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Unveiling Hidden Gems: Unreleased Handhelds and Retro Consoles at CES 2025

A few familiar devices here

This year’s CES had its fair share of groundbreaking tech, but for fans of handheld gaming, a tucked-away demo booth hosted by a Chinese ODM company turned out to be the unexpected highlight of my visit. Amidst the chaos of corporate showcases and dazzling screens, I stumbled upon a collection of unreleased and unbadged handhelds that left me both curious and excited.

While some of the devices were updates to existing products, like the Anbernic RG35XX H, two completely new handhelds caught my eye. These devices showcased the innovation and experimentation happening in the retro and handheld gaming market. Let’s dive into the details.

RG35xx H but from the ODM.


Anbernic's name scratched off 


The Snapdragon-Powered Handheld Console

The first standout device was a sleek Android-powered handheld featuring a Snapdragon Custom G2 chip. It’s packed with 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, a 5.5-inch 1920x1080p 60Hz touchscreen, and a six-axis gyroscope. While many gaming handhelds struggle to offer both portability and performance, this device aims to bridge the gap.



Key Features:

  • Performance: The Snapdragon G2 chipset is no slouch, and with 8GB of RAM, it’s ready to handle high-end Android gaming and emulation with ease.
  • Display: The 1080p resolution on a 5.5-inch screen is crisp and vibrant, perfect for detailed visuals without sacrificing battery life.
  • Convenience: Fast charging support up to 33W ensures that downtime is minimized, and Bluetooth 5.1 adds modern connectivity options.
  • Design: Compact and portable, this handheld feels well-balanced for gaming on the go.






This is clearly aimed at enthusiasts who want a no-compromise Android gaming experience. While pricing hasn’t been confirmed, it seems positioned as a direct competitor to devices like the Retroid Pocket 3+ or Anbernic’s upcoming mid-range offerings.

A New Retro Console: Nostalgia Meets DIY

The second device is a retro console designed to meet the needs of pocket gamers and DIY enthusiasts alike. Sporting a compact 9x5cm design, it’s marketed as a highly customizable throwback to simpler gaming days.




Key Features:

  • Customizability: The DIY shell keys give users the ability to personalize the look and feel of their device.
  • Compact Power: Powered by a 4770-700H CPU, it’s an odd but interesting choice for emulating older systems.
  • Build: Despite its small size, the focus is on portability and modularity, aiming to fill the gap left by other retro handhelds.





This device seems to have a clear target audience: fans of retro gaming who value portability and don’t mind a slightly unconventional design.

Why These Devices Matter

What struck me most about these handhelds wasn’t just their specs or flashy features—it was the engineering ingenuity and sheer passion that went into creating them. For smaller companies operating on tighter budgets, designing unique hardware is no small feat. Yet here they were, taking risks and experimenting in ways that bigger players often avoid.

Final Thoughts

From cutting-edge Snapdragon-powered gaming to nostalgia-fueled retro consoles, these handhelds highlight the diversity of ideas shaping the portable gaming market. While larger brands dominate the headlines, it’s these smaller innovations that truly excite me.

If you’re as curious as I am about what the future holds for handheld gaming, keep an eye out for these devices, they might just surprise you. 

Also follow me on YouTube! I cover all manner of SBC, handhelds, and whatever flight of fancy retro stuff these companies release! I'm also on BlueSky where this content too, is shared by yours truly. Until next time everyone, ciao! 



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