Guys, please up vote this so he can see it. Just a friendly tip for running games at full speed on Aethersx2 : You need to start the game, then go into settings, find the advanced section, and disable memory wrapping. In the graphics settings : Hardware Mode setting, select Unsynchronized. With these changes, games like Dragon Quest VIII which had massive slowdown in the town areas were running at the full 60fps even at 2x resolution on my Fire Max 11 tablet. You don't need to underclock or overclock.
I don’t blame him for this oversight mistake, honestly the modifying hacking on emulators can be convoluted for many people. It may be a bit of a pain to reconfigure the settings again for a different game.
5:10 That's a common artifact on some IPS panels. IPS is great for the price, better black levels and much better viewing angles than TN, less bleed than VA usually has, but the ghosting which is sometimes tinted is a rather noticeable tradeoff.
D900 is a great chipset. With the grip and screen protector its $187 shipped. For the Rp4p it's $237 shipped. Imo I'd rather save $50, unless you really want switch emulation the non pro is fine.
I wish it wasn't so damn expensive to import those handhelds to Brazil. Would gladly pay for an Odin 2 if I wasn't going to be taxed 80% more because of customs.
You could try to find someone online who frequently goes to Brazil, at best a relative you can trust. Who buys it outside and just travels with it back to Brazil to give it to you. Obviously it's not that easy to accomplish but I had an online friend in the US who would frequently carry me stuff to the UK and then send it inside the EU which goes around customs. Doesn't work any more due to Brexit but if you can find a trustful person and have the money I would try it.
I would love if they did something like the KT-R1 and give us an option to get the D-pad at the bottom, this thing is really powerful and given it's power and game streaming, I think the d-pad at the bottom would be great for some folks out there.
@@KyleRuggles I'd like to see something in the future where it's like the Switch and they just send 2 "joycons" along. Interchangeable D-pad/stick on top.
I think if this was like, $120 instead of $150 it would be nuts. But at $150 besides the shipping you're probably already paying, you might as well save up the extra bit and get the pro.
Agreed! Alternatively, if it was $150 but shipping included everywhere (or like almost everywhere / very cheap shipping). But yea I agree. Even 130 would already almost there.
Too cheap, especially for the Chipset. They wouldn't be able to accomplish that goal without cutting a significant amount of corners. Do you really want this Handheld to drop to Powkiddy levels of build quality.
By that logic, you might as well save up a bit more and get the Odin 2 instead. Power doesn’t come without a cost, and the Odin 2’s big battery will serve those with such needs far better. At a certain point, the performance is “good enough” for a user’s needs. If one is willing to accept the dreaded native resolution, and experience GC/PS2 as they were in a pocketable device, then this is a marked and budget friendly improvement over the beloved RP3+ in every way.
If this was 120, people will be like "the pro is almost twice the price, are they nuts" Yeah, it would be great, but that's not how things work. For 120 you get 353 series of anbernik...you want more you pay more. The rg556 cost more although it's slightly lower perf. So if we drop the same screen it would have costed 150 as well. The Odin light is another point of reference. 120 although great price, is kind of ridiculous as well.
@@johnathanchittuluru4131 High-end emulations like 3DS, Wii, Gamecube, Playstation 2, you'll definitely notice fan noise but anything below... not so much
@@nefariou5 I imagine some might. Some people don't even know what it does when they see it. It if your an informed consumer and you know what you're about to drop 150-200 bucks, you're probably going to think "why would I buy the lesser model?"
"Even though I have seen comments like that on Reddit, which is a super positive place to hang out." 😂😂 God I love this channel. Thank you as always for your excellent work, sir.
9:13 - Actually, 3x resolution isn't 720p. The PSP screen resolution is 480x272, which means a 3x scale would get you 1440x816, which is higher than the 750p screen on the Pocket 4. But it's good to know everything can run at 4x anyway, just for some extra clarity and supersampling.
I'm getting this over the pro because i already have a steam deck and want something less precious/expensive that literally fits in my pocket. This fits that niche perfectly. I feel like 200$ is about the limit where i start to treat a thing with kid gloves.
Lol same I want something I can bring with me and not have to worry about breaking or getting stolen. Ever since I got my steam deck dock I just use it like a console on the tv with a PS5 controller.
A battery life test with other handhelds specially the pocket 4 pro would have been interesting. If a handheld for 50 dollar less gave me much better battery life that can still play most retro games than one with just better performance i would probably choose one with better battery life.
I appreciate how he always puts size comparisons up. Not only does it help see screen sizes, but you can gauge how well the ergonomics will be for different games.
