Cheapo chipos
March 9th, 2025 by the hha team
We have just updated Handheldsarena with a boatload of low profile as cheap as you can get handheld devices from... somewhere.
Device data last generated on September 2026
[sources]
Images were edited for clarity and collated using resources obtained from:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808285399713.html accessed on 2025-03-09
These images are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
| Summary |
Dealbay G28
|
| Launch date |
December 2024 |
| Price range |
$0 - $50 |
| Display size |
4.3 in |
| Body size |
Unknown |
| Weight |
Unknown |
| Chipset |
Rockchip rk3128 |
| CPU |
ARM Cortex-A7 |
| GPU |
Mali 400 MP2 |
| RAM |
4 GB RAM |
| Operating system |
Linux EmuELEC |
| Gaming performance [index] |
Perfect for GBA and below
Decent for SNES up to PS1 |
| Performance index |
GB < NES < Genesis < GBA < SNES < PS1 < NDS < N64 < DC < PSP < Saturn < GC < Wii < 3DS < PS2 < Wii U < Switch < PS3 |
| Internal storage |
micro sd |
| Battery |
2100 mAh |
We suspect it could be China... What do you think? :)
Device data last generated on September 2026
[sources]
Images were edited for clarity and collated using resources obtained from:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807869364159.html accessed on 2025-03-09
These images are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
| Summary |
SJGAM M22 Pro
|
| Launch date |
November 2024 |
| Price range |
$0 - $50 |
| Display size |
5 in |
| Body size |
191 x 81 x 33 mm
(7.52 x 3.19 x 1.3 in) |
| Weight |
Unknown |
| Chipset |
Allwinner h133 |
| CPU |
ARM Cortex-A7 |
| GPU |
Mali 400 MP2 |
| RAM |
1 GB RAM |
| Operating system |
Linux EmuELEC |
| Gaming performance [index] |
Perfect for SNES and below
Decent for PS1 |
| Performance index |
GB < NES < Genesis < GBA < SNES < PS1 < NDS < N64 < DC < PSP < Saturn < GC < Wii < 3DS < PS2 < Wii U < Switch < PS3 |
| Internal storage |
micro sd |
| Battery |
3000 mAh |
We love China, btw :)
Device data last generated on September 2026
[sources]
Images were edited for clarity and collated using resources obtained from:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807357871352.html accessed on 2025-03-09
These images are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
| Summary |
SJGAM M21
|
| Launch date |
July 2024 |
| Price range |
$0 - $50 |
| Display size |
3.5 in |
| Body size |
Unknown |
| Weight |
208 gr |
| Chipset |
Allwinner h133 |
| CPU |
ARM Cortex-A7 |
| GPU |
Mali 400 MP2 |
| RAM |
1 GB RAM |
| Operating system |
Linux EmuELEC |
| Gaming performance [index] |
Perfect for SNES and below
Decent for PS1 |
| Performance index |
GB < NES < Genesis < GBA < SNES < PS1 < NDS < N64 < DC < PSP < Saturn < GC < Wii < 3DS < PS2 < Wii U < Switch < PS3 |
| Internal storage |
micro sd |
| Battery |
3000 mAh |
But don't expect much from these brands, we'd say...
Device data last generated on September 2026
[sources]
Images were edited for clarity and collated using resources obtained from:
https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005007879437323.html accessed on 2025-03-09
These images are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
| Summary |
Data Frog SF3000
|
| Launch date |
October 2024 |
| Price range |
$0 - $50 |
| Display size |
4.5 in |
| Body size |
Unknown |
| Weight |
Unknown |
| Chipset |
Custom Custom |
| CPU |
ARM Cortex-A7 |
| GPU |
None |
| RAM |
2 GB RAM |
| Operating system |
Linux EmuELEC |
| Gaming performance [index] |
Perfect for PS1 and below |
| Performance index |
GB < NES < Genesis < GBA < SNES < PS1 < NDS < N64 < DC < PSP < Saturn < GC < Wii < 3DS < PS2 < Wii U < Switch < PS3 |
| Internal storage |
No |
| Battery |
3000 mAh |
Sometimes we think we've got this handheld thing nailed down and under control, but then there's one new brand with an exquisite device... The handheld market is indeed booming!
