retrocatalog.com

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.

Retro Catalog is a browsing and comparison site for gaming handhelds. It lets you filter devices by features, performance, and specifications, and it also tracks upcoming and newly released handhelds alongside a separate catalog of retro games. It is useful if you are trying to shortlist a handheld before buying, or if you want to see what is about to hit the market. It is not a store — the site presents device information and comparisons rather than selling hardware directly.

What you can do on the site

The homepage organizes the main functions into a few clear areas:

• Search — look up a specific handheld or game.
• Explore — browse the full device catalog.
• Compare — put handhelds side by side.
• Guides — curated recommendation lists.

The site states it covers 276 devices and 20,579 games, so the catalog is broad rather than limited to a handful of popular models.

Finding a handheld

The core workflow is filter-then-compare. Each device listing carries tags that describe what it is good for and its screen characteristics. From the homepage examples, listings look like this:

The tag tells you which system generation the device targets, and the aspect ratio plus screen size tells you how that system's games will fit. A 4:3 screen suits older consoles natively, while 16:9 suits PSP and modern widescreen content. This is the main decision axis the site is built around.

Guides and curated picks

If you do not want to filter manually, the Guides section offers ready-made shortlists. The homepage names several:

• The Best Gaming Handhelds in 2026
• Best Under $70
• Best Under $200
• Best for PS2

These are useful starting points when your constraint is a budget or a specific console you want to emulate.

Top Picks and Upcoming Handhelds

Two sections serve different timing needs:

Top Picks (56 devices listed) highlights currently recommended models, such as the Retroid Pocket 6, Miyoo Mini Plus, AYN Thor, Mangmi Air X, and Valve Steam Deck OLED.

Upcoming Handhelds shows what has not shipped yet, including the Retroid Pocket Duo, Retroid Pocket Duo Lite+, and KONKR Pocket Block. Some upcoming entries carry a "Preorder Discount" tag, which signals that a preorder promotion is active at the time of listing.

If you are buying now, start with Top Picks. If you can wait, check Upcoming Handhelds for something closer to your target specs.

The retro games catalog

Separately from hardware, the site maintains a game catalog with entries spanning multiple platforms — for example Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (PS2), Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (GBA), F-Zero GX (GC), and Metal Gear Solid (GBC). This is a reference index of titles, not a download source. The site explicitly states it does not endorse piracy or the distribution of illegal software and hardware, and that you should only play games and systems you own legally.

When Retro Catalog is the right tool

Use it when you need to:

• Compare screen size, aspect ratio, and target system across many handhelds.
• Find a device within a budget band via the guides.
• Track release timing for handhelds that are not out yet.
• Check which systems a specific model is tagged for.

Skip it if you want to purchase directly, read long-form reviews, or find ROM files — the site does none of those.

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.

Retro Catalog states plainly that it does not endorse piracy or the distribution and usage of illegal software and hardware, and it asks users to only play games and systems they own legally. That statement appears in the site footer, so it applies to the whole catalog rather than to a single page. If you use the site to browse handhelds or look up retro games, the practical takeaway is that the listings are reference material, not a license or a download source.

What the site actually says

The footer text on Retro Catalog reads:

"Retro Catalog does not endorse piracy or the distribution and usage of illegal software and hardware. Only play games and systems that you own legally."

Two distinct points are packed into that sentence:

• No endorsement of piracy. The site distances itself from illegal distribution and use of software and hardware.
• A condition on use. It directs users to play only games and systems they legally own.

The wording covers both software (games, ROMs, BIOS files) and hardware (modified or otherwise illegal devices), so the position is not limited to game files alone.

Why the placement matters

The statement sits in the footer, alongside About, Policies, and contact links. Footers typically carry site-wide terms rather than page-specific notes, which means the stance is meant to govern how visitors use everything on the site — the handheld comparison tools, the game database, and the guides.

Retro Catalog's own description frames it as a browsing and comparison resource: it lets you browse and compare gaming handheld features, performance, and specifications, filter to find a handheld, and follow upcoming and newly released devices. Nothing in that description presents the site as a source of games or system files. The legal notice is consistent with that role.

What this means if you use the site

The site's guidance is a use condition, not a technical restriction. In practice:

• Treat the handheld specs, comparisons, and game listings as reference information for deciding what to buy or play.
• Source games and systems through legal channels — your own cartridges, discs, and consoles, or legitimate re-releases and storefronts.
• Do not read the catalog's game entries as an invitation to obtain ROMs or other files. The site lists games (its featured section shows titles across NES, PS1, PS2, GBA, GBC, GC, 3DS, and ARC) as catalog data, not as downloads.

The footer also carries a copyright line for Retro Catalog, which reinforces that the site treats its own content as protected material.

Common points of confusion

"The site lists retro games, so it must host them." Listing a game's title, platform, and category is cataloging, not distribution. The piracy statement in the same footer makes the intended boundary explicit.

"The disclaimer is just boilerplate." It may be standard wording, but it still defines the site's stated position and the behavior it asks of users. If you are deciding whether to rely on the site, the footer is the place its own terms live.

"It only covers games." The sentence names "illegal software and hardware," so it extends to devices as well as files.

The bottom line

Retro Catalog's position is simple and stated on its own pages: no endorsement of piracy or illegal software and hardware, and play only what you legally own. Use the site for what it presents itself as — a place to browse, compare, and research gaming handhelds and retro game listings — and handle the actual games and systems through legal means.

Retro Catalog's Retro Games section lists classic titles across multiple platforms, and the homepage shows a catalog of more than 20,000 games. The featured set visible on the page spans NES, PS1, PS2, GBA, GBC, GameCube, and 3DS, so the catalog is organized around the platforms people typically emulate on retro handhelds rather than around a single console generation.

What the Retro Games section contains

The site presents games as a browsable catalog alongside its handheld listings. On the homepage, the "Featured Retro Games (September 2026)" block shows a sample of what's indexed, with each entry pairing a title with its platform:

The "See More (20579 Games)" link indicates the full catalog is roughly 20,579 titles at the time shown. The mix of platforms is the useful signal here: it covers cartridge-era handhelds (GBA, GBC), disc-based home consoles (PS1, PS2, GameCube), and a later handheld (3DS).

Why the game list matters when picking a handheld

The handheld entries on the same site are tagged with the platforms they target. Examples from the homepage include:

• Retroid Pocket Duo Lite — PS2, 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 35 N — NDS, 4:3, 3.5"
• Anbernic RG-55G1 — PS2, 16:9, 5.5"

Because both sides use the same platform labels, you can move from a game you want to play to the handhelds tagged for that platform. If your list is mostly PS2 and GameCube titles, you're looking at devices tagged for those systems; if it's GBA and GBC, the requirements are different.

How to use the two sections together

1. Open the Retro Games catalog and note the platforms attached to the titles you care about.
2. Check the handheld listings for devices tagged with those same platforms.
3. Use the site's filters and compare tools to narrow the handheld list by the features that matter to you.

The site also groups handhelds into guides such as "Best Under $70," "Best Under $200," and "Best for PS2," which can shortcut the search if your budget or target platform is already fixed.

A note on the catalog's scope

The catalog is a reference for browsing and comparing, not a source of game files. Retro Catalog states that it does not endorse piracy or the distribution and usage of illegal software and hardware, and that you should only play games and systems you own legally. Treat the game list as a way to identify titles and platforms, then confirm what you can legally play on your own hardware.