the Powkiddy x55 Failure and mine

Ever buy something and have regrets? Getting used ended up putting me right in the middle of a Powkiddy screwup. I made this to tell the story, and to warn you not to do the same!
Special thanks to everyone, Novella for the Zoltan Artwork, RetroBreeze, Powkiddy and everyone else you know who you are.
Package Delivery: Video by Norma Mortenson at Pexels
Impatient Dude: Video by Karolina Grabowska at Pexels
Fail Stamp by Green Screen Footage
• Fail Red Stamp Animate...
Abstract Tunnel Background:
• Abstract Tunnel VJ Mot...

[@0kti]

Jelos now support hdmi out and is working great no issues on wifi

[@rmb1]

Thanks for the review and also the warning on this handheld yikes!

[@RetroZoltan]

Thanks and your welcome!!

[@biror1135]

I bought it from the official store and it came with the updated jelos version and it works perfectly for me. Im literally playing stardew valley with it. I think it's a perfect console with the big screen and you can play some gems like heart of darkness, half-life, quake 3, chasm, celeste even diablo! This system in the video not even legit i mean, if u buy it from the official store it should came with the jelos system.

[@RetroZoltan]

So far the one I bought from Powkiddy is holding up!

[@stockboy87]

I happen to have a blue X55 of which I bought brand-new in August and was promised by the seller that it was not one of the weak initial releases. In fact, mine came with JELos pre-installed and so far I am having excellent luck with it although I have not run many PS1 games and that's where performance begins to weaken I'm told AND the HDMI opinion doesn't work (but I didn't buy this to connect to my TV). In fact, I bought the X55 for just two reasons which are certainly not vital to every buyer. The first and foremost is the larger screen which makes gaming much easier on my eyes and, yes, I did get a model with the brighter screen. JELos also allows you to play around with the contrast and other screen settings so that is bonus as well. The second reason is I wanted a dependable handheld that plays all my retro favorites up to PS 1 and that the X55 does very well. If you don't mind a smaller screen there are more powerful handhelds out there and surely there will be even more in the next year or two and beyond but if you want a handheld that is relatively inexpensive with a large vibrant screen and decent performance for those old-time retro favorites, I highly recommend the X55. I am looking forward to Retro Zoltan's more in-depth review for more information that I may be missing considering I am still a new owner of this Powkiddy model!!!

[@RetroZoltan]

I hope I can do it justice when I finally make a review. I’m guessing your HDMI would fix with a JELOS upgrade (I heard it didn’t work at first) but if you do t use it no biggie I guessZ

[@stockboy87]

My original plan was to buy the x55 to use on the go and on my computer monitor but I decided to by a separate hard drive with more emulators thus more games for use when I’m home and the X55 for when I travel so that’s why not being able to connect Powkiddy to my monitor isn’t as big of a deal. That being said, I think I’ll download the new JELos just the same so thank you for the tip.

[@weichiang89]

Now I'm having second tboughts on getting one from a reseller who says its brand new. They asvertise that they changed the os to Onion ans fixed some roms. Thoughts on this would he apprecited as I am new to all of this retro handheld scene.

[@RetroZoltan]

Honestly … don’t buy the Powkiddy x55 new or used unless if it has JELOS installed. That’s my best advice.

[@srvuk]

Very useful for people to know of these dodgy models on the market.

[@RetroZoltan]

I hope it helps those out there!

[@RodaLisoRetrogames]

Wow my friend, I think you received a pre-release version, it comes with a version of emuelec that does not allow updating. I also received a version like this, but the jelos developers helped me use a version of the system, now the X55 is much better.

[@RetroZoltan]

Oh sweet so there is a JELOS version that works for this?

[@georged7627]

Is there a site where you can buy second hand handhelds

[@RetroZoltan]

Nothing for these sort of handhelds. Your only second hand options are eBay and Mercari (and sometimes EATSY). Thinking of gambling on one of these?

[@georged7627]

@@RetroZoltan yeah I've got most of these handhelds I'm just sick of paying full price when I've got nearly all of them...would just like to buy second hand to set them up properly and sell them for a little profit 🙏🏽

[@RetroZoltan]

@@georged7627 I hear that! I sometimes go for used, for sure

[@Tralornik]

I didn’t read all the comments but have you tried the brightness issue fix?… Basically your brightness might be down to zero and that’s why the screen is blank… It’s easy to verify by putting a flashlight against the screen and you should be able to see the image if that’s the case then you just need to do the keystrokes to update the brightness… I’m sure somebody already mentioned it but I don’t feel like reading all the comments, so maybe this is just redundant, lol.

[@RetroZoltan]

Interesting! Honestly I haven’t tried this!

[@hiii4805]

wait so is it fixed or not does jelos work now or is it just faulty hardware? and the black one is safe?

[@RetroZoltan]

It’s impossible to fix, sadly. With Jelos the screen doesn’t work, and never will, so I can only use it to play games using Emulec with a faulty wireless and Bluetooth. The black one I am doing a review on soon, and I’ll know if it’s safe for sure. So far everyone has been happy with the black ones so I’m assuming they are for now.

