Best Chinese Handheld Consoles on AliExpress 2023

As usual, we are starting our rating with something basic, affordable and very simple in terms of performance. The D007 console by DKKtech company is a good choice for your first-ever handheld console. It runs on Linux OS and RK3266 quad-core CPU, allowing you to smoothly emulate the games of 9 different formats, including PS1, GB, NEOGEO, etc.

It already has a pre-uploaded game catalogue with more than 10000 retro titles: arcades, racing games, platformers and so on. You can save and load your progress at any time, which makes frustrating levels more manageable as you play.

You can download additional games yourself, as well as erase the existing ones to have more free space on your memory card.

In terms of battery life, the console is equipped with a built-in 3500 mAh rechargeable battery. Additional features include TV output and extra joysticks support, as well as 3.5 mm earphones – that way you’ll make sure that you are not disturbing anyone when you play.

However, the lack of reviews and small order count is not a good sign – even if all of those reviews are “5-star” positive.

The GB-35 Mini handheld console is the best choice on AliExpress for retro games connoisseurs. Even in terms of design, it is closer to old Dendy joysticks rather than to classic PS1 controllers, so this console ought to bring back many sweet childhood memories together with your favorite games.

The basic console already has a preinstalled library of 638 games. Note that as a standard model, it doesn’t support additional games, so it is advised to request a list of installed titles from the seller before purchasing.

The Chinese console is pocket-sized (only 12x6x1 cm), with a screen size of 5×4 cm. If you are not satisfied with the display, you can connect the GB-35 to a TV using an AV cable.

In general, for the price of $10, it is a nice portable console which would make a great gift for a child or just bring back some good memories for adults, as noted by many customers. Aside from the limited performance and no way to expand the library with additional games, major setbacks include the lack of a “save the game progress” option.

With a record game count of 15000 games, X7+ handheld console by Centechia offers the most variability: there is no way you won’t be able to find your favorite childhood game in this extensive list. But in case you are not satisfied with the preinstalled library, feel free to upload additional games to an SD card – up to 9 game formats are supported, so there is a lot to choose from.

X7+ comes in a sleek and modern two-colored case with fast-response control keys and a 5.1-inch HD display with eye protection. It provides better picture quality compared to cheaper models by minimizing color distortion – all of the pixels will remain clear and vivid. In addition, you can connect the controller to a TV using the AV cable and enjoy big-screen gaming.

The console supports the Game Saving option: you’ll be able to revert to the latest save file and resume from that point, making the gaming process less frustrating.

In addition to gaming, the console can be used to play videos and music, making it a multipurpose media device. As for the reviews, most of the customers note that for $90 this console is a decent offer, while minor cons include damaged packaging in some cases.

For less than $60, VILCORN allows you to remember your childhood years again – thanks to the expanded game library, which includes around 10000 major retro titles! From Mario Carts to Crash Bandicoot adventures, you’ll certainly find something familiar, as the console can emulate 7 game formats – from SEGA to GBA.

To provide a clear and vivid image, the console is equipped with an HD IPS 1280x720P display. It also minimizes the negative effect of screen flickering, thus protecting your eyes.

The Chinese console supports multiplayer mode – you can connect an additional controller and enjoy double-player games with your friends. If you want to enhance the multiplayer regime even further, use the AV output to connect the console to a TV and enjoy gaming on a big display.

In terms of battery capacity, the console uses a classic polymer-lithium 1500 mAh battery, which provides around 4-5 hours of work and takes only 3 hours to charge fully.

According to reviews, major advantages include good audio quality, a compact portable size and a long-lasting battery. As for the cons, several customers noted that Super Nintendo games run slower compared to other formats.

By this time, you might already wonder: is there no PC-level handheld console available on AliExpress? As it turned out, AOKZOE is one of the rare brands that offer a device that is powerful enough to run AAA games – the A1 console, which is a PC in a portable format.

To achieve this level of performance, the manufacturer relied on an 8-core AMD Ryzen™ 7 6800U 4.7 GHz CPU with Zen 3+ framework, which comes together with AMD Radeon 680M GPU. This hardware is used for laptops, meaning that this console is on par with medium-level desktop PC setups.

To support this powerful machine, the console is equipped with a 17100 mAh battery – a record capacity when compared to other handheld consoles on AliExpress. To prevent overheating, smart cooling fans are also installed.

Together with an 8.5-inch display, the console is heavy, about 670 grams. You won’t be able to carry it in your pocket, so consider buying a storage case. In terms of design, the console is encased in a sleek ergonomic body with RGB lighting and a responsive E-sports joystick and control keys.

Such extraordinary performance comes with a price – the console costs around $2500-2400. For the same price, you can purchase a gaming laptop – and that’s the reason why this expensive console didn’t make it to the top-3.

