Android retro handhelds are the right choice when you want more power and flexibility than a simple Linux device can provide. They are especially useful for PSP, GameCube, PS2, Android games, and streaming.
Best value direction
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro is a strong value example: powerful enough for many demanding systems while staying compact and reasonably priced.
Premium direction
Ayn Odin 2 is better when you want a larger screen, more battery, and more performance headroom. It is overkill for GBA and PS1, but excellent for harder systems.
Tradeoffs
Android gives you more power, but setup is more involved. You may need to configure emulators, controls, storage, frontends, and performance settings.
Simple recommendation
Choose Android if PSP, GameCube, PS2, or streaming matter. Choose Linux if you mostly want classic retro simplicity.