Buying Guides
Find the right handheld console faster with expert buying guides for retro gaming, portable play, and beginner-friendly picks.
Explore buying guides for handheld game consoles, retro handhelds, and portable gaming devices designed for different needs, budgets, and play styles.
Whether you're shopping for your first handheld console, comparing retro gaming devices, or looking for the best portable system for travel, our guides help you choose with confidence.
Start Here: Selected Buying Guides
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Pokémon Game Requirements
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Gift Buying Guide
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PSP Buying Considerations
More Buying Guides
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UFO 50: Find Your Next Favorite Before Buying a...
Explore UFO 50’s complete games, find the sessions you want to repeat, and decide whether an optional Ultimate 2C controller adds something useful.
UFO 50: Find Your Next Favorite Before Buying a...
Explore UFO 50’s complete games, find the sessions you want to repeat, and decide whether an optional Ultimate 2C controller adds something useful.
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Bomberman Tournament: Quest or Multiplayer Befo...
Discover Bomberman Tournament's Quest and Karabon appeal, separate original cable battles from handheld assumptions, and compare the V10's exact bundles.
Bomberman Tournament: Quest or Multiplayer Befo...
Discover Bomberman Tournament's Quest and Karabon appeal, separate original cable battles from handheld assumptions, and compare the V10's exact bundles.
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Dandara: Touch Controls or a Gamepad Before a N...
Dandara was designed for touch and gamepad. Decide whether your current device is enough, when a Pro 3 serves a real input preference, and why a separate handheld is not...
Dandara: Touch Controls or a Gamepad Before a N...
Dandara was designed for touch and gamepad. Decide whether your current device is enough, when a Pro 3 serves a real input preference, and why a separate handheld is not...
Browse Guides by Topic
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Beginner Guides
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Retro Gaming
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Portable Gaming
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Value Considerations
Buying Guides
How to Add Games to the R36S 2026: Complete Ste...
How to add games to R36S 2026 — insert microSD into PC, drag ROM files to correct platform folder, safely eject, refresh EmulationStation. 5 minutes. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux....
How to Add Games to the R36S 2026: Complete Ste...
How to add games to R36S 2026 — insert microSD into PC, drag ROM files to correct platform folder, safely eject, refresh EmulationStation. 5 minutes. Works on Windows, Mac, Linux....
Best N64 Games on the R36S 2026: 97% Compatibil...
Best N64 games on R36S 2026 — 97% compatibility. Mario 64, Zelda OoT, GoldenEye, Banjo-Kazooie all excellent. Complete compatibility guide with ratings for 20+ N64 titles. iGC tested.
Best N64 Games on the R36S 2026: 97% Compatibil...
Best N64 games on R36S 2026 — 97% compatibility. Mario 64, Zelda OoT, GoldenEye, Banjo-Kazooie all excellent. Complete compatibility guide with ratings for 20+ N64 titles. iGC tested.
Best Mario Games on the R36S 2026: Every Mario ...
Best Mario games on R36S 2026 — Super Mario 64, World, Kart, RPG, Bros 3 all at 100%. Top 15 ranked by iGC. NES, SNES, N64, GBA versions all preloaded....
Best Mario Games on the R36S 2026: Every Mario ...
Best Mario games on R36S 2026 — Super Mario 64, World, Kart, RPG, Bros 3 all at 100%. Top 15 ranked by iGC. NES, SNES, N64, GBA versions all preloaded....
R36S One Year Review 2026: Still Worth It After...
R36S one year review 2026 — after 18 months of daily iGC testing: battery still 95% capacity, D-pad still 94% accuracy, 0 hardware failures, still best retro handheld under $100....
R36S One Year Review 2026: Still Worth It After...
R36S one year review 2026 — after 18 months of daily iGC testing: battery still 95% capacity, D-pad still 94% accuracy, 0 hardware failures, still best retro handheld under $100....
Retro Gaming Gift Guide 2026: Best Gifts for Ga...
Retro gaming gift guide 2026 — best gifts for gamers under $100. R36S $79.99: 6,000+ games, no setup, 30-day returns. Perfect for him, her, kids, dad, boyfriend, girlfriend. iGC top...
Retro Gaming Gift Guide 2026: Best Gifts for Ga...
Retro gaming gift guide 2026 — best gifts for gamers under $100. R36S $79.99: 6,000+ games, no setup, 30-day returns. Perfect for him, her, kids, dad, boyfriend, girlfriend. iGC top...
Best Sonic Games on the R36S 2026: Every Sonic ...
Best Sonic games on R36S 2026 — Sonic 1, 2, 3&K, CD, Mania, Adventure all at 100%. Top 10 ranked by iGC. Genesis, Game Gear, GBA versions all preloaded. $79.99.
Best Sonic Games on the R36S 2026: Every Sonic ...
Best Sonic games on R36S 2026 — Sonic 1, 2, 3&K, CD, Mania, Adventure all at 100%. Top 10 ranked by iGC. Genesis, Game Gear, GBA versions all preloaded. $79.99.
Find Guides by Need
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Getting Started
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Classic Gaming
Vertical Handheld Consoles
Browse vertical handheld console options and compare the selected configurations.
Horizontal Handheld Consoles
Browse horizontal handheld console options and compare the selected configurations.
Explore Handheld Console Options
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R36S — Explore the Offer
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R36PRO — Compare Your Options
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R36MAX — Compare Your Preferences
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R36ULTRA — Evaluate Your Requirements
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R36H — Consider Everyday Use
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R36PLUS — Check the Exact Configuration
Purchase Considerations
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R36S — Explore the Offer
R36S
Check current prices, available configurations and suitability for your classic-game needs. -
R36PRO — Compare Your Options
R36PRO
Compare the selected configuration, current price and game requirements before choosing. -
R36MAX — Compare Your Preferences
R36MAX
Compare the exact configuration with your screen preferences, game needs and budget. -
R36ULTRA — Evaluate Your Requirements
R36ULTRA
Check the specific offer against your game needs and budget rather than assuming a model name proves higher performance.
What to Do Next
Not sure which handheld console is right for you? Continue exploring our buying guides, compare popular models, or browse our handheld gaming collections.
Buying Guides FAQ
What can I find in these buying guides?
Our buying guides cover handheld consoles, retro gaming devices, and portable gaming systems for different needs and budgets.
Are these guides suitable for beginners?
Yes, many guides are designed to help beginners choose their first handheld console.
Can I shop products from these guides?
Yes, our guides link directly to handheld console collections and product pages.