How to Compare Handheld Gaming Devices on Retrosizer

Retrosizer is a browser-based visual comparison tool for handheld gaming devices. You pick devices from its supported list, drag and rotate them on a shared canvas, and see them at true relative scale — including simulations of how retro systems like Game Boy, GBA, SNES, and Genesis will look on each screen. It's built for two decisions: which retro handheld to buy, and how your favorite classic games will actually appear on a given screen. No account or install is mentioned in the site's materials; the comparison itself is the core function.

Step 1: Pick the devices you want to compare

Retrosizer's supported device list is broad and spans several categories, so it helps to know roughly what you're weighing before you start.

Add the devices you're actually deciding between. A useful pattern is to put your current device next to the one you're considering, so the size difference is immediately visible rather than abstract.

Step 2: Arrange them at true relative scale

This is where Retrosizer differs from reading spec sheets. Devices appear at true relative scale, and you can:

• Drag devices around the canvas to group or separate them
• Rotate them to compare thickness, button layout, or how they'd sit in a pocket
• Arrange freely so you can line up screens edge-to-edge or stack bodies

Because the scale is relative rather than normalized, a Steam Deck next to a Miyoo Mini shows the real gap — useful when a spec sheet lists dimensions but you can't picture what "127 mm tall" means in your hand.

Step 3: Check how retro games look on each screen

Screen simulations show accurate pixel scaling for Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, NES, SNES, Genesis/Mega Drive, PlayStation, and other systems. This answers a question specs can't: whether a 4:3 handheld will letterbox a GBA game, how much of the screen a Game Boy title fills, or whether integer scaling leaves black bars.

If you're choosing between a 1:1 screen (like the PowKiddy RGB30) and a 4:3 screen for the same library, this is the step that decides it — the simulation shows the trade-off directly.

Step 4: Narrow the list with filters

Retrosizer lets you filter devices by screen size, manufacturer, and performance. Use these when you don't have a specific model in mind yet:

• Manufacturer — if you're loyal to Anbernic, Miyoo, or Retroid, filter to that brand first
• Screen size — set a range if pocketability is the priority
• Performance — narrow to devices that can handle the systems you care about

Filtering first, then comparing, keeps the canvas from getting crowded with devices you'd never buy.

Step 5: Share the comparison

Comparisons can be shared via URL. Once you've arranged the devices and set up the screen simulations you want to show, copy the URL and send it — the recipient sees the same layout and scale. This is handy for asking a friend "is this too big?" or for saving a shortlist to revisit later.

Common snags

• Too many devices at once. The canvas gets hard to read past a handful. Compare in pairs or small groups instead.
• Confusing screen size with screen shape. A larger screen isn't automatically better for retro games — aspect ratio and pixel scaling matter more, which is exactly what the simulations show.
• Forgetting the simulation step. Size comparison alone won't tell you if a Game Boy game looks right; check the screen simulation for the systems you actually play.

What it's good for — and what it isn't

Retrosizer is a visualization and comparison tool. It helps you see relative size and preview pixel scaling before buying. It doesn't sell devices, list prices, or provide performance benchmarks beyond the filter category. Treat it as the step between "reading reviews" and "clicking buy" — the point where you confirm a device will physically and visually work for the games you want to play.