Retroid Pocket 2S: The Ultimate Starter Handheld

[@soupieskitchen8125]

I'm not even interested in a lot of the products you review, but your work is so informative and interesting, I end up watching pretty much everything you put out. Keep up the awesome work!

[@greatMomiz]

same 😂 I just dream owning a handheld 😢

[@skycloud4802]

I guess it's kind of like how car enthusiasts enjoy watching car reviews of cars they know they'll never own.

[@BoxdHound]

Completely, though we're on the cusp of full library ps3 and gamecube emulation in a low power device, and it'll be hard to resist that.

[@grahamjl766]

​@@BoxdHoundprobably not PS3 but Odin 2 looks like it will be right there.

[@skycloud4802]

@@BoxdHound a while yet for ps3. Even PS2 is currently difficult or impossible on a low end devices. Some can do it sure, but not well. Much of that library is unplayable or has severe slowdown unless you are using the Odin 2.

[@TheKatsMeow113]

I didn’t understand why people kept saying you were the best retro handheld reviewer until I had to wait a week for this video, and wow the quality and effort you put into your work is really top notch! Thanks for all your work on these, I think this will make a great Christmas gift for my little brother (:

[@yziquamizzle]

I hope your little brother doesn't see these comments 🤣

[@dopesheepify]

Watched an LTT review when Russ hadn’t covered the Win Max 2 yet, and anyone forcing someone else to watch an LTT review would probably be breaking the Geneva convention

[@Sweetie-zf3ss]

As good as this is if u want a real budget game system then I’d go for the sf2000 it looks like the Super Nintendo pad plays thousands of games an can be bought of eBay for £ 25 I’ve played mine most days for two months now it’s soooooo cheap that I don’t mind so much if it got damaged or lost u won’t look back trust me 💖💖💖

[@RetroGameCorps]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@patsk8872]

@@Sweetie-zf3ss Review of the SF2000 mentions screen tearing and that even SNES emulation is hit or miss. Yeah it's $25-30 but it can't even properly emulate the system it's mimicking. Sorry that's just a fail.

[@FirepitGaming]

Just picked up the transparent green one. I can't get enough of these retro handhelds and your videos are always at the top of my mind when coming to check them out before buying. Keep up the awesome channel mate! Much love from the UK :-)

[@anaguma90]

I got this as my first retro handheld on your recommendation and couldn't be happier with it.

[@dreno360]

I think I loved the end of the review so much!!! Seeing all the different devices and comparisons was such a neat way to wrap it up and assist with usage case.

[@johnellefa]

Found this video after your 2023 round up. Your videos seem to be the most informational withiut cramming 5 different "must haves" in my face. Now to choose between this and the RGB30

[@themanwithsauce]

As a pocket 3+ metal owner, I would say to not wait for the metal version. They're probably not going to be a major upgrade, and I and other metal 3+ owners have noted they seemed to have a lot more manufacturing inconsistencies than the standard RP3+. Since they included the hall effect sticks on day one, honestly the budget 99$ model might be the best value. I got the RP3M as my first retro handheld and I love it. Still play it almost every day. This will probably be a great, and correctly priced, entry to retro gaming. I think buyers will be very happy with the range of games they can play and the quality of the device.

[@patsk8872]

Exactly. 2S looks amazing as long as your expectations are correct. What's the point spending 2x as much right now, since that still won't get you great gamecube and PS2 emulation on all games, and new better stuff is always coming out.

[@themanwithsauce]

@@patsk8872 At some point, if you want a retro handheld, you need to jump in. I think both the Pocket 3+ and the Pocket 2S have their reasons to exist, but I don't know if I'd buy either if I already had a device that was capable of good PS1/N64 emulation for that reason of inconsistent GCN/PS2 performance. My Pocket 3+ handles the GC games I want just fine, but I know there have been some hiccups here and there......but I didn't have any handheld at all so I'm sitting pretty right now with what I have and what I want it to do. But if I already had a similar enough performance model, I'd probably be disappointed in the lack of widespread compatibility and upscaling and wish I'd waited another year or two for the next wave to come out.

[@ColinRowlands]

An entertaining and informative review as always. Unless you particularly want a gb-style vertical device, it seems like this one is now the obvious choice in the budget market, that combination of so many good hardware elements (sticks, triggers and strong chipset) combined with Retroid's good software is such a strong offering. I have an rg353ps to fit that price and form factor which I am happy with so I can't see myself buying one, but outside of somebody wanting a bigger screen it seems like the rp2s is an easy one to recommend. If they had managed to squeeze in a 4" display then I think I would have been in the queue to get one, the triggers would easily tip the balance over the slightly stronger chipset and the metal casing of the rg405m.

[@dasmortal]

For the triggers not being picked up by Daijisho, it's often because they are in "analog mode". Try to find if possible in the android settings if you can change the triggers behaviour to analog and digital.

