This Is Why I Didn’t Review the Retroid Pocket 3.

[@TakiUdon]

Storytime with Taki.📖

[@bits2646]

Can I ask how do you ended being a tester in that early stages not just for this device, but multiple ones I notice on videos, most of the time partly in background :)

[@systemerror50]

Thank you taki for this video I’ve kinda been thinking retroid was a little sus and this kinda helps shed light on some stuff they are doing that needs to stop I hope the devices other companies by have more quality control but I won’t completely hold my breath

[@jameshumphrey7463]

Knowing all this you still didn't tell people not to pre-order....

[@nach0x]

@James Humphrey : Maybe there is some kind of contract involved??? I want to believe that's the issue or something like that. Edit: apparently it was a NDA

[@destinyhero4795]

Anyone know what game at 3:00 times stamp?

[@RetroDodo]

"A product should be judged exactly how it is on day one, and if it cannot fulfil its function on the first day, it doesn't belong to be sold at that point". - Superb advice, manufacturers should listen and this video cements my reasons why the retro handheld market is as flakey as ever. The competition has made others rush their products, and launch lots of variants in hope to secure the bag, meaning us consumers have to deal with lots of problems and lots of low quality devices. :( - Great video Taki, i appreciate your honesty. Many won't realise but you could have squeezed a lot of money out of talking good about this device, alongside lots of video content because you get it early, but no, you spoke honestly, and are giving everyone solid advice that needs to be heard. Top man, Taki. 👍

[@miravi5547]

Обзорщики с одной тематикой поддерживают друг друга, вы считаете это объективным?

[@halkieria7581]

@@miravi5547 🤔

[@gavinjackson3500]

I appreciate the honesty here and don't understand the politics of why this video was released when it was as it appears its too late to cancel preorders. I have tried but Goretroid not answering surprisingly. I find their customer service very poor, I ordered one colour, asked the, to change it but they have added a second device to the order and despite me asking the to remove they say its a problem with their website!

[@gavinjackson3500]

@David Morris I paid directly on credit card so will go to the provider to see if I can cancel on basis item might be knowingly sold as defective. I know buying these has a risk attached but that isn’t good enough

[@nugrohonuggets]

Brandon, you already soldout to this company since 2019 don't act like you're innocent here 😂

[@paradox...]

Appreciate that brutal honesty, my guy! Glad I didn't impulsively preorder 😄

[@NanceLvr]

Amen to that. I right away saw it wasn’t any different than the 2+ which I had just bought and am happy with.

[@Techcravers]

Like I did. The “white” version as well 😂 HONEST review will be out on my channel.

[@christopherglvz4638]

@@Techcravers lol

[@carlosvence]

T.T I pre-order 😭

[@lucascarracedo7421]

Why would you impulsively preorder anyway? It's the opposite reaction to what's always the best thing to do

[@dimetime35c]

This is why I LOVE your channel! You dont shy away from telling it like it is simply because you don't want to be blacklisted. If its a good product you say so and if it's not up to par you call it out.

[@Phox7227]

I appreciate that many people would not have made this video. But waiting to release this info until 24hrs before shipping starts, feels a bit like if Paul Revere had warned "the british are coming!" A few seconds before they arrived. Still brave, just not as useful.

[@Justinpitchford]

Yep thats why hes the goat of reviewers! Tells me exactly what i need to know. You are a beast Taki!

[@Pridetoons]

Taki is very passionate about these devices. I always come back because of his dedication and honesty.

[@erueratait-jamieson480]

@@Phox7227 his silence up until this point spoke volumes about the product imo

[@kimble02]

@@Phox7227 Most likely an NDA was involved. Also I’d like to think he wouldn’t make a video like this during pre-orders and kill their sales if they assured him his concerns would be rectified prior to delivery. Here we are right before delivery and the issues haven’t been fixed… timing of the video makes sense from that standpoint as well.

[@malachi1120]

Believe me when I say it is refreshing to hear a brutally honest review. These companies need to be knocked down a peg and stop making shit products because "they will just buy it" philosophy. Thank you for what you do.

[@crystalwater505]

Agreed.

[@MR.BONES007]

Yeah man I’m sticking with the steam deck i just like it more

[@rettenthetetlen8759]

Win600$ is a good example.

[@AnarickTheDevil]

Well that will happen when people stop just buying it.

[@rettenthetetlen8759]

@@AnarickTheDevil There are always fools who going to buy them.

