Powkiddy X28 | An In-Depth Look - The 5.5” T618 Handheld (Unboxing, Teardown, Gameplay)

[@Xtoffer87]

The slower performance might be because of aggressive thermal throttling to avoid killing the chipset. The recent rp3+ firmware activated the full speed of the T618 and is now killing some devices when it goes beyond 85c.

[@johnventura764]

YES !! thankyou for information

[@johnventura764]

WHEN THE X28 is plugged in the charger port . fps is increasing. a few options in android developer option can push it to keep the t618 chip from not slowing down

[@Huidos777]

@@johnventura764would you mind to share those settings? Thanks!

[@Handheld_TECH]

Nice video bro. I'll visit some more time. It was fun to see the video 💚

[@retrotechdad]

Always appreciate you coming by! 🤗

[@Handheld_TECH]

@@retrotechdad Great comparison by the way 👍

[@chedhead3278]

Thanks for the review, good job. Can't understand what took them so long after the X18s, this feels a bit late to the party and a tad undercooked when they should have had a head start. Is competitive pricing enough? Hope so, Powkiddy deserve some reward for giving it decent build quality. I like the 405m more, the 4in 4:3 screen in a compact device is an appealing niche. I fancy a cheaper unit with that 4in screen though, a 403PS for $80-90 would tick my boxes nicely. :)

[@geekgo4]

Imaging the exterior of the x28 with the interior of the RP3+...

[@TheRealOzWookiee]

yup!

[@josephzamer5802]

bro if you meant about specs, are exactly the same, same for ambernic 505 too

[@TheRealOzWookiee]

@@josephzamer5802 sure but Retroid have implemented it better and get much better performance.

[@varejao3195]

@@TheRealOzWookiee I think this has to do with the android implementation more than anything. I think retroid did the best job by far on it, so problably why they look better on benchmarks

[@Uchay4u]

Exactly!!

[@jimbotron70]

08:05 why do you say "emulators, I mean simulators"?

[@retrotechdad]

It’s just a bad dad joke 🤣😂 Powkiddy calls them simulators lol

[@jimbotron70]

@@retrotechdad Oh, ok, I didn't get it 😄

[@WMARUoriginal]

This is definitely a step in the right direction for powkiddy. If this drops in price to under $100 I’ll get it.

[@retrotechdad]

I agree and I do hope that we see more of this from Powkiddy.

[@Uchay4u]

For a T618 chip? Probably not. It's currently the cheapest T618 in 2023. I think I'll get it.

[@avelinobryan]

Thank you for the review for this device, out of curiosity does the 64gb storage changeable?

[@retrotechdad]

No, that is the internal storage. It does have a micro SD slot though so you can add external storage to it easily.

[@JerrardJDDavis-gy9hh]

Where Can I Find The Retriod Pocket Flip It's Hard To Find

[@retrotechdad]

The RP Flip is no longer being produced so it's not available outside of second hand units. I'm hoping Retroid does another version of the Flip!

[@JerrardJDDavis-gy9hh]

@@retrotechdad Can You Name Other Handhelds That Supports Aethersx2 Or Dolphin

[@josephzamer5802]

I do like the design of this device more than the pairs using same SoC: RG 505 and retroid pocket 3+, Im no saying its better though

[@Alex_Eisenheim]

Did you get the dpad and joystick issues Russ from Retro game corps alluded to on the X28?

[@retrotechdad]

No, mine aren't as sensitive as his. A few of us actually talked about this over in the RH Discord. It doesn't surprise me all that much since while this device is an improvement for PK, it still is a PK device. 😢

[@JerrardJDDavis-gy9hh]

Does Have A Fan Inside The Handheld For Cooling So It Won't Overheat

[@lufasumafalu5069]

if you have to chooose between Powkiddy x28 and Odin lite , which one you whould choose (For PS2 emu mostly)

[@retrotechdad]

The Odin Lite will be better for PS2, it's a great handheld!

[@clausjahnel5379]

Very true! There's this weird believe that the lite can't do ps2/ngc/wii very well... oh my, if they would only know. 😆

[@iMutt-yy6vf]

I have an Odin Lite, and an Anbernic RG405m, and the Odin Lite is a BEAST when it comes to PS2 performance. The Anbernic 405 can run some PS2 games, and GameCube games, but it takes a lot of tinkering in the settings to get the best performance.

[@iyeetsecurity922]

Are the thumbsticks the _same_ as in the Switch? Do you know if it's possible to install a different OS on it like SteamOS?

[@nerdloftgaming]

Solid review, thanks for sharing! I’ve only come back to android handheld emulation recently with the Anbernic 405M and it’s amazing to see how much has changed in the space - the wealth of form factors is awesome (my last Android emulator was the JXD). That said, PowKiddy really needs to up the game with their software front. The difference in performance is a little perplexing, but their UI is … wow. Is it not possible to strictly use a plain vanilla Android launcher for this device? If my 405M is any indication, you can definitely spruce up the launcher with a couple Play Store apps for a better UI experience. Anyway thanks again for another handheld overview, brother!

