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Last updated: 26MAR2023 (see Changelog for details)

Finding the right place to buy a retro handheld gaming device can be somewhat confusing. There are a ton of options out there, and each have their own benefits. So I’ve put together a list of my recommended stores, along with pros and cons for each of them, and a totally arbitrary scoring system. This guide is written with the United States in mind, but many of these suggestions are applicable for those around the world.

Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link (and buy something), I may receive a portion of the proceeds at no additional cost to you. This allows me to keep this site afloat and to continue to provide more content for you. Thanks for your support!

Introducing the Retro Game Corps Charity Store!

If you’re looking for merchandise related to the Retro Game Corps channel, check out this storefront with shirts, stickers, buttons, mugs, and more.

Table of Contents:
Online retailers
Direct vendors
Modding resources
microSD cards
USB microSD card reader
OTG adapter and WiFi USB module
Anbernic RG351P accessories pack
Retro handheld stand

Changelog

Online retailers

There are many places where you can buy retro handheld consoles online, with varying prices and shipping models. Here are all of the shops that I recommend:

Amazon is a reliable retailer around the world, and many companies will carry retro handheld inventory on the site. These options are attractive because they feature Amazon Prime shipping, so you can get them closer to your door. Moreover, items shipped via Amazon Prime are protected by Prime’s returns policy, with no-frills return options in case your device is defective (or not the right fit for you).

Some of the vendors will charge a bit more than the shops based out of China, but it can often be worth it for faster (and free with Prime!) shipping and a good return policy. Because these third-party vendors have to get inventory before selling on Amazon, they won’t have pre-order or day-one options for most devices. Instead, you’ll have to wait a few weeks after the device has released before they’ll appear on Amazon.

For these listings, I recommend searching for the name of the device itself, then look at the available options. Many of these vendors will come and go, so it’s important to get one that is shipping via Amazon Prime, so that you are backed by buyer protections and returns if something goes wrong. Some reliable resale vendors are MJKJ and HAIHUANG. Additionally, you can browse through certain categories, like Plug-and-Play Systems, to see what options you have available.

Pros: fast shipping, buyer protection, free and easy returns
Cons: may be more expensive than other options, no day-one options

AliExpress is the largest China-based retailer for retro game handhelds. They often have coupons and other sales, which can make their prices very competitive. Many retro console manufacturers have official storefronts within the site, but there are also quite a lot of shady resellers. I recommend you stick with the official stores, and check the store ratings/reviews before making a purchase. AliExpress has a dispute resolution system, but it is not as robust or easy to use as those found on Amazon and eBay. For example, I bought a unit from an unofficial store once, and they shipped it to some random address on the other side of the country. I had to wait an additional two weeks from the day it was “delivered” to open a dispute, and even then it took quite a while to finally receive my refund. Conversely, I bought from the official Anbernic store and their rep was communicative and helpful — I got my device in about 10 days altogether, right after it had first launched.

My preferred official stores are the Anbernic and PowKiddy stores. They often have stock available in the US and Europe, which drastically reduces the shipping time. Here are direct links to some of the best deals on this site:

PowKiddy V90
Anbernic RG300
Anbernic RG350
Anbernic RG350P
Anbernic RG350M
Anbernic RG280V
Anbernic RG351P
Anbernic RG351M
Anbernic RG351V
PowKiddy RGB10
PowKiddy RGB10 Max

Pros: great deals, lots of options
Cons: some stores are not reliable

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Direct vendors

In addition to retailers, some manufacturers and handheld vendors have their own website and storefront. Here are some of the better ones out there:

DroiX is a UK-based store that offers a selection of retro handheld gaming devices. While they initially catered to a UK and European customer base, they have recently expanded to become a global shop. They also ship their orders until 2pm UK time, which means that US-based shoppers will get their shipments quickly. And perhaps most importantly, they also have a great reputation when it comes to customer service.

Pros: fair pricing, fast shipping, good customer service
Cons: Not a huge amount of variety for retro handhelds

TomTop is another Chinese retailer that acts as a single storefront. Their video game section contains a lot of Chinese handhelds (mostly from PowKiddy and Anbernic) as competitive prices. They have a habit of inflating their prices and then offering steep “discounts” to their actual retail value. It’s a little annoying but if you do price comparison you can often find good deals here. This site is pretty good with customer service and shipping has been relatively fast (considering that most items ship from China).

Pros: good shipping time and decent customer service
Cons: hard to discern good deals

For the time being, the only place to buy a Retroid Pocket 2+ or 3 is through the Retroid store. Unfortunately, due to higher-than-expected demand, and supply chain challenges, the company has had a hard time keeping up with the demand for this console, and the wait time can be up to two months from the time you order the device. For the sake of transparency, they do offer a (seldom accurate) “delivery dashboard” that will give you an indication of when to expect your device to ship.

