Retroid Pocket 2S | An In-Depth Review // Pocket 2 gets SERIOUS upgrades!

[@retrotechdad]

I like buddens... I mean Retroid Pocket 2S. 💚💚

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Skittle buttons, thanks for the shout out!

[@MarkTengPhoto]

I remember I paid more than that for just the regular Pocket 2+ when it first came out. People just joining the hobby are literally spoiled for choice, and spoiled in general. Look out, 20 years from now, you get this level of handheld for $5 from Temu 2.0.

[@retrotechdad]

It's so true, we are DEFINITELY spoiled for choice. Tons of options at every price point and good ones at that! 🔥

[@cheesewheel]

This is why I waited it out for a while before making a decision. I'm glad I did, but also I am worried because I know the next best thing is around the corner and it'll be tempting, but I've picked one of these up and hopefully it'll last me a good long time without wanting to upgrade right away.

[@2LoudTech]

Very thorough review. I really enjoyed your commentary. Well spoken and concise. Amazing video brother, keep up the great work.. 👍🏽

[@retrotechdad]

Wow, thank you for your kind words! I really appreciate the comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. 🙏🤗

[@2LoudTech]

@@retrotechdad Got to give credit were it's due my friend.

[@retrohandhelds]

This is pure visual pleasure. I love you. - Stubbs

[@retrotechdad]

Aww, thank you Stubbs! 🙏🤗

[@theagent578]

With the release of the Anbernic RG35xx H im revisiting this device. This thing is so much more powerful for just a little more cash. I only wish it didn't run android - just not a fan of it in these retro handhelds. Thank you for the excellent review!

[@retrotechdad]

Thank you so much, I appreciate it 🙏It's a great value for what you get!

[@hogtrick]

Found your channel recently and loving the way you review these. Just checked out your android related videos too and it's top quality. It's rare to find good content about android gaming and your is amazing. Keep adding then and also showing some in your retro handhelds review.

[@retrotechdad]

That's awesome, I'm glad you found your way here! 🙏 Thank you for your extremely kind words, it's really appreciated. ❤

[@cho-v4n]

Those sticks look amazing. I hope they become the standard now. I'm not interested in this device but I will be interested in an rp4 if it ends up being like the Rp3+ with all of these quality of life improvements and the buttons in the right spots. For now rp3+ remains my go to for android. Still I can't deny that the value of the 99$ version of this is amazing

[@retrotechdad]

Yes, these sticks are a big improvement over the Switch style ones. I think AYN is using the same ones in the Odin 2. 🤞🤞

[@Corporalfork]

The sticks are honestly amazing.

[@RetroBreezeYT]

I was hoping for a close look at the sticks and Dad delivers! Those look absolutely fantastic and I hope they become the standard. Looks like Odin 2 has the same!

[@retrotechdad]

You know I got you Shem! 🤗💗 The Odin2 is going to be incredible.

[@Luodai235]

Fun fact: if you have a tello drone you can use the retroid as a controller for it with a screen. just need to map the buttom as shown in video in the tello app.

[@Zanardao]

Excelent review! Thanks! 🍻

[@retrotechdad]

Thank you for watching! 🙏

[@Guitario666]

Great video. I appreciate your teardowns!

[@retrotechdad]

Thank you and they're actually one of my favorite things to do... as long as I don't break anything. 😅

[@jakesmith5278]

This is my very first budget hand held purchase. I think they finally earn my 100 bucks. I hope their next successor to this particular line will emulate gen 6 with no problem.

[@WMARUoriginal]

Wow that was an epic review! So detailed. I also prefer launching individual emulators on Android. The front ends for Android just aren't as seamless to me as the ones for linux or even windows.

[@retrotechdad]

Yea, I think it's mostly just out of habit and thank you for your extremely kind words! 🙏🤗

[@geerhead]

The only thing I wish they would have done on it is make a swap out dpad/ left analog stick orientation option. Like where you could release and remove a insert that housed the dpad and left analog stick oriented one way and pop in one that's oriented the opposite way. I know it woukd add to cost but it woukd be a neat option

[@retrotechdad]

That's actually a really cool idea! 🔥

[@snart]

Waiting for 100% GC and PS2 - hopefully the next Retroid 4(!).

[@retrotechdad]

Things should get very interesting!

[@victoriafischer1945]

I don’t want to be rude, but which “good” games are really missing from being playable on the retroid pocket 3+? Are you really going to play 100% of ALL GC and PS2 games? Even the games that suck?

