Welcome to the Retro Handhelds Weekly newsletter! Whether you’re a seasoned modder or just getting started with classic gaming on the go, you’re part of a passionate group that keeps the retro handheld scene vibrant and fun. Dive in for the latest reviews, guides, and community highlights.

🎮 The guts behind the glory

• Your Odin 3 Might Not Actually Use the Snapdragon 8 Elite, but There's More to the Story: After a request to change the usage of the Snapdragon 8 Elite in our Odin 3 review, we dove a bit deeper to figure out what the Dragonwing Q8 is. Much to our surprise, there's quite a bit more to the story than initially meets the eye.
• Is RAMageddon Almost Over?: Google's announcement of TurboQuaint has given us some hope that RAMageddon might soon be a thing of the past, as it offers "a 600% efficiency over current AI processing capabilities." There are still a lot of moving pieces, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that other major AI players can introduce and implement similar improvements in order to bring RAM and storage prices back down to Earth.
• GAMEMT E5 Modx: We didn't have GameMT being one of the busier manufacturers heading into the year, but with the EX8 out the door, the E5 Modx looks to be next on the docket. From the renders we've seen, this is a modular handheld with a removable screen, and might even offer a MagSafe attachment to use the controller with your phone.

🕹️ Your gateway to pixel-perfect worlds

• The Link’s Awakening DX PC Port Resurfaces!: As Nintendo prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, the community has taken it into their own hands with yet another new fan development that has disappeared from the public eye for almost 3 years now (well… kind of). It’s the PC port for The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX! Now in its v1.7.2 state, thanks to GitHub user BigheadSMZ, the port is feature complete, relatively bug-free, and can already be used on PC, Linux, and Android! One caveat, though: You need a PC to compile it.
• An Ocarina of Time 4K Project Just Got a Massive Update: In one of the best, actually truthful posts you will see today (check the date), we had a massive update to Henriko Magnifico’s The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D 4K texture pack, bringing it to a full 4.0. This update includes over 350 new high-resolution textures and is available to download now if you are a Patreon subscriber (It’s a minimum of $3 a month. Support your artists).
• iiSU & MelonDualDS: April Roadmap: In a new post on Patreon, Sapphire shared that it plans to release another iiSU build for supporters this month, and development will move toward preparing the first Beta version. Beyond that, improvements to MelonDualDS are also on tap, such as better integration for RetroAchievements, adding the latest upstream changes, and much more.

Emulation Corner

👾 Game of the Month: Aurora April

Game(s) of the Week

RPG of the Quarter (4/1 - 6/30)

✍ Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Write

Block by Block: My Favorite Tetris Games | Retro Handhelds

Nick explores his favorite ways to play Tetris across the decades, from NES to DS to 99. Discover the versions that shaped gaming and handheld history.

Retro HandheldsNick

AYANEO Pocket DS Setup Guide | Retro Handhelds

This guide will walk you step-by-step on how to setup your AYANEO Pocket DS, including installing emulators, frontends, quick tips and tricks, and much more!

Retro Handheldskalkeg

Game of the Month: A Pigment of My Imagination | Retro Handhelds

Aurora April offers GotX participants a chance to engage in more colorful gaming ventures, with a trio of games that include colors in their game title.

Retro Handheldskalkeg

Kamrui Hyper H1 Review: The Real Value? | Retro Handhelds

Kamrui is back at it again with their new Hyper H1 Mini PC. Rocking a Ryzen 7 7735HS, is this going to be worth your money? Or should you buy something else?

Retro HandheldsBan

AYN Thor Setup Guide | Retro Handhelds

This guide will walk you step-by-step on how to set up your AYN Thor, including installing emulators, frontends, quick tips and tricks, and much more!

Retro Handheldskalkeg

Diium D-40MAX Review: I Wanted To Like This One | Retro Handhelds

Nick reviews the Diium D-40MAX (formerly SZDiiER). This budget-branded foray into the 1:1 world showed some early promise, but that didn’t last long.

Retro HandheldsNick

AYANEO Pocket Air Mini B. Duck Review: The (Un)Ugly Duckling | Retro Handhelds

The AYANEO Pocket Air Mini is back with a limited edition B. Duck version, bringing the same excellent controls and build quality in a stunning yellow color.

Retro Handheldskalkeg

Game Over: Amstrad GX4000 | Retro Handhelds

Amstrad’s 1990 GX4000 reused CPC computer hardware with a tiny 25-30 game library of mostly recycled ports, no third-party support, and vanished within a year.

Retro HandheldsJim Gray

📺 On the YouTubes

💸 Achievement Unlocked: Big Savings

🗣️ Stay Connected

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