[@dasmortal]

@@The_TylerDurden_Narrator went in android settings, changed triggers behaviour to digital/analog instead of just analog

[@milannalim87]

I am at a point where I cannot wait for the next review to drop. These reviews are so fun to watch! And I don’t even own a handheld😂

[@joepage5000]

Awesome review as always! Side by side with the 405m just confirms how much nicer a 4” screen looks for 4:3 content though.

[@RetroGameCorps]

I would be very happy if Anbernic made an RG405P with the exact same design as the RG405M but plastic -- and maybe with the d-pad up top :)

[@MP-dz7vy]

​@@RetroGameCorpsand stacked triggers

[@Cloud28693]

@@RetroGameCorps but possibly without screen issues... A HDMI port would be nice, maybe a better position of start and select buttons, and L2 and R2 triggers instead of in-line buttons. In this scenario, wouldn't just a more powerful RP2S with a 4" display better than a RG405P? I would really love something like this but with a 3:2 display :)

[@ekinteko]

@@RetroGameCorps That's what I said months ago, for an Anbernic RG 405p. But for now we still have the Anbernic RG 353m which makes for an excellent emulation device that is very easy to take anywhere with your phone. Especially for focusing on playing the older systems while acting as a companion device for something larger like a Valve SteamDeck or ASUS ROG Ally or GPD Win-Max-3. The Stacked Shoulder Pads are a must have for PORTABLE devices, but from a practicality point it is preferable to have In-Line Shoulder Buttons for POCKETABLE devices. PS: Thanks for the video Russ, and thanks for taking my ideas onboard with the test for pocket comfort, and the screen dimming test.

[@pollardmax]

@@RetroGameCorps And hdmi out!

[@tomexplodes]

This video convinced me to like, subscribe, and buy a Retroid Pocket 2S. My buddy gave me his old Anbernic RG350 awhile back and I fell down a rabbit hole at around 4:30 this morning. This is where I ended up. Thank you!

[@ibroadcast10001]

The 4:3 screen is a big POSITIVE for me. Im in it for the 4:3 games arcade classics, n64, ps1, snes, sega genesis/saturn and the GBA with 3:2 aspect. This is not for the 16:9 games even though it can handle some of that stuff in a pinch. I wish the Game Cube stuff was better but I really only want to play Luigi's Mansion on that front anyway. Looking forward to getting this delivered next week. Thank you for the review!

[@RetroGameCorps]

Agreed, I love 4:3 devices for retro gaming! It just gets weird when a device is capable of playing something like PSP but isn't a great fit for that screen. But for everything else it is a stellar experience :)

[@Senda688]

I'm currently playing Luigi's Mansion on the RP2+ and it's pretty smooth so it will be a pleasure on the 2s

[@TatsuyaWow]

how much was the shipping@@Senda688

[@damian3182]

This is my first handheld emulator device and I'm happy with my purchase. I'm an old millennial so games I've been itching to play my favs like Killer Instinct, Perfect Dark, Super Mario World, Mario Kart 64, Soul Calibur and Shenmu. I like that most of those games seem to fill up the screen on this device :) Thanks so much for your video content, I've been catching up on the starter guide on your website, getting ready for the long shipping wait :D

[@SanMann11]

Really like the awesome new sticks and the transparent jungle green is the perfect one for me but that tiny 3.5 inch screen is such a deal breaker. I hope retroid takes the new sticks to next bigger handheld with a nice screen and they will have me make the switch.

[@Admiral_Gonzo_III]

That sound comparison montage was great!

[@justthetips2670]

Russ, you *can* mod the ABXY to dome style just by sticking 3DS ABXY dome stickers on the conductive pads, I tried it in the 3+ when they discontinued that board. It’s a bit of a metal on metal CLACK, so I’m waiting on some aliexpress fabric conductive tape to stick inside the domes and sheet silicone to stick on the backs of the buttons. It should be a very cheap and easy mod. If it feels nice I’ll likely sell it as a simple upgrade kit, and I’d be happy to send you some!

[@1Dudeon1bike]

Did you end up putting together that upgrade kit? I'm getting one soon and would love dome ABXY buttons

[@thesharpiefp]

This is my first handheld, it was my choice because of you best under 100 video and I loved those videos. Thanks a lot.

[@ZackMorris1]

I hope you put out a starter guide for this, but honestly I don't think a lot has changed from the 2+ one you put out, maybe how to setup Dajisho with this. Good stuff Russ! I hope Chicken is doing good in her old age!

[@cecil9934]

He has a Daijisho guide. It got new features since, but the setup process is pretty much the same.

[@goranpiljic9362]

I ordered one as a late christmas present for myself, based on this review. Thanks man, I'm looking forward to trying it myself.