[@snart]

@@victoriafischer1945 Not sure - I just know that I don't want to tweak per-game settings. I want the library to either work or not.

[@victoriafischer1945]

@@snart oh! That explains it. I started building my PC instead. It will run everything, but it won’t be portable, of course.

[@FTGBro]

Thanks for testing Contra Shattered soldier. One of my favourite PS2 games but no one seems to know about it lol

[@retrotechdad]

Shattered Soldier is always my go-to game for PS2. 🔥🔥

[@Luodai235]

I need to do more research before I just jump to buy these things, I keep finding something I want more. I just got into these things last week and I ordered 3 already. GKD Pixel, Miyoo mini plus, and this Retroid 2s.............

[@Ap616]

Great review! Thanks for the benchmarks & impressions :) However, you have something wrong in your specs & rundown of the device. This has Micro HDMI out, not Mini HDMI(which is a much wider connector/port). Not much mentioning of the configurable button/shortcut key down near the Home & Back buttons. Or showcasing the video out. Other than that, awesome in-depth review! 😄

[@retrotechdad]

Haha, thank you for your correction. The best part is I had micro in my notes but my brain said mini. 😅

[@scoobiedude]

Thanks.. never owned a 64 but played friends’. All this time I thought I played Mario kart. Instant nostalgia when you played Diddy Kong racing 😂 that was the game! can’t wait to get a device and play through 🔥

[@retrotechdad]

Diddy Kong Racing is great, there's a version for the Nintendo DS as well!

[@DP-jb4yo]

Beautiful handheld ❤❤❤❤

[@Pridetoons]

NGL You and Joey might have converted me. I got burned pretty hard by Retroid in the past but the Retroid Pocket 2S might be the Retroid Redemption Arc I'm looking for. There are only two main problems, Ergonomics, and the lack of a niche.

[@retrotechdad]

The 2S is very solid, I'd definitely love to hear your thoughts on the device if you end up giving it a shot! 🙏

[@crsv7armhl]

Watching. I bought the original 2 and was severely disappointed with the N64 performance. I bought the pcb upgrade and upgraded to a 2+, and have been very happy with the N64 and some Gamecube. Recently I have been thinking more about the 2S because there are a few Gamecube games like Timesplitters that would be really nice to play.

[@retrotechdad]

It's not going to be perfect but you will definitely get more playable Gamecube games with the 2S over the 2+.

[@crsv7armhl]

@@retrotechdad Mind giving Timesplitters (GC) a try and letting me know?

[@thomaschipman]

some serious flashlight issues there with luigi's mansion. in other news, if they'd put a 4in screen in this device it would have been perfectly positioned to siphon sales from the rg405. definitely a missed opportunity.

[@retrotechdad]

That's because of the performance hacks. 🙏 It definitely would've been nice to see them use a 4" screen this time.

[@thomaschipman]

@@retrotechdad , with the flashlight being such a large component of this game, for me, it'd be unplayable like that. however, i do enjoy it on the rp3+ though with just regular mmjr.

[@Cyko..]

This device is in a weird spot. I have the RP2+ and this checks off all the boxes for me with the dual analog sticks, analog triggers, better screen, better processor, even home and back buttons. What makes it weird to me is that it's a marginal improvement for emulation over the RP2+. When you've got a device that is a significant upgrade from the previous rendition, it should at least be even more powerful to handle more of the GameCube and PS2 library. I saw or read somewhere on KZbin where the person said Retroid feels cheap. I have to disagree with that. My RP2+ feels great in the hands and after having it for over a year and a half, it hasn't showed any signs of deterioration. Everything still works and looks as great as it did on day one.

[@imposs8101]

Do these devices come with the games already loaded or do you have to add them yourself. I'm new to this so I don't really know

[@retrotechdad]

No, the Retroid devices don't come preloaded with games. You will usually get that with Anbernic/Powkiddy handhelds.

