Digging into the Analogue Pocket, a portable FPGA game system

[@kevincraig6794]

Wow, someone who can actually disassemble and explain the pcb and its components like a professional, you get a like and sub sir, nice content!

[@sakuyarules]

I work in the Aerospace industry, and when you said that the marketing for the device touted both FPGAs, despite making one inaccessible, it reminded me of a board we'd got recently. They basically did the same thing; except this board cost close to $100 k.

[@TAEYYO]

It's even easier to get away with it when the customers are businesses.

[@liukang3545]

HAHA

[@ToeCutter0]

@@sakuyarules Custom ASICs? You've piqued my curiosity. 🤔

[@ScowlerJase]

Love my pocket. It’s a love letter to the Gameboy. Tip - noticed you switching screen emulations by going into the menu - just hold the analogue button down and use left right on the d-pad to go between them without menu diving.

[@whatskenmaking]

Nice - thanks for the tip!

[@MrRafarel]

I ordered it and received in less than a week. I bought the full package with dock, adapters, screen protection.... I had a bad surprise with the shipment blocked by custom... The UPS shipment to France was 80$ and the custom taxes was 105$. That's is very expensive in the end but it's the best console I've had in hand by far. I'm playing Golden Sun with my 7yo son and that is great! Thanks for the quality video Ken!

[@zerochan2915]

I absolutely love your videos. They are extremely well made. The professional information is also explained in a way that normal gamer like me can easily understand. You deserve more views!

[@christopherkomer2982]

i got a pocket when it first pre ordered in like 2019 waited almost 2 years for it but i love it. Your channel is great!

[@Alekseyo]

If you want to talk about business practices then you may want to talk about cash flow, manufacturer terms, and risk assessment. It’s very likely that this company doesn’t have unlimited funds to mass produce as many units as they like so most likely they’re limited to smaller batches and market them as limited supply due to their limited resources. (Which would also explain the scarcity of their other consoles) A more established and well funded company like Nintendo or Sony can afford to stock up on huge amounts of inventory (tying up their cash in the process) Where smaller companies have to not over stock in order to keep their operation going as they continue to grow.

[@lordbacon4972]

As a regular consumer, what I don't understand is why they don't keep re-making their sold out products. After selling out their initial production items, why don't they use the proceeds to order more and just keep doing this over and over? Because they don't do this, it means the decision to produce is arbitrary, leading to artificial scarcity. It's like a pizza shop decides to make this wonderful new unique pizza but only for one day, and then stop making it. Who the fk does that? This is the negative impression Analogue has created for themselves.

[@luqasxXX]

Came here intriged by the 8-Bit Guy wall tiles in the background. Stayed for the great content. Thank you!

[@dejongejohan]

How did i miss this channel for so long? SUBBED

[@DaveAdams222]

What?! 875 Subscribers! Dude this channel is insanely under rated! High quality, thoughtful, educational, and insightful all while being entertaining! I'm definitely subscribing.

[@whatskenmaking]

Thanks for the kind words! I'm a newer channel, and it takes time to build up an audience ... but I appreciate you and others subscribing and letting me into your homes/devices 😁

[@RetroRockGamer]

I agree. Whoever I watch a video on this channel, I assume it's a 100k plus subscriber channel. I'm always shocked.

[@joshtries965]

Would love to see a comparison of the analogue pocket with software emulation devices like the anbernic type of devices. Great video! 👍

[@whatskenmaking]

Thanks for the suggestion - it's certainly something to think about. Personally, I'm most interested in what's under the hood of these devices, and the soft emulators are primarily ARM chips... I'd have to think about how best to compare those with an FPGA-based system.

[@renn6699]

I just got a miyoo mini plus for 42 bucks. Shipped in 11 days. Compare that.

[@SIPEROTH]

A comparison based on what though? There is no comparison. A device like the Pocket does what it was design for better than anything. But is only worth it if you are a really nit picking person about getting the perfect most faithful experience. The cheaper software emulation device can offer the same fun and for someone just picking something to play it may not even make a difference. The software device is more flexible as well. The Pocket has compatibility with quite a few systems but won't be playing your PS1 or PS2 or N64 games etc on it. Also the Analogue pocket is perfectly designed to emulate the original Game boy and Game boy color with perfect matching upscaled screen that perfectly matches the Game Screen pixels when multiplied etc so although you can play other things too for those picky guys that pick these for the perfect emulation then it is better used mostly as a Game Boy and maybe a little as a TurboExpress that had a similar from factor. But for Game boy Advance and Lynx etc i thing Analogue is better releasing a device that has a horizontal design.

[@thedeadpoolwhochuckles.6852]

​@@SIPEROTHCongratulations you just compared the two. see how that works?

[@chriswilliams8039]

This is a great idea and there is at least one person doing this, but they are using stock software which doesn't fully utilize the Anbernic's capability, so it looks bad. 🤦

[@spladam3845]

I like your editing and style, great review, even better breakdown.

