4 Reasons to Buy an Analogue Pocket and 5 Not to

[@dscott9770]

I really enjoyed this video, but I must point out… You can actually switch between roms without backing out by going to Core Settings>Load Cartridge, then it will bring up your rom list.

[@chrisguess]

Oh no, I thought I had tried everything and I always ended up back at the main menu! Thanks for pointing it out, I’ve pinned your comment.

[@rjlindeman]

@@chrisguess ah was going to make the same comment, especially at the arcade cores this is handy because it gives you 'looks arcade' instead of roms, giving you a better view

[@chrisguess]

I guess I need to spend a bit more time with it, still early days.

[@Daremo123]

Very much agree with the volume thing. When you find a volume you like you can only tell where you're at if you go into the settings menu. A number would be so nice.

[@chrisguess]

Hopefully they will add it in an update

[@oliviercrenier3184]

I just got mine mid december and I must say I'm blown away by the screen. Finally I can play my Metroid Zero Mission in top conditions on the go with my cartridge (I could have done it with the gamecube if i bought a super gameboy adapter... but on TV) I must say I'm glad to play my old cartridges, but being able to play others console with fpga is a great bonus (as some systems/cartridge are now so expensive or so difficult to find) Not perfect, expensive but right now, it's the Ultimate "Gameboy (Advance)" P.S. I live in Belgium and had (bad surprise) to pay 58€ for import taxes.

[@chrisguess]

Yes for sure the ultimate GBA, although I did always like the OG landscape form factor. Maybe I’m biased as I brought it on release.

[@niplob]

honestly my fully modded usb c amp and ips display gba does perfectly fine

[@다마스강-b2h]

Thanks for your opinion.

[@chrisguess]

No problem

[@davidmartineziii7343]

I just got the notification yesterday that mine shipped and boy was I taken back! I was able to sneak into the pre-order window back in early Dec 2021. I’m quite excited to try ALL of my games with it that it can play 😁 I know that the fpga consoles are definitely not cheap, when this one went up into the grapevine whispers, I made sure that this one was the one for me to have. Your points are very much in line with most of what I’ve researched and I can concur with what you’ve presented. At the end of the day, I just want something nice to play my game boy games on (and the like) and not have to mod the heck out of old consoles myself in order to achieve that. Thank you for your review!

[@DBDickerson]

That seem across the casing makes me feel like I'm not being kept out of opening the device up. Handhelds all went downhill when they started locking up the insides.

[@chrisguess]

Yeah I know what you mean, it’s nice to crack open a GameBoy every now and then.

[@hotcoffeebreath]

Thanks for taking the time to put this video together. Much appreciated. Any obvious pros or cons in choosing the white or black pocket? I prefer white as it nods to the original ipod or GB DMG (yes i know GB wasn't white 😆), but I'm wondering whether black is more forgiving regarding hiding letterboxing on GBA or other formats that have an aspect ratio leaning more in the landscape direction? 🕊️+❤

[@chrisguess]

I only have the black one, but I would imagine you would be correct in terms of the letterboxing being less obvious on the black one. That said I kind of wish I had gone for the white one, the black one shows fingerprints and smudges really easily. I also love the OG iPod aesthetic, that’s what I was going for with my modded GBC.

[@hotcoffeebreath]

@@chrisguess ahh interesting point... hmm, tough decision! Wish I had the money to buy both 😆. If I'm honest I barely have the money to buy one!

[@hotcoffeebreath]

I checked on analog website yesterday and black pockets were listed as sold out, so I QUICKLY placed my order for white pocket and dock, and pre-ordered the adapter set! A lot of money but I am fascinated to try this meeting of modern and classic, I couldn't resist!

[@billyseifert9074]

Really enjoy your videos keep it up!! I’m using a hacked Psvita 1000 and I love it a lot but after watching this video I’ve been looking into the pocket but now I might just have to pick one up

[@chrisguess]

Thanks, I’m making the as quick as I can. Quality not quantity. Vita is so good but the so is the Pocket, sometimes you just need both!

[@realmchat6665]

Good review, appreciate the honesty - subbed.

[@chrisguess]

Thanks, I always give my honest opinion.

