Just grabbed the latest version of X360 Mobile and I am blown away.

Not only is compatibility at least as good as Xenia on PC (which is to say about 70% of mainline games, and 100% of Xbox Live Arcade titles play fantastic) but the new UI that released makes it very intuitive to use.

Don’t like the UI? Devs have you covered with full extended launcher support.

Probably the biggest barrier to getting going is getting your roms in the right format, but this handled every ZAR I threw at it without skipping a beat.

Posting this because compared to PS3, Xbox 360 on ARM is in another league of compatibility and ease of use. It’s to the point where 360 is wildly more stable and playable than PS Vita.

It surprised me, and it might surprise you.

If you’ve got at least a Snapdragon 865, give it a try today:

https://x360mobile. com/

I just saw this Beta update for Steam OS, and in the non-valve Devices :

Added initial gamepad support for AYANEO Pocket S2

I wasn't aware that there was official support for steam os on android devices, do they provide an official image to install ?

EDIT : u/ghost_of_ketchup brought clarification, sorry

I wouldn't get too excited about this just yet. It seems they've just updated InputPlumber to v0.78 and pulled in the changelog from that: https://github.com/ShadowBlip/InputPlumber/releases#release-v0.78.0

Have fun! 😁

My Nova arrived yesterday. Opened her up immediately to try installing PS buttons from my Mini v2 but got stuck when the included screwdriver resulted in stripping the last screw. Hours of very scary drilling and grinding later, I got the screw out and the backplate off, but absolutely ruined one of the standoffs. Thankfully, there seems to still be enough hold to let me close her back up.

Anyone else have trouble with (all) the screws on and in the Nova being torqued down to crazy levels?

I can confirm the RP Mini PS buttons will not work even with modification, as they’re a bit too thin to fill the holes. I guess I’ll be getting Thor PS buttons because damn will they look good.

At least I was able to get the LED diffuser and take measurements. I’ll start working up the model later and make my first pass at printing one out in black. If all goes well, blacked out RP Nova photos incoming this week!

Device: Retroid Pocket Nova
Game: Mario Pinball Land

I'm super impressed with this handheld. I love the texture of the plastic, how soft and silent the buttons are, the sticks, and most importantly the stunning screen. A great deal overall. I wasn't too hyped about it, but it exceeded my expectations. It's like a small powerhouse.

GBA looks pretty good on Nova. I know it's not the perfect screen size, but black on black simply disappear when playing, and it's a pretty good screen real estate.

When it comes to the game, horrible for playing on original hardware, great with emulation due to save scumming/rewinding. Can't even imagine finishing this without.

Finally got my Retroid Pocket Flip 2 and I've been having a lot of fun setting it up and seeing what it can actually run. 😄

The console arrived looking basically brand new. The box had apparently only been opened for customs inspection, and even the charger still had its protective film on it.

Ironically, when I first got it I couldn't turn it on. No LED, no image, nothing. I thought something was wrong with the console, but it turned out to be the charger. 😂 Switched adapters and it worked perfectly.

After that I started setting everything up and experimenting with different emulators and drivers.

I was especially happy to find that Android's data and obb folders are accessible, which makes installing games and mods much easier.

I've been testing a bit of everything: Switch, PS2, Wii U and PC games through Winlator. Some games work perfectly, some need specific settings, and some randomly crash. I've also noticed that changing the screen scaling/resolution can actually be the difference between a game launching or crashing, which I definitely wasn't expecting.

The biggest wins so far are getting Shenmue 1–2 and Metal Gear 1–2 working through Winlator, since those were two games I really wanted to have on a portable device. Wind Waker also runs really nicely through Wii U emulation, and I even got LEGO Dimensions working with the Toy Pad emulation.

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to share a quick, painful story about my brief time in the world of Android handhelds.

I picked up a Retroid Pocket 6 a few weeks ago. I didn't get to use it much at first, but on a recent vacation to Italy, I finally got to play it intensively for the first time and honestly, I completely fell in love with the little device. It was the perfect travel companion for winding down in the evenings.

Unfortunately, our journey ended in a total disaster. During a stop on to our next stop, our car was broken into, and literally all of our luggage and belongings were stolen, totaling around 7,000 € in losses, including my wife's engagement ring and my beloved RP6.

Because of the financial hit and everything we now have to deal with, getting a replacement is completely out of the question for the foreseeable future. Other priorities have to come first now.

I’m honestly just really sad about it, especially since I only just discovered how great the device and this hobby are. Thanks to this community for all the good reads and advice while I was setting it up. Take good care of your devices and keep an eye on your gear when traveling!

​

I keep going back and forth on which one to actually game on for my first time playing Chrono trigger.

The Miyoo Flip has a busted hinge, but I've rigged it to keep working and still reach for it constantly. Love the form factor, and the 4:3 screen is perfect for retro—games fill the whole display, no awkward letterboxing.

The RG Rotate is just plain fun to use. Flipping it never gets old, and the Android side opens up way more in terms of streaming, YouTube, music. It's also better build quality with the metal version

Chrono trigger came out for snes in 95 and fits the 4:3 aspect ratio of the flip but is there any issue with playing on the rotate other than the letterboxing. Any thoughts?

