Quick answer: what should you buy?
No waffle version.
Best overall: RG35XX Plus
Best balance of screen, price, performance, HDMI, Wi-Fi and firmware support. The safest first handheld under £100.
Best comfort: RG35XX H
Same Anbernic value, but horizontal with analog sticks. Better if you also want PS1, arcade and N64-light gaming.
Best pocket device: Miyoo Mini Plus
OnionOS is excellent and it is perfect for GBA Pokémon ROM hacks. Avoid if you need NDS support.
Best big screen: TrimUI Smart Pro
Wider screen, better battery and more flexibility. Great if you want more than Game Boy-style play.
The best retro handhelds under £100
Ranked for RomHaven users: Pokémon ROM hacks first, then broader retro value.
Anbernic RG35XX Plus
The safest all-round pick under £100 for GBA, PS1 and some NDS play.
The RG35XX Plus hits the sweet spot: a sharp 3.5-inch 640×480 IPS screen, H700-class performance, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI output and dual microSD card support. For Pokémon ROM hacks it is overkill in the best way.
Unbound, Radical Red, Gaia, Glazed, Emerald Rogue and Elite Redux all run smoothly, and the screen ratio suits GBA visuals without making sprites look stretched or muddy. The stock firmware works, but muOS or KNULLI makes it feel much cleaner.
Pros
- Perfect for all GBA ROM hacks
- Good PS1 performance
- Can handle some NDS with compromises
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HDMI out
- Dual SD card setup
Cons
- Stock SD cards are often poor
- NDS is not as comfy as a real DS
- No analog sticks on the Plus model
Anbernic RG35XX H
Same core power as the Plus, but with a horizontal grip and dual analog sticks.
The RG35XX H is basically the horizontal sibling of the RG35XX Plus. It uses the same H700-style performance class, similar 3.5-inch 640×480 screen and 3300mAh battery range, but adds a wider grip and analog sticks.
For GBA Pokémon hacks the analog sticks are not essential, but they make PS1, arcade and N64-light games feel better. If you plan to use the handheld beyond Pokémon, this is usually worth the small price jump.
Pros
- More comfortable than vertical handhelds
- Dual analog sticks
- Great for GBA and PS1
- Better for arcade and N64-light games
Cons
- Less nostalgic Game Boy feel
- Slightly bulkier in a pocket
- Costs more than the Plus
Miyoo Mini Plus
Tiny, polished and powered by OnionOS — brilliant for GBA-only players.
The Miyoo Mini Plus is still one of the nicest budget handhelds for pure GBA play. Its 3.5-inch 640×480 IPS screen looks excellent, the shell is genuinely pocketable, and OnionOS is the cleanest beginner firmware in the cheap handheld world.
It is not the most powerful device on this list, and it is not the one to buy for NDS or N64. But for Pokémon Unbound, Radical Red, Glazed, Gaia, Saiph and Vega, it feels fast, simple and reliable.
Pros
- Best software experience with OnionOS
- Beautiful GBA image quality
- Very pocketable
- Great save-state workflow
Cons
- No NDS support
- Small buttons can cramp big hands
- No HDMI output
- Less powerful than Anbernic H700 devices
TrimUI Brick
A compact premium-feeling vertical handheld with a sharp screen and clicky controls.
The TrimUI Brick is the stylish pick. It feels more premium than most cheap retro handhelds, with a sharp compact display, clicky buttons and a more modern shell than the usual Game Boy-style clones.
For GBA ROM hacks it is lovely: crisp screen, quick booting and enough power for everything RomHaven throws at it. It is more about feel than raw value.
Pros
- Premium feel for the money
- Very sharp display
- Great buttons
- Excellent for GBA and PS1
Cons
- Smaller guide community
- Usually AliExpress/import focused
- Less proven than Miyoo/Anbernic
TrimUI Smart Pro
A wide-screen handheld that sneaks under £100 and is better for PSP/N64-light than tiny boxes.
The TrimUI Smart Pro is the big-screen option in this price band. Its wide display makes it feel less like a Game Boy and more like a mini PSP-style device, which is brilliant for systems that benefit from more space.
For Pokémon ROM hacks it is arguably more screen than you need, but it is comfortable, has strong battery capacity, and is a better choice if you want PS1, arcade, some PSP and N64-light games alongside your GBA library.
