Best handhelds for GBA emulation
65 handhelds that play Game Boy Advance games at full speed, according to the reviews we cite. GBA is light work for any current handheld, so the real choice here is the screen: a 3:2 or 4:3 panel shows GBA games with less black border than a wide 16:9 one.
65 handhelds
- Full speed
- Most games
- Some games
- Not playable
- Not tested yet
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AYANEO Pocket MICRO Classic
GBA GBA: Full speed
- 3.5″ IPS
- Horizontal
- Android
No current price 2 shops - 5.98″ 16:9 IPS screen, drawn to scale
- 2.4″ 4:3 IPS screen, drawn to scale
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- 4″ 1:1 IPS screen, drawn to scale
- 3.5″ 4:3 IPS screen, drawn to scale
- 3.5″ 4:3 IPS screen, drawn to scale
- 4.7″ 16:9 IPS screen, drawn to scale
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- 3.7″ 4:3 AMOLED screen, drawn to scale
- 3.92″ AMOLED screen, drawn to scale
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- 3″ 4:3 IPS screen, drawn to scale
Prices updated Oct 22, 10:17 UTC. Shop links may be affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
How to choose
Pick by screen shape and size first, then by price. A vertical Game Boy-style body suits GBA's button layout; a horizontal one is more comfortable for longer sessions. Integer scaling looks sharpest when the screen resolution is a clean multiple of 240×160.
Questions
Do I need an expensive handheld for GBA?
No. GBA emulation is solved on budget Linux handhelds. Spend more only if you also want PSP, Dreamcast or newer systems.
What screen is best for GBA games?
A 3:2 screen matches GBA exactly. 4:3 screens show it with thin bars; 16:9 screens leave wide bars on the sides.