Deal verdict: Is budget handheld gaming under 60 worth it?
Budget handheld gaming under 60 refers to low-cost portable devices that focus on retro or mid-tier performance, offering emulation and casual play without the high purchase price of premium consoles or flagship handhelds, and aiming at players who value portability and nostalgia more than cutting-edge graphics or brand-name hardware. In that space, two deals stand out today: Anbernic’s RG SP, a Game Boy Advance SP-inspired clamshell, and Retroid’s Pocket Nova, a modern Android handheld built for GameCube, PS2, and even Switch emulation. Taken together, they show both sides of the current handheld market. The RG SP is all about cheap nostalgia; the Pocket Nova is about affordable power. My verdict: the RG SP is one of the strongest portable gaming under 60 buys right now, while the Pocket Nova is still a fair deal despite creeping into mid-range territory due to component costs.
Anbernic RG SP: Retro GBA-style fun on a tight budget
The Anbernic RG SP is a compact clamshell that closely mimics the classic Game Boy Advance SP, but with a slightly larger screen and extra face buttons for modern use. As an ultra-affordable option compared with top retro handhelds, it targets nostalgic players who want pocketable gaming without spending anywhere near console money. Hardware is modest: an Allwinner H700 chip and 1GB of RAM, which is enough for homebrew titles and older systems rather than demanding 3D emulation. You can order it from Anbernic’s official site. Storage choices include bundled cards that scale in capacity, but the core appeal remains the low entry cost and familiar design. In a market where premium handhelds keep getting more expensive, this kind of device is positioned to become popular precisely because it keeps things simple and cheap.
Retroid Pocket Nova: Price hike, but still strong performance per dollar
The Retroid Pocket Nova sits higher up the budget handheld gaming ladder, but it still aims at cost-conscious players who want serious performance without paying full console prices. Retroid has confirmed that the cheapest Pocket Nova configuration will become about 10 units more expensive due to rising Qualcomm chipset and raw material costs, pushing its starting price up from the previous level. Even with that bump, the Pocket Nova remains compelling: it uses what is effectively a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-class processor, a 4:3 OLED screen tuned for emulation up to sixth‑generation consoles, a 5,000mAh battery, and options for 8GB or 12GB of RAM plus expandable 128GB storage. That means it can handle GameCube, PS2, and Switch titles, putting it far above simple retro clones in capability. If you can order before the price increase date, you get more performance per dollar; after that, it’s still a decent mid-range Android handheld rather than a pure budget pick.
Price volatility and choosing the right portable gaming under 60
The RG SP and Pocket Nova highlight how unstable handheld pricing is right now. Retroid has already raised prices on another model because of a wider RAM and components squeeze, and the Pocket Nova’s increase is tied to industry-wide Qualcomm chipset hikes. At the same time, many high-end handhelds have grown more expensive lately, putting pressure on enthusiasts who don’t want to pay premium console-level prices for portable play. Against that backdrop, cheaper alternatives like the RG SP look especially appealing for nostalgic or casual players. The key is matching expectations to hardware. The RG SP is best seen as a dedicated retro and homebrew machine with a throwback design. The Pocket Nova, although no longer a rock-bottom deal, offers far more power and flexibility for emulation fans who want a single device that can handle everything from 2D classics up through sixth‑generation console titles.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Anbernic RG SP if you want budget handheld gaming under 60 built mainly for retro and homebrew experiences with a nostalgic clamshell design.
- Skip the Anbernic RG SP if you expect smooth performance on demanding 3D emulation or modern console-level games, which its basic Allwinner H700 chip and 1GB RAM are not built for.
- Buy the Retroid Pocket Nova if you care more about high-end emulation up to GameCube, PS2, and Switch than hitting the absolute lowest price point.
- Skip the Retroid Pocket Nova if the planned price increase and ongoing component-driven volatility make you unwilling to pay more than a strict budget handheld tier.
- Buy the Anbernic RG SP if rising prices on premium handheld gaming consoles have pushed you toward affordable alternatives and you mainly want portable gaming under 60 for nostalgia.
- Skip the Pocket Nova and RG SP if you prefer waiting to see how the handheld market settles as demand and component costs continue to fluctuate.