[@purogueso89]

Maan, i'm ad the middle of the video and had to say, damnnnn this is incredible review! it's so complete and profesional. covering so much about this long waited handheld makes me want to get one. congrats, now i will continue watching :D

[@MarkB.Guitar]

Provided it was reasonably priced, i think a Pocket 3S would be just what I'm looking for - with these new analogue sticks, clear speakers, and analogue triggers but with a bigger, higher resolution screen... Maybe in a few months it'll exist!

[@LogicProphet]

Was waiting for this. I've been on the lookout for a pocketable console that is easy to set up arcade romsets and up to psone. You've been a great help and also accessory to my collection addiction of these😂. You cover aspects like size,power,OS and build in ways I can understand The journey has been fun I hope one day you'll come accross what I'm looking for exactly. For bow the RK2023 has the sofware requirements but no the hardware. Wish miyoo would release that flip prototype.

[@Roosader]

I just got an RP Flip on Amazon for 190 and honestly, I couldn't be happier with the device. It works so well, and the shipping only took 2 days. If I were going for something more affordable though, this thing would definitely do the trick I'd reckon, but the size looks so similar that I'd rather have a bigger screen. Plus, the Flip is it's own case and I love that. Now I just gotta see how long the hinge lasts lol

[@GeneralChaz9]

41 minutes? Let me go brew some coffee and get comfortable.. Love your work!

[@RetroGameCorps]

Thanks for the support!

[@13ON3S]

What a awesome review! Definitely setting a standard for reviews in general!

[@ironeyes82]

Thank you for your well explained example of the D-pad which is my main issue with these retro handhelds. No other reviewer goes in depth like you. Take care

[@ricardoramirez9510]

You have help me decide which device I’m going to buy for my five year old nephew, and I think this is it small enough for his hands and capable enough for him to learn about all the retro games.

[@kwok57]

Seriously impressed by those joystick modules, having replaced my joycon sticks 4+ times!

[@CLOYO]

Gulikit has hall sensor joyconsticks though

[@kwok57]

@@CLOYO yeah and I installed those after having replaced my sticks 4 times in the last 5 years.

[@TasteTheD]

I'm so close to getting a 3+ and the price difference here in the uk if you get them from aliexpress isn't huge once you opt in for the 4gb. I might just hang on for yet another year and see how the prices change and what else becomes available. I've waited this long to play old games, another 12 months doesn't seem long at all to wait! Great video as always man! Thank you!!

[@RaineyRetro]

I just got the 3+ and the setup literally took me an entire day. That experience alone made me really appreciate having systems that comes with games and controls set. I put waaaaaay too much time into trying to configure settings and change controls. I'm in NO rush to experience another retroid setup even though I love the transparent shells and analog triggers

[@chphoto37]

That's just Android setup full stop, not specific to Retroid really. I hated it at first but now I've done a few it's ok. Far prefer Linux Custom Firmware though!

[@pegcity4eva]

Agreed. Lots of tinkering but worth it. My RG350M was worse though.

[@alexcal97]

Decided on this as my first handheld earlier today, came across this review and am now super happy with my decision :) I hope it's able to run the ps2 games I have in mind !!

[@puckstopr3931]

Great review! After a lot of thought I went with this as my first handheld retro device. I wanted something d-pad dominant with a 4:3 display that could run Saturn. This checks those boxes and the value is even better now thanks to the recent price drop (now $99 for the 4gb model). Thanks for the great review. I can't wait for mine to arrive.

[@poeticider]

Hello, first time to this channel but just wanted to say I really appreciated this review. It was thorough, neutral, analyitical and elaborate. I partuclarly appreciated your contra/SF3 tests to describe the feel/control of the d-pad and the comparison to similar devices at the end. Much kudos!

[@pyder]

Great review as always Russ. I have the Pocket 2+ and while i don't know if i should upgrade or not, this review at least did a lot of the ground work for me and i got the answers i was looking for. Thank you.

[@ranggasukarno2846]

Hi, Russ, glad to see your videos after some times. Would love to see the full performance comparison between the 3GB vs 4GB.

[@elemkay5104]

Performance is not RAM limited in anything but intensive Android games and possibly Switch, and there are HD texture packs for some games that would make use of it. To my knowledge, everything else (that the device can run) should be fine with 3GB.

[@dtape]

17:06 Those are some amazing sounding speakers for a handheld. Really blew away the competition.

[@omyguzman1796]

Great in-deph appreciate it. Mine its on the way cant wait to try it out.

[@TVsBen]

I'm definitely getting old because the bigger screen on the Pocket 3 Plus, even though it's only an extra 0.3 inches, is really appealing. I'm waiting for Anbernic to release a theoretical RG405P in plastic and at a lower cost, and then I think that's what I'd like for 4:3 games. Still, it's really nice to see some progress; for a $120 (plus shipping) handheld, this is really powerful.

[@hereticsshallbecleansed7245]

Have a RP2+ and Love it. I'm glad that this is an improvement. Only thing I wish was was they made the screen a bit bigger like the rg405m.

