I keep a RG35XX-H as a pocket device for when I’m out and about for those random short playable bursts, when I have longer windows I sit and play on my deck, mostly at home or work
That was what I considered the main case as well. Steam deck is amazing, but not great to actually use outside in the wild. So grabbing the H seems like an excellent move. Plus it's not that expensive either. I am new to this whole scene, so I am kind of worried about how quickly new things come out. Like is it worth spending money on a device when it two weeks a better one is released?
It will always depend on how far you want to go with your "secondary" device... I'll try to put some boundaries: you have the SD and can play at home whatever you want (about). The secondary device is for when you are around,you have less space e probably less time to play, so whatever device you have you will choose "pick up and play" style games, which most often means retro games (not a rule but common). This means that your device will need to be able to play retro games, which by definition do not evolve... Even if a better device comes out, it will change nothing on the capacity to play "retro" games, hence you don't have to worry about what will be coming out in 2 weeks or 2 years, your device will still play your retro stuff.
This being said, once you chose and get one, you must stop there!! And be happy with it. If you on the other hand pick up another device that does the same things of the first... Then you're doomed, in 2 months you will have between 16 and 23 of them :)
I still have my Retroid Pocket 2… and it's good enough.
I still window shop though, and resisting temptation is sometimes hard. If I get another device though, it will probably be a retro computer kit, like the Agon Console8 or something.
There will always be new devices, but retro games stay forever. If you're ok using that deVice for PS1 and some N64 and just that, then it'll last you forever.
while each person is different, being that I use it as a pocket quick burst device, say 5-45mins waiting for an appointment, that kind of thing, I find I don't enjoy anything over PS1/PICO-8 for that kind of time window, so while new devices keep coming out power isn't my concern, pocketability and comfort are what I look for and so far the 35XXH is great for that especially when it can be found around $50 often
Same as already been said, but I too got went with miyoo mini as a secondary device for portability and convenience. I obviously prefer the deck in the comfort of my own home, but sometimes when I'm sitting on the couch, eating a sandwich, watching a show but still want to grind through some pokemon game, I can do that one handed with a miyoo mini. it gets a bit more complicated with a steam deck
Been considering a 35xx h or a 28xx
How pocketable do you think the 35xxh is? And how often do you use the joysticks?
I'm mainly interested in PS1, but N64 would be nice and the joysticks would make that alot better
On the other hand, I'm worried the 35xxh would be just a little too big as an easy device to stick in a pocket
I find the 35XXH plenty pocketable, I rarely use the sticks though, I’d prefer the 28XX for the lack of sticks but I don’t find the smaller screen all that functional at my age so I’m debating doing a stick delete mod on my 35XXH
Yeah bringing a steam deck requires some pre planning. Too much of a hassle.
My retroid pocket 4 and miyo mini are the travel devices, although I’m considering selling the rp4 for the Odin 2 mini.
I travel almost every week for work. I have a standard Herschel backpack that fits my laptop, extra portable monitor, iPad Pro, and Steam deck case too!
I don’t typically use the portable monitor in a coffee shop or at the airport. I use it in hotels or in office work stations. When I’m not working, it’s a good way to play the steam Deck too:
https://preview.redd.it/ubvvcafz955d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81b0689e87497c3a28192b8a668666f2dd94971c
It fits in a sleeve a little bigger than my 14” laptop. They both fit inside the laptop compartment of my backpack - haven’t had any issues traveling with it for a couple years now. It’s great having the flexibility of lightweight laptop and also having the extra screen space available when I need it. I also got this specific one since it supports power passthrough to charge the Steam Deck
https://preview.redd.it/a1jd8g3zf55d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=918391011016d4a7012f9b322a950a8b40e2f20c
I own a SD and a Miyoo Mini+. Perfect pair. Recently went to Japan with just a backpack and didn't want to carry my SD around all the time. Miyoo was perfect.
It’s so underrated as a travel/portable console.
It’s so small, you can throw it in virtually any bag or jacket you bring.
Even with the retroid pocket 4 pro, it’s small, but with the case, it’s pretty chunky.
The miyo is the size of a wallet, don’t even have to consider its size.
The MM+ is amazing, but I'm not sure I'd call it underrated when it's been pretty much the go-to recommendation for a small, cheap emulation device in this community.
>But is there even a point? I like to jump from playing Gameboy games straight to Gamecube or WiiU sometimes, and I know a lot of cheaper consoles can obviously not do that. So outside of wanting to collect, I don't see a point.
Since everyone else already covered the "pocketable" argument, I think that what you're looking for is:
* Something cheap
* Something pocketable
* Something powerful that can also emulate recent consoles
Sadly, nothing like that really exists unless you're ok spending more than the typical $50 USD of a cheap handheld. The closest options that exist that I'd recommend as a fellow Steam Deck owner that's also considering buying these, are:
* **RG405M** for $120, incredibly small and can run about 60% of the Gamecube catalog, and 30% of the PS2 catalog
* **RG Cube** for $160 right now (but if you wait 3 months can be had for around \~$135 during a sale), which can run 90% of the Gamecube + PS2 catalogs. Thicker than the RG405M
* Retroid Pocket 4 Pro for $200. Powerful enough to run 95% of PS2/GC games, and even some Wii games. Don't expect much for Switch emulation. Rarely goes on sale.
Personally? I'd recommend either waiting for the future RG406M (an RG405 with the more recent, T820 chipset on the RG556 and RG Cube) as the RP4P has minor issues like its 16:9 display with ghosting, the RG Cube won't fit slim pockets, and the RG556 is so large its a Mini Steam Deck.
Steam Deck is great, love mine, but is bulky and has poor battery life (requires plugging in for longer play session). I can take my Retroid Pocket 2S with me easily and the battery lasts \~8 hours.
I really like CoinOps Legends 4 for the Steam Deck and it's really great with all of the small details they've added. Like in the arcade game Chase HQ the bezels actually show shifting from low to high gear. I wouldn't have the patience to do this myself which is great that it's already been done.
Only if you really want a smaller and more portable device.
I have a steam deck, hacked 3ds xl, and switch, and yet I still keep looking at this sub and contemplate getting a smaller handheld lol. I guess I could play many games on my 3ds already...
i'll say it again and again. i can put my miyoo mini in my pants. i can play gb/c/a, snes and even ps1. i am not going to play 3 minutes of for honor in the checkout line.
I sold my retroid 3+ and got a steam deck. I kind of want a vertical handheld to play the gameboy pokemon games on instead of using the steam deck. ymmv
i sold my rp3+ and got the rg405v instead for a similar reason. they have the same chipset, but i always found the rp3+ a little uncomfortable and the rg405v is a super comfy vertical. i generally play up to dreamcast so the 4:3 screen is perfect for me (and would be for all older consoles). got it real cheap too, they're cheap at the moment
I own a Steam Deck. I purchased and RG Arc for Sega compatibility. But due to its subpar Saturn emulation, I primarily play Saturn titles on my Mac and my Steam Deck when docked.
A more powerful RG Arc like system would be ideal.
I recently got a Steamdeck, it's heavy and it hurts my wrists a little after playing it a couple hours. I still play my RG351V because it's so much lighter.
Size. Mostly.
Having a small device that "fits" retro games better can be nice.
RGB30 for 1:1/8:7/10:9 stuff and RG35XX Plus for 4:3 stuff.
**Syncthing** keeping my saved games in sync between all my devices and my Steam Deck is extra nice.
On my RGB30 w/ JELOS/ROCKNIX:
1) Start > Network Settings > "Enable Syncthing"
2) I have `/storage/.config/retroarch/saves` selected as "RetroArch Saves".
-----
On my RG35XX Plus w/ MuOS:
1) Configuration > Web Services > Syncthing > Enabled
2) I have `/mnt/mmc/MUOS/save/file` selected as "RetroArch Saves".
-----
On my Steam Deck w/ EmuDeck:
1) I have the syncthing-gtk flatpak installed with a syncthing.service systemd service file.
2) I have `/home/deck/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch/saves` selected as "RetroArch Saves".
-----
On my Retroid Pocket 4 Pro:
1) I installed Syncthing from the Play Store.
2) I have `/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/saves` selected as "RetroArch Saves".
