📰 New article from Retro Handhelds
CES 2026 Recap: 8BitDo, MSI, OneXPlayer, ASUS, Genki, and Everything Else We Could Find
CES 2026 didn’t just spit out flashy TVs and foldable phones—it gave us gaming gold. Forget the slow-down rumors; handhelds are having a renaissance, and here’s why you should care.
8BitDo dropped the Ultimate 3E—a modular Xbox controller with swapable D-pads, TMR sticks, and remappable LR/R4 buttons. It’s not just a controller; it’s LEGO for your thumbs. And GameSir, teaming up with Hyperkin, isn’t far behind with the X5 Alteron, designed to make retro gamers feel like they’re holding a ’90s dream machine. Both drop Q2 2026.
MSI finally brought the Claw A8 to the U.S.—Ryzen Z2 Extreme inside, green model not included (thanks, regional nonsense). Meanwhile, OneXPlayer’s Apex hand-helded Cyberpunk 2077 like it was nothing—120Hz screen, zero lag. Zu owes us a demo.
ASUS and XREAL teamed up for ROG XREAL R1 AR glasses with a 240Hz refresh rate. Yes, you read that right. Your living room just became a theater. And Genki’s Switch 2 “DragonBack” grips? Looked like alien tentacles… until you held them. Then? Pure comfort.
And AceMagic’s NES-shaped mini PC with an AI 9 HX 370? Chef’s kiss. The PS1 version? We’re already waiting.
2026 is weird. And we love it.