Quick answer: what should you buy?
The no-faff version for people who just want the right cheap handheld.
Best overall under £50: R36S
The best sub-£50 pick if you want proper GBA, SNES, Mega Drive, PS1 and a decent Linux-style handheld experience.
Cheapest usable pick: Data Frog SF2000
Very cheap, simple, and fine for NES, Game Boy, GBA and lighter SNES, but do not expect premium performance.
Ultra cheap wild card: GB300
Often found for pocket money prices. Fun as a novelty, but only worth it if you know it is a basic toy-like handheld.
Best clamshell: PowKiddy V90
Game Boy Advance SP vibes, nice form factor, but older hardware. Buy for the shape, not raw power.
Sub-£50 handheld comparison table
Prices move constantly on Amazon, AliExpress and eBay, so treat these as normal UK street-price ranges rather than fixed RRPs.
| Device | Typical UK price | Best for | GBA hacks | SNES | PS1 | Screen | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R36S | £28–£45 | Best overall budget pick | Excellent | Good | Good | 3.5" 640×480 IPS-style | Best value if listing is genuine |
| Data Frog SF2000 | £12–£25 | Cheapest usable handheld | Fine | Mixed | No | 2.8" 320×240 IPS | Good toy, not a serious upgrade |
| GB300 | £10–£20 | Ultra-cheap novelty | Basic | Limited | No | 2.8" TFT/IPS-style listings vary | Only if very cheap |
| PowKiddy V90 | £35–£50 | Clamshell fans | Good | Mixed | Light only | 2.8" 320×240 IPS | Fun shape, old internals |
| M17 / XU-style cheap Linux handhelds | £35–£50 | Cheap widescreen experimenting | Good | Varies | Varies | Often 4.3" widescreen | Check reviews carefully |
R36S
The easiest recommendation if you want a cheap handheld that still feels like a proper emulation device.
The R36S is the budget king because it gives you the thing most cheap handhelds do not: a decent 3.5-inch 640×480 screen, proper controls, Linux-style firmware, dual sticks, and enough power for GBA, Game Boy, NES, SNES, Mega Drive and PS1.
For RomHaven users, this is the sweet spot. Pokémon Unbound, Radical Red, Gaia, Glazed, Emerald Rogue, Fire Emblem GBA hacks, Final Fantasy GBA, Metroid Zero Mission hacks and Zelda GBA titles are all the kind of games the R36S is good at.
Pros
- Best performance in this price bracket
- Excellent screen for the money
- Runs GBA ROM hacks brilliantly
- Handles PS1 much better than toy handhelds
- ArkOS / ROCKNIX-style community support
- Dual sticks if you want PS1/N64-lite messing around
Cons
- Lots of clone-style listings and seller variance
- Stock SD cards are often poor
- Not as polished as Anbernic or Miyoo devices
- NDS is not the reason to buy it
- Needs setup work to feel clean
Data Frog SF2000
A cheap, simple, TV-controller-style handheld that is fun if you keep expectations realistic.
The SF2000 is the one you buy when you want the absolute cheapest handheld that can still provide a bit of fun. It has a small 2.8-inch 320×240 IPS screen and a removable 18650-style battery setup on many versions.
It is not a power machine. NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color and plenty of GBA games are the target. SNES can be hit and miss, and PS1 is not what this device is for. For a child, a spare travel device, or a “let’s see if I even like handhelds” purchase, it makes sense. For serious Pokémon ROM hack play, the R36S is a lot better.
Pros
- Very cheap
- Simple to use
- Fine for Game Boy, NES and lighter GBA
- Replaceable battery design on many units
- Good gift/toy device
Cons
- Not a serious PS1/SNES machine
- Screen is much lower resolution than R36S
- Firmware and menus feel basic
- Performance varies by emulator/core
- Not ideal for long RPG sessions
GB300
The cheap-and-cheerful option that can be fun, but sits firmly in toy territory.
The GB300 is usually seen as a super-cheap mini handheld rather than a serious retro machine. Listings vary, but it is commonly positioned around a 2.8-inch display, basic firmware, and simple cartridge-era emulation.