[@simonbelmont0993]

I work in the retail electronics industry and I'll just say this - be VERY careful when buying electronics made from 2021 and potentially onward through 2023. Obviously not every manufacturer will have the same problems, but the chip shortages and manufacturing delays reported are very, very real and many companies, even the big ones like LG and Samsung, have resorted to using subpar components for their products. If you're making a big purchase this year like a washer/dryer or other high-end electronic, _get the warranty_ . In the case of these cheap Chinese emulation consoles, I'd do exactly what you're doing - watch for Taki to talk about it before making a purchase.

[@ColombianMusclePapi]

YIKES! I never thought about that!! And you make 100% sense. I will def wait then. I was looking at a beautiful Samsung 86 inch 4khd TV at Costco and I was in shock that it was only... ONLY $1400! I was like WTF is going on with prices". So I got a little closer to the frame of the TV and I kidd you not, it looked and felt like the cheapest plastic on those cheap toys sold at a dollar store. I bet 100% some of these components are just as you say!

[@acumenium8157]

Chip "shortage" is a meme. Refusal to pay labor is the bigger issue.

[@ChuckDGard]

@@acumenium8157 no, there really is a shortage. I also work in manufacturing, and it's a combination of parts shortages and machine downtime. If any supplier in the chain hits a hiccup, the delays cascade down the whole chain.

[@croeitusd5731]

i build fpv drones. took a break for two years, and recently got into making them again. the parts are 50% more expensive at least, and half of them are burning out after one or two flights, not to mention the gyros that worked best are discontinued completely. it's really bad...

[@bland9876]

Hopefully my Steam Deck is good.

[@sonnyrynsaard3567]

The ball is in their court now. Their response will determine if I buy one of these now. It seems like they got caught up in the tidal wave of handhelds and dropped alot of balls trying to keep up while also maintaining the quality standard they previously had (screen issues aside)

[@Unholy_Louie]

Exactly. For me as well. Although, their non-existent customer support is still a HUGE concern of mine...

[@orakaa]

Sadly, they will probably be no response on their part.

[@acumenium8157]

@@Unholy_Louie Well that's going to go for literally all Chinese handheld companies. Retroid at least offers you the ability to buy replacement parts. If any part of an Anbernic breaks, you're absolutely fucked. No replacements. Of course, replacement parts mean little if the device is too cumbersome to dismantle or if it's just expected to break fast. Like the 8BitDo controllers.

[@sonnyrynsaard3567]

@@acumenium8157 what's up with 8bitdo? I have the pro and pro 2 and they're both great, the firmware needs some serious work though

[@Unholy_Louie]

@@acumenium8157 Yeah no I know it's not the worst! And since literally the WORST customer experience that I ever had in my life is regarding Anbernic, I'll be the last one to defend them. Retroid ignored me and sold me a semi defective product that I was able to fix myself no problem (mostly with their own parts, like you said). Anbernic, they basically scammed me, and made me waste hours upon hours my time... Honestly, I'd rather get zero communication (Retroid) than getting lied to my face at every possible opportunity (Anbernic). The "free" Win600 I got after all my troubles with them does not even begin to be a fair trade, as it is an horrendous device, absolutely awful; and 2 or even 3 times the price it should have been... Anbernic, as our friend Carl often said, you can "sit and spin" lol :P

[@vejeygandier3454]

Never owned any handheld emulators before. I pre-ordered RP3 yesterday. I was excited (hoping that 3 would address all 2+ bugs and more) Now, I'm not sure about how I would like the device. But I'm sure of one thing "You won me for a lifetime" Thank you for the brutal honesty!

[@Visethelegend]

I was about to preorder as well and thought it couldn’t be worse than his predecessor and something stopped me, now I don’t know if I should wait or order rp2+, I’ve been postponing my retro console for a while now :(

[@reagandow850]

Cancel your preorder. There are so many other amazing devices out there.

[@christopherkinnaird2881]

@@reagandow850 Like what?

[@NeroVingian40]

If you already spent the money on it, might as well just go through with it.

[@skylerreddy2022]

yeah honestly it should likely run just fine. Their actions as a company are shitty, and the build of the device may not be optimal, but if it is your first retro handheld device Im sure you will have fun with it.

[@TheOtherClips]

I'm not going to cancel my preorder... This was a great video. Thanks for having the guts to make it.

[@awesomereviews1561]

Ah… The good old “Mei BanFa”. Heard it countless time in my life while living in China. I can’t say that I miss it now. Thank you for your honesty.

[@atom_zero5413]

I was waiting on the 3 to get it for a friend. Feel like I dodged a bullet, there. Thank you for being so honest and transparent. Truly. 🙏

[@NishithThakkar]

Was gonna get one while I waited for my Steam Deck but I'm gonna skip it as well.

[@Pridetoons]

The last handhelds I'm holding out for are the KT R1 and Miyoo P60 after this I'm done with Android based Handhelds for a very long time.

