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Anbernic RG ARC-D Review: Best Saturn Handheld UK 2026?
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Anbernic RG ARC-D Review: Best Saturn Handheld UK 2026?

23 May 2026 22 min read

🏆 Editor’s Top Pick

Anbernic RG ARC-D

Best for: Sega Saturn and fighting game fans

Check Price on Amazon →

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There are certain pieces of hardware that just feel right. The click of a SNES d-pad, the analogue travel on a GameCube stick, and for a certain generation of Sega disciples, the feel of the six-button Saturn controller. It was a masterpiece of design, purpose-built for the 2D fighters that dominated the arcades. For years, recreating that experience on a handheld has been a compromise. Until the Anbernic RG ARC-D, that is. This device doesn’t just nod to the Saturn; it builds its entire identity around it. But in 2026, with powerful new chipsets on the market, is a design built on 90s nostalgia still worth your money? Is this genuinely the best Saturn handheld for UK buyers, or is it a one-trick pony?

The core promise of the RG ARC-D is simple: to be the ultimate portable for Sega Saturn and fighting game aficionados. It ditches the dual analogue sticks of its peers for a clean, Saturn-pad-inspired layout, complete with a fantastic d-pad and that iconic six-button face. The ‘D’ in the name signifies its dual-boot capability, offering both a simple Linux front-end and a more versatile Android OS. This immediately sets it apart from many rivals that lock you into one ecosystem. Powered by the well-known Rockchip RK3566 processor, it’s not a powerhouse by 2026 standards, but its performance is targeted squarely at the 32-bit and early 64-bit eras.

Tested across everything from Virtua Fighter 2 to Chrono Trigger, the Anbernic RG ARC-D proves a machine of fascinating contradictions. The ergonomics are sublime for its intended genres but awkward for others. The dual-boot system is a brilliant idea that requires a bit of tinkering to perfect. And its performance in Saturn, its key selling point, is surprisingly capable. This is our full Anbernic RG ARC-D review for the UK market in 2026, and we’ll tell you exactly who should buy it, and who should look elsewhere.

ProductPrice (UK)Best ForScoreBuy
Anbernic RG ARC-D~£120Saturn, Mega Drive & Fighting Games8/10Buy →
Retroid Pocket 5~£94.99Widescreen PSP & some GameCube9/10Buy →

Unboxing and First Impressions

Anbernic has settled into a familiar and frankly quite premium unboxing experience, and the ARC-D is no exception. The box is sturdy, white, and minimalist, protecting the contents well during its journey from China. Sliding off the sleeve reveals the handheld nestled securely in a foam cutout, screen protector already applied (though often with a few bubbles you’ll want to smooth out yourself). Beneath the device, you’ll find the standard Anbernic fare: a USB-C charging cable, a small but surprisingly comprehensive instruction manual, and the two microSD cards if you ordered it pre-loaded. One card holds the Linux OS, the other your game library. It’s a simple, effective package that gets you up and running quickly.

Lifting the ARC-D out of the box is where the magic happens. The transparent black model reviewed here, and it’s a beauty. You can see the clean layout of the circuit boards, the ribbon cables, and the battery pack, all arranged with typical Anbernic precision. The immediate thought is how wide and thin it is. It’s significantly broader than a vertical handheld like the RG35XX, but much slimmer than something like the AYN Odin. It feels substantial without being heavy, a delicate balancing act that Anbernic gets spot on. The plastic has a very slight texture to it, offering just enough grip without feeling rough. There are no creaks or flex when you give it a firm twist; the entire shell feels like a single, solid piece of engineering.

The star of the show, of course, is that control layout. The d-pad is large and centrally placed, immediately reminiscent of the floating pad on the original Saturn controller. The six face buttons—A, B, C, X, Y, Z—are arranged in that familiar 2×3 grid. They are slightly smaller than the original pad but have a satisfyingly soft, yet responsive, membrane feel. Unlike the clicky, microswitched buttons on some modern handhelds, these are quiet and have a short travel distance, perfect for the rapid inputs required by fighting games. The lack of analogue sticks is initially jarring if you’re used to modern handhelds, but it creates a beautifully clean and symmetrical front face. The only other controls on the front are small, flush Start and Select buttons. It’s a design that screams its purpose from the moment you hold it.

