The Game Boy Advance turned 25 this weekend, these are the retro handhelds that help it shine in 2026

The Game Boy Advance celebrated its 25th birthday at the weekend, so it's only fair to see how far its emulation systems have come since then. Anyone looking to get back behind the wheel of one of the then-record breaking device will want to check out the best retro handhelds on the market this week. The good news is Game Boy Advance games are pretty easy to run, so you don't need to spend hundreds on an OLED-toting powerhouse to get all your old games up and running again.

Anbernic seems to have this corner of the hobby locked down from our testing. The RG CubeXX is your go-to for a chunky like-for-like, while the RG28XX runs best as a modern alternative to the Game Boy Micro. If you had an SP childhood, though, you'll want to check out the RG35XXSP, a true clamshell throwback.

Retro handheld for Game Boy Advance

I'll get one thing out the way straight out the gate, the Anbernic RG Cube has a 1:1 aspect ratio display, which means you'll need a set of black borders when running Game Boy Advance games. It does, however, scale that original 3:2 display pretty well - a versatility that keeps the GBA from distorting once stretched out.

The Cube ships with its own Android OS overlay, with emulator launchers included straight out the box. Of course, there's always the freedom to dive into files yourself, running your own suite of systems but if you're after a pick-up-and-play this is a ROM-ready device.

An asymmetric thumbstick layout and a set of buttons that would feel at home on a far more expensive system complete the outfit, but it's those chunky grips to the rear that pull some serious weight. Gone are the days of cramping over the GBA's flat back panel, this handheld is designed to meet your hands' contours particularly well.

At 260g this is no toy, either. The RG Cube feels solid in the hands without an ounce of the hollow cheapness one might expect from a more affordable system.

Its power level caps out at around PS2 level, though you'll still get some mileage out of Sony's second generation system by dropping resolution. For Nintendo systems though, this is a beast. That's not to mention the 8 hours of battery life we recorded, and the fact that it only dipped by 17% when left idle for a week.

Game Boy Micro retro handheld

Grew up hunched over a Game Boy Micro? The Anbernic RG28XX is the modern day retro handheld for you. This tiny little device can sit comfortably in a pocket but still packs enough power to blast through your GBA library and well into the PS1 / Dreamcast roster.

That small form factor takes us straight back to the last Game Boy Advance model to hit the shelves, but it's both a blessing and a curse. While there's a surprisingly high battery life in here (3,100mAh) and the system is about as portable as they come, controls still feel a bit cramped and squished in. Build quality isn't quite up to the RG Cube either - we noticed some particularly rattly shoulder buttons in testing.

Still, that's what the Game Boy Micro was all about - forcing your hands to contort to meet its miniscule controls, all for the benefit of keeping it, your phone, and your keys in one pocket.

Beyond the Game Boy Advance, the RG28XX comes with emulators for everything from the original Game Boy up to the PS1 straight out of the box. Considering the sheer size (and lower price) that's a solid suite of systems.

Game Boy Advance SP retro handheld

The Game Boy Advance SP was the endgame for many in this generation, and the Anbernic RG35XXSP is an absolute love letter to the backlit system. Just like the original handheld, this is a noteworthy screen upgrade, with a 3.5-inch display busting out super crisp visuals across the catalog. It's not going to run you as far into PS1 or PSP titles as others on this list, and the D-pad's difficulties with directional inputs may hurt some experiences, but this is still absolutely worth investigating.

You've got the same layout here, just with an extra two face buttons on the right. Of course, under the hood things are ramped up a little. The H700 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 chip runs particularly well in this more budget-friendly device, with a Mali-G31 GPU offering a good balance for Game Boy Advance emulation.

That's not the only modern nod. Underneath the RG35XXSP you'll find a micro HDMI connection, perfect for running your portable adventures on the big screen.

• See all retro handhelds at Amazon

We're also testing all the best retro consoles as well as the best gaming handhelds of all time. Check out the best Steam Deck accessories for something a little more modern as well.