[@clausjahnel5379]

Why? There are good ones. But maybe not for 120 bucks.

[@atom_zero5413]

Don't want to hijack anything, but the Deck is amazing you'll love it. Worth every penny

[@atom_zero5413]

@@Pridetoons I'll keep an eye out for those. Any ETAs?

[@ItWasAllPartOfMyPlan]

Gotta love Taki for the honest reviews, this man is really looking out for the customer 🙌❤️

[@genericpenguin]

Sometimes I think Taki is too soft on his reviews. I have been corrected.

[@deepashah7668]

@@genericpenguin looks Iike you didn't watch his review on the win 600.

[@genericpenguin]

@@deepashah7668 oooh no. Ok I'll watch that next.

[@wilddemur9796]

Nice video, glad to see you talking about the issues of this hyped up device but I do hope you do a follow up video because as of now it seems like things are going alright with lots of people reporting they got their RP3 and are happy with how it turned out.

[@skateecho]

Really glad you made this, i missed out of RP2 and 2+ and really love this newer form factor and thought this would be a good upgrade from my rp351, guess i will keep waiting for a bit more powerful handheld. Bit disappointed with all the love for hte previous retroids but im glad this community has so many honest reviewers!

[@Kezzic]

•RP3 was supposed to launch 09/21 •screen flicker

[@Old_Man_Jay]

Damn.....talk about a multitude of deal breakers! lol

[@lastsonofthewest6478]

Fml I got the white one

[@DonaldPindel]

Thank you Taki I had just gotten a 2+ a couple months ago, I'm glad I'm not missing out

[@unfunk]

Dude, this is exactly why you SHOULD have done a review video! I might not have put down my pre-order money if you'd had this video up a couple of weeks ago!

[@jesusbarrera6916]

Don't preorder in the first place....

[@scomdnz9]

Great vid Taki. I wont be canceling my preorder but I will definitely wait for a full review from you when I decide to buy another retro handheld.

[@Jonolson38]

Dude, thank you for this video. I am a huge fan of your channel, and how thorough your reviews are…but more importantly, how brutally honest you are. 100% real, 0% fake, and you sound like the angry consumer that we would all be if we got screwed over by our purchase of an inferior product. Thank you for the great service you provide to this growing community. Keep up the great work!

[@Prab-j]

Thank you for this video. Please always inform us about these kind of products and never skip. So many could gave purchased faulty device(including me).

[@Swaytekk]

Well,…..technically the light yellow color could still be called snow. We all know what kind of snow I’m talking about

[@BackPalSA]

I've never even seen one of your videos before, but this was so honest and up front, I'm going to sub and use your reviews for my purchases. I've been looking for a device like this, and I'd very much trust your opinion after this.

[@theminimalistgamer4201]

This is a different space now than it was even just two years ago. These companies seem to not really understand how their market is changing. Mediocre products just don't get people excited now.

[@landonschlemmer2424]

I ordered in the first few minutes of it going live, but did so with my eyes wide open. All I expected was a RP2+ with better ergonomics, bigger screen, clickable sticks, and dpad on top and it looks like that's what it's going to be. Worth it if you don't already own the RP2+ and not worth it if you do. Good on you for not kissing ass and giving your true opinion even if it stings.

[@R0xanneW0lf]

I appreciate the honest review Taki!! I was going to preorder the RP3 but seeing this video, you saved me $100+ dollars! Can’t believe I was thinking about preordering this! I have the RP2+ and it’s going great! Gonna buy a Steamdeck pretty soon! Wish me luck!

[@augosyx]

I'm glad I got to this point. I was actually wanna use the remainder of my money I have to pre-order today. What a relief I was when Taki uploaded his take on RP3 today and give its brutal review. Guess I wait until someone like RetroGameCorp or Retro Dodo to review the final product.

[@ehat]

I know you took no pleasure in making this video and hoped it could have turned out differently. That being said, thank you for the professional criticism and bringing this information to light. This will be a hopefully be the catalyst Retroid needs to make devices that fully reach their potential.

[@lowpolygaming]

A similar thing happened with the PlayGo product, I watched a great video review done by you and when I got one of my own it whined at a high pitch no matter what I tried to do to fix it. Even bought another device to see if it was a one off problem and sure enough, it was a problem across the board and the sellers would not cooperate to solve the issue. It really had me upset, glad you're making strides to make sure this doesn't happen again. You've regained a subscriber from this video.

[@mikedonalds]

Ahh yes, of course. I finally decide today that I'll pre-order an RP3, make the payment, and then 2 hours later Taki comes out with a video giving me a bunch of reasons to regret it. Suppose I'll just hope any software issues are fixed in updates. I'm not too bothered about flicker below a certain brightness because I don't tend to play handhelds in the dark, but the issue where the OS decides to just end processes (including emulators) is really concerning. I just want a somewhat larger, more powerful handheld as a step up from my RG351P.

