The new wave of cheap handhelds (Miyoo, TrimUI) uses different chips.
Note: The Raspberry Pi 4 is not an official EmuELEC platform (it runs RetroPie or Lakka). However, if you want a plug-and-play experience, the Pi 4 has better documentation. For EmuELEC specifically, avoid the Pi.
For a long time, the S912 chips (found in boxes like the Nexbox A1 or Tanix TX9) were the sweet spot. They offered slightly better thermal management and video decoding, making Dreamcast (Flycast) and PSP emulation viable.
Status: Best Supported / Primary Development Focus
EmuELEC was originally designed specifically for devices powered by Amlogic processors. If you are looking for the "best" experience, this is the platform to choose. Amlogic chips are found in hundreds of generic Android TV boxes, making them the most cost-effective way to build a retro console.
When evaluating EmuELEC supported platforms, the SoC is only half the story. Pay attention to these three factors:
Devices like the NexBox A95X or the older Tanix TX3 Mini became legendary in the community.
EmuELEC typically runs from a microSD card, but it loads BIOS and ROMs from USB drives.