This Affordable Gaming Handheld Can Play PS2 and GameCube Games
Same starting price as the old-school consoles, but in a handheld format.
Retroid Pocket just announced its latest handheld, the Retroid Pocket 4, with improved specs so it can handle both PlayStation 2 and GameCube titles smoothly. If you’re already familiar with Retroid Pocket, you’ll be happy to hear that the Retroid Pocket 4 doesn’t stray too far from the design of its predecessors.
The best part is that the upcoming handheld will start at an even lower price than the PlayStation 2 and GameCube when they first came out. That means you can do another playthrough of classic titles like Final Fantasy X, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, or even The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in something that feels more like a Game Boy Advance.
These Retroid Pocket 4 colorways are perfect for old-school games.
Retroid Pocket 4 and 4 Pro Features
Retroid Pocket will be selling its latest handheld in two models: a base and a Pro model. The base model comes with MediaTek’s Dimensity 900 chip, while the Pro model has a more powerful Dimensity 1100. While these are mid-range chips that won’t match the performance of something like the Ayaneo Kun, they're more than enough to handle your cherished childhood games from 20 years ago.
The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro model also has 8GB of RAM, while the base model tops out at 4GB. Both models come with 128GB of storage, but you can expand that thanks to a microSD card slot. The Retroid Pocket 4 handhelds also have a 5,000 mAh battery. If you already have the Retroid Pocket 3+ that came out last year, this may not be much of an upgrade, but it should mean smoother performance when it comes to PS2 and GameCube emulation.
Transparent colorways and retro handhelds go hand-in-hand.
Retroid Pocket confirmed on X that the 4/Pro models will have analog triggers and Hall Effect joysticks. The handheld maker didn’t change up the exterior design much, but it did move the menu buttons to the face of the device instead of positioning them on the sides like the Retroid Pocket 3.
Retroid Pocket 4 Price and Release Date
Pre-orders for both the Retroid Pocket 4 and Pocket 4 start on December 21, 2023 at 8 a.m. ET. The Retroid Pocket 4 base model will start at $149 and the Pocket 4 Pro version will start at $199. The two handhelds have different shipping dates, though. At this time, Retroid Pocket says the Pocket 4 Pro will ship first on January 15, 2024, while the Retroid Pocket 4 will ship ten days later, on January 25, 2024.
You’ll still get to choose between those retro-inspired colorways, including transparent models in white, red, and blue, and standard colors of black and white. There’s even a gray option that’s an obvious callback to the color scheme of the SNES. We’re not getting the atomic purple color that everyone loves, but Ayn has got that covered with a similar horizontal handheld.
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