2toneRetroid Pocket 2S now live. What's your preferred handheld for retro gaming?
The Linux devices are fantastic. For Android, are you using Daijisho? It’s an excellent solution
Double_AGood to see that hall effect analog sticks are starting to become mainstream.
LazaroFilmWhy is this on my front page 5 months too late. RP3+ is now out…
suprjamiThis is a new release. I haven’t kept up on details but it looks like a cheaper re-shell of the 2+ with the analogs moved to the bottom.
They said in the launch email:
The Unisoc T610 delivers a much more powerful performance than RP2+
Whether that’s true or not, well have to wait and see.
NDS :)
Imagine an adaptor that connects a second small screen via HDMI. I wonder if the device is capable is sending two different signals to the screen and HDMI port… that would be an instant buy.
Meanwhile I do DS on my iPhone with Delta and an active capacitive stylus.
Vita for me, does everything I want.
I love following these Chinese handhelds but there is always one deal-breaker which turns me off in each device. Maybe they’ll get it right one day.
I owned a GP2x back in the day, that was a fun device at the time. Playing portable SNES was unheard of but I could do it.
Same, I’ve been dabbling in these handhelds for about a year or so now and I always tend to go right back to the Vita, it’s such a solid device.
Same here! It has wonderful buttons, a gorgeous screen, long battery life, comfy form factor (compared to other handhelds, at least), plus is powerful enough to handle anything I’d want to use it for. If/when I pick up a Steam Deck I suspect I’ll use that more, but for pocket-sized handhelds the vita can’t be beat imo.
Wiat, I have a vita, how do I get retro games on it? Specifically snes games.
vita.hacks.guide has all the info you need to hack your vita. From there just install retroarch, put your roms on, and you’re good to go.
I also had a GP2x. Would be nice to play with it still but unfortunately it doesn’t turn on anymore. No idea what’s wrong with it. Though it also had a rubbish joystick so would need to fix that too in order to make it playable.
Mine has a similar problem, it would turn on under AC power but not battery. Maybe capacitors? I’m not sure I still have it anymore.
The joystick was terrible I agree. I loved the mods people did adding the Neo Geo Pocket joystick or a d-pad but they looked too difficult for me.
GreenCrushGP2X? That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.
nolanniceI use the Retroid Pocket 3, but I really just want something in the same form factor that can reliably emulate GameCube.
QuarterSwedeThat’s what I’m holding out for too. Once they can reliably emulate 99% of the GC catalog I’m in. I’m saving up so I may be at the steam deck price before that happens. Lol.
To be honest I am extremely happy with my N3DS and Steam Deck. The second can let me change between a 40 years old game in a game released last month in a few seconds.
StiltonfonduShame it’s android only
Not really. Android has been doing great in terms of emulation.
Why? You can install Dajisho and it’s great.
I just prefer an open source Linux/community supported OS so my handheld won’t be left to die like my old Nvidia Shield Portable.
I’m not dissing Retroid devices but the Android only thing puts me off buying one
Yeah that makes sense. On the other hand I see drivers are more optimized for android. I have an orange Pi Zero 2 that does both android and Armbian, the android versions are much more efficient than the Linux ones.
I don’t think there will ever be a perfect OS or hardware in this marketplace. Everyone is chasing a white whale. I’ve been doing it since the GP32x and I’d buy every damn device that came out if I didn’t have some rules for myself.
I’ve currently got the Miyoo Mini which is great but a bit too tiny for me. So I went and got the MM+ which seems perfect for now at least…….
I agree with you, this turns me off buying any of these devices too. I look after my stuff and keep it for a long time, so I don’t want something the manufacturer is going to forget about and never update again after 6 months.
FedegenerateMy preferred handheld is the only one I’ve got: RG35XX, the only thing, I play a lot of, that it struggles with is Future Cop LAPD.
I’ll eventually upgrade when a relatively flawless PS2 device hits my relatively low budget, or I get a Steam Deck. Until then I have other money sinks.
AcornCarnageI have a RG35XX and a RG353M. I feel guilty about it, but I typically prefer playing on the XX and have to force myself to use the M sometimes. The XX is a great device even if it lacks some power.
RxBradI’m happy with my RP3+. Surprisingly, I mostly use it to stream PC & PS5 games.
But the retro games are all there when I decide to quit playing Yakuza Kiwami…
I like being able to do both those things too. Stream when possible. Local otherwise
SentinianMy steam deck is kinda perfect for retro gaming. But this handheld looks neat too, so I might check it out.
My RP2+ is…dying. 😭 Paint is dinged and chipped, sticks drift, and the R1 button just…stopped working. I’m not dying to upgrade to a 3+, so this is right up my alley. Better analog stick placement, and hull sensor analog sticks fix my two main complaints I had with the 2+.
The best retro gaming console is the one you already own. Any old hand-me-down or thrift office PC can handle the majority of retro titles, as can most consoles with custom firmware.
If you already own anything from the DS-3DS-PSP-Vita lineups you should be looking into making the most of the hardware you already own.
That being said, my partner is very happy with their Deck, and I’m pretty pleased with my RG351V running ArkOS. I’ve also been very happy with running my RP3B+ with Retropie.