[@hiii4805]

​​@@RetroZoltan thats a bit shitty of powkiddy :/ ppl kinda deserve a refund tbh edit: so there are 3 versions- jelos one, bad jelos one, emuleck one the bad jelos ones can be fixed it seems..

[@hiii4805]

​@@RetroZoltanreally thanks for your review I was almost about to buy from a reseller (bcs horrible customs in my country) so seems like theres a decent chance it might be faulty.

[@RetroZoltan]

@@hiii4805 it sucks to know there are bad ones out there. The key is, is it can run Jelos (and have a working screen at the same time) I think you are most likely in the clear.

[@RetroZoltan]

@@hiii4805 it’s more like … there are bad ones running Emulec that can’t run Jelos, period.

[@TheEldenLord_]

Wish I could buy some replacement parts for this device since my right speaker just stopped working after only 1 day… but other than than it works alright.

[@RetroZoltan]

Oh god are you serious? Was it a blue one?

[@TheEldenLord_]

@@RetroZoltan Nah it was the “newer” black version and I got it from the official powkiddy store.

[@RetroZoltan]

Oh damn! Ok that’s bad

[@btort8750]

My unit has trouble turning on, sometimes it boots, sometimes it doesn't. Even plugging in for a few hours it still doesn't boot

[@RetroZoltan]

Man I’m really going to have to mention this in my re-review

[@btort8750]

There's a few people on reddit experiencing the same issue. Flashing the firmware again helps boot it sometimes, tried different sd cards, tried different jelos firmware dates and the first boot usually has no problem. The NEXT few ones or the next one won't boot up at all. powkiddy is also giving me the run around but I got it up on dispute at the moment before my purchase protection runs out@@RetroZoltan

[@novaxx8031]

I have the exact same problem

[@lIlIIllIIllIlIIIIl]

So the black one is guaranteed new units

[@RetroZoltan]

NEWer at least. I haven’t heard of any black prototypes.

[@itsasecrettoeverybody]

I want to like powkiddy but they don't help. A lot of miss opportunities and screwing ups.

[@RetroZoltan]

Right? They are tripping over themselves!

[@lalas3590]

It's a shame as the blue one looks great. Still... 90$ handheld that plays PSP,DC,N64 *and* has a 5.5 inch screen seemed to good to be true :/

[@RetroZoltan]

Well the new ones hopefully are better. I’ll be reviewing a new one soon!

[@DanNguyen-ey5tw]

It does play all of these systems. The OP may have an older version. I have the newer version with a brighter screen and the Proper version of JELOS installed. With a few tweaks in the PSPPPP emulator, PSP runs terrific. DC and N64 run extremely well too. I would watch videos from Jack Russin who did a proper set up of the powkiddy X55. He shows how to set up the best settings for emulators that have trouble out of the box. For 90 dollars, this budget handheld blew me away. The reviewer must have had an older unit beacuse i didnt experience any of this when i got my unit.

[@RetroZoltan]

@@DanNguyen-ey5tw I’m definitely going to try all this on my newer unit, and do another review. I have faith that this thing is great!

[@buddyrevell6369]

Wait. You have a collectors item x55. Thats a win. Sort of. Maybe.

[@RetroZoltan]

Lol maybe

[@bankbank]

it has a newer black color - that could be safe choice

[@RetroZoltan]

Agreed! That’s what I just purchased to replace the bad one, so I feel pretty good about it!

[@MrBlazingninja]

@@RetroZoltan I have the black one and I have had no issues

[@RetroZoltan]

@@MrBlazingninja I’m so happy to hear this!

[@btort8750]

I have a black one but having issues turning on. Its not a battery issue, it's charged and tried everything. I was able to flash to latest jelos but it does it again where I can't turn on the device, I even tried different sd cards

[@piercewiederecht5135]

As good as the price is new, I can’t see a legit reason to even buy used.

[@RetroZoltan]

I hear you. Myself, I get less flack if I spend less .. sometimes. Doesn’t always pan out though. Lol

[@piercewiederecht5135]

@@RetroZoltan I understand. My ex-wife absolutely hated anything to do with gaming and I had to absolutely minimize money spent on it just to avoid fights. You’re lucky you got one that is cool.

[@RetroZoltan]

It’s tough when you want to review everything also. Gets expensive and it’s hard to hide everything I buy! But I have regrets on this one a bit for sure.

[@buddyrevell6369]

@@RetroZoltan you could run all your purchases through a sketchy friend. I am sure you know one.

[@RetroZoltan]

@@buddyrevell6369 lol!

[@DamienLeader]

You guys are way behind

[@RetroZoltan]

Your not wrong. I had this in my lap for months before I looked at it. Sad really

[@leelee7334]

Sounds like you knew it was bad.

[@RetroZoltan]

@@leelee7334 lol no just lazy. A lot of my reviews are behind a few months sadly (I’m trying to get better). I have 13 more handhelds I need to review.