These Android gaming handhelds are nice Swap 2 alternate options

The Nintendo Swap 2 is shaping as much as be one other smash hit for the Japanese firm, at the very least till pricing is taken into account. The $450 price ticket on the console itself isn’t too far off from what most individuals anticipated, however the bounce to $90 for video games like Mario Kart World makes it a troublesome tablet to swallow in at this time’s financial system (and that’s earlier than tariffs).

However the excellent news is there are Swap 2 alternate options! And I’m not speaking concerning the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and even the PlayStation Portal. I’m speaking about Android gaming units, which have completely exploded in recognition over the previous few years.

So in case you’re not satisfied by what the Nintendo Swap 2 has to supply, right here’s a fast rundown of what you’ll discover on the Android facet of the aisle.

In relation to premium Android gaming handhelds, AYANEO is the model to beat. You gained’t save a lot on the upfront value of the gaming handheld, however in case you’re seeking to emulate demanding video games (together with the Swap), it doesn’t get any higher than the AYANEO Pocket EVO.

It’s huge, with full-size Corridor-effect sticks flanking a stunning 7-inch OLED panel. These two options are frustratingly absent from the Nintendo Swap 2, which makes use of untested sticks and a regular LCD panel at launch. Clearly I don’t have my fingers on a Nintendo Swap 2 for comparability but, however I can’t gush sufficient about how wonderful the sticks are. It’s essentially the most snug handheld I’ve ever utilized by a county mile.

The EVO is powered by a Snapdragon G3 Gen 2, which is final yr’s version of Qualcomm’s gaming handheld-focused chipset. AYANEO has already introduced a tool with the most recent Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 within the AYANEO Pocket S2, however it doesn’t have a launch date as of writing.

Regardless, the chipset is able to working something you possibly can throw at it. Demanding Android video games, emulators, and extra are inside your attain. One other of my favourite makes use of for this gadget is native recreation streaming, which breathed new life into my Steam library. The one caveat is that the bizarre GPU doesn’t have one of the best driver assist from the neighborhood, however hopefully that modifications as extra firms undertake the gaming-focused lineup of chips.

The dangerous information right here is that the Pocket EVO begins at $469 for the 128GB+8GB configuration and maxes out at $669 for the 1TB+16GB mannequin. That’s much more costly than the Swap 2, at the very least till you begin taking video games into consideration.

AYANEO has a couple of cheaper units, just like the GBA-focused Pocket Micro and the Recreation Boy-like Pocket DMG, however they aren’t actually replacements for the Nintendo Swap 2. They’re nice units although, in case you don’t thoughts totally different type components.

Whereas the AYANEO Pocket EVO’s chipset could be a blended bag with regards to compatibility, the AYN Odin 2 lineup provides dependable efficiency with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. That places it on the forefront of emulation, with dependable efficiency on every thing from upscaled PS2 to suitable Nintendo Swap video games.

The Odin 2 is available in three totally different sizes: the 5-inch display screen of the Odin 2 Mini, the 6-inch display screen of the Odin 2, and the 7-inch display screen of the Odin 2 Portal. Regardless of which one you decide, you’re getting an HD show. Solely the Odin 2 Portal has an AMOLED panel although, with the others sporting IPS and miniLED, respectively.

When it comes to ergonomics, the Odin 2 lineup won’t be fairly as snug because the AYANEO Pocket EVO, however it’s most likely going to outclass the Nintendo Swap 2’s flat design. All of them have Corridor-effect sticks and analog triggers too, so that you get nice accuracy and no stick drift over time.

The AYN Odin 2 has one other trick up its sleeve: Linux. All three units can boot into a check construct of ROCKNIX, which may be loaded onto a easy microSD card. This turns it into essentially the most highly effective Arm Linux handheld in the marketplace, unlocking Xbox and PS3 emulation, each of which aren’t totally baked on Android (but).

When it comes to pricing, they’re all extra inexpensive than the Nintendo Swap 2, aside from the $499 Max variant of the Odin 2 Portal, which comes with 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM. The bottom 128+8GB mannequin begins at $329 although, with the 512+12GB Professional variant providing one of the best worth at $399. The Odin 2 begins at $299 for 128+8GB, and the Odin 2 Mini begins at $339 for a similar configuration.

When you’re not seeking to emulate Swap and PS3 video games, you are able to do with a a lot much less highly effective gaming handheld. That’s the place the Retroid is available in. Its flagship units, the Retroid Pocket 5 and Pocket Flip 2, are nonetheless rocking the Snapdragon 865, which got here out greater than 5 years in the past.

