if you have a nice device then yes, they can replace them. For example I have 2 nice phones laying around, an Honor 90 and an Oppo reno 8 pro 5g. They are not my main phone so I dont have to sacrifice anything. I bought a gamesir g8 plus and Installed a frontend. I'ts an amazing setup and it runs even better than an RG556. Am I giving advice to buy a smartphone instead of an handheld? Not at all. Just saying, if you have a nice 2nd or 3rd phone at home, with a nice controller you can have the same experience as a portable console, with bigger battery, probably better screen, using a launcher like Daijisho
It's all about the game-playing experience. I used to be big on preferring to play games on their original consoles, physicals foreverrrr! But now since the Steam Deck and other "emulator/PC" handhelds, I've swayed a bit. While I'll always love my physical game collection, I cannot deny the convenience of emulation, digital downloads, etc. To me, it's all about playing the games, experiencing them, and then moving on to whatever else interests me.
@@PJ-sv4iw great point. The steam deck is a huge part of my videogame time nowadays. I just played through triangle strategy on steam deck and was it was a GREAT experience despite the fact it originally came out in Nintendo switch.
Im in both camps, personally. I own about 10 dedicated handheld devices, but i also own several controllers for my android phone. Both options have pros and cons. I flip flop between which is best.
If you had told Kid me that there were going to be things like Mobile phones and handhelds that i could play mt favorite arcade games on, I would have been floored and so excited! There are so many options now, it doesn't matter what you choose, we are all winners.
Throughout the 2010s and early 2020s, I always wanted a good phone to be able to do everything on them. And then I got the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and then the S22 Ultra! PlayStation 2 and GameCube! However, by early 2024, I decided all of this power was...overwhelming and complex (and I spent way too much on various Android gaming controllers like Backbone One and Galileo G8 and many more previously, and it is a bothersome to attach and detach them), that I decided to use my PS Vita as a "retro emulation" handheld and today, I started pulling out my Nvidia Shield Portable again, though I have considered buying something new like Retroid Pocket 4 Pro (a bit costly but it can play GameCube and PS2 games pretty well from what I seen) or the Anbernic RG35XX that you have there for something on a budget. I am also considering Steam Deck, but size matters to me so for something for compact if I were to get a PC handheld, maybe the upcoming Ayaneo Air 1S, but those are beyond my budget atm.
I’ve actually adapted to touch screen controls fairly well but some games are difficult to play with them. You make good points but I don’t have a dedicated handheld yet so this works until I do. I want a handheld like what you have because it would be more convenient than carrying a phone and a controller for it
Your dedication is commendable😅 I never got used to touch controls, brain just didn’t vibe with it. Get a Miyoo Mini Plus! Super affordable and a great experience.
Been thinking about this for a while and came to the same conclusion. Onscreen controlls suck. Fingers have to re adjust on the dpad regularly to get the movement you want and im shure there is input delay. I only own a super cheap vertical sub $10 handheld with nes games on it. Its nice but not pocketable so really want something like the trimui smart pro or possibly the ayaneo micro if i can ever get the scratch.
I have been “gaming” on an iphone for the past 4 years. I just got my retro handheld and it is a day and night difference. I cannot believe how much better everything is.
I actually just put the kickstand up on my phone on the recliner arm and play it like a tv. Psp games look great upscaled with the bigger phone screen.
So i think there's actually a bit more to this. While i do agree that all these new mobile gaming consoles are neat and do a great job of recreating that nostalgic feeling of the old days, I do find myself playing retro games a lot more on my phone than on any of these - especially since the floodgates was recently opened by Apple. And that's actually the reason why I'm now playing more retro games than i've done before. Clearly, nothing beats tactile physical controls, and that's why i literally have no issues taking 2 seconds to side my iPhone into a controller case - i have an obscure $30 one off of Amazon that works beautifully, especially with DS games on portrait mode which i feel plays better on this than any of the mobile consoles i have. The other reason is that I always have my phone with me where as i don't typically have my devices with me all the time. And yes I agree those touch screen controls aren't great, but for playing slower RPG games....yeah no problem at all. Games like Phantasy Star, Metal Slader Glory, Chrono Trigger, FFVI, Earthbound...i exclusively play these on my phone. Interestingly enough, i've somehow manage to beat Contra 4, Castlevania The Adventure, and others right on my phone using the on screen controls (making heavy use of save states lol). Of course for more action oriented games, and higher end games on the PS1, PS2 and Dreamcast i'll prefer to play on my mobile consoles - that 556 is a beast. Should note that I own the RG353v, RG35XXSP, RG556, Trimui Smart Pro, RetroPI GBs, and various other mobile consoles. And that 35XXSP does an incredible job of replicating that old GBA.
