What it’s good to know
- Retroid has introduced the Pocket G2 and the Pocket 6.
- The Pocket G2 is already out there for buy, and is on sale for the following two weeks.
- After initially asserting the Pocket 6, Retroid reversed course resulting from group suggestions.
Surprisingly sufficient, it has been a few 12 months for the reason that Retroid Pocket 5 and Pocket Mini had been introduced by Retroid. Each handhelds had been powered by the Snapdragon 865, marking them as the 2 strongest gaming handhelds to return from the corporate. And earlier this week, two new gadgets had been launched, because the Pocket G2 and Pocket 6 are slated to be the following Retroid flagships.
Beginning with the Pocket G2, that is primarily simply the Retroid Pocket 5, however with a contemporary coat of paint and a few upgraded internals. Particularly, the Snapdragon 865 is being changed by the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2, which was introduced at GDC 2025 alongside the G3 Gen 3, and G1 Gen 2. When it comes to efficiency, evidently the the G2 Gen 2 falls between the Snapdragon 865 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
Among the different Pocket G2 specs embody 8GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and a 5,000mAh battery. Arguably one of the best half about this, apart from getting a model new chip, is that Retroid is sticking with the identical 5.5-inch AMOLED show from the Pocket 5, which is an absolute delight.
What makes this so thrilling is that you could get a model new chip, in a model new handheld that sports activities an AMOLED show, all for below $200. The Pocket G2 retails for $219, however for the following two weeks, Retroid is dropping the worth all the way down to $199.
After which there’s the Retroid Pocket 6.
Getting the enjoyable stuff out of the way in which first, the Pocket 6 will likely be Retroid’s new flagship handheld, because it’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. That is the “darling” of the emulation group, because it powered the AYN Odin 2, Odin 2 Mini, and Odin 2 Portal, three of the most well-liked Android handhelds over the previous few years.
Nevertheless, in true Retroid vogue, not everybody was pleased with the Pocket 6, and it had nothing to do with the spec sheet. Particularly contemplating that the 8GB/128GB mannequin was priced at $229 with a 12GB/256GB variant coming in at $279. As a substitute, this time round, it was all concerning the design.
It was fairly instantly obvious that Retroid was attempting to do one thing a bit completely different, whereas additionally attempting to attraction to as broad of an viewers as potential. To some, myself included, Retroid nailed it, because the design was reminscent of a contemporary PSP or PS Vita, simply with higher ergonomics and a novel set of buttons beneath the display screen.
Sadly, the group didn’t agree. It reached a tipping level, because the polls had been posted to each the Retroid Discord and X accounts, in an try to determine what the group wished. Within the ballot, renders of the unique Pocket 6 had been shared, alongside what a possible redesign would seem like.
With virtually 10,000 votes simply on the X Ballot, virtually 70% voted in favor of the redesign. As such, this redesign eliminated the buttons from beneath the display screen, putting two of them beneath the left and proper joysticks, and the opposite two on the again.
The potential drawback right here is that in the end, the Retroid Pocket 6 appears fairly much like each the AYN Odin 3 and Retroid Pocket 5. So as an alternative of getting a handheld that stands out from the pack, the group determined to go for extra of a cookie-cutter design.
Whereas disappointing, this whole saga did lead to Retroid doing one thing it hasn’t carried out earlier than. As soon as pre-orders re-open for the Pocket 6, along with the redesign, Retroid can be letting you select the format for the left D-Pad and joystick. It is a first for the corporate, and is definitely a fairly nice thought when you consider it.
It is also already been confirmed that customer support will attain out to those that pre-ordered primarily based on the unique design, whereas some have already been refunded. And as luck would have it, simply as we had been on the point of publish this piece, the Pocket 6 touchdown web page has returned and the banner throughout the highest of the Retroid web site has been up to date with a countdown.
Pre-orders for the Pocket 6 will re-open on Monday, November 3, at 9 PM ET.
