Unboxing the ZPG A1 Unicorn: First Look (G99 RG Cube Lite?)

[@saikrishankumar]

Is that a Cube clone, or is the Cube the clone of the Unicorn?

[@retrohandhelds]

Yes.

[@RetroGamingWithDeadfred]

Publically the Unicorn was announced first, but they are both clones of the Snow Cake.

[@saikrishankumar]

@@retrohandhelds always good to wake up in the morning and be greeted with a Zu Review video. Thanks brother.

[@saikrishankumar]

@@retrohandhelds Personally I am waiting for Gamma OS to fix the RG556, I will most definitely be getting that instead. The OLED screen wins it for me.

[@retrohandhelds]

The RG Cube is a clone of the Unicorn

[@Pridetoons]

I just noticed the D-Pad looks like the IGN logo.

[@ThecrazycakeEATAH]

Lao Zhang and the team behind ZPG/GKD products are the OG "artisans" of the Chinese retro handheld scene. The A1 Unicorn is actually a mass production version of their earlier custom-order "artisanal" 1:1 consoles. Their products are usually have a reputation for having good attention to detail compared to their competitors

[@Zaphori]

Great video, interesting device. Can't want for stubs deeper drive. Ps my daughter just started watching Unicorn Academy. She says "I don't like it!" My wife and I say "should we change it then?" She says "no..." then returns to starring at the TV slack jawed

[@retrohandhelds]

Follow your heart Straight to the stars Your bond already shows The magic glows Our friendship grows

[@lordgeyik]

Kudos to them for including front facing speakers

[@adrian_veidt]

I like how the A logo looks like emblem of Unicorn gundam and Amuro Ray's Nu gundam

[@zu_perler3011]

SENSE HAS BEEN MADE

[@lordgeyik]

It's notable that the d-pad placement is higher in this one compared to Cube, which is most likely more ergonomic

[@Gabi_90.]

I love the beginning of the video 😂😂 0:01

[@bitduelist]

This device is interesting, I have been looking for a device thats powerful enough to play some 3ds pokemon games that i can take anywhere. The RG Cube is more powerful but many reviewers have said its not very pocketable which is not ideal because i want a daily carry device. This device looks like the best possible option for this since it seems to be way more pocketable. The light PS2 is nice too since im probably gonna play light rpgs like Dragon Quest 5 on there as well. I saw your stream with the device as well and Vita3k seemed to be running alright

[@bitduelist]

I'm upgrading from the RG353M so it seems like a substantial upgrade

[@jtothebell]

I like the pixel font on the face buttons, and the PS button names etched in is a nice touch. The shoulder buttons look like a big downgrade from the Cube though.

[@lawrence8895]

Really interested to see a deep dive on this device. A while back I was talking to Lao Zhang about buying one of his metal versions of this that he hand made. Then I saw a leak for the cube so was going to get that as it was cheaper but the light bleed issues on release stayed my hand. Now I learn they just ripped of zhangs mass produced version I feel like this could be the superior device. It looks a tad slimmer which will add to Pocket-ability and Zhang seems to have high standard for his devices. I just hope that the stick controls are smooth and don't suffer the same 4 direction locking problems anbernic devices have.

[@STR82DVD]

Hey Zu young lad. The ergonomic differences between these two units is reminiscent of the difference between the Logitech G Cloud and the ABXYLUTE One. They look kind of the same but not really.

[@bitduelist]

How is that ali express listing not live yet?

[@Sadtiric]

Ooh, Shmexy! 💚I still don't think it could compare to the Cube in practice, despite THIS being what got me hyped for the Cube! 😅

[@Stunnax757]

Surprised you didn't mention the lack of analog triggers GameCube when playing Mario Sunshine

[@ColinRowlands]

That dpad sort of reminds me of the one on the mobapad switch joycons, although they are designed to allow you to choose between a disc or cross dpad, is it meant to be removable on this one too?

[@TheTechUpdate-ui1fh]

It looks really interesting, other reviewers have mentioned that they really like the dpad and the analog sticks and im thinking a few people will like the slimmer form factor and front firing speakers at least. Glad to see it may sell cheper than the Cube. I think it would be worth a look at $140-$150.

[@chedhead3278]

Cheers Zu. Do like the Unicorn but I gotta say the G99 Headwolf Fpad5 8.4" tablet I picked up for £90 (t&d) seems a better deal. Very different devices I know but value is value and I know which one I'd rather play a PS1 rpg on.

[@leonhart1712]

Does it transform into that NT-D mode while playing some epic music on the background?

