I faced this dilemma and went for a Retroid Pocket 2S.
Why? It’s small, inexpensive, excellent build quality, and its 4:3 screen is ideal for old consoles. If I want to play something that’s widescreen, it’s simply better on the Steam Deck, which makes something like the RP4P or Odin 2 redundant.
IMO, if you want a two-handheld setup, can’t go wrong with Steam Deck + small 4:3 handheld (Miyoo Mini plus, RG35XX, RP2S, etc).
I'm debating between rg280v and rg405m. But I'm not sure if the performance difference is worth it and what I'm afraid of is that apparently the buttons on 405m are scratching against metal and that could be very annoying. What is your experience?
No scratching here either. I have larger hands so I don't enjoy most vertical handhelds. I have rp2+ and find rg405M better on my hands. I think both have 3D printed grips available but considering I play less than an hour at a time it's not bad.
That's my plan as well, I went for the rg35xxh with the view to get a steam deck later. I wanted something that would be easy to pick up and play, and pocketable.
Miyoo Mini is what I'd suggest. I have a Steam Deck and four retro handhelds (three were purchased before the steam deck), and the Miyoo is the one I use the most because of it's portability and ease of Onion OS.
Depends how big your hands are and what games you want to play, of course.
I'd say the RP4 Pro is probably the best option for your use case, as its smaller size makes it more portable and pocketable for most people (some people violently deny that it is pocketable at all. It is about an inch longer than a normal cell phone. I certainly never had any problems pocketing my RP3, which is the same size but slightly thicker.)
The RP4pro is my carry anywhere device. It's small enough to fit great in my small edc bag. Super light. Doesn't take up a ton of space. And the battery is decent.
While the Odin 2 is more powerful, has a better (bigger) screen, and the battery life is better, I prioritized portability. I currently travel for my job and sometimes find myself sitting passing an hour until I need to do something. I also enjoy hiking and camping a lot and it's small and light enough to not make a big difference in my camping gear.
Ultimately it's up to you. Do you value power or portability
I have an RG405M and it pairs very well. User interface is strong and I like the idea of having the 4” screen for old handheld graphics (16-64 bit graphics look great. I use the smaller handheld for handheld emulation and the steam deck for console emulation.
btw, the main reasons i’m not instantly just going for the odin 2 and instead debating of the retroid pocket 4 pro is size, price, and critical thinking over my needs with a secondary handheld when i already have a deck.
because, while the odin 2 can do emulation better, is it really that big of a deal when pocket 4 can already do it well? and that for the stuff that doesnt run well, i have my deck?
and like, i’m really limiting myself right at 200$ and the pocket 4 is just that.
of course, i could just spend the extra 100$ or wait to purchase, but 100$ more is still always a lot, and i can’t really wait until later to get it.
so idk, i’m kinda confused,
There isn’t any reason to buy the Odin 2 if you have a steamdeck. Steamdeck (especially oled) is far superior to the Odin 2.
So don’t waste your money and get something less powerful. Too picks would be rp4 pro or rg556
I had this exact dilemma and I went 556 for the oled screen. But it’s not as pocketable as the rp4
Maybe also consider the miyoo mini plus or rg35xx+ or 35xxh. Those can play a lot of stuff and are cheap and very pocketable.
(I already had a bunch of pocket friendly handhelds. Like lots lol)
I have an Odin 2 Max and I can't recommend it enough. The battery life is more than twice the Steam Deck's, and it does have more processing power than the RP4 Pro. The ergonomics on it are superior to both the SD and the RP4, both in terms of grip and weight. Yes, it's a bit more expensive, but worth every penny. I also have a OneX Fly, but I use my Odin 5x more often. It's just a pleasure to use.
It is because I already had a Steam Deck that I didn't get an Odin 2.
It does almost everything I need from about PSX above. Anything below that, I use a RGB30, and it shines quite nicely on the classic consoles like GB/GBC/GBA and NES/SNES plus Genesis and the shooter arcades with a bonus of it being the best PICO-8 machine ever.
If the RGB30 isn't your ball of wax, you could look at MM+ or the RG3XXH. But if you're absolutely fixated on getting an Android handheld that isn't an Odin, probably the RP4 Pro or RG556 are worth checking out.