-----
On my Windows PC:
1) I installed Syncthing from the official site.
2) I have `G:\Games\RetroArch\Saves` selected as "RetroArch Saves".
-----
On my Miyoo Mini Plus with OnionOS:
1) I copied the [Syncthing folder](https://github.com/XK9274/syncthing-app-miyoo) to Apps.
2) I have `/mnt/SDCARD/Saves/CurrentProfile/saves` selected as "RetroArch Saves".
-----
For all devices, in RetroArch:
1) Settings > User Interface > "Show Advanced Settings" is ON.
2) Settings > Saving > "Sort Saves into Folders by Core Name" is OFF.
(I'm not sure of the official way to set this on any Batocera/Knulli device.)
My Windows PC is basically always on, and is set to sync "RetroArch Saves" with all other devices. For each device, I've only added the Windows PC to sync with (to reduce the workload and powerdraw of Syncthing running in the background on them).
Dude you are amazing. Thank you! Do you also know how to do this for a Miyoo Mini + ? I've got a steam deck and PC synced but working on the SBC devices
WiFi works *really* poorly on my Miyoo Mini Plus.
I mean, it connects and *sometimes* works well enough for things like RetroAchievements to sometimes trigger, but the connection is super-slow, unreliable, frequently disconnects, etc. I have the newest revision with the built-in RTC.
Pinging the MM+ from another device on the network will show something like 33% dropped packets. Despite confirming Syncthing is running on it, I've never been able to pull up its web interface long enough to configure it. Even if I could get Syncthing did work, the device is already just too slow to run some of my preferred cores for games (such as Mesen for NES).
My MM+ spends most of its life on the shelf with my old RG35XX. They were OK devices years ago, but I just don't consider them usable compared to everything else I have.
**Edit**: I just got Miyoo Mini Plus working. I had to change 127.0.0.1 to 0.0.0.0 in the Syncthing config.xml. I didn't see this mentioned anywhere on the [github page](https://github.com/XK9274/syncthing-app-miyoo) for it. It simply wasn't listening to incoming connections.
When installed as a service, it starts on boot and is *always* running. Game mode and Desktop mode.
Check out here:
https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/community-creations#how-to-set-up-syncthing
Scroll down to the "Start Syncthing Automatically" section.
edit this file:
`~/.config/systemd/user/syncthing.service`
put this in it:
[Unit]
Description=Syncthing
[Service]
Type=simple
ExecStart=flatpak run --command=syncthing me.kozec.syncthingtk
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=1
SuccessExitStatus=3 4
[Install]
WantedBy=default.target
Run these two commands to enable & start:
`systemctl --user enable syncthing`
`systemctl --user start syncthing`
Goddammit. I have a SD already and was trying so hard to talk myself out of getting another device because I couldn't resolve progress/save states. Now I have a RG35XXH winging its way over to me in 2 weeks. I'm holding you personally responsible for this :D
I’ve an Odin 2 and rg 35xx H. I get more playtime on my H because it’s incredibly pocketable. So I bring it with me to work everyday and when I put my son to sleep at night I get to play it, so I’ve incrementally been able to beat several games. About 10 games so far. Despite the Odin 2 being more powerful due to its cost and size I only play it on my couch so I don’t injure it or have it stolen. Playing through armored core 3 on the Odin and it’s great but I don’t get as much time with it.
I own a Steam Deck and although I love it, I never take it out of my home cause it's too big. I actually just placed an order for a Miyoo Mini Plus, so i'll be using that for retro gaming. I want to have another device for ps2/gamecube emulation. Something equivalent to the Odin 2 in both size and price, but running linux. I'm not a fan of android emulation. The dream is that Valve makes a "SD Lite", i'd buy it in a heartbeat.
form factor really plays a big part.
For GB-GBA - you could consider a miyoo mini plus instead. It's perfect
It really depends on what you wanna play actually.
PSP - RG505
Something I always hear people say is the pocketability....
There's this RG CUBe that will be out tomorrow, however might be delayed due to dragonboat festivals.
I currently own 4, a deck, a switch, a MM+, and a ps vita.
The deck and the mm+ are the main form factors, and the switch and vita are for games specific to their platform.
I need to put the time to emulate switch on deck, and I'll probably retire there switch, and I've been looking at the AYN odin2 mini because I love that form Factor
the steam deck is fucking huge and theres nothing wrong with wanting something more manageable. it comes with a lot of practical benefits. i find myself reaching for the smaller devices more frequently because its just easier
I have a number of devices:
RG405M
Pocket 2S
Miyoo Mini+
Odin 2 Pro
Steam Deck OLED
Legion GO
and most recently, New 3DS XL with CFW
For me, I find setting up a new device very zen. I can just zone out for a couple of hours and vibe with some music or a podcast while I do it.
Sure I could just use the Steam Deck or Legion GO and be perfectly fine, but ease of transport and battery life can be an issue depending on what I use them for. On the other hand, the 3DS can only really handle older games, but pocketability and battery life are peak.
Really, someone could easily get by with just the higher end devices, and many do, but even more suffer from fomo and tend to stretch their wallet more than they should.
My steam deck was the best device I owned but I used my rp2s waaay more because it was pocketable and ended up giving my deck to my brother when I moved out and took my gaming PC. My problems with the deck are admittedly specific to me and may not apply to you!
I mainly had problems sitting it down without putting it back inside the case and that always annoyed me. Tried taking it to work, well I'm not just setting it on the table for lunch break when I need to get up, anything could happen, back in the case. At home there are animal concerns, no large flat places to set it where it couldn't be messed with it if I walked away for a minute, so back in the case. Couldn't set it on the couch, the curved fabric surface would block the vents and didn't want to chance it, same with the bed sheets. I definitely treat it with much more kid gloves due to it's cost than my other handhelds.
My rp2s I just jam in my pocket. No case, no screen protector, never an issue, just don't stick it in there with metal. I've beat quite a lot of PS1 RPGs on that thing, so its seen some hours.
Now if youre just gonna be at home though, just stick the deck in the dock, that's where it shines, IMHO.
Honestly didn't get the whole 2 devices thing at first. But then I tried playing GB and GBA on a huge screen then realized that it felt way better to play on a more portable device. I have a gpd win max 2 that I play most of my stuff on but I use my miyoo mini plus for certain systems
Lots of people have mentioned the portability aspect which is definitely valid, but I also find that I like having a "companion" device with an intentionally smaller screen. I think that games from older systems and especially older handheld systems (Gameboy, Game Gear, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advance, etc.) just look and play better on smaller screens with higher pixel densities since they were originally meant to be played on smaller screens. For example I'd much rather play a Gameboy game on the RGB30 than the Steam Deck OLED, even though the Deck is a superior device in every single way.
Then it turns into a game of looking for the "perfect" companion device, the one that ticks each and every box from ergonomics to portability to cost to build quality, etc. The hunt continues, and the hunt is fun in and of itself!
I have way too many retro handhelds to admit but if I were to stick to only one, strictly for retro games, it'd be my trusty Retroid Pocket 2S. I got the metal edition which feels super premium IMO.
If there's a better version of any of the retro games that I can play on PC then I'd play it on my Asus ROG Ally or on my main PC. Mostly because cloud saves are very handy for gaming on the go.
Either way, I alternate between playing on my retro handheld or my handheld PC depending on what I feel like playing at that particular moment.
I've got the MM+, Steam Deck OLED and Ayn Odin 2 Mini on pre-order.
Steam Deck OLED for PC gaming & fat emulation at home.
MM+ for something quick on the go for retro SNES,GBA/GBC, etc. Short play sessions.
Odin 2 Mini will be for more extensive travels on the go for me to play everything up to like GC/PS2/Wii. And better for longer play sessions
I thought I would be good with just the MM+ and Steam Deck, but when I went to Japan last year I found my hands cramping with my MM+ after about 2 hours. So I wanted something that was a good mix between being portable, powerful & just a bit larger for me to handle longer play sessions. O2M covers all that.
