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[BennyBlanco]

I’ve always liked these weird chinese handhelds. Usually I’m an Anbernic boy but I also had a RP2 and it was sick. I was watching some reviews of this last night and it looks amazing for $200ish. OLED, nice form factor, and strong enough for ps2 and Wii U emulating. Might pick one up. Anyone else like this junk?

 

[jshackles]

I'm a huge fan of these, but it's hard to want to carry something like this around when the Switch and Steam Deck exist. Love these that have wifi, so you can use Retroarch and other various emulators to unlock retro achievements. ES-DE is a really great front end that helps to tie the whole thing together.

 

[StereoVsn]

I’ve always liked these weird chinese handhelds. Usually I’m an Anbernic boy but I also had a RP2 and it was sick. I was watching some reviews of this last night and it looks amazing for $200ish. OLED, nice form factor, and strong enough for ps2 and Wii U emulating. Might pick one up. Anyone else like this junk?

This looks pretty nice for the money. I picked up Anbernic RG556 a while back so probably not going to swing for this, but if you wanted an Android handheld right now, it’s great for the price.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I'm a huge fan of these, but it's hard to want to carry something like this around when the Switch and Steam Deck exist. Love these that have wifi, so you can use Retroarch and other various emulators to unlock retro achievements. ES-DE is a really great front end that helps to tie the whole thing together.

Agreed. I just love handhelds.

 

[alphachino]

I've never owned a Retroid before, this will be my first.
I'm buying it mainly because it's OLED, and need to show my support and refuse to buy another device without OLED ever again.

AYN Odin Portal looks interesting too. Probably will get it too.

Literally the only device I have that isn't OLED is the Analogue Pocket and the black levels on it are just unfortunate.

 

[March Climber]

I'm a huge fan of these, but it's hard to want to carry something like this around when the Switch and Steam Deck exist. Love these that have wifi, so you can use Retroarch and other various emulators to unlock retro achievements. ES-DE is a really great front end that helps to tie the whole thing together.

I like them because they satisfy a niche of a niche, which is a portable machine for those who feel that the Switch and especially Steam Deck are simply too huge.

I just keep hoping that one of these companies tries the PSP Go sliding form factor. One of them came close but it ended up being huge and using that space for a keyboard (which is still a pretty creative usage but didn't make it smaller). We already have these companies emulating the form factors of the PSP, Vita, NDS(Clamshell), GB, GBA, GBA SP, and even the Gameboy Micro, but no one is even daring to attempt an actual PSP Go.

 

[Holammer]

Checked the TechDweeb video, very impressive balance of features/price/performance.
I'm not into handhelds at all, but I could almost imagine having one so I can finally play GBA games. They look so bad on a monitor.

TechDweeb's cartoon avatar looks like one of the patients in Amateur Surgeon.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Yeah…addicted to theses things too. Put in an order for the white one (super fami buttons) a while back and watched some reviews this week…that black one looks sleek af in the reviews.

 

[calistan]

Literally the only device I have that isn't OLED is the Analogue Pocket and the black levels on it are just unfortunate.

Never had a problem with the Pocket display because I’ve only really used it for Game Boy stuff, where you never had any deep blacks. It seems a small deal on such a tiny screen.

 

[yet_another_alt]

I know these things are basically limited phones buy it always amazes me how cheap they are for what they can do.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

I'm probably getting one. I've waited so long for a no-compromise one, and despite a new one seemingly releasing any other week, none seemed to get everything right.

The RP5 seems to check all the boxes. It has video out, a large OLED screen, can apparently handle Saturn all right. Ample compatibility for 6th gen games, can run a bunch of relevant 3DS games and even a few Switch ones. And it looks sleek as fuck.

Yeah, I realize Android has its limits and that stuff like the Deck or the AYN devices can do a lot more, but those are also way chunkier and more expensive. Switch simply cannot offer the same library unless you mod it someway, and it has a worse screen anyway.

