I turned my old Pixel 7 Pro into a portable emulation handheld, and it actually works
My retired Pixel 7 Pro now crushes GameCube and PS1 games, but PS2 is a stretch. Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority In a bid to relive a bit of my youth, I’ve been enjoying some retro games for the past month or so (I’m currently a good way through Wind Waker), but have been confined to playing on my couch.
While I could install a bunch of games on my daily driver, that is a distraction I’d rather not carry around all the time. Thankfully, I have a few aging handsets around to use instead, so I picked up my Pixel 7 Pro and set about converting it into an Android gaming handheld.
While the Pixel 7 Pro is far from a powerhouse handset by today’s standards, emulation often doesn’t require as much horsepower as you think, especially for 16-bit consoles. Not to mention that you can often get away with 720p on a small phone screen for more demanding 3D consoles.
Key Takeaways
- My retired Pixel 7 Pro now crushes GameCube and PS1 games, but PS2 is a stretch.
- Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority In a bid to relive a bit of my youth, I’ve been enjoying some retro games for the past month or so (I’m currently a good way through Wind Waker), but have been confined to playing on my couch.
- While I could install a bunch of games on my daily driver, that is a distraction I’d rather not carry around all the time.
Why It Matters
This update affects the global mobile phone market and may influence upcoming buying decisions, software updates, and device competition across major brands.
Credits
- News source: Android Authority
- Published (source timezone): March 22, 2026 10:00 AM GMT+0000
- Featured image credit: Android Authority | image source | Used with source attribution (license)