Terms and conditions of use

Terms of use

By using portables.db, you accept the rules below. They are short: the site is free, sells nothing and requires no account.

1. What the site is

portables.db is an information comparison site about retro handhelds: specs, compatibility with emulators and prices at various stores. The site is informational. It sells no product and does not provide personalized buying advice.

2. Accuracy of information

• Specs and verdicts come from third-party sources, cross-checked under the rule described on the Methodology page. Despite this cross-checking, errors or delays in updates are possible.
• Prices are indicative. The price, stock and fees that apply are those displayed by the store when you place your order.
• An emulator's compatibility depends on its version, its settings and the game. A verdict describes an order of magnitude, not a guarantee.

3. Purchases from stores

Offer links lead to third-party sites. The sales contract is concluded solely between you and the store. The site is not a party to that sale and is not responsible for delivery, after-sales service, returns, warranty, taxes or customs duties, which are the store's responsibility. Check its terms before buying.

4. Affiliate links

Some links may be affiliate links: the site may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. The rules that ensure this income influences neither the verdicts nor the order of offers are described on theMethodology page.

5. Emulation and copyright

Emulation is legal: an emulator is software that reproduces how a console works. In principle, you run your own games on it, copied (“dumped”) from your own cartridges and discs.

The site does not encourage piracy. It does not provide, host or link to any game, ROM or BIOS, and it does not help anyone obtain them. Copying or downloading protected games without authorization infringes copyright: it is up to each person to respect the rights of publishers and rights holders, under the law of their country.

If you are new to emulation, welcome. This site is here to help you choose a handheld, not to lecture you.

6. Intellectual property and use of content

The site's content is protected. You may read it and quote short excerpts with a link. The following are prohibited: large-scale automated extraction of the data, its commercial reuse without written agreement, and any use that disrupts the operation of the site.

7. Liability

The site is provided as is, with no guarantee of accuracy, continuous availability or absence of errors. All information (specs, verdicts, prices, descriptions) is given for guidance only.The publisher is not liable for this information, nor for the use anyone makes of the site, the handhelds, the emulators or the games mentioned, nor for a purchase decision made on that basis, to the extent permitted by law. This limitation does not apply in cases of gross or intentional misconduct, and does not deprive a consumer of the rights the law grants them.

8. Reporting an error

To report inaccurate information or ask for content to be corrected, use the contact details given in the legal notice. A supporting source speeds up verification.

9. Changes and governing law

These terms may change. The version in force is the one published on this page, with its update date. They are governed by French law. In the event of a dispute, and unless a mandatory rule provides otherwise, the French courts have jurisdiction.

Last updated: Oct 31, 2026