Device data last generated on September 2026
[sources]
Images were edited for clarity and collated using resources obtained from:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005008326492656.html accessed on 2025-03-09
These images are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
| Summary |
Game Console U8
|
| Launch date |
March 2025 |
| Price range |
$0 - $50 |
| Display size |
4 in |
| Body size |
Unknown |
| Weight |
Unknown |
| Chipset |
Rockchip rk3326 |
| CPU |
ARM Cortex-A35 |
| GPU |
Mali G31 MP2 |
| RAM |
1 GB RAM |
| Operating system |
Linux EmuELEC |
| Gaming performance [index] |
Perfect for PS1 and below
Decent for NDS |
| Performance index |
GB < NES < Genesis < GBA < SNES < PS1 < NDS < N64 < DC < PSP < Saturn < GC < Wii < 3DS < PS2 < Wii U < Switch < PS3 |
| Internal storage |
No |
| Battery |
3500 mAh |
But sometimes the best handheld console is the one you have with you to play with, so if you're just looking for entries in the sub-50 dollar range, we've got you covered.
It's still the beggining of March 2025 but we have already added five new brands: BATLEXP, QRD, Curious Chip, Dealbay, and Raypodo. Of all these, there is one who does not belong to the group, and that is Curious Chip, who is not a cheap Chinese brand and is more a DYI manufacturer who likes Raspberry pis :)
Anyway, DIY, on the cheap, high end, or somewhere in between, you always have a choice, and we're here to help! Happy gaming!
MagicX Mini Zero 28
March 2nd, 2025 by the hha team
Well, here's an interesting device! Do you like small screens and pocketable formats and can't live without Android? Look no further; the MagicX Mini Zero 28 is for you!
With a 2.8 inch 640x480 screen powered by an Allwinner A133 Plus (ARM Cortex-A53 and a PowerVR GE8300) this tiny Android device is here to impress. It emulates up to NDS, and if you like this size, there aren't many equivalent options for you to choose from. Checkout this comparison with the closest matches.
This is MagicX's 3rd device overall, with the MagicX XU Mini M from July 2024 and the MagicX XU10 from November 2023 as predecessors. We believe this is MagicX's best device yet; be sure to check it out!
Device data last generated on September 2026
[sources]
Images were edited for clarity and collated using resources obtained from:
https://shop.magicx.team/products/magicx-mini-28 accessed on 2025-01-21
These images are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
| Summary |
MagicX Mini Zero 28
|
| Launch date |
January 2025 |
| Price range |
$50 - $75 |
| Display size |
2.8 in |
| Body size |
130.5 x 65.1 x 19 mm
(5.14 x 2.56 x 0.75 in) |
| Weight |
120 gr |
| Chipset |
Allwinner a133 plus |
| CPU |
ARM Cortex-A53 |
| GPU |
PowerVR GE8300 |
| RAM |
2 GB RAM |
| Operating system |
Android 10, also supported: Linux Tina |
| Gaming performance [index] |
Perfect for NDS and below
Decent for N64 up to PSP |
| Performance index |
GB < NES < Genesis < GBA < SNES < PS1 < NDS < N64 < DC < PSP < Saturn < GC < Wii < 3DS < PS2 < Wii U < Switch < PS3 |
| Internal storage |
No |
| Battery |
2900 mAh |
Odin 2 Portal
February 23rd, 2025 by the hha team
Continuing with our 2025 catch-up of new releases here on Handheldsarena, we're highlighting a fantastic device that came out in January: the Odin 2 Portal. It's essentially a small but important iteration over its already very capable sibling: the Odin 2, but now sporting a bigger and much better screen with 7 inches AMOLED compared to the Odin 2's 6-inch IPS. Besides a few ergonomics changes, it's internally the same Android 13 device, using Qualcomm's snapdragon 8 gen 2 with a Qualcomm Adreno 740 as GPU.