[@RetroGameCorps]

Agreed, a 4" screen (in this same shell!) would have made it a KNOCKOUT in design and 4:3 gaming experience.

[@batmabel]

Yeah, the screen size is what's holding me back for now. I have an RG353PS and with the same screen they feel way too similar to justify the new investment. I really wish they went with 4" so I could justify it better lol

[@lucykaede5863]

@@batmabel would you recommend the 353ps over the Miyoo+ and 35xx? I want to have comfy long play sessions but at the same time I'd be sacrificing the awesome custom themes available on Onion and Garlic OS.

[@batmabel]

@@lucykaede5863 That's a good question. The RG35XX was my first one, I got the RG353PS afterwards because I wanted to play other consoles and loved the form factor. I think I'd recommend it over the 35XX if you prefer the portrait form factor (I do for most things), want wi-fi (but the Miyoo+ does that too) or if you want to play consoles beyond the PS1, otherwise get the 35XX because Garlic OS is a lot, and I mean A LOT better than ArkOS in my opinion - that's my biggest complain about the 353PS. Supposedly, Garlic will be released on other platforms too so if we get it on the 353PS I think it'll get much better than it is today.

[@lucykaede5863]

@@batmabel Yea I prefer the 353ps in terms of form factor. Hopefully when Garlic OS does get released on it, the custom themes and stuff will be carried over. Just kinda sucks that some awesome themes on Onion OS isn't available on Garlic OS. Hopefully in the future the themes between the two systems can be used interchangeably since they're pretty similar.

[@izzy9ish]

Your my go to guy! For retro emulation handheld reviews! Good stuff! Keep it up bro 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Opebin]

i really love that these retroids always have micro HDMI, makes it really convenient for recording or streaming it to friends on twitch or in discord

[@jonathaningram8157]

But 720p isn't good.

[@Opebin]

it may not be but it's serviceable for what I like to do

[@GungKrisna12]

I have one issue regarding to emulator live streaming: Legality

[@pian-0g445]

@@GungKrisna12technically not illegal if you own the actual game, and got your ROM from your copy. So, even if you did get ROM from online, as long as you don’t bring it up, should be fine

[@Wateredlmao]

Wait how do you stream?

[@penguyen25]

Thanks for the review! I just got my translucent black 2S in and can't wait to play with it. It seems as though the start and select buttons are more raised on this model similar to the home and back buttons at the bottom of the device.

[@Shifty319]

I picked a second-hand one of these up for $70 AUD (~$30USD) will be my first standalone retro handheld (I've used retroarch on an old phone before)

[@KovanNova]

Just finally got mine a couple days ago and I've never setup a retroid before and for my first time it wasn't so bad. At first you will be confused cause they don't really tell you what to do. I would recommend watching a tutorial for the rp3+ since im pretty sure its the same process for the 2s. Now it didn't take me long to begin with since it was kinda like setting up an android phone. It was mainly just getting the retroid launcher itself to work.

[@jmffer]

Dang, so close to my ideal device. Love the D-pad placement, shoulder button placement/analog movement, and 4:3 ratio. Bummed on the GC/PS2 performance and the screen size, hopefully improvements on a later rev?? Not sure how many more 4:3 retro devices there will be going forward, or if theres some madlad making 4:3 OLED screen for these? To quote Toy Story - "Hey, I can dream, can't I?" :-)

[@HamedKarim-y2z]

33:43 Russ mentions one of the cons is it feels cheap, but they recently added a metallic version, which I HIGHLY recommend it feels so much more stable and quality wise its amazing

[@crystal_is_cozy]

I ended up ordering this lol. I already have the rp3+, but this one is just so cute. I can’t resist those retro aesthetics.

[@MrZenhookah]

Seahawk stadium employee : " who ordered the retroid pocket?!"

[@infin1ty850]

I was going to buy this for myself, but I haven't even gotten my Miyo Mini Plus in from China yet, so I think this might be a good gift for my sister for Christmas.

[@Usernameblank9891]

I dont like horizontal handheld devices, but the proportions on this one with that 4:3 screen are simply astounding. Feels like the perfect in between of a vertical and horizontal handheld. After getting my anbernic rg35xx on retro gray ill probably pick the retro version of this one.

[@Kuriketto]

This checks so many boxes for me, except my poor eyes. Great review as always.

[@akilluminati47]

I ordered to upgrade from something I already own-- a pocket 2+ I plan to bring the 2S around with me and have the 2+ stationed as a console. PS4 controllers work awesome, lag free and the TouchPad brings up the cursor The 2+ had a microphone which was useful for search functions instead of typing on that tiny screen. Also the 2+ had a power LED which helps me know when the battery is low even after I dismiss the notification from android Hdmi to rca s-video adapters work great to bring this 4:3 image to an older standard definition CRT TV

[@Brizizaz]

You are amazing man. Really, thanj you for your awesome work!