[@fryke]

I was very doubtful because of the long wait times. And I'm kinda glad I didn't place an order when it first came up. I _did_ put myself on the list for when they're in stock again, and then they unveiled the transparent ones. Made sure I was ready at the time for orders (because we knew they'd sell out immediately), placed my order and had it about 2 weeks later. Have been enjoying it ever since, it really _is_ my favourite handheld to play GB and GBC games on. And I do have an original GameBoy Light and plenty of handhelds that could play those games before, so this definitely says something.

[@whatskenmaking]

I would’ve waited if I had known that I could get a transparent version within a couple weeks of my original order; but as they say, hindsight is 20/20. The hardware is amazing, and the display in particular is something special. The first time I put it in GB Light mode, I was blown away - the emulation of electroluminescence feels very authentic.

[@traewatkins931]

@@whatskenmaking probably would not have gotten one anyway ... Analogue SUCKS and they do it on purpose.

[@RolandKoller90]

It looks extremely well built 👌🏼 glad to see that the insides look so good.

[@whatskenmaking]

It really is a nice piece of engineering - they have definitely have talented hardware engineers

[@EgGu-l9y]

@@whatskenmaking Excellent high-quality Product. Even the box has a nice texture to it giving you the impression that what's inside the box is even higher quality.

[@sketchy0078]

Just going to make you aware. The analogue pocket with shipping and the customs charges(to the uk) came in at £340 in total when I purchased on launch. That price has now gone up. It’s not far off the price of the mister. Great video though 😊

[@whatskenmaking]

Wow, that's crazy - I just heard about the international shipping price craziness, and I'm honestly not surprised. Technically, you could get away with a $300 MiSTer, but you'd have to fab the memory board yourself.

[@sketchy0078]

@@whatskenmaking de10 nano £227 digital io board £34.99, usb hub board £31.99, 128mb memory module 49.99. So total cost comes in at just over £340. The analogue pocket is an incredible machine but trying to get hold of one outside of America is getting more expensive. At this point the mister is actually looking a better value. I have both and they are incredible, however I’m finding that I use my mister system way more since investing in the multisystem board and case.

[@whatskenmaking]

You can actually run most of the MiSTer cores with just the memory module. You’re limited to HDMI output, no SNAC, and a single USB port… but it does work. I do love my MiSTer, both in my traditional stack config and my multisystem as well!

[@warrenjenkins9246]

Mine only cost 300 all import tax to UK think it's well worth the money may self wolud like a mister but for having that set up how I would like it would cost me a lot more then the pocket did. And you fixed to a TV only with mister

[@spazmochad]

Ordered mine on the 4th of Dec to the UK. Mine came in at £214.45 shipped + £51.91 tax & UPS fees, so £266.36 all in

[@MemeCastGuy69]

@24:20 DAMN!! That aluminum kit looks B E A UTIFUL!! That hand held sitting on the stand (at the time stamp) just looks perfect! Absolutely love that look and presentation!

[@whatskenmaking]

I love it as a display piece - it really is a nice kit and is very high quality

[@Ragesauce]

I wish you would have touched on this in the video. The reason people are saying the AP is uncomfortable to hold, is because there is a lip between the front and the back casing. It's very clearly visible, and it will cut your fingers while you hold it You can position your fingers in a way that makes it less so, but the decision to make this lip on the battery cover is really unfrotunate.

[@justinholmes5614]

I love my pocket. I’m looking forward to the next update with the classic screen modes for Open FPGA

[@whatskenmaking]

Ah, I didn't know classic screen modes were coming for openFPGA cores - that would be great to have!

[@brianstuntman4368]

Nice teardown and technical insight. You mentioned comfort 3 times and how it wasn't an issue, but I had to buy a grip to avoid hand cramps after no more than 20 minutes of play.

[@whatskenmaking]

Thanks! Hand cramps don’t seem to be a problem for me, but good to know that an aftermarket grip helps.

[@pixelprizm]

I don't think Analogue is showing any moral failing, if anything they have a sub-par supply chain, but that's not evil or bad. They are offering a product for a price when they have the inventory, and we can take it or leave it. IMO $219, when it includes a SINGLE component that costs $70 and another one that costs $18, feels very reasonable, electronic components usually do not cost that much.

[@TheGugustar]

I discovered your channel today, and I like it. Quality content.

[@mrbendel]

Really love your video- the deep technical breakdown and in depth review of the software is excellent. Subscribed!

[@tombuck]

This was great! I just got my Pocket as a gift and totally love it. I’m interested in swapping out the buttons for different colors and was worried about breaking something, but it seems like it should be pretty simple.

[@whatskenmaking]

That's a great idea - I think some different color buttons would look nice! I don't think Analogue is selling replacement buttons, though, so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement... or find someone with a different color Analogue Pocket that would swap with you :D

[@tombuck]

@@whatskenmaking I found some on Etsy which seem nice but now the overall blue color has grown on me 😁

[@PaulHobus]

Just found you and I can see the influence that the 8-bit guy has had on your videos/setup, but I’m here for it! I think this kind of content is sorely missing from KZbin amongst all the noise. Finding someone who goes in depth on interesting topics is a welcome surprise. I hope you keep making videos for a long time! Subscribed!