@@Mackadotious51 great thoughts here! I’m hoping to get a gamesir gamepad to test this a bit more. I think the vertical phone set up with a gamesir could make ds gaming super nice. My backbone requires a physical connection with the phone, maybe Bluetooth would change my mind🤔🤔
So the controller I have…I don’t even see the brand name on it lol. But it’s really high quality, great battery life, and yeah the Bluetooth thing is great. I just slide my phone in, click any button on the controller and it instantly connects. Delta or whatever emulator I’m using detects it right away, goes into full screen mode and I’m controlling it all now from the controller. Should mention that I do have an adapter that allows me to attach to the controller to play in portrait mode. So DS games and vertical Shmups are perfect on this. I just wish 3DS emulation was more mature on the iPhone or else it’ll be perfect on this setup too.
Dedicated handhelds had a wide variety of choices now. If you just want games from n64 or ps1 down to nes, there's the rg40 or rg35 line from anbernic. If you still have your old cartridges, use fpgbc(I can't in good conscience recommend analogue cause of how shitty of a company they are) Or if you want to play latest android games, stream your pc or ps5 games, or more powerful consoles in wii, ps2 and even pc, there's the likes of retroid pocket 3 plus, 4 pro, the upcoming pocket 5 and ayn odin 2. I used to just game on phone. But once I get an Rp3 plus, it opened my eyes to the benefits. I can save a lot of my phone battery now.
hi, so i have an 8-bit do pro 2 controller and a xiaomi 11t pro 12 ram 3.0ghz octacore, should i buy an r36s handheld for 30$ or get the phone clip?? im guessing my phone is gonna be way more powerfull than that r36s but if anyone has experience with both it would be great to get your advice
@@tomasguerra5675 chances are your phone will be more powerful, but you gotta ask yourself what games you plan on playing. Low powered? Go for the r36s, more intensive (GameCube, Dreamcast, ps2) get the phone clip
@@HandheldHorizon thank you haha such a fast reply, im going for a bit of everything but, gamecube games are a must, someday i'll get a really good dedicated device.
I would never carry a handled in my pocket especially just to play a singular GBA game at a time or what? Carry multiple carts in my pocket? I would rather have an xbox controller with a phone clip or carry a small 8bitdo controller that's smaller than that SP. Then if you get into more powerful emu handhelds you might as well get a steam deck which you are putting in a backpack...
@@o0squid0o you would never carry a handheld on your pocket?! Hahaha different strokes for different folks, but I always have a handheld in my pocket, most of the time it’s the Miyoo Mini Plus
It depends on the handheld to me. Like, the clamshell device he used in this video is designed to be used just like that that but not all handhelds are created equal
You hit the nail on the head for why I also prefer a dedicated handheld. Good video.
Thanks Casey! Phone emulation is good in a pinch, but handhelds are the bees knees.
Phones will never replace dedicated handhelds no matter how much people on reddit tell people
@@ScrubsWasTaken preach!!
if you have a nice device then yes, they can replace them. For example I have 2 nice phones laying around, an Honor 90 and an Oppo reno 8 pro 5g. They are not my main phone so I dont have to sacrifice anything. I bought a gamesir g8 plus and Installed a frontend. I'ts an amazing setup and it runs even better than an RG556. Am I giving advice to buy a smartphone instead of an handheld? Not at all. Just saying, if you have a nice 2nd or 3rd phone at home, with a nice controller you can have the same experience as a portable console, with bigger battery, probably better screen, using a launcher like Daijisho
@@Commentifuoriluogoo great point!
99% agree! I have found that the DS Pokémon games are the one exception that I prefer on my phone over anything else!
Great point, the vertical orientation of phones is a pretty solid fit for DS
You also can't discount the romance of a purpose-built gaming handheld. That tactile experience is visceral for many gamers.