In terms of the price difference being only $50 between the 4 and 4+, that may not be completely true depending on where you are. Here in the UK, at current exchange rates, you won't currently pay import duty on the 4, but you will on the 4+. I think that adds 20% to the cost of the 4+ (I think it's 20% but I'm far from expert about the duty rates). Some other European countries, for example, are likely to be affected similarly. Just pointing this out to bear in mind for anyone in the same boat, as I was thinking of buying one or the other soon, but this extra cost (and hassle) for the 4+ is making me lean towards the 4.
I bought the 4 Pro to replace my 3+ and it's been fine for the most part. I definitely consider it be worth 50 USD increase for the D1100 chip, 8 gigs of RAMs and Android 13 versus 11. A base Odin 2 would've been the future proof and superior option at 300 USD, but I want the best device that I would be realistically stick into a pair of pants or a jacket.
I've just seen a lot of inconsistency with the mediatek D11000 if you look at the benchmarks the stability on the D9000 is remarkably sound but then again it's an objective opinion on what you want the best performance Android games can run a more consistent frame rate although the snapdragon 865 is the best you can get
I'd never thought I'd say this on one of your videos Russ, but it almost sounds like you were making excuses for Retroids obvious quality control issues...this is far from the first time Retroid has had pretty serious issues (bad screens and again triggers on their previous series). I honestly don't care to wait weeks for something to be delivered to fix something that shouldn't have happened in the first place. And the screen on this series already showed issues with the ones you reviewers received (they claimed it was fixed...apparently not seeing the blurring here). This company does not deserve to be coddled, they are a business and they need to be held to the same standards as any other business you give your hard earned money to. If more reviewers nailed them they'd have no recourse but to fix their poor quality image by making better products or they fade away. This isn't Amazon, waiting on parts can take a good long time, and if you're in a country that charges VAT/taxes on importing (England, etc.) it's not a "free" fix, they're still paying for it...again. This doesn't mean other makers are perfect either, but for some reason I can't understand, Retroid seems to get a pass on this often and it needs to stop. They do not deserve it.
@@goissilvathe base RP4 review models are just now getting into creators hands. It was sold after the RP4 Pro and won't ship to retail buyers until after Chinese New Years break.
But for a bit more you got the pro, but for a bit more you got the odin, but for a bit more you got the steam Deck, but for a bit more you got a gaming PC
@@SicketMog it's a known marketing strategy, forgot the name. Apple devices for instance, you can get the cheap one, but it lacks enough storage, so you consider the same model with more storage, but for a bit more you get the pro, but not enough storage now, so you get the one above, and suddenly you spent double you intended to
Still think RG556 is better. I got RP3+ and RG405M at the same time and the RG performed way better with what I wanted to play. I honestly regret buying RP3+. I already ordered RG566 and will most likely not buy a RP4P
You can see in your video that the Retroid Pocket 4 has the same juddering issue that the Retroid Pocket 4 pro has.. what a disappointment 🙁 Hopefully Retroid will fix this in a firmware update.
A little clarification on PAL versions of games: PAL versions of games are the European versions of a game. This means they're subject to different laws and customs that could lead to the game being different in some way. Usually, this is just a name change because a game's name in the North American market might mean something bad in another culture. For example, in the UK, the GBA game Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure was changed to Crash Bandicoot XS. But sometimes it's much more substantial, so it's important to keep this in mind when considering using the PAL version of a given game.
I think we have basically reached the endgame with these retro handhelds, I don't see how much they can improve from stable GC/PS2 emulation without going into handheld PC territory
That's what Odin 2 is in my opinion, it's limited only by the software and optimization. If a PS3/360 emulator ever comes to Android, Odin 2 should handle it well especially considering it can handle a lot of beefy Switch games.
@@fillerbunnyninjashark271Idk about "more than enough", it needs High Performance mode with the fan blasting for a lot of games and even then it gets up to 90°C+ and drains battery like crazy. Could certainly stand to benefit from a more efficient chip, a better cooling solution, or both.
I just got into emulation and started with a miyoo mini plus. I’m getting the RP4 Pro bc it will suit my needs as a HH and a console for me and my kids ( lite use as a console). Love the videos and thank you for doing them.
Yeah never again retro pocket 5 is literally probably less than 4 months away😂😂😂😂 don't waste your time with these I'll never again give this company money after this should they pull with retropocket 3 the pro comes out 4 months later but what the uck
Yep, I totally get that, and Retroid has owned up to their mistake of releasing the RP3+ so quickly after the RP3. And for what it's worth, they did wait 14 months between the RP3+ and the RP4/Pro (with the RP Flip and RP2S in between). But I agree that they lost many customers after that last debacle in 2022. Many of these companies release too many devices at once -- for example, in that same 14-month period, Anbernic released 10 different devices. It's hard for regular buyers to figure out which one is best for them, since the game is always changing!