[@JyroOne]

So just cancel it.

[@cocozimme]

Dont cancel it, double down and buy another. twice as likely to get a good screen

[@deepashah7668]

@@cocozimme how much did they pay you? Or are you just trolling? At 260$ you can get the Odin or the budget window handhelds. The Loki zero will be cheaper than buying this twice.

[@mikedonalds]

@@JyroOne There's really no risk in keeping the order as if I don't like the RP3, I can sell it for the same amount I paid for it or more. On the UK market, some people will pay a premium even for flawed products if it means they can get it within days rather than waiting weeks for delivery. This way, I get to try the product and see for myself whether it's any good.

[@mikedonalds]

@@deepashah7668 They were joking, friend.

[@IanDeMartino]

Thanks man. I first found your channel after _that other, bigger_ emulation channel recommended the OG PocketGO without mentioning the screen tearing issue, I bought that device on his recommendation and was extremely disappointed. Seeing this video just reaffirms to me that you are a real dude.

[@mattheww1072]

Taki is heated. I love the honesty and transparency

[@oneway23]

Your display of integrity is greatly appreciated, Taki...thank you for making this video!

[@Arcad3n]

I gotta say, I immensely appreciate you making this video. When I got the Retroid Pocket 2 and the buttons hurt my fingers after only a few minutes due to how hard they were to press (especially the D-pad), and the emulators weren’t running as well as they should’ve been, I wasn’t sure about how to feel about this channel which was the main reason I bought one. You’ve definitely restored my faith in this KZbin channel, and screw Retroid.

[@prman9984]

See if you can get the 2+ buttons. I don't have the problems you are saying.

[@ScandalUK]

The 2+ addressed a lot of problems. Perhaps wait for a 3+ !

[@Arcad3n]

nah I’m not waiting for the company who sold me a bad product to sell me a better one. I bought a modded GBA to play stuff on the go and the Steam Deck to play stuff at home.

[@jordiekirk4985]

I like the blunt honesty here. Thanks Taki

[@robertallen9849]

Why wasn't the flickering issue shown in the video?

[@maxxlofmer]

This video summarizes why I like Tako's content so much. Honest, but fair with a good explanation why.

[@AntonioDeNardis75]

Wow. I'm on a brink of ordering the RP3 (own the RP2 and others) and this review put me on a stop. Thanks man, I will think more, before compulsively ordering new Hardware. Such a great channel and great work You do, Taki. Thanks man, really. Thank You, man.

[@akifrivaldo]

That make sense... This is the reason why I'm subscribed on this channel and why I'm always watching yours vids, we need to know if the product is really good or good to be "true". Thanks for being honest all this time Taki 🥂

[@pedromallol6498]

I don't care what anybody says, You're the man. Thanks for everything!

[@MobileTechGaming]

Love the content Taki, super interesting background information.

[@SkateSoup]

Time to find out if I can cancel my preorder, appreciate the transparency. The information about when they were manufactured seems to answer the "why isn't there a more powerful chip in it" question pretty handily.

[@SkateSoup]

Got confirmation they processed my cancelation about 2 hours ago. And just so happens the RG353 goes on sale on the anbernic site tomorrow, sooooo...

[@PJBonoVox]

FWIW I got my RP3 on Friday and it's great so far. Wouldn't change it.

[@GohanSSJII]

@@SkateSoup how much did you buy rg353p on sale ?

[@SkateSoup]

@@GohanSSJII it was 118 on their site, I think 109 on Ali.

[@caliguy44]

Thank you Taki. That's a shame. I was under the impression it was a slight improvement over the RP2+ not the other way around.

[@kasimsuleymani1370]

Everyone else's reviews about this device are glowing n positive. Most are saying that it is the best.

[@smileandlaughs]

Thank you for this. Saved me a lot of frustration and headache. Nothing I hate more than buying a product that was presented perfectly and finding out the product was poorly manufactured resulting in something I would never have bought if I knew.

[@MichaelBacaArtist]

Could have used this review before everyone preordered. Thanks a ton for waiting till now to say something.

[@WMARUoriginal]

Incredible Taki! Thank you so much for this heads up.

[@kendarr]

The respect you have for your community is incredible, this is amazing.

[@peel1337]

Man, I was ABOUT to buy one, like today. Thanks for the video Taki

[@KrazzyKlown]

When the video ages incredibly well.

[@timl1002]

Savage, and much appreciated! Thank you for the honest review!

[@AlexChurchASR]

As usual your honestly in your reviews is extremely refreshing! Thank you for such quality videos!