[@MOOSEMAN7809]

personally I really prefer the 4:3 aspect ratio of the 2s. I just can't stand looking at the big black bars most retro games will have with 16:9 screens. Glad they made a new iteration of this one.

[@misterkeebler]

It does look like a solid pick for the price, and especially nice that they included analog triggers in this price range. I already have the various t618 devices you mentioned so i will likely be skipping this one, but i would keep this in mind as a potential gift idea.

[@RetroGameCorps]

Yeah it's a hard sell for anyone with a T618 device, but still impressive what you can get for the price!

[@Zack414]

So, handheld community. Can we talk? Because I didn't buy the 3+ based on what people were saying at the time. That it just didn't play enough Gamecube and PS2 to justify the price hike. So I never bothered even looking at the community Compatibility sheet. But now coming back to the Pocket 2, I wanted to see what it could play and...I have to ask what people actually want out of these devices. on the RP3+ Spreadsheet, 45 games are considered "Great" to play, 36 are considered "Perfect", while 15 are at least considered "Playable". THAT'S 100 GAMES. And these games aren't shovelware either. They're the games people constantly talk about when they mention the Gamecube. Resident Evil, Melee, Tales of Symphonia, WWE Day of Reckoning, Skies of Arcadia, metroid Prime. I feel gaslit, this is stacked. I'm sorry Call of Duty 2 isn't playable. Clearly that's the game changer here. A pre Modern Warfare/Black Ops Call of Duty. The Wii games are kinda in a similar vein, but lesser. 23 "Great", 23 "Perfect", and 15 "Playable". Most of this looks like games people talk about when they mention the Wii. It's not like "Oh, Kidz Sports: International Soccer is considered Perfect" like actual games people care about are here. PROJECT M is considered "Great" on this cheap handheld. That's insane to me. PS2 has 140 "Great", about 120 "Perfect", and like 80 "Playable". I get the PS2 library is one of the largest ever and not every playable game is exactly from the Platinum Hits, but come on. if just 40 of them were the goty material, that's an achievement. Most people buying this are probably using a 256GB SD card anyway. Many people would run out of storage trying to fit what's playable on there. Even as jank as Citra can be, 3DS still has 26 "Great", 30 "Perfect", and 6 "Playable". Those 6 being Captain Toad, Pokemon Sun, Smash, Rhythm Heaven, Dragon Quest 8, and DOA Dimensions. So even "Playable" is some of the 3DS's most cherished games. Can it play everything? No. But channels had me thinking this handheld chip was barely a step up from the 2 Plus. Had me waiting for the 4 to come out while the 3 was doing a lot more than the 2 Plus ever did. I might actually buy the 2S now. It's the 3 but cheaper with almost no need to upscale. There's no contest here. On top of everything named, the 2S can also do basically the entire library of Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, DS, Game Gear, Master System, Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, PS1, PSP, NEO GEO, 3DO, Wonderswan, and most Arcade. That's not even naming the less popular systems. Looking at all this, thousands of classic games on top of least a couple hundred 3D games, I don't get the need to pretend this is meh. This is only gonna get better in the years to come, even with other handheld companies. I'm kind of content here.

[@RetroGameCorps]

I think this is a good conclusion, two points I’d like to add: - The RP3+ got a big mid-lifecycle performance boost which increased its playability for PS2/GC significantly (I did an update video on it!). So that might be why you’re seeing a difference compared to initial reviews (including my own). - The community spreadsheet is a little optimistic, there are some very enthusiastic contributors; replicating their “perfect” results can sometimes be frustrating. I tend to skew on the conservative side when making assessments, I would rather someone be pleasantly surprised by better-than-expected performance than disappointed when they are oversold on performance. But yeah it sounds like the 2S might be a good fit for your needs!

[@wingsfromheaven8788]

I setup two RP3+ as gifts for pre-teens requiring a console-like experience. This is particularly difficult to accomplish with Android, even with Retroid+Diajisho (the best combo available). And don't get me started on the lack of 'seamless' support for wireless multiplayer with Dolphin (GameCube) specifically on Android; tinkering is required each time. And Diajisho currently breaks 'load' state access with MMJR specifically; 'save' states and built-in saves do work. Also in my experience, Diajisho won't launch Dolphin-for-Handheld at all. In any case, I relied heavily on those community spreadsheets for GC and even PSP in the early stages. I didn't have the time or sufficient storage to include PS2. And I didn't include any Mature titles based on the target audience; admittedly the most intensive to emulate. I did include 50 top GC games running at or near full speed complete with widescreen hacks/cheats/patched roms. That optimization took several days alone due to testing across 3 Dolphin emulators (Official, MMJR and MMJR2). I was forced to deviate in many cases from the RP3+ community spreadsheet for GC, but it's a great start until you get a feel for the process. It's more of an art than science in some cases.