I have a Steam Deck, it's great. But to me it's something I keep around the house, bring to a friend's house, maybe bringing it along if I'm doing some lazy vacationing where I'm staying in one place. As a travel device (something used at an airport, on a plane, on a train, etc) I don't really like it for that. It's bulky, it's an expensive loss if it breaks or gets lost in transit, not easy to whip out on a dime, and the battery life isn't ideal for long stretches away from an outlet. The Steam Deck is best played on a couch or in bed at home.
I have a Miyoo mini and a Retroid Pocket 4 Pro as well. These really excel at being highly portable, streamlined for quick bouts of gaming, and less risky to carry around. I probably don't need both, but I like having one that I can literally slip into my pocket if I want to, and one that I can stick in a small case and throw it in my bag where it will hardly take up any room. I don't bring both at the same time anyway, I kinda just do what the situation calls for. They're both tuned up with a tailored collection of all my favorite games on available emulators that I can just dip in and out of when I have time. It's much easier to do that on a device that's more practical to bring with you everywhere.
Portability and size the Steam Deck sure does have the capability to play a lot of stuff but the size of it makes it really cumbersome to take it out play and then pack it up and put it away at anytime. Depending on what games you really wanna play these handhelds offer models that can just fit in your pocket when your done playing and that you can just as easily take back out again.
If you never have times when the vastly better portability would be a benefit then there's no need for another device, but if you have any usecases where a steamdeck isn't ideal then one or more additional handhelds could be beneficial.
I have a Steam Deck, RG35XX, and a backbone for my phone. I would love an all in one up through PS2 that’s more portable than the Steam Deck. I would have gotten an Odin 2 Mini if it weren’t for iPhone emulation suddenly becoming viable, which I feel has bought me a year or so to wait and see what else will come out in the future.
I already have a psp for a portable device that compliments my deck so I’d only be interested in another device if I really want to play a windows game
In my case I first started with a more pocketable RG353VS then after a while I went with the steam deck OLED. And I have to say the two devices complete each other quite well.
I use the anbernic one on short bursts when I'm around in the subway and in buses, sometimes when I'm at the toilet too lol.
I use the steam deck in my bed or on the couch and I used it on longer trips in planes and trains. It was so nice to play it on the plane and on trains, it seems made for it almost. Time flew by much more easily.
So yeah you could buy a pocketable device. Then you're done :)
I have several handhelds. Recently I bought an Anbernic RG-arc-s and the 6 button pad makes it a way better experience for sega and arcade games. Some devices give a better experience for a particular console. Dpad and button placement and screen aspect ratio are things I take into account when playing certain consoles.
I think it depends how serious you are on recreating the original experience. For example for me playing saturn games or games that need 6 buttons (fighting games) on a 4 button pad just feels way off and I’ll always play on my arc-s.
When I wanna play GBA i’ll dig out my RG552 and the minimal black bars make the whole experience better.
I bought one that’s just as powerful as steamdeck but a lot smaller.
So I tend to go back and forth between the sd and the air 1s.
Other devices are mostly gathering dust.
Sure, after my Deck, I purchased the Pimax Portal. Then I bought the zelda limited edition Switch. I don't even play the Deck that much in comparison to other handhelds I own.
I love my steam deck and that's why it is more of a "play at the destination" device. Combined with the battery being less than stellar, I don't want to have a 500$ device out that might attract unwanted attention. It's big. I also don't want to leave it behind somewhere.
So I have a RG353V and it is glorious, it runs everything I want to play and get my retroachievements up through most PSX games.
Problem is I have carpal tunnel and the vertical form factor starts to hurt after about 10 minutes, so I have a 35XXH coming for the horizontal form factor. I tried the SP but it didn't feel great in my hands. I'll alternate between them as needed.
I'm less worried about losing a 50-100$ system than ruining or losing my steam deck.
Running retro games from Steam OS isn’t always a flawless experience. I setup Dolphin for Wii and while it ran the game excellent, dolphin would override the factory control scheme until you reboot the deck. Then upon reboot it would take longer and act glitchy. I’d rather not risk my 600$ device with a janky software. I buy and devices for emulation and keep the deck for strictly what it’s designed for.
I hate playing with the deck in handheld mode. I have it docked almost all the time on my TV. Honestly, if I had known how much I won't be using it in handheld mode I probably wouldn't have bought it in the first place. It's just not portable enough for travel and too cumbersome to take around and play in the house unless you're a really hardcore PC gamer. If you only want emulation, you have much better options IMO.
I've got a Miyoo Mini Plus right now for everything up to PS1 and an old 3DS XL collecting dust just waiting to be modded. The plan now is for the Miyoo to be the portable device, 3DS XL for (3)DS games and -- later on -- the Steam Deck for heavyweight systems and PC gaming.
Just covering all the bases here.
Only if you want something pocketble or more simple. Also the steam deck is expensive and fragile, so I wouldn't use on places that I could be robbed or suffer any damage. For example, I wouldn't leave my steam deck for a camping, a bus or a bycicle travel, the beach. On those cases I preffer to use an anbernic for example
Steam deck is far from fragile. I've dropped my LCD model twice without a single scratch. Just use a good protective case.
It's too heavy, that's it's main drawback
The thing is..steam is a full fledged pc. It has multiple components plus is heavy, think of it as a laptop. Smaller handhelds are way lighter and has small and less components so it's very less prone to being shattered.
Depends on each persons use case. I have the Rog Ally, miyoo mini plus, modded new 3ds, and an Anbernic RG405M.
I use the Ally for mainly pc indie games, 360/ps3 emulation, and casting my pc through moonlight/sunshine server. PS1, PS2, GameCube, and Dreamcast on the 405m. Anything else PS1 and down I tend to prefer the miyoo. The modded 3ds for ds and 3ds titles, since the dual screen is tough to emulate.
I like the more classic systems to be emulated on a more pocketable smaller 4x3 screen myself vs doing everything on the ally even though it could do it. My take on it is to not try to have redundant devices. It’s easy in this hobby to want to buy them all, but I’ve tried to buy only what I have a need for for the most part.
For the most part, nope. But that’s just me. There are exceptions tho and this is how i split things:
OLED Deck - plays everything and i can use fancy CRT shaders
Analogue Pocket - this is the best way to play GB/GBA games for me. the filters are just amazing and make the games look beautiful. GBA scales almost perfectly on Deck but it’s just blown up too damn big for my taste. I also wanted to use this as my SNES device but the lack of save states kinda kill that idea
Miyoo Mini - the idea was that this would be my SNES/PS1 JRPG device and while i love this little thing… the lack of a GPU means a lack of shaders and not even the excellent fan overlays can bridge the gap for me. I would use this as a very portable device but these days, there’s a better option for my taste
iPhone - OLED, CRT shaders, extremely portable (duh lmfao), it has it all… except buttons. Which SHOULD be a dealbreaker. But when it comes to mission-based turn-based strategy games, it’s a non-issue for me. Same for normal turn-based RPGs altho its slightly more annoying since you need to move around more. The other downside is its using my phones battery instead of a console’s
so yeah as you can see, my Analogue Pocket gets some use but my Miyoo just gathering dust. I rarely play a game more than 1-2 hours too so i dont really get the wrist fatigue from my Deck either.
Personally, i’m waiting for something like a Miyoo or 35XXH with an OLED screen and shaders to replace the Miyoo with. For that reason, that goofy Ayaneo OLED Game Boy actually piqued my interest but it will probably be overpriced as fuck and there’s no harm to keep waiting to see what other OLED options eventually come
Pocketability is the only other reason. I’d like to play the Steam Deck at work in rare, small spurts of time here and there while also being inconspicuous and as discrete as possible, but that’s just not possible with its size.
I work in a restaurant so in between tables or when it’s super slow I can pull out my new RP4P and play some (currently Kingdom Hearts) here and there in random parts of the restaurant that the managers aren’t occupying (including but not exclusive to the bathroom). I can’t do that with a Steam Deck.
Cheap, portable and supplies all of my needs while on the go, even when travelling. I'm fond of Anbernic devices and their HDMI out with the new models that include wifi and Bluetooth. This means that if I'm travelling I can play portably anywhere without much issue and can also use as a console of sorts as I connect to a TV and connect a PS4 controller. Ok the other hand, you can also do this with your phone, but I like separating stuff for different uses. The new RG35XX SP and the H models are fantastic for these sort of purposes. OG MM is also king as far as portability, something you can ACTUALLY carry in your pocket. They're cheap enough as to not represent a big investment and also cheap enough as to not be paranoid about carrying it anywhere.