100% agree thanks for the response man I think I made a mistake anyways by buying the Retro pocket 3 16x9 I should have gone with a 4x3 system since I already have a steam Deck@@RetroGameCorps
@@VSMOKE1 I have to disagree with both of you. Retroid was in the process of getting acquired by AYN after the release of the RP2+. And that specific device was the best in its category for a long time. The RP3 itself was delayed, it was supposed to be released about 9 months ago. But management change and technical issues caused it to be delayed. The new management was ticked off. So they scrambled to fix it, which they did with their software updates. But also with the release of the RP3+, and that was actually brought early. Overall, Retroid didn't really lose many customers. This is still a new market, it has just been growing since 2019. Another point is that the RP3, for all its faults, was actually the best device to buy during it's time. Even Taki regrets his reaction to it. I think Anbernic is really difficult to recommend. If its cheap, sure, there's not much expectation on the device. But they are a subsidiary of PowKiddy, and they sell their handhelds at a healthy markup. But their roots go back to copying and stealing from other companies. Retroid is not that. They were just a small rag-tag group that is international based, and haven't changed from their roots. Retroid have merely improved in time, and the new funding from AYN has been a net positive. Anbernic really has been trailing behind them overall. The Retroid Pocket 2+ to the 4 Pro are the best handhelds that money can buy, that are POCKETABLE. There are a few Anbernic units that have advantages BUT these occupy a different market segment of PORTABLE. It is the difference between an iPhone Max versus an iPad Mini, as an analogy. A device that is small enough can be taken outdoors in a pinch and enjoyed anywhere. A larger device is enjoyed indoors, like your bed or lounge room, and if taken somewhere it would require a backpack. That is bad news, because we have the AYN Odin2 existing. And I don't even recommend that, I tell people to skip the AYN Odin2 and get the RP4+ instead as the better ARM Handheld. Or better yet, for the same price get yourself a v1 cheap Valve SteamDeck. Or save up a little more for the SteamDeck OLED. Or even better spring for the ASUS ROG Ally, since these are device for tinkerers and enthusiasts. For the layman who doesn't want to mess with Settings, there is always the NSwitch lineup of devices. And if you're really dedicated to the cause, have a solution like this: buy a Google Pixel 8 Pro, 1TB space, and mod the heck out of it (root, EvoX ROM, or GrapheneOS). And slap it into a special case designed for the Samsung Note 9, and attach the Razer JungleCat to it. You can detach the controllers, put them together, and slide them into one pocket. The phone in the case goes into another pocket. Truly a next level form of gaming. The biggest issues come from the phone being consumer hostile: no microSD slot, no AUX Port, no User Removable Battery, no Front-firing stereo loudspeakers, etc etc. Also the chipset is not efficient, nor fast, and lacks the custom drivers/special sauce of Snapdragon chipsets. You can do the above solution with a Samsung S24+ as it also fits, but rather pricey. And there is the Sony Xperia 1 mk V, but you'll have to 3D-Print your own JungleCat case for it. There is also the Samsung xCover 6 Pro, one of the best devices out there. I mentioned the Pixel 8 Pro because it already has a case, and I do value the (custom) software aspect, since the industry has gone backwards: too many Ads, too many issues, loss of privacy, etc etc. "Road Warrior" is the term some people use. Ages ago it was with a Nokia phone (eg 3315) and a Game Boy Color. Then upgraded (6800) and Gameboy Advance. Then maybe something like the Samsung D600 and Gameboy SP for those small pockets. Next evolution came with the likes of PDAs like the HTC TyTN II and the Nintendo DS Lite, a combination like that. Then it would have to be the PSP (Slim/Brite) with maybe the iPhone (3GS) around that era. That stayed as a formidable combination. Maybe until with the new3DS and Samsung NOTE. I would then say it was the PS Vita Slim (hacked) and the Samsung Note 4-Exynos. The common theme here is that all of these combinations have been pocket friendly. My last combination was along the lines of a Retroid Pocket (3 or higher) combined with an iPhone Mini (12/13) to hit TWO ecosystems, and to separate business from entertainment device-wise. Those who carry a backpack always had a different lifestyle and option. Namely, it was from carrying around a Bluetooth Controller, like the DS3, and pairing that with your laptop, tablet, or phone. They had ancient options with the Zaurus, OQO, and VAIO range of UMPCs. They've had other options too, like say the phenomenal Sega Nomad. Or having XL versions of the DS/3DS. And things kept alive with the early GPD devices. The release of the original SteamDeck was the start of the current era for the Backpackers. But you can appreciate how these are actually vastly different and distinct categories of devices, people, and use-cases. The next step down are Keyring level, where devices are ultra small and ultra light. Whilst the next step up is the un-portables like those big, thick and heavy notebooks, a very distinct usecase compared to say the smallest iPads. Or a full-step up to non-portable category like a Desktop PC. Just to illustrate why these category distinctions exist. Hence why you should compare the Miyoo Mini to the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, but you should NOT compare it to the new Anbernic RG 556. You should compare the new Anbernic to the likes of the AYN Odin2, ASUS ROG Ally, and Valve SteamDeck, since all of these devices are fighting each other to be the one that goes into your backpack. The former devices were fighting to be the one that slides in your pocket. As explained above, distinct product segments, as that size matters.