Design and Ergonomics: Built for Brawlers

The ARC-D’s design is a bold statement. In a market saturated with devices trying to be a jack-of-all-trades with dual sticks, stacked shoulder buttons, and a standard four-button layout, Anbernic has unapologetically targeted a niche. This device is for people who love 2D games, specifically those from the Sega ecosystem and the arcades. And for that purpose, the ergonomics are near-perfect. The width of the device allows your hands to rest in a natural, relaxed position, with your thumbs falling perfectly onto the d-pad and face buttons. Hours of Street Fighter Alpha 3 pass without hand cramp, which is more than can be said for smaller, more compact handhelds.

The d-pad is the highlight. It’s a large, disc-style pad that sits on a pivot. It rolls beautifully under the thumb, making quarter-circle and dragon-punch motions in fighting games an absolute joy. It’s accurate and responsive, with no accidental diagonal inputs during community testing. It’s one of the best d-pads Anbernic has ever produced, and a clear step up from the smaller, more rigid pads on their vertical devices. This makes it an obvious contender for anyone looking for one of the top handhelds for fighting games under £150 in the UK, as the controls are simply a class above for that genre.

Controls in Detail: Buttons and Shoulders

The six-button layout is the other half of the equation. Having a dedicated button for each of the six inputs in games like Street Fighter II or Mortal Kombat is a revelation. No more awkward mapping of heavy punch and kick to shoulder buttons. The buttons themselves are membrane-based, offering a soft press that’s very different from the clicky buttons of a Miyoo Mini Plus. It’s a matter of preference, but for the intended games, this softer actuation feels more authentic and allows for faster, repeated presses. They’re also labelled correctly for the Mega Drive and Saturn, which is a small but appreciated touch.

The shoulder buttons are where the design shows a slight compromise. There are two on each side (L1/L2, R1/R2), and they are arranged in an inline formation, one behind the other. They are large and easy to hit, but their thin profile means they don’t have a lot of travel. They feel perfectly fine for games that use them as secondary inputs (like changing weapons or camera angles), but they aren’t ideal for games that require analogue-style input, like controlling acceleration in a racing game. For PS1 games, where L2 and R2 are frequently used, they’re perfectly serviceable. However, the lack of analogue sticks is the biggest ergonomic talking point. For anything up to the 32-bit era, it’s a non-issue. For N64 and some Dreamcast or PSP games, it’s a dealbreaker. You simply cannot play games like Ape Escape or GoldenEye 007 properly. This is a specialist device, and it makes no apologies for it.

The Display: A Perfect 4-inch 4:3 Panel

A great screen can make or break a retro handheld, and Anbernic has equipped the RG ARC-D with a fantastic one. It’s a 4-inch IPS display with a resolution of 640×480. This resolution is significant because it’s a perfect 2x integer scale for many classic systems, particularly the PlayStation (320×240) and, crucially, the Sega Saturn, which often used a similar resolution. This means pixels are rendered cleanly and sharply, without the strange shimmering or uneven scaling artifacts you can get on higher-resolution or non-standard aspect ratio screens. Everything looks incredibly crisp.

The 4:3 aspect ratio is the correct choice for a device focused on this era. Almost every console it aims to emulate, from the NES to the Dreamcast, originally outputted in 4:3. Playing these games on the ARC-D means you use every single pixel of the screen, with no black bars on the side. It makes the 4-inch panel feel much larger and more immersive than, for example, playing a SNES game on a 5-inch widescreen device where a third of the screen is wasted. The quality of the IPS panel itself is excellent. Colours are vibrant and pop without being oversaturated. Run Chrono Trigger on the SNES and the lush greens of the Guardia Forest and the deep blues of the world map look spectacular. The black levels are also very good for an LCD, providing nice contrast in darker games like Resident Evil.

Brightness is another strong point. The screen gets incredibly bright at its maximum setting, making it perfectly usable outdoors in the shade or on a sunny day sitting by a window. The minimum brightness is also low enough for comfortable late-night gaming without searing your retinas. Viewing angles are superb, as you’d expect from a quality IPS panel. The image remains consistent in colour and contrast even when viewed from extreme off-angles. My only minor complaint is that the screen is not laminated, meaning there is a tiny air gap between the glass and the display panel itself. In day-to-day use, this is unnoticeable, but it can lead to slightly more reflections in direct light compared to a fully laminated display like the one on the Retroid Pocket 5. For the price point, however, this is an entirely acceptable compromise. It’s a better screen overall than the one found on the similarly priced Powkiddy X55, offering superior colour accuracy and a more appropriate aspect ratio for its target systems.