[@whatskenmaking]

Thanks! I personally really enjoy the more in-depth videos that have more of a teaching element, so that's the type of content that I lean towards making. I'm still experimenting with different setups and discovering what my style is, so hopefully you'll see me navigate towards something more unique and characteristic of myself over time. Thanks so much for the kind words and the sub!

[@Johnassu]

Why is this channel so underrated

[@KeenanPayne]

Really interesting and informative video. Thanks for sharing!

[@REFORGER_2023]

In my opinion the price is 100% justified in comparison to cheaper Handhelds like the ~80-120$ Miyoo(s). It's simply another class of device (& possibility to be able to use your original cartridges in _maxed out_ quality.

[@whatskenmaking]

I agree - and I think a lot of people don't understand how FPGA and software emulation differ and some of the consequences of those differences. I'll have another video soon that deep dives into that topic 😊

[@PongbyAtari]

Thanks for a great look at the AP I'm loving mine I have had it for about a year. I picked up the dock for it about 5 months ago and it's really increased the amount of use of a device I loved before the dock makes the arcade and consoles games a lot more fun. I hope there's an Atari Lynx Core soon I know that would look fantastic on the AP display.

[@allegunderson22]

Best video I’ve watched on the Pocket and explaining the internals. I’ve had a Pocket for about a year and feel that Advance games that require the use of the shoulder buttons (Minish Cap) did make the device pretty uncomfortable. The device is great though and I play it daily.

[@AndDeathForAll82]

What an outstanding video. Your work and skills are very appreciated!

[@samuelschwager]

I got the orange transparent one and with the open fpga cores got to play some systems I had never played before (PC Engine/Turbografx16, Neo Geo and GameGear). Fun times.

[@TheSixthSLoT]

Man Ken, I'm so jealous. I want one of these in white so badly, but Analogue seems to be keen on only keeping the black ones in stock.

[@TheMikeyb86]

Thorough and professional. I'm getting used to this! Love Analogue's tech.

[@whatskenmaking]

Thank you!

[@mamaharumi]

I would absolutely kill for a screen like this on an emulation handheld. It's beautiful, and so are the shader/modes. One day, hopefully. I'd pay a premium for, like, a miyoo mini with 1440p and gpu.

[@JustAnotherGamerUS]

great video! -first time viewer, really enjoyed

[@magnawaves]

Before I picked up my miyoo mini 2 and later my RG405M, I thought this one was the absolute best looking device on the market. It really is greatly appealing but the factors like price and wait just doesn't work for me. I'm also super disappointed to hear you find the SP unhinged uncomfortable. I wanted to get that kit and turn both my SPs into sturdier metal systems, but I'll reconsider for now. Solid video sir. I thought the channel had far higher subs for the level of quality you're pushing out

[@ocha-time]

Miyoo Mini+ way way way better value than Pocket.

[@whatskenmaking]

Thank you! I'm a newer channel and it takes time for subs to accumulate - but honestly I just really enjoy making these videos, so I'll still be around even if the subs aren't 😁 Regarding the SP Unhinged - there have been others who have no issues with comfort on the device, so you may very well not have the same issues as me. I certainly don't want to turn anyway away from it or Boxy Pixel's other products - I do love the kit, and there are many great things about it, despite a little discomfort. All that said, if they just rounded over the edges with a fillet instead of a chamfer, I think that would solve the problem... but I'm sure that affects the CNC milling cost!

[@little_fluffy_clouds]

@@ocha-timethey’re for different audiences. If you want an FPGA in your pocket, Analogue is the only option. If you just want a small handheld for emulation, then the Miyoo Mini+ is the best value and there’s also the Odin2 if you want the best handheld emulation device which can run GameCube, Saturn, Dreamcast and PS1/PS2 games.

[@adamsfusion]

I have an Anbernic 353M that gives me really good mileage, and I'm spectacularly happy with it. I mainly bought it because Analogue really likes scarcity to make their consoles seem fancy, and that plus the absurd shipping times drove me to buy something else. That said, if I ever do come across one second-hand for a decent price, I'll definitely pick it up after this. I'm seeing companies starting to develop around cheaper FPGA alternatives like Lattice and Gowin series, and I'm excited to see them challenge Analogue and help them shape-up.

[@whatskenmaking]

I have a couple of Anbernic devices and really love them. I actually have an Anbernic Arc on the way now and am thinking about doing a tear down and deep dive on it when it arrives. I'd love to see another FPGA handheld competitor enter this space... though I'm a little skeptical on leveraging some of the lower power lattice devices for game emulation. They tend to have fewer logic elements, but that's probably what makes them more afforable

[@Tabletop_Epics]

Interesting and informative video. I'm still on the fence about investing in one. For now I have the good old original hardware, for which I am very thankful. Throughout this video I kept feeling like I was watching someone who snuck into the 8-Bit Guy's studio to record while he was away.

