Linux Handheld vs Android Handheld

[HyperFoxStudios64]

Which type of handhelds you use when it's came to emulation?

Linux or Android

 

[Kioku]

Linux but that’s because I’m using a Steamdeck.

 

[The Catboy]

Linux with my Steam Deck

 

[gnmmarechal]

Honestly, currently Windows - I own a GPD Win 4, and a couple of the games I play do not play nicely at all with Linux (thanks anticheats). Ah well. I get my Linux fix elsewhere.

 

[emigre]

Both.

Linuz with the Steam Deck and I have a Retroid Pocket Classic coming at some point over the next few weeks.

 

[Scarlet]

I mostly use Android at the moment. Really love the Odin 2 Mini as a general emulation handheld, and the AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic is the best GBA experience bar none... If you can accept you'll need to charge it basically daily anyway lol

 

[gnmmarechal]

I mostly use Android at the moment. Really love the Odin 2 Mini as a general emulation handheld, and the AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic is the best GBA experience bar none... If you can accept you'll need to charge it basically daily anyway lol

I mostly use my Miyoo Mini for GBA, I just love how it looks. The screen's pretty nice, and retro grey really does it for me. Unfortunately, my retro grey DMG has long been missing, which saddens me to no end. I managed to get a white one, it was a good deal, but it's not the same thing...

 

[Skv0ra]

Which type of handhelds you use when it's came to emulation?

Linux or Android

A........Lenovo laptop? hahaha. Definitely light enough to hand hold.

 

[DavidinCT]

I have both, here is the truth, Linux or Windows is the better option here than Android. The Emulators you want besides real retro stuff (that run on RetroArch) are not as advanced on Android. For the longest time there was no movement in Android emulators. With devices like the Steam Deck more and more moved to Linux than Android.

Compared same spec running Android vs Linux, on like 3-4 emulaors, more advanced and better frame rates on the Linux device.

With this being same, in the last 6-12 months, I have seen some advancements in Android apps (side loaded mostly) but, still not up to Linux or Windows.

I just grabbed the Retroid Flip 2 and testing it to see how advanced they have become.

 

[Taleweaver]

I've used both. Gpd had an android handheld that was a bullseye in regards to emulation. Albeit with the strong caveat: retro emulation on basic settings.

Steam deck took over the crown and ran with it. I'm fairly sure it's not better because of the os in itself, but because Linux is much easier to port, fork, develop,...

 

[JuanMena]

Android, RetroArch has everything I need (Arcade and 64bit backwards) and offers a lot of customizable toys to play with.

 

[CMDreamer]

Aren't Android a Linux derivated cell phone centered "distro"?

But anyway. I don't use Android devices (phones/tablets) for emulation as they don't have physical controllers and that's a must for me to enjoy my gaming.

I know that there are some "retro devices" that use Android as their main OS, but they're pretty expensive imho.

Recently I'm using Linux (PAN4ELEC) on my R36S, and trust me, it's really worth it.

 

[HyperFoxStudios64]

Aren't Android a Linux derivated cell phone centered "distro"?

But anyway. I don't use Android devices (phones/tablets) for emulation as they don't have physical controllers and that's a must for me to enjoy my gaming.

I know that there are some "retro devices" that use Android as their main OS, but they're pretty expensive imho.

Recently I'm using Linux (PAN4ELEC) on my R36S, and trust me, it's really worth it.

Android may be related to Linux but Android is it's own OS. This is why Android & Linux usually group separately.

 

[icegod]

I've had some android handheld devices in the past, but there were always some issues with them. I also tried controllers for my phone, but it wasn't really worth it. I do know there are some better handhelds out now.

So couple of years ago, I got a Steamdeck, and that hit the sweet spot.

But in the end, both Linux and Android handhelds are capable of emulating a lot. Linux however, opens the door to pc gaming thanks to proton.

It all boils down to your budget, and what it is you really want to do. Steamdeck is pretty much the best price/quality you can get, but if you only want to emulate up to Playstation, there are plenty of android devices on Aliexpress that can do that for a couple tens of dollars.

 

[OilFreak]

Android emulation is rough. Retroarch is your only good option for a lot of systems, and Retroarch is god-awful.

 

[QuestionEmulation]

I currently have a dedicated android device wishing it was a non modified kernel (just plain linux).

It's better to have a linux device, as you can simply play more games than on android when it comes to playing games made for different devices (yes even if they both had the same specs).

Post automatically merged: Jun 12, 2025

I currently have a dedicated android device wishing it was a non modified kernel (just plain linux).

It's better to have a linux device, as you can simply play more games than on android when it comes to playing games made for different devices (yes even if they both had the same specs).

 

[TheStonedModder]

Most handhelds can also run andorid. My legion go has an android mode in the non steam games section. I use it for stremio

Post automatically merged: Jun 12, 2025

Most handhelds can also run andorid. My legion go has an android mode in the non steam games section. I use it for stremio