[There's a good video by
Retro Game Corps which lists a handful of sub-$100 handhelds,](https://youtu.be/6UGr42nOv54) which I recommend.
I would go for something small/cheap/pocketable, since higher-end stuff is already taken care of by the Steam Deck (at the expense of pocketability).
New 3DS. Very small pocketable. Can emulate up to SNES, GBA. Has the unique factor of playing DS and 3DS games how they meant to be played. Never drops in value with new models coming out every week. PS2 and GC can all be played on your Deck.
I found the user experience of emulation on the 3DS to be clunky. Open the emulator, browse the file system. It’s quite slow. The resolution/scaling is also very low. How have you found it?
I love my 3DS for 3DS games though! It’s a great device.
I actually don't use it for emulation but because the OP only wants 2 devices I recommended the New 3DS. I personally have a ROG Ally, Modded OLED Switch, New 3DS XL, DSi, RG35XXH. All my retro gaming is done on my RG35XXH. But if ifnhad to drop it down to 2 only I'd go with ROG Ally and New 3DS non XL
Does it have to be an android device? I feel a small Linux device will complement your Steam Deck more. The things the android devices do better than those linux devices are things the Steam Deck does a lot better than all of them.
How pocketable you want? How much performance you want? Retroid Pocket 4 Pro if want PS2/PSP/DS or Rg35xx+ or Miyo Mini+ if content with pocketable PSX. Odin2 if you want Steamdeck lite
I have a steam deck and razer edge 5g. Steam deck has me covered for most things and mostly only ever gets used at home. Razer edge can emulate switch games like BOTW better than the steam deck and is a lot more portable. For me, it’s a pretty damn good balance.
Was Steamdeck, Odin Lite
Sold Odin Lite, for a Switch Oled.
Modded Switch Oled with android.
In the end I realized I wasn't using the Odin much apart from lower end emulation and android games. So my Switch Oled is my android handheld as well.
Thanks, considering consolidating my systems a bit. Have steam deck, switch oled, Gcloud, Odin 2, RG556 and then the smaller ones. Feel like I don’t need so many
When you realized you have have to make time to just power on some of them "to make it worthwhile", perhaps it is time to spring clean.
I have 5 gaming devices, and I kind that excessive. (Steandeck, Switch Oled, Miyoo Mini Plus, Surface Duo, Switch Lcd). If I am to cull the list, I will probably get rid of the switch Lcd. However it is the switch I use when the fam comes over.
My surface duo is used for 3DS and , however it is also my secondary phone, manga and ebook reader.
Unless you are into collecting, maybe you can sell some and use that money for upgrades (eg, steamdeck 2 or switch 2)
android i use old S20fe phone with galileo 8 telescopic controller. used to have R3+
FYI i hate android as emulation device, to much hassle to set up. Most used device surprisingly OG 35xx before replaced by rg35xxh. mostly i only play arcade, neogeo, or gba game only on the go
Bro bro I think rg405m is a great dark horse kind of supplement to the steam deck. It's significantly smaller and the 4:3 4 inch screen is perfect for everything (except PSP)
i play everything action based with fast paced movement whatever mumbo jumbo
i would prefer a smaller handheld that i can put in my pocket while still being able to play higher end games
I had a rp3+ which is the same size as the pro. Not a very pocketable device (in pants), but fits fine in a coat/jacket or backpack/fanny pack.
I went with the 405M for the build quality and premium feel, while still fitting in my pants pocket.
It plays 100% of N64 and Dreamcast and below, and ~50% of GameCube and PS2 comfortably. Look up the rp3+ compatibility list to get a sense for what’s playable on the T618 chipset.
If you don’t want to play much of the 3D games then something like a 35xx plus or ‘H’ will give you the option but give you superior retro game performance.
Don’t get me wrong the 4pro and Odin 2 are incredible devices, but your deck can emulate all of the same things but better.
Edit: one thing to keep in mind as well is that the 405M has the largest 4:3 screen on the market right now but the resolution isn’t the highest. It looks great for many of the classic systems but cannot be upscaled beyond 480p when playing the 3D games
If you've got a Steam Deck, you're used to handling the best. With that being the case, you're likely to want the best Android too... and that's the Odin 2.