Appreciate the review, gotta ask, were you using high performance with ps2, wii and gc? A $50 difference is a lot more in other countries than in the USA and some others. That would cost me an additional $67cdn so instead of $150/$202cdn to a $200/$269cdn is a big diff.
Hey Russ thanks for the review. Are you sure that the ghosting is only happening in the menu's because I've noticed it ingame as well especially on 2D android games. Also the color saturation is really off and there are microstutters on my rp4pro which I heard were due to vsync issues.
Retroid announced a patch coming after Chinese New Years break that addresses some screen issues due to Mediatek drivers. They mentioned the ghosting a vsync issue specifically too.
Lol i have mine and the shit wont even stop crashing my android games so...its pretty useless atm smh good job,retroid Update:all it took was a script to fix it 💀
I don't regret preordering the Odin 2 2 weeks ago when you announced it. I, for one, am fed up of getting the "nearly good enough" handhelds just because they cost "slightly less".
You both misunderstood me. I am aware how much they cost and what's on the table. In the 5" sphere there is no better option than a RP, but I'm not looking for a 5" screen. In the realm of 6"+ screen there isn't a better piece for the price of 300 bucks, and what Odin 2 does in the realm of emulation at that price point is unparalleled. Bear in mind I am in Europe, and all of the ROGs, Decks and sum such cost way more than what you, I assume US folks, are paying for yours. So, once again, for 300 total I paid for Odin 2 with discount code and shipping included, I would otherwise get jack sh*t. And that RP 4 Pro would cost me like 50 less with everything included (in this case), so I call it a win in my book.
For me, my issue with retroid is the screen. That thing SUCKS in comparison to litterally any modern smartphone and most modern displays. Its dim, it ghosts a ton, anything near black gets crushed so you cant see anything, general picture quality is absolutely poor. The iphone 6 came out nearly a decade ago. Its time to move onto something more modern. At these prices, its more than possible to do better.
Already got RP4 Pro, my main complain is the screen just like you said, but it doesnt effect my gameplay. The RP3+ screen still better. Hope with the future update retroid can fix the issue and add color profile, because i like cool color profile like RP3+ does. About $50 more, i satisfy with it. RP4 Pro can emulate switch game what i want to play.
Retroid is on Chinese new year until the 19th, they've been that way for 2 weeks. Don't expect much for support or even fast orders any time soon. just a heads up!
I got the 4pro and I’m extremely satisfied with it, totally worth it got what I need. I also keep mine like almost exclusively docked using a switch pro controller and it works perfectly for me.
I've really appreciated these videos. I hadn't purchased any of these handhelds over the last few years as I've been holding out for one that could handle GC, PS2, and 3DS very well. I really wanted to like the Retroid Pocket 4, because I have a weird attachment to the name 'Pocket' because the Game Boy Pocket was my first handheld growing up. But after watching all of these videos over the last few months, I finally decided on the Odin 2 and now I'm just waiting for mine to ship. I ordered the clear purple one, but I would've preferred if they had the clear teal that the Pocket 4 Pro has, because that looks awesome.
The Odin 2 is amazing in pretty much all areas. I love my Odin 2 Max very much at home. The only 2 areas that made me decide to buy the 4 pro as well are because of the pocketibility and location of the dpad for retro gaming, which Russ mentioned here and in other reviews as well.
@@jakesmith5278 it's funny, despite the fact that the GB Pocket was my first handheld, I've never been the type to pocket my games. Even as a kid I've always despised putting anything bigger than my house keys in my pockets. I just carry around a bag with me so if I'm bringing my game with me, I just shove it in there. The main thing that made me take the Odin 2 was just that it appears to run the 3DS games a bit better than the Pocket, and I'm looking to actually get rid of my 3DS once I receive my unit. The other was just the ergonomics. Because the grips are built into the unit, the cases made for the Odin 2 accommodate that. Whereas with the Pocket, since the grip is a detachable, separate piece, the case is made for the unit without its grip. Both of these nitpicks seem silly to me considering the price difference, but I think the extra power behind the Odin 2 will leave me with less buyer's remorse.