If you feel lost, AYN is a relatively new handheld brand, having released its first device, the Odin (1), in 2022 with a steady 6-month cadence of new devices (check their catalog here). Do not confuse AYN with Ayaneo; they're totally different handheld brands with different competing devices. Check out this arena, where we compare the Odin 2 Portal, the Odin 2, the Ayaneo Pocket Evo, and, for reference, the Steam Deck Oled.
Don't feel lost; we're here to help!
Device data last generated on September 2026
[sources]
Images were edited for clarity and collated using resources obtained from:
https://www.ayntec.com/products/odin2-portal accessed on 2025-01-21
These images are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
| Summary |
AYN Technologies Odin 2 Portal
|
| Launch date |
January 2025 |
| Price range |
$300 - $600 |
| Display size |
7 in |
| Body size |
257 x 98.6 x 17.2 mm
(10.12 x 3.88 x 0.68 in) |
| Weight |
430 gr |
| Chipset |
Qualcomm snapdragon 8 gen 2 |
| CPU |
ARM Cortex-X3 / ARM Cortex-A715 / ARM Cortex-A710 / ARM Cortex-A510 |
| GPU |
Qualcomm Adreno 740 |
| RAM |
8 GB RAM |
| Operating system |
Android 13 |
| Gaming performance [index] |
Perfect for PS2 and below |
| Performance index |
GB < NES < Genesis < GBA < SNES < PS1 < NDS < N64 < DC < PSP < Saturn < GC < Wii < 3DS < PS2 < Wii U < Switch < PS3 |
| Internal storage |
128 GB
Also available: 512 GB / 1 TB |
| Battery |
8000 mAh |
Powkidding X35H
February 20th, 2025 by the hha team
If there are two brands that release often, it's Anbernic and Powkiddy. Last month, Powkiddy released their first 2025 device: the X35H, which is, basically, a smaller version of their X55 device from May 2023. It's also their 35th device overall!
The space where this device competes is already super crowded: 3.5-inch screen, RK3566 chip, emulating N64 or NDS at best, horizontal and vertical variants... Yawn... There are lots of clones and variants with this exact setup from multiple brands, and there's not really much else to say about this device; it's a... cheap utilitarian from Powkiddy.
But, as with every handheld purchase, please spend a bit of time considering alternative devices that may be better choices. Check out this comparison which pits Powkiddy X35H against very good alternatives for the same price, specifically from Anbernic and Powkiddy itself.
Anyway, feel free to check out the entire Powkiddy catalog on our Powkiddy brand page. Happy gaming!
Device data last generated on September 2026
[sources]
Images were edited for clarity and collated using resources obtained from:
https://powkiddy.com/products/powkiddy-x35h-handheld-game-console accessed on 2025-01-21
These images are protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.
| Summary |
PowKiddy X35H
|
| Launch date |
January 2025 |
| Price range |
$50 - $75 |
| Display size |
3.5 in |
| Body size |
150 x 77 x 24 mm
(5.91 x 3.03 x 0.94 in) |
| Weight |
181 gr |
| Chipset |
Rockchip rk3566 |
| CPU |
ARM Cortex-A55 |
| GPU |
Mali G52 2EE |
| RAM |
1 GB RAM |
| Operating system |
Linux |
| Gaming performance [index] |
Perfect for NDS and below
Decent for N64 up to PSP |
| Performance index |
GB < NES < Genesis < GBA < SNES < PS1 < NDS < N64 < DC < PSP < Saturn < GC < Wii < 3DS < PS2 < Wii U < Switch < PS3 |
| Internal storage |
No |
| Battery |
3000 mAh |
