# Cartridge-Playing Handhelds Largely handhelds fall into two main categories, which is whether they play cartridges or run ROMs. Those that do include original hardware (and mods thereof) and FPGA-based handhelds. While the flexibility and quality-of-life features of an emulator are hard to beat, there's something about the focus of playing _one game at a time_ without any extra fluff. ## Original Hardware Playing on the original GBC screen is intolerable. It's unthinkable that we spent so long using this tiny, impossible-to-see and not-backlit screen. I adore it, it's perfect, and I have several in my collection. There are some great [[Recommended Retro Handheld Mods#Semi-Stock|semi-stock]] and [[Recommended Retro Handheld Mods#Modernized|modernized]] mods available that can allow you to enjoy a sliding scale of authentic experience. I personally have my childhood one, two "semi-stock" and a one IPS and one OLED mod. > [!TIP] I recommend a glass screen and rechargeable batteries for a "semi-stock" authentic experience, or the OLED screen mod and a third-party case for a modernized one. #### Finding and Modding Original Hardware >[!TIP] See my guide on [[Buying and Repairing Broken GBCs]] I recommend finding a sweet spot between the risk you're willing to take on one that might not work and how much you're willing to pay and buying an original one on eBay, then doing whatever mods you're interested in. I personally can't bring myself to modify otherwise-perfectly-good GBCs, so I try to either buy isolated motherboards, or devices with extensive damage and risk being able to repair them. _Most_ (but not all) of the time, the issue is just a little battery terminal corrosion that can be cleaned up with isopropyl alcohol. Modding can be expensive. Expect to spend nearly $100 alone on the screen, case, buttons, membranes, and shipping. Expect to spend $60-75+ on a good-condition console. ## FPGA-Based Handhelds For our purposes, a FPGA is a chip that can be configured to act as a particular CPU, for example the GBC’s SM83. This allows games to be played directly on the hardware as if it were an original, without going through a layer of software emulation. ### FunnyPlaying FPGA GBC FunnyPlaying produced a replacement motherboard that uses a FPGA chip to act like the original GBC chip. This allows you to play something that looks, feels, and acts just like an original GBC without any original hardware. It's got huge value for the price, and would probably be my budget suggestion given that modding can often end up costing between $100 – $200. > [!TIP] The FPGBC is the best value for something that uses cartridges and feels like an original GBC ### Analogue Pocket The Analogue Pocket was early to the scene, and remains the luxury model. The industrial design is beautiful, it feels sturdy, and looks beautiful. It has an enormous bright screen, supports several different display modes, as well as some quality-of-life features not available in any other cartridge-playing handheld like save states. It's fairly expensive, and probably a best value if bought used, but a really phenomenal experience if you're trying _specifically_ to breathe life into your cartridge games. The Pocket's killer feature of course is that it supports playing ROMs off of a SD card for not only the whole Gameboy line, but also NES, SNES, and others. An excellent case could be made for the Analogue Pocket being the be-all-end-all of the retro handheld world (where primarily Gameboy games are concerned at least). However, the Pocket is relatively large, fairly heavy, and again, expensive. # Emulators Once you leave playing cartridges behind you open up a lot of options that are _dramatically cheaper and more flexible_. ## Android vs Linux Many of these handhelds are basically just Android phones in a case with buttons. These are extremely flexible as they can run any app an Android phone can, which includes Retroarch, any emulator, and even things like Chrome, Netflix, or any typical mobile game. These handhelds are generally more powerful, but often require more configuration. Linux-based handhelds are typically less-powerful but run a custom OS that is more specifically focused on playing ROMs. These are great for being able to jump right into without a ton of configuration, though different OSes offer a broad range of flexibility for customization. ## Android-Based Handhelds I am not an Android smart phone user and thus come to Android handhelds with a handicap — so take my advice with warning of a bias from inexperience. The experience of these handhelds is similar because the apps available on Android to play these games are the same across each device. For that reason, the form factor and the hardware itself matters most to me. ### Retroid Family #### Retroid Pocket 4 Pro This is my beefiest (in terms of power) handleld that isn't the SteamDeck. It's got a great 16:9 screen, solid hardware, and comes in transparent, which I love. It's more than powerful enough to play Gamecube and PS2 games — neither of which take advantage of the 16:9 screen. What you _can_ do with a 16:9 screen though is play a DS game with the top screen beside the smaller bottom screen. **Great for:** [[Console Generations#**5th Generation (1993–2006)**|fifth]] and [[Console Generations#**6th Generation (1998–2013)**|sixth]] generation games; DS games; being a one-stop powerhouse if this is going to be your only device. ### Anbernic RG Cube The cube sports a 1:1 screen, which makes it one of the best-suited handhelds I have for DS games, and a great fit for 3:4. **Great for:** [[Console Generations#**5th Generation (1993–2006)**|fifth]] generation games; DS games. ## Linux-Based Handhelds ### Anbernic RG Family Anbernic produces a stunning array of handhelds in their RG family all* based around the same H700 chip. These provide great performance up to most PS1 games, and have great support for a number of excellent third-party OSes, from the slim and streamlined [MinUI](https://github.com/shauninman/MinUI/releases) to the complex and capable [MuOS](https://muos.dev/). These are all effectively identical performance-wise, and differ mostly in their size and orientation. Those factors do affect how, what, and when you play them though! #### RG35XX / Plus The RG35XX Plus was the first of the line and is a vertical handheld that looks like a squat GBC. It's probably my favorite all-rounder because I can play it one-handed (while tending to a baby otherwise), and it's extremely pocketable. #### RG35XX SP The SP is far and away the coolest and most useful device of the lot in my opinion. It's a slightly-fatter dead-ringer for the Gameboy Advance SP. Just being able to shut it to put it into standby is at least for someone who has to squeeze out opportunities to play, the most-killer feature. I can't play this one one-handed _quite as well_, but it still ends up being my most-played device. #### RG40XX V This is the is RG35XX's older sibling. It is nearly the size of (and is styled like) an Analogue Pocket, has a bigger (though less-dense) screen, and an analog stick. I don't take this one around with me like I do the more portable options, but I like it for (relatively) big-screen experiences, and the weird niche of vertical PS1 emulation. #### RG35XX H This is the first horizontal version of the RG35XX featuring two analog sticks, and the same size screen as the 35. While Anbernic is producing a GBA lookalike now, it was for a while the best bet for anybody who preferred the GBA form factor. This is the only one with dual analog sticks, which makes it a great contender for PS1 emulation. #### RG28XX This is their smallest emulator, and is closer to the GBA layout with respect to the location of the start and select buttons. It's immensely pocketable, but lacks WIFI like its larger siblings. Its screen is smaller, but not as small as a GB Micro. Despite the size of the device itself, it still has a screen comparable to that of a GBA.