Pros
- Large widescreen display
- Great battery capacity
- Better for PSP/PS1/N64-light use
- Comfortable for long sessions
Cons
- Not pocket friendly
- GBA uses borders or scaling
- Firmware/community less simple than Miyoo
R36S
Still the cheapest way into GBA ROM hacks if the under-£100 budget is flexible downward.
The R36S belongs on this page even though it is really an under-£50 device, because it changes the value conversation. If you only care about GBA Pokémon ROM hacks, it can do the job for half the money of the nicer picks.
The screen and shell quality vary more than Anbernic or Miyoo, and listings can be messy. Treat it as the budget experiment: brilliant if you want cheap, less brilliant if you want polish or warranty confidence.
Pros
- Very cheap
- Runs GBA ROM hacks well
- Dual analog sticks
- Good starter device
Cons
- Quality varies by seller
- Stock SD card should be replaced
- Firmware setup can be messy
- Less polished than Miyoo or Anbernic
Full comparison table
The specs and buying differences that actually matter.
| Device | Typical UK price | Best for | Screen | GBA hacks | NDS | PS1 | Firmware |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RG35XX Plus | £55–£70 | Best overall | 3.5" 640×480 IPS | Excellent | Playable | Excellent | muOS / KNULLI / GarlicOS |
| RG35XX H | £65–£85 | Comfort + sticks | 3.5" 640×480 IPS | Excellent | Playable | Excellent | muOS / KNULLI / stock |
| Miyoo Mini Plus | £50–£70 | GBA pocket play | 3.5" 640×480 IPS | Excellent | No | Good | OnionOS |
| TrimUI Brick | £60–£85 | Premium mini feel | Sharp compact IPS | Excellent | No | Good | Stock / community |
| TrimUI Smart Pro | £65–£95 | Big screen value | 4.96" widescreen IPS | Excellent | Limited | Excellent | CrossMix / MinUI / community |
| R36S | £30–£45 | Cheapest entry | 3.5" IPS-style | Excellent | No | Good | ArkOS / ROCKNIX |
Best under-£100 handheld for Pokémon ROM hacks
For the RomHaven Pokémon catalogue, the real question is not raw power — it is screen quality, save reliability, SD card quality and comfort during long RPG sessions.
Best for GBA hacks
RG35XX Plus, RG35XX H and Miyoo Mini Plus all run GBA ROM hacks beautifully. The Miyoo has the slickest software, while the Anbernic models give you more headroom.
Best for NDS hacks
Under £100, choose RG35XX Plus or RG35XX H if NDS matters. It is not perfect dual-screen play, but it is much more realistic than Miyoo or R36S.
Best for long sessions
RG35XX H is the most comfortable because of the horizontal shape. For couch play or long grinding sessions, the wider shell is easier on your hands.
Best for pocket play
Miyoo Mini Plus remains the little monster. For bus, lunch break, holiday bag, or quick save-state Pokémon sessions, it is hard to beat.
Custom firmware: the boring bit that matters
The device you buy matters. The SD card and firmware matter just as much.
Under £100 handheld FAQ
Is £100 enough for a good retro handheld?
Yes. For GBA, SNES, Mega Drive, PS1 and Pokémon ROM hacks, £50–£100 is the best value range. You only need to spend more if you want stronger PSP, GameCube, PS2, Android or Windows handheld performance.
Which one should I buy for Pokémon Unbound?
RG35XX Plus is the safest pick. Miyoo Mini Plus is also excellent if you only care about GBA and want OnionOS.
Can these play Nintendo DS Pokémon ROM hacks?
RG35XX Plus and RG35XX H can handle some NDS play with screen switching, but it is not as natural as a real DS. Miyoo Mini Plus, R36S and TrimUI Brick are not good NDS choices.
Should I buy from Amazon or AliExpress?
Amazon UK is usually faster and easier for returns. AliExpress is usually cheaper. For first-time buyers, Amazon is less hassle; for bargain hunters, AliExpress can save money.
Do I need to buy extra accessories?
The only must-buy accessory is a good microSD card. A case is nice. A screen protector is useful. Charging bricks and fancy cables are not essential.