Nonetheless, it’s a flagship-level SoC, and it’s greater than able to taking part in demanding Android video games and emulating practically each console. Increased-end stuff like Swap emulation shall be hit-or-miss, however that’s true on nearly any gadget. Even the Nintendo Swap 2 isn’t completely suitable with Swap 1 video games, so the unhappy fact there may be that the unique Swap remains to be your greatest wager if you wish to play Swap video games.

Aside from that, although, the Retroid Pocket 5 and Flip 2 are wonderful units. The Pocket 5 has a regular horizontal format, just like the Nintendo Swap 2, with a 5.5-inch AMOLED panel. It’s smaller than the Swap 2, which may be factor in case you’re used to one thing extra manageable just like the Swap Lite.

The Pocket Flip 2 is much more compact, with a clamshell design that appears like a Nintendo DS—with out the second display screen, in fact. It has the identical 5.5-inch AMOLED show and Snapdragon 865 SoC, with a second variant packing a Dimensity 1100. The previous is a greater decide for emulation, although, because the 865 has mature, extremely optimized drivers. Plus, it shares one thing else in widespread with the Pocket 5, which is Linux assist by way of ROCKNIX.

Nevertheless, the Flip 2 remains to be underneath pre-order, so don’t anticipate to get one till across the identical time the Nintendo Swap 2 launches. The Snapdragon 865 model will run $229 for 128+8GB, with the Retroid Pocket 5 costing $10 much less at $219. Each are an unbelievable worth when in comparison with the Nintendo Swap 2 although, so seize whichever type issue appeals to you extra. They each are available very engaging colorways, which, for no matter motive, Nintendo uncared for for the Swap 2 launch.

There are a ton of low-cost retro gaming handhelds flooding the market, however most of them run Linux. ANBERNIC is likely one of the few that makes finances Android-based gaming handhelds, and though they are usually much less highly effective than the choices above, they’re nonetheless nice alternate options to the Nintendo Swap.

Probably the most related is the RG-556, which has a 5.48-inch HD AMOLED show. That’s fairly a bit smaller than the 7-inch display screen on the Swap 2, however the OLED panel ought to function darker blacks and higher battery effectivity.

The Tiger T820 SoC isn’t practically as succesful because the earlier units on our checklist, so it’s higher suited to retro titles as much as and together with PlayStation 2 video games. Nevertheless, there’s a brand new model known as the RG-557 popping out quickly, and it ought to comfortably stretch as much as Wii U and upscaled PS2. The present model prices simply $189 for the 128+8GB model, making it an distinctive worth.

For one thing even cheaper, the RG-406H incorporates a extra compact 4-inch IPS show with a 4:3 side ratio that’s nice for retro emulation. It gained’t play Swap video games with the identical Tiger T820 chipset, however at $160 it’s cheaper than a current-gen Nintendo Swap Lite.

The RG Dice is one other fan favourite, with a novel 4-inch IPS show with a 1:1 ratio. This provides it a squat look that I personally love, and it’s tremendous snug to recreation on. Once more, it options the identical Tiger T820 SoC for strong retro efficiency, however don’t anticipate any miracles with regards to demanding emulators. It additionally prices $160, though it may well continuously be discovered on sale for much less.

Lastly, I’d be remiss to not point out the gadget you have already got. Most fashionable smartphones can simply emulate retro video games, and flagships from the previous few years ought to even be able to emulating Swap 1 video games. That is very true when you have a gaming telephone or something with a Snapdragon 8 Elite, which provides energy not like something present in present gaming handhelds.

For pure gaming, I’d suggest the Nubia REDMAGIC 10 Professional ($899 at Amazon). It has all of the bells and whistles of essentially the most highly effective telephones in the marketplace, outperforming even the Galaxy S25 Extremely in our testing. It’s additionally low-cost, beginning at $650. That’s greater than a Nintendo Swap 2, however it’s additionally extra highly effective and, nicely, a working smartphone.

To make the expertise extra Swap-like, I like to recommend selecting up a controller just like the Spine One ($99.99 at Amazon) or Razer Kishi V2 ($92 at Amazon). The Spine One felt remarkably just like the Swap in my testing, however it prices over $100, making it a steep funding for a controller. The Kishi V2 is bulkier and retails for $100, however it may well continuously be discovered half off.

In fact, it’s also possible to use any Bluetooth controllers you could have mendacity round, however that feels much less like a Nintendo Swap different and extra like a regular gaming setup. I’d suggest sticking with telescopic controllers, which provide one of the best of each worlds.