[@CornyPuddle]

I'm more of a Pegasus guy. But unicorns are cool too 😅

[@CaptainCaveman1170]

Cool video, great review. I doubt you'll know the answer, but I would personally want to push the game image all the way to the top, at least in Dolphin. Do you know if there is a setting for that?

[@retrohandhelds]

You have to set it to Stretch To Window. I have the settings laid out in my RG Cube video. Since you're using the same dolphin emulator, the steps are the same.

[@CaptainCaveman1170]

@@retrohandhelds Awesome thanks.

[@leelee7334]

They lost me when they went with in-line buttons.

[@michaelbenny659]

I was expecting the device to have a horn

[@TheViandeSechee]

Can someone tell me what is the super nes game at 7:18 please ? 😊

[@metalsquid]

E.V.O. Search For Eden

[@metalsquid]

E.V.O. Search For Eden

[@zu_perler3011]

EVO

[@TheViandeSechee]

@@zu_perler3011 thank you very much 🙏😃

[@elcoreano11]

Fire emblem Shadow of Valentia is a great game. I actually bought it for the 3DS but never started it. I got a chance to nearly finish it on the RG556. (Last boss battle is impossible)

[@KyleRuggles]

Hey, not bad, not bad at all! Great first look, Zu! Oh btw, I read on Reddit that you can enable widescreen cheats but then set your aspect ratio to full, I don't have a square screen to test it out but it might just work for ps2/gamecube/wii.

[@retrohandhelds]

I did this and posted about it in the Cube thread on the Discord, but then a bunch of people like RetroTechDad were rude and said they couldn't see a difference. Now I don't know what to think!

[@KyleRuggles]

@@retrohandhelds Couldn't see a difference!? I think filling out the screen is noticeable! LOL!

[@HHGTV]

How is the PS2 emulation working? I thought AETHERSX2 is no longer available/working??? I am confused 😅

[@HHGTV]

@@Blak22390 Cheers for the reply. I guess I got to research a little more to find the best PS2 emulation device

[@mattdavis9601]

The other day I was reading about extinct paleolithic creatures, as one does when they're utterly bored. Until about 35,000 years ago, which means it was a contemporary of early modern humans, there lived an animal roaming the steppes of Asia called the Elasmotherium sibiricum. It was a giant single horned rhino, about double the size of a modern rhino. It had a neat party trick; it could gallop like a horse. It's been speculated that the sight of such a majestic creature thundering across the landscape like Zu driving a golf cart along the grand strand left an imprint into the collective consciousness of humanity and subsequently inspired the legend of the unicorn. As far as the A1 Unicorn, I like it a lot. Enough to buy? I don't know. But, I like the looks and the performance seems to live up to what I was expecting. I love that it runs Android. And, for whatever reason, I have a pretty positive impression of ZPG. It's certainly a very tempting product.

[@zu_perler3011]

Best comment award

[@Pridetoons]

How much does it cost!?

[@bryanmiranda6674]

watch the stupid video 🤦

[@retrohandhelds]

I mention it in the video!

[@Pridetoons]

​@@retrohandheldsI know but I want to see ZPG confirm it. 😤

[@retrohandhelds]

@@Pridetoons Rumor from our rep is $130 + shipping as of yesterday, but not confirmed yet from ZPG

[@dtape]

16:02 The real American Dream is free healthcare so we can spend more money buying retro handhelds

[@emilianomontanari283]

it costs 190 dollars everywhere 😅

[@retrohandhelds]

@emilianomontanari283 retail is $130 + shipping from zpg store on Ali, that is the best place to get it

[@emilianomontanari283]

@@retrohandhelds can you link it, i can’t find it (rg cube best price is around 148 dollars and it has quite more value…. unicorn should cost less than 100….)

[@retrohandhelds]

@@emilianomontanari283 Hi, yes it is is in the video description, thanks!

[@emilianomontanari283]

@@retrohandheldsthe link doesn’t work :)

[@retrohandhelds]

@@emilianomontanari283 what country?

[@henrywilliams6927]

Made it here early yaaaa

[@Two49]

android kills it for me

[@M_CFV]

I'll take functional sleep and better battery life and management. Less of a crutch on custom os versus linux, where you're always gonna want to wait for things like garlic or arkos

[@jakesmith5278]

Damn! I wanted one of these 720×720p for some arcade shoot em up games but those god-awful sticks are just unbearable.

[@SonmerfieldWendell-e4q]

Hall Angela Allen Laura Jones Brian

[@turnbasedtoddy7664]

The colors kill it for me. If this comes out at $130 that’s a great price but the colors they chose makes me not want to buy this. They are just so bad. Great specs for the price though.

[@M_CFV]

Just use PAL roms for ps2 ;) 100% speed at 50FPS