[@whatskenmaking]

Thanks - I enjoy original hardware, still, as well! Regarding the studio, I've changed things up a bit since this video to be a little less reminiscent of the 8-bit guy 😉

[@Banditto23]

Quality content. I've enjoyed watching it. Keep it up.

[@whatskenmaking]

Thank you!

[@phillai]

Love your videos Ken! Keep it up!! I've had my Analogue Pocket for a while and it's fantastic. I just wish it was more of a horizontal form factor like the Gameboy Advance or Sony PSP as I dislike the claw like grip when holding onto the device!!

[@whatskenmaking]

Thank you! Agreed on the horizontal grip... I designed an rpi-based horizontal handheld a couple of years ago, and lately I've been thinking about what it might look like to cram a DE10-Nano into that form factor 😁

[@fastrack2170]

I honestly got one of these on accident. I told myself if i couldn't get an AP, i was gonna get the Anbernic 405V. Got an AP and love it honestly.

[@AnalogueRetro]

Great video. I agree with your comment regarding the uncomfortable experience : my 11 years old son has no issue playing with it, wame for me! The company shipping policy has changed, they now send their devices within 2 weeks max.

[@iPruch]

I missed a mention to the Analogue Pocket Dock when comparing to the Mister. But awesome video. Thank you

[@whatskenmaking]

I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up 😁 I wanted to talk about it, but since I don’t own one, I didn’t want to make any assumptions about how it worked or its capabilities. In hindsight, I should’ve at least mentioned that it existed

[@Thunderbird1337]

I don't like a company that charges you full price upfront for a product with no clear delivery date which you maybe get half a year later. Then I say as a potential customer: F U, I buy something else.

[@RainerK.]

My order took less than half a year. I ordered mine in March 2023, got it at the end of August 2023. It wouldn't surprise me if we were in the same batch.

[@whatskenmaking]

Either that or I ordered mine right as your batch was running out

[@SuperTrainStationH]

I first became attracted to Analogue's FPGA solutions because I happened to have a large library of physical cartridges I wanted to showcase and demonstrate on my streaming show. They were just a practical solution for me to do that with minimal tinkering or modification skills. I never expected them to gain this sense of allure or even "snob factor". Every time I mention how I play my cartridges, I go out of my way to mention "you dont need fancy stuff like this, just enjoy the games in a way thats meaningful for the experience YOU want". Also, if you don't want to play original cartridges, this thing is not at all practical, running cores is a nice option, but if you just want a rom machine, there as such better choices available for less money. Though I will say, this device has the best looking portable screen I have ever set my eyes on.

[@RolandKoller90]

Ordered a black one on the 16th. Can’t wait to get it 💪🏼

[@whatskenmaking]

Nice - I saw they were back in stock! I took the opportunity to order a dock when the white ones released a couple weeks ago

[@tdata545]

The purchasing process is frustrating and I think artificial. I wished there were more options available for portable FPGAs. Ironically, I was tasked to fix a portable Ultrasound Machine for my friend's friend who sometimes does house calls to farms. Both are Veterinarians. I don't know why he thought I could fix a machine like that, since while yes I have some TECHNICAL prowess and literally all the tools to do it, I've never done anything like that. LUCKILY for me, it was a super simple fix since the people at the company decided let's put a giant heat pad on the part of the board that doesn't have any chips. Loaded it up with heat sinks, installed a fan that zapped power from an internal USB header that had pass through holes, which meant no soldering needed, and got it working. The point of the story is, it was using an FPGA chip, weirdly enough. A Cyclone IV I want to say. I've never seen an FPGA chip in the wild like that. As for the machine, after a few of my hacks, she says it has never overheated again, and can be used in our Sub-Tropical climate of Coastal Mississippi just fine. I also fixed the power supply that they decided to hot glue in and then it came undone since, why wouldn't you VHB mount it. Addressed the company who was sketchy as can be... All their reviews were from their friends and there was magically no critical review. Also they claimed to be the creator of the tech. Went on Aliexpress and found literally half a dozen clones of their product that predated their company's existence.

[@Theodore5of5]

The Pocket's such an enticing device, but the stock situation really rubs me the wrong way. I also spent a good chunk of change on my own refurbished/modded GBA and GBC with new plastic housings - I used retro modding clear plastic shells, getting around the comfort issue of the boxy pixel.

[@whatskenmaking]

I'll have to check out those plastic shells. Although the Boxy Pixel shell is uncomfortable, it sure is nice to look at!

[@marlonbarrios1821]

I ordered mine a month ago and was delivered to me within a week. So idk. So far, I love this device.

[@whatskenmaking]

Yeah, subsequent orders after this came pretty quickly. Agreed, it's a great device!

