gaming handhelds Archives

BetaBeacon

August 7, 2025

The AYANEO Pocket S2 is the most powerful Android handheld I’ve ever tested, but is it the best?

The AYANEO Pocket S2 has a sleek and slender design with stacked triggers, high-end TMR electromagnetic sticks, and a headphone jack. It features a Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 chipset that outperforms other popular handhelds in terms of CPU and GPU performance. The device also excels in sustained performance and temperature control. It is highly recommended for gaming, including emulation of retro and modern games. The Pro model comes with a larger battery and a swappable D-pad. However, the premium price tag may make it difficult to recommend, especially with the release of other compelling alternatives by AYANEO.

BetaBeacon

July 30, 2025

Ayaneo just announced the “world’s first flip dual-screen Android handheld” for 3DS games, and I’m more excited about it than the Windows version

Ayaneo has unveiled a new gaming handheld called the Ayaneo Pocket DS, which is the world's first Android clamshell portable for 3DS games.

BetaBeacon

July 28, 2025

There’s one reason I’d consider a Flip instead of a Fold, and it’s not the reason you think

Myrick explores retro gaming, emulation, and handhelds with Android Arcade.

Winsage

July 20, 2025

A Windows Insider user discovers an undocumented ‘Shared audio’ feature in the latest build — quick setting allows you to play audio through multiple outputs

Microsoft has introduced a new 'Shared audio' feature in the latest Windows Insider build, allowing users to stream audio across multiple devices or speakers. This feature can be accessed via a button in the Quick Settings panel, where users can select connected audio devices and initiate audio sharing. Currently, Windows does not have a native solution for simultaneous audio output to multiple devices, and users often rely on unreliable methods or complex third-party applications. The feature's broader rollout is unconfirmed, and its compatibility with Bluetooth devices is uncertain. Users can join the Canary Channel to explore this feature, but it may come with instability and no guarantee of availability for all Insiders.

BetaBeacon

July 17, 2025

The Anbernic RG477M takes a metal approach to gaming handhelds

Anbernic announced its latest gaming handheld, the RG477M, which is the first Anbernic handheld with a metal shell since the RG405M in 2023. The new device is expected to have similar specs to the RG557, including a Dimensity 8300 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 128GB of expandable storage.

BetaBeacon

July 17, 2025

Is it safe to buy retro gaming handhelds with pre-loaded games? Here’s my expert advice

Downloading or sharing pirated games, even if they are old or out of print, is illegal according to copyright law. Handhelds that come with pre-loaded ROMs are also legally questionable. Cheap microSD cards that come with these devices have high fail rates and may not last long. Companies that use pirated ROMs as a selling point may not offer good customer support. It is recommended to buy from companies that do not ship their devices with games for a more legitimate and sustainable future for emulation handhelds.

BetaBeacon

July 17, 2025

Forget copyright strikes, a retro gaming YouTuber faces jail time for reviewing gaming handhelds

Italian YouTuber Once Were Nerd is facing legal trouble in Italy for promoting pirated copyrighted materials, specifically related to ANBERNIC devices. Officials seized more than 30 gaming consoles from his collection and may shut down his channel before the case goes to trial. The charges are related to the reproduction of copyrighted material from Nintendo and Sony, and could result in a maximum punishment of €15,000 and three years of jail time. The case sets a dangerous precedent for other gaming-focused creators in countries with outdated copyright laws.

BetaBeacon

July 16, 2025

YouTuber faces jail time for showing off Android-based gaming handhelds

Italian YouTuber Once Were Nerd is facing legal issues for showcasing handheld gaming devices with pre-loaded copyrighted game ROMs, leading to potential criminal charges and the risk of his channel being shut down.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

The best emulation frontend just added native Android game and app support

ES-DE Frontend has released version 3.3.0, which includes native support for Android games and applications, simplifying the process of adding Android titles to the emulator's menu. The update adds support for new emulators, including the Sega Model 3 arcade platform, and replaces the MAME4droid 2024 emulator with MAME4droid Current. It also introduces support for four new languages: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, and Portuguese (Portugal), increasing the total number of supported languages to over 20. The Android version is available for a one-time fee on Patreon, while the desktop version remains free.

AppWizard

July 10, 2025

Wish your Nintendo DS could run modern PC games? You need to see this new gaming handheld

AYANEO has introduced the AYANEO Flip 1S, a clamshell handheld gaming device available for pre-order. It features two designs: one with dual screens and another with a built-in keyboard. Both models have a 7-inch 144Hz OLED main display, with the dual-screen version including a 4.5-inch LCD panel and the keyboard variant featuring a compact RGB keyboard. The device is powered by either a Ryzen 7 8840U or a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chipset, with RAM options of 16GB or 32GB for the former and 32GB or 64GB for the latter. Storage ranges from 1TB to 2TB, expandable via a microSD card slot. The AYANEO Flip 1S has a 45Wh battery and supports 65W PD charging. It is capable of emulating classic systems like the Nintendo DS, 3DS, and Wii U. Pre-orders start at 9 during the crowdfunding campaign, with the top-tier model priced at 9 and shipping expected to begin in August.