[@saltysalamander8519]

I got the Retroid 2+ early this year after watching your video. I'm still pretty happy with it. Thanks for mentioning this

[@Angrybassist]

I’d really like to see a follow up video on this. So far all seems well with units that have shipped.

[@bryanstarmer8313]

You never will. Zero accountability.

[@AlanZeino]

You know they get to pick which devices they send to reviewers right?

[@CKSeams]

Based on what?

[@bryanstarmer8313]

@@AlanZeino that’s a bit more conspiracy theory than I would ever believe … are you saying that Retroid got a few dozen together that work correctly and sent those to reviewers … but the rest of us are going to get scammed and will receive broken garbage?

[@excessmaterial]

@@AlanZeino That makes no sense. They only knew they were sending one to one guy. ETA and RGC and Wulf all bought normal retail units just like everyone else did and there's no way Retroid could have known who were receiving the ordered units.

[@mickey2ky]

Didn’t realize what was going on till mr. Sujano released a video. Got your back!!!

[@KyleRuggles]

Wow! So Retroid just released old sh*t... and didn't do anything to fix anything. Great video, understandable why you didn't review it, I'm glad I got the Odin and didn't get sucked in by this device.

[@nikfighter262]

I love how honest you are, most other reviewers I've seen of a lot of junk are too complacent with bad practices, however you said things how they are and how they should be that is great.

[@acumenium8157]

But enough about The Retro Game Corps. Seriously fuck that clown. Dude was gagthroating Ambernic hard when the RG503 came out and his only defense was "I was IN THE MILITARY! You can trust me!".

[@gershonvillamor4490]

Now I dare you to review Retroid Pocket 3 now or Retroid Pocket 3 plus! LOL It looks everyone love these products

[@conahscreations]

This was going to be my first retro handheld. Despite only being in the community for a short period of time I've heard your channel and reputation mentioned a lot. People really respect your integrity and knowledge, and seeing this video has really helped to inform my decision concerning the cancellation of my pre-order. Just wanted to say thanks for what you do for the community:)

[@highlandclouds4158]

Get a 2+

[@conahscreations]

@@highlandclouds4158 I'd been debating it for many months but ultimately the slider has been the deal-breaker for me. I've heard you could potentially mod in a analogue stick yourself but yet to look into that

[@highlandclouds4158]

@@conahscreations It's not as bad as some people make it out to be, and, at least for my needs, it's pretty much unused anyway.

[@LessonsOnTheWeb]

So.. I'm going to keep enjoying the RP2+ until they release a proper RP3 or even 3+ ... IF that happens. I remember waiting a month or two to order the RP2+ and am glad I did with all the screen issues of the original batch. Luckily, my screen seems to be really good. Question for anyone who knows the answer. Does Skyline (and Binding of Isaac) work on RP2+ or just the RP3? I haven't gotten around to trying it yet.

[@LessonsOnTheWeb]

@@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude Well what device do you have mr fancy pants?

[@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude]

These things are just all highly illegal and they're not supposed to exist that's why they're never going to come out perfect Plug and Play Out of the Box only the people with fast computers and tech savvy who know how to update the UI and download their own interface will enjoy these

[@friendofpelicantown]

@@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude untrue, retro handhelds are as legal as your phone or PC, highly illegal it is certainly not. They cater to people who plays retro games, some people illegally download roms yes, but not everyone does and you don't see people calling PC's or phones highly illegal for they have the capabilities to do so as well.

[@jimkrom]

@@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude who said they are illegal? They aren't. Anywhere in the world. Emulation is not illegal. Now what you run on the emulators may be illegal depending on whether you own the original game of the rom you are running, so the companies should not be sending rom sd cards with the devices, but other than that, as legal as it gets.

[@ThePieGuy731]

@@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude it's literally just an android device with controller buttons...

[@infineternity]

Than you for your honesty and integrity, it is really appreciated by your fans!

[@DanC]

I was chatting with people about directions to go with for a retro emulator device and we all agreed at this point at least with the Steam Deck, you get what you pay for. Sure the Deck isn't pocketable and it's barely portable, but you're getting one of the most significant companies in video games behind it on top of the wealth of power, features, and ecosystem it has over most $250+ devices (and with shipping lots of the $200+ devices turn into $300 devices). If you're going to spend $300+ now, get a Steam Deck.. If you want a pocket device, don't spend over $100 and understand you're playing in a wild west product ecosystem. Or if you're fine waiting, do that, but don't buy into the pre order schemes going on right now.

[@Macs]

I agree completely, I can live with some problem with a device use $100, but I don't trust at all those companies followup on devices over $300, Valve is the way there.

