So instead of spending 300 bucks for a decent mid tier phone replacement, plus accessories, spending 99 bucks is far more cost effecent.

This was your original argument and now you are claiming it's turned to this.

Look, you're missing the point entirely and deflecting with straw man arguments. My argument isn't about specifically using an iPhone 4, but rather about the overall practicality and user experience

Even if older phones have better specs on paper, they still require additional accessories, setup, and often don't provide the same seamless, optimized experience that retro handhelds do.

When a device as old as an iphone 4 can draw comparisons to your handhold, a newer used phone can be bought on the cheap that can easily exceed your handhelds performance and battery life (the device in the article can die in 2 hours from a full charge! Wtf). You are just attempting to pivot away from that point by overly focusing on the Iphone 4s performance which is hilarious, no one is paying $300 bucks to get a phone that can compete with your handheld; not even $99; And if they did pay $300 they are getting a phone that will smoke your shitty little handhelds performance. Additionally I finished paper mario on my old iPhone 4 and it was fine.

When your imaginary 'poor man' has to choose between a gaming device or a phone that can do everything the gaming device can do and is also a phone. They will choose the phone every time. You have made an absolutely retarded argument trying to claim this device is the smart financial choice, its a fun luxury and that's being kind to it.

Strawman. Carrying an external controller and clip might be feasible for some, but it adds extra steps and hassle compared to simply using a dedicated retro handheld that is always ready to use. The ease of quickly starting a game on a dedicated device cannot be matched by the multi-step setup required for phone gaming with external controllers.

It is feasible, you're just exacerbating the issue in order to make a point. Either way you are carrying around a device that allows for gaming. But by choosing your handheld you are carrying a device that struggles to compete with the phone sitting in your pocket. You have less games, they will run worse and your screen is small and low res... But you feel awkward carrying a controller aww, better sacrifice performance to not feel like a loser 😭.

Enjoy having a limited catalogue and paying for it.

Your claim that a cheap used phone is automatically better ignores these crucial advantages and the hassle of setting up and configuring emulators. So let's stop cherry-picking details and face the facts: dedicated devices offer a streamlined, superior gaming experience.

Every emulator I have ever downloaded comes pre configured and if you don't know how or don't want to adjust settings you don't have too, this is such a nothing point. Besides you are still downloading roms and having to transfer them to your device, when my phone 'streamlines' that experience by downloading the roms directly; no additional hardware required to access games.

Enjoy the hassle of not being able to update your game catalogue on the fly without resorting to using a computer or even your phone...

Not everyone wants to juggle a phone and extra peripherals for a subpar experience. The reason people spend money on these devices is for convenience, ease of use, and a superior, uninterrupted gaming experience that their phones can't match. It's about quality, not just capability.

Because juggling a phone and a gaming device is so different to a controller that connects to your phone in some way. Additionally, I'd argue that a small screen and tiny controls that cramp my hands are far from a superior gaming experience.

Uninterrupted experience haha! You know your phone has aeroplane mode right? Once again you paid money for a phone you don't use... Bet you carry a camera around with you at all times for the same reason right? that uninterrupted photography experience can't be matched, and it has a greater ease of use and capability! Do you also carry a music player/iPod at all times for the same reason?

Feel free to reply, I am not going to read what you have to say. You pivot from your own arguments, create problems that don't exist, attempt to use your own insecurities as a selling point (people will look at me if i have a clip on-controller 😭) and you constantly ignore the fact that the average person already has a phone that can do everything this device can do and for free whilst claiming it's the cheaper option.

I am going to go play god of war or FF12 at with upscaling, bigger screen, a solid frame rate and play with the controller it was actually designed to be played with.

(Btw you are totally going to reply, you can't help yourself... dance puppet dance! 👏).