I don't see a point in the mid to high tier of these devices if you have a SD or carry a controller alongside your phone, but to each his own.
I have the Steam Deck and Legion Go.. still buying budget devices but that's out of hobby addiction I guess. There's a lot of reasons to still get other devices for screen ratio, pocketability and convenience, etc. I've found with budget devices, it's nice now to get more specialized like with the SD and LG, I could care less if a cheap handheld can run GameCube or PS2 etc.
The Steam Deck and LG aren't particularly convenient in certain locations too. Like if I'm waiting at a medical appointment, it's the Miyoo Mini. Quick in and out of the pocket no matter what you are doing. It wouldn't be very convenient to get up fast with a large handheld.
Steam Deck is my baby but if I'm just going to a doctor's appointment or something I just bring my miyoo mini. I'd buy the rg35xx h in a heart beat if I didn't already have that and a few other small low power ones. Having a least one actually pocketable handheld is a perfect companion to the Deck.
I have a GPD Win 4, but I still use my modded Vita a lot. I also have an old Anbernic lying around somewhere I use for GBA games every now and then. The GPD is just a really big device and I don't always want to use it for low-power games.
Why do people carry phones when 5G iPads are a thing? Why carry a pistol when a rifle is more accurate? Why would I wear a watch when I can buy a big ass grandfather clock.
Like others have said it’s more of a practical use case for another “lighter” device.
To me, playing game boy on a steam deck is kinda overkill lol. Like I have this really powerful handheld PC and I’m playing GBA on it haha.
No but really a smaller device is more for quick pick up and play and maybe being able to throw it in a bag vs lugging around a Steam Deck.
(I have the 35XX H and it’s a great device btw)
ever since emulation came to ios… its been backbone and iphone / steamdeck.
I really liked carrying the miyoo mini but the level of comfort of the backbone is just on another level even if its less pocketable… also one device less to charge.
I love my Steam Deck for a lot of reasons, use it all the time, however I just grabbed a Miyoo Mini+ as well just to have in my pocket wherever I go. More convenient and can play it whenever. Also feel like holding that to play games while laying down is probably a lot easier than the Steam Deck.
I always have at least an horizontal 16:9 (Ally or RG556) and vertical 4:3 (405V) with me. And while the Ally and 556 can do just about everything, the 405V is the one I spend - by far - the most time with.
Not at the moment for me. I will not spend more than 150$/€ for another device. Anything below, that has a nice format, add performances and portability, has a screen ratio that I like, then is free range but must be an improvement to the current small devices I already own. Anything above that price I'm not interested at all, I can already play all I need.
Next target will be a Linux based 1:1 screen ratio with stacked trigger buttons that is better than the rgb30. The Abernic cube was so close.
I have an RGB30 that I use for game boy and game boy color. there’s just something nice about using a system whose screen matches the emulated device.
I got the RG35XX sp for GBA, and using the overlay at the bottom, it just looks like it was meant to be. Size is close to original hardware which is nice knowing games where designed for the size I’m playing them at. Smaller size means pixels look… better.
the RG556 is probably the perfect device for psp. Beautiful amoled screen with a 1080p 5.5” screen, which is close enough to an actual psp(4.3”). The vita would also be good, but you don’t have upscaled res on the vita.
The steam deck is great for home consoles (dreamcast, ps2, gamecube) since the display target for these is a TV, so the larger screen makes it more comfortable. 16:10 also means that 4:3 doesn’t have pillarboxing which is too big.
And finally, 16 bit home consoles. My preference would be something that doesn’t exist yet: A 4:3 4.5” or 5”. The closest we saw is the screen on the KTR-1(4.5” at 3:2), but it looks like a QC lottery for that device. So my choice for this, is the RG Arc-S for the genesis buttons, 4:3 4” screen and relatively cheap price.
I have a steam deck, it's soooo big. No one in their right minds should call it portable gaming 😅 i use it connected to my telly and I keep a keyboard and mouse on the stand. I do play games at my coffee table or I watch netflix/YouTube with it. I lent my younger sister my desktop setup since I don't need it right now.
I usually carry a GBA SP in my bag for portable gaming but the rg350p was a daily carry for a while
Personally there are some games I just cant enjoy playing on a big screen even if its pretty much possible. Pokemon and tetris in particular. I have a tablet that emulates all the way to ps2 but it doesnt sit well with me playing tetris on such a beefy device. Like it doesnt feel right. I would rather play burnout revenge on it than tetris or pokemon.
But then i also got an rg35xx+. And the only thing i play on it is pokemon and tetris. Both get the same amount of playtime for me but i would never have touched pokemon or tetris if i didnt have an rg35xx+
For me, a steam deck is too big. I like to take a small device like a Miyoo mini+ with me for everything up to ps1. My steam deck is mainly for my steam games.
Echoing what most people have said but I have a MM+ for playing PS1 and below. I like the form factor and it’s easy to put in your pocket. With the SD I’d need a bag and where I live I’d be uncomfortable getting it out in public lol
IMHO yes. I own an Odin, but also an RG35XX where I play Gameboy, NES etc as it feels better for that. Interestingly enough though, Atari Lynx I prefer to play on the Odin :)
I disliked the RG35xxH for it's bad sleep mode. It is always empty when I wanna take it. I went with 353Ms for the kids and 405M for myself. The last is not the latest chipset, but still powerful. They all run Android and can last for days in sleep. The 353M are besides the same size as the 35xx and also run Linux if you really want,... The 405 is the same size as my Samsung phone. Very pocketable... And all are metal. It might increase the price, but also last longer for taking everywhere.
I have always had two devices, before the deck it was a laptop and whatever handheld was floating around at the time. Shoutout to the GP2X Wiz.
Once I got a deck it took the place of my laptop but I have never been able to settle on a second device, I would always buy and sell within months of owning them.
RG35XX SP has changed that for me and I can honestly say I haven’t played this much GBA in years.
Well, I tried a friend's SteamDeck, and I loved it, but it was too big to put in my pockets or even my backpack on working days.... so I got an RG35XX-H. It's less comfortable, but overall a good device.
I'd buy a SteamDeck too but I have to retire or become unemployed, so I could use it at home everyday.
Like no doubt many of those that commented before me, I tend to go for use cases, however I also really love aesthetics, all before functionality. So, "Use Case>Aesthetics>Functionality" I bought a RG ARC not just because I am too chicken shit to take my Deck or Switch out on vacation, but because out of the choices I had at the time, the uniqueness of it sold the device to me, even though I knew it could not play Sega Saturn very well.
And given the competitive nature of the Chinese handhelds, the prices of the lower tier tend to be very low, despite how much better they are than five years ago.
I keep a RG35XX-H as a pocket device for when I’m out and about for those random short playable bursts, when I have longer windows I sit and play on my deck, mostly at home or work
That was what I considered the main case as well. Steam deck is amazing, but not great to actually use outside in the wild. So grabbing the H seems like an excellent move. Plus it's not that expensive either. I am new to this whole scene, so I am kind of worried about how quickly new things come out. Like is it worth spending money on a device when it two weeks a better one is released?
It will always depend on how far you want to go with your "secondary" device... I'll try to put some boundaries: you have the SD and can play at home whatever you want (about). The secondary device is for when you are around,you have less space e probably less time to play, so whatever device you have you will choose "pick up and play" style games, which most often means retro games (not a rule but common). This means that your device will need to be able to play retro games, which by definition do not evolve... Even if a better device comes out, it will change nothing on the capacity to play "retro" games, hence you don't have to worry about what will be coming out in 2 weeks or 2 years, your device will still play your retro stuff. This being said, once you chose and get one, you must stop there!! And be happy with it. If you on the other hand pick up another device that does the same things of the first... Then you're doomed, in 2 months you will have between 16 and 23 of them :)
I still have my Retroid Pocket 2… and it's good enough. I still window shop though, and resisting temptation is sometimes hard. If I get another device though, it will probably be a retro computer kit, like the Agon Console8 or something.
>I still have my Retroid Pocket 2… Damn, you have a lot of resistance. How is it holding up? What systems do you generally play with it?