[@civilizedsasquatch6722]

Thank you for the teardown. I was wondering if the joysticks can be upgraded and from the teardown you provided it looks like those are the same as the joysticks in the switch joycons. So I will be ordering this knowing I would be able to add Hall Effect joysticks thank you

[@komrade788]

Very nice review, great job on it and nice teardown haha Must say that I am really interested in this device thanks to the bigger screen with nice resolution. Good to see Powkiddy back in the game with a quality device for a good price.

[@Guitario666]

That large screen is fantastic, I cannot do tiny screens anymore

[@iyeetsecurity922]

Ditto. I don't know why companies keep making Game Boy sized and smaller handhelds.

[@tylerblock3377]

Have you done the firmware update? I can't figure out how to install it.

[@artvoy1]

A little hesitant to buy another PK device after the X18 , admittedly this seems like the best so far but still a little leary. Great review as always

[@retrotechdad]

I think Powkiddy needs to become more consistent in order to gain some trust in the community.

[@Guitario666]

Nba Street 2 is one of my all-time favorites🙌

[@retrotechdad]

Haha, nice! Yea, NBA Street never gets old to me. I'm just glad that it plays well!

[@rainydays390]

what's the name of the red Handheld?

[@amrforever]

Hi, I ordered my unit and waiting for it. Do you see a calibration option for the analog stick in the settings menu? As I am planning to replaceit with Guikit. Also, do you recommend me doing that? Also i need a download link for the official latest software, i can't find it anywhere? 😅

[@nepaliprayasgurung2594]

I was thinking about buying retroid pocket 3 plus but now i think I'll buy this instead the 5.5 inch isnt too big nor it's too small. It's the right size enough to be pocketable and carrying on the go and PS2, GCN, Wii, PS1 games looks great on 5.5 inch it's thr right size the sound quality and screen quality is solid for such cheap price. And it has the same spec as rp3+ and Anbernic RG505 and 405m makes it really good choice aswell!

[@johnventura764]

seems whenever it gets low the cpu gets slow

[@varejao3195]

I am waiting for mine to deliver next monday, got it in a great mothers day sale for $120(shipping and taxes included). Im really glad you did this review, i love how detailed they are. But a little upset about the performance compared to the flip, which was the other one I was thinking about buying. But since i was looking for a cheap device for streaming games, emulation is kind of a bonus anyway. And on that note, the screen looks perfect for it. Great job, really liking your channel

[@retrotechdad]

Thank you so much for your extremely kind comment! 🙏🙏 $120 is a FANTASTIC price for this. I wouldn't be completely discouraged by the reduced performance as there is still so much that can be enjoyed on the device. I'm still quite hopeful that this will receive some type of custom firmware that will really let the device shine!

[@varejao3195]

@@retrotechdadYeah, i was still thinking about which one to buy, but when i saw the price with the cupons, bought right then and there lol. I heard some rumors that there is a firmware that is already being worked on, im guessing it will release in a few months

[@herbertoliveira1836]

Do you have a list of compatible games? with x28

[@aonmontoya4757]

Around how many games in total does the X28 have? And does it have Killer Instinct?

[@retrotechdad]

It actually doesn't ship with any games. You will have to supply your own for this device.

[@aonmontoya4757]

@@retrotechdad Whaaaaaat... I ordered mine thinking it was preloaded. Smh. Well, do they at least provide a link or app were to get games from? I personally don't know anything about where to get roms from.

[@chadsmith7075]

​@@aonmontoya4757 me either

[@clausjahnel5379]

Google?!

[@jeremyshafer9825]

Would have been cool if they had used analog triggers

[@retrotechdad]

100% Agree with that, definitely a missed opportunity. It would've been a fairly solid streaming device at the price point having the analog triggers.

[@Pyke_]

There is a lot of features that I like on this device: Dpad on top, shoulder buttons position, front side speakers, and xbox button layout. Most of the the problems of it are software problems that could be fixed in the future. For the price I think this a solid handheld

[@mounirmchennec156]

Hello, does it run streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+

[@retrotechdad]

Yes, it shouldn't be any issue. The device has access to the Google Play Store so you can add those streaming services.

[@iyeetsecurity922]

People are saying it _doesn't_ run PS2 games, but I've seen videos showing 50+ different games running. So wtf is the answer?

[@retrotechdad]

The T618 can run PS2 games. You just need to temper your expectations especially on the X28 which is the worst performing out of the T618 handhelds.

[@iyeetsecurity922]

​@@retrotechdad I'm looking for something sub $200 that can run GC and PS2. Is this viable?