[@FeminineFerocious]

Where is the best place to purchase this device? Can it play N64 and gamecube games on it?

[@prman9984]

Honestly, at the $100 level, the RP2+ is a fantastic machine.

[@DanC]

@@prman9984 for most people I think they're better served by their phone and one of the controller attachments.

[@kellyjr0918]

Honestly I take my steam deck with me whenever I go somewhere mostly if I want something more pocket friendly I just use my vita or 3ds

[@Mangavorefr]

Hi @Taki Udon ! Thank you for your honest feedback. What about the RP3+ is it still a problem or is it okay?

[@AlexBaldwinFTW]

Excellent video. I love my 2+ but a lot of the 3 seemed off, now it makes sense knowing the hardware predates the +. Hopefully they take the lessons learned here for a 3+ that's another step up.

[@crystalwater505]

Smokewagons.

[@THE-ICON]

Taki you are a legend and a Gentleman thank you so much for all your hard work and your truth and your honesty and just having Common Sense on top of everything that's the cherry on top my whole family respects you and can understand how hard your work is if there's any way to support you we will and we'll always spread the word positively about your Channel thank you

[@Articoz89]

Could you suggest a good alternative to retroid pocket 3??

[@Thunderhawk8472]

That’s another video that proves why I definitely and absolutely trust you and why I happily backed the Odin despite having never backed anything before and not knowing to much about igg or similar platforms. I just did it and since the Odin arrived I’m happier than ever before!!!

[@sendoh873]

Thank you for your honesty and transparency Taki. I usually am a wait-and-see type of person when it comes to buying any brand new tech or systems that just released or are about to be released (except when I pre-ordered the Steam Deck). I was thinking about wanting to purchase an RP3 in the near future, but this is such a huge turnoff for me. Very bad business for Retroid to do this. I have never bought a Retroid handheld, and because of this, I probably never will

[@jya4529]

Many thanks Taki for your honesty 🙏 i was considering to preorder rp3 but i was waiting for your review. well no longerrr ;) hope that RP will learn from that

[@ToeCutter0]

Of course, this is the first handheld emulator I’ve pre-ordered in several years *before* seeing any reviews. Everyone raved over the RP2+ and apparently Retroid used the same SoC in the RP3. The moment I learned that Retroid updated the RP3 to Android 11 and saw it could be configured with additional RAM, I pre-ordered one because it seemed like a no-brainer. Last fall, I tried in vain to get an RP2+ direct from China, but for reasons I still don’t understand they just never shipped? I placed 3 separate orders with different vendors and still no RP2+?! I got my cash back, but moved on to different handhelds. Props to Taki for telling it straight. 👍 I’m not surprised at all that Taki shared his brutally honest opinions with his members. Integrity is truly priceless, it simply can’t be purchased. Retroid might not be around in a year or two, but I’m certain Taki will continue with his channel for years to come. WHY would Taki dispense with his established integrity for a single product review? Again, I applaud your class act, Taki. 👏👏👏 Handheld emulation is getting so much better, but the handheld manufacturers are in desperate need of *FOCUS.* These early and/or new model announcements don’t motivate people to buy, they actually discourage it. It’s difficult for folks to pull the trigger as it seems that there’s always something brand new right around the corner. In reality, nothing is “right around the corner”, these announcements are happening months before product launches leaving those who DO buy left wondering when their devices will arrive, if ever. Worst of all, this continues even with established brands like Retroid.

[@nsgames24]

This is why I never pre-order anything ever. And for me personally, I'm new to retro emulation handhelds and it was pretty annoying having too many options to choose from mainly because a lot of these companies have this "quantity over quality" mindset. AYA NEO, Ayn, and Anbernic are especially guilty of this. I decided to go with Retroid because of how good of a product I heard the Pocket 2+ was and that the price of the system was good, but I wanted to get the Pocket 3 mainly because I love the handheld's design more. I wasn't going to give money to this product, until it released and until I saw reviews from true and trusted reviewers. After watching this video, I honestly don't know what to buy in this case.

[@mishasoup8531]

If you're having trouble ordering from China, then try to find a local reseller. I live in Australia and eBay is a great place to buy it, but there are also Aussie websites that order from China, test it to ensure that it's working, then ship to you. I ordered a RG353P and it arrived in 4 days.

[@bandiiyy]

thank you for the honest review, as someone who got a 2+ "hit", it sucked too see people getting shafted with no response from Retroid on Reddit etc.. Its unheard of, i had a DOA Aya Neo, they paid for EVERYTHING, DHL collection, re-import fees, came back working 100%.. how is this not a standard..

