read
Controllers
Hall effect vs potentiometer vs TMR sticks: what makers say
What 8BitDo, GameSir and Razer actually say on their own pages about Hall effect, TMR and potentiometer sticks, and where those pages stay silent on drift.
8 min read
Controllers
Bluetooth vs 2.4G vs wired controllers: which connection to pick
What Bluetooth, 2.4G and wired USB connections mean for a game controller, based on maker pages and the Bluetooth SIG and USB-IF, with the trade-offs for handhelds, phones and PC.
7 min read
Guides
Retro handheld chips explained: H700, Snapdragon and more
Decodes the chip names makers list on retro handhelds, explains our entry, mid, high and flagship tiers, and says what those tiers cannot tell you.
8 min read
Guides
microSD cards for retro handhelds: sizes, classes and slots
What the card does in a retro handheld, what makers state about slots and maximum sizes, and what the SD Association capacity and speed labels mean.
7 min read
Guides
IPS vs OLED vs LCD retro handheld screens: stated labels and figures
Compares the IPS, OLED and LCD labels across 34 retro handhelds, with stated sizes and resolutions and pixel density worked out from the maker's figures. It does not explain how the panel types work.
7 min read
Guides
How to choose a retro handheld: a six-question checklist
Six questions to ask before buying a retro handheld, each answered with the stated figures on our pages and example devices from the catalogue.
7 min read
Guides
Best retro handhelds for PS2 and GameCube: stated hardware
Six handhelds ordered by the chip, memory and cooling their makers list. No device here is tested, and no maker promises PS2 or GameCube performance.
10 min read
Guides
Android vs Linux retro handhelds: what the OS changes
What the operating system changes for a retro handheld owner: updates, software, storage and controls, using only maker statements and named catalogue devices.
7 min read
Guides
What is a retro handheld? Kinds, systems and what to expect
A definition-first guide to retro handhelds: the kinds by shape and operating system, what they can and cannot do, and where a first-time buyer should start.
7 min read
Retro Handhelds
Retroid Pocket Flip 2 vs AYN Thor: which should you buy?
The Flip 2 lists an SD865 at a lower price; the Thor lists a second screen and models from an SD865 Lite up to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with 16GB of RAM.
7 min read
Retro Handhelds
Retroid Pocket 5 vs Retroid Pocket 6: which should you buy?
The Pocket 6 lists a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a 120Hz screen and a 6000 mAh battery; the Pocket 5 lists a Snapdragon 865, 60Hz and 5000 mAh, both on 5.5 inch AMOLED.
8 min read
Retro Handhelds
Retroid handhelds compared: all 5 models side by side
A range map of every Retroid handheld in our catalogue, built from the maker's own figures, with advice on choosing between the Classic, 4 Pro, 5, Flip 2 and 6.
6 min read
Guides
Retro handheld battery life explained: mAh and maker hours
What mAh means, why the hours on a product page are the maker's own estimate, and how stated capacities and hours compare across 28 handhelds, 17 of which state hours.
8 min read
Guides
How to read retro handheld specs, row by row
Every spec row on a PlayGearHQ device page explained with catalogue examples, including what "not stated by the maker" tells you.
7 min read
Guides
Best Vertical Retro Handhelds: Upright Game Boy Style Picks
Three upright, Game Boy style retro handhelds compared from maker-stated size, screen and battery, plus the devices we left out for lack of proof.
10 min read
Guides
Best retro handhelds in the UK: eight picks from entry to flagship
Eight retro handhelds across entry, mid, high and flagship tiers, chosen from each maker's own stated specs and prices, not from testing.
9 min read
Guides
Best Retro Handhelds for GBA: 3:2 and 4:3 Screens Compared
Which retro handhelds suit Game Boy Advance games? We compare 3:2 and 4:3 screens, size, weight and stated battery, from maker figures only.
10 min read
Guides
Best Clamshell Retro Handhelds: Flip Designs Compared
Four folding retro handhelds confirmed by their makers' pages, plus two flip-style names we could not confirm, compared from stated specs only.
7 min read
Guides
Best budget retro handhelds: what a low price buys
Eight entry-tier retro handhelds compared on the makers' own figures, with a plain account of what a low price buys and what it leaves out.
8 min read
Guides
Best Android retro handhelds: all 14 compared on stated specs
Fifteen Android handhelds from Retroid, AYN, Anbernic, AYANEO and Mangmi, compared using only what each maker states about its specs and price.
10 min read
Retro Handhelds
AYN Thor vs Retroid Pocket 6: which should you buy?
Both can use a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, so the choice is the Thor's second screen and spec tiers against the Pocket 6's listed 5.5 inch screen and lower entry price.
7 min read
Retro Handhelds
AYN Odin 3 vs AYN Thor: which should you buy?
Two AYN pre-order pages with different priorities: the Odin 3 lists an 8000 mAh battery and Android 15, the Thor a second screen and a chip ladder.
8 min read
Retro Handhelds
Anbernic RG556 vs Retroid Pocket 5: Android handhelds compared
Two 5.5 inch AMOLED Android handhelds at near-identical listed prices. The RG556 states a bigger battery; the Pocket 5 states a lower weight and higher CPU clocks.
7 min read
Retro Handhelds
Anbernic RG35XX SP vs RG34XXSP: screen shape and battery
Both are Anbernic clamshells on the same chip and battery size. The real differences are screen shape, stated battery hours, weight and price.
6 min read
Retro Handhelds
Anbernic RG35XX H vs RG40XX H: which size to pick
The RG35XX H and RG40XX H share a chip and a 640 x 480 resolution. Screen size, stated battery hours, weight and lighting set them apart.
7 min read
Retro Handhelds
Anbernic handhelds compared: all 13 models mapped
A range map of all 13 Anbernic handhelds in our catalogue, built from the maker's own figures, with advice on choosing by size, shape and operating system.
7 min read
Retro Handhelds
Analogue Pocket vs Anbernic RG35XX SP: FPGA or emulation?
The Analogue Pocket plays original cartridges on FPGA hardware; the RG35XX SP is an emulation clamshell. Here is what that means on paper.
7 min read
