Quick answer: For most retro gamers, the best Christmas gift this year is a Retroid Pocket 5 ($179) if they want one handheld for everything from 8-bit games to many PS2 and GameCube games, or an Anbernic RG35XX H ($54.99) if they mostly play 8-bit to PlayStation-era games. For someone with real consoles and a modern TV, a RetroTINK-2X Pro ($139.99) is the most useful upgrade. For vinyl fans, the Audio-Technica AT-LP60X ($179) is the easy choice. For cassette fans, the FiiO CP13 was on sale for $56.99 on FiiO’s own store, down from $94.99.
Every price below was checked on the maker’s own store on 28 October 2026, in US dollars unless marked. Prices change, sale prices especially, so check again before you buy.
Affiliate links: if you buy through the Amazon links on this page we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Several picks are sold only on the maker’s own store; those links are not affiliate links.
All 16 gifts by budget
| Budget | Gift | Price (28 Oct 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $35 | 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless controller | $29.99 | PC and Android retro gaming |
| Under $35 | PS2 and PS1 HDMI cable | Check Amazon | Anyone with a PS2 and a modern TV |
| Under $35 | SanDisk 128GB microSD card | Check Amazon | Any handheld owner |
| $50 to $100 | Anbernic RG35XX H | $54.99 | First handheld, 8-bit to PS1 |
| $50 to $100 | FiiO CP13 cassette player | $56.99 (sale) | Tape collectors |
| $50 to $100 | Anbernic RG 34XXSP | $64.99 | Game Boy Advance SP nostalgia |
| $50 to $100 | Retroid Pocket Classic | $99 | Game Boy-shaped Android handheld |
| $100 to $200 | RetroTINK-2X Pro | $139.99 | Older consoles on a modern TV |
| $100 to $200 | Anbernic RG 406V | $164.99 | Vertical Android handheld |
| $100 to $200 | Retroid Pocket 5 | $179 | The best all-round handheld for the money |
| $100 to $200 | Audio-Technica AT-LP60X | $179 (£134.99 UK) | A first turntable |
| $200 to $500 | Retroid Pocket 6 | from $244 | Power users |
| $200 to $500 | RetroTINK-5X Pro | $325 | Serious console collectors |
| $200 to $500 | Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB | $399 (£299.99 UK) | Digitising a record collection |
| $200 to $500 | Beelink EQR6 mini PC | $459 | Emulation on the TV |
| $750 | RetroTINK-4K Pro | $750 | The collector who has everything |
Which gift should you get?
- They play on their phone or PC already: an 8BitDo controller, the cheapest gift here that still gets used.
- They talk about Game Boy and SNES games: the Anbernic RG35XX H or RG 34XXSP.
- They want PS2, GameCube or Switch-era games on the go: Retroid Pocket 5, or Pocket 6 if money is no object.
- They still have their old consoles: a RetroTINK. The 2X Pro for one or two consoles, the 5X Pro or 4K for a collection.
- They buy records: AT-LP60X if they are new to vinyl, AT-LP120XUSB if they want to digitise records.
- They buy tapes: the FiiO CP13, or one of our cheaper cassette players under $50.
- They want a living-room emulation box: a mini PC like the Beelink EQR6.
Retro handhelds
Handhelds are the gift most likely to be used every day. Buy from the maker’s own store or a seller you trust, and avoid listings that advertise thousands of “preloaded games”: those are unlicensed copies, and the bundled cards are often low quality. The player should load games they own.
Anbernic RG35XX H: $54.99
A horizontal 3.5-inch Linux handheld on Allwinner’s H700 chip, the same chip as the RG 34XXSP below. It is aimed at 8-bit, 16-bit and PlayStation-era games. On 28 October it was in stock at the US warehouse on Anbernic’s store.
Anbernic RG 34XXSP: $64.99
A clamshell in the style of the Game Boy Advance SP, with a 3.4-inch 720 x 480 IPS screen, the H700 chip and dual microSD slots (Anbernic’s listed spec). It was in stock from China; US-warehouse versions were sold out on 28 October, so order early if you want it before Christmas.
Retroid Pocket Classic: $99
A vertical, Game Boy-style Android handheld with a 3.92-inch AMOLED screen, a Snapdragon G1 Gen 2, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, according to Retroid. Android means a wider choice of emulators than the Linux Anbernics.
Anbernic RG 406V: $164.99
A vertical Android 13 handheld with a 4-inch 960 x 720 touchscreen, a Unisoc T820, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, Hall-effect sticks and a fan, per Anbernic’s specs.
Retroid Pocket 5: $179
Our pick for most people. Retroid lists a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED screen, Adreno 650 graphics (the Snapdragon 865 class), 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, Hall-effect sticks, analog triggers and active cooling. At $179 it is the cheapest way into the large-screen Retroid range. Note that the yellow and turquoise versions come only with 8 GB of RAM.