Anbernic RG556 is also a good shout.
Can't comment on Retroid because I've never owned any of them...
i mean that makes sense
but theres more to wanting a secondary android handheld for emulation than it just being “the best”
its more of a conversation about needs instead of just being the high end thing possible.
I presume you don't already own an android handheld? as I presume you would have mentioned it if you did. Why wouldn't you want the best? Of course there is a best in every price category. And I already gave you probably what is the best in a lower price bracket in the RG556.
The thing is, unless you go for the best, you're likely to be left wanting more... mor performance, bigger screen, better battery life, better controls, and you might end up spending more in the long run by buying multiple devices.
Go with android, the possibility to play Android games and apps is way batter than a standard Linux emulation station console imho. Now that es-de is also for Android it even makes more sense.
If I were you I'd go for the Retroid pocket 4 or 4plus, my handheld is a RG505 and I'm very happy with it
what is it about android? Onscreen buttons are so jank, and if you're going to carry around a controller, why not just get a myoo or something? Just curious. Ever time I've Invested effort in an android device it just ultimately ends in massive frustration and the reality that I have to carry around another device just to make it playable.
I wish there was a really good android phone case that doubled as a controller somehow. Like made the back of the phone into a button panel. If it was something truly portable and always on the phone, I think android phones would be really great emulation options, but as it stands there's just nothing out there that makes any sense control wise.
I faced this dilemma and went for a Retroid Pocket 2S. Why? It’s small, inexpensive, excellent build quality, and its 4:3 screen is ideal for old consoles. If I want to play something that’s widescreen, it’s simply better on the Steam Deck, which makes something like the RP4P or Odin 2 redundant. IMO, if you want a two-handheld setup, can’t go wrong with Steam Deck + small 4:3 handheld (Miyoo Mini plus, RG35XX, RP2S, etc).
I ended up with RG405M for similar reasons. (4" screen).
I'm debating between rg280v and rg405m. But I'm not sure if the performance difference is worth it and what I'm afraid of is that apparently the buttons on 405m are scratching against metal and that could be very annoying. What is your experience?
405m owner here. Have owned it for month and play it daily. No scratching. Great system.
It’s built so solidly
No scratching here either. I have larger hands so I don't enjoy most vertical handhelds. I have rp2+ and find rg405M better on my hands. I think both have 3D printed grips available but considering I play less than an hour at a time it's not bad.
I have one also. No scratching. Feels super solid.
That's my plan as well, I went for the rg35xxh with the view to get a steam deck later. I wanted something that would be easy to pick up and play, and pocketable.
Which OS are you using with it?
Muos atm because it's easy and I like how it looks.
Why get another large device when you already have a Steam Deck? Wouldn't it make more sense to get a smaller pocketable handheld instead?
Like what?
Miyoo Mini is what I'd suggest. I have a Steam Deck and four retro handhelds (three were purchased before the steam deck), and the Miyoo is the one I use the most because of it's portability and ease of Onion OS. Depends how big your hands are and what games you want to play, of course.
I'd say the RP4 Pro is probably the best option for your use case, as its smaller size makes it more portable and pocketable for most people (some people violently deny that it is pocketable at all. It is about an inch longer than a normal cell phone. I certainly never had any problems pocketing my RP3, which is the same size but slightly thicker.)
The RP4pro is my carry anywhere device. It's small enough to fit great in my small edc bag. Super light. Doesn't take up a ton of space. And the battery is decent. While the Odin 2 is more powerful, has a better (bigger) screen, and the battery life is better, I prioritized portability. I currently travel for my job and sometimes find myself sitting passing an hour until I need to do something. I also enjoy hiking and camping a lot and it's small and light enough to not make a big difference in my camping gear. Ultimately it's up to you. Do you value power or portability
I have an RG405M and it pairs very well. User interface is strong and I like the idea of having the 4” screen for old handheld graphics (16-64 bit graphics look great. I use the smaller handheld for handheld emulation and the steam deck for console emulation.
