Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. In our test: DS, PSP, GameCube, Wii and PS2 at upscaled resolution, Wii U at native resolution, Switch usable depending on the game (30 to 60 frames per second). The PS3 stays limited to small 2D games.
Guides · Updated 5 Oct 2026
Which handheld for emulation (PS2, GameCube, Switch)?
The power you need depends on the system you want to emulate. Here is what we observed on the consoles we tested, system by system.
The processor is the deciding factor for emulation. Systems up to the PS1, the Dreamcast or the DS need little; the PSP, GameCube, Wii and PS2 call for a more powerful processor; the Switch, Wii U and PS3 are the most demanding. Results also vary with the emulator, the game and the settings: what follows describes our tests, not a guarantee.
Light systems (up to the PS1, Game Boy Advance, DS). Even the modest processor of the Pocket Duo Lite copes: we found the DS a real pleasure at doubled resolution, and the Game Boy Advance poses no problem. The Dreamcast runs at 50 to 60 frames per second at native resolution, with a few slowdowns.
PSP, GameCube, Wii, PS2. With a Snapdragon 865 (Retroid Pocket Flip 2, Mangmi Pocket Max), we got the GameCube at tripled resolution, sometimes quadrupled, the Wii at doubled or tripled resolution, the PSP at quadrupled or 1080p, and the PS2 at doubled or tripled resolution depending on the game. On the Pocket Duo Lite, by contrast, the GameCube, Wii and PS2 struck us as unusable (about 25 to 30 frames per second). The Retroid Pocket Nova, with its 4:3 screen, gave good PS2 results despite a few artefacts depending on the emulator and the games.
Switch and Wii U. The Switch holds 40 to 60 frames per second depending on the game on the Flip 2 and 45 to 60 on 2D games on the Pocket Max, where demanding 3D games struggle. With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (Retroid Pocket 6, AYN Thor in the version we tested), we found the Switch usable depending on the game, between 30 and 60 frames per second, and the Wii U at native resolution. On the AYN Odin 3, the Switch is mostly playable, with glitches that we put down to missing driver support.
PS3. This is the limit. On the Pocket 6, we keep it for small 2D games. The Odin 3 makes it playable, but takes patience (installation, shader compilation).
Beyond the processor, battery life drops sharply with heavy systems: on the Pocket Max, we recorded 8 to 10 hours with light emulation, against about 2 h 30 for the Switch or Wii U. Also consider the screen (4:3 for older consoles, dual screen for DS and 3DS) and the video output, useful for playing on a TV.
Our impressions come from our own video tests; they describe our experience and are not a score. Some consoles were provided by the manufacturer, which each product page states. Consoles we have not tested are not part of this comparison.
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Tested in its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 version: emulation up to the Switch and Wii U, USB-C output up to 4K. The second screen serves DS, 3DS and Wii U games that use two screens. The Lite version uses an SD865: we have not tested it.
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Qualcomm Dragonwing Q8. In our test: PS3 playable with patience (installation, shader compilation), Switch mostly playable with glitches that we attribute to drivers. Via GameHub, GTA V close to 60 frames per second.
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Snapdragon 865. In our test: Switch between 40 and 60 frames per second depending on the game, Wii at 60 at doubled or tripled resolution, GameCube at tripled or even quadrupled resolution, PSP at quadrupled, PS2 at doubled or tripled.
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Snapdragon 865. In our test: 3DS up to quadrupled resolution, GameCube at tripled, Wii at doubled or tripled, PSP at 1080p, PS2 at doubled or tripled. Demanding 3D Switch games and Wii U are limited. Battery life recorded: 8 to 10 hours with light emulation, about 2 h 30 for the Switch or Wii U.
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4:3 AMOLED screen. In our test: SNES, Mega Drive, DS, Dreamcast and PS1 without difficulty, GameCube up to quadrupled resolution, PS2 with good results despite a few artefacts. Unit provided by Retroid.
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Modest processor. In our test: DS very pleasant, PSP satisfying, Dreamcast between 50 and 60 frames per second, Game Boy Advance without issue; GameCube, Wii and PS2 unusable (25 to 30 frames per second). The 6 GB unit was provided by Retroid.
