I don’t think your friend installing VirtualBox is too much. Just help him install VirtualBox and then give him a copy of the Windows 98 virtual machine you have already setup.

This is totally cool. Also reminds me of that unreleased Resident Evil 2 GBA tech demo(?)

Most modern AAA games sucks. Mainly because majority of them have started to go with the online only bullcrap when it is not even necessary. Not to mention that trend too where games are sold half baked with the rest of the game being delivered later as separate to purchase DLC(s).

I have already embraced Indies. Fun fact: Baldurs Gate 3 is an indie game (although the quality is very much an AAA game and also some argueably saying it is not because Larian is a large private company that independently publishes their games)

There are a lot of options for turning a phone into a gaming device, you can use the controller laying around your home, which is free. Or you can purchase a device that clips to your phone like a switch controller for the cost of one of these handhelds. There is no problem carrying a controller and clip in your bag, none. Just because you are worried you might look like a loser is your problem, it’s like you are trying to turn your personal fears into a selling point.

Strawman. Carrying an external controller and clip might be feasible for some, but it adds extra steps and hassle compared to simply using a dedicated retro handheld that is always ready to use. The ease of quickly starting a game on a dedicated device cannot be matched by the multi-step setup required for phone gaming with external controllers.

Just because the iPhone from 14 years ago has better specs!? Are you seriously arguing that people should purchase one of these handhelds because it can compete with an iPhone 4. I think you are looking at the wrong aspect of my argument, you were selling this device as a cheap alternative to an expensive modern phone. But I am pointing out that plenty of older phones sell used for cheaper and can compete with (and in many cases out perform) handheld consoles… You get that right?

Well so far you are failing with your point because I just did the math for you. Additionally, you are assuming everyone has a controller at home, which is a major flaw in your conclusion.

Even if older phones have better specs on paper, they still require additional accessories, setup, and often don’t provide the same seamless, optimized experience that retro handhelds do.

These devices are designed specifically for gaming, offering convenience, ease of use, and a superior, uninterrupted experience that older phones can’t match without extra hassle.

Also doubt you tested a N64 emulator on an iPhone 4 decades ago since the device isn’t that old. I think you just pulled that out of your ass to try and make a point lol.

Well so far you have yet to prove that an iPhone 4 can play N64 with no frameskips. Aside from your iPhone 4 is x times more powerful trust me bro statement 🤡🤣

N64 On iPhone 4, iPad & Ipod Touch - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAjciWQ3pOQ

What did a video from a decade ago just appeared on youtube showing a laggy gameplay? I’d be damned!

Again you missed my point and assumed I am arguing someone should use an iPhone 4 over one of these things. When an iPhone 4 can compete with your handheld a cheap/used modern phone can easily exceed it. Way to cherry pick a sentence from a paragraph and ignore context.

Look, you’re missing the point entirely and deflecting with straw man arguments. My argument isn’t about specifically using an iPhone 4, but rather about the overall practicality and user experience.

Retro handhelds are designed for gaming with physical controls, optimized performance, and better battery life, making them far superior for gaming compared to juggling a phone, controller, and potential interruptions.

Your claim that a cheap used phone is automatically better ignores these crucial advantages and the hassle of setting up and configuring emulators. So let’s stop cherry-picking details and face the facts: dedicated devices offer a streamlined, superior gaming experience.

It can be done by a phone for free… A point you fail to acknowledge over and over again. Everyone has a phone and they can all run emulators, so why would someone spend money on a device that can’t even compete with their phones? An answer you have failed to provide.

Not everyone wants to juggle a phone and extra peripherals for a subpar experience. The reason people spend money on these devices is for convenience, ease of use, and a superior, uninterrupted gaming experience that their phones can’t match. It’s about quality, not just capability.

Something you fail to recognize from my answers and other people here’s answers.

If you are using a device to run multiple emulators, arguing the form factor is better than a phone in a single instance (Gameboy SP) is backwards. It’s like you’re conceding that a phone is better in every other way; which it absolutely is.

Lmao what? You’re interpreting this way differently than what I said. I mean sure, phones today are far more powerful than the Anbernic SP, but let’s see here.

If I put the two in my pocket (because the Anbernic SP is small enough to fit in a pocket just like a phone). If I want to game with my phone using some retro game, I have to get my phone, get that external controller from a bag (because there is no way in hell a controller can fit in a pocket, and even if you can, you look like a loser doing so), then finally attach that controller. You don’t see the problem here?

An iPhone 4 from 2010 has 4 times the memory and twice the processing power required by an N64 emulator. It’s more than sufficient. Keeping in mind your original point was the cost of a smartphone capable of running said emulators was beyond the cost of these handhelds… Which is just not true; especially when a device from 14 years ago can do it.

False equivalency fallacy. You are basically telling me that just because the iPhone theoretically has better specs means it can emulate N64 well, ignoring the emulation overhead. Not to mention I actually tried playing an N64 game on a jailbroken iPhone 4 decades ago only to find out the games are laggy.

Also, what I said is still true. Let’s say that on average you can get a discounted deal for a retro handheld for 50 bucks (and some are even cheaper than that). Then let’s add to that argument that it already has everything set up for you vs. a second-hand phone (assuming the iPhone 4 doesn’t have a problem with N64 emulation). The average price on eBay right now is 30 bucks. Then let’s pair that with an iPega controller for that phone, which is around 27 USD on Amazon. That’s already 57 bucks, plus the effort of setting up and jailbreaking the goddamn thing.

So $50 vs. $57 + effort. Yep, you are clearly right here.

For the same money you can get a used smartphone from the last 10 years that runs all the games your rg35xxsp can and is also a phone. A person who has limited funds (your strawman) would be better off with a phone instead of these things.