But to be very honest, I don’t do a damn thing that my gaming PC two builds ago, and my PSP1000 I’ve had since high school wouldn’t be able to handle with flying colors.
The best retro gaming console is the one you already own.
As a former user of the original Retroid Pocket 2 I strongly disagree.
Many handhelds after that one improved a ton IMHO.
Currently I am settled for up to PSX games with my Miyoo Mini and my Anbernic RG351v, but I still want a more capable one, GCN, Wii and PS2 would be desirable.
I was more making a point about people already owning capable machines in regards to the consoles, PCs, old smartphones etc they already own being capable emulation machines.
Someone should try and rule out what they already have before buying one of the SBC-style handhelds. It’s more economical, prevents more e-waste, reparability is way more accessible on other hardware than SBCs, etc.
PS2, GC, Wii compatibility is a good point. The only argument I have against that is just going to devolve into Old Man Yells At Clouds so I’ll let you win on that.
Yeah I hear you, you got some good points, actually I would recommend for everyone who is very doubtful about this niche market to use their Android phone with a controller, that way they get a glance of what the experience would be (and any current phone is powerful enough to run plenty of stuff tbh).
tommyRg35xx
Same here, I find I use my RG35xx more than my RG353M. It's just so easy to use with garlicOS.
Personally I prefer using my smartphone that has all the power (and memory) needed for emulation in combination with a controller like the Gamesir X2 Pro
codiefzThe green one is such a beauty, especially if one were to install the black buttons.
Can’t justify buying one though since I already have a 2+ which has been running fine for more than a year now
There seems to be a green and purple transparent plastic trend going on at the moment and I’m totally into it
I tend to play on my AYN Odin Pro, but I also like my RG351V for certain games and my ROG Ally has VRR, which is neat for getting the weird refresh rates to match old consoles.
Odin is so amazing. It’s still a great purchase now. I have the Lite
jecxjoJust recently picked up an RG353V. Works great though I have come to realize that the GameBoy form factor doesn’t do well for dual analog sticks and trigger buttons. Playing Doom on it runs amazing but the way you hold it feels off. Same process as the landscape devices, pressed between your palms, but it feels less stable.
Other than that I’ve been basically playing it every night.
I printed this grip for mine and it feels so much better. I also replaced the triggers with the ones from Better Buttons.
Great now i need to buy a 3D printer
Lmao. I won’t try to convince you otherwise. They’re pretty cool. If you don’t want to spend the money (and depending how much money you spend there’s an inverse correlation to how much tinkering you’ll have to do. Cheaper = way more work), you can have people on Etsy print them for you. There’s also entire sites dedicated to printing things for people for pretty cheap.
That was probably only $0.20 in plastic, buuuutr… I did put like $1000 into my printer, plus dozens of hours learning how to use it properly.
Oh i was mostly joking. I’ve been on the fence about buying one as i could make housings for electronics and radio projects i design and build. Maybe end of the year.
VaryagI really want one of these, or something similar in the near future. A Steam Deck would be nice, but that’s much more expensive and hard to get here. Honestly I just want my PC’s emulation power, but in a form I can lay down in bed and play while chilling. I usually go with my Switch Lite for that, but having access to hundreds of retro emulated games would be even better!
If you have the right device with wifi, you can stream from your PC. I do that a lot. It’s a great solution for gaming generally but no reason it wouldn’t be excellent for emulation too
BrainsickThe Miyoo Mini+ is perfect for me. Runs everything I want to play extremely well, and has Wifi for Retro Achievements!
FullOfBallooonsMy handhelds of choice are the Analogue Pocket, the AYN Odin, and the Steam Deck. All three of them are awesome in their own way, and honestly I’m happy there are so many cool options nowadays for portable gaming.
christopheriusI use my DSi to play emulated games. It works for what I want to play so far.
DagonPieI recently picked up the Miyoo Mini+ as well as Retroid pocket flip. Honestly the Miyoo is so much better being Linux based. So much easier to get going. The only thing I prefer the flip is it can play DS games and a handful of gamecube/ps2 games. Its also more comfortable for playing PS1 games. But I have been exclusively picking up the Miyoo Mini+ to play most things. They are both great handhelds, but like I said. The set up for the Miyoo Mini+ was like 5 minutes versus the couple hours its taken me with the Retroid pocket flip.
The Linux devices are fantastic. For Android, are you using Daijisho? It’s an excellent solution
Yes I am! It makes the interface much much nicer. But was another thing I had to set up and get working properly compared to the linux device. It was much more of a project than a pick up and play. Not a bad thing for me but for someone who is new to handhelds, is a good thing to be up front about.
I love my RG35XX. I’ll stick with this until we have handhelds that can play the full (or at least most) PS2/Gamecube libraries.
Yeah, the Steam Deck is probably the best option for those atm
Oh right! I totally forgot about the Steam Deck (somehow). Yeah, I’d definitely like one of those at some point.
love my RG353M, can’t really see how the form factor for a pocketable horizontal device could be improved beyond it, besides a more powerful chip of course.