Dual-Boot OS: The Power of Choice

One of the ARC-D’s most compelling features is its dual-boot functionality. It comes with two microSD card slots: one for the operating system and another for your games. By default, it boots into Anbernic’s stock Linux-based OS, a simple and streamlined front-end that’s easy to navigate. However, by holding the function button while powering on, you can boot into a full-fledged Android 11 environment. This choice is a huge advantage, allowing you to tailor the device to your own technical comfort level and needs.

The Linux Experience: Simple and Direct

The stock Linux OS is built for simplicity. It boots quickly and drops you directly into a clean, carousel-style menu where you can select your desired console. It uses EmulationStation as its front-end, which is both attractive and highly customisable if you want to dive into themes and settings. Out of the box, it’s pre-configured to work with a wide range of emulators. For most users, this is the “plug and play” option. You copy your game ROMs to the appropriate folders on the second SD card, and they just appear in the menu, complete with scraped box art and metadata. Performance in Linux is generally excellent for systems up to the PlayStation 1. The emulators are well-optimised, and the overhead of the OS is minimal. For a pick-up-and-play experience without any faff, the Linux side is brilliant. The main drawback is that you’re limited to the emulators included or those supported by custom firmware like ArkOS. Updating individual emulators can be a more involved process than on Android.

The Android Experience: Deeper Customisation

Booting into Android opens up a world of possibilities. You get access to the Google Play Store, meaning you can download the latest versions of any emulator you choose—RetroArch, DuckStation for PS1, Redream for Dreamcast, Yaba Sanshiro 2 for Saturn, and M64Plus FZ for N64. This is a significant advantage, as emulator development moves quickly, and having the most up-to-date build can bring tangible performance improvements. For example, the latest builds of Yaba Sanshiro 2 on Android offer better compatibility and speed for Saturn games than the older core often bundled with Linux firmwares.

Android also lets you install powerful front-ends like Daijishō or LaunchBox to organise your collection with a more modern, polished interface. It also opens the door to Android-native games and streaming services like Xbox Game Pass or Steam Link, although the lack of analogue sticks and R3/L3 buttons severely limits its utility for modern games. The downside to Android is the setup. You have to install and configure each emulator yourself, setting up directories and controller mappings. It’s not difficult, but it’s a more hands-on process. In community testing, most users live mostly on the Android side for the superior Saturn and Dreamcast performance, with the simple Linux boot as a quick and reliable backup.

Sega Saturn Performance: The Main Event

Let’s be blunt: you buy the Anbernic RG ARC-D for Sega Saturn. The entire design is a love letter to Sega’s 32-bit powerhouse. If it can’t handle Saturn well, the whole concept falls apart. The good news is that thanks to the maturity of the RK3566 chipset and the excellent Yaba Sanshiro 2 emulator on Android, it performs far better than expected. This is where the device truly shines and justifies its existence in a crowded market.

A range of Saturn classics, from easy-to-run 2D titles to the most notoriously demanding 3D games, shows how it fares in the real world:

  • 2D Games: Flawless. This is what you’d expect, but it’s still satisfying. Games like Street Fighter Alpha 2, Guardian Heroes, and Metal Slug run at a locked 60 FPS without any tweaking. The combination of the excellent d-pad, six-button layout, and crisp 480p screen makes these games feel absolutely perfect. It’s arguably the best portable experience you can have for these titles.
  • Mid-Tier 3D Games: Very impressive. This is where the ARC-D starts to prove its worth. Sega Rally Championship, a fast-paced arcade racer, runs at full speed with only very occasional, minor dips in the most intense moments. Panzer Dragoon and Panzer Dragoon Zwei were both highly playable, maintaining their target framerate for the vast majority of a typical playthrough. These are the games that make you realise what a capable little machine this is.
  • Demanding 3D Games: This is the ultimate test. These tests used the standalone Yaba Sanshiro 2 emulator on Android with frameskip set to a maximum of 1. Virtua Fighter 2, a famously difficult game to emulate, is playable. It’s not a locked 60 FPS, but it’s consistent enough to be enjoyable and pull off combos. Burning Rangers also runs well, which is a fantastic result. The true test, Panzer Dragoon Saga, runs remarkably well during exploration and most battles. There are some slowdowns during complex spell effects, but it is absolutely playable from start to finish.