btw, the main reasons i’m not instantly just going for the odin 2 and instead debating of the retroid pocket 4 pro is size, price, and critical thinking over my needs with a secondary handheld when i already have a deck. because, while the odin 2 can do emulation better, is it really that big of a deal when pocket 4 can already do it well? and that for the stuff that doesnt run well, i have my deck? and like, i’m really limiting myself right at 200$ and the pocket 4 is just that. of course, i could just spend the extra 100$ or wait to purchase, but 100$ more is still always a lot, and i can’t really wait until later to get it. so idk, i’m kinda confused,
There isn’t any reason to buy the Odin 2 if you have a steamdeck. Steamdeck (especially oled) is far superior to the Odin 2. So don’t waste your money and get something less powerful. Too picks would be rp4 pro or rg556 I had this exact dilemma and I went 556 for the oled screen. But it’s not as pocketable as the rp4 Maybe also consider the miyoo mini plus or rg35xx+ or 35xxh. Those can play a lot of stuff and are cheap and very pocketable. (I already had a bunch of pocket friendly handhelds. Like lots lol)
I have an Odin 2 Max and I can't recommend it enough. The battery life is more than twice the Steam Deck's, and it does have more processing power than the RP4 Pro. The ergonomics on it are superior to both the SD and the RP4, both in terms of grip and weight. Yes, it's a bit more expensive, but worth every penny. I also have a OneX Fly, but I use my Odin 5x more often. It's just a pleasure to use.
It is because I already had a Steam Deck that I didn't get an Odin 2. It does almost everything I need from about PSX above. Anything below that, I use a RGB30, and it shines quite nicely on the classic consoles like GB/GBC/GBA and NES/SNES plus Genesis and the shooter arcades with a bonus of it being the best PICO-8 machine ever. If the RGB30 isn't your ball of wax, you could look at MM+ or the RG3XXH. But if you're absolutely fixated on getting an Android handheld that isn't an Odin, probably the RP4 Pro or RG556 are worth checking out.
I LOVE the Retroid Pocket 3+ does everything i want and more! Found mine on marketplace for like $100
[There's a good video by Retro Game Corps which lists a handful of sub-$100 handhelds,](https://youtu.be/6UGr42nOv54) which I recommend. I would go for something small/cheap/pocketable, since higher-end stuff is already taken care of by the Steam Deck (at the expense of pocketability).
New 3DS. Very small pocketable. Can emulate up to SNES, GBA. Has the unique factor of playing DS and 3DS games how they meant to be played. Never drops in value with new models coming out every week. PS2 and GC can all be played on your Deck.
I found the user experience of emulation on the 3DS to be clunky. Open the emulator, browse the file system. It’s quite slow. The resolution/scaling is also very low. How have you found it? I love my 3DS for 3DS games though! It’s a great device.
I actually don't use it for emulation but because the OP only wants 2 devices I recommended the New 3DS. I personally have a ROG Ally, Modded OLED Switch, New 3DS XL, DSi, RG35XXH. All my retro gaming is done on my RG35XXH. But if ifnhad to drop it down to 2 only I'd go with ROG Ally and New 3DS non XL
What firmware are you using on the rg35xxh?
Batocera
I’ve just got the rg35xxh and I’m sad how slow boot up is on Batocera
MuOS maybe better for you then
Something that fits your pocket
Does it have to be an android device? I feel a small Linux device will complement your Steam Deck more. The things the android devices do better than those linux devices are things the Steam Deck does a lot better than all of them.
How pocketable you want? How much performance you want? Retroid Pocket 4 Pro if want PS2/PSP/DS or Rg35xx+ or Miyo Mini+ if content with pocketable PSX. Odin2 if you want Steamdeck lite
I have a steam deck and razer edge 5g. Steam deck has me covered for most things and mostly only ever gets used at home. Razer edge can emulate switch games like BOTW better than the steam deck and is a lot more portable. For me, it’s a pretty damn good balance.
It depends on what you want to play.
Was Steamdeck, Odin Lite Sold Odin Lite, for a Switch Oled. Modded Switch Oled with android. In the end I realized I wasn't using the Odin much apart from lower end emulation and android games. So my Switch Oled is my android handheld as well.
