Retro Handhelds Weekly: KTR1 S, AYANEO, Mangmi, GammaOS, and Much More

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Retro Handhelds Weekly: KTR1 S, AYANEO, Mangmi, GammaOS, and Much More

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-77/

Hey there, retro radars — buckle up. The handheld world didn’t just nap in December… it threw a rave.

KTR1 S just dropped with a Dimensity 7300 chip, turning last year’s also-ran into a legit contender. Meanwhile, AYANEO is going full Xperia Play 2.0 with the Pocket Play — a phone-handheld hybrid that’ll make your inner 2010 gamer weep with joy. And Mangmi? They’re not just riding the $100 wave—they’re building a whole surf park. The Pocket Max is coming, and it’s not just “bigger Air X.” It’s Air X with ambition.

But wait — Abxylute’s $69 E1? Looks suspiciously like a rebranded Anbernic. We see you, budget wizards. And GammaOS Next? Now on every Anbernic device under the sun. If your handheld runs Android, it probably has GammaOS by now. And if it doesn’t? You’re just mad.

Meanwhile, in the software lane: Xcavator—a lost NES game from 1985—is finally real, complete with a physical cartridge and a museum-worthy manual. And CATii? A new Android frontend that started by calling out AI code… then got called out for using it. The drama’s thicker than a Game Boy Color screen.

Bottom line: There are more retro handhelds in 2025 than there are reasons to be excited about your phone. And honestly? We’re not mad about it.

— Grab a coffee. The next release is already on the way.