There is space for a something in the middle, kinda like the Xperia Play. I wish someone picks that concept and makes a modern phone around it.
It's all about the game-playing experience. I used to be big on preferring to play games on their original consoles, physicals foreverrrr! But now since the Steam Deck and other "emulator/PC" handhelds, I've swayed a bit. While I'll always love my physical game collection, I cannot deny the convenience of emulation, digital downloads, etc. To me, it's all about playing the games, experiencing them, and then moving on to whatever else interests me.
@@PJ-sv4iw great point. The steam deck is a huge part of my videogame time nowadays. I just played through triangle strategy on steam deck and was it was a GREAT experience despite the fact it originally came out in Nintendo switch.
Im in both camps, personally. I own about 10 dedicated handheld devices, but i also own several controllers for my android phone. Both options have pros and cons. I flip flop between which is best.
@@markhead21 good point… as with most things in life… balance☯️
If you had told Kid me that there were going to be things like Mobile phones and handhelds that i could play mt favorite arcade games on, I would have been floored and so excited! There are so many options now, it doesn't matter what you choose, we are all winners.
Throughout the 2010s and early 2020s, I always wanted a good phone to be able to do everything on them. And then I got the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and then the S22 Ultra! PlayStation 2 and GameCube! However, by early 2024, I decided all of this power was...overwhelming and complex (and I spent way too much on various Android gaming controllers like Backbone One and Galileo G8 and many more previously, and it is a bothersome to attach and detach them), that I decided to use my PS Vita as a "retro emulation" handheld and today, I started pulling out my Nvidia Shield Portable again, though I have considered buying something new like Retroid Pocket 4 Pro (a bit costly but it can play GameCube and PS2 games pretty well from what I seen) or the Anbernic RG35XX that you have there for something on a budget.
I am also considering Steam Deck, but size matters to me so for something for compact if I were to get a PC handheld, maybe the upcoming Ayaneo Air 1S, but those are beyond my budget atm.
All the devices you mentioned are great! The steam deck can do it all. But yep it’s a bit large
I’ve actually adapted to touch screen controls fairly well but some games are difficult to play with them. You make good points but I don’t have a dedicated handheld yet so this works until I do. I want a handheld like what you have because it would be more convenient than carrying a phone and a controller for it
Your dedication is commendable😅 I never got used to touch controls, brain just didn’t vibe with it. Get a Miyoo Mini Plus! Super affordable and a great experience.
@@HandheldHorizon sounds good but I want one like the clamshell you showed in the video. It’s like the GBA which I loved having at the time
@@Dragonrider1227 here is a link to one an Amazon with prime 2 day shipping: amzn.to/46t3F00
Been thinking about this for a while and came to the same conclusion. Onscreen controlls suck. Fingers have to re adjust on the dpad regularly to get the movement you want and im shure there is input delay. I only own a super cheap vertical sub $10 handheld with nes games on it. Its nice but not pocketable so really want something like the trimui smart pro or possibly the ayaneo micro if i can ever get the scratch.
I have been “gaming” on an iphone for the past 4 years. I just got my retro handheld and it is a day and night difference. I cannot believe how much better everything is.
@@MistaKastro love to hear it!! Retro handhelds are the bomb🔥🔥
I actually just put the kickstand up on my phone on the recliner arm and play it like a tv. Psp games look great upscaled with the bigger phone screen.
i was here before 100 subs don't forget me when you at 1M🎉
@@Doryan_GMD hahaha I won’t Doryan!
Really good channel , enjoying the reviews and nice production value , keep it up.
@@dizzygulp thanks dizzy!! I have many more videos on the way🔥🔥
I'm just getting into retro gaming waiting for my trimui smart pro & r36s to arrive :) @@HandheldHorizon
So i think there's actually a bit more to this.
While i do agree that all these new mobile gaming consoles are neat and do a great job of recreating that nostalgic feeling of the old days, I do find myself playing retro games a lot more on my phone than on any of these - especially since the floodgates was recently opened by Apple. And that's actually the reason why I'm now playing more retro games than i've done before. Clearly, nothing beats tactile physical controls, and that's why i literally have no issues taking 2 seconds to side my iPhone into a controller case - i have an obscure $30 one off of Amazon that works beautifully, especially with DS games on portrait mode which i feel plays better on this than any of the mobile consoles i have.