[@Retroman8077]

Why am i just finding this channel? Why is there no subs, jesus this is great

[@TheSwillMan]

only took you a year? pft! mine was ordered 2/25/22, and shipped 8/10/23. 😊 i had actually forgotten that i ordered it. anyway, nice video.

[@whatskenmaking]

After reading comments from folks like yourself who had to wait way longer, I started feeling fortunate that I only waited a year!

[@RyanKnowsTechStuff]

Awesome review! Great videos on your channel! I’ve subscribed!

[@sv3163]

Crazy World: true GB pocket in good condition is about $50 And GameBoy DMG is about $100

[@sv3163]

Yeah i have a both of them 🧐👍

[@kwirkkwirksn1090]

I ordered in Aug 2020 and received it Dec 2021…16 months waiting was worth it in my opinion

[@whatskenmaking]

Oh wow, that's the longest lead time I've heard so far

[@ambiguouscyborg]

Hope this channel really pops off

[@andrewcrane777]

Wow those screens look better than the originals.

[@sherekhangamedev]

Great video review and tear down. I hope I can buy a Yellow one, but I have to buy from resellers because Analogue doesn't ships to my country.

[@ThisIsSrsBsnsMan]

Fantastically made video. Thanks!

[@vitaAutLetum]

Look forward to your videos. Hopefully Ken’s also making some delicious meals for himself. 😅

[@splugereport]

I like mine but I find the bottom part is very sharp on my pinky where I kind of hold it. I also feel like you would benefit from being a tiny bit thicker. I'm usually a fan of the DMG 01 style but I can see why people wish it looked like an advance

[@whatskenmaking]

I do think grip style affects the device comfort quite a bit. For my style, my pinkies tend to rest on the rounded over portion so I don't feel the sharpness. But I can see how it you moved your pinkies slightly closer to the front, that sharp edge would be right on them. If the back cover was 1mm larger, I think it would sit flush with that sharp edge and you wouldn't feel it.

[@williamgray9088]

It remains to be seen whether the stock situation has actually improved, but I'm happy to wait until February for my Pocket. Not that I wouldn't prefer it be shipped immediately after my order, but its nothing compared to the 600+ days I've heard some people waited. Hopefully it is a real improvement and not just a way to get pre-orders before putting us through that long of a wait again. I'm only buying one because it seems to be the best option for a rechargable handheld GB. If I get a modded original system I'm pretty leery of the battery mods since I actually like being able to pop a couple batteries in and keep it moving. Something about putting charging hardware in places it wasn't specifically designed for worries me even though I can't deny the convenience of it in many cases. Easier to just cover my bases so I can focus more on getting ahold of the physical copies of games and less on the system itself.

[@dazealex]

Brilliant coverage. Subbed!

[@codered2014]

i wont buy an analoge pocket new from their web store. ill buy a used one in a few years when the price drops. companies that fake scarcity to drive up prices need to be boycotted

[@NeptuneSega]

Used market is bad now, imagine more in the future. You'll never get one at a reasonable price, but hopefully there's an alternative

[@jorgenavarro9848]

How did they fake if literally everyone knew how hard it was to get one to begin with? Literally says limited quantities on the website. And they shipped out people’s orders of the black before the colors were sent out . Now , their customer service is awful. People not getting answers back for weeks or months and when they do it’s half a$$ed at best reply. They need some work for sure either way.

[@whatskenmaking]

Hopefully in a few years, we'll have a couple of other players in the market building portable FPGA-based systems on some more scalable chipsets. If MARS hits the market successfully against MiSTer, then I think that could set some precedence for other manufacturers to enter the portable market as well.

[@Angultra]

Even if you wanted any of Analogue's products it's basically vaporware, sold out 1min after it appears.

[@RetroRockGamer]

​@@Angultrabought up by scalpers.

[@SpacedogD]

I own one too and I also waited close to a year. They screwed up my shipment declaration and declared an incorrect value though resulting in me paying extra in import tax. I like the device, it remains as a neat device that has a lot of potential in it.

[@MemeCastGuy69]

It only took a year to arrive... Let's tear this thing down ASAP!!!

[@enriquepinero707]

This is why I ended up buying an abernic rg35xx instead. Waaay cheaper and good for what it is!

[@whatskenmaking]

I've had some great experiences with Anbernic devices, and I frequently play on my Anbernic Win600. If all you want is a decent experience playing classic games on a handheld, there are many great alternatives to an expensive FPGA-based solution.

[@ninetendopesaitama2107]

But if you want an fpga handheld you have no other choice. ☮️

[@ens0246]

Out of stock on their site but there's 3 pre-owned units at my local store. I've seen at least one on the window of every used store in my area. I think they're charging close to new though!

[@whatskenmaking]

That’s interesting - what kind of stores are these; like a Game Stop or something local? I haven’t seen any in my area, but then again I’m usually not out shopping in person much these days.

[@ens0246]

@@whatskenmaking I'm in the UK. We have a shop called CEX. It sells purely pre-owned games and hardware.