Retroid Pocket 6: from $244
Retroid’s flagship: a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED at 120Hz, 8 or 12 GB of RAM, Wi-Fi 7 and a 6,000 mAh battery. It is $244 with 8 GB, or $279 with 12 GB.
For more help choosing, see Anbernic vs Miyoo vs Retroid and our guide to handhelds for PS2 and GameCube emulation. Whichever they get, a good microSD card makes a sensible extra: the SanDisk 128GB Ultra microSD is the budget pick in our microSD card guide.
Upscalers for real consoles
If they still play original consoles on a flat-screen TV, an upscaler makes the biggest difference. All RetroTINK prices are from RetroTINK’s shop on 28 October 2026:
| Model | Price | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| RetroTINK-2X Pro | $139.99 | One or two consoles with component, S-Video or composite output |
| RetroTINK-5X Pro | $325 | A collection of 240p consoles, with more scaling options |
| RetroTINK-4K CE | $475 | 4K TVs, at a lower price than the Pro |
| RetroTINK-4K Pro | $750 | Every feature, for the serious collector |
The Pixel FX Morph 4K is the other big name, but it is on pre-order with shipping in Q1 2027, according to Pixel FX, so it will not arrive by Christmas. Our RetroTINK 4K vs Morph 4K comparison explains the difference.
For a PS2 owner on a tighter budget, a plug-in cable such as the HD Link HDMI cable for PS2 and PS1 is a cheap stocking filler.
Vinyl and cassette
Audio-Technica AT-LP60X: $179 (£134.99 in the UK)
A fully automatic belt-drive turntable: press a button and the arm does the rest, which suits a first record player. Prices are from Audio-Technica US and Audio-Technica UK.
Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB: $399 (£299.99 in the UK)
A direct-drive manual turntable that plays 33, 45 and 78 rpm and has a USB output for recording records to a computer. Our guide to the best USB turntable for digitising vinyl compares it with the alternatives.
FiiO CP13 cassette player: $56.99 on sale
A new portable cassette player from FiiO. On 28 October FiiO’s store listed it at $56.99, down from $94.99. For cheaper players and older Walkman-style options, see our best portable cassette players under $50.
Controllers and mini PCs
8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless: $29.99
8BitDo’s own store lists the Ultimate 2C Wireless (PC) at $29.99, and the Switch Bluetooth version at the same price. It is an easy gift for anyone who plays emulators on a PC or Android phone.
Beelink EQR6 mini PC: $459
A small PC for running emulators on the TV. Beelink’s store listed the EQR6 with a six-core AMD Ryzen 5 6600H, 24 GB of RAM and a 500 GB SSD for $459 on 28 October. Before you buy one for a specific emulator, check our guide to cheap mini PCs for emulation and, for PlayStation 2 games, the best mini PC for PS2 emulation.
UK and US buyers: what to know
- Prices here are US prices unless marked. Audio-Technica’s UK prices are lower in pounds (£134.99 and £299.99), but most handheld and upscaler makers price in dollars.
- Handhelds often ship from China. Anbernic lists China, US and EU warehouse options for many models. Orders from outside your country can add import VAT or duty and take longer, so order well before Christmas.
- Amazon links go to Amazon.com. UK readers should search for the same model on Amazon.co.uk, where prices and sellers differ.
- Check delivery cut-offs. Every store sets its own last order date for Christmas, so check before you order.
Related guides
- Anbernic vs Miyoo vs Retroid
- RetroTINK 4K vs Morph 4K
- Best USB turntable for digitising vinyl
- Best PS2 games of all time
- More retro tech gift ideas
Sources: prices and specifications from each maker’s official store or product page on 28 October 2026 (RetroTINK, Anbernic, Retroid, Audio-Technica US and UK, FiiO, 8BitDo, Beelink and Pixel FX). We chose these products from published specs, prices and our existing guides. We have not tested them for this article.
FAQ
What is the best Christmas gift for a retro gamer in 2026?
For most people, a Retroid Pocket 5 ($179 on 28 October 2026), which covers everything from 8-bit games to many PS2 and GameCube games. For a smaller budget, the Anbernic RG35XX H costs $54.99.
What is a good retro gaming gift under $50?
An 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless controller ($29.99), a PS2 HDMI cable, or a good microSD card for a handheld they already own.
Will the Morph 4K arrive before Christmas?
No. Pixel FX lists it as a pre-order shipping in Q1 2027. The RetroTINK-4K CE ($475) and 4K Pro ($750) were available from RetroTINK on 28 October 2026.
Are retro handhelds with preloaded games legal?
Handhelds themselves are legal, but games preloaded by a seller are usually unlicensed copies. Buy a handheld without games and load games you own.
Can I buy these gifts in the UK?
Yes, but most handhelds and upscalers are priced in dollars and may ship from abroad, which can add import VAT. Audio-Technica turntables are sold in the UK at £134.99 (AT-LP60X) and £299.99 (AT-LP120XUSB).