Does Retro Catalog Let Me Compare Gaming Handheld Specifications?

Yes. Retro Catalog includes a Compare feature that lets you put gaming handhelds side by side, and its device listings expose specification fields you can use as comparison dimensions — screen aspect ratio, screen size, and supported platforms are the ones visible directly in the catalog listings. The site also states that you can "browse and compare gaming handheld features, performance and specifications," so comparison is a core function rather than an incidental one.

What Retro Catalog's comparison covers

The catalog is built around a filterable, comparable device database. From the homepage and listing views, each handheld is tagged with a short specification summary. The visible fields include:

Examples pulled straight from the listings:

• Retroid Pocket Duo Lite — 3DS, 16:9, 5.5"
• Anbernic RG DS Plus — PSP, 4:3, 4.3"
• TRIMUI Brick Hammer Pro U — PS2, 4:3, 3.95"
• Anbernic RG-55G1 — PS2, 16:9, 5.5"
• Miyoo Mini Plus — NDS, 4:3, 3.5"
• AYN Thor — Modern, 16:9, 6"
• Valve Steam Deck OLED — Modern, 16:10, 7.4"

The site also describes comparison as extending to features and performance, not just the three fields shown in the compact listing cards. That means the Compare view is where you go for the fuller spec set, while the listing tags are a quick pre-filter.

How to actually run a comparison

1. Start from the handhelds section. The navigation includes Handhelds, Categories, Compare, and Retro Games.
2. Narrow the field first. Use the filters to cut the catalog down — the site claims 276 devices, so unfiltered comparison is impractical. Filtering by target platform (e.g. PS2) or screen size is the fastest way to get a shortlist.
3. Open Compare and select your candidates. Add the devices you're deciding between. The comparison is designed to line up their specifications against each other.
4. Read across the rows, not down the columns. Because the fields are standardized (aspect ratio, screen size, platform), the useful signal is where two devices differ on a dimension you care about — e.g. 4:3 vs 16:9 for older consoles, or 3.5" vs 5.5" for portability.

Choosing based on the comparison

The comparison only helps if you map dimensions to your own use case:

• Playing 4:3-era systems (NES, GBA, PS1, Saturn)? A 4:3 screen avoids pillarboxing. Devices like the Anbernic RG DS Plus (4:3, 4.3") or TRIMUI Brick Hammer Pro U (4:3, 3.95") fit that profile.
• Playing 16:9-era or modern content? 16:9 and 16:10 panels — Retroid Pocket 6 (16:9, 5.5"), AYN Thor (16:9, 6"), Steam Deck OLED (16:10, 7.4") — match widescreen sources.
• Want maximum pocketability? Smaller diagonals (3.2"–3.95") trade screen area for portability.
• Buying now vs waiting? The catalog separates Latest Releases from Upcoming Handhelds, so a comparison can include unreleased devices if you're willing to wait.

Practical limits to keep in mind

• The compact listing cards only show platform, aspect ratio, and screen size. For performance and the full feature set, you need the Compare view or individual device pages.
• The catalog is large (276 devices, 20,579 games), so filters are effectively mandatory before comparing.
• Retro Catalog states it does not endorse piracy and that you should only play games and systems you own legally — relevant if a comparison is driving a purchase decision around specific platforms.

If your goal is a shortlist rather than a single answer, the workflow is: filter by platform and screen size → open Compare → check the differing rows against your priorities.