TDLR at bottom
I know they've been around for longer than "lately", but a lot of retro game handhelds are weaker than most smartphones. Obviously there are some that are on par with flagships, but.. why? In fact, a lot of older phones could easily emulate ps1, and some could do n64, but we're up to a point where most people already have a phone in their pocket that can be used as a pocket ps2 or pocket n64 running at full speed. Plus, you can buy a controller grip if you so please and don't have to worry if a part breaks on the controller.
I can understand using a psvita or n3ds as a pocket emulator, as they already have amazing build quality and can natively play the games that they're supposed to. Most retro game handhelds cannot even emulate the psvita and 3ds games also use the touchscreen a bit, so thats room taken away from the main game. Plus, both consoles have near perfect nes/snes/gb(a)/ps1(is slightly slow on n3dsk) and n64(also slightly slow on n3ds, but sm64 got a 60 fps port),the ps vita runs vita games perfectly, and the 3ds runs 3ds, ds, perfectly, because, y'know, they were made for it.
I don't have any hate towards retro game handhelds, I may be slightly biased against them but the switch is also an option, and with a potential switch pro on the horizon for later this year or next year, plus the fact that the switch already has an amazing library that requires no emulation, I still will never see the point to buying a RGH.
TDLR, most smartphones(also have the ability to use your own controller or controller grip), the psvita, n3ds, and switch can do what retro game handhelds can do, but better. So why should I buy a RGH?
I know they've been around for longer than "lately", but a lot of retro game handhelds are weaker than most smartphones. Obviously there are some that are on par with flagships, but.. why? In fact, a lot of older phones could easily emulate ps1, and some could do n64, but we're up to a point where most people already have a phone in their pocket that can be used as a pocket ps2 or pocket n64 running at full speed. Plus, you can buy a controller grip if you so please and don't have to worry if a part breaks on the controller.
I can understand using a psvita or n3ds as a pocket emulator, as they already have amazing build quality and can natively play the games that they're supposed to. Most retro game handhelds cannot even emulate the psvita and 3ds games also use the touchscreen a bit, so thats room taken away from the main game. Plus, both consoles have near perfect nes/snes/gb(a)/ps1(is slightly slow on n3dsk) and n64(also slightly slow on n3ds, but sm64 got a 60 fps port),the ps vita runs vita games perfectly, and the 3ds runs 3ds, ds, perfectly, because, y'know, they were made for it.
I don't have any hate towards retro game handhelds, I may be slightly biased against them but the switch is also an option, and with a potential switch pro on the horizon for later this year or next year, plus the fact that the switch already has an amazing library that requires no emulation, I still will never see the point to buying a RGH.
TDLR, most smartphones(also have the ability to use your own controller or controller grip), the psvita, n3ds, and switch can do what retro game handhelds can do, but better. So why should I buy a RGH?