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Retro Handhelds vs Switch 2: Which Console Makes Sense?
From a £16.99 pocket console to the £389.99 Switch 2, these gaming picks serve very different players and budgets.
Quick Picks
Best overall for serious gaming: Nintendo Switch 2 Console.
Best cheap retro buy: 400-in-1 Retro Handheld.
Best for a younger player: 156-Game Handheld Console.
Best low-cost extra: 48-Hour Wireless Earbuds.
The list is dominated by retro handhelds, but one £389.99 console sits in a completely different league. The smart buy depends on whether you want a disposable nostalgia gadget, a child-friendly present, or a current gaming system with proper long-term support.
Cheap Retro Fun Without the Fuss
The under-£40 group is refreshingly simple: built-in games, rechargeable power, and no internet account to create. That simplicity is the point. These devices are for short sessions on the sofa, a train journey, or a stocking filler—not a replacement for a modern console.
One detail deserves scepticism: enormous game counts sound impressive, but the listings do not identify the full libraries or explain how much repetition is involved. Treat “21700+” and “400 in 1” as headline numbers, not a guarantee of 21,700 or 400 genuinely different experiences.
Retro Handheld Game Console
At £16.99, this is the easiest retro console to recommend as a low-risk present. The 3.0-inch LCD, rechargeable battery, TV output, and 400-in-1 claim give it more flexibility than the pricier 139-game model below. The limitation is obvious: the listing does not identify the games, so buyers should expect a mixed collection rather than a carefully curated catalogue. Best for adults who want occasional old-school gaming and parents buying a cheap travel distraction.
32 Bit Handheld Game Console for Kids
The £25.49 Bornkid model takes a narrower approach with 139 games and a 3.0-inch IPS screen. IPS suggests a better viewing angle than a basic LCD, but the listing gives no battery capacity, TV output, or game details. That makes it harder to justify paying £8.50 more than the 400-in-1 console unless screen quality matters more to you than library size. Best for a child who needs a straightforward handheld with a compact display.
Handheld Retro Games Console for Kids
The 3.5-inch full-colour screen is the strongest reason to choose this £29.99 model over the cheaper alternatives. It should be easier to view than a 3.0-inch display, especially for longer sessions, and the 156 built-in 16-bit games keep the controls simple. You lose the 400-game headline and the listed TV output, though. Best for younger players who will value screen size more than maximum game count.
ASTEKID Improved Retro Handheld Game Console
The ASTEKID costs £39.99 and advertises more than 21,700 retro games, plug-and-play use, and no internet requirement. That is a huge library claim for a small device, but the product information supplied here does not confirm the game list, screen size, battery life, or TV support. I would not pay the extra £10 over the 3.5-inch model purely for the number on the box. Best for a nostalgic buyer who wants the biggest advertised catalogue and accepts that the selection may be repetitive.
The pricing tells the real story: the £16.99 handheld is less than half the price of the ASTEKID, while the £29.99 model offers the largest listed screen. For most casual players, screen size and known hardware matter more than inflated game-count marketing.
There is also a useful distinction between these retro products and the mainstream console below. The handhelds are self-contained gadgets. They do not require a game library, internet connection, or a large commitment. That makes them easy gifts, but their appeal can fade once the novelty wears off.
When You Want a Proper Gaming System
Only one item here competes as a current console: the Nintendo Switch 2. At £389.99, it costs more than the four retro handhelds combined, so comparing it directly with them is a bit unfair. The better question is what kind of ownership you want.
A modern console makes sense for someone who plans to play regularly and buy additional games. A retro handheld makes sense when the purchase itself is the entertainment. The Switch 2 is expensive upfront, but it is not relying on a giant built-in-game number to justify the price.
Nintendo Switch 2
At £389.99, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the serious pick—and the one I would choose for a regular gamer, despite the price. It offers a current platform rather than a sealed collection of unspecified retro titles, but the console price is only the starting point because games and accessories can add substantially to the total. Best for an adult or family that will play every week and wants a console with a future beyond a few nostalgic sessions.
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 cost £44.85, making this a software purchase rather than a standalone gaming device. It belongs on the shortlist only if the buyer already owns compatible Nintendo hardware; it cannot compete with a £16.99 all-in-one handheld as a first gaming purchase. Best for an existing Nintendo owner who specifically wants these two platform games and is comfortable paying nearly three times the cheapest retro console.
Wii Console
The Wii console listing costs £325 and includes Wii Sports, but the product data provides no condition details, accessories list, or explanation of what else is included. That uncertainty matters more here than the £64.99 saving versus the Switch 2. I would only choose it for a buyer specifically chasing motion-control nostalgia and willing to verify the bundle before ordering. Best for a retro-focused household that wants a living-room experience rather than pocket gaming.
The Wii listing shows why older hardware needs more checking than a new retro handheld: condition, included cables, controllers, and compatibility can change the value completely. The earbuds are a similar lesson in restraint—headline specifications are useful, but missing details such as latency and tested battery performance limit what can be promised.
For a current Nintendo setup, check the official Nintendo UK website for platform compatibility and game information before buying. For the retro handhelds, the Amazon listings are the available source for the prices and specifications shown here; those details can change, so confirm them on the Amazon UK product page at checkout.
Which One Should You Buy?
The £16.99 400-in-1 handheld is the value winner because it delivers the core retro experience for the least money and adds TV output. The £29.99 3.5-inch model is the more comfortable gift for a child, while the ASTEKID is a gamble on its huge game-count claim. I would skip paying extra for a number the listing does not substantiate.
The Switch 2 is the only pick here I would recommend to a regular gamer. It costs dramatically more, but it is also the only product built around ongoing modern gaming rather than a fixed retro library. The Wii can still make sense for a very specific nostalgia buyer, but its incomplete bundle information makes it harder to recommend sight unseen.
| Pick | Price | Key listed feature | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400-in-1 Retro Handheld | £16.99 | 3.0-inch LCD, TV output | Cheapest retro fun |
| Bornkid 32 Bit | £25.49 | 3.0-inch IPS, 139 games | Simple first handheld |
| 156-Game Handheld | £29.99 | 3.5-inch full-colour screen | Younger players |
| ASTEKID | £39.99 | 21,700+ advertised games | Maximum catalogue claim |
| Super Mario Galaxy bundle | £44.85 | Two games | Existing Nintendo owners |
| Wii with Wii Sports | £325.00 | Console bundle | Motion-control nostalgia |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | £389.99 | Current console platform | Regular modern gaming |
My final call is simple: buy the £16.99 handheld for a cheap present, the 3.5-inch model for a child who needs a more comfortable screen, and the Switch 2 only when gaming is a genuine hobby rather than a one-week experiment. For more family-friendly tech ideas, see Top Gaming Gadgets for Family Fun This Fall.
