About RetroScale
The interactive, true-to-millimeter visual scale comparator designed specifically for the retro gaming handheld community.
The Problem We Solve
Diagonal screen inches are deceiving. A 3.5-inch 4:3 screen (like the Miyoo Mini Plus or RG35XX) provides significantly more active display area for NES, SNES, and PS1 games than a 4.0-inch 16:9 screen, which must pillarbox retro content with black side bars.
RetroScale eliminates the guesswork. We render side-by-side SVG silhouettes mathematically scaled to true physical millimeters, allowing you to compare handheld body profiles, bezels, thickness, and effective screen estate before making an upgrade or purchase.
Mathematical Precision & Methodology
Chassis width, height, and depth in millimeters are converted to consistent vector coordinates with sub-millimeter precision.
Active display areas are calculated using exact aspect ratios (4:3, 16:9, 3:2, 1:1) and diagonal sizes to show true black-bar waste.
Native resolutions (e.g., 640×480, 1280×720, 1920×1080) are mapped against physical dimensions to calculate crispness ratings.
Community & Data Credits
RetroScale stands on the shoulders of the extraordinary retro emulation community. We want to give immense credit to:
- u/timeisart (Reddit) — Author of the definitive retro handheld spreadsheet on r/SBCGaming. Their tireless benchmark documentation serves as a primary foundation for device specifications.
- Handheld Manufacturers — Anbernic, AYN Technologies, Miyoo, Retroid Pocket, TrimUI, and others whose engineering blueprints provide official dimensional baselines.
- r/SBCGaming & Retro Handhelds — The community members who measure, teardown, and verify battery capacities, weight grams, and real-world ergonomics.
Independence & Affiliate Disclosure
RetroScale is 100% independent. We do not accept sponsored rankings, paid reviews, or brand exclusivity.
To support server hosting, automated database updates, and tool maintenance, we participate in affiliate programs (including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and manufacturer direct stores). When you purchase through outbound links on our site, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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Explore side-by-side scale models, battery, screen PPI, and volume.