[@mauriciofreitas9439]

Nice video, but we have to consider Retroid has been doing a better job for while. I’m thinking to get Retroid pocket 3+ instead of flip because of the analogues are much better for fighting games.

[@clausjahnel5379]

Indeed. And for all other sorts of games, too. 😁

[@BeckKaili]

Hello and thanks for the awesome video you made. I own one of this too,but I was hoping to have all these retro games preinstalled. As i have no experience into handheld devices,i would like to ask if there are any tutorials to do so. Thank you and keep up the great work 👍

[@JerrardJDDavis-gy9hh]

Will It Play PS2 Or Gamecube Where Can I Order This From Online Will It Play On The TV If It Does How What's The Correct HDMI Cable For This To Work Can You Send Me A Link

[@liberdelta]

T618, T618, T618! When are handhelds going to move past this processor? Gimme a SD 865!

[@retrotechdad]

You mean 6 handhelds with the T618 wasn't enough? 😅😁 I'm definitely ready for something else in the price range!

[@mont-doggBeats]

And 4 gbs of ram. At least they could go up to 8gbs of ram if there going to keep using the same chip

[@sofiallamasegea6908]

Does she have linux?? Double system? Android and linux?

[@retrotechdad]

No, it's only Android.

[@DJb-ill219]

The ambernic rg505 and this look like a similar size I wish they would build a 7 inch screen beast that can at least play some Gamecube 😅 well Maybe one of these Years

[@DroidLocks6971]

If they released this with the 256gb card with 30.000 plus game like they do on the x55 I'd buy it

[@MichiMichi]

I got mine a coule days ago. Build quality is so so but the battery lasts forever

[@retrotechdad]

The funny thing is it might be one of PK's best built similar to the RGB10 Max 2. Of course, best for PK is a different metric. 😁😅 Curious to see what you didn't like about it? I always like getting others perspective.

[@MichiMichi]

It just felt too light in hand. I know others will appreciate the lightness of it. The plastic feels too slick too, at least for me. Besides that I do agree it is one of the better bang for your buck right now. And the speakers are loud enough to wake the dead lol

[@TheObserver85]

Powkiddy has a knack for making some incredibly garbage devices. But drop a few gems in between. This is definitely a gem and i hope that Lineage OS drops on the X28. Another banger of a vid RTD👏😍

[@clausjahnel5379]

True! First two lines are the ultimate description of this company. Maybe it's pure masochism, but I have to admit I like them, somehow. 🤗

[@xXSonTJXxx]

It may run a little worse than than the rdp3 plus but the design looks way cooler and more confortable to use

[@capoman1]

IDK. It's a little worse performance thant other t618 devices. But the screen and form factor are better than than the picket 3+.

[@retrotechdad]

It's definitely a very comfortable device to use!

[@johnventura764]

IF YOU LEAVE IT PLUGGED INTO THE USB CHARGER YOU WILL NOTICE PERFORMANCE BOOST

[@lufasumafalu5069]

incredible in depth look , when you said in-depth you are not kidding.... liked and subbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbeeed btw u need more like and sub

[@retrotechdad]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate the like and sub! 🙏💗

[@piercewiederecht5135]

Damn Powkiddy I don’t need a 5th t618 device bot that display and those ergos are calling my name

[@piercewiederecht5135]

Those hardware Android buttons should be standard on every brand

[@retrotechdad]

Ergos are very good! 💗I still think the RP3+/Flip have the better screen despite it being smaller.

[@retrotechdad]

Agreed! I actually had to adjust to having them there because it’s so unusual to see. I definitely like the dedicated Android buttons!

[@piercewiederecht5135]

@@retrotechdad well yeah the pocket 3/+/flip does probably have the best ips display in these handheld emulators. I’m also a big fan of their Vita copy dpads.

[@wizzel22]

What does the Retro Bird say? Cheap cheap... We don't need another RP3+ clone that is sub-par in terms of quality.

[@brandonschalesky3761]

Anyone out there willing to help me with my x28?? I have tried messaging the website but they have not help me...

[@HuntaKiller91]

Rg505 is $150 I might wait for $99 sale That hv oled

[@johnventura764]

THE SLOW DOWNS ARE CAUSED BY A SAFTEY FEATURE OF THE DEVICE GETTING HOT . SHOULD GO INTO SYSTEM DEVELOPER OPTIONS AND DISABLE A FEW THINGS AND GO BACK AND RUN FINE

[@ShirouXBR]

I don't even know if the company will release a software optimization update 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@retrotechdad]

Agreed, it's highly unlikely that Powkiddy will be the ones to release an update. It will most likely fall on the community to make the changes which is why I'm hoping for some custom firmware!

