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That’s why Anbernic’s $64 price tag works so well.

It’s all about the price-to-power ratio, baby!

Hand holding Project X PlayStation Portal handheld clone

Get the price to match the specs and you’ve got a potential golden goose.

That said, not every handheld maker follows this simple rule.

Where am I going with this?

Project X handheld$28.42 at Aliexpress

Well, I recently picked up the PlayStation Portal-inspired (cough knock-off cough) Project Xfor $28.24at Aliexpress.

Love the high-quality materials and clever engineeringSonybrought to thePlayStation Portal?

Its nothing like that.

Project X PlayStation Portal clone with Sonic and Knuckles on screen sitting on woodgrain desk

I’ve had $1 lighters that use better plastics.

The D-pad is also so high and thicc that pulling off quarter-rotations in fighting games is nearly impossible.

Seriously, I counted how many times it took me to pull off a Hadouken in Street Fighter II.

Evercade Capcom Super Pocket

Once in every 40 attempts!

You couldn’t design a worse d-pad.

For around $30, my hopes were floor-level.

Hand holding Anbernic RG ARC-D handheld with Sonic the Hedgehog 2 gameplay on screen

Where’s the value, I hear you cry?

The Project X is 100 percent the ugly duckling of the retro handheld world.

Now that’s a price-to-power ratio!

Super Pocket Taito Edition on woodgrain desk leaning against plant next to Grimace Minecraft McDonalds toy.

Alternatively, have a peek below for some handhelds with a tasty discount.

Already useValve’s handheld for all your needs?

Check out thebest Steam Deck dockto turn it into a hybrid.

Green and Black Taito Super Pocket handheld with RGB lights in backdrop and sad text face on screen

Photo by writer Rosalie Newcombe of their hand holding up the Atomic Purple Miyoo Mini Plus retro gaming handheld infront of a cabinet full of anime toys and figures.

Steam Deck OLED with a Ayaneo 2S sitting above, Green Game Boy Color sitting to the left, and Super Pocket sitting to the right on dark woodgrain desk

Lenovo Legion Go S with FlyKnight gameplay on screen featuring player character holding bow and arrow with enemy ant in backdrop.

Syntech dock next to Steam Deck on grey carpet.

Nintendo Switch Lite in Blue sitting on wicker table with Zelda: Link�s Awakening on screen.

Hand holding Jsaux RGB docking station with Switch 2 console in backdrop and Mario Kart World footage on TV featuring Luigi.

Switch 2 handheld with Mario Kart World gameplay on screen with HDR on and off and blurred character art in backdrop with colorful sky.

Player wearing yellow sweater using Nintendo Switch 2 JoyCon in mouse mode playing Drag x Drive on woodgrain coffee table.

Three Pokemon Journey Together cards leaning against the Elite Trainer Box from the set

Razer Barracuda X gaming headset with Nintendo Switch

Corsair Virtuoso Pro headset on a stand

Genki Covert Dock on a wooden table

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Dorfromantik and Creature Comforts cozy city building games

Articulate box, cards, board, and tokens on a wooden table

The cast of Thunderbolts standing in an elevator during the trailer for the upcoming Marvel Phase 5 movie.

Logan Kim as Hershel and Lauren Cohan as Maggie in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2