 

[El Muerto]

Last Retroid i bought was the pocket 2. I may get this one since it can dual boot both Android and Linux. Right now i got the powkiddy x55 and R36s which are great for up to 32bit systems but now i'm wanting something that can do Switch and PS2 that can fit in my pocket.

 

[Hugare]

I've got an Odin 2 and it's my favorite handheld ever

Can play from NES to Switch/PC games. It's glorious. Dont think I'll upgrade anytime soon.

Pocket 5 looks good. Hardware could be better, but the form factor and build quality is excellent.

 

[drotahorror]

I preordered during minute 1. Can't wait. Deck is way too cumbersome.

 

[ArtHands]

I'm a huge fan of these, but it's hard to want to carry something like this around when the Switch and Steam Deck exist. Love these that have wifi, so you can use Retroarch and other various emulators to unlock retro achievements. ES-DE is a really great front end that helps to tie the whole thing together.

The PS Portal has less use than this and still can find its audience, so there.

This is lighter and smaller than the SD, and Switch can't play numerous retro games like those on PS2. It's purely for retro gamers who doesn't play the latest games.

 

[Insolent]

For widescreen games Odin 2 or Odin 2 Portal is better
For 4:3 games something like Retroid 2S is enough

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

For widescreen games Odin 2 or Odin 2 Portal is better
For 4:3 games something like Retroid 2S is enough

4:3 gets a lot of screen estate on the RP5.
Odin 2 is clearly more powerful, but the price/performance ratio of the RP5 is excellent.

 

[Superbean]

For widescreen games Odin 2 or Odin 2 Portal is better
For 4:3 games something like Retroid 2S is enough

Odin 2 has a dog shit terrible smeary screen that looks terrible in motion. And it's ips.
The Odin 2 mini has a much better screen.

That being said, you cannot compare ips to OLED, it's just not a fair comparison. The worst OLED destroys the best IPS screen.

Portal isn't going to be out until January at the earliest, and with Chinese New Year they likely aren't going to be shipping many until March. If you don't already have a pre-order, you won't be getting it until April at best.

Portal is the ultimate non pocketable handheld for retro and Android. With 120hz, bfi will be beautiful on that huge screen.

I'm knee deep in handhelds, I love them all. Ridiculous hobby. Can't wait for my rp5

 

[jshackles]

Full review from Retro Game Corps

 

[BennyBlanco]

Full review from Retro Game Corps

This guys channel has cost me so much money.

 

[jshackles]

This guys channel has cost me so much money.

You and him together just cost me about $300 for this + the dock.

 

[Imru’ al-Qays]

Might spring for this, I bought a Steam Deck a while back but it's just too unwieldy. All I really care about is playing PS2 games, I've got a Vita and a 3DS for everything else

 

[diffusionx]

I haven't pulled the trigger on any of these devices but I am not sure I would want one with a 16x9 screen. I would rather get one with a square or 4:3 screen. But then I guess you get a 16x9 one for systems like PSP...

 

[drotahorror]

Tomorrow boys!

 

[drotahorror]

I haven't pulled the trigger on any of these devices but I am not sure I would want one with a 16x9 screen. I would rather get one with a square or 4:3 screen. But then I guess you get a 16x9 one for systems like PSP...

4x3 OLED

 

[diffusionx]

4x3 OLED

that looks great but $200 is a lot.

 

[StereoVsn]

that looks great but $200 is a lot.

If you don’t require OLED and can live with a bit less power, Anbernic 406v is good. If you do need OLED, RG556 are pretty decent.

Mind you, neither will be as good as this one, but they are running for like $140.

 

[SF Kosmo]

I think I might be more interested in the mini, since I don't see the widescreen making much sense for emulation and a more pocketable form factor is probably a bigger benefit. They seem to have the same specs for the most part otherwise.

I have currently been rocking a Raspberry Pi-based handheld which is cool for the broad support and user experience but it's a little jank and sometimes requires annoying trouble shooting and it lacks basic QoL things like a battery meter.