One of the Powkiddy X55’s main features is the 5.5-inch IPS display – the biggest you can get for a Chinese handheld console of a cheap range. Considering the price of $140-150 (and much cheaper if you happen to get a discount), it is a reasonable offer for gamers who seek to enjoy retro titles of old.

With a quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 1.8 GHz core, the console is fast and powerful enough to emulate the majority of mainstream games. A total of 30 formats are supported, including PS, PSP, NEOGEO and many more – the full list is available on the description page.

In terms of autonomy, the console is equipped with a 4000 mAh long-lasting battery: you can enjoy 4 hours of non-stop gaming with no need to recharge.

If you want to play together with your friends, use the HD TV output and connect up to 4 joysticks via Bluetooth Connect function. You can purchase an option with a preinstalled memory card and a game library or a “clean” one to install games of your choosing.

On a negative note, 1-2 customers complained that they ran into battery issues – the console may stop charging altogether.

Data Frog SF2000 handheld console comes from AliExpress with a vast library of 6000 trial games, where you’ll certainly be able to find your favorite titles! And if not, you can use the Upload feature to install your games: the console can emulate 7 different formats, including FC, GBA, etc.

The Chinese console is a perfect choice for those who are not very familiar with configuration and just want to enjoy games from the very start. It has a lot of useful features, like Save&Load, which offers 4 data slots for you to save your progress in a particular game; a Game Search function to quickly scan through the library; an AV output to connect to an external display, as well as the Desktop Mode, which allows you to play together with your friends using additional controllers.

The built-in battery requires 4 hours to charge fully and offers 5 to 6 hours of gaming. Among the major points of satisfaction, customers note a fast-response controller, regular updates which improve the console’s performance and a nice portable design. Among minor setbacks is the slow emulation of SNES games, making them almost unplayable.

RG35XX Chinese handheld console is a fully-configured gaming solution for those, who don’t want to waste time on downloading and installing games: it already comes with a built-in 64 GB memory card and a library of 5474 retro games! In addition to that, the console supports all of the major game formats and can be upgraded to 512 GB with a memory card of your choosing.

ANBERNIC chose the entry-level ARM Cortex-A9 processor for its console, which, combined with 256 Mb RAM and a quad-core PowerVR SGX544 graphics card, provides smooth and fast gaming everywhere you go. The 2100 mAh battery is capacious enough to offer you around 5 hours of gaming.

In terms of design, the console features a 3.5-inch 640×480 standard display with a narrow, barely-visible border, so nothing is going to distract you from what’s going on the screen. But if you are ready to raise the stakes, use HDMI output to connect the console to a TV display.

While many customers praise the console for its great construction and quality, the price of $140 is considered too high for an entry-level device.

Retroid Pocket 3+ is a veteran in the world of handheld consoles: known and adored by retro gamers, it is a powerful and portable device to enjoy your favorite games of old. With a little tinkering, you can launch and play such legendary titles as God of War 1, Doom, the Legend of Zelda and many more.

Pocket 3+ is equipped with UNISOC T618 – an entry-level processor with two ARM Cortex-A75 2 GHz and six ARM Cortex-A55 2 GHz cores. It is a game-changer when it comes to emulation of PS1 titles, delivering fast and smooth gaming.

Since the OS is Android 11, the console received an Android-based mid-range ARM Mali-G52 MP2 graphics card and RAM 4G/ROM 128G. While the TF memory card is not included in the package, you can purchase an additional 64-512 GB TF yourself to provide more storage for your game library.

Pocket 3+ got a capacious 4500 mAh battery, sufficient for 6-7 hours of gaming. Additional features include the micro-HDMI port to connect the console to a TV display and access to Moonlight Game Streaming service. All of that is encased in a portable and thin body, available in 7 color options, storage case included.

The major complaint is that the console is very difficult to configure, so it is not the best choice for children.

Mini+ is loved by adults and children alike, as this small console can emulate different game formats, bringing back precious childhood memories of playing Mario or Pokemon on PS or introducing the new generation to the gaming classics.

With 5000+ orders and more than 800 positive reviews, it is the most sought-after Chinese handheld console on AliExpress. For $80, the device offers the support of 17 game formats, a long-lasting 3000mAh battery and a dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 1.2 GHz CPU, which is sufficient for the majority of mainstream games.

The retro design is also to be admired: the console has a pocket size of 7.8×10.8×2.2 cm, a 3.5-inch laminated display and a set of retro-ish control keys, similar to old joysticks. You can choose from several color options, with white, black or grey plastic cases.

In terms of memory, the console supports 32-128 GB MicroSD, which is not included in the set – you’ll have to buy one and download desired games yourself. The process is explained in a step-by-step guide, which is included in the package together with a gift box, a Type-C charging cable and an additional screen protector.

There are no major customer complaints, except for the damaged packaging in some cases – this could be attributed to poor handling by the post services.