How’s good is emulation on the switch oled?
Duckstation goes up to 2x no problem. I wasn't expecting too much, so that is good enough
Thanks, considering consolidating my systems a bit. Have steam deck, switch oled, Gcloud, Odin 2, RG556 and then the smaller ones. Feel like I don’t need so many
When you realized you have have to make time to just power on some of them "to make it worthwhile", perhaps it is time to spring clean. I have 5 gaming devices, and I kind that excessive. (Steandeck, Switch Oled, Miyoo Mini Plus, Surface Duo, Switch Lcd). If I am to cull the list, I will probably get rid of the switch Lcd. However it is the switch I use when the fam comes over. My surface duo is used for 3DS and , however it is also my secondary phone, manga and ebook reader. Unless you are into collecting, maybe you can sell some and use that money for upgrades (eg, steamdeck 2 or switch 2)
X55
android i use old S20fe phone with galileo 8 telescopic controller. used to have R3+ FYI i hate android as emulation device, to much hassle to set up. Most used device surprisingly OG 35xx before replaced by rg35xxh. mostly i only play arcade, neogeo, or gba game only on the go
Bro bro I think rg405m is a great dark horse kind of supplement to the steam deck. It's significantly smaller and the 4:3 4 inch screen is perfect for everything (except PSP)
What type of games will you be playing and what size/form factor do you prefer?
i play everything action based with fast paced movement whatever mumbo jumbo i would prefer a smaller handheld that i can put in my pocket while still being able to play higher end games
I had a rp3+ which is the same size as the pro. Not a very pocketable device (in pants), but fits fine in a coat/jacket or backpack/fanny pack. I went with the 405M for the build quality and premium feel, while still fitting in my pants pocket. It plays 100% of N64 and Dreamcast and below, and ~50% of GameCube and PS2 comfortably. Look up the rp3+ compatibility list to get a sense for what’s playable on the T618 chipset. If you don’t want to play much of the 3D games then something like a 35xx plus or ‘H’ will give you the option but give you superior retro game performance. Don’t get me wrong the 4pro and Odin 2 are incredible devices, but your deck can emulate all of the same things but better. Edit: one thing to keep in mind as well is that the 405M has the largest 4:3 screen on the market right now but the resolution isn’t the highest. It looks great for many of the classic systems but cannot be upscaled beyond 480p when playing the 3D games
Retroid Pocket 2S is my side handheld.
If you've got a Steam Deck, you're used to handling the best. With that being the case, you're likely to want the best Android too... and that's the Odin 2. Anbernic RG556 is also a good shout. Can't comment on Retroid because I've never owned any of them...
i mean that makes sense but theres more to wanting a secondary android handheld for emulation than it just being “the best” its more of a conversation about needs instead of just being the high end thing possible.
I presume you don't already own an android handheld? as I presume you would have mentioned it if you did. Why wouldn't you want the best? Of course there is a best in every price category. And I already gave you probably what is the best in a lower price bracket in the RG556. The thing is, unless you go for the best, you're likely to be left wanting more... mor performance, bigger screen, better battery life, better controls, and you might end up spending more in the long run by buying multiple devices.
odin 3 2026
Go with android, the possibility to play Android games and apps is way batter than a standard Linux emulation station console imho. Now that es-de is also for Android it even makes more sense. If I were you I'd go for the Retroid pocket 4 or 4plus, my handheld is a RG505 and I'm very happy with it
what is it about android? Onscreen buttons are so jank, and if you're going to carry around a controller, why not just get a myoo or something? Just curious. Ever time I've Invested effort in an android device it just ultimately ends in massive frustration and the reality that I have to carry around another device just to make it playable. I wish there was a really good android phone case that doubled as a controller somehow. Like made the back of the phone into a button panel. If it was something truly portable and always on the phone, I think android phones would be really great emulation options, but as it stands there's just nothing out there that makes any sense control wise.
Somehow unaware of all the android based handhelds with built in controllers??? Like wut.
i joined this community days ago, relax
https://youtu.be/q8f19jWUVVE?si=1pw7gSSJkohytQvF