[@fmeyer]

That's the most comprehensive review of the Analog Pocket available. It delves into the intricacies of the FPGA and even opens up the device to show how it's built. It demonstrates the care and skill taken to produce high-quality content. Thank you very much.

[@whatskenmaking]

Thanks - I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@stevetodd7383]

I’m interested in whether the GOWIN Arora V FPGAs are going to make an impact here. You can get a module with 138K logic elements, an 800MHz RISC V core, 1GB of DDR3 RAM and a shed load of high performance IO (up to PCIe 3 speeds) for about $100.

[@VeshSneaks]

Excellent video Ken! I've watched a couple today and you can definitely see the effort you put in. I've been debating on the Analogue Pocket for a while, especially now that extra cores can be added. The screen looks truly amazing, and the actual device itself is gorgeous to behold. For me, though, I think I'm going to stick to software emulation devices. Between Analogue always being out of stock, and the added cost of shipping to Australia ($60 if I just want the console, up to $100 if I want the dock and acrylic case), it's not something I can really justify keeping the money around for. Not when devices like the RGB30 will get 90% of the way there, and cost $100 shipped. Sure it's not a pixel-perfect 10x of the DMG screen, but 720x720 is enough for exactly 4x integer scale rendering, or 4.5x if I'm okay with a little fuzziness. Analogue definitely make excellent hardware, but it's definitely boutique stuff and a little past the point of diminishing returns for me.

[@wchorski]

I'd recommend a homebrewed New 3ds XL. It has a lot of the same premium feel of analogue pocket, and modding is so much easier than it was

[@sirmiluch6856]

Great quality video and the content too.

[@MaximzM]

honestly i wanted an analogue pocket with the dock because i liked the screen, i like that it can play original cartridges and i like the fact that it can connect to the tv and upscale the games i thought that was really good i ended up not doing so instead i just bought a GBOperator and a RG35xx and i transfer saves back n forth but if i had more money to throw around i'd consider it but the fake scarcity thing bugs me, they legit say on the website how fpga is the future of video game preservation yet they make limited quantity of their consoles and then eventually end production of the consoles like the SuperNT making it that the only way to obtain them is through ebay with crazy high prices.

[@whatskenmaking]

Analogue has really soured a lot of people with their approach to market demand - it really is a shame. If you’re going for external display upscaling, the MiSTer is a better option, in my opinion, but it depends on what you want overall. I also have a Retrotink, and it does a great job upscaling original systems over composite. I hadn’t seen the GBOperator before - looks interesting!

[@MaximzM]

@@whatskenmaking honestly i've considered the MiSTer but i like using my old cartridges and CDs so having a way to use them is pretty neat. i have actually looked into retrotink and im waiting for that new one to drop it looks and sounds amazing im highly considering it.... though it also seems super expensive but since i dont have a crt tv and i still have ps1/ps2/n64/nes/sega ...its kinda something im interested in, though im also thinking about trying to do the retrogem hdmi mod but i havent actually learned to solder so im not sure what i want to do. GBOperator is pretty cool im glad i got it being able to play GB/GBC/GBA Cartridges on my computer aswell as backing up saves uploading saves and even backing up the game is really neat and i've reached out to them asking for a ds/3ds version to which they told me they are considering it but they need to do more research first but right now they are working on a SNES version which got me really excited.

[@Dave01Rhodes]

The GBOperator is one of several low-cost GB(C/A) USB cart readers. I think the main selling point is the software that comes with it to make it simple to use. Other GB cart readers, like the GB Joey Jr and the GBxCart RW can also be used to program flashcarts as well. There are already SNES-capable USB cart readers out there. I have a Retrode 2, and while it’s a bit more expensive, it works pretty well. DS and 3DS would be pretty big though. I’m not aware of anything that reads those cartridges outside of original hardware. There’s likely some big hurdles in the way though: I believe 3DS carts at least are encrypted and require keys from Nintendo to decrypt. Nintendo would probably sue any device maker that used their encryption keys. Not sure if there’s any easy way around that.

[@MaximzM]

@@Dave01Rhodes yea i mean i like how simple the GBOperator is and it being cheap was pretty nice for me, basically it kinda feels like having a gb/gbc/gba console but instead of plugging it into my tv its plugged into my pc. as for SNES-usb cart readers, tbh i never bothered to look into it i had just decided to email epilogue to ask about a ds/3ds reader and their response was basically their looking into it but they are currently working on an SNES one and i was like OH THATS COOL lol

[@georgejpg]

A good video, nice to see some objectivity where other KZbinrs can be very sensationalist. Overall I'm happy with mine, it took less than a month to arrive in the UK. On the flipside I've been really unsatisfied with the D-Pad. Just the other day I had to open the thing up to try a few different solutions to prevent false up/down inputs when pressing left/right. Fortunately that was successful but really should have been caught by QC. The shoulder buttons also feel really iffy, but they work fine and I haven't had to use them much. I'd also prefer that the volume and power buttons were closer to those of a GBA-SP. Finally, I think that any device at this price should have bluetooth for audio and a port for wired controllers.

