Skip to content
HANDHELDVERDICT

Glossary · Retro & Emulation

Emulation

Emulation is software that mimics a game console or computer, letting a modern handheld run that system’s software. It is a legal, widely used technology — the legal line is about the content: emulation on this site always means games you legally own. Handheld Verdict covers the hardware and the honest performance ceilings, and never links, names, or explains where to obtain ROM or BIOS files. How well a device emulates a given system is a function of its chipset tier, reported here as a consensus band.

Related terms

Reader favorites

The short list — full rankings live on the rankings page.

  • AYANEO — AYANEO 3 (Modular Windows Handheld)

    4.4/5

    $699.00

    Check price
  • Anbernic — RG557 (5.5" AMOLED Android Handheld)

    4.4/5

    $229.00

    Check price
  • JSAUX — 6-in-1 Docking Station (HB0603)

    4.4/5

    $49.99

    Check price

Straight disclosure —As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — we may earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. It never changes the price you pay, and it never changes a verdict.

4.6/5 average across vetted picks

60 guides published

19 offers vetted

20 reader price checks