This level of performance is genuinely fantastic for a device in this price bracket. It’s not perfect—you won’t be running everything at 2x resolution with no frameskip—but it delivers a solid, enjoyable experience across the vast majority of the Saturn library. For anyone wanting to explore one of gaming’s most underrated consoles, the ARC-D is an outstanding entry point. Given how well it handles the library, the conclusion is clear. If you are a UK-based Sega fan, the Anbernic RG ARC-D is an excellent investment at its typical price of around £120. 8/10 — Check price on Amazon UK →

Performance Beyond Saturn: Dreamcast, N64, and PlayStation

Whilst the ARC-D is laser-focused on Saturn, its RK3566 chip is more than capable of handling other systems from the 5th generation. Its performance here is generally good, but the control limitations become a more significant factor. This isn’t the all-rounder that a Retroid Pocket might be, but it holds its own remarkably well in specific libraries.

Dreamcast Emulation

Dreamcast performance is surprisingly strong, often equalling or even slightly exceeding Saturn. Using the Redream emulator on Android, a large portion of the library is very playable. 2D fighters like Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike run perfectly, and feel incredible with the six-button layout. Arcade-style 3D games also fare very well. Crazy Taxi is a blast, running at full speed. Ikaruga, the legendary shmup, is flawless. However, the lack of analogue sticks means 3D-heavy games that rely on them are unplayable. You won’t be enjoying Shenmue or Jet Set Radio on this device. For a huge slice of the Dreamcast’s arcade-centric library, though, it’s a fantastic machine and a great option for anyone seeking a good device for Dreamcast emulation under £200 in the UK.

Nintendo 64 Emulation

N64 is where the picture gets more complicated. The RK3566 chip can handle a lot of the N64 library, but the controls are the issue. For games that primarily use the d-pad, it’s great. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards and Mischief Makers play very well. However, the vast majority of the N64’s defining titles require an analogue stick. You can map the C-buttons to the face buttons and movement to the d-pad to get Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time running, but it feels deeply compromised. It’s not how those games were meant to be played. You can muddle through, but it’s not an enjoyable experience. If N64 is a high priority for you, the ARC-D is not the right choice. You’d be better off with a device that has at least one good analogue stick.

PlayStation 1 Emulation

PlayStation 1 emulation, on the other hand, is perfect. The RK3566 has more than enough power to run the entire PS1 library, often with enhancements like resolution scaling and texture filtering enabled. Using the DuckStation emulator on Android, every game Community testing of—Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy VII, Gran Turismo 2, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night—ran flawlessly. The d-pad is excellent for 2D and 2.5D games, and since most of the PS1 library was designed before the DualShock controller became standard, the lack of analogue sticks is rarely an issue. For the few games that require them, like Ape Escape, you’re out of luck. But for 99% of the PS1 library, the ARC-D is a superb, top-tier emulation device.

Battery Life and Portability

A handheld is only as good as its battery life, and the Anbernic RG ARC-D delivers respectable, if not class-leading, performance. It’s equipped with a 3500mAh battery, which is a fairly standard capacity for a device of this size and power. Anbernic claims up to 6 hours of playtime, and in community testing, that figure is achievable, but it depends heavily on what you’re doing.

For real-world numbers: playing SNES games on the Linux OS with the screen at 50% brightness, the device consistently gets around 5.5 to 6 hours of use from a full charge. This is excellent for 8-bit and 16-bit systems, as the CPU and GPU are not being stressed. On the more demanding systems on Android, battery life takes a noticeable hit. Playing Sega Rally Championship on Saturn via Yaba Sanshiro 2, with screen brightness at 75% and Wi-Fi enabled, the battery lasts for just under 4 hours. This is still a very solid result and enough for a long commute or a couple of evenings of gaming before needing a charge. It’s a predictable trade-off: the harder you push the hardware, the faster the battery will drain.

Charging is handled via a USB-C port on the top of the device and takes around 2.5 hours to go from empty to full with a standard charger. There’s no fast charging, but it’s quick enough not to be an inconvenience. In terms of portability, the ARC-D sits in a slightly awkward middle ground. It’s too wide to be considered truly “pocketable” in the way a Miyoo Mini Plus is. You won’t be slipping this into your jeans pocket. However, it’s thin and light enough to disappear into a jacket pocket or a small bag. Its robust build quality also means you don’t feel like you need to baby it, though finding a perfectly fitting hard case might be a challenge compared to more standard form factors. It’s more of a “backpack” or “commute” handheld than a “quick trip to the shops” one, but its slim profile makes it much easier to pack than bulkier, more powerful devices.