[@Lucifronz]

@@RetroGameCorps You're very good at not over-selling or under-selling a product. Even the PlayStation Portal, which I think is a colossal waste of money, you give a fair and unbiased viewpoint that appeals to both sides of the market. There *are* people who are going to want a product that, to people like me, looks like a disaster and they may even have good reasons for it (having a lot of extra money to blow being one of them). It's good not to forget that and make sure everyone gets a good take on what a system (or streaming device or whatever) offers and let them form their own opinions. "Leaning on the conservative side" is smart. I'm assuming in that video you also mentioned the possibility of better performance with tweaking, too, as you usually seem to have your bases covered, so no criticisms here on that part. For me, though, I do personally like to know what a system can push with a bit of effort. I'm a tinkerer. I will keep looking up ways to optimize games I want to play, so knowing that my efforts could be rewarded if I'm persistent enough would be a good thing to mention in future reviews/overviews. Just a thought. Although I'm more on the budget side, so I'm more of the desperate variety of viewer. Anything I can get, I'll take. lol

[@nashptv]

First time watching a review of yours on something I purchased. Really enjoyed this review. Thanks

[@glieb]

i would love to see a guide on using this as a home console, with a wireless controller working in all the emulators

[@mcquadex]

This product is exactly what I've been waiting for!!

[@Toconok]

Hi Russ! Thanks for your work and videos, always a must for purchasing a handheld!😅Any chance of a review of the 2S metal edition! Cheers!

[@MrMegaManFan]

Just bought one. Thanks Russ!

[@march15th]

Great video. Possibly gonna pick this one up

[@willitine]

Dude great review on the Retroid Pocket, Russ! This seems like a neat upgrade from the RP2+ in my opinion. As a FGC enthusiast I’d bet more PS2 2-d fighting games and 3-d Fighters would work much better on the RP2S. I’ve tested several pal ps2 2-D fighters on the 2+ and many were working ok but not quite there.. I’m really hoping the RP2S would fix the slowdowns. Promising upgrade.

[@willitine]

Also the RP2S’s psvita-like d-pad I believe is great for fighters as well. Man overall looks like a great handheld system used for fighting games, FPS, RPGs, platformers, beat’em ups, shoot’em ups, and etc all around. ✌️

[@DigitalMase]

So interesting how much has changed so fast. The Retroid Pocket 2 was so widely considered the best or one of the best retro handhelds when it released.

[@nefariou5]

this is why i continue to hold out for the rp3+ successor. I feel like the next gen is going to be incredible. even getting those replaceable hal joysticks and front start and select would be a bonus, but a spec bump would allow better ps2 gaming

[@kartovalribs1872]

Then you get people like Wulf Den talking about "tHeYr'E dOiNg tHe 2 aGaIn fOr sOmE rEaSoN" like yeah. Retroid decided to upgrade what was considered their best received handheld (with the least amount of controversy behind it mind you) to appeal to a lower price point, but now with all the benefits of the 3+. If this is supposed to be indicitive of Retroid messing up again, their successes are going to be unfathomable. Then again, I get the feeling Wulf is gonna review this product like "Aren't you tired of all of these Retroids?" and just strawman the whole thing.

[@emlyndewar]

I loved the form factor of the 2, but the software was beyond awful. I always wanted to get the 2+ upgrade but hilariously they didn’t sell it in China… My 2 became a dust gatherer after getting better handhelds, but it was an amazing thing to just throw in a bag and not worry about.

[@mihai96z3d]

hey man, avid viewer here. Maybe I am requesting too much, but honestly the perfect review for this would've been comparing 3gb vs 4gb performance. I i know that its a bit more expensive to do it, but I am sure you are the right guy to pull it off 😀

[@Mite000]

I asked around about that as well. It doesn't seem like there's too big a difference in performance in terms of games, but it does make the android OS a bit snappier. The 4gb also comes with 128gb of storage instead of 32gb, so all things considered it's well worth the extra $10usd :)

[@mihai96z3d]

@@Mite000 when I looked around in aliexpress the difference was $30 for me. I wouldnt even ask about it, if it was only 10$ diff

[@Mite000]

@@mihai96z3d That's fair! I was referencing what I was seeing on the Retroid website. I would recommend getting from the source if you're able, if there's any issues it's much easier to get them to help if you've purchased from them!

[@Agumon5]

Excellent job breaking down real price of the device. After all is said and done this is definitely a solid device in the $150 range, but no way is this a sub $100 device. Sub $100 would be competing with Miyoo mini + and 35XX, this is definitely in a different category. For me, it's definitely a buy on Black Friday sale. It would be a day 1 buy if it had a better back grip, slightly less protruding triggers, and a removable battery.

