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
Best Retro Handheld for Contra in 2026: Contra,...
Best retro handheld for Contra 2026 — R36S. Contra 100%, Contra III 100%, Konami Code (↑↑↓↓←→←→BA) works perfectly. Complete classic Contra library preloaded.
Best Retro Handheld for Contra in 2026: Contra,...
Best retro handheld for Contra 2026 — R36S. Contra 100%, Contra III 100%, Konami Code (↑↑↓↓←→←→BA) works perfectly. Complete classic Contra library preloaded.
Best Retro Handheld for Mega Man in 2026: Mega ...
Best retro handheld for Mega Man 2026 — R36S. Mega Man 1-6 all 100%, Mega Man X/X2/X3 all 100%. 9 classic games preloaded with save states.
Best Retro Handheld for Mega Man in 2026: Mega ...
Best retro handheld for Mega Man 2026 — R36S. Mega Man 1-6 all 100%, Mega Man X/X2/X3 all 100%. 9 classic games preloaded with save states.
Best Retro Handheld for Donkey Kong in 2026: DK...
Best retro handheld for Donkey Kong 2026 — R36S. DKC 1/2/3 all 100%, DK64 97%. Complete classic Donkey Kong library preloaded with save states.
Best Retro Handheld for Donkey Kong in 2026: DK...
Best retro handheld for Donkey Kong 2026 — R36S. DKC 1/2/3 all 100%, DK64 97%. Complete classic Donkey Kong library preloaded with save states.
Best Retro Handheld for Castlevania in 2026: Sy...
Best retro handheld for Castlevania 2026 — R36S. Symphony of the Night 97%, Super Castlevania IV 100%, Aria of Sorrow 100%. Complete classic CV library preloaded.
Best Retro Handheld for Castlevania in 2026: Sy...
Best retro handheld for Castlevania 2026 — R36S. Symphony of the Night 97%, Super Castlevania IV 100%, Aria of Sorrow 100%. Complete classic CV library preloaded.
Best Retro Handheld for Metroid in 2026: Super ...
Best retro handheld for Metroid 2026 — R36S. Super Metroid 100%, Metroid Fusion 100%, Zero Mission 100%. Complete classic Metroid library preloaded with save states.
Best Retro Handheld for Metroid in 2026: Super ...
Best retro handheld for Metroid 2026 — R36S. Super Metroid 100%, Metroid Fusion 100%, Zero Mission 100%. Complete classic Metroid library preloaded with save states.
Best Retro Handheld for Mario Kart in 2026: Sup...
Best retro handheld for Mario Kart 2026 — R36S. Super Mario Kart 100%, Mario Kart 64 97%, Super Circuit 100%. All 3 classics preloaded, all tracks, all cups.
Best Retro Handheld for Mario Kart in 2026: Sup...
Best retro handheld for Mario Kart 2026 — R36S. Super Mario Kart 100%, Mario Kart 64 97%, Super Circuit 100%. All 3 classics preloaded, all tracks, all cups.
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.