[@whatskenmaking]

Thank you! Bluetooth would be huge; I really hate having to carry wired headphones. I’d be interested to hear what you did to the d-pad to help alleviate the input issues, if you don’t mind sharing.

[@georgejpg]

​@@whatskenmaking I put 1 adhesive binder hole reinforcer over each D-pad contact. The ones I used were vinyl, but paper seems to have worked for some other people. I also read that some people had used tape to make an X shape to increase the distance between the contacts. At first I tried both solutions at the same time, but after finding that it took quite a bit of force to register a right on the D-pad, I removed the tape. That was probably thanks to my sloppy application, but I'm happy with my results from the binder reinforcers so will leave it as is.

[@whatskenmaking]

@@georgejpg Very nice - thanks for sharing that tip; I'll have to give it a shot if I start experiencing the same challenges

[@franz2383]

Great content! thanks for the video.

[@Farold_Haltermeyer]

Superb, thank you

[@CalaTec]

I really want to like the Analogue Pocket, because it is indeed a very interesting device. But the way they make it available is rubbish. Having to race against bots and scalpers to get one or the 50€ delivery price + customs fees making it costs more than €300 for some of us. I'd rather buy an Steam Deck. And I say so as a person who paid €560 for a Mister FPGA already assemble.

[@Elrinth]

Great video! Very indepth!

[@bamsegod]

Excellent well researched video.

[@GottZ]

I must say, I'm pretty much in love with my analogue. I just wish, custom cores could have full control over pixel shaders.

[@whatskenmaking]

Oh, I didn’t realize that was a restriction on openFPGA cores. Another person commented that an Analogue OS update is going to enable different screen modes for openFPGA cores, so maybe they’re planning on exposing some sort of pixel effects interface to core developers.

[@timg2727]

This is a great video and should have far more views than it does. Out of curiosity, do you film on the 8-Bit Guy's set? It looks very similar.

[@whatskenmaking]

Thanks! No, but you're not the first person to ask that. I've been thinking through set design recently will be changing things up sometime over the next couple of months, as the sound panels aren't as effective in as I hoped they would be. My new set will be more unique to my style 😊

[@rockapartie]

@@whatskenmaking These panels are cold and distracting and create the atmosphere of a public restroom. And because our eyes are not used to seeing tiles this big, they make you look like a miniature version of yourself. Looking forward to a more unique style. 😅 (Generally, it's not a good idea to copy someone who dresses in shorts, tennis socks and sandals ... 🙃)

[@BobTweeterShow]

A year? WOW! I got my Transparent orange pocket in about a month. Seems like they were waiting for inventory to arrive. My one complaint is that the battery compartment is slightly smaller then the rest of the unit. Its not uncomfortable to hold, but its strange they didn't back the back the same width as the entire unit.

[@whatskenmaking]

If I had known that transparent units were coming and shipping in the same time frame as my white unit, I would've waited and ordered a transparent one. I hear you about the battery compartment size - I've heard the same feedback from other folks, that it causes discomfort because you feel the bottom edge.

[@Kora-ce5xm]

@@whatskenmakingI had been on the fence about the pocket for awhile and the transparent colors pushed me over the edge.

[@WillbaldStreamen]

This video is really interesting. You went into such a detail, that I cannot believe that you only have 9k subscribers. One thing I would like to mention: For me personally, this video was much more watchable on the speed of 1.25. I don't know if that is of help at all. Liked it, subscribed. Awesome video. edit: I know now why it was much more watchable. In the speed of 1.25, it felt much less like it was read from a script.

[@bogdahn689]

Great video

[@cwells7285]

I want one of those so bad, I hate how bad the company is at keeping them in stock

[@whatskenmaking]

I do think we'll see other FPGA-based handheld devices come to market; the demand is certainly there.

[@danieldouglasclemens]

You have a new subscriber. What I would like to know: is the casing covered in some kind of rubber? After years and various devices I am worried, that the silicone rubber becomes disgustingly sticky when getting old.

[@whatskenmaking]

Thank you! No, the shell is all plastic. There's a nice texture to it, which I like.

[@8XN72Hw_xK]

I am glad waiting and not ordering from the beginning. I ordered mine a week ago and it should be delivered today. But I agree, how analogue uses FOMO isn’t great at all. Also because I feared not getting one, I missed ordering a case and international shipping is just too expensive to order again for small part.

[@whatskenmaking]

Did you end up getting it delivered that day?

[@8XN72Hw_xK]

@@whatskenmakingYep, I got mine on Thursday morning. It was way faster than I expected, because hours earlier it was still in Louisville and then I in Cologne Germany suddenly :D

[@chansonjoy]

Thanks for the extensive research. I wonder how they use Cyclone 10 and whats the advantage of that. I suspect it is used to act as changeable peripherals when loading different game system. The Mister may have to actually use some of the GATE to do the same thing. But the different approach can cause the cores not easy to port from one to the other.