At the right price it can be a laugh. But for RomHaven Pokémon ROM hacks, it is not the page-top recommendation. Longer GBA hacks deserve better buttons, better save reliability, and a better screen. Spend the extra on an R36S if this will be your main device.
Pros
- Often extremely cheap
- Small and simple
- Fine for light Game Boy/NES messing around
- Can be a fun spare device
Cons
- Very basic firmware
- Screen and battery quality vary
- Not ideal for long save-heavy Pokémon hacks
- Not enough of a step up if you already play on your phone
PowKiddy V90
A Game Boy Advance SP-style shell with older internals and lots of charm.
The PowKiddy V90 is not new, not powerful, and not the best value on pure specs. But it has one thing the others do not: a clamshell design that feels instantly familiar if you loved the Game Boy Advance SP.
For GBA games and lighter retro systems it is still usable, especially after setup, but it struggles compared with modern budget Linux handhelds. If you love the folding form factor, fair enough. If you simply want the best machine under £50, the R36S wins.
Pros
- Lovely nostalgic clamshell shape
- Pocket-safe screen when folded
- Fine for GBA and lighter systems
- Cheap and widely available
Cons
- Old hardware
- SNES and PS1 are limited
- Small battery compared with newer devices
- Less polished than newer Anbernic/Miyoo options
Best under £50 for Pokémon ROM hacks
The answer is simple: R36S first, everything else second.
Most Pokémon ROM hacks on RomHaven are GBA-based, which is good news for cheap handheld buyers. GBA emulation is easy compared with GameCube, PS2, PSP or 3DS, so you can get a great experience without spending much.
Best for Pokémon Unbound
R36S. The screen, save-state support and performance make it the safest sub-£50 choice for long GBA RPGs.
Best for Radical Red
R36S again. Difficulty hacks benefit from reliable controls, fast saves, and a screen you can stare at for hours.
Best for quick bus sessions
PowKiddy V90 if you love the fold-up design, but the Miyoo Mini Plus is better if your budget can stretch above £50.
Best absolute cheap toy
SF2000. Fine if you want something very cheap, but it is not the best choice for serious 40-hour Pokémon hacks.
What to avoid when buying cheap handhelds
This price bracket is full of tempting listings and dodgy wording.
Best cheap setup kit
The handheld is only part of the purchase.
1. Replace the SD card
Get a 64GB or 128GB SanDisk Ultra or Samsung EVO card. The packed-in cards are often unreliable and can corrupt saves.
2. Use custom firmware
For R36S, check ArkOS/ROCKNIX community guides. For cheap closed-system handhelds, updates may be limited.
3. Keep ROM hacks organised
Use clean folders like /ROMs/GBA/, /ROMs/GB/, and /ROMs/SNES/ so your launcher scans properly.
4. Test saving early
Before starting a 40-hour Pokémon run, test in-game saves and save states so you know they survive a reboot.
Best retro handhelds under £50 FAQ
Fast answers before you buy.
What is the best retro handheld under £50?
The R36S is the best overall under £50 for most people because it has the best mix of screen, performance, controls and firmware support.
Can cheap handhelds play Pokémon ROM hacks?
Yes. GBA Pokémon ROM hacks are easy to run, so devices like the R36S can play RomHaven favourites such as Pokémon Unbound, Radical Red, Gaia and Glazed very well.
Is the SF2000 worth buying?
Only if it is very cheap. It is fun for Game Boy, NES and light GBA use, but it is not as powerful or polished as the R36S.
Should I buy from Amazon or AliExpress?
Amazon is usually faster and easier for returns. AliExpress is usually cheaper. For very cheap devices, paying a bit more for an easier return can be worth it.
Do I need a new SD card?
Yes, ideally. Budget handhelds often ship with weak no-name SD cards. A branded SanDisk or Samsung card is the cheapest reliability upgrade.
Can any under-£50 handheld play NDS well?
Not really. If NDS matters, look at the Anbernic RG35XX Plus, RG35XX H, Retroid devices, or actual Nintendo DS/3DS hardware.