[@FangerZero]

I don't agree with your "A product should be judged exactly how it is on day 1" If it's a software update, make it available. If it's a hardware update, the company CAN offer to fix it. Look at nintendo switch it's great on day one, but the joycons will drift eventually, even with light use. Should we judge the switch on that flaw among many other flaws it had/has? Nintendo COULD fix the problem permanently, but instead they have you ship your joycons to them to fix them temporarily. Though everything else I agree with lol Thanks for the video and info on this device in the meantime!

[@pyjama9556]

Some of the most honest & insightful views shared by you here Taki, your process has always been methodical and thorough and I respect that! It amazes me that some companies lack so much integrity for their own product but unfortunately it seems to be happening all too often!! Fix the problem, keep your user base happy by building on the brand with quality products, that way your user base will always return because they “trust” your product.

[@HalyconDayz620]

Honest review, with the user put first - as always. Considering all the testing you have carried out for them, you would have thought that stood for something. Disappointing for Retroid to push this to the consumer.

[@Shinky00]

Man, so happy I decided to go with the RP2+. Thanks for the honest review!

[@MrViral20]

I really wish you would have said something about this much earlier before the pre-orders.....I can't exactly cancel mine now, hopefully it turns out to be a good product especially since it's my first one from Retroid....

[@KingRidley]

You probably could have been following development of this thing yourself. Saying "I wish you had said something about this earlier" kind of implies that it's his... responsibility, to inform you, and it isn't.

[@rhythmandblues9302]

Thank you for this. I’m gonna be honest and say you haven’t been my go-to retro review provider in the past - but the clarity and candour of this video has elevated your channel, in my eyes. Keep it up… and GoRetroid? Get your shit together yesterday, please. This is *not* how to treat us.

[@doomtomb3]

That white plastic shell mess up reminds me of a time a fruit company tried to introduce a white phone and it got delayed for months

[@abevigoda69]

i HAD a preorder. Was REALLY excited about this. I could feel in the video your internal struggle to keep from getting mad as hell yourself. I sent an email to RETROID customer service to CANCEL my order (politely) and two days later I have a full REFUND. Thanks for helping me dodge that bullet Taki!

[@tylermichaelbell]

That absolutely explains the specs. I thought there was more to this story. I prefer 4x3 and the rp2+ form factor so I wasn't interested, but I'm happy to know the story behind it. I do think COVID makes this a little more forgivable though. Greedy, lazy, and downright dumb, but what can you do if you invest a bunch of time and money into something arguably unsellable.

[@rsseguel]

Thank you so much for this honestly review man. That's why we love your channel Taki 💕

[@MorbidLyre]

Strange how no one with this device is complaining of these issues...

[@sethsez]

Yeah, this seems like half complaining that the product isn't what it ideally could have been rather than taking it for what it is (and what it is is perfectly fine, plenty of products have to cut features between conceptualization and release), and half reacting to prototype issues that didn't actually crop up for anyone in the real world. Props to Taki for recognizing he was too close to this one to give it a fair shake, but this "not a review" still functions as a review for plenty of people (see all the comments here) and that's not particularly fair for what amounts to a collection of pre-release anecdotes that have little bearing on the product that actually made it into people's hands.

[@MorbidLyre]

@@sethsez Spot on mate.

[@jonathanfernandez4898]

Thank you for the honesty, i didn’t want to preorder mine until you’ve reviewed it.

[@TheSurrealist.]

What a shame. It looks so good but I guess we’ll have to wait for better products. I still do love all my current Anbernic consoles .

[@02stampede]

Thanks for the info. Hopefully they get everything sorted out. I like the looks of this one.

[@jameshumphrey7463]

So why didn't you tell us not to pre-order ...

[@GamesAndMoreGamesAndMoreGames]

oh... Yep. Really really glad I didn't pre-order this. I was waiting on this "review" to make my decision. Thank you Taki! Ill tell my friends...

[@SWPLGAMING]

Oh boy, Retroid is sounding pretty questionable and just Lazy at this point. Thanks so much for the information. I was trying to get my hands on this but then I heard Nate Dogs voice in my head saying "HOLD UP" 🤣 Thanks again Taki👍🏾

[@rocketeric6516]

Been a subscriber of yours since the beginning & ALWAYS appreciated your honesty

[@jonnze8949]

A huge thanks for this. I have the RP3 and accessoires in the basket for a few days but still not 100% sure that I want to preorder a product I've only seen a few people guessing on if its worth it. Not sure if I understood everything you warned about - its a lot of information but I'm thankful nonetheless and hope for more reviews and updates on this. It would be my first retro emulator handheld and I'm still interested. The RP3 seems to have some nice features and looks comfortable to use. Recommendations are welcome. : >

[@jonnze8949]

Update: Its very hard to decide for a device as a beginner. Every single one has its downsides so I went in for the one you and a fellow youtuber of yours seem pretty happy with despite its particular flaws. I look forward to get my hands on a Anbernic RG280V next week.

