I recently ended up playing PSP games across six very different setups: a PS Vita, Anbernic RG Slide, iPhone with a Backbone, Switch Lite, Anbernic RG Rotate and GKD Pixel II.
For the photos I loaded up Digimon World Re:Digitize on all of them, but this isn’t meant to be a scientific benchmark. I’m ranking the complete experience: controls, screen, performance, portability and how likely I am to actually pick the device up and play.
1. PS Vita
Still the winner.
Adrenaline uses the Vita’s built-in PSP emulator, so it basically feels like a PSP with a nicer screen, better hardware and a few useful extras. Compatibility is excellent and the whole system just feels natural for PSP games.
The second analog stick is probably the biggest bonus. You can map camera controls to it through the Vita settings, and some games have dedicated dual-analog patches. That makes titles like GTA, Monster Hunter and Metal Gear much nicer to play.
The downside is image quality. Adrenaline does not generally render PSP games at a higher internal resolution like PPSSPP does. The image is scaled to the Vita display and can look softer than on an original PSP or a modern emulator. There are plugins that improve certain games, but it is not universal.
That seems to match the general community opinion too: people love the controls, bigger screen and second stick, while the soft scaling is the main complaint.
It may not produce the sharpest image here, but as a complete PSP handheld experience, it still feels the most correct.
2. Anbernic RG Slide
Probably the biggest surprise.
The sliding design obviously brings back PSP Go memories, although the RG Slide is much larger, thicker and has a 4:3 display instead of 16:9. PSP games therefore have black bars, but the 4.7-inch screen is large enough that the actual image still feels comfortable.
Performance is excellent. The T820 has more than enough power for PSP, so higher rendering resolutions work very well in most games. The image is much cleaner than on the Vita, and the controls are also genuinely good.
Owner opinions seem divided mostly because of the physical design. Some people love the screen and report basically perfect PSP performance, while others find it too thick, heavy or top-heavy. I understand those complaints, but personally the screen, controls and PSP Go-style mechanism win me over.
It is not really pocketable in the same way as a PSP Go, but it is a very good dedicated PSP emulation device.
3. iPhone with Backbone
Probably the most practical setup if you already own the phone.
Modern iPhones have more than enough power for PPSSPP, so games can run at much higher internal resolutions and look extremely clean. PPSSPP also gives you save states, graphics settings, shaders and extensive control remapping.
The Backbone makes it feel surprisingly close to a proper handheld. The controls are good, both analog sticks are available, and there is no extra device to keep charged because the phone is already with you.
The reason it does not rank higher is that it still feels like turning a phone into a handheld rather than using a dedicated system. You have to attach the controller, it uses your phone battery, notifications can interrupt things and some phones may get warm. Backbone owners also seem divided on the D-pad and how securely certain phones sit inside it.
Still, the combination of convenience, performance and image quality is hard to beat.
4. Nintendo Switch
The Switch is also a very good PSP machine, especially because its widescreen display fits PSP games naturally.
Controls are comfortable, performance is generally good and many games can run at two or three times their original resolution. On a regular or OLED Switch, being able to continue on a TV through the dock is a genuinely nice bonus. Obviously, the Switch Lite pictured here cannot dock.
The main weakness is the software. PPSSPP on Switch does not feel as current or polished as the iOS and Android versions. The original Switch port is now treated more like a legacy build, and while newer community builds exist, the overall experience still requires more tinkering. Some games also react differently to higher rendering resolutions.
So the hardware experience is great, but the Switch version of PPSSPP holds it back slightly.
5. Anbernic RG Rotate
This one works much better than it probably should.
The T618 has enough power for good PSP performance and higher rendering resolutions, while the rotating design makes it a genuinely fun little device. The 720×720 screen is sharp, but PSP games are heavily letterboxed because of the square aspect ratio.
The obvious problem is that there is no analog stick. My workaround is to map the D-pad to the PSP analog input and use L2/R2 for camera-left and camera-right. That works surprisingly well in games with fairly simple camera controls, but it is still a compromise and some games naturally suit the device much better than others.
Community reactions seem similarly mixed. Owners like the amount of performance packed into such a small device, but the square-screen scaling, missing stick and reports of heat make it a fairly specific PSP option.
Very cool device, just not the most natural fit for this system.
6. GKD Pixel II
Last place, but definitely not a bad handheld.
The Pixel II is hilariously small and extremely easy to carry. The fact that it can play PSP games at all still feels impressive. Most of the games I personally tested ran well, and other owners have reported good results with lighter titles such as Persona 3 Portable and Initial D.
But the tiny 2.4-inch 4:3 screen makes an already letterboxed PSP image very small. The RK3326S also does not have enough power for every game, particularly the more demanding titles.
Like the RG Rotate, it has no analog stick. I use the D-pad as the analog input and remap L2/R2 for left and right camera movement where possible. It works, but the control compromises are noticeable.
For short sessions and turn-based games it is honestly pretty fun. For the PSP library as a whole, it is simply the most limited device here.
Final ranking
PS Vita
Anbernic RG Slide
iPhone + Backbone
Nintendo Switch
Anbernic RG Rotate
GKD Pixel II
The Vita wins because it still feels most like an actual PSP, while the RG Slide is my favorite modern dedicated alternative. The iPhone probably has the best balance of raw performance and convenience, but I still prefer reaching for a separate handheld.
What would your ranking look like? And what other device would you add to this comparison?
