Anbernic PAP KIII Plus

The Anbernic PAP KIII Plus is a horizontal retro gaming handheld launched in 2016, built for players who want to relive classic 8-bit and 16-bit gaming in a simple, compact package. It sits in the $0–$50 price bracket, with a reference price of around $43, making it a very accessible entry point into portable emulation.

Inside is the Ingenic JZ4760B, a single-core XBurst SoC based on the MIPS instruction set and clocked between 528 and 740 MHz. It is paired with a Vivante GC200 GPU running at 250–375 MHz and 64 MB of DDR2 RAM. This hardware handles Atari 2600, CHIP-8, ColecoVision, Watara Supervision, NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Master System, Game Gear, Genesis / Mega Drive and TurboGrafx-16 / PC Engine. Arcade support covers Capcom Play System 1 and 2, MAME and Final Burn Neo. Most SNES games run at 60 FPS, although titles using the FX chip or Mode 7 tend to lag. Many 2D PlayStation games run fine, though not all at a full 60 FPS, while 3D PS1 games struggle.

The display is a 4.3-inch TFT panel with a 480 x 272 (HVGA+) resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. It refreshes at 60 Hz and has a pixel density of about 128 PPI. There is no glass lens, only a screen protector, and brightness is adjusted through a button combination.

For controls, the handheld uses a PSP-style separated cross D-pad in the upper position and a single analog slidepad below it. These sit alongside four face buttons and L1/R1 shoulder buttons, and rumble adds some physical feedback. Dedicated volume buttons, a reset button and a power button complete the layout. The plastic body measures 170 x 78 x 18 mm and weighs just 162 g, so it travels easily.

Power comes from a swappable 1200 mAh BP-4L battery, which can be replaced when it runs out or wears down. Charging uses a Mini USB port. An AV output lets you connect the console to a TV, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack complements the single rear-facing mono speaker. Games are stored on microSD.

On the software side, modding is permitted, but both the stock OS and custom OS support are rated as very limited. This makes the PAP KIII Plus best treated as a straightforward, plug-and-play retro device rather than a platform for tinkering.

Ideal for: budget-minded retro fans, collectors and nostalgic players who want an inexpensive, lightweight handheld for NES, Game Boy, Mega Drive, GBA and classic arcade games, with a swappable battery and TV output as practical extras.