My Pocketable Handhelds and How I Keep Them Safe

Bob Wulff reminded his audience that "the best emulator is the one you have on you right now" while praising the original Miyoo Mini as the 2022 best portable. That phrase helped me stop attempting to hide my beloved handhelds from my person, even though it didn't completely change how I thought about them. In addition to ruining my trouser line, these are typically medium-sized ones with protruding analog sticks, which are unlikely to help avoid stick drift.

Always Use Protection

For my birthday in 2022, I purchased my first Miyoo Mini. Before then, I only owned the original TrimUI Model S, a pocket-sized micro emulation handheld with a screen that was too small for a satisfactory experience. The Miyoo slipped out of my hands and onto a wooden floor within 48 hours of its arrival, shattering the screen. The lesson is that some gadgets, even though they fit neatly in a pocket, are too brittle to last.

Soon after, I began investing in cases and coverings.

The finest pocket alternatives will likely stay on the market for a few months. Aside from the Ayaneo Pocket Micro, the trend for future devices is moving toward larger, higher-quality screens. I've bought a good number of cases and covers in my quest to keep them secure (with my own money—no review units here). These are my go-to pocket companions; I use covers and cases to protect them.

Best Option for Jeans Pockets: The Miyoo Mini +

Recommended Protection:

  • Articulating Screen Protector Mod from Epic Printing Shop

The Miyoo Mini Plus has been in my pockets more than any other gadget in the past year. The screen feels fragile even though it's much more resistant to knocks than its younger sibling, especially if, like me, you decide to keep it in the same pocket as your keys. This prompted me to look on Etsy for a solution.

Because the Miyoo Mini and Miyoo Mini Plus are so popular, you will find over a hundred hits on Etsy if you search for "Miyoo Mini Case." I stumbled into "Articulating Screen Protector Mod" when browsing page after page in search of a slim solution that would also allow me to quickly access my device if I was in line or something. I decided to get it on a whim. Although this is a cost-effective option for Americans, folks like me who live in Europe won't find it as appealing due to Etsy's foreign shipping costs.

The cover is made up of four preassembled, 3D-printed panels that are joined by hinges. Two screws are used to securely fasten the cover to the device, replacing the screws in the back of the Miyoo's shell.

The case neatly wraps over the front of the gadget, shielding its most susceptible area once it is screwed into place. The cover folds behind the player's hands when in use, which is not annoying. Although it is undoubtedly the most ingenious retro handheld cover I have encountered while on the scene, I still object to the term "mod" being used.

Best Option for Baggy Trouser Pockets: Anbernic RG35XXSP

Recommended Protection:

  • Anbernic RG35XXSP PU Leather Magnetic Flip Carry Case from GrailClassics

My DMG RG35XXSP was the last handheld I opened with the kind of excitement Marie Kondo would envy. The main issue with the MM+ is that it doesn't have Bluetooth. The headphones I usually carry aren't wired; the SP fixes that.

Some people believe that because of its clamshell design, putting it in a pocket and allowing the exterior shell to be scratched up, exactly like an original GBA SP would in the 2000s, is acceptable. However, it will not work for me. I like my gadget just how it is, but I plan to give it a European SNES look by applying a sticker and button swap I purchased from SakuraRetroMod. That external shell sticker won't last long in my pocket.

Anbernic offers its cases for the SP, as do resellers like DroiX. The official Anbernic cases are bulky and have more delicate zips than I would like, but I've never found them perfect, even though I've never owned a Droix case.

This flip case feels considerably more robust and dependable than the other solutions. Although it does add some bulk, which some trouser lines may find too much of, it does so much less than most of the time. Unlike some zips, the lid is secured by magnets (how do they work?). Additionally, there is no clear way that regular use might harm it.

This isn't a case that will be an excellent buy for Americans, though, as the Etsy shop from which it comes is situated in Europe, and Etsy International Shipping is a bit ridiculous, according to the MM+ cover. However, it's a fantastic option for us Europeans.

Best Option for Jacket Pockets: Nintendo Switch Lite

Recommended Solution:

  • Nintendo Switch Lite Flip Cover & Screen Protector

This may be the article's single contentious viewpoint. I think a modified Nintendo Switch Lite is unquestionably the best device of its size, even though some individuals, including RH's very own Zu, prefer gadgets like the Retroid Flip (I wish they'd leave RetroGameCorps alone).

Being in London, I probably use public transportation more than most people in the community, such as the London Tube, and on those trips, it's convenient to have a small device that is comfortable to hold for almost an hour without causing hand cramps, and that has a screen and sleep feature that is far better than most handhelds made by the usual suspects. It is a device that needs to be protected, but occasionally, it is too simple to drop a smartphone on The Tube, and the screen and plastic can get scratched.

In a post I saw on Reddit, the Official Switch Lite Flip Cover was described as the best accessory Nintendo has ever produced. Despite the hyperbole, I was intrigued enough to purchase one when I saw it on sale.

Nintendo may be far too litigious regarding takedowns, but the cover shows they produce high-quality official accessories. When placed upside-down, the Lite fits in astonishingly nicely and doesn't even pose a threat of falling out.

The flip cover won't open on its own; it needs the proper level of force to open, and it is secured in place by magnets (how do they work again?). The case's haptic fabric, which is pleasant to hold, will enhance most people's gaming experience.

It's not flawless, though; the shoulder buttons remain visible even when the flip is closed. Closing the flip would put the gadget to sleep, similar to iPad covers. At $40, it's also not a great price, but these days, you can get it for around half that on Amazon. I paid £12 on eBay for mine, brand new and in its original box.