Who Should Buy the Anbernic RG ARC-D in 2026?

This is not a handheld for everyone, and that’s its greatest strength. Anbernic has built a specialist device for a specific type of player. You should seriously consider buying the RG ARC-D if you fit into one of these categories:

  • The Sega Saturn and Mega Drive Superfan: This is the most obvious customer. If you grew up with a Saturn, or if you’re a collector looking for a fantastic way to play your library on the go, this is the best purpose-built device on the market under £94.99 The ergonomics and six-button layout are unmatched for playing Sega’s 16-bit and 32-bit classics. It feels like it was designed by people who truly love those consoles.
  • The Fighting Game Enthusiast: If your retro gaming diet consists of Street Fighter, King of Fighters, Marvel vs. Capcom, and other 2D brawlers, the ARC-D is a dream machine. The combination of the exceptional d-pad and six face buttons provides a near-arcade-perfect control scheme that no other handheld in this price range can offer. It is, without a doubt, a premier device for the genre.
  • The Retro Gamer Who Hates Analogue Sticks: Some players just want a clean, simple, d-pad-focused experience for their 8-bit, 16-bit, and PS1 games. If you find analogue sticks get in the way, are prone to drift, and are unnecessary for the games you love, the ARC-D’s minimalist design will be a breath of fresh air. It offers a pure, uncluttered interface for classic gaming.

Who Should Skip the RG ARC-D?

Conversely, this device is a poor choice for certain players. You should probably look elsewhere if you are:

  • A Nintendo 64 or Dreamcast 3D Fan: If your primary goal is to play Super Mario 64, GoldenEye, Shenmue, or Jet Set Radio, the lack of analogue sticks makes the ARC-D a non-starter. You need a device with at least one, preferably two, good analogue sticks for these libraries. Consider something from the top retro handhelds in the £100-£200 UK bracket, like a Retroid Pocket, instead.
  • Someone Who Wants One Device for Everything: The ARC-D is a specialist, not a generalist. If you want to play a bit of everything, from Game Boy to some GameCube and PSP, you will be better served by a more powerful and conventionally designed handheld with a widescreen display and dual analogue sticks.
  • A Player Who Values Ultimate Portability: While it is slim, the ARC-D is wide. If your main priority is a device you can slip into any pocket, the Miyoo Mini Plus or Anbernic’s own RG35XX series are much better options.

Verdict

✓ THE GOOD

  • Superb ergonomics for 2D games
  • Best d-pad and button layout for Sega/fighting games
  • Excellent 4:3 screen for retro content
  • Strong Sega Saturn and Dreamcast performance
  • Flexible dual-boot Android/Linux OS

✗ THE BAD

  • No analogue sticks severely limits N64/some DC games
  • RK3566 chip is showing its age in 2026
  • Not easily pocketable due to its width
8/10

A brilliantly focused device that offers an unmatched experience for Sega Saturn and fighting game fans, but its specialist design limits its appeal as an all-rounder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Anbernic RG ARC-D good for a beginner in the UK?

Yes, it can be. If you stick to the pre-configured Linux operating system, the ARC-D is very beginner-friendly. You simply need to add your game files to the SD card, and the system is ready to go. The interface is simple to navigate. However, to get the absolute best performance, especially for Sega Saturn, you will want to use the Android side, which requires a bit more setup, like installing and configuring emulators yourself. It’s a great device to grow with, starting simple on Linux and moving to Android as you get more confident.

What is the difference between the RG ARC-S and ARC-D?

The main difference is the operating system. The Anbernic RG ARC-S (“Standard”) is a Linux-only device and is slightly cheaper. The RG ARC-D (“Dual”) has the ability to dual-boot into both Linux and Android. In 2026, we strongly recommend the ARC-D model. The extra cost is minimal, and the access to the Google Play Store on Android gives you the latest, best-performing emulators, which is crucial for getting good performance in demanding systems like the Sega Saturn. You can find the Anbernic RG ARC-D on Amazon UK.

Can the Anbernic RG ARC-D play GameCube games?

No, absolutely not. The Rockchip RK3566 processor inside the ARC-D is not nearly powerful enough for GameCube or PlayStation 2 emulation. It is designed for systems up to the Sega Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 era. For GameCube emulation, you would need to look at much more powerful and expensive handhelds, usually starting in the £94.99-£300 price range, which feature significantly more capable chipsets.

