My Current Favorite ($80) Starter Handheld

Product Reviewed

Mini Long Pocket 1 (starter handheld, ~$80 at the time of the video; shown as possibly ~$76 with a coupon via GoGameGeek) running/augmented with a custom OS called Leaf.

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Key Hardware Features

Build & Comfort

• “Super sturdy,” with a comfortable grip
• Textured matte back and ergonomic bumps
• Feels like one of the best under $100 handhelds for controls/ergonomics

Display

• 4-inch LCD, 960×720
• Retro-friendly integer scaling:
  • 5x integer: Game Boy / Game Boy Color
  • 4x integer: Game Boy Advance
  • 3x / ~3.2x: SNES/Genesis and other consoles mentioned
  • PS1 & N64 scaling depends on video output
    • Example: 3x integer at 240p
    • Example: 1.5x at 480p

Performance / Supported Systems

• Chipset: Rockchip RK3566
• Memory & storage: ~1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage
• Plays PS1 well, with a “smattering” of:
  • Nintendo 64
  • Dreamcast

Battery & Charging

• 4000 mAh
• Charges via USB-C
• Works with typical chargers (not “fast,” but broadly compatible)

Connectivity

• Wi‑Fi + Bluetooth
• HDMI out
• Two USB ports:
  • Top: OTG/peripherals, also supports USB-C headphones while charging
  • Bottom: charging

Controls

• Digital triggers only (not analog), limiting for analog-heavy games
• Face buttons:
  • Rubber membrane, but very light
  • Praised as among the best under $100
• Removable D-pad
  • Includes different shield styles (only one included in the review, but still praised)
• Single analog stick
  • Hall sensor
  • Smooth range of motion
  • RGB lighting around the stick (configurable in software)
• Removable face plate
  • Magnetic seal
  • Shell swapping possible in theory (no extra shells shown yet)

Audio

• Single mono speaker
• Main complaint: muffled audio due to placement

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Key Software Features (Leaf OS)

Why Leaf Matters

• Earlier software was described as under-baked with no custom options
• Leaf is presented as fixing that: custom options are now available

Install Process

• Requires microSD formatted FAT32
• Download from leaf.game
  • Includes BIOS/game setup instructions
• Copy OS files to the SD card
  • Includes the important .system folder

UI / Navigation

• Simple and snappy
• Main screen supports tabs:
  • Reviewer uses Games + Recently Played
  • Can also enable Favorites and Apps tabs
• M/menu button opens a settings overlay

Customization

• Color schemes/themes and per-parameter color adjustments
• Layout options:
  • Tab layout vs Cover Flow
  • Icon style (“soft” vs defaults) and fonts + font size
• Tabs can be turned on/off to keep the UI clean

Built-in Functionality

• Includes apps/tools such as:
  • File explorer
  • Fugazi: create custom shaders
  • Boot directly into RetroArch
  • SSH server setup

Display & Performance Tuning

• Refresh rate options up to 120Hz
• Higher-refresh behavior includes black frame insertion options:
  • 120Hz for 60fps
  • 100Hz for PAL content

RetroArch Integration

• Many games run via RetroArch
• Supports:
  • Core overrides
  • Shader customization per system
  • RetroArch hot controls/menus

Over-the-Air Updates

• Wi‑Fi required
• Leaf supports OTA updates

Accounts / Metadata

• Scraping/metadata support
• Retro Achievements integration

Game Limiting Feature: “Five Game Mode”

• Leaf’s core feature: limits play to exactly 5 games
• Reviewer says it works out of the box (contrasted with a previous method they showed)
• Can arrange the five-game tiles
• Optional PIN lock (example given for restricting use for kids; reviewer chose no lock)

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Pros (Explicitly Praised)

