1UP Pi-Boy Micro

The 1UP Pi-Boy Micro is a vertical retro handheld launched in 2018 and built around Raspberry Pi 3 architecture. It uses the Broadcom BCM2837 SoC, a quad-core Cortex-A53 processor at 1.2 GHz, paired with a Broadcom VideoCore IV GPU at 300 MHz and 1 GB of RAM. It is a well-understood platform, prized for its compatibility with retro emulators and the support of the wider Raspberry Pi community.

Emulation is its strength. Everything from 8-bit and 16-bit systems up to SNES titles with the Super FX chip and 3D PlayStation games runs at 60 FPS, while Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS are playable but can be laggy. The library spans dozens of platforms, including NES, Game Boy Advance, Sega Mega Drive, Game Gear, Neo Geo, PC Engine, Atari, Commodore 64, MSX, ZX Spectrum, MS-DOS, Pico-8 and TIC-80.

The 2.2-inch IPS display runs at 320 x 240 (QVGA) in a native 4:3 aspect ratio at 60 Hz, giving roughly 182 ppi and authentic, undistorted framing for classic games. An acrylic lens protects the panel, and brightness is adjusted through the menu.

In the hand, the classic vertical layout places the cross D-pad up top with a single analog thumbstick below it, alongside four face buttons, L1 and R1 shoulder buttons, Start and Select, a volume wheel and a physical power switch. The plastic body measures 98 x 66 x 32 mm and weighs 300 g, so it is chunky for its screen size. There is no rumble.

A 3000 mAh Li-Po battery delivers around three to four hours of play and recharges in about 2.5 hours over micro USB (5V/2A). Connectivity is unusually rich: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, four USB ports, Ethernet, HDMI video output, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a side-mounted mono speaker. Games are stored on microSD.

The device runs Linux and supports RetroPie, RecalBox and Lakka, with EmulationStation and RetroArch as front ends, so emulators, themes and settings can be customised freely. The interface is available in multiple languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese and Korean.

Ideal for: Raspberry Pi enthusiasts and retro fans who want a tinker-friendly, all-in-one handheld for 8-bit, 16-bit and PS1 classics, with the bonus of HDMI output for playing on a TV.