Is the lack of analogue sticks a big problem?

It depends entirely on the games you want to play. For 99% of games on the NES, SNES, Mega Drive, PC Engine, and PlayStation 1, it’s not a problem at all, as they were designed for a d-pad. It’s also not an issue for most arcade games and 2D Saturn/Dreamcast titles. It becomes a deal-breaker for any game that requires an analogue stick for movement or camera control, which includes most of the popular N64 library (like Mario 64) and many 3D Dreamcast games (like Shenmue). If those systems are important to you, you should buy a different handheld.

How does the RG ARC-D compare to the Powkiddy RGB30?

Both devices use the same RK3566 chip, so their raw performance is very similar. The main differences are the screen and ergonomics. The Powkiddy RGB30 has a 1:1 aspect ratio screen, which is absolutely perfect for Game Boy and some vertical arcade shooters (shmups), but results in black bars for most other systems. The RG ARC-D has a 4:3 screen, which is ideal for almost all home consoles up to the Dreamcast. The ARC-D also has far superior ergonomics for longer play sessions and a better control layout for fighting games, whereas the RGB30 is more compact and pocketable.

What size SD card do I need for the Anbernic RG ARC-D?

The ARC-D has two SD card slots. The first slot is for the OS and only needs a small card, typically 16GB or 32GB, which is usually included. The second slot is for your games. For libraries consisting of 8-bit and 16-bit titles, a 64GB card is plenty. If you plan to build a large library of CD-based games for systems like the PlayStation, Sega CD, and Sega Saturn, we recommend getting at least a 128GB or 256GB card, as these game files can be quite large.

Can you connect the Anbernic RG ARC-D to a TV?

Yes, you can. The device features a mini HDMI port on the top, allowing you to connect it to an external monitor or television. The output resolution is typically 720p. You can also connect a Bluetooth controller, such as an 8BitDo Pro 2, to play on the big screen. This turns the ARC-D into a capable little home console, which is a fantastic bonus feature, especially for multiplayer sessions in classic fighting games.

What to Read Next

If you found this review useful, here are a few other articles on RetroInHand that will help you make the right choice for your next retro gaming purchase:

✓ Recommended by Tom Hargreaves

Recommended based on community testing data, benchmark results, and verified UK pricing — we only link products that earn it.

  • Anbernic RG ARC-DBest for: Sega Saturn and fighting game fans

    Buy →

  • Retroid Pocket 5Best for: Widescreen PSP and GameCube players

    Buy →

  • Powkiddy RGB30Best for: Game Boy and vertical shmup fans

    Buy →

  • 8BitDo M30Best for: An alternative for Sega fans

    Buy →

  • Anbernic RG556Best for: OLED screen and ergonomics seekers

    Buy →

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Conclusion: A Niche Masterpiece

The Anbernic RG ARC-D is a confident, focused, and brilliantly executed piece of hardware. In an industry that often chases raw power and versatility, Anbernic took a step back and asked what a specific group of players truly wanted. The answer is this device: an ergonomic love letter to Sega and the 2D arcade scene. Its performance in Sega Saturn emulation is strong enough to make it a primary way to experience that library, and for Mega Drive and fighting games, it is simply second to none at this price point. The build quality is excellent, the screen is perfect for the job, and the dual-boot OS provides a fantastic blend of simplicity and customisable power.

However, its specialisation is also its main weakness. The lack of analogue sticks is a conscious design choice that locks you out of a significant portion of the N64 and Dreamcast libraries. It is not an all-rounder. By 2026, its RK3566 chip is a budget choice, perfectly adequate for its target systems but eclipsed by the chipsets found in newer devices. Yet, for its intended purpose, none of that matters. It does what it sets out to do better than almost any other device.

So, is it worth £120 in 2026? If you are a Sega fan or a fighting game aficionado, the answer is an enthusiastic and resounding yes. It offers an experience tailored so perfectly to your needs that its compromises become irrelevant. Now that you’ve found the perfect handheld for Saturn, the next question is which games to load it up with. Exploring the hidden gems of the Saturn library is a journey all on its own.

📚 Related: Browse the full Retro Handheld Hub — all UK retro gaming guides in one place.

This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by the editor. See our Editorial Standards.

Ben Rawlinson

Written by

Ben Rawlinson

Founder & Editor of RetroInHand. Research and recommendations are grounded in community testing data, benchmark analysis, and expert sources.