• Excellent ergonomics/comfort; “one of the best deals out there” for controls under $100
• Very good buttons, especially face buttons, and a good D-pad
• Good retro display scaling
• Leaf makes the device feel “complete”:
  • snappy UI
  • customization
  • RetroArch control
  • OTA updates
• HDMI out worked properly
  • Options for 4:3 or stretched 16:9
• Wi‑Fi / Bluetooth / HDMI out included for a <$100 device
• Five Game Mode is easy to use and quick to exit/enter
• Charging compatibility: normal USB-C chargers work (no special cable needed)

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Cons / Limitations (Explicitly Criticized)

• Single analog stick only
  • Not ideal for dual-analog games (example mentioned: Op ‘n Hide)
• Mono speaker with muffled audio
• Digital triggers only
  • Can’t do analog driving-style controls (example mentioned: Forza Horizon)
• Reviewer’s additional takeaway: hard to think of another device under $100 with better ergonomics

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Comparisons Mentioned

Retroid Pocket Nova

• Mini Long Pocket 1 described as smaller—like the “scrappier little brother”
• Similar in key areas, but:
  • Nova has more power
  • Nova is higher-end (better specs implied, including OLED)
  • Mini Long Pocket 1 has lower resolution and less capability overall, while still achieving similar results in the reviewer’s priorities

PSP Shape Note

• Described as a little less wide than the original PSP

General Value Positioning

• If you already own a cheap handheld that plays the same library, it may not be worth buying
• Otherwise, it’s a good entry/starter option

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Unique Points Explicitly Listed (Deduplicated)

• Hardware: RK3566, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage; Leaf’s approach doesn’t destructively alter stock firmware
• 4-inch 960×720 display with scaling multipliers (GB/GB Color 5x, GBA 4x, others ~3x/3.2x; PS1/N64 varies with 240p/480p)
• 4000 mAh battery; USB-C charging works broadly (not fast)
• Wi‑Fi + Bluetooth + HDMI out
• Two USB ports (top for OTG/peripherals & USB‑C headphones while charging; bottom for charging)
• Comfortable, sturdy build (textured ergonomic back)
• Digital triggers + praised face buttons + removable D-pad (shield styles)
• Single hall-sensor analog stick + RGB lighting
• Removable magnetic face plate (shell swapping possible in theory)
• Mono speaker with muffled audio
• Leaf OS details:
  • install requirements (FAT32)
  • download from leaf.game
  • Leaf UI features (tabs, themes, cover flow, icon/font controls)
  • Leaf apps/tools (file explorer, Fugazi, RetroArch direct launch, SSH server)
  • settings (refresh up to 120Hz, black frame insertion, HDMI 4:3 vs 16:9)
  • OTA updates and achievement/scraper support
  • in-app/device tools (info, performance profile, state controls, etc.)
• Five Game Mode:
  • out-of-box setup
  • configure exactly 5 games
  • arrange tiles
  • optional PIN lock
• Pricing/deal mentioned:
  • ~$90 reduced to ~$76 with a coupon via GoGameGeek
  • AliExpress exists, but reviewer claims GoGameGeek is cheapest
  • Free worldwide shipping mentioned

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Speaker-Specific Views

Russ (Retro Game Corps) is the primary presenter/reviewer, focusing on:

• Handheld comfort/build/controls and limitations
• Leaf OS usability/customization/performance features
• Deal/pricing guidance and comparisons to Retroid Pocket Nova
• Specific testing claims (HDMI behavior, refresh rate + black frame insertion settings)
• Endorsement of Leaf + overall value as a starter handheld

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Overall Verdict / Recommendation

Recommended as a strong <$100 “starter handheld,” especially because Leaf OS fixes the earlier software shortcomings. The hardware is praised for comfort and controls, while Leaf adds a fast, customizable, retro-focused experience with useful features like OTA updates and Five Game Mode.

Main caveats: single analog stick, mono audio quality, and digital-only triggers. While those limitations can affect certain genres, the review frames the device as excellent value—especially for retro systems like PS1 and many classic platforms.