# What is a good handheld gaming device **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 10, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044 "2012-08-10T03:14:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/1 "2012-08-10T03:14:19Z")
I find myself in situations with too much free time where I don’t have internet or TV access and get tired of reading books. So I am looking for something to do. I thought about doing charity work but decided helping people went against the macho image I’m cultivating. I’m thinking of getting a personal gaming device, but don’t know anything about the devices since the last one I owned was a game boy (original black and white). I’ve heard there are even gaming devices that let you use emulators and roms on them. Any experience with those? The device I get doesn’t have to be top of the line, a nintendo DS instead of a 3DS is fine. Whatever device I get, I want it to have a headphone jack. But I’m assuming most devices have that now. Is the Dingoo the only one that plays emulators and ROMs? ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/2 "2012-08-10T03:35:35Z")
You can get a cheap android device with a Bluetooth controller if you want to play roms. There are fun Android games native to the OS, as well. It might be easier to have a dingoo than that setup, though. Don’t know about cost. PS vita is a like a small port of a console. Ps2 esque graphics on a handheld. I like the 3DS more, but part of that may be having plunked down coin on that device instead, haha. I play a lot of Mario kart 7 and pilot wings. I also prefer my DS to my PSP. The PSP boasts better graphics, but has worse battery life, longer load times, and non of my favorite Mario franchise games! A first gen DS can go used at GameStop for about thirty bucks or so, which I think is a great deal. ---
**Author:** ![JLRogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@JLRogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLRogers)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/3 "2012-08-11T10:55:57Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I am looking for something to do. I thought about doing charity work but decided **helping people went against the macho image I’m cultivating**. Instead of “cultivating” a “macho image” try being yourself. Then go help people if you have so much time to burn. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/4 "2012-08-11T12:23:46Z")
Fuck that, helping people is time I could spend belching the alphabet in front of a mirror. ---
**Author:** ![Rubixcube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Rubixcube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubixcube)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/5 "2012-08-11T13:14:13Z")
I vote for DS as well, lots of excellent games available and the battery life is fantastic. That said I would still consider a PSP _if_ you’re willing to mod it. They go for dirt cheap and that way you can rip your UMDs and cram it full of emulators. However battery will be a major concern. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/6 "2012-08-11T15:40:56Z")
Conversely, this thread introduced me to the Dingoo, and I just ordered one off EBay. Will report back if it’s complete shit or not. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/7 "2012-08-11T15:59:33Z")
I’d get a 3DS as then you can play 3DS games, DS games, and classic NES/Game Boy games downloaded from the 3DS eShop. Plus, New Super Mario Bros. 2 comes out this week! ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/8 "2012-08-12T01:01:59Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > Conversely, this thread introduced me to the Dingoo, and I just ordered one off EBay. Will report back if it’s complete shit or not. 🙂 I ended up buying one too. Did you get the a320 or one of the other models? I was told the 320 was preferred over the 330 and 380. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/9 "2012-08-13T07:36:11Z")
How about an ipod touch? Lots of game options for a buck or two, and it can do lots of other things as well. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/10 "2012-08-13T10:40:16Z")
The Game Boy Advance is still a nice system; it’ll play GBA as well as Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. The SP version doesn’t have a headphone jack, though aside from that, I like its form factor better than the original. Haven’t gotten a 3DS, but might get it at some point 'cuz of Zelda. I also play plenty of games on the Droid. They’ve got Tetris, GTA3, and plenty of free apps for Sudoku, Chess, Reversi, etc. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/11 "2012-08-14T04:01:19Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I ended up buying one too. Did you get the a320 or one of the other models? I was told the 320 was preferred over the 330 and 380. There’s different models? 😕 woah. My order form says 320. Twinsies!!! ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/12 "2012-08-14T04:07:09Z")
Will a Dingoo play DS games? ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/13 "2012-08-14T21:20:52Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Will a Dingoo play DS games? Since it has one screen, my guess is, “Yes, as a home brew,” but it’s also not a touchscreen. They would suuuck. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/14 "2012-08-14T22:44:33Z")
The Vita is absolutely the best portable gaming system ever made (coming from someone with all of the DS, PSP, 3DS variants). Problem is no one is making games for it and that truly sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/15 "2012-08-15T05:30:45Z")
What’s a DS? It sounds like it might be easy(er) and fairly cheap. I’m a total techno-noob and tired of burping in the mirror. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/16 "2012-08-24T02:45:16Z")
Holy crap, the dingoo is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/17 "2012-08-24T11:34:11Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > The Game Boy Advance is still a nice system; it’ll play GBA as well as Game Boy and Game Boy Color games. The SP version doesn’t have a headphone jack, though aside from that, I like its form factor better than the original. Actually it does, but the headphones use the same jack as the power input, for some stupid reason. So you have to either buy special Gameboy Advance SP headphones, or an adapter. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/18 "2012-08-26T03:33:50Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Holy crap, the dingoo is awesome. Jealous. Mine hasn’t gotten here yet. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/19 "2012-08-26T14:53:43Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > Jealous. Mine hasn’t gotten here yet. ☹ Where did you buy it from? Deal extreme had it for $73, shipping only took a week or so. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044/20 "2012-08-27T03:12:14Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Where did you buy it from? Deal extreme had it for $73, shipping only took a week or so. Ebay. Some guy from China. Does that include shipping? Mine was 80 with shipping to America’s Hat. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-good-handheld-gaming-device/631044.md?page=2)