A dedicated retro handheld is the other way to play PS1 games — no phone notifications, real controls, and a battery that is not your daily driver’s. Important framing first: these devices run Linux-based emulation stacks (usually PCSX ReARMed via RetroArch), not ePSXe — Android-based handhelds are the exception and can run the actual ePSXe app.
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The two families
- Linux handhelds (ANBERNIC RG35XX class and similar): inexpensive, instant-on, purpose-built. PS1 is well within their power — the entire library at native resolution is the sweet spot of this hardware class. You supply your own game rips and BIOS dump, exactly as with any emulator (legal BIOS guide). Example via Amazon: ANBERNIC RG35XX on Amazon.
- Android handhelds (Retroid Pocket class): stronger and pricier, and the only handhelds that run ePSXe for Android itself ($3.75 on Play) alongside DuckStation and everything else Android offers. If this site’s guides are your workflow, this family keeps it intact: Retroid Pocket on Amazon.
How to choose
- Screen: PS1 output is 4:3 — a 4:3 or near-4:3 panel (the RG35XX class) wastes nothing; a wide 16:9 Android handheld pillarboxes PS1 but shines for other systems.
- Controls: d-pad position matters — d-pad-above-stick suits PS1’s d-pad-centric library.
- Storage: PS1 games are CD-sized; budget for a trustworthy microSD (next section of our storage guide explains why the card brand matters more than the handheld brand).
- Honesty check: bundled “10,000 games included” cards are unlicensed ROM collections. The device is fine; the library is not yours. Rip your own discs (guide) and your conscience and your save files are both clean.
Handheld vs phone vs PC
A handheld duplicates what your phone already does, buying focus and controls with money. If you already own a decent Android phone and a telescopic controller (controller guide), that combination covers PS1 superbly — the handheld wins when you want a separate, single-purpose device or a giftable package. And the same library serves all three: your rips and .mcr saves move between handheld, phone and an ePSXe PC setup freely.