[@dairykingofthemidwest4544]

I recently gave my rp2+ to my niece since she wanted to play some gba games in hopes of preordering rp3. I followed all the guides and set it up just right. I was looking forward to the rp3 but after hearing all of this i might hold off or look at an alternative retro handheld. Thank you so much for your honesty and integrity Taki.

[@mattworman86]

While I appreciate the honesty from you, is there any reason you left this till the day before they're due to ship therefore making it exceptionally difficult to cancel a pre-order?

[@TakiUdon]

The date is a coincidence. I worked on making this video as soon as my schedule allowed.

[@jameshumphrey7463]

Exactly how I was feeling now Im going to have $150 brick... All the little shorts that were coming out was pointing to something great I assumed... Why didn't you make a short saying wait or something 🤣😂🤣. Oh well it's just $$$

[@mattworman86]

@@TakiUdon That's completely understandable. I just hope they respect people's right to cancel their orders and not just ship them out in the state they're in.

[@VSMOKE1]

@@mattworman86 That bullshit he could've released a short and told his viewers to wait

[@wagneru]

And thats why this is the best channel for review of this devices, thank you Taki, here in Brazil this kind os device is very expensive, thank for be honest with us.

[@Crushonius]

trust me taki they knew exactly what they were doing its not about being to stupid to notice no no no they are penny pinching . take the case as an example a snow white plastic can be up to 3 times more expensive than an off white or yellow as you called it . i bet they got a deal for some recycled milk bottle plastic or something

[@latt.qcd9221]

Glad I saw this, though it's unfortunate. I was really excited about the RP3 because on the outside it looked like exactly the kind of handheld emulator I've been waiting for before dipping my toes into the retro handheld market.

[@Minusroot8]

Kinda glad I got the RP2+ well into production. Love that thing!

[@TakiUdon]

Right now it is the much better product.

[@tony47666123]

@@TakiUdon Hi Taki, I got it last winter after the video you made about it. How can I check if I have a good or bad screen?

[@healmagick]

I'm in the same boat. I got an RP2+ and I absolutely love it. However, I feel like I lucked out. If I waited until now to buy it and I watched this video, no way I would take a chance on Retroid in the near future.

[@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude]

I guess you didn't understand the video he think that they're both the same device and if he could go back in time he would have never recommended the record to plus it's actually worse than the three so there's no logic insane I'm glad I got the two plus and not the three they're actually the same thing so any problems you have with the three you also have with the two and he said he gave the company the benefit of the doubt and recommended the two plus thinking that the three will get fixed but they never fixed it so there really isn't any logic insane I'm glad I got the two plus it's literally the inferior that there is still better but not by much just better in the screen department and the 2+ is better in button department but bothe have exact same.issue they are litteraly the same ship indoffrent modles

[@Foostini]

@@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude My guy please project less and use punctuation more.

[@robhulson]

I’m very glad you made this video. I ordered an RP3 the morning I got the email about it. Your videos combined with their marketing material about how much faster it was (I thought it was comparing itself to the RP2+, not the RP2), well, it sounded like a no-brainer at $129. After hopping on Discord and Reddit, and feeling a bit hoodwinked, I cancelled my order. Too bad, I thought Retroid made great strides with the RP2+, but it sounds like there are still some boneheaded decisions being made. Thanks for coming out about this, as yes, this did affect my opinion of you. Your video is appreciated.

[@HansfordHolstein]

I preordered the RP3 I’m really happy you made this video so I know what to expect. I have the RP2+ so I’m not to worried about it and $120 isn’t anything to me. I wish more reviews where this honest. I hope after selling off the stock of RP3 they start on 3+ or version 4 I really want a good GameCube emulator!

[@ehlir]

RP3S should be after ( rumors from discord )

[@harshitgoel96]

Good thing I waited for your video before making a pre-order for RP3. Though I am guessing you were under a NDA, but I wish this would video have been out when preorder was announced. But I have a question, was 3gb version part of initial device you tested or after they decided to use ANDROID11 ?

[@saqqawattuhb7505]

So shall I cancel my pre order for RP3?

[@Smoje79]

You should

[@exPDXbear85]

Definitely, before it ships

[@saqqawattuhb7505]

Order cancelled and refunded by Goretroid.

[@archiiebarrett]

I pre-ordered it almost right away. I'm not going to bother to cancel it now, so I'll wait for it to come and see what I get. I'll review these issues you're talking about and see if I can identify the components, then I'll get back to everyone here with my findings.