[@Guitario666]

Street vol 2 is amazing 👏

[@polarized8708]

Very well made review, thank you. As a RP2+ owner, I have still several questions if it’s worth upgrading. The T610 seems better, 2GB additional RAM may help too (max variant) and the additional storage is not bad to have, because it was rather small. But the RP+ can run the same systems at full speed, but it seems that you will see the additional power only in 3DS, GameCube and PS2 - which are only on the bonus side. So the difference are just to play 5-10 games which now runs a little bit better or run sloppy instead of not working at all. On T310, I believe I get only 3-4 GameCube and PS2 games running and the experience wasn’t so great I really wanted to play them - it was more a showcase or a „bonus“. The LR2 triggers are a nice addition but beside of some racing games on Dreamcast, can the lower systems make use of them? Ist the display better than RP2+ in terms of light bleeding and contrast? Because the display on my unit was pretty bad. The right analogue stick is still this crappy slider from RP2/+? I wish they replace that with another analogue stick. And there aren’t L3/L3 buttons or? Hopefully that made another RP2 device with this screen and add these things. Do you know how RP2S launcher handles roms with multiple images? Or is it the same as on RP2+? Looking really forward to this as well as on RP4 because I don’t mind playing retro games on big devices like ROG Ally, even if it handles every system, but the big black bezels turn me really off playing PS1 or SNES or even N64 and those wide screen hacks only work for some games.

[@kumbackquatsta]

when did 4:3 stop being the console aspect ratio of choice? which consoles?

[@retrotechdad]

I think the 6th generation (PS2, GC, Xbox) is when we started to see that transition to widescreen 16:9.

[@HemantaRajkonwar85]

Hey man please tell me how to upscale games in retro emulation handheld like this, I am new to these things, so don't know much to do ?

[@valvomo1540]

Hi! Nice video but just checking: Is the heating issue when it comes playing lighter PS2 games like Kingdom Hearts?

[@kevOzilla]

i wonder if you can dowload and play old school runescape and how would it perform if its well im sold!

[@OneManOnFire]

Did this unit come with games?

[@retrotechdad]

No, Retroid handhelds don't come pre-loaded with games.

[@Alexander-ix2jp]

Woot, this looks sweet

[@turnbasedtoddy7664]

I think it would help if you told us what resolution you are using. Like with ps1 was it native or did you upscale by 2x. What about n64 were you able to use 480p resolution? Were you using frame skip on any of these? Things like that

[@Cyko..]

You can tell just by looking. Every true gamer knows this.

[@turnbasedtoddy7664]

@@Cyko..😂😂 what?

[@GardeningwithDave]

Would you prefer this or the RG35XX H ?

[@S2conquerS2]

Does this device come with games ready to go?

[@retrotechdad]

No, Retroid does not include any games with their devices.

[@SYNDERMiNE]

I should be getting mines today 😍😍😍 I’ve read some say it doesn’t come with games already installed, but then i seen a video where there’s a Retroid Folder with all the games it’s supposed to come with 🧐🤨🤔 can you clarify this for me please? I have zero knowledge of how to download and install ROMs

[@retrotechdad]

You are correct, there will not be any games included. What the Retroid launcher will do is set up the folders for where all of your games should go. Just connect your RP2S to a computer and copy your games over to the specific directory that goes with the console. Just ask back here and I'll try to help you out if you have any issues! 🙏

[@luispieri640]

Great video! comparing it to a POWKIDDY RGB30 RK3566 is it better?

[@blueblue8357]

is this exact green one on amazon yet? I. can't find it through your link

[@retrotechdad]

Not yet, I believe it hasn't reached Amazon just yet. Only AliExpress and Anbernic direct for now.

[@kumbackquatsta]

is the limitation a ram thing or a processor thing? since they offer two ram options

[@retrotechdad]

In terms of emulation or benchmarks? I don't think the RAM is the limitation all that much here.

[@kumbackquatsta]

@@retrotechdad emulation, does more ram help?

[@bryanmiranda6674]

​@@kumbackquatstanot really

[@Heldermaior]

I think in real terms the difference in performance between the T610 and T618 is not really enough to warrant spend the extra. I got a 2S since my RG35XX died. I was thinking going with the 405M as I love that form factor but then I would be paying extra for a not perfect GC PS2 experience either and I could play a handful of extra titles in those platforms. I have a Steam Deck but even if I didn't I would probably go for a RP4 Pro instead of a T618 device as that is a substantial leap in performance for not a lot more money.

[@itzmrchan]

I want this so bad but I dont know how I would add games. I wish it came pre loaded like anbernic.

[@soniczero532]

Is the 3 plus better?

[@retrotechdad]

It has slightly more performance and it really comes down to what you're looking for in a device (widescreen vs 4:3 display, smaller size, etc.) I do love the analog sticks on the 2S!

[@soniczero532]

@retrotechdad I got one just cause I heard the controls for the price point are some of the best.

[@rowdyjohnnada952]

Can I use my SD card with all my games from a Retroid 2/2+ on this?

[@Tetrastructural]

I’d be curious if there are any performance advantages with going with the 4GB model.. 🤔

[@lenysalangsang]

Yup, Android eats a lot of ram.

