A retro handheld console spends its life in a bag, between a bunch of keys, a charger and a water bottle. That is where it gets damaged, far more often than while playing. On many entry-level models, the screen is covered by a plastic lens and not by mineral glass (to be confirmed depending on the model): one key is enough to leave a permanent scratch. Add a fall onto a tiled floor and the dust that ends up under the triggers, and you have the three real ways of wearing out a €100 machine. What remains is to work out which protection solves what, and which one is of no use to you.
The three real risks
Scratches. They almost always happen in a bag. On the shell, it is cosmetic. On the screen, it is permanent: no polishing makes up for a deep scratch on a plastic lens, and the flaw shows in every dark area.
Drops. This is the most expensive risk, and the only one that puts a console out of service. A fall from a table onto tiles can crack the screen, separate the two halves of the shell or strain the USB-C port if the console falls with the cable plugged in.
Dust. It gets in through the trigger slots and under the buttons. The symptom is well known: a button that sticks, a trigger that no longer springs back cleanly. No case prevents it, a case only slows it down. The cure means taking the console apart and cleaning the membranes, with the tools from the workshop and modding aisle.
The families of protection, without the marketing
Five families cover what is on offer. Each one deals with one risk, only one, and gets in the way of something in exchange. Prices observed in our catalogue in August 2026, as an order of magnitude.
| Family | Protects against | Does not protect against | What it gets in the way of | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moulded hard case | Impacts, crushing, scratches in transit | Everything that happens with the console in your hands | You have to take the console out; bulk | Around €30; €48.99 for the RG557, €63.99 for the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 |
| Soft or faux leather pouch | Scratches and rubbing | Drops, crushing | Very little, but it protects little | Around €30 |
| Clip-on or TPU shell | Small impacts while playing, a scratched back | The screen, which stays bare | Thickness, access to the triggers | Variable, limited choice |
| Film or tempered glass | Screen scratches, small chips | A real drop | Reflections or feel are altered | From €9.90 (RG35XX Pro), €19.90 (Retroid Pocket 5) |
| Grips | Nothing: this is not protection | Nothing | Bulk, case becomes unusable | From €47.99 to €49.99 |
Only one family really protects against the expensive risk: the hard case. The rest deals with comfort or looks. The choice of clip-on shells is, moreover, still very thin on these machines.
Clamshell consoles, a special case
An RG35XXSP or a Retroid Pocket Flip 2 tucks its screen against the body as soon as you close it. The scratch risk is already handled by the design: tempered glass adds almost nothing as long as the console travels closed.
That leaves the hinge, the mechanical part under the most strain and the least simple to replace: a hard case stops an object from pressing on a half-open console in a bag. If you are still hesitating between a clamshell and a classic format, the comparison tool lets you decide before buying a single accessory.
Tempered glass: useful, but not everywhere
Three cases justify it: a console that goes out every day and slips into a pocket, a touchscreen Android console where fingers are constantly on the screen, a console handed to a child. It is of no use on a machine that stays in the living room, nor on a closed clamshell, nor on top of a film that is already fitted — two stacked layers degrade sharpness without adding anything.
When fitting, dust is the only real enemy: caught under the glass, it creates a permanent bubble. Clean with the supplied cloth, work in a bathroom just after a shower — damp air brings floating dust down — and lay the glass down in a single movement. On a non-touch screen, a matte film is often enough: cheaper, more forgiving to fit, and it removes reflections, which tempered glass does not.
Grips: comfort, not protection
Grips clip or stick onto the back of the console to give it the feel of a controller in the hand. The benefit is real on flat, wide machines such as the Retroid Pocket 5, the RG Slide or the Miyoo Mini Plus, where fingers have nothing to rest against: beyond an hour of play, your wrists feel the difference.
The downside is twofold. The price, around €48 to €50, which is half the cost of an entry-level Linux console. And the bulk: with the grip fitted, the console no longer fits in its original case or in a pocket. It is a second-stage purchase.
What to buy according to how you use it
| Use | Buy first | Then, if needed | Pointless |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedentary, console stays at home | Nothing, or a matte anti-glare film | A grip if sessions run over an hour | Hard case, tempered glass |
| Daily commuting | Hard case made for the model | Tempered glass if you play standing up | Grip |
| Console handed to a child | Hard case and tempered glass | A second microSD card | Decorative protections |
| Travel and suitcase | Hard case | Film or glass depending on the length of the trip | Grip, bulky in luggage |
If you only buy one thing, take the hard case for your model: it is the only accessory that prevents a breakdown, for a fraction of the price of replacing a handheld console.
What is of no use
- The “fits all consoles” case. The machine moves around inside, the buttons rub against the lining, and the whole thing protects less well than a case moulded to the model.
- Universal tempered glass to cut to size. The edges never stick properly and the glass comes off the first time it goes into a pocket.
- Stacking a film and a glass. The image loses sharpness without gaining resistance.
- Blue-light filter film. It tints the image visibly on precise retro palettes, for a debated benefit.
- A grip on a clamshell console. It gets in the way of closing it or unbalances the machine.
Frequently asked questions
Does a hard case protect against a drop?
From a drop with the console stowed away, yes in the vast majority of cases: the shell takes the hit and the lining absorbs it. From a drop with the console in your hands, no. That is also why it is better to put the machine away between two stations rather than leave it on your lap.
Do you need tempered glass on a non-touch console?
It is not compulsory. Glass makes sense when fingers touch the screen or when the console travels bare in a pocket. On a button-based console kept in a case, a cheap matte film already covers the need and removes reflections.
Can glass for a similar model do the job?
No, unless the manufacturer explicitly says so. Two consoles with an identical diagonal can have a different ratio, different edges or different sensors. Order the item that carries the exact name of your model, and check the variant if there are several.
Does a grip damage the console shell?
Clip-on grips should not leave any mark. Stick-on models use an adhesive that can mark a matte or soft-touch finish when removed, especially after several months. If you plan to resell the console, go for a clip-on model.
How do you remove dust that is already under the buttons?
Compressed air moves it without always getting it out, and sprayed too close it pushes it deeper. Real cleaning means opening the console and taking out the silicone membranes: a simple operation on most models, provided you have suitable screwdrivers and opening picks.
In short: the hard case in the exact format solves the most expensive risk, tempered glass a frequent but minor one, and grips buy comfort and nothing else. Our protections are sorted by model in the cases and sleeves aisle, and films, tempered glass and grips in the handheld console accessories aisle.