@@BBB_bbb_BBBDo NOT sell your 3ds unless you're hurting for cash because those things are expensive now! I have grips for my 3ds and it's much more enjoyable. Also you made the right choice if pocketability and portability isn't that important to you. For my the RP4 Pro is just small enough for me to not carry a backpack all the time I want a gaming device on my person.
I feel like the 4 has a good market in people who already have a Steam Deck or ROG Ally and want a smaller secondary device that's a little more pocketable. Like, for higher end GameCube/PS2 emulation, I would probably prefer the Steam Deck's larger screen on the whole... But something like the Retroid Pocket 4 would be perfect for SNES, Genesis, GBA, PS1, etc., games that don't necessarily need quite as big a screen to be enjoyable, and easier to pull out for a quick session on my lunch break at work or something. To me, GameCube and PS2 are more nice-to-have than necessary given I already have a steam deck, so saving the 50 bucks could be worth it. Obviously that's not the case for everyone but I think it will be for a lot of people.
I have an Ally... I got the 4 pro to play PS2/GameCube... My ally is for PS360/PC and the rest of switch the 4p cannot do... (Bayonetta, No More Heroes 3, Dragon Quest 11...)
unfortunately, the pockets on most women's pants are only large enough for an early 00's flip phone at best. Pocketable turned into 'pocket-book-able' in my case... in which case i have my switch lite (or oled if i can get it from my boyfriend), Oukitel 8" ruggedized waterproof tablet, and my gamepad for my cellphone that is one of those 'case around the phone' deals and makes me remember why i haven't gotten one of these yet, though i still want one of course!
Yeah i got it running but you cant use the skateboard in the town and reverse quick action sometimes gliches out. Theres definitely some bugs but if you're good with quick saves you can play the whole thing.
Yeah. The RP4 is in a weird spot. Usability-wise, this is still very similar to the RP3+ which is even better in some aspects like the screen, for en even lower price now. And if you want to upgrade from a 3+, it has to be the 4 Pro.
Great review! I actually ordered the RP4 Pro a month ago and it is arriving soon this week. I figured the extra $50 is well worth that extra power. can't wait to finally set it up and try it out! Being able to comfortably play many GameCube and PS2 games on a pocketable device was a huge draw for me. I've been waiting for a retro handheld device like this for awhile! It seems Retroid has set the bar pretty high here!
I really love your videos! I actually got the Pro version of the RP4 and your starter guide was really helpful! What I can't figure out however is how to set up the Wii IR thing. It seems that dolphin changed a lot in version 5, so a lot of tutorials simply don't work anymore. Is it possible that you include the setup steps for Dolphin in your tutorial or on your written guide? I'd love to use it with the touchscreen of the RP4 but with the right analogue stick would be okay as well :)
They should have try to price this down abit ($139?) or use maybe a different chip abit closer to the d1100. Still a decent product overall, but then considering the Odin Lite got into hands of buyers more than a year ago (even after the delay) with the same chip, a larger 6 inch screen and battery for $199 does dampen the "wow factor" abit, and of course their own RP4 Pro does the same thing.
The screen is iPhone 6 correct? That’s why it ghosts. The iPhone 6 screens definitely all did that eventually. I still own my iPhone 6 and it lies around but still turns on and the ghosting is pretty bad
The same issue doesn't happen on the rp3+ which supposedly uses the same screen. I am debating whether I want to sell my rp4pro and keep my rp3+ tbh. The ghosting is that bad.
@@plim-sj6jvsome people have reported plugging their RP4 to the tv and the ghosting still being visible. If that’s true then it could all be a software issue which could be patched in the future.
Does anyone have the same Wild Life Stress Test scores for the original Steam Deck, Ally, etc.? Trying to compare a few more to those mentioned here, regardless of price.
Now I'm wondering where the RG556 lies compared to BOTH the RP4 and RP4 Pro - is the performance difference justifying its price relative to the Retroids, or is it just the superior ergonomics and screen that'll have to sway my decision...?
"I had the same hesitation as you, but the Retroid's joysticks are really better, and the overall quality is superior. I wanted to get the RG556 to stream cloud games, but with the average quality joysticks, I think I'll lean towards the Retroid 4pro
If you prefer a larger screen and more ergonomic/comfortable feel, than go for the RG556. You will be basically paying $35 more for the better screen, ergonomics as the performance is the same as the D900/RP4. If you want the best performance/dollar, the RP4 Pro, or if PS2/GC/Wii is your main interest as the chip is capable of running a very large portion of the library at 2x and higher (though no point going above 2x with the screen) , including stuff like of God of War 2 that cannot even run at 1x full speed on the RP4/RG556 without enabling hacks/accuracy impacting tweaks. RP4 if you want the cheapest, happy with decent but not great performance for ps2/gc/wii. Still runs older systems (except saturn) perfectly at >= the resolution of the screen, and having dpad on top if that is important for you.
