Recently, Retroid asked if I’d be interested in reviewing their latest handheld, the Pocket 6.
This one is particularly interesting because, due to what I’ve been calling the “RAM apocalypse,” prices have increased and the 12GB version of the device has been discontinued. On top of that, Retroid also had to scrap an entire handheld (the Pocket G2 pictured below), which came in my favorite color, turquoise, and has now disappeared as well :(
These are just some of the many victims in the retro handheld scene lately. Prices are rising across the board, and specs are likely to trend downward in the near future.
Keeping all of that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to take a different approach in the beginning of my review: speaking to developers from various projects to get their perspective on how viable 8GB is now and in the long term. I spoke with devs from GameNative, GameHub, Eden, Retroid, and more. Asking how they thought 8GB would be with running PC games on the RP6.
(I mean, just look at how beautifully it upscales PSP games!! This screenshot from Daxter just amazed me)
The rest of the article is my full review of the RP6, and it really is impressive. If you’re focused on emulating platforms like Switch, along with lighter (older) and indie PC games, as well as upscaled PS2, Wii U and so on, then 8GB will be more than sufficient. The only real bottleneck, unsurprisingly, is that RAM when it comes to newer PC emulation.
If you’re interested, you can read my review of it here:
https://gardinerbryant.com/hands-on-with-the-retroid-pocket-6-the-8gb-sweet-spot/
…and naturally if you have any questions on it at all, feel free to ask!
I got a 5 when they were new, and I have been in love with it ever since. I’m sure the 6 is even better. I had been considering getting a 6 for the extra RAM for PC emulation, but, well… Not an option anymore. I’ll probably play games on the 5 until it falls apart. Not that I expect it to fall apart any time soon, mine is in great shape.
I also got the optional second screen for DS/3DS games. It works! Makes the whole thing more bulky and hard to carry with you though, so it’s not common that I actually use it so far.
I don’t think I play enough retro games to warrant owning one of these, and if I was to buy a handheld it’d probably be a Steam Deck. But they are such nice objects I kinda want one anyway.
Great article as always, I love your content. I especially appreciated the developer interviews about the 8GB RAM limitations.
I always think about buying the Ayn Thor.
I do have the money to buy it but I debate always if I’d use it more than a more general device like my phone or my already existing SteamDeck.On the one hand, it’s way more portable than a steamdeck but 300€ isnt free money either ;-;
My recommendation: If you’d buy a laptop to play on the couch, etc. etc. that isnt your desk with your PC, than a steamdeck might be worth it.
If you primarily play mouse games like shooters: It’s complicated. IMO it’s more meant for gamepad games or at best in a dock with a mouse/keyboard separatly.Thank you Coelacanth!!!
I don’t think I play enough retro games to warrant owning one of these
The joke is that 90% of the people who buy these don’t either! They just spend all their time setting things up ‘just so’, setting up new front-ends, tweaking settings, scraping covers then curating ROMs lists :P
The joke is that 90% of the people who buy these don’t either! They just spend all their time setting things up ‘just so’, setting up new front-ends, tweaking settings, scraping covers then curating ROMs lists :P
How DARE you to call me out like that >:(
I’m curating my ROMs as I type this
I feel attacked.
Jokes aside, I did spend a couple weeks setting it up and now I’m just enjoying the fruits of my labor.
I really want one!
Im waiting for Retroid to make a new flip :3
I’m waiting (and waiting and waiting) on mine. I got it mostly for GameCube, but looking forward to some PSP and PS2 as well.
I went with the orange because I always wanted a Spice colored GC. This is as close as I will ever get.
GameCube performed so beautifully, you won’t regret it for a second! And if you have any GCN game recommendations for me, send them over!
I’ll tell you which games I’m most looking forward to revisiting:
- X-Men Legends
- Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and etc.
- Eternal Darkness
- Pikmin
- Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
And then a couple that I don’t think I ever played:
- Geist
- Sphinx & the Curse Mummy
I mostly bought it to play CEMU, Dolphin and Eden, but ended mostly going through my Steam/gog catalog with Game Native.
While less powerful, I prefer it to the Steam Deck by size.
I share this opinion. My Steam Deck is great, but it gets heavy after a while. GameNative has been great for indie titles. I’ve been playing Tape to Tape, Cassette Beasts, Blasphemous, Valfaris… I’m also surprised at how well the battery holds out on a charge.
Add Balatro there and we’ve been playing the same games.
How is Balatro on it? The game text is already so small.
I’ve played many maybe hours of Balatro on the rp5 without any issues.
Yeah, I’m not worried about how it plays so much as how it feels. I’m old and I don’t want to strain to read tiny text.
Plays as if it was native. Just beware of time and space.
The battery life of the deck is what makes me wonder about these. Mine is such a pig despite all the tweaks.
For simple indies I can usually squeeze out 5-7 hours if I dial back the TDP and GPU clock. Do you have the LCD or OLED Deck?
It’s an LCD. I definitely don’t get that long of a runtime. Maybe I should go over settings again…
Yeah, I had the LCD initially and then upgraded to the OLED. That 6nm revision, OLED display, and increased battery capacity really contribute to much longer gameplay in my experience.
I’ll let Utkarsh know that it is GameNative you’ve been enjoying the most on there!
I’ve been thoroughly loving my PSP game library on mine :)
The PSP has a surprisingly robust library, it cost me sweat and tears to beat the first Patapon. Vita has few interesting titles, though unfortunately emulation isn’t yet there.
Some Vita titles are working a dream, but you’re right…it needs time and care to get it to what we’re used to on other systems! I just reviewed the Anbernic RG Vita Pro a week or so ago, and some of those games ran so well. First time I’d ever played Gravity Rush and I’m now obsessed!
@PerfectDark Oh wow, I love that this thing is slightly smaller than the Switch Lite. I sure wish I could afford this…
The size is wonderful. Having the same screen size as the Switch Lite, but being AMOLED and 120Hz means it is ‘the’ way to enjoy Switch games. Still, if you wait and keep an eye on the second-hand market as time goes by! The RP5 is also absolutely adored by the public and I have seen multiple posts on a few social media spaces where people get them at great prices when second-hand!
Sheesh I only got the 4 pro. I’ll wait for the 8 tho. Still happy with mine
I just got the G2 before they discontinued it. I was worried there would be a long wait for the 6 to ship. That said, I really am impressed with the quality of Retroid hardware, and I imagine it’s no different with the 6 and that beautiful 120Hz display.
The crazy thing to me is how much I love this device. I was sent a Odin 3 Max to review toward the end of last year, which is by all metrics a far, far more powerful and capable handheld. But using them side-by-side, Retroid just nails that ‘fun’ feeling and aesthetic that the more mature designs and looks miss (if that makes any sense?!)
It is truly a lovely handheld, and you’d know that with the G2! My friend from Retroid told me they do hope to bring them back, one day, but who knows how that’ll go with current market conditions :(
^ That sparkling color in the front glass front is just perfection!!!
Which color G2 did you opt for?
I initially wanted the black model but it was out of stock. I ended up going with the 16Bit style. No regrets.
Oh you made the right choice! I’ve had a few black handhelds I have reviewed, but I have long since started asking for other colors. The black (at least with glass fronts) smudge and fingerprint soooooo much
Your 16bit colors are much nicer!
Great article, thank you!
Thank you so much!
Glad you enjoyed it :)