[@whatskenmaking]

Their docs state that the job of the Cyclone 10 is "video processing, scaler, [and] system integration". I've never seen an LCD panel with that resolution, size, and aspect ratio on any other device, so I'm guessing it's a custom screen - and so it would make sense that part of the Cyclone 10 would be configured as a custom display driver IC for the screen. It also looks like it does the audio processing, communicates with their IO bridge, and drives the input polling... so it looks like it's doing multiple jobs for things that would traditionally be separate chips (LCD driver + interface adapter + DSP). The MiSTer, on the other hand, has its built-in SOC to do that stuff. Porting the cores between the Pocket and MiSTer actually seem somewhat trivial - I haven't done it myself, but I support Jotego on Patreon, and he's mentioned in his posts there that the work is minimal. He releases both MiSTer and OpenFPGA versions of his cores, so it sounds like he has the process down well.

[@Cantimule]

I did have one ordered for like 10 months before it finally shipped. It was rejected at customs and sent back to them. It was nearly impossible to get hold of anyone there. Eventually got their attention by doing a credit card chargeback.

[@nojuanatall3281]

This is an awesome device. It is a shame how the company handles stock and selling. I think I'd go for a mister. For these prices though you can get fairly powerful emulation hand helds or a mini pc. It's a hard sell for most gamers outside of how it looks and plays cartridges.

[@whatskenmaking]

Agreed - there are so many good soft emulation devices on the market these days, and the prices are very reasonable.

[@MrHamof]

The reality about polling is that even old USB runs at 1000hz, or almost 17 times faster than 60fps. You could press 16 buttons in the time it takes the gameboy to refresh once and they'd still all be detected before the next frame gets calculated. The whole polling input lag thing is way overblown. If I were to guess, any notable input lag that has existed in some case has been due to poor driver implementation or maybe just bad USB controllers. And that's assuming it was ever real and not just people being reluctant about new technology in that way we like to be. To be clear, not all USB devices run at 1000hz. But running at that speed has been an option for as long as USB has existed. Older controllers may well have been running at lower clock rates. But it really just doesn't take that many polls per second before it's updating several times per screen refresh.

[@bcarr1122]

Ken, thanks for an informative video! I've seen an interesting complaint about the thermals of the Pocket. A two-year-old post on Reddit alleged that the Pocket's screen got too hot, saying that the device's heat management was inadequate. What's your experience---perhaps Analogue resolved the issue in later batches?

[@39zack]

What I don't like about Analogue is the same as you. They seems to be running very few runs. Right now, the pocket is available, but say the SuperNT has been "sold out" since they was last shipped Q2 2023. When a product says "sold out" on their page, I would not bet my money on they be back. This opens up for they always sells out and they they are gone, you need to buy scalper money to get one :( The same thing happened to the MMS too, but at least they open-sourced the design so others can make it :) This is why Im saving up for an Mister (just cant decide on stack analog, stack digital or MMS)

[@GameInterest]

Just a heads-up, Analogue does take credit cards as payment but does NOT accept Discover Card.

[@classicgamernl]

Currently an upgraded GBA SP is selling for almost the same price as an Analogue Pocket. 😅 I'll stick to my Mister though. 😅

[@jonathonearl482]

I skipped the Analogue Pocket and purchased myself a PowKiddy B30 (Purple Edition) instead. I also got the Wood Grain Edition ANBERNIC 351V.

[@whosonedphone]

A big disappointment for the Analog pocket for me is the open FPGA implementation only accepts a sample rate of 48kHz. The SNES outputs 32kHz. So the sound has this kind of aliasing quality as the samples are rounded to the nearest 48kHz equivalent.

[@c331hunt]

They are literally working from the Rolex playbook

[@captainthunderbolt7541]

Some people will just say that any vertical handheld is uncomfortable because they don't like vertical handhelds. Retro Game Corps comes to mind.

[@whatskenmaking]

My hands were trained on the original DMG-01 as a kid… maybe it’s psychological, but that’s what I tend to prefer 😁

[@captainthunderbolt7541]

@@whatskenmaking There is absolutely nothing wrong with vertical handhelds. I like that your hands aren't crowded around the screen. Maybe the people who don't like them play a bunch of games that heavily use the shoulder buttons, like fighting games?

[@heroinpenguin666]

I've owned an Analogue Pocket for a while now and have to say it's a fantastic device. By now there's a lot of cores for older consoles up to and including the 16-bit era, as well as many, many great arcade board cores including SNK's NeoGeo MVS and Capcom's CPS1 and 2 and there's even more coming. I feel like if you're a retro gaming enthusiast or fan the Pocket is pretty much a must have. It's much easier to use and set up than a MiSter for people whom the MiSter would involve to much tinkering and maybe be over their budget. Compared to other gaming systems be it old or new, the Pocket is great value. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys retro games and is willing to spend money some on said games. The accessories are quite pricey compared to the base unit, but I'd definitely recommend a dock that turn it into a hybrid like the Switch, with which you can use up to 4 Controllers.