@@samhuang683 Oh, I always prefer Xbox/GC-style offset sticks, as my main focus is racing games, but I'm also an extremely cheap bastard, so if there's really no performance advantage with the RG556 over the base RP4, I'd rather save $35, though more likely, I'll just save all my money, and continue to wait for more/better options...
I find it crazy, Americans complaining about price, yet here in the uk, were roped off left right and centre for the same product. Rp4p 200 bucks, uk £250 if you're lucky. Same with every product.
Great video as always but I see that you are not mentioning anything about the Android version. With A11, there's no support for controller mode with the built in controller. Many games like Honkai Star Rail required the built in controller to be recognized as wireless Xbox controller to be supported on the controller mode. On Odin 2 and RP4P, this won't be a problem due its Android version,
When the fps counter shows 58fps and then alternates with 62fps, that's fine, is a problem with the counting algorithm, because a 62fps simply can't exist. A different matter is when it shows consistent 58fps, that's under-power. How this algorithms works, to get a persistent 60fps you need plenty of wait time.
Still it's not what i call a gamecube/ ps2 era platform yet, so i don't see the point to update from RP3+ to this. Unless in some month, we see a huge optimization step specifically for this device. Now i wonder if it's even possible to do better this year, for this pricetag/ size with actual hardware?
As someone who's just now getting into retro handhelds and trying to decide which one to buy, it seems to me that all the developers came together and made a deal to release products that all have at least one thing wrong with them, so that you'll buy all of them.
I just picked up a retoid pocket 3 plus for $100. It came with lots of extra goodies (a case, 512 gb sd card, 2 128 gb sd cards, 2 nice grips, hall sticks, and 2 sets of headphones), and i feel like I got a good deal. i was working with a rg350 , so i feel like it's an awesome upgrade. I'm in the mindset that just because the new hotness came out, the pocket 3+ is still a great device. The next handheld i get will definitely be the 4 pro or if something comes out that's more powerful than that, ill grab it instead. I'm definitely happy with the 3 pro though. For $100, i feel like I got a pretty good deal. Any input? Did i get a good deal?
I got a good deal with my RP3+, $120 with grip and case. Still in the process of setting it up, I like it. Thinking about the 4, but the display and triggers bothers me. If I get it, I dont want my RP3+ to get neglected.
Man here in the Philippines the RP4 Base w shipping costs ALMOST as much as a RP4 Pro w free shipping online (without games) 28 whole dollars shipping, damn!
My output via hdmi went pink on the red version, i think they rushed this device i went live doing some game testing last night and it was impressive for the price but definitely dont expect high end switch if at all any switch.
You talk about looking at the Odin 2 but for me in Canada and we look at some systems based off price to performance. The RP 3+ is $170 plus shipping. The RP 4 is 201 Plus shipping. The RP Pro is $268 plus shipping. The Odin 2 is 403 plus shipping. The Steam Deck 64 GB - Valve Certified Refurbished is $349 I think included shipping if you can find them and the Steam Deck 64GB LCD is $439. I can not see in any case buying the Odin 2 when you can get a brand new steam deck for 39 more dollars or a Refurbished deck for 50 dollars cheaper. Based of my look at the pricing to performance Something like the RP4 for 200 or look at the Refurbished Deck for 150 more. I can not see in any case where you buy the Odin 2. IMO its pricing is just just does not make sense when the deck is that cheap. Maybe am missing something as I do not have all these systems to test side by side and maybe the side plays a factor. Be cool if you made a video breaking all the systems down price to performance for retro gaming and Game Streaming.
It depends what you want to play. I've got both. The Deck will of course play newer gens of retro games, PC games, and it has awesome controls, and superb speakers. If you are playing up to GameCube/PS2 however, it does have its shortcomings compared to the Odin 2. The Deck's screen quality, and battery life are a step below. Moreover, it feels like it's double the size and slightly inconvenient when playing, especially when you have to plug in the charger because the battery drains too fast.
Pretty lousy power comparison. I want to see FPS differences in gamecube and ps2. I dont care what the gpu score is. I want to know fps percentage. The pro version is 25 percent better. Are the fps 25 percent better. You FAILED to answer that.
I would say this product is awesome if I had it. But I don't, because my goddamn fucking stupid mailman misplaced it. Emailed retroid pocket about the situation, and demanded either a refund or have another one shipped. But nothing. So fuck this goddamn company.
Guys, please up vote this so he can see it.
Just a friendly tip for running games at full speed on Aethersx2 : You need to start the game, then go into settings, find the advanced section, and disable memory wrapping. In the graphics settings : Hardware Mode setting, select Unsynchronized. With these changes, games like Dragon Quest VIII which had massive slowdown in the town areas were running at the full 60fps even at 2x resolution on my Fire Max 11 tablet. You don't need to underclock or overclock.
