5 BEST Retro Handheld Consoles Under $150!

Looking to pick up a console for retro gaming under $150? We got you covered! Here are the top 5 retro handhelds under $150 that you can buy now.

The retro handheld industry has grown exponentially. In the past few years, companies have released some pretty decent devices, especially in the sub-$150 category.

This segment — with a not-too-cheap-not-too-expensive price point — offers customers products that have good build quality and satisfactory emulation capabilities. 

Best Retro Handheld Consoles Under $150

That said, picking the right handheld for you can still be a daunting task.

That said, here are the 5 best retro handhelds your $150 can get you. Check this article out before you splash the cash on your next retro console!

In this list

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1. Anbernic RG351P/M/MP

The Anbernic RG351 series is a great starting point.

The company that produces these devices has been around for quite a while and has a good record of putting out products that give you the best bang for your buck. 

Out of the three (RG351P, RG351M, and RG351MP) we’d put our money on the RG351M as it comes with some of the best features on offer. Here’s a quick spec comparison between the three RG351 siblings.

To begin with, the Anbernic RG351M — as well as its “P” and “MP” brothers — packs an RK3326 Quad Core 1.5 GHz CPU mated to a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU.

1GB DDR3L RAM helps the chipset provide owners with smooth emulation on various video game platforms.

Its 3.5-inch screen and its horizontally-oriented controls allow for an ergonomic gaming experience — perfect if you’re gunning for more than two hours of game time. 

But the icing on the cake is its built-in WiFi chip and its metal body. 

Altogether, the above-mentioned features make the Anbernic RG351M look, feel, and perform like a device worth more than its price tag.

For comparison’s sake, the Anbernic RG351P has a sticker price of $94.99 while the range-topping Anbernic RG351MP is priced at $139.99. 

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2. Retroid Pocket 3

Next on our list is the latest from Retroid, the Retroid Pocket 3.

This retro console is making quite the buzz these days despite a lukewarm reception from various YouTube channels with some criticizing its white-colored variant (among other things) and others praising it for its solid performance. 

The Retroid Pocket 3 indeed boasts some impressive hardware with a Unisoc Quad-core Tiger T310 paired with a 1 x A75 + 3 x A55 + PowerVR GE8300, and either 2GB or 3GB LPDDR4 RAM. Find the full Retroid Pocket 3 specifications here.

This setup allows the Retroid Pocket 3 to smoothly run the Android 11 OS and play titles from platforms like PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable (PSP) with ease.

If in case the built-in PSP emulator doesn’t cut it, we have a list of the best PSP emulators for Android you can check out. Hint: works on phones too!

The Pocket 3 is powerful enough to be able to run PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC games via streaming and cloud gaming services. It goes without saying that the Retroid Pocket 3 is also capable of running Android titles natively.

Taking centerstage is its 4.7-inch touchscreen display that complements its minimal analog sticks, D-pad, and face buttons. It also has built-in WiFi support allowing owners to update the device in the future. 

The Retroid Pocket 3 costs $119. Its younger sibling, the Retroid Pocket 2+ costs $99.

We did a comparison between these retro consoles. If you’re keen to know what separates them, check out our comparison between Retroid Pocket 3 vs Pocket 2+. 

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3. Anbernic RG503

Another product from Anbernic, the RG503 sits as a higher model than the RG351 series. 

In our review of the Anbernic RG503, we found it to be a very capable retro handheld, with the OLED screen making it stand out. It’s certainly one of the best Anbernic handheld consoles out there!

The Anbernic RG503 is a great choice for those looking for a sub $150 retro console that looks as good as it performs.

Despite its plastic body, the RG503 has a premium appearance. Compared to the aforementioned Retroid Pocket 3, the Anbernic RG503 has more curves and contours.

The back part of the RG503 has a textured surface, which Anbernic says underwent “18 times mold adjustment,” “62 crafts production,” and “12 times quality test” — quite a focus on quality there!

Under the hood the, Anbernic RG503 packs a Cortex-A55 64-bit 1.8GHz Quad-Core CPU, a Mali G-52 EE GPU, and 1GB LPDDR4 RAM.

Its powerful chipset is accompanied by a similarly capable suite of hardware including a 4.95-inch OLED screen, 5G Wi-Fi, high-fidelity dual stereo speakers, and a 3500mAh battery. 

Other notable features on the RG503 include its compatibility with MoonLiught game streaming and multiplayer functionality. You can find the full Anbernic RG503 specifications here.

The Anbernic RG503 will set you back $139.99.

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4. Anbernic RG353P

If you want an emulation handheld that screams retro, the Anbernic RG353P is probably what you’re looking for.

The last Anbernic device on our list draws its inspiration from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) controller. The gray colorway brings the best in this retro handheld in terms of aesthetics. 

When it comes to the actual hardware, the Anbernic RG353P packs a similar CPU as the RG503 and a Mali-G52 MP2 GPU.

The RG353P features dual booting capabilities, which means you can boot it into Android or Linux. It also sports integrated WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Anbernic are working on a vertical cousin of this one, the RG353V — but it’s still a few weeks away right now.

This is a great device if you plan on playing titles up to PlayStation 2 as it can run the AetherSX2 application. Of course, YMMV — expect to do some tinkering to get PS2 to work well.

In a video posted by RetroDaddy, the Anbernic RG353P is seen seamlessly running several Android games such as Apple Knight, Crossy Road, Dadish, Evoland, and Sky Duels. Watch it right here:

It has a 3.5-inch touchscreen display and also has HDMI support for those that wish to use a bigger screen.

The Anbernic RG353P is priced at $139.99.

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5. PowKiddy RGB20S

Last on our list is the cute monster — the PowKiddy RGB20S! Here’s our unboxing video of the RGB20S:

If you’re keen on this one, do check out our PowKiddy RGB20S first impressions article.

The PowKiddy RGB20S is not as powerful as the two Anbernic devices that came before it in this list. But when you hear how much it is, you’ll be surprised to know how much value you’re getting for your money.

While it runs most PSP games smoothly, it’s terrible at running Nintendo 64 (N64) games.

I was stoked to see The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask run with the PowKiddy RGB20S although I encountered problems along the way. 

It uses a combination of an RK3326 Quad Core 1.5 GHz CPU paired with 1GB DDR3L RAM, which does a decent job of running almost every PlayStation 1 game I threw at it — and I’m impressed. It also runs Nintendo DS games, which is cool. 

Other notable features you get when you buy the PowKiddy RGB20S include a beautiful 3.5-inch screen, two analog sticks, and a 3500mAh battery. 

We’re going to drop the bomb here and say that the only vertically-oriented handheld on our list (PowKiddy RGB20S) costs only $79.99. 

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Best Retro Handheld Consoles Under $150: Summary

The sub $150 retro handheld category is a solid segment.

Devices here usually have decent emulating capabilities with the build quality to boot.

If you’re planning to max it out, we suggest getting either the Retroid Pocket 3 or the Anbernic RG353P.

But if you want something more basic — and also something more affordable — the PowKiddy RGB20S is a device that might just surprise you!

If you are on a tighter budget, check out our list of the best retro handhelds under $100.