How to Use Retro Catalog to Find the Perfect Gaming Handheld

Retro Catalog is a browsing and comparison site for gaming handhelds, organized around filters, device categories, curated guides, and release tracking. It works best if you already know roughly what you want to play — a specific console generation, a screen size, or a budget range — and want to narrow a large catalog down to a few candidates. The site lists 276 devices, 56 top picks, and 20,579 retro games, so the practical skill is filtering rather than scrolling.

Start With the Filters, Not the Full List

The homepage search and filter tools are the fastest way in. Rather than opening the full device list, decide on one or two constraints first:

• Target system — the site tags devices by the console generation they handle, such as PS2, NDS, 3DS, PSP, GBA, GC, NES, PS1, GBC, and Saturn.
• Screen aspect ratio and size — listings show this directly, for example 16:9 • 5.5", 4:3 • 4.3", 4:3 • 3.95", 16:10 • 7.4", or 4:3 • 3.2".
• Budget bands — the Guides section includes curated lists like "Best Under $70" and "Best Under $200," which is useful when price is your hard limit.

Aspect ratio matters more than it first appears. If you mainly play 4:3-era systems, a 4:3 screen avoids stretching or black bars; if you want modern widescreen content, a 16:9 or 16:10 panel fits better. Filtering on this single dimension often removes half the catalog immediately.

Use Compare to Check Devices Side by Side

Once the filter results are down to a handful, the Compare function is where the decision actually gets made. Comparing devices on the same dimensions — screen, target system support, and performance class — keeps the choice grounded instead of driven by whichever listing looks nicest.

A workable comparison set looks like this:

The pattern to notice: the smaller 4:3 devices cluster around older handheld systems, while the larger 16:9 and 16:10 devices are aimed at modern and higher-demand emulation. Pick the row that matches your primary use, then use the remaining columns to break ties.

Lean on Guides and Top Picks for Shortcuts

If you don't want to filter from scratch, the site's editorial layers do part of the work:

• Guides — themed lists such as "The Best Gaming Handhelds in 2026," "Best Under $70," "Best Under $200," and "Best for PS2." These are the quickest route when your need matches a guide's framing.
• Top Picks — a 56-device shortlist of standout models, including the Retroid Pocket 6, Miyoo Mini Plus, AYN Thor, Mangmi Air X, and Steam Deck OLED.
• Categories — a broader grouping if you want to browse by type rather than by a specific recommendation.

Treat guides and top picks as starting points, not final answers. Cross-check any recommended device against your own filter results, since a pick chosen for one purpose (say, budget) may not suit another (say, PS2 performance).

Check Latest Releases and Upcoming Handhelds Before Buying

Timing is a real factor here, and the site separates it into two sections:

• Latest Releases — recently available devices, such as the Anbernic RG DS Plus, TRIMUI Brick Hammer Pro U, Anbernic RG 35, Anbernic RG-55G1, and Retroid Pocket Duo Lite (listed with a preorder discount).
• Upcoming Handhelds — announced but not yet released models, including the Retroid Pocket Duo, Retroid Pocket Duo Lite+, and KONKR Pocket Block.

If a device you're considering sits next to an upcoming model with the same target system and screen, it's worth checking whether waiting makes sense for you. Conversely, if you need something now, the Latest Releases list shows what's actually obtainable.

A Practical Walkthrough

1. Define your primary system. Pick the one console generation you'll play most — PS2, NDS, 3DS, and so on.
2. Apply filters for that system plus your preferred screen aspect ratio and size.
3. Add a budget constraint using the Under $70 or Under $200 guides if cost is fixed.
4. Compare the survivors on screen, system support, and performance class.
5. Check Latest Releases and Upcoming Handhelds for anything that changes the timing calculus.
6. Confirm your choice against a relevant guide or Top Picks entry as a sanity check.

Common Sticking Points

• Filtering on too many dimensions at once can empty the results. Start with system and screen, then add constraints.
• A "Top Pick" is not automatically your pick. It's a curated standout, not a personalized match.
• Upcoming devices can stall a decision indefinitely. If nothing on the upcoming list clearly beats your current best candidate, buy the candidate.
• The site is a catalog, not a storefront. It doesn't sell devices; it helps you identify them, so you'll still source the hardware elsewhere.

One note carried in the site's own footer: Retro Catalog states it does not endorse piracy or the distribution of illegal software and hardware, and advises playing only games and systems you own legally. Keep that in mind when matching devices to the systems you intend to run.