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.

‼️Pre-order Alert

🎮 The guts behind the glory

• FunnyPlaying’s $69 Mini Game Boy Launch Was Over In A Flash: Over the past week or so, we’ve been learning more and more information about the FPGB MINI from FunnyPlaying. As luck would have it, pre-orders opened overnight, priced at $69 for a limited time. The problem here is that apparently FunnyPlaying only manufactured a total of TWENTY units that were available for pre-order. Needless to say, they sold out in a blink of an eye, making for a rather disappointing morning after waking up and seeing that.
• The GAMEMT MTX Combines Emulation With a GBA Cartridge Slot For Less Than $80: The GAMEMT MTX is a handheld that’s been on our radar for the past few months, after it began randomly appearing on Discord and other social media platforms. Unlike the E5 ModX, which is a modular beast we’re still waiting on, the MTX is apparently now available to order from the GAMEMT website, and AliExpress.
• Valve Reveals Pricing and Opens Waitlist for the Steam Frame: Since we last got unboxing leak details in August 2026, Valve has been surprisingly quiet on any additional details regarding their upcoming VR device, the Steam Frame. Now, we have both a Steam store page for the device on the Steam website, along with some pricing details on the device and its accessories.

🕹️ Your gateway to pixel-perfect worlds

• Mangmi Air Y Pro Gains Armada Support: Thanks to a recent or soon-to-be-released build of Armada, the Mangmi Air Y Pro has taken on a new life in the form of the weird vertical Steam Boy handheld we saw a few weeks back. Because of the Snapdragon 865 it’s packing, it seems that the Mangmi Air Y Pro is going to be perfect if you’re looking for a new way to play your low-end x86 games.
• PaperBoat Gives Paper Mario 64 a Modern PC Makeover: One could make the argument that 2026 has been the “Year of the Ports,” but we all know that Harbour Masters has been a pioneer in the space. The team is back at it again, this time with Paperboat, based on Paper Mario 64, a “native PC port of the storybook RPG classic, unfolding on modern PCs with high framerates, sharper visuals, and mod support.”
• Konsoru: The Thor-Focused Launcher Drops v0.6.0: Whether that’s been iisu, Cocoon, or something like the ES-DE Companion app. There are a few options out there for those looking to tinker. Enter Konsuru, a launcher that seems to have been built and dedicated with love to the AYN Thor. With dedicated console interfaces and a clean design, it looks like this is a more recent drop that’s aiming to be something even better for those looking for a unique dual-screen setup.

Emulation Corner

Custom Core

Ports/Decomps/Recomps

👾 Game of the Month: Sleptember

Game(s) of the Week

RPG of the Quarter (7/1 - 9/30)

✍ Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Write

KONKR Pocket Advance Review: A Nostalgic Nod to the Game Boy Advance | Retro Handhelds

AYANEO nailed the Game Boy Advance vibe with the KONKR Pocket Advance, combining a 3:2 display, strong ergonomics, quiet controls, and solid performance.

Retro Handheldskalkeg

8BitDo 64 Review: Jack of None, Master of One | Retro Handhelds

If you love N64 games but not the original controller, the 8BitDo 64 delivers a familiar layout with modern ergonomics and strong build quality.

Retro HandheldsBan

A10 Mini Review: A Miyoo Mini Clone That Earns Its Keep | Retro Handhelds

As the original supply of Miyoo Minis dries up (there are only so many old Blackberry panels to go around), the A10 Mini is here to fill the market gap that it leaves behind.

Retro HandheldsNick

RS-16 Review: This Mystery Clam Clone Has Heart | Retro Handhelds

The RS-16 proves the RK3326 still has plenty left to give, combining familiar performance with a clamshell design, a strong display, and plenty of quirks.

Retro HandheldsNick

Anbernic RG 55G1 Review: Baby’s First Qualcomm | Retro Handhelds

The Anbernic RG55G1 is their first foray into the world of Snapdragon. With a strong CPU, but a weak GPU, you have to ask yourself. Is it even worth it?

Retro HandheldsBan

📺 On the YouTubes

RH Partners

💸 Achievement Unlocked: Big Savings

The AliExpress Fall Sale kicked off on Monday, September 14, and there are plenty of discount codes before the sale concludes. Below, you'll find just a handful of codes, but you can head over to handheld.deals to find even more and see what deals might be worth grabbing.

• FSUS02: $2 off $15+
• FSUS04: $4 off $30+
• FSUS09: $9 off $65+
• FSUS15: $15 off $109+
• FSUS23: $23 off $169+
• FSUS35: $35 off $259+
• FSUS55: $55 off $379+
• FSUS70: $70 off $499+

🗣️ Stay Connected

Want more classic gaming goodness? Join the Discord, or follow us on YouTube for live podcasts and reviews every Monday at 6pm Pacific. Your feedback, mods, and stories make this community what it is, so keep sharing!