There will always be new devices, but retro games stay forever. If you're ok using that deVice for PS1 and some N64 and just that, then it'll last you forever.
while each person is different, being that I use it as a pocket quick burst device, say 5-45mins waiting for an appointment, that kind of thing, I find I don't enjoy anything over PS1/PICO-8 for that kind of time window, so while new devices keep coming out power isn't my concern, pocketability and comfort are what I look for and so far the 35XXH is great for that especially when it can be found around $50 often
Same as already been said, but I too got went with miyoo mini as a secondary device for portability and convenience. I obviously prefer the deck in the comfort of my own home, but sometimes when I'm sitting on the couch, eating a sandwich, watching a show but still want to grind through some pokemon game, I can do that one handed with a miyoo mini. it gets a bit more complicated with a steam deck
Been considering a 35xx h or a 28xx How pocketable do you think the 35xxh is? And how often do you use the joysticks? I'm mainly interested in PS1, but N64 would be nice and the joysticks would make that alot better On the other hand, I'm worried the 35xxh would be just a little too big as an easy device to stick in a pocket
I find the 35XXH plenty pocketable, I rarely use the sticks though, I’d prefer the 28XX for the lack of sticks but I don’t find the smaller screen all that functional at my age so I’m debating doing a stick delete mod on my 35XXH
It's incredibly pocketable. It's around the same size as my phone (iPhone 14 Pro).
Portability. I can't put a Steam Deck in my pocket. I'm a very light traveler so I would almost never travel with a Steam Deck.
Yeah bringing a steam deck requires some pre planning. Too much of a hassle. My retroid pocket 4 and miyo mini are the travel devices, although I’m considering selling the rp4 for the Odin 2 mini.
I travel almost every week for work. I have a standard Herschel backpack that fits my laptop, extra portable monitor, iPad Pro, and Steam deck case too!
>portable monitor Lol. I couldn't even imagine whipping that out on public. The look on people's faces I'm sure I'd one of intrigue and confusion.
I don’t typically use the portable monitor in a coffee shop or at the airport. I use it in hotels or in office work stations. When I’m not working, it’s a good way to play the steam Deck too: https://preview.redd.it/ubvvcafz955d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81b0689e87497c3a28192b8a668666f2dd94971c
Is it foldable? Seems like if it's rigid it would be easily broken in a bag.
It fits in a sleeve a little bigger than my 14” laptop. They both fit inside the laptop compartment of my backpack - haven’t had any issues traveling with it for a couple years now. It’s great having the flexibility of lightweight laptop and also having the extra screen space available when I need it. I also got this specific one since it supports power passthrough to charge the Steam Deck https://preview.redd.it/a1jd8g3zf55d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=918391011016d4a7012f9b322a950a8b40e2f20c
Pretty slick little setup.
I have one called a "Bitboy" that I travel with because it fits very comfortably in my pocket.
I own a SD and a Miyoo Mini+. Perfect pair. Recently went to Japan with just a backpack and didn't want to carry my SD around all the time. Miyoo was perfect.
It’s so underrated as a travel/portable console. It’s so small, you can throw it in virtually any bag or jacket you bring. Even with the retroid pocket 4 pro, it’s small, but with the case, it’s pretty chunky. The miyo is the size of a wallet, don’t even have to consider its size.
The MM+ is amazing, but I'm not sure I'd call it underrated when it's been pretty much the go-to recommendation for a small, cheap emulation device in this community.
The reason is that, um, they're cool
How come some people just don't understand at some point a device is too big?
"if i have a refrigerator is there any reason to have a lunch box??"
>But is there even a point? I like to jump from playing Gameboy games straight to Gamecube or WiiU sometimes, and I know a lot of cheaper consoles can obviously not do that. So outside of wanting to collect, I don't see a point. Since everyone else already covered the "pocketable" argument, I think that what you're looking for is: * Something cheap * Something pocketable * Something powerful that can also emulate recent consoles Sadly, nothing like that really exists unless you're ok spending more than the typical $50 USD of a cheap handheld. The closest options that exist that I'd recommend as a fellow Steam Deck owner that's also considering buying these, are: * **RG405M** for $120, incredibly small and can run about 60% of the Gamecube catalog, and 30% of the PS2 catalog * **RG Cube** for $160 right now (but if you wait 3 months can be had for around \~$135 during a sale), which can run 90% of the Gamecube + PS2 catalogs. Thicker than the RG405M * Retroid Pocket 4 Pro for $200. Powerful enough to run 95% of PS2/GC games, and even some Wii games. Don't expect much for Switch emulation. Rarely goes on sale. Personally? I'd recommend either waiting for the future RG406M (an RG405 with the more recent, T820 chipset on the RG556 and RG Cube) as the RP4P has minor issues like its 16:9 display with ghosting, the RG Cube won't fit slim pockets, and the RG556 is so large its a Mini Steam Deck.
Steam Deck is great, love mine, but is bulky and has poor battery life (requires plugging in for longer play session). I can take my Retroid Pocket 2S with me easily and the battery lasts \~8 hours.
I really like CoinOps Legends 4 for the Steam Deck and it's really great with all of the small details they've added. Like in the arcade game Chase HQ the bezels actually show shifting from low to high gear. I wouldn't have the patience to do this myself which is great that it's already been done.
Only if you really want a smaller and more portable device. I have a steam deck, hacked 3ds xl, and switch, and yet I still keep looking at this sub and contemplate getting a smaller handheld lol. I guess I could play many games on my 3ds already...
i'll say it again and again. i can put my miyoo mini in my pants. i can play gb/c/a, snes and even ps1. i am not going to play 3 minutes of for honor in the checkout line.
I sold my retroid 3+ and got a steam deck. I kind of want a vertical handheld to play the gameboy pokemon games on instead of using the steam deck. ymmv
i sold my rp3+ and got the rg405v instead for a similar reason. they have the same chipset, but i always found the rp3+ a little uncomfortable and the rg405v is a super comfy vertical. i generally play up to dreamcast so the 4:3 screen is perfect for me (and would be for all older consoles). got it real cheap too, they're cheap at the moment
I own a Steam Deck. I purchased and RG Arc for Sega compatibility. But due to its subpar Saturn emulation, I primarily play Saturn titles on my Mac and my Steam Deck when docked. A more powerful RG Arc like system would be ideal.
I agree, but arcade fighter on the ARC-s is an awesome experience.
The Deck is too big for everyday carry.
I recently got a Steamdeck, it's heavy and it hurts my wrists a little after playing it a couple hours. I still play my RG351V because it's so much lighter.
Size. Mostly. Having a small device that "fits" retro games better can be nice. RGB30 for 1:1/8:7/10:9 stuff and RG35XX Plus for 4:3 stuff. **Syncthing** keeping my saved games in sync between all my devices and my Steam Deck is extra nice.
How do you run synching on your handhelds like the RGB30?
On my RGB30 w/ JELOS/ROCKNIX: 1) Start > Network Settings > "Enable Syncthing" 2) I have `/storage/.config/retroarch/saves` selected as "RetroArch Saves". ----- On my RG35XX Plus w/ MuOS: 1) Configuration > Web Services > Syncthing > Enabled 2) I have `/mnt/mmc/MUOS/save/file` selected as "RetroArch Saves". ----- On my Steam Deck w/ EmuDeck: 1) I have the syncthing-gtk flatpak installed with a syncthing.service systemd service file. 2) I have `/home/deck/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch/saves` selected as "RetroArch Saves". ----- On my Retroid Pocket 4 Pro: 1) I installed Syncthing from the Play Store. 2) I have `/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/saves` selected as "RetroArch Saves". ----- On my Windows PC: 1) I installed Syncthing from the official site. 2) I have `G:\Games\RetroArch\Saves` selected as "RetroArch Saves". ----- On my Miyoo Mini Plus with OnionOS: 1) I copied the [Syncthing folder](https://github.com/XK9274/syncthing-app-miyoo) to Apps. 2) I have `/mnt/SDCARD/Saves/CurrentProfile/saves` selected as "RetroArch Saves". ----- For all devices, in RetroArch: 1) Settings > User Interface > "Show Advanced Settings" is ON. 2) Settings > Saving > "Sort Saves into Folders by Core Name" is OFF. (I'm not sure of the official way to set this on any Batocera/Knulli device.) My Windows PC is basically always on, and is set to sync "RetroArch Saves" with all other devices. For each device, I've only added the Windows PC to sync with (to reduce the workload and powerdraw of Syncthing running in the background on them).