[@aishacs]

How long did it take to arrive with 4px

[@retrotechdad]

It was pretty fast, took 10 days from the time of drop off to the US.

[@aishacs]

Ok thanks so much

[@cam-inf-4w5]

I wish designers would get that the purple indigo style needs GREY buttons not white light grey or dark grey. I would buy 3 different ones if they had grey buttons including pocket flip and pocket two. I LOVE the purply blue color but HATE the flat white buttons. Maybe they darken with age does anyone know? Do they get filthy easy?

[@soniczero532]

Hows it compare to the rgb30?

[@leonardomatheus1888]

How is the input lag? Can you measure it?

[@wussie7766]

Have you tried it with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?

[@anonymousmc7727]

A new one of these come out every 30 seconds 😂😂😂😂

[@retrotechdad]

Can't stop, won't stop. 🤣

[@9unslin9er]

I might be alone, but I prefer the 3:2 GBA aspect ratio for all portable games. After playing widescreen so many years, playing cropped 1:1 just looks awkward.

[@kumbackquatsta]

does retroid sell replacement batteries etc?

[@likeabarrel]

Is 3GB ram enough for NGC?

[@retrotechdad]

Yes, the RAM is not going to be the limitation here.

[@ronch550]

I think retro handheld makers need to put bigger screens more often. These tiny screens will kill your poor eyes rather quickly.

[@retrotechdad]

I would've loved to have seen Retroid get a 4" screen in there.

[@crsv7armhl]

No. Literally 99% of devices have big screens, (Odin, Odin2, Ambernic, steam deck (and all the other handheld computers), even Retroid 3, etc). I see these comments often on the very few smaller devices available and I don't understand it. You have plenty of options with "bigger screens" get one of those and leave the very few smaller devices alone.

[@ronch550]

@@crsv7armhl those devices you mentioned are in the upper price brackets. Anbernic usually sticks to small screens too. Biggest is perhaps 5.5" 16:9 but 4:3 content still looks small. And you say 99%? Really??

[@ronch550]

@@retrotechdad perhaps 5.5" 16:9 screens should become standard. On a Powkiddy X55 4:3 content is equivalent to 4.3", more or less.

[@pleasuretokill]

5" screen or bigger for me. I have the x55 right now that has a 5.5" screen. Its awesome for everything up to Dreamcast/DS. Ive been reliving my childhood days with the NES, Turbografx and Master System lately. I love taking the "sprite flicker" out of the games and playing them smooth, the way they would have been without hardware limitations.

[@davidrobertson5700]

Does it have overboard or shipwreckers for puss1 ?

[@retrotechdad]

Retroid devices don't usually have preloaded games. However, Shipwreckers will work great on this device. I might have to feature it in an upcoming video, cool game!

[@davidrobertson5700]

@@retrotechdad ok cool, it was released as overboard in GB . I used to play it all the time but then I moved and lost the puss1 😪

[@emonizaz]

😭i need this😭

[@rowdyjohnnada952]

Doesn't seem like much of a difference between this and the 2+. They need to make an updated version of the Retro 1.

[@STR82DVD]

And it's discontinued. That was quick.

[@nodidog]

Is it not possible to turn off the Android bar on the right side of the display...?

[@lenysalangsang]

Just tap toggle on screen button

[@BrentonBold]

How come no one owns the rg353m....

[@retrotechdad]

I've got one! It's been featured plenty of times on the channel.

[@Patrick-bn5rp]

Why do you all keep using aethersx2 when nethersx2 has better performance?

[@retrotechdad]

Performance is pretty much identical between the two if you're not using the ad bloated version of AetherSX2. 🙏

[@Patrick-bn5rp]

@@retrotechdad No... The newer versions of nethersx2 by trixarian have improvements backported from PCSX2 nightly. You're thinking of the original release of nether. Idk how much the performance improvements actually matter, but it's significant enough that it's worth using instead of aether.

[@JerrardJDDavis-gy9hh]

The 3DS PS2 Games Do Not Run In Full Speed

[@stevenewhen]

Like the console hate the clicky facebuttons

[@JerrardJDDavis-gy9hh]

There's No Nintendo Switch For Retroid Pocket 2s

[@LeoArcie]

I took the 4gb ram 2s and my GoW 2 it’s running smooth like the Flip 🫠

[@retrotechdad]

What are your settings? GoW 2 is pushing the T610 very hard, it will need speed hacks/heavy underclocking.