The other reason is that I always have my phone with me where as i don't typically have my devices with me all the time. And yes I agree those touch screen controls aren't great, but for playing slower RPG games....yeah no problem at all. Games like Phantasy Star, Metal Slader Glory, Chrono Trigger, FFVI, Earthbound...i exclusively play these on my phone. Interestingly enough, i've somehow manage to beat Contra 4, Castlevania The Adventure, and others right on my phone using the on screen controls (making heavy use of save states lol). Of course for more action oriented games, and higher end games on the PS1, PS2 and Dreamcast i'll prefer to play on my mobile consoles - that 556 is a beast. Should note that I own the RG353v, RG35XXSP, RG556, Trimui Smart Pro, RetroPI GBs, and various other mobile consoles. And that 35XXSP does an incredible job of replicating that old GBA.
@@Mackadotious51 great thoughts here! I’m hoping to get a gamesir gamepad to test this a bit more. I think the vertical phone set up with a gamesir could make ds gaming super nice. My backbone requires a physical connection with the phone, maybe Bluetooth would change my mind🤔🤔
So the controller I have…I don’t even see the brand name on it lol. But it’s really high quality, great battery life, and yeah the Bluetooth thing is great. I just slide my phone in, click any button on the controller and it instantly connects. Delta or whatever emulator I’m using detects it right away, goes into full screen mode and I’m controlling it all now from the controller. Should mention that I do have an adapter that allows me to attach to the controller to play in portrait mode. So DS games and vertical Shmups are perfect on this. I just wish 3DS emulation was more mature on the iPhone or else it’ll be perfect on this setup too.
Agreed dedicated handheld is the way to go, but also your book collection is stellar: lord of the rings, the hobbit, and game of thrones !!!!
@@Dee_Lopez haha thanks!!🙏 reading is my other big downtime hobby📚
Backbone is amazing for streaming (moonlight) but for emulation I prefer a smaller handheld. Screw touch controls, haha.
@@MixelsLab agree 💯
You're going to be big kid. Well done.
I appreciate it! As always thanks for the encouragement :)
Dedicated handhelds had a wide variety of choices now. If you just want games from n64 or ps1 down to nes, there's the rg40 or rg35 line from anbernic.
If you still have your old cartridges, use fpgbc(I can't in good conscience recommend analogue cause of how shitty of a company they are)
Or if you want to play latest android games, stream your pc or ps5 games, or more powerful consoles in wii, ps2 and even pc, there's the likes of retroid pocket 3 plus, 4 pro, the upcoming pocket 5 and ayn odin 2.
I used to just game on phone. But once I get an Rp3 plus, it opened my eyes to the benefits. I can save a lot of my phone battery now.
@@adrian_veidt 100% agree
Smartphone is good for emulation.
hi, so i have an 8-bit do pro 2 controller and a xiaomi 11t pro 12 ram 3.0ghz octacore, should i buy an r36s handheld for 30$ or get the phone clip?? im guessing my phone is gonna be way more powerfull than that r36s
but if anyone has experience with both it would be great to get your advice
@@tomasguerra5675 chances are your phone will be more powerful, but you gotta ask yourself what games you plan on playing. Low powered? Go for the r36s, more intensive (GameCube, Dreamcast, ps2) get the phone clip
@@HandheldHorizon thank you haha such a fast reply, im going for a bit of everything but, gamecube games are a must, someday i'll get a really good dedicated device.
@@tomasguerra5675haha no prob man! If GC is a must I’d get the rg556 or the retroid pocket 4 pro. Here’s a link to the Rp4 pro: amzn.to/4chONTO
I would never carry a handled in my pocket especially just to play a singular GBA game at a time or what? Carry multiple carts in my pocket? I would rather have an xbox controller with a phone clip or carry a small 8bitdo controller that's smaller than that SP. Then if you get into more powerful emu handhelds you might as well get a steam deck which you are putting in a backpack...
@@o0squid0o you would never carry a handheld on your pocket?! Hahaha different strokes for different folks, but I always have a handheld in my pocket, most of the time it’s the Miyoo Mini Plus
It depends on the handheld to me. Like, the clamshell device he used in this video is designed to be used just like that that but not all handhelds are created equal