Best handhelds for Switch emulation

8 handhelds rated as running most or all of the Switch games tested in the reviews we cite. Switch is the most demanding system in our catalog: only devices with recent high-end Android or x86 chips reach this list, and even there results vary from game to game.

Nintendo Switch with red and blue Joy-Con
Console photo: Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Covers via Wikipedia, publishers' artwork.

8 handhelds

  • Full speed
  • Most games
  • Some games
  • Not playable
  • Not tested yet
  • Retroid Pocket 6 handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: Retroid, product page

    Retroid Pocket 6

    NSW Switch: Most games

    • 5.5″ AMOLED
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    from$244 3 shops
  • AYN Thor handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: AYN, product page

    AYN Thor

    NSW Switch: Most games

    • 6″ AMOLED
    • Dual screen
    • Android
    from$259 2 shops
  • AYANEO Pocket S Mini handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: AYANEO, product page

    AYANEO Pocket S Mini

    NSW Switch: Most games

    • 4.2″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    from$319 2 shops
  • KONKR Pocket FIT G3 Gen3 handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: KONKR, product page

    KONKR Pocket FIT G3 Gen3

    NSW Switch: Most games

    • 6″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    from$429 1 shop
  • AYANEO Pocket S2 handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: AYANEO, product page

    AYANEO Pocket S2

    NSW Switch: Most games

    • 6.3″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    from$485.95 2 shops
  • AYANEO Pocket DS handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: AYANEO, product page

    AYANEO Pocket DS

    NSW Switch: Most games

    • 7″ OLED
    • Dual screen
    • Android
    from$579 2 shops
  • AYANEO Pocket S2 Pro handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: AYANEO, product page

    AYANEO Pocket S2 Pro

    NSW Switch: Most games

    • 6.3″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    No current price 1 shop
  • 3.7″ 3.7″ 4:3 AMOLED screen, drawn to scale

    Retroid Pocket Mini

    NSW Switch: Most games

    • 3.7″ AMOLED
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    No current price

Prices updated Oct 4, 20:13 UTC. Shop links may be affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

How to choose

Read the note on each Switch rating before buying: reviewers test a limited set of games, and newer or heavier titles may need lower resolution or not run at all. Compare chip, RAM and cooling between models, and expect shorter battery life than with older systems. Switch emulation also depends on emulator updates, so a rating describes the state at the time of the review.