[@ShirouXBR]

@@retrotechdad I really hope so, because if I don't, I'm going to get screwed for buying it from you, because the company said it would only make 200 units and the end

[@retrotechdad]

Just to clarify, I have no affiliation with the company.

[@ShirouXBR]

@@retrotechdad I talk to them about the laptop, but I didn't bring up the issue of updating the software for this laptop

[@Pridetoons]

Personally I like the name Powkiddy it's unique and has character to it. Plus I love that Chibi Ninja Kid logo.

[@retrotechdad]

Their logo is amazing! 😅💗

[@DroidLocks6971]

It's hilarious when a reviewer says happy chick is illegal when the purpose of the S28 is to play PRELOADED illegally obtained Roms

[@JerrardJDDavis-gy9hh]

F Zero GX Always Have Some Problems On Dolphin

[@DroidLocks6971]

I Love Me Some Happy Chick

[@fredrodnick2881]

Well --- does it come with any games?

[@retrotechdad]

No, it doesn't come with any pre-loaded micro SD card.

[@FiftyFive74]

Enjoyed the review! Thank you.

[@retrotechdad]

Thank you so much for watching, I appreciate it! 🤗

[@Pridetoons]

This Handheld exudes Sony energy!!! I want this to be my dedicated PSP/PS Vita Emulation Handheld!

[@retrotechdad]

It's a good fit for PSP emulation.

[@stonerzz1]

Wind Waker playable

[@retrotechdad]

Yes, it is!

[@samh5886]

Screen too cool/bluish for my taste. And the gap between this and other t618 devices in synthetic benchmark seems to be reduced in actual game play performance. Definitely quite close/similar to anbernic ones at least.

[@retrotechdad]

Yes, it's definitely a cool temp display. I will say that performance of the X28 isn't as good in real world testing. I've used the RG405M quite a bit for example and performance is much better than the X28 and closer to what we see on the Retroid devices. BTW, RG405M now has CFW with Gamma OS and is performing even better with it.

[@samh5886]

@@retrotechdad forgot to ask, is there a color temperature tweaking option? I think most android 11 onwards devices have them under display, colors and contrast option.

[@Xtoffer87]

​@@retrotechdad I was planning on getting the rg405m but I read that multiple people are experiencing problems with the hardware, like popping displays, unresponsive shoulder buttons, and face buttons getting stuck. Right now, rp3+ seems like the safest choice, but I can get the x28 for $60 less. Do you think the rp3+ is worth the higher price?

[@Pridetoons]

I was hoping the X28 would be Powkiddy's Windows Handheld, just like when it was first announced. I hope Powkiddy keeps refining their Handheld designs so one day they will be able to bring us a decent Windows gaming device.😊

[@retrotechdad]

Yea, it would be interesting to see what their take on a Windows handheld would be like but I hope they continue to focus on improving quality overall.

[@TheObserver85]

I was hoping this was the Windows handheld they have been teasing for awhile too. Hopefully they keep a similar design to the X28, but use a 7 inch screen instead. And I hope they don't try to compete against the GPD and AYANEO. They should market an Indie Windows handheld. That can emulate up to PS2 and Wii.

[@Pridetoons]

Dedicated Android buttons? Retroid take notes!

[@retrotechdad]

It's one of my favorite things about the device.

[@burnzy3210]

They should have chosen to compete on price instead of specs, nobody will want to pay retroid/anbernic prices for a powkiddy device.

[@Black10710]

hell no, i'd love to see an update to this software. that device looks like an exceptional work from powkiddy. i saw from another youtuber that the xbox game pass doesn't even register any input from it

[@retrotechdad]

I really hope this gets some type of CFW. It always feels like we're making progress only for something else to be an issue. 😭

[@jasonbendickson7491]

It should have had an RK3588S and analog triggers...

[@retrotechdad]

I seriously can't wait for the first handheld with a RK3588S. That will be fun to mess around with!

[@Pridetoons]

IMMATURE CHIPSET!!! This Arm processor has way more Gaming potential than a Phone attached to a Controller.

[@jasonbendickson7491]

@@Pridetoons Sure it does.

[@Pridetoons]

Forst!!!🥇

[@retrotechdad]

🥇🥇🥇

[@paparansen]

there is no such thing as a digital trigger. if it is digital, it is a shoulder button - trigger is always analogue ;-)

[@retrotechdad]

The botton shoulder buttons have a bit more travel than the top one so just felt like calling them a trigger. 😅But you're correct!

[@paparansen]

@@retrotechdad that was only meant as a hint ;)

[@bhirawamaylana466]

So they not yet fix their R2 and L2 bugs for Native Android game, sigh 😔 oh well at least in emulation R2 and L2 can be use so that fine I guess.

[@retrotechdad]

Yea, it's really a shame that it has the L2/R2 issue. I hope the device sees CFW eventually.

[@subzero-ku2wx]