An iPhone 6 on eBay costs 60 bucks on average. Already way above the 50 bucks. But hey, at least this one can play N64 fine now.

And you’re seemingly forgetting phones have the internet. I can just download any game I want wherever I am, rather than storing all of them all the time just in case you might want them.

Yes, because the internet is accessible everywhere.

How many games do you need at one time anyways? You clearly don’t want all of them because a large enough SD card to fit them is just overkill. But you aren’t satisfied with 100GB or so? So, what arbitrary amount have you decided you need to justify the addition of an SD card?

Begging the Question. But let’s entertain that. Why would I be satisfied with 100GB when I already consumed a lot with offline videos and music? Not counting that I also use it for my personal photos and videos?

I bought my gaming phone for playing mobile games. You know, where you play the games that were actually designed to be played on the phone. Some of these games even eat up 35GB so storage is gonna be an issue.

And also since I mostly play mobile games that are designed to be played in a mobile phone, I don’t need to bring a controller just to play properly.

And for the same cost, I can get a used phone bundled with a camera, internet, console, SMS, email, and a shitload more features. But you get an SD card, what a deal!

No, it’s not a deal based on the math I did earlier. And good luck browsing the internet with that iPhone 4 of yours, lmfao.

Pretty much everyone has a phone already that can do what this can, and your best argument for buying one of these things is the lack of an SD card. But in the same comment, you also argue that a large SD card is overkill.

And so far, you aren’t bringing any aside from pulling the hasty generalization card by saying everything can be done by a phone.

It’s pretty clear here that you are not asking what you’re missing with these retro handhelds’ popularity.

It appears that you just came in here, already decided that retro handhelds are shit, and everything must be done via a phone. You started antagonizing everyone here and questioning their preferences (which is why you are ratioed so badly in this whole thread).

I will just say what others have said: you are not the intended audience of these devices.

Could you give a reason?

I just said, form factor. Anbernic rg35xxsp is the closest you can get to a Gameboy SP. Sure you could argue your Phone controller is far better but these GBA games where designed with the hardware and form factor they have in mind.

My old iPhone 4 from 2010 could run n64 emulators just fine, low tier phones from the last 10 years can do pretty much everything this thing can do and a used one is definitely cheaper… Additionally if this strawman you have invented cannot afford a phone from the last 10 years they definitely cannot afford this thing.

Your old iPhone4 can play N64 fine? Show it. Prove it here that your iPhone 4 can play n64 games without frameskip. no stutters, no sound jittering. Heck start with Super Mario Kart, then Mario 64, then what the hell, lets add Starwars Rogue Squadron in there.

Because I am pretty much confident you are gonna have frameskips enabled just to even make the game playable.

An SD card that can store all the PSP/N64/Dreamcast games would have to have more than 1tb of storage and cost anywhere from 180 to 700 bucks online… What world are you living in that this is a viable solution to the poor man who cannot afford a second hand phone.

Because 180 to 700 bucks SD card you are referring to is a top of the line SD card meant for more powerful devices like the SteamDeck. You can get cheaper ones for less and even then 1tb is just overkill for that.

Also you are totally missing the point here. With a phone, your storage is shared not just for games but with everything else. From videos you downloaded for offline use on your Netflix/Primevideo/HBO/Disney+ bullshit down to your offline music from Spotify and Youtube Music.

Also not to mention these devices have SD cards bundled already so you don’t really need to buy one unless you opted for more storage to store more games on the go.

What you are trying to argue here is that a niche luxury device is a solution to someone with limited income, and you are doing it with a straight face whilst arguing with someone that presents a cheaper/free option. Do you see an issue with that?

Some people bought the device under 60 bucks. Then I will just also casually bring up again that these devices have SD cards already bundled to them so you dont even have to spent 180 to 700 bucks for storage.

Sure this new device being advertised is speculated to be 99 bucks but its not like this is Anbernic’s first device. Im not gonna buy this one but since you asked about what you are missing.

I’m gonna tell you straight to the face I bought my RG351v for 35 bucks in a discount with a 32gb + 128gb SD card bundled and these devices at discounted prices is what makes most people buy them.

You could always argue that most mid tier phones can handle emulation way better than these dedicated handhelds and you are right.

But to say that a 35 to 50 bucks dedicated handheld that can have 4 to 5 hours of battery life as a luxury compare to a phone controller which could cost the same if not more?

Two reasons.

One is the form factor.

While certainly my ROG phone plus gamesir is enough to even emulate this gen’s handheld games. It cannot beat playing a gba game on an Anbernic rg35xxsp.

Second is that some owns a low tier or a very old phone and they don’t want to throw it away because it still works perfectly fine.

So instead of spending 300 bucks for a decent mid tier phone replacement, plus accessories, spending 99 bucks is far more cost effecent.

Then there is that storage issue. Some newer phones today no longer have an sd card slot for expandable storage.

Plus some if not all of these handhelds are moddable as fuck too.

I mean sure why not! lmao

Damn, that’s even better!

There is a possibility!

What makes this even better is that apparently Mark Zuckerberg / Mets owns trademark for the X logo.

You know what that means! Millionaire monkey money fight!

If you are using Firefox, there is an addon that allows you to install websites as apps with isolated settings, cache, cookies and everything with the default Firefox profile (So even if you decide to clear browsing history, your apps will not get affected)

https://github.com/filips123/PWAsForFirefox/wiki/Installing

I originally did but the maintenance burden was killing me. Then last year Proton unified their subscription with VPN and Mail (also upgrading my Proton VPN only subscription to Proton plus) and from there I decided to just go all in on Proton mail. I integrated my domain to Proton mail and never looked back.