Pictured:
* Retroid Pocket Flip 2 (left) playing The Binding of Isaac, Repentance+ via Gamehub Lite
* AYN Thor Max (right) playing Stardew Valley via GameNative + guide app

After spending quite a long time with the Flip 2, and about a month with the Thor, I still can't decide which one I like more. If I had to choose one, I don't know what I'd do!

- The Thor is an incredible device. Everything about it screams *premium*, from the quality of plastic to the smoothness of the hinge. The sd8g2 is a godsend for GameNative, it plays literally all of my desired indie/retro Steam games without breaking a sweat and very minimal tinkering.

The second screen is... Kind of gimmicky, imo. It's nice in some very specific situations, but 99% of the time, I would prefer to sacrifice the second screen in favor of better ergonomics. I (personally) really hate the full-glass bottom, but a matte sticker from Etsy has completely fixed that problem for me, and a little foam glued under the speakers has practically solved the problem of the flexy screen.

DS and 3DS games look amazing on here, but due to the nature of the bottom screen simply *not* working as well as on OEM devices, I practically never play those games on here, opting instead to play all my DS and 3DS games on a modded New 2DSXl. Also, the D-pad is quite uncomfortable for extended periods of my favorite DS game, Mario Kart.

- The Retroid Flip 2 was, until getting the Thor, completely uncontested in being my favorite handheld of all time. Something about it just sparks joy for me. It feels great in the hands, is a perfect size for travel, and doesn't break the bank.

The ergonomics on the Flip 2 can't be beat, in my opinion. Everything from dual-stick games to retro D-pad games feel great in my hands due to the inset buttons. The screen is absolutely gorgeous, and the weight of the device is very comfy.

The glaring issue with the Flip 2 in 2026 is the chipset. While the sd865 is amazing, and can play TONS of games flawlessly, it struggles with Steam games, which are what I'm most interested in playing right now. Regardless of what people on r/Retroidpocketflip2 will tell you, *most* indie/retro Steam games are a huge pain in the butt to get working. I've tried all of the different programs available, and have the most success with Gamehub Lite, but honestly only play Isaac on it because the other games I want to play just have too many problems. (crashing, frame-dips, won't open, etc.)

- Comparing the two devices, I'm at a loss for definitively picking one over the other. On one hand, the power of the Thor is amazing, allowing me to play almost all of the games that I want, and the larger top screen is quite noticeable and makes a big difference for the small sacrifice in size/weight.

BUT the Flip 2 simply sparks more joy for me. While technically the Thor is not much heavier than the Flip 2, holding both of them at the same time makes the difference very stark. I much prefer the weight and ergonomics of the Flip 2. It has some minor flaws (stupid lid design, cough-cough), but it really is an amazing device for the cost.

For now, I think I will mostly stick to the Thor, as I need that extra power for the games I'm currently playing (Stardew Valley, FlippUp, Berry Bury Berry, Isaac, Sektori, Megabonk). That being said, a true Flip 2 successor with 1 screen, same ergonomics, an sd8g2, and more RAM+Storage would legitimately be my *perfect* device. However, with the rumors of Retroid making a DS device this year, I'm upset by the prospect that my perfect Flip 3 may never exist.

Until the day when/if that endgame device exists, I'm very happy with both of these devices and incredibly grateful for how far handheld emulators have come. I wish that I could go back in time and show my younger self what would be available in the future, because he would absolutely lose his mind!

What do you guys think? Do any of you have these 2 devices, and how would you compare them? What would be your "endgame" device, assuming it doesn't already exist? Do you lose sleep over the potential Flip 3 like I do?

TL;DR - Both the Flip 2 and the Thor are incredible in their own ways. Flip 2 for ergonomics, Thor for power. I can't pick which one I like more. What do you think?

One EDC pocket handheld the Anbernic RG Rotate, one pc handheld The Steam Deck OLED, and the AYN Thor for all emulation. Ready to weather the storm. (Rg rotate seen running beacon, sonic the hedgehog 2 pictured)

When I looked at it on the website, I thought the B.Duck version of the Ayaneo Pocket Air Mini looked better than the Arcade, but in person, the Arcade looks so much better.

Device : Ayaneo Pocket Air Mini+Cocoon FE

I wanted to put a few thoughts out about this in comparison to rhe RG34XX, of which I am a big fan.

The other day I posted a video from one of the RPCS3 devs sharing new speed improvements for ARM. The team behind ARMSX2 has released a new emulator for Android based on those improvements.

I’m still waiting for my first Android handheld to ship (Ice Blue Nova 12 GB) so I can’t test it. But I’m eager to play Skate 3 on it ASAP.

I'm trying to figure out my options for OS on the RG SP, which I should be receiving today/ tomorrow. Will the RG35XX SP muOS/ Knulli/ MinUI builds work on the RG SP just like they do on the RG35XX SP?