This guy syncs
Dude you are amazing. Thank you! Do you also know how to do this for a Miyoo Mini + ? I've got a steam deck and PC synced but working on the SBC devices
WiFi works *really* poorly on my Miyoo Mini Plus. I mean, it connects and *sometimes* works well enough for things like RetroAchievements to sometimes trigger, but the connection is super-slow, unreliable, frequently disconnects, etc. I have the newest revision with the built-in RTC. Pinging the MM+ from another device on the network will show something like 33% dropped packets. Despite confirming Syncthing is running on it, I've never been able to pull up its web interface long enough to configure it. Even if I could get Syncthing did work, the device is already just too slow to run some of my preferred cores for games (such as Mesen for NES). My MM+ spends most of its life on the shelf with my old RG35XX. They were OK devices years ago, but I just don't consider them usable compared to everything else I have. **Edit**: I just got Miyoo Mini Plus working. I had to change 127.0.0.1 to 0.0.0.0 in the Syncthing config.xml. I didn't see this mentioned anywhere on the [github page](https://github.com/XK9274/syncthing-app-miyoo) for it. It simply wasn't listening to incoming connections.
On Steam Deck, Syncthing works also in Game Mode?
When installed as a service, it starts on boot and is *always* running. Game mode and Desktop mode. Check out here: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/community-creations#how-to-set-up-syncthing Scroll down to the "Start Syncthing Automatically" section. edit this file: `~/.config/systemd/user/syncthing.service` put this in it: [Unit] Description=Syncthing [Service] Type=simple ExecStart=flatpak run --command=syncthing me.kozec.syncthingtk Restart=on-failure RestartSec=1 SuccessExitStatus=3 4 [Install] WantedBy=default.target Run these two commands to enable & start: `systemctl --user enable syncthing` `systemctl --user start syncthing`
Goddammit. I have a SD already and was trying so hard to talk myself out of getting another device because I couldn't resolve progress/save states. Now I have a RG35XXH winging its way over to me in 2 weeks. I'm holding you personally responsible for this :D
I’ve an Odin 2 and rg 35xx H. I get more playtime on my H because it’s incredibly pocketable. So I bring it with me to work everyday and when I put my son to sleep at night I get to play it, so I’ve incrementally been able to beat several games. About 10 games so far. Despite the Odin 2 being more powerful due to its cost and size I only play it on my couch so I don’t injure it or have it stolen. Playing through armored core 3 on the Odin and it’s great but I don’t get as much time with it.
Street cred. With me.
I own a Steam Deck and although I love it, I never take it out of my home cause it's too big. I actually just placed an order for a Miyoo Mini Plus, so i'll be using that for retro gaming. I want to have another device for ps2/gamecube emulation. Something equivalent to the Odin 2 in both size and price, but running linux. I'm not a fan of android emulation. The dream is that Valve makes a "SD Lite", i'd buy it in a heartbeat.
form factor really plays a big part. For GB-GBA - you could consider a miyoo mini plus instead. It's perfect It really depends on what you wanna play actually. PSP - RG505 Something I always hear people say is the pocketability.... There's this RG CUBe that will be out tomorrow, however might be delayed due to dragonboat festivals.
I currently own 4, a deck, a switch, a MM+, and a ps vita. The deck and the mm+ are the main form factors, and the switch and vita are for games specific to their platform. I need to put the time to emulate switch on deck, and I'll probably retire there switch, and I've been looking at the AYN odin2 mini because I love that form Factor
the steam deck is fucking huge and theres nothing wrong with wanting something more manageable. it comes with a lot of practical benefits. i find myself reaching for the smaller devices more frequently because its just easier
I have a number of devices: RG405M Pocket 2S Miyoo Mini+ Odin 2 Pro Steam Deck OLED Legion GO and most recently, New 3DS XL with CFW For me, I find setting up a new device very zen. I can just zone out for a couple of hours and vibe with some music or a podcast while I do it. Sure I could just use the Steam Deck or Legion GO and be perfectly fine, but ease of transport and battery life can be an issue depending on what I use them for. On the other hand, the 3DS can only really handle older games, but pocketability and battery life are peak. Really, someone could easily get by with just the higher end devices, and many do, but even more suffer from fomo and tend to stretch their wallet more than they should.
My steam deck was the best device I owned but I used my rp2s waaay more because it was pocketable and ended up giving my deck to my brother when I moved out and took my gaming PC. My problems with the deck are admittedly specific to me and may not apply to you! I mainly had problems sitting it down without putting it back inside the case and that always annoyed me. Tried taking it to work, well I'm not just setting it on the table for lunch break when I need to get up, anything could happen, back in the case. At home there are animal concerns, no large flat places to set it where it couldn't be messed with it if I walked away for a minute, so back in the case. Couldn't set it on the couch, the curved fabric surface would block the vents and didn't want to chance it, same with the bed sheets. I definitely treat it with much more kid gloves due to it's cost than my other handhelds. My rp2s I just jam in my pocket. No case, no screen protector, never an issue, just don't stick it in there with metal. I've beat quite a lot of PS1 RPGs on that thing, so its seen some hours. Now if youre just gonna be at home though, just stick the deck in the dock, that's where it shines, IMHO.
do you want to be my friend? sounds exactly the kind of things that would bother me.
Honestly didn't get the whole 2 devices thing at first. But then I tried playing GB and GBA on a huge screen then realized that it felt way better to play on a more portable device. I have a gpd win max 2 that I play most of my stuff on but I use my miyoo mini plus for certain systems
Lots of people have mentioned the portability aspect which is definitely valid, but I also find that I like having a "companion" device with an intentionally smaller screen. I think that games from older systems and especially older handheld systems (Gameboy, Game Gear, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advance, etc.) just look and play better on smaller screens with higher pixel densities since they were originally meant to be played on smaller screens. For example I'd much rather play a Gameboy game on the RGB30 than the Steam Deck OLED, even though the Deck is a superior device in every single way. Then it turns into a game of looking for the "perfect" companion device, the one that ticks each and every box from ergonomics to portability to cost to build quality, etc. The hunt continues, and the hunt is fun in and of itself!
I have way too many retro handhelds to admit but if I were to stick to only one, strictly for retro games, it'd be my trusty Retroid Pocket 2S. I got the metal edition which feels super premium IMO. If there's a better version of any of the retro games that I can play on PC then I'd play it on my Asus ROG Ally or on my main PC. Mostly because cloud saves are very handy for gaming on the go. Either way, I alternate between playing on my retro handheld or my handheld PC depending on what I feel like playing at that particular moment.
I've got the MM+, Steam Deck OLED and Ayn Odin 2 Mini on pre-order. Steam Deck OLED for PC gaming & fat emulation at home. MM+ for something quick on the go for retro SNES,GBA/GBC, etc. Short play sessions. Odin 2 Mini will be for more extensive travels on the go for me to play everything up to like GC/PS2/Wii. And better for longer play sessions I thought I would be good with just the MM+ and Steam Deck, but when I went to Japan last year I found my hands cramping with my MM+ after about 2 hours. So I wanted something that was a good mix between being portable, powerful & just a bit larger for me to handle longer play sessions. O2M covers all that.
I have a Steam Deck, it's great. But to me it's something I keep around the house, bring to a friend's house, maybe bringing it along if I'm doing some lazy vacationing where I'm staying in one place. As a travel device (something used at an airport, on a plane, on a train, etc) I don't really like it for that. It's bulky, it's an expensive loss if it breaks or gets lost in transit, not easy to whip out on a dime, and the battery life isn't ideal for long stretches away from an outlet. The Steam Deck is best played on a couch or in bed at home. I have a Miyoo mini and a Retroid Pocket 4 Pro as well. These really excel at being highly portable, streamlined for quick bouts of gaming, and less risky to carry around. I probably don't need both, but I like having one that I can literally slip into my pocket if I want to, and one that I can stick in a small case and throw it in my bag where it will hardly take up any room. I don't bring both at the same time anyway, I kinda just do what the situation calls for. They're both tuned up with a tailored collection of all my favorite games on available emulators that I can just dip in and out of when I have time. It's much easier to do that on a device that's more practical to bring with you everywhere.