Watched this on my phone to screen shot this comment 😂
Better way to fix it... Use Nethersx2
Oooo I'm going to try this on my Odin2!!!!
I don’t blame him for this oversight mistake, honestly the modifying hacking on emulators can be convoluted for many people. It may be a bit of a pain to reconfigure the settings again for a different game.
I don’t see any of these settings, is there something I’m missing? I’m using Aethersx2 3668
5:10 That's a common artifact on some IPS panels. IPS is great for the price, better black levels and much better viewing angles than TN, less bleed than VA usually has, but the ghosting which is sometimes tinted is a rather noticeable tradeoff.
Retro is actually the fucking GOAT. I have been searching for the past couple of days for a normal RP4 review and none have appeared..... thank you.
D900 is a great chipset. With the grip and screen protector its $187 shipped. For the Rp4p it's $237 shipped. Imo I'd rather save $50, unless you really want switch emulation the non pro is fine.
I wish it wasn't so damn expensive to import those handhelds to Brazil. Would gladly pay for an Odin 2 if I wasn't going to be taxed 80% more because of customs.
Well if you get the 4 pro it'll still be cheaper than the Odin 2 😆
You could try to find someone online who frequently goes to Brazil, at best a relative you can trust. Who buys it outside and just travels with it back to Brazil to give it to you. Obviously it's not that easy to accomplish but I had an online friend in the US who would frequently carry me stuff to the UK and then send it inside the EU which goes around customs. Doesn't work any more due to Brexit but if you can find a trustful person and have the money I would try it.
D-pad on top so far so good...
I would love if they did something like the KT-R1 and give us an option to get the D-pad at the bottom, this thing is really powerful and given it's power and game streaming, I think the d-pad at the bottom would be great for some folks out there.
@@KyleRuggles I'd like to see something in the future where it's like the Switch and they just send 2 "joycons" along. Interchangeable D-pad/stick on top.
I think if this was like, $120 instead of $150 it would be nuts. But at $150 besides the shipping you're probably already paying, you might as well save up the extra bit and get the pro.
Agreed! Alternatively, if it was $150 but shipping included everywhere (or like almost everywhere / very cheap shipping). But yea I agree. Even 130 would already almost there.
Yes, $129 would be the sweet spot.
Too cheap, especially for the Chipset. They wouldn't be able to accomplish that goal without cutting a significant amount of corners. Do you really want this Handheld to drop to Powkiddy levels of build quality.
By that logic, you might as well save up a bit more and get the Odin 2 instead. Power doesn’t come without a cost, and the Odin 2’s big battery will serve those with such needs far better. At a certain point, the performance is “good enough” for a user’s needs. If one is willing to accept the dreaded native resolution, and experience GC/PS2 as they were in a pocketable device, then this is a marked and budget friendly improvement over the beloved RP3+ in every way.
If this was 120, people will be like "the pro is almost twice the price, are they nuts"
Yeah, it would be great, but that's not how things work. For 120 you get 353 series of anbernik...you want more you pay more.
The rg556 cost more although it's slightly lower perf. So if we drop the same screen it would have costed 150 as well. The Odin light is another point of reference.
120 although great price, is kind of ridiculous as well.
Retroid Pocket 4 is my PSP replacement. The price, performance and build quality... $150 is a steal
That's a great way to game with this device. For me I have my Odin as my Nintendo PSP.
How’s the fan noise? I was considering the 4 Pro but wouldn’t like the noise on that unit.
@@johnathanchittuluru4131 High-end emulations like 3DS, Wii, Gamecube, Playstation 2, you'll definitely notice fan noise but anything below... not so much
interesting, the vita was my psp replacement (especially because of adrenaline adding psp directly into the vita)
the rp4 pro is my vita replacement
For sure and its fast as a pixel 6. Can be used a subsitute for phone, fo watching netflix, and videos too.
Russ: "This is going to be a quick review..."
Me: *raises eyebrow and checks the run time*
I love when reviewers truly enjoy to talk about the devices.
He treats us so good.
25 minutes is fairly quick for russ
@@jesusmetal92107 It's true!
Haha! But I still prefer Russ' in depth review rather than those 10 minutes overview videos.
Retroid Pocket 4: The best advertisement for the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro.
you say that but i fear many will be the rp4 not understanding the difference
@@nefariou5 I imagine some might. Some people don't even know what it does when they see it. It if your an informed consumer and you know what you're about to drop 150-200 bucks, you're probably going to think "why would I buy the lesser model?"