ES-DE is a game changer and makes me a lot more interested in an Android handheld.

 

[keefged4]

I am tempted. But with all these handhelds, I always spend a long time setting them up, trying them out for 5 minutes and then never using them again, always going back to the deck tbh.

 

[drotahorror]

that looks great but $200 is a lot.

If you just need something simple with a bright screen that can play up to PS1 games. Can't go wrong with the RG35XX

 

[diffusionx]

If you just need something simple with a bright screen that can play up to PS1 games. Can't go wrong with the RG35XX

I actually would want it for Saturn and PSX games, and would want dual analogs so I could play all PSX games.

 

[Bruno_Arrais85]

I will keep the 4 pro around until Valve decides to release the Steam deck 2 or something.

Those devices are nice, if you don't have one buy it!

 

[rodrigolfp]

MEH, Android.

 

[U n i o n 0015]

I got an RP Mini and loved it so much that I've got a GC colored RP5 on the way.

 

[fbnaulin]

MEH, Android.

It's dual boot, Linux/Android.

 

[Caffeine]

I really like the design of the system. dunno if I'll upgrade I still use my rp3+ all the time. Like I have to use a global emulator patch to get most ps2 games playable state on it. and some games a graphics downgrade patch like shadow the collossus.

 

[Rodolink]

i follow these things too, I'm in s quest to collect the best per platform, I'm still holding the trigger for the best GCN/PS2 one, I think this is pretty close if only for not having a 4:3 screen, 5" would be best. But no they had to make the mini with shitty 3.7" 4:3
Maybe next year

 

[SF Kosmo]

MEH, Android.

They ported Emulation Station to Android now which means you can get much more cohesive experience out of it now.

 

[ValiantTraveler]

I'm fascinated by the rapid evolution of these handhelds. The designs are becoming sleeker and more premium.

Are these consoles durable? I mean after several years of using them regularly.

 

[CobraAB]

Looks nice but rather underpowered.

 

[jshackles]

Anyone get theirs yet?

 

[Rodolink]

I'm fascinated by the rapid evolution of these handhelds. The designs are becoming sleeker and more premium.

Are these consoles durable? I mean after several years of using them regularly.

depends on the brand, Ambernic are pretty sturdy. miyoo and powkiddy usually feel way cheaper. but they all use shitty batteries, after a year one of them died and had to get replacement

 

[apple_of_enlightenment]

I had a Retroid 4 pocket pro. It lags pretty badly for emulated games even SNES. Maybe it's ok for RPGs GC/PS2 games where latency isn't as important.

Got an Analogue Pocket now and controls are very tight.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Anybody get one?

 

[jshackles]

Anybody get one?

Mine actually just arrived today!

(But my wife already took it from the mailbox, wrapped it, and put it under the tree)

 

[PanzerCute]

I had a Retroid 4 pocket pro. It lags pretty badly for emulated games even SNES. Maybe it's ok for RPGs GC/PS2 games where latency isn't as important.

Got an Analogue Pocket now and controls are very tight.

I have the RP4Pro and almost every games run fine, weird. I even finished PS2 or GC games with 3x the resolution and 60 fps with no issue.

 

[U n i o n 0015]

Anybody get one?

I got mine last week. It's fantastic.

 

[Rocky_Balboa]

How is Linux running on this? Would it run older/lightweight PC games? Like Caves of Qud, Witcher 1 & 2 etc.

 

[U n i o n 0015]

How is Linux running on this? Would it run older/lightweight PC games? Like Caves of Qud, Witcher 1 & 2 etc.

I think there's a beta port of Rocknix...and yes, you can run some older PC games through Winlator.

Linux is mentioned in the Retro Game Corps review.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Snagged a mini and a 5. The mini is too tiny for my hands and ended up selling it.

Both handhelds have fantastic screens and while the 5 is larger than the mini I still struggle with the button sizes, both the face buttons and the dpad.

Aesthetically though, the 5 (in all black anyway) is beautiful to look at.