Affordable emulation alternatives to the Steam Deck

Whoever owns a Steam Deck knows that the little Valve beast can handle mostly anything you throw at it, especially regarding emulating old consoles. But if you are looking for something more portable that is also more affordable, there are plenty of affordable emulation alternatives to the Steam Deck.

Let's take a look at the best ones.

What are the best cheap emulation alternatives to the Steam Deck?

Do keep in mind that consoles from China often get bundled with games in Chinese or Japanese, so you may need to provide your own games to play in English. All of these devices support SD cards, so it's possible.

Also, we only list safe devices. Avoid connecting any random device to your WiFi, as that might cause safety issues. Finally, while some of these devices support Bluetooth, it's unlikely that your wireless headphones or controllers will work. Wired alternatives likely will, however.

Anbernic RG35XX - the cheapest handheld worth your money

If you want to run games from the 8- and 16-bit eras, then the Anbernic RG35XX is a great choice. With a cost hovering around the $40 mark, this affordable little device has a pretty decent 3.5-inch screen and a rechargeable battery that should last you around six hours. This is a great device if you want to keep your emulation simple and easy.

The controls are not fantastic, but they work pretty well and should fit most games from the 80s and early 90s. While the device does support games up to the PSP era, the performance of 3D games won't exactly impress with this tiny device. You can also run Nintendo DS games with the Anbernic, but they will drain the battery quite quickly so it is not recommended to go beyond the 90s in terms of emulation.

Miyoo Mini Plus - an affordable and sturdy option

While the Miyoo is slightly more expensive than the Anbernic, with prices at around $70, it is well-built and features great, responsive buttons. Its interface is built around the Retroarch emulation frontend, which means it can run most things you throw at it without updating the firmware. You will need to download specific emulation cores, but the flexibility is easy to appreciate. As it is a tiny device, again, the specs won't make it possible to run any complicated 3D games on it.

The Mini Plus features a rechargeable battery as well, guaranteeing several hours of play on the go. As opposed to other Miyoo or Anbernic devices, we feel the Mini Plus nails that balance between portability and a big enough screen while still featuring a bright display and great controls. Weighing in at just 162 grams, you can really bring it with you anywhere you go.

Anbernic RG353PS - for those DS lovers

With a form factor that will immediately bring smiles to Super Nintendo lovers of old, the RG353PS is a superior device to the original RG35XX, featuring more CPU power and the ability to emulate more recent systems. Since it features a touchscreen, the RG353PS is the device to go for if you are looking to emulate games from the Nintendo DS era. They're not bad, even despite the single screen on this device.

As opposed to others on this list, the PS is slightly less portable. You can jam it into a pocket, if only barely. It's also one of the few devices on the market that ditches the usual "verticality" for a more horizontal look, with a more PSP/Vita vibe. By plugging it into a TV via the mini HDMI port, you can use it as a controller with your favorite emulated games as well. Costing around the $70 mark, this is a great compromise if you are looking to emulate games beyond the 8- and 16-bit eras without breaking the bank.

Retroid Pocket 3+ - the classic that never dies

The Retroid is one the first devices to cater to those who wanted emulation on the go and, since then, has been evolving and improving. It still often pops up on lists of favorite emulation devices since it's both affordable and sturdy. As opposed to other devices on this list, the Pocket 3+ is based on Android. It also has a touch screen, which makes navigating the Android 11-based system a simple affair.

You can swipe and tap in the standard Android launcher instead of relying on clunky directional controls or an analog stick to control the mouse pointer. The Pocket 3+ is slightly more expensive, but it makes that up with its fantastic screen and supports most consoles up to the 5th generation, making sure you can play most games without issues.

Still, the Android-OS means there is some configuration involved for each system you want to emulate. If you don't mind setting up emulators, the Pocket 3+ will be one of the best choices at its price point.

Powkiddy X55 - one of the most powerful devices

Probably one of the biggest devices on this list, but also one with the best specs. The X55 has a bright 1280x720 5.5-inch screen, plus 2GB of RAM and a fairly powerful processor underneath, meaning that it can run several recent games with no big issues. It's well set up for 3D, and the dual lever controls are very decent.

The price is under $70, so it's budget-friendly, too. But consider this as more of a stay-at-home device for the sofa since portability is not the name of the game here. Still, if people are lugging around the Deck, no reason you cannot bring your Powkiddy with you.

If you prefer a bigger device that is ready to emulate many more recent 3D games, the Powkiddy X55 has one of the best quality-to-price ratios you can find on the market.

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