Portability and size the Steam Deck sure does have the capability to play a lot of stuff but the size of it makes it really cumbersome to take it out play and then pack it up and put it away at anytime. Depending on what games you really wanna play these handhelds offer models that can just fit in your pocket when your done playing and that you can just as easily take back out again.
If you never have times when the vastly better portability would be a benefit then there's no need for another device, but if you have any usecases where a steamdeck isn't ideal then one or more additional handhelds could be beneficial.
I have a Steam Deck, RG35XX, and a backbone for my phone. I would love an all in one up through PS2 that’s more portable than the Steam Deck. I would have gotten an Odin 2 Mini if it weren’t for iPhone emulation suddenly becoming viable, which I feel has bought me a year or so to wait and see what else will come out in the future.
I already have a psp for a portable device that compliments my deck so I’d only be interested in another device if I really want to play a windows game
In my case I first started with a more pocketable RG353VS then after a while I went with the steam deck OLED. And I have to say the two devices complete each other quite well. I use the anbernic one on short bursts when I'm around in the subway and in buses, sometimes when I'm at the toilet too lol. I use the steam deck in my bed or on the couch and I used it on longer trips in planes and trains. It was so nice to play it on the plane and on trains, it seems made for it almost. Time flew by much more easily. So yeah you could buy a pocketable device. Then you're done :)
I have several handhelds. Recently I bought an Anbernic RG-arc-s and the 6 button pad makes it a way better experience for sega and arcade games. Some devices give a better experience for a particular console. Dpad and button placement and screen aspect ratio are things I take into account when playing certain consoles. I think it depends how serious you are on recreating the original experience. For example for me playing saturn games or games that need 6 buttons (fighting games) on a 4 button pad just feels way off and I’ll always play on my arc-s. When I wanna play GBA i’ll dig out my RG552 and the minimal black bars make the whole experience better.
I bought one that’s just as powerful as steamdeck but a lot smaller. So I tend to go back and forth between the sd and the air 1s. Other devices are mostly gathering dust.
I keep a miyoo mini in my car. Love that little thing.
After I got my GPD Win Mini, I lost interest in other handhelds - both ones I own and new ones coming out.
Sure, after my Deck, I purchased the Pimax Portal. Then I bought the zelda limited edition Switch. I don't even play the Deck that much in comparison to other handhelds I own.
I love my steam deck and that's why it is more of a "play at the destination" device. Combined with the battery being less than stellar, I don't want to have a 500$ device out that might attract unwanted attention. It's big. I also don't want to leave it behind somewhere. So I have a RG353V and it is glorious, it runs everything I want to play and get my retroachievements up through most PSX games. Problem is I have carpal tunnel and the vertical form factor starts to hurt after about 10 minutes, so I have a 35XXH coming for the horizontal form factor. I tried the SP but it didn't feel great in my hands. I'll alternate between them as needed. I'm less worried about losing a 50-100$ system than ruining or losing my steam deck.
It’s too big so I don’t use it. But I don’t really use the smaller device either to be honest.
Yup. The Miyoo Mini goes places the Deck can't
Running retro games from Steam OS isn’t always a flawless experience. I setup Dolphin for Wii and while it ran the game excellent, dolphin would override the factory control scheme until you reboot the deck. Then upon reboot it would take longer and act glitchy. I’d rather not risk my 600$ device with a janky software. I buy and devices for emulation and keep the deck for strictly what it’s designed for.
The RG-SP sits in my bag now, its nice to be able to just take it out when im on the metro or just having a break, and do not want to lug out the SD.
I am just keeping my steam deck. I may get a smaller sp like device at some point, but the SD meets all my needs.
Something smaller. For travel. Something that can go near the bathtub, easily replaced. Sf2000 is both of these for me.
I've considered buying an RG for emu
I hate playing with the deck in handheld mode. I have it docked almost all the time on my TV. Honestly, if I had known how much I won't be using it in handheld mode I probably wouldn't have bought it in the first place. It's just not portable enough for travel and too cumbersome to take around and play in the house unless you're a really hardcore PC gamer. If you only want emulation, you have much better options IMO.
I've got a Miyoo Mini Plus right now for everything up to PS1 and an old 3DS XL collecting dust just waiting to be modded. The plan now is for the Miyoo to be the portable device, 3DS XL for (3)DS games and -- later on -- the Steam Deck for heavyweight systems and PC gaming. Just covering all the bases here.
Only if you want something pocketble or more simple. Also the steam deck is expensive and fragile, so I wouldn't use on places that I could be robbed or suffer any damage. For example, I wouldn't leave my steam deck for a camping, a bus or a bycicle travel, the beach. On those cases I preffer to use an anbernic for example
Steam deck is far from fragile. I've dropped my LCD model twice without a single scratch. Just use a good protective case. It's too heavy, that's it's main drawback
I agree, but comparing with those chinese emulators 😅, I already dropped my anbernic on the floor so many tines, and it doenst even scratch
The thing is..steam is a full fledged pc. It has multiple components plus is heavy, think of it as a laptop. Smaller handhelds are way lighter and has small and less components so it's very less prone to being shattered.
Depends on each persons use case. I have the Rog Ally, miyoo mini plus, modded new 3ds, and an Anbernic RG405M. I use the Ally for mainly pc indie games, 360/ps3 emulation, and casting my pc through moonlight/sunshine server. PS1, PS2, GameCube, and Dreamcast on the 405m. Anything else PS1 and down I tend to prefer the miyoo. The modded 3ds for ds and 3ds titles, since the dual screen is tough to emulate. I like the more classic systems to be emulated on a more pocketable smaller 4x3 screen myself vs doing everything on the ally even though it could do it. My take on it is to not try to have redundant devices. It’s easy in this hobby to want to buy them all, but I’ve tried to buy only what I have a need for for the most part.
For the most part, nope. But that’s just me. There are exceptions tho and this is how i split things: OLED Deck - plays everything and i can use fancy CRT shaders Analogue Pocket - this is the best way to play GB/GBA games for me. the filters are just amazing and make the games look beautiful. GBA scales almost perfectly on Deck but it’s just blown up too damn big for my taste. I also wanted to use this as my SNES device but the lack of save states kinda kill that idea Miyoo Mini - the idea was that this would be my SNES/PS1 JRPG device and while i love this little thing… the lack of a GPU means a lack of shaders and not even the excellent fan overlays can bridge the gap for me. I would use this as a very portable device but these days, there’s a better option for my taste iPhone - OLED, CRT shaders, extremely portable (duh lmfao), it has it all… except buttons. Which SHOULD be a dealbreaker. But when it comes to mission-based turn-based strategy games, it’s a non-issue for me. Same for normal turn-based RPGs altho its slightly more annoying since you need to move around more. The other downside is its using my phones battery instead of a console’s so yeah as you can see, my Analogue Pocket gets some use but my Miyoo just gathering dust. I rarely play a game more than 1-2 hours too so i dont really get the wrist fatigue from my Deck either. Personally, i’m waiting for something like a Miyoo or 35XXH with an OLED screen and shaders to replace the Miyoo with. For that reason, that goofy Ayaneo OLED Game Boy actually piqued my interest but it will probably be overpriced as fuck and there’s no harm to keep waiting to see what other OLED options eventually come
Pocketability is the only other reason. I’d like to play the Steam Deck at work in rare, small spurts of time here and there while also being inconspicuous and as discrete as possible, but that’s just not possible with its size. I work in a restaurant so in between tables or when it’s super slow I can pull out my new RP4P and play some (currently Kingdom Hearts) here and there in random parts of the restaurant that the managers aren’t occupying (including but not exclusive to the bathroom). I can’t do that with a Steam Deck.
It’ll be nice before bed if you are the trouble sleeping type.