Pros: you can buy a Retroid Pocket 2+ or 3
Cons: potential shipping delays

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Modding resources

My favorite retro modding shop is Sakura Retro Modding, an Etsy store based out of France. This is a one-person shop who creates buttons and stickers by hand for various popular retro consoles. Because of the small nature of their business, and high demand, items will often go out of stock or will be in a pre-order state so they can get a feel for demand before making their items. As such, expect some delays in the fulfillment process and be sure to check back often for restocks.

Pros: High quality, hand-crafted
Cons: Most items are of limited quantity

If you’re interested in improving the look and feel of your favorite handheld device, My Retro Game Case has several options. Here you can find new and upgraded speakers, batteries, sticks, screen covers, and even shells for some popular handheld devices. The items ship from Malaysia, so expect a bit of a wait. There is an element of risk when buying from this shop, because if you have issues the seller is often not communicative. So I would recommend buying low-priced items like buttons or cases instead of high-ticket items to minimize your risk.

Pros: Lots of variety, fair prices
Cons: Shipping time, very little customer support

Anbernic’s official AliExpress store also sells replacement parts for your device, including screens, buttons, motherboards, and joysticks. So if you get a busted part, this is the place to go. Simply head over to their Console Parts page and see the available options (listed under “Colors”). If they don’t have your desired part listed, be sure to contact the store to see if they can hook you up.

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microSD cards

One thing all retro handheld devices have in common is that they use SD cards to store their operating system and/or game files. So it’s a good idea to become familiar with the microSD cards out there, and where to find the best deals (hint: Amazon).

Most devices come with a generic microSD card, and they are often prone to failure. Your safest bet is to replace it with a microSD card from a well-known brand (don’t worry, I’ll show you how to do that below). I recommend you store that original card somewhere safe in case you run into any issues in the future, and buy a new SD card from a reputable brand like SanDisk or Samsung to use in your device.

In general, I recommend the cards listed below, in order or preference. The prices fluctuate all the time, so keep an eye out for deals. In general, I would expect to pay $20 for a 128GB card and $30 for a 256GB card. A 128GB card will allow you to load EVERY 8-bit and 16-bit game out there, all of the arcade games that work, and quite a few PS1, Dreamcast, PSP, and Sega CD games (those systems have the largest file sizes). A 256GB card will allow you to store even more of those larger games. Many devices use a separate card for the operating system; for those devices, I recommend a 16GB card (usually around $7).

16GB cards: 
SanDisk Ultra  
SanDisk Industrial (more reliable but pricey)

128GB cards:
Samsung EVO Select
SanDisk Ultra

256GB cards:
Samsung EVO Select
SanDisk Ultra

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USB microSD card reader

Many retro devices come with a cheap USB SD card reader. I have about half a dozen of them, and only a couple of them actually work. So I think it’s worth it to invest in a solid, fast USB 3.0 SD card reader for your computer. You’ll be able to transfer your game files onto your SD card that much fast, and you don’t have to worry about corrupting your card.

I recommend this USB 3.0 SD card reader from Anker.

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OTG adapter and WiFi USB module

As you may have heard, the RG351P was supposed to come with built-in WiFi, but then Anbernic pulled the WiFi antennas from the devices after their first week of production due to static noise issues. So what this means is that there are several really awesome networking features in the device, and you won’t be able to access them.

Luckily, many sellers will bundle their RG351P with an OTG adapter (basically a USB-C to USB-A adapter) and a USB WiFi module. Together, these two adapters will allow you to connect your device to your home network and take advantage of its NetPlay, media scraping (image/boxart downloading), cheats, and Retro Achievements functions. So I recommend you check with the seller to see if your device is going to come with an OTG and WiFi adapters; if they aren’t I suggest you buy them so they’re available as soon as you open up your device. I have personally tested the WiFi adapter linked above and can verify that it works well on the RG351P; it also has a nice (subtle) blinking light to let you know when it is accessing data.

Plugable WiFi module
Edimax EW-7611ULB
ODROID WiFi Module 0
TP-Link TL-WN725N
TP-Link AC600

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Retro handheld stand

If you start to amass a collection of handheld devices, like mine above, then you may want to invest in this handy mail sorter to hold all of your devices. You could even line it with some thin felt to prevent any scratching!

Additionally, you could use a bamboo dish drainer for the same effect.

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Changelog

26MAR2023
– updated microSD card links

02OCT2022
– added Retro Game Corps charity store

31AUG2022
– add Sakura Retro Modding section
– removed RG351P accessories kit
– adjusted rating for My Retro Game Case due to persistent communication issues with customers

21MAR2022
– updated description of DroiX since they are now a global shipper

28OCT2021
– added Retro Game Corps merch storefront

14JUL2021
– downgraded RetroMiMi score due to frequent customer service complaints

11MAY2021
– added AliExpress direct product links

21APR2021
– added RG351M and RG351V links

21JAN2021
– added Modding resources section

12JAN2021
– added TomTop as vendor

04DEC2020
– added retro handheld stand

03DEC2020
– added Anbernic replacement parts

24NOV2020
– added Anbernic RG351P accessories pack
– removed eBay as store option; Anbernic store no longer has any listings. Will add it back if it becomes a viable option again.
– created Changelog