[@jajabinx35]

The question is.... Would you rather play games on the pocket or on the original hardware with the modded screen? Honest answer?

[@RolandKoller90]

I’d like to hear that as well. That modded gb advance looks nice.

[@chrisguess]

This question really got me thinking, I think I’m gonna make a video…

[@bigjohn3038]

Love the look of this!.... Order placed! I wonder how long I will have to wait!?!

[@chrisguess]

It’s cool, but it may be some time.

[@Hellmiauz]

Cool and all. Some folks stressing over software emulation...as if they could tell the difference. These old consoles have been emulated to perfection long ago.

[@chrisguess]

Yeah, I tend to agree but to each their own and at least with this you’ve got the choice.

[@Hellmiauz]

@@chrisguess right on!

[@SEVENTEENPOINT1]

I thought the same then I picked up my GBA and there is a difference. Sure emulation is very close to perfect especially for GBA/GBC/GB but there is delay on input with emulation.

[@P3ARL3R]

You made a complaint that when you quit the game inside of a core it goes to the main menu. While that is true If you go to core settings you can load up a different title within the core you are running!

[@chrisguess]

Yep my bad, I thought I had tried everything but apparently not. At least I know now 😭!

[@mariusguttelvik7087]

Hi man, Nice video, but how is it with headset on these?:) can u use a Wireless one?

[@chrisguess]

Honestly I haven’t used it with a headset attached yet. No Bluetooth support though so 3.5mm only.

[@fryke]

Nintendo's GBs feature a volume wheel. "So you know where you are on the scale physically." No, you don't. If you're somewhere in the middle, nothing indicates whether you're at 20, 50 or 80%. All you can do is turn it up to reach the max or turn it down to reach zero to guesstimate anything inbetween. In that way, it's _exactly_ like Analogue's volume buttons. And in real life, it _truly_ doesn't matter whether you're at 75 or 68 percent of the volume range, all that matters is to set it to your liking, which you can.

[@cMARVEL360]

You can tell that stupid people with OCD suffer a lot huh? 😅

[@chrisguess]

Ok fair point, but max and min can be done without looking and then 50% is reasonably easy, there or there about. I agree exact percentage doesn’t matter but give me a clue. Lots of other people have also mentioned it so it must be a thing.

[@Elrinth]

@06:15 -> pretty sure you can switch "game cartridges" for the cores inside the OPTIONS menu. meaning, you do not have to quit back to the main menu. but yes, it could have been there in the first menu instead of being under options. the rest of your points are valid and I totally agree... but I wish the design was horizontal instead of vertical and similar to the original GBA. I bought 2x of everything (except the clear case) and ended up with 240 pounds customs taxes here in Sweden. When I bougth the Ananlogue NT I got super taxed and had to pay 300 pounds for a single NT. They had done wrong at the tax office, but couldn't fix it. Pissed me off beyond. Also everyone else here who bought the same thing got RANDOM tax amount. For the exact same item. Swedens customs taxes is the most broken shit of everything.

[@chrisguess]

I wish I knew this before. I have pinned a comment saying the same thing from another commenter. At least I can now switch easier. I agree it should be default. I totally get the horizontal thing, I too much prefer the OG GBA form factor. I only got an SP in the last few months and don't really care for the form factor. Maybe because it's not the one I grew up with, who knows. Import duty is a killer. I was looking at an NT but not sure I want to wait all that time and pay the money.

[@vSwiftNinja]

Can’t decide.. Q5 ips modded Gamboy color or Analogue pocket.

[@chrisguess]

That’s how I ended up with both 😭

[@Xanduur]

I have had my pocket for six months and just realized I have never taken the plastic half of the screen!

[@chrisguess]

I left mine on until I shot the video!

[@redsavarin3754]

Is pretty good I just ordered it I never try it but I tell you it's ok or not.

[@chrisguess]

Hope you like it, you might be in for a wait.

[@redsavarin3754]

@@chrisguess it take you a year to get it?

[@redsavarin3754]

Do I have to wait 2023? Or it take a month or week?

[@chrisguess]

You will have to wait until 2023, the order page will say what part.

[@chrisguess]

Yes a little over.

[@wf2073]

Why can't a purchase the Analogue Pocket and the Pocket Adapter Set together? When you select one and then the other on their website it won't let you order both. It will say "Not available with your order."