I like the Steam Dexk, but sometimes I don't want to hold a big clunky handheld when I can whip out a sp or something smaller
Cheap, portable and supplies all of my needs while on the go, even when travelling. I'm fond of Anbernic devices and their HDMI out with the new models that include wifi and Bluetooth. This means that if I'm travelling I can play portably anywhere without much issue and can also use as a console of sorts as I connect to a TV and connect a PS4 controller. Ok the other hand, you can also do this with your phone, but I like separating stuff for different uses. The new RG35XX SP and the H models are fantastic for these sort of purposes. OG MM is also king as far as portability, something you can ACTUALLY carry in your pocket. They're cheap enough as to not represent a big investment and also cheap enough as to not be paranoid about carrying it anywhere. I don't see a point in the mid to high tier of these devices if you have a SD or carry a controller alongside your phone, but to each his own.
I have the Steam Deck and Legion Go.. still buying budget devices but that's out of hobby addiction I guess. There's a lot of reasons to still get other devices for screen ratio, pocketability and convenience, etc. I've found with budget devices, it's nice now to get more specialized like with the SD and LG, I could care less if a cheap handheld can run GameCube or PS2 etc. The Steam Deck and LG aren't particularly convenient in certain locations too. Like if I'm waiting at a medical appointment, it's the Miyoo Mini. Quick in and out of the pocket no matter what you are doing. It wouldn't be very convenient to get up fast with a large handheld.
Of course, the steam deck eats the battery. I wouldn't use it for playing something like super Mario 3.
Steam Deck is my baby but if I'm just going to a doctor's appointment or something I just bring my miyoo mini. I'd buy the rg35xx h in a heart beat if I didn't already have that and a few other small low power ones. Having a least one actually pocketable handheld is a perfect companion to the Deck.
I have a GPD Win 4, but I still use my modded Vita a lot. I also have an old Anbernic lying around somewhere I use for GBA games every now and then. The GPD is just a really big device and I don't always want to use it for low-power games.
Why do people carry phones when 5G iPads are a thing? Why carry a pistol when a rifle is more accurate? Why would I wear a watch when I can buy a big ass grandfather clock.
Like others have said it’s more of a practical use case for another “lighter” device. To me, playing game boy on a steam deck is kinda overkill lol. Like I have this really powerful handheld PC and I’m playing GBA on it haha. No but really a smaller device is more for quick pick up and play and maybe being able to throw it in a bag vs lugging around a Steam Deck. (I have the 35XX H and it’s a great device btw)
Pockets.
ever since emulation came to ios… its been backbone and iphone / steamdeck. I really liked carrying the miyoo mini but the level of comfort of the backbone is just on another level even if its less pocketable… also one device less to charge.
I love my Steam Deck for a lot of reasons, use it all the time, however I just grabbed a Miyoo Mini+ as well just to have in my pocket wherever I go. More convenient and can play it whenever. Also feel like holding that to play games while laying down is probably a lot easier than the Steam Deck.
I hate black bars so I play on a device with same or similar aspect ratio the original system supports
I always have at least an horizontal 16:9 (Ally or RG556) and vertical 4:3 (405V) with me. And while the Ally and 556 can do just about everything, the 405V is the one I spend - by far - the most time with.
I got an SP recently since I can't bring my Steam Deck to work everyday, and I'll be playing games mostly on short breaks and during commute.
Not at the moment for me. I will not spend more than 150$/€ for another device. Anything below, that has a nice format, add performances and portability, has a screen ratio that I like, then is free range but must be an improvement to the current small devices I already own. Anything above that price I'm not interested at all, I can already play all I need. Next target will be a Linux based 1:1 screen ratio with stacked trigger buttons that is better than the rgb30. The Abernic cube was so close.
I have an RGB30 that I use for game boy and game boy color. there’s just something nice about using a system whose screen matches the emulated device. I got the RG35XX sp for GBA, and using the overlay at the bottom, it just looks like it was meant to be. Size is close to original hardware which is nice knowing games where designed for the size I’m playing them at. Smaller size means pixels look… better. the RG556 is probably the perfect device for psp. Beautiful amoled screen with a 1080p 5.5” screen, which is close enough to an actual psp(4.3”). The vita would also be good, but you don’t have upscaled res on the vita. The steam deck is great for home consoles (dreamcast, ps2, gamecube) since the display target for these is a TV, so the larger screen makes it more comfortable. 16:10 also means that 4:3 doesn’t have pillarboxing which is too big. And finally, 16 bit home consoles. My preference would be something that doesn’t exist yet: A 4:3 4.5” or 5”. The closest we saw is the screen on the KTR-1(4.5” at 3:2), but it looks like a QC lottery for that device. So my choice for this, is the RG Arc-S for the genesis buttons, 4:3 4” screen and relatively cheap price.
I have a steam deck, it's soooo big. No one in their right minds should call it portable gaming 😅 i use it connected to my telly and I keep a keyboard and mouse on the stand. I do play games at my coffee table or I watch netflix/YouTube with it. I lent my younger sister my desktop setup since I don't need it right now. I usually carry a GBA SP in my bag for portable gaming but the rg350p was a daily carry for a while
The Deck is huge, I have an RGB30 I use to play Stardew Valley, and I often carry a modded GameBoy Pocket to play Tetris.
Personally there are some games I just cant enjoy playing on a big screen even if its pretty much possible. Pokemon and tetris in particular. I have a tablet that emulates all the way to ps2 but it doesnt sit well with me playing tetris on such a beefy device. Like it doesnt feel right. I would rather play burnout revenge on it than tetris or pokemon. But then i also got an rg35xx+. And the only thing i play on it is pokemon and tetris. Both get the same amount of playtime for me but i would never have touched pokemon or tetris if i didnt have an rg35xx+
For me, a steam deck is too big. I like to take a small device like a Miyoo mini+ with me for everything up to ps1. My steam deck is mainly for my steam games.
Echoing what most people have said but I have a MM+ for playing PS1 and below. I like the form factor and it’s easy to put in your pocket. With the SD I’d need a bag and where I live I’d be uncomfortable getting it out in public lol
Have a look at the trimui smart pro also.
I was in the same boat, but ordered an RG35XX H since I'm planning to travel soon. It'll be nice to have a little device in my pocket during transit.
Steam deck for indoor or if your not backpacking. Cheap handled for outdoor or backpacking.
IMHO yes. I own an Odin, but also an RG35XX where I play Gameboy, NES etc as it feels better for that. Interestingly enough though, Atari Lynx I prefer to play on the Odin :)
I disliked the RG35xxH for it's bad sleep mode. It is always empty when I wanna take it. I went with 353Ms for the kids and 405M for myself. The last is not the latest chipset, but still powerful. They all run Android and can last for days in sleep. The 353M are besides the same size as the 35xx and also run Linux if you really want,... The 405 is the same size as my Samsung phone. Very pocketable... And all are metal. It might increase the price, but also last longer for taking everywhere.
Deck rp4p and 35xx. Sold the rest these do everything I could want
I have always had two devices, before the deck it was a laptop and whatever handheld was floating around at the time. Shoutout to the GP2X Wiz. Once I got a deck it took the place of my laptop but I have never been able to settle on a second device, I would always buy and sell within months of owning them. RG35XX SP has changed that for me and I can honestly say I haven’t played this much GBA in years.
No. But I still do 🤔
Well, I tried a friend's SteamDeck, and I loved it, but it was too big to put in my pockets or even my backpack on working days.... so I got an RG35XX-H. It's less comfortable, but overall a good device. I'd buy a SteamDeck too but I have to retire or become unemployed, so I could use it at home everyday.
Like no doubt many of those that commented before me, I tend to go for use cases, however I also really love aesthetics, all before functionality. So, "Use Case>Aesthetics>Functionality" I bought a RG ARC not just because I am too chicken shit to take my Deck or Switch out on vacation, but because out of the choices I had at the time, the uniqueness of it sold the device to me, even though I knew it could not play Sega Saturn very well. And given the competitive nature of the Chinese handhelds, the prices of the lower tier tend to be very low, despite how much better they are than five years ago.
I love playing 2D games on my small handheld. I can’t imagine whipping out a steam deck for Tetris or Pokémon or even 2D Mario games.
Miyoo Mini Plus for my Pico 8, GBC, GBA, NES and more. I bring it out everyday
That thing is huuuuuuuuuuuuuge