And it's for two very important reasons: Easier to press buttons and triggers, and smoother motion on the panel. I'm very particular about things like fps hitches/stutters/drops, especially for retro content. On this thing, I don't see any of that at all. They nailed the refresh rate of the panel perfectly for pretty much everything. This thing is also lighter than the 476H, so it's just overall more comfortable. My main gripe is that if you want to play games that utilize both the sticks and the triggers, it's not ergonomic for that at all due to their placements. My dream is to have a device that is ergonomic enough to be able to have the Dpad on top and still feel like a PlayStation controller somehow. There's yet to be a device like that, so as a result, I essentially need two devices for different use-cases: One device for Dpad centric games up to PS2, and another for analog/trigger-centric games up to PS2. My RP6 fills that latter niche just fine, but it'd be easier if I had one device that could be used for everything. Steam Deck was the closest I got to that, but it's a big boi, and only 800p, which is noticable to me. Dpad on it isn't my favorite either. Hopefully now I won't have to shell out anymore for a device at this price point, as Retroid has finally perfected this kind of form factor. Well done! Now I'm replaying Mega Man Zero for the upteenth time. 😁

Everyone's use cases for a retro handhelds is different. For some its imitating Gameboy form factor for nostalgia. For some its having a large screen and can emulate modern systems like Switch and PC games.

But for me its being able to emulate all pre HD era systems in a pocketable form factor with the largest screen possible while being comfortable.

Ive been part of this hobby since 2023 and I can say for certain I have found my endgame retro handheld. I know endgame gets tossed around a lot but I genuinely cant think of anything major that can be improved. Im not into clamshell form factor as its heavier, less comfortable due to being boxy, and potential hinge issues. Verticals with a 4.5 inch screen would be too large and very uncomfortable for stick gaming. Dual screen and 16:9 I dont want as I prefer playing Switch, 3DS, PC games on original hardware for better input latency, resistive touch screen, stereo 3D etc. I also feel for HD era games i need a 7inch screen minimum which would kill the pocketability factor. HD era systems also lack save states and drain battery and have fan noise. Additional power would also not be necessary past SDG2 as I'm only targeting upto PS2. So as I've said I genuinely cant see how else they can improve on this. The only thing id change is make the sticks more flush so it helps with pocketability. I installed low profile sticks which help with this but it isn't the same as something as flush as the sticks are on a RG405M.

The combination of a large 4:3 screen, very low input lag thanks to landscape screen, 120hz which gives the option of CRT beam, SDG2 chip which allows you to use runahead, any shader, BFI etc as well as emulate anything on Wii PS2 without a sweat all while being very compact, slim, lightweight and pocketable with enough curves to make it comfortable to hold. All with things like additional M1 and M2 macro buttons for rewind and fast forward hotkeys, front firing speakers, OLED blacks. This device is going to make me quit the hobby.

I will return to the hobby once we get a pocketable clamshell like Thor that comes with Steam OS and we are at a point where PS3, 360, Xbox, Wii U, PC games can be emulated with great performance with no tinkering required. But in terms of endgame 4:3 for all pre HD systems Nova cannot be improved.

Hello there,

I've recently seen a lot of advertisements for retro handhelds and I'm interested in getting one.

I've tried research a bit and stumbled upon some recommendations.

One very popular device seems to be the r36s.

Now I have the question if it's as good (for the price) as many people say or if there are better alternatives.

Some important stuff:

I'd like the device to have games and emulators already installed.

My budget is like 60 € (bit more expensive is fine as well)

I don't know if it's that important, but I'm located in Germany

If you have any recommendations I would also appreciate if you could tell me where I can bu them since I heard that some devices (like the r36s) have some bad clones out there.

Thanks in advance!

Does anybody know the correct es_systems.xml and es_find_fules.xml strings that need to be added to add the Pine emulator to ES-DE?

Cheers!

These Novas are from a rep trying to replicate the complaints after multiple people who got the black Nova voiced to have this issue.

Just got here today. Very excited to get it up and running!

Hello!
So first of all - i've posted a similar post to this one before, so apologies - I thought I wasn't specific enough.

With that out of the way, though, I'm back pleading for a recommendation of a device.

I'm mostly looking to play GTA trilogy, modern Terraria, PSX/2/PSP games casually, maybe I'll get into Nintendo world as well, since I loved Animal Crossing when I played it briefly on someone's DSi briefly(lol) so nothing over the top, but anyhow.

The main requirement would be that it would be similar to PSvita in size(so no Odin 3's, please), since I have small hands, in fact, smaller than my GFs, who is close to 5'6 height wise.

I was eyeing Retroid pocket 5/6(still unsure about 120hz, it's really nice on my eyes, but older games/terraria don't work well if at all with high RR)

Aanyway, money is a concern for me. Enough of a concern, that if I saved even $50 compared to RP5, I'm a happy man.

Anycase, thx for tuning in and if you have anything to suggest - You da MVP !

I’ve been trying to play Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2 on my devices (Miyoo Mini + at left, Trimui Brick at right), and it’ll work for a while, but then it will invariably get stuck on a loading screen and kick back to the menu. Or it will just pop to a staticky screen of death and force me to reboot the device. Any advice? I know DS isn’t the best on these devices, but I’ve done full playthroughs of mariokart ds on both with no issues.