[@wf2073]

Anyone response?

[@chrisguess]

Not sure, you would have to ask Analogue. I don’t have any adapters.

[@wf2073]

I have to have the adapter for turbo express. I would buy this system in a heartbeat if I could order the pocket and adapter. :(

[@chrisguess]

Does seem weird, maybe the are shipped from different locations 🤷‍♂️

[@wf2073]

@@chrisguess Thanks for replying. I took a screen shot but can't post it. I select the pocket and then try to select the Adapter Set and it say "Not available with your order. This is before I enter any of my info. I tried reaching out to them with no luck. Also, on Amazon, the pocket cost alone $750-$800. LOL

[@edgarm8933]

I want to purchase this but will I be able to play my Pokémon gameboy color games with save ? I have a gameboy color but can’t play Pokémon due to it not saving anymore.

[@mimicknight1165]

Think they added onboard saves for the cartridges called memories. Instead of saving gamesaves on the cart it's saved on the sd card, they made it to fix the problem of dead battery saves

[@chrisguess]

You can definitely play Pokémon on it, although if your game won’t save any more that suggests to me that the battery is dead, and therefore you may have already lost the save on the cartridge.

[@hooky17]

"It's called the Pocket, but doesn't really fit in your pocket" - proceeds to show clip of it comfortably sliding in to pocket 😆 just joking of course. Really useful review / pros-cons. Thanks for putting this together

[@chrisguess]

Fair point, difficult to show uncomfortably not fitting in a pocket. It fits but I still wouldn’t say pocketable. Glad it got a laugh. 👍🏻

[@hooky17]

@@chrisguess yeah of course. Totally appreciate that, just having a giggle. In truth that’s actually good to know as it’s not something I’ve heard mentioned in any of these other ‘glowing’ reviews

[@chrisrichfield8906]

@@chrisguess i think the price and rarity of the console kind of makes it feel less pocketable, because it feels risky to walk around with it in your pocket.

[@CalaTec]

Question for the reader: Is emulation of other platforms aside from GB/GBC also FPGA or other platforms are emulated through software?

[@chrisguess]

All FPGA I believe

[@android01978]

A good reason not to buy one is because you may never get one. I ordered mine March last year and it still hasn’t shipped. For $750AUD, I feel pretty disappointed.

[@chrisguess]

Shipping times are brutal, so it may still be on the way.

[@doricdream498]

No mention of the atrocious speakers that distort everything above minimal volume, or the complete dysfunctionality of savestates? Theres a lot going for the pocket, but it also has some incredibly damning flaws which no one ever seems to point out.

[@hooky17]

So you're saying, they're an accurate representation of the OG hardware that also had horrific speakers?

[@mirabilis]

@@hooky17 ...and no savestates. ;)

[@chrisguess]

Yeah, compare in the speakers on this to say the original GameBoy advance. This is a definite improvement even if they’re not amazing. I was willing to give save states a bit of a pass for now because it’s very new, but I agree it’s not great and hey nothing is perfect I guess.

[@chrisguess]

😭

[@doricdream498]

@@chrisguess not really. the kind of distortion im talking about is very different. specifically im talking about clipping, which happens on the analogue pocket regardless of system being played. its especially noticeable with nes games, as higher notes sound very distorted on even medium volume. gba samples are obviously low quality and very compressed, but that's a different issue entirely. this thing cannot handle volume period regardless of system.

[@tahirahmed33]

Can it play multi ROM GB / GBA carts ?

[@Prime-1111X]

Yes!

[@chrisguess]

What they said ☝🏻

[@TarikA]

The interface is alright and the fact that it's so simple pays into being booted up in literally 4 seconds which is amazing. The size is absolutely perfect for me. I hate that Miyoo and Anbernic are all trying to be as small as possible with their Game Boy clones while I always felt the original DMG (which is about the same size as the Analogue Pocket) is perfect in terms of ergonomics. I can play with my Analogue Pocket for hours. I can't with my GBC or Miyoo Mini Plus. Also the volume buttons don't bother me. What bothers me are things you didn't even count as disadvantages: - FPGA while it is awesome, unfortunately means: No save states in all cores (only a few), no fast forwarding and no retro achievements - Analogue is so freakin' damn slow with their firmware updates. Where is the library feature for openFPGA? Where are the display modes for openFPGA? Where is the real time clock for FPGA? Where is the ability to backup images from the Game Boy Camera (I know you can make screenshots)? It all takes just forever...

