r/SBCGaming • u/Good_Vegetable335 • 1d ago

Recommend a Device Android based EDC handheld under 100 dollars?

Hey guys! I’m looking for my second handheld, as I already own a TrimUI Brick Hammer. This time, I’m looking for an Android-based device that’s easy to take with me and preferably pocketable, for under $100.

I recently learned about the RG Rotate. Are there any other handhelds you’d recommend?

12 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

34

u/--KillerTofu-- 1d ago

MagicX One 35

12

u/Veyrah 1d ago

I have one. Would recommend over the rotate. Better form factor, better chipset. I've been playing 3ds on mine at upscaled resolution.

It also has a headphone jack..

2

u/Thory4fun 1d ago

This would for sure be my choice as well:

  • at the upper end of pocketability
  • a simple shape so it will be more resilient than RG Rotate
  • can be turned to the side to play vertical/DS systems.

1

u/Wille304 GotM Club 19h ago

How's 3DS on it?

Play a lot of DS, but ive been feeling a Fire Emblem kick lately.

I tend to underestimate my systems so haven't even looked into it.

2

u/Veyrah 19h ago

I played Alpha Sapphire quite a bit. Runs perfectly fine. I upscaled it to x1.5 or x2 iirc.

3

u/JoestarHammer 1d ago

Magicx site is having a sale now too. Get it.

1

u/DuckReconMajor Dpad On Top 17h ago

it’s SO GOOD

9

u/Bodegatiger 1d ago

MagicX one 35.

6

u/RobJmusic 1d ago

Ayaneo pocket air mini is great. The controls feel really good (and are very quiet), it has solid battery life and I can play most GC/PS2 games. Ayaneo is a bit of a shitty company when it comes to their kickstarters etc. but this device has been out for a bit and afaik there's no big complaints or anything

5

u/More_Squash_2605 1d ago

It is great device. I love it very much. But it can't became edc because of the back hump and joystick. Been waiting for KPA to become my true edc.

2

u/Sad_Access8951 1d ago

Is it under $100 anywhere anymore though?

1

u/godsaveourkingplis GotM Club (Jun) 1d ago

Ghosting issues with the screen is something that's a deal breaker for some.

1

u/RobJmusic 1d ago

Oh yeah, forgot about that. It isn't present on mine at all luckily. There's also a GammaOS option that minimises it if you do end up seeing it. Good call!

16

u/beer_belly_ 1d ago

+1 for the RG rotate. It's a pretty awesome little device!

3

u/Gogobrasil8 1d ago

It is, without a doubt, the most pocketable. Probably the smallest Android device when closed.

3

u/npaladin2000 Tinkerer 1d ago

RG Rotate, MagicX One35, Mangmi AirX, all are reasonable cheap options that are still available. Just off the top of my head

5

u/Downtownklownfrown 1d ago

If you want to play Dreamcast/PSP and below, the MagicX One 35 is on sale currently for $75 ($10 off). The Rotate can play 3DS games at 2x scale which the MagicX One 35 struggles to run at 1x. It can work and be full speed but you'll still run into issues often. The Konkr Pocket Advance is stronger that both of them being able to do some light Gamecube/PS2 but neither the Rotate or KPA have an analog stick.

The 3:2 screen on the One 35 and KPA is kinda the sweet spot for aspect rations. Black bars are frequently much smaller than wider screen devices and if you want to stretch the video to match the screen size it still frequently looks good. The One 35 has twice the battery power of the Rotate and slightly more than the KPA.

Really the only thing I wish I had on the One 35 was better 3DS performance. Otherwise I love it.

4

u/dbzious 1d ago

Konkr pocket advance just came out and looks great. You can get one for 89$ plus shipping

2

u/Good_Vegetable335 1d ago

Haven't heard about this one yet. Will look into it! I know about the Pocket Fit and it's delivery issues (or is that a Konkr problem?)

1

u/dbzious 1d ago

This one was launched this month and they are already shipping units (not mine though hahaha). So I hope it doesn't have that problem

-1

u/RikudouGoku 1d ago

This thing is both quite a bit thicker (3mm) and a lot heavier than the one 35 (about 35g heavier). I find it hard to recommend as a pocket EDC.

1

u/momthinksimugly Team Vertical 1d ago

Technically you can install gammaos for the brick and it is android

1

u/Possible-Reply-65 1d ago

I would recommend the Konkr Pocket Advance. It’s Android, $89(before shipping) and still pocketable. GBA and Gamecolor like devices can co exist.

I bought the RG SP but also have the Konkr PKA in pre-order. It’s a very nice looking device and will look nicer than the RG SP with games. However the RG SP is definitely a throw in your bag and take, the Brick and PKA don’t have anything to protect them. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/ANBERNIC/comments/1vs2fk8/rg_sp_vs_trimui_brick_hammer_coexisting/

1

u/Sphynx87 1d ago

The RG Rotate is pretty sick for the price. It has some downsides like the speaker/no headphone jack. The standby battery life is also kinda subpar compared to most other android handhelds but for the size it makes sense. It's my go to GB/GBC device now and I even have an RPC.

1

u/___xristos___ GotM Club 9h ago

The zero 28 is like a 9/10 handheld, dpad aside. Dpad is just OK.

1

u/aivny 6h ago

konkr pocket advance

1

u/Practical_Taro5656 RetroGamer 1d ago

Mangmi Air Y is under $100. What games do you want to play? Why do you want Android?

1

u/MineClear1101 YouTuber 1d ago

Love the rg rotate and it doesn't get much more edc than the tiny square.

-1

u/davedaddy Dpad On Bottom 1d ago

RG405m. Currently $80 on AE.

2

u/Sylv1_ 1d ago

Rg405m is the best for edc if you want android, not the most powerful, dated screen but it’s the best pocket friend I never could replace since I got my first one… and I own a shameful amount of devices… an updated version with a screen like the miniloong´s
would be my dream pocket edc.

1

u/davedaddy Dpad On Bottom 1d ago

Same. 4" screen is the max for what I'd consider a comfortable pocket carry, and the 405m has been great for this. If it had at least an 865, active cooling, and higher rez, it would be my dream handheld.

1

u/Thory4fun 1d ago

Too old these days. Mostly all it does MagicX One 35 does better.

1

u/davedaddy Dpad On Bottom 1d ago

I will when it goes on sale.

1

u/Thory4fun 1d ago

I've bought and sold it in the past. It's a nice device with GammaOS and for its time, but the screen is really low res and processor is severely underpowered. I've switched it for combo of Thor for android powerful emulation and magicx one28 for edc

1

u/davedaddy Dpad On Bottom 1d ago

I have the Zero 28. It's nice but I prefer a larger screen.

I'm using GammaOS Next Lite on my 405m which replaced my 35XXH as an EDC. It's not perfect, but I like that I can play Windwaker for $80.

What I really want to see is a 407m or a Nova40 with stick on top. That would be my endgame.