[@SpongiousBird]

I just bought the Miyoo mini+, as it's one of the best budget options. I was really interested in the Retroid pocket 3+, but I think I will wait for a sale to get the Odin Lite instead. It's about 50$ USD difference, but the power and quality seem to be worth it.

[@chedhead3278]

Cheers Russ, great review as usual. What surprised me as I was watching was how much I like the look, particularly in this colour scheme. At first glance it's just a typical oblong but the more I looked the more I liked the slightly chunky retro vibe, considered colours used and the general layout. Makes the 2+ look rather bland despite their similarities. They may not get everything right but Retroid are doing some great work.

[@riversan90]

Great review. I got one of these to play my GB/GBC/GBA collection on. I have a Steam Deck, but its cumbersome size grates on me after awhile. Hopefully mine ships soon!

[@brentwells6802]

Was waiting for this review! I am now stuck between this and the anbernic rg353v! I love the vertical form factor of the rg353v but this one has even more performance and is still on the smaller portable size.

[@BECKERWULF]

I love my 353V because it reminds me of my old Gameboy but if I only got one device I would go with the 2S for the triggers and performance.

[@Kiahona]

Wait for the rg405v?

[@brentwells6802]

@@Kiahona what’s that?

[@se7enBC1]

Yes, im jealous of all your devices, yes i love your tech room, yes i love all the info and handheld news and devices...but seriously your style of shooting & editing your videos and complete overview of the device you're covering is top notch 🤌

[@debostahn]

Retroid Pocket 2+ is one of the coziest electronics I have ever owned. This looks to continue the trend.

[@TheHeroOfTime73]

Great review! Can’t wait to get my hands on mine, although I have a feeling I’m still gonna use my Flip more 😅 Btw, the trigger issue with Daijisho is a known issue with the current firmware, you gotta go in and set the triggers to be both analog and digital, then it should work as normal. I had to do that with my Flip too, so hope that helps! :)

[@RetroGameCorps]

Awesome! Thank you for the tip!

[@dv5873]

Can confirm, but just to clarify if anyone is reading this that hasn’t figured it out yet - go to android system settings > Handheld Settings > Input > L2/R2 mode and then select Both

[@harelipnirnroots897]

Holy sh.... Thanks, to both you and dv. Awesome to have it :)

[@ProphitDesigns]

I noticed that you mentioned in your earlier tweet about the real world performance of the 2S being near identical to the 3+, but in your showcase here of GameCube, I noticed worse performance than that what I've seen run on the 3+. In particular, I've seen that area in windwaker run at full speed with the latest updates on the 3+ yet here on the 2S, it doesn't seem to hit full speed much at all. I think many people have the presumption that this device has a like for like performance output to the 3+ when it comes to GameCube and PS2 due to the smaller resolution screen, but I'm seeing that it's not the case. Would love to see a detailed performance comparison of this device for some of those not so easy to run systems in comparison to something like 405m or the 3+. As always though, the video you provided today was top notch and very informative.

[@RetroGameCorps]

Hi, great points. I agree that the presumption that a 480p screen has fewer pixels and therefore will perform on par with a better chipset isn't very realistic. I'm not sure what started that rumor but I've seen it all over discord and reddit, but never experienced it myself. I tested the same ROM, app version, and settings between that stage of Wind Waker and saw an average 3 FPS difference between the two, favoring the RP3+, but that's only after I went back and studied the gameplay footage -- when actually playing the game, the "feel" is very similar since I'm using VBI skip to prevent audio crackling. Also bear in mind the clip I shared in this video was deliberately chosen because it had a large amount of slowdown, to temper expectations for those who are hoping for pitch-perfect Wind Waker gameplay. But it's still definitely an enjoyable experience (for me!) -- this is what prompted my assessment that the difference between the two is nearly intangible, and that tracks with the slight difference in Geekbench scores that we saw in this video. I think that if someone watches the FPS they'll definitely see a difference in the numbers, but that's not really the point I was making -- it's that largely the Gen 6 performance is pretty decent and not far off from what to expect on a T618 device thanks to the fact that CPU performance is close. There's no question that the T618 chip will be more capable in my book, but I was mostly just surprised at how close they came in the end!

[@wingsfromheaven8788]

Like Russ, I think those assumptions about par performance were misguided with respect to GC and PS2. At least in an apples-to-apples comparison at 1x internal res (480p). There's an undeniable 38%/17%/10% GPU/DRAM/CPU clock speed difference between the T618 and T610. So when running GC and PS2 at 1x internal res, you should see marginally better performance with a T618, regardless of device screen resolution. That's because 'internal resolution' generated by the emulator is much more compute-intensive than simply 'upscaling' the emulator output. So it ALSO follows that emulating PSP with a T610 at 2x internal res (544p) for 480p screen will close the performance gap on a T618 running 3x res (816p) for 750p screen.