[@Dave01Rhodes]

If you do want to back up GameBoy Camera images (as well as saves and even flash bootleg carts) you can get one of several GB cart USB readers on the market. My favorite is the GB Joey Jr at $40. It can read GB camera images and is very easy to use. The GB Operator and GBxCart RW are in the same price range and have similar features.

[@TarikA]

@@Dave01Rhodes Yeah, got a GBxCart RW for a few months and am super happy with it. It also has a built in Camera export tool.

[@ITPhilK]

Still waiting on mine… still… waiting.

[@chrisguess]

I know mine took forever

[@armdrk3233]

another negative aspect of it's design is the huge bezels around the screen,for such a premium device it's really not acceptable.still I'm considering buying it because I have a Mister system and I'm a big fan of FPGA.

[@mirabilis]

I'm fine with the bezels.

[@chrisguess]

That’s a fair comment. The bezels are pretty sizable on this device, although they do tend to blend in if you get the black one like mine.

[@Captain_Obvious_Says]

i want that modified gameboy color

[@chrisguess]

I know, it’s sick right?

[@tahirahmed33]

It's USD $ 279.99 with Postage to UK

[@overoula]

plus 60-70 for tax to fedex :)

[@junwuen2009]

Tbh this is the only thing that’s holding me back as well. Would love to have this rather than purchasing an IPS Gameboy Light and Gameboy Color. But paying 1/3 more for shipping just don’t sit right with me. Let me know if you guys find an alternative method! TIA.

[@chrisguess]

Yeah the shipping and tax really suck a lot of the fun out of getting one!

[@tahirahmed33]

@@chrisguess not going to buy one it's too expensive.... I just bought a megadrive mini 2 on eBay as it's sold out on Amazon in only 1 month ,sega manufactured limited numbers for the overseas market.. stupid move as they are limiting their sales ,they should keep manufacturing them then make the Dreamcast mini for 2023 they will sell millions worldwide... Sega is not dead it's ,just about serviving !

[@robbykurniawan3754]

Hi can we play analogue pocket withour cartridge?

[@chrisguess]

Yes, you can put rims on the SD card.

[@hochoa96]

The sides and holes look very cheap compared to the front of the device

[@chrisguess]

Yeah, I think there are a few areas where they could’ve been a little bit more refinement, but overall I think it’s a nice device.

[@HarryNohara]

“Doesn’t fit in your pocket”, puts it in his pocket. I mean..

[@chrisguess]

Your right, it does fit technically but I wouldn’t call it pocketable. Nobody walks around with their pockets that full.

[@davidgrg21]

main reason not to buy: that freaking shipping cost

[@chrisguess]

Yeah, that’s a killer

[@denis8090]

I know 400 reasons to not buy 😔

[@chrisguess]

Fair point.

[@leckel1996]

It actually has 100x the resolution of the original.

[@chrisguess]

No it’s 10x, says it on the website

[@sgttater2313]

Or just buy a ps vita with oled for half the price

[@chrisguess]

I have a Vita but the gameboy cartridges don’t fit🤣

[@The-Eric-Cartman]

He literally covered this in the video and explained why FPGA is a benefit over software emulation on a PSP or Vita.

[@uhhh_adam]

Nice time stamps

[@chrisguess]

Yeah kinda haven’t had chance to put them in 😭

[@chrisguess]

Fixed it 👍🏻

[@DeadCrasher]

Who cares about hardware emulation? Its played the same

[@chrisguess]

Evidently quite a lot of people because they are commanding a high resale value and new ones have long lead times. I see your point though. It might also depend on your physical games collection.

[@Cyko..]

Open FPGA IS emulation which defeats the whole purpose of the device.

[@chrisguess]

You still have the option not to do it!

[@mirabilis]

Wait, what? It's no more emulation than the original firmware.

[@SEVENTEENPOINT1]

I don't think you understand what a FPGA does.