Or for the RG556.Only $20 more for 1080p AMOLED screen, great speakers and ergonomics is an amazing deal
@@azenyrthat one that fits in a pocket 🙄🤡
you really think the rg556 is better?@@azenyr
"Even though I have seen comments like that on Reddit, which is a super positive place to hang out." 😂😂 God I love this channel. Thank you as always for your excellent work, sir.
"Hey, what's that thing sticking out in your pants!?"
"Oh, this? Just my analogue stick"
Analogue stick.
Aka
Joystick
alr bruh😭😭😭
9:13 - Actually, 3x resolution isn't 720p. The PSP screen resolution is 480x272, which means a 3x scale would get you 1440x816, which is higher than the 750p screen on the Pocket 4. But it's good to know everything can run at 4x anyway, just for some extra clarity and supersampling.
Correct! Same for PS2 in a way, 2X doesn't mean the same on every game.
Good point, thanks!
I'm getting this over the pro because i already have a steam deck and want something less precious/expensive that literally fits in my pocket. This fits that niche perfectly. I feel like 200$ is about the limit where i start to treat a thing with kid gloves.
Lol same I want something I can bring with me and not have to worry about breaking or getting stolen. Ever since I got my steam deck dock I just use it like a console on the tv with a PS5 controller.
A battery life test with other handhelds specially the pocket 4 pro would have been interesting. If a handheld for 50 dollar less gave me much better battery life that can still play most retro games than one with just better performance i would probably choose one with better battery life.
I agree! Battery Life is always a priority in a Handheld!
I appreciate how he always puts size comparisons up. Not only does it help see screen sizes, but you can gauge how well the ergonomics will be for different games.
I was literally a day away from ordering a 3plus before they announced the 4 and 4pro. I happily waited and greatly enjoy the 4pro
As opposed to figuratively?
$50 is a lot of money to some people, 51% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
Yeah man those people should not be buying that for sure
In terms of the price difference being only $50 between the 4 and 4+, that may not be completely true depending on where you are. Here in the UK, at current exchange rates, you won't currently pay import duty on the 4, but you will on the 4+. I think that adds 20% to the cost of the 4+ (I think it's 20% but I'm far from expert about the duty rates). Some other European countries, for example, are likely to be affected similarly.
Just pointing this out to bear in mind for anyone in the same boat, as I was thinking of buying one or the other soon, but this extra cost (and hassle) for the 4+ is making me lean towards the 4.
People tend to forget the RP4 non-pro plays many GC and PS2 games with infinitely less slowdown than the original consoles.
I bought the 4 Pro to replace my 3+ and it's been fine for the most part. I definitely consider it be worth 50 USD increase for the D1100 chip, 8 gigs of RAMs and Android 13 versus 11. A base Odin 2 would've been the future proof and superior option at 300 USD, but I want the best device that I would be realistically stick into a pair of pants or a jacket.
I've just seen a lot of inconsistency with the mediatek D11000 if you look at the benchmarks the stability on the D9000 is remarkably sound but then again it's an objective opinion on what you want the best performance Android games can run a more consistent frame rate although the snapdragon 865 is the best you can get
I'd never thought I'd say this on one of your videos Russ, but it almost sounds like you were making excuses for Retroids obvious quality control issues...this is far from the first time Retroid has had pretty serious issues (bad screens and again triggers on their previous series). I honestly don't care to wait weeks for something to be delivered to fix something that shouldn't have happened in the first place. And the screen on this series already showed issues with the ones you reviewers received (they claimed it was fixed...apparently not seeing the blurring here). This company does not deserve to be coddled, they are a business and they need to be held to the same standards as any other business you give your hard earned money to. If more reviewers nailed them they'd have no recourse but to fix their poor quality image by making better products or they fade away.
This isn't Amazon, waiting on parts can take a good long time, and if you're in a country that charges VAT/taxes on importing (England, etc.) it's not a "free" fix, they're still paying for it...again.
This doesn't mean other makers are perfect either, but for some reason I can't understand, Retroid seems to get a pass on this often and it needs to stop. They do not deserve it.
This may be the ONLY Rp4 review out there! 😮
just said the same, no one purchased this model lol
@@goissilva yup, I don't see the appeal when it's only $50 for a much better version, but not everyone have extra $50 at the time.
The problem is that this model started shipping much later... and Retroid is also slow to ship.
@@goissilvathe base RP4 review models are just now getting into creators hands. It was sold after the RP4 Pro and won't ship to retail buyers until after Chinese New Years break.
@@phinyo2066 and is not worth
But for a bit more you got the pro,
but for a bit more you got the odin,
but for a bit more you got the steam Deck,
but for a bit more you got a gaming PC
But for a bit more you got a used sedan
@@jasonalec6573
😂
How much "bit more" is the eternal question though...
@@SicketMog it's a known marketing strategy, forgot the name. Apple devices for instance, you can get the cheap