[@FernandoHernandez-jp4gt]

Glad I got my RP3+. I was gonna wait for this video review to see if I wanted to go for the 2S but my b day was earlier this month. So I got my wife to pull the trigger on the 3+ and some accessories lol. It’s been perfect for me. As always, awesome review.

[@DarkAlkaiser]

I have the Retroid 2+, and the triggers fit really nice in a cell phone case, I got a case for 10 bucks on amazon that goes on my belt, the triggers slick in the fold at the top nicely. That metal varient of this sounds pretty tempting.

[@thebloo12]

Been waiting for this!!

[@googaboogaloo]

I can’t wait for your review on the 405v

[@mattbtv]

I can see these hall sticks, buttons, and analog triggers naturally making their way over to a RP3 “Pro” or similar, even without a spec bump. It would be a nice refining touch to the already great 3+

[@zeberoni9637]

great review! an idea: maybe you could make a 2-axis price:power graph. There are so many devices now could help keep track of them!

[@Broken_robot1986]

Got mine on the way!

[@ilpastor]

Nice review and comparison!

[@MrTomato35]

thank you so much for your video again !

[@pyroflyx]

I'm still playing on my RP2. I think I will wait for a "RP 3S" to come out. Would love that form factor with some of the upgrades from the 2S - like the larger face buttons, start and select on the front, analog triggers, different analog sticks.

[@yikes_maniac]

i dont have this yet but dammit i will someday! i am SO in love with this handheld its been on my mind for months

[@McKayHarris-z2s]

Bought a MM+ but upgrading to this as my first real device after this review

[@ToyKeeper]

A few months later, it seems like the RG35XX-H may be a more practical starter handheld. It's definitely a cheaper device, but at less than half the price, it seems to fit that "starter" category really well.

[@bacillus25]

a positive about the rg405m is that anbernic gives you the option to ship it from spain/poland which means you won't have to pay import fees if you live in the eu

[@SleepyVoice]

Are you sure about this? They calculate taxes but you mean Anbernic don’t charge for it? In that case the prices in upcoming campaign will be really good 😳 (Sweden)

[@bacillus25]

@SleepyVoice I just checked and you have to pay the 21% extra if you ship it to Belgium at least that's what paypal said before I cancelled it, if you buy from a site outside the eu that doesn't pay that 21% I know that (at least in Belgium) you have to pay the 21% in taxes + 17.5 euros in import fees to the belgian postal service. So I think you still save that 17.5 euros but it's not as much as I originally tought, thanks for pointing that out

[@KikiAelita]

When I first learned about retro emulation handhelds, it was the 2+ I really wanted and liked. At the time I was super into the niche design. But I waited, because I wanted GC. I find that this particular design doesn't grab me anymore, and I'm more into the look of the KT-R1/the Ambernic offering in this video. I have a Steam Deck now though so it's very hard to justify buying another handheld, but for $100, it's sure tempting here. The Analog triggers and hall effect joysticks really make it seem like this is the one.

[@jamesmichael561]

You have great reviews!

[@ranchman693]

I love my retried pocket 2+ I use it almost every day! It's a shame this can't do game cube and PS2 full speed. Looks like the wait continues LOL

[@SDSakuragi]

I can't wait for mine to ship. Apparently my Clear Black version will take a while.

[@pcplsdxtc]

Waiting for an update with bigger 3:4 screen (they could fit a 4inch into same body) and I would be complete.

[@Zanpaa]

If they put a slightly larger screen on this, I think that would havce been a buy for me. The 4" screen from the RG405M would be really nice in this form factor and with this chipset. Or maybe a 4" device from Anbernic, with this chipset and a plastic case... Like a budget RG405.

[@Vekstar]

2:55 incase you also live in Hawai`i, shipping is around $42. DHL only

[@matthewniederberger9367]

The 2+ fits nice in a lot of jacket pockets. I usually keep mine in the inside chest pocket of my jackets.

[@soullos555]

I have a pocket 2+ and hated the dpad position, so with the pocket 2S with proper dpad placement for 4:3 gaming, it's tempting. Wish the screen was a bit bigger though. Maybe I'll wait for a "2S+" lol.

[@Lucifronz]

6:27 That may in part be both the color of the system and the face-buttons. The ABXY buttons are stylized in the same way my N3DS console is, with the Super Famicom button colors, but unlike my N3DS (which is a black special edition, although all non-XL N3DS systems in North America are sold as special editions, technically) it has the Super Famicom gray coloration for the whole system (not that I'm complaining, they both look great). So that adds to the retro authentic feel of the system and is a good move by the developers of the handheld. Even Nintendo fails to deliver a good design sometimes (just look at the original 3DS models; ugly as sin), but when they snap out of it and stop trying to be "modern", they do a damn good job of it.

[@nchaiphuong]

I want to update about the R2+L2 not working in Daijisho. I got them to work by going into settings/Handheld settings > Input > L2/R2 Mode and set it to Both.