You can divide the retro handheld market into two categories: Linux and Android. Thanks to the less rigorous needs of their OS, Linux machines tend to be more affordable than their Android counterparts. But, after years of $200 devices, 2025 is shaping up to be the year of the sub-$100 Android gaming handheld. To be clear, there have been budget Android handhelds before, but with the number of devices soon to be on the market, budget Androids are definitely having a moment.
Since $100 is a make-or-break point for so many people when it comes to handheld gaming, we thought a guide was in order to help everyone figure out which up-and-coming sub-$100 Android handheld is best for them. Rather than riffing on the same template, there are actually some meaningful differences between everything coming out, enough so that it could sway your decision one way or another.
GameMT E6 Max
The one to get if you just can’t wait
You might not have heard of the E6 Max simply because GameMT only sells wholesale and hasn’t gotten a lot of love on social media. Despite the lack of name recognition, the E6 Max actually has some decent specs. Inside, it has the relatively new Allwinner A527, which runs on 8 cores at 2 GHz. That clockspeed plus 4 GB of RAM should be able to run PSP or Dreamcast comfortably, and even some GameCube games.
Something that might be a deal-breaker is the lack of Bluetooth, although it does have a 3.5 mm stereo output jack. On the other hand, the E6 Max has the ability to output video over HDMI (which none of its competitors have), so you’ll be able to more easily stream or play on your TV. There aren’t a lot of reviews of the E6 Max, but the ones that are out there are generally negative. However, for each bad review we’ve seen, there have been a fair number of apologists in the comments recommending tweaks to make it run better.
Of all the devices on this list, this is the only one that can start shipping to you now (although the Mangmi Air X should be shipping very soon after launch). However, because it’s only available from resellers, the prices are all over the place. On AliExpress, the floor seems to be around $60, but if you grab it from Amazon, you’ll end up paying around $90.
GameMT E6 Max Specs
| Processor: | Allwinner A527, 8 cores, 2 GHz |
| Memory: | 4 GB |
| Storage: | 32 GB |
| Display: | 1280×720, 5″, 16:9, 293 ppi, 500 nits, 60 Hz |
| OS: | Android 13 |
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi |
| Ports: | USB-C 4 × 2, 3.5 mm audio, SD card, HDMI |
| Battery: | 5,000 mAh |
| Weight: | 307 g |
| Colors: | 2 |
GameMT E6 Max
MagicX One 35
The most affordable of the lot
This is actually the fourth (and most powerful) Android device under $100 that MagicX has released this year. MagicX isn’t a big name on the retro scene, but the One 35 does some interesting things that the others on this list don’t. The first thing to know is that it’s small. Its screen is just 3.5 inches, and it weighs a mere 189 g. It also has a 3:2 screen, which is perfect for Game Boy Advance and WonderSwan games, but will leave letter boxing on everything else. Finally, it has a tate (縦, or vertical) mode so you can play your favorite shmup in portrait.
Inside, it’s running the MediaTek Helio G85, which clocks up to 2 GHz, and has 3 or 4 GB of RAM, depending on the configuration. Between the silicon and the smaller screen (960×640), the One 35 can punch up to PS2, Wii, and 3DS (at least the 4 GB model can, if the videos on its Discord are to be believed), a rarity at this price point.
The One 35 is up for “Fan Price” pre-order until October 23rd for just $55 for the 3 GB version and $65 for the 4 GB. After that, the price goes up by $4 until it starts shipping on November 25th. Full retail price will be $63 and $73, respectively.
MagicX One 35 Specs
| Processor: | MediaTek Helio G85, 8 cores, 2 GHz |
| Memory: | 3 GB / 4 GB |
| Storage: | 32 GB / 64 GB |
| Display: | 960×640 3.5″, 3:2, 329 ppi, 700 nits |
| OS: | Android 12, Play Store, Dawn Launcher |
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Ports: | USB-C, 3.5 mm audio, SD card |
| Battery: | 4,300 mAh, 10 W |
| Weight: | 189 g |
| Colors: | 3 |
MagicX One 35
Mangmi Air X
The surprising newcomer
The Air X might be generating the most excitement out of everything on this list because it’s Mangmi’s first handheld, and the early reviews have been almost entirely positive. It was supposed to launch last month, but that’s been pushed back to this week, so people are getting anxious to get their hands on it.
Inside, the Air X is running on the octacore, 2.1 GHz Snapdragon 662 with 4 GB of RAM. You’ll probably be able to play GameCube on this, but PS2 will likely be out of reach without delving into your emulator settings, particularly for demanding games. With its 5.5-inch 16:9 screen, this should be your go-to PSP machine.
You can get in on the $79.99 early bird price for the Air X starting on Wednesday, October 15th, which includes a free carrying case. If you sign up for the Mangmi mailing list, you can get an additional $5 off your order (or just use the code MANGMI5). After October 22nd, the price goes up to $89.99, so put your order in before then.
Mangmi Air X Specs
| Processor: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, 8 cores, 2.1 GHz |
| Memory: | 4 GB |
| Storage: | 64 GB |
| Display: | 1920×1080, 5.5″, 16:9, 400 ppi, 400 nits |
| OS: | Android 14, M Space |
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Ports: | USB-C, 3.5 mm audio, SD card |
| Battery: | 5,000 mAh, 15 W |
| Weight: | 286 g |
| Colors: | 2 |
Mangmi Air X
Ayaneo Pocket AIR Mini
The one with the most proven reputation
The Pocket AIR Mini will be Ayaneo’s first foray into the budget handheld space, having carved a niche out for itself in the high-end market. To say the community is looking forward to this one would be an understatement.
Under the hood, the Pocket AIR Mini has a MediaTek Helio G90T, the most powerful processor of this year’s cohort. The other side of that coin is that its RAM maxes out at just 3 GB, limiting what it can emulate. The Pocket AIR Mini has a 4.2-inch display with a 4:3 ratio, making it a good choice for emulating home consoles meant to play on older TVs. It should be able to handle anything from the PS1 or earlier. And despite its smaller size, the display will have 1280×960 resolution with a 60 Hz refresh rate.
The Pocket AIR Mini will be sold through Indiegogo for $69.99 and $79.99 for the 2 GB and 3 GB versions, respectively. The final retail price will be $89.99 and $99.99, respectively. Look for the campaign to go live on Friday, October 17th.
Ayaneo Pocket AIR Mini Specs
| Processor: | MediaTek Helio G90T, 8 cores, 2 GHz |
| Memory: | 2 GB / 3 GB |
| Storage: | 32 GB / 64 GB |
| Display: | 4.2 inches, 4:3, 500 nits, 60 Hz |
| OS: | Android 11, AYASpace |
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Ports: | USB-C, 3.5 mm audio, SD card |
| Battery: | 4,500 mAh, 18 W |
| Weight: | 269 g |
| Colors: | 3 |
Ayaneo Pocket AIR Mini
Get yourself an early Christmas present
If you’re trying to get yourself or someone else something nice for the holidays, now is the perfect time to get it, but these aren’t the only Android handheld options out there. MagicX has the Mini Zero 28, the Zero 40, and the XU20 V32 available now for between $50 and $70, and you can pick up the Anbernic RG ARC-D for around $90. We haven’t had our hands on any of these yet, but we recommend holding out for one of the devices on our list (or waiting for more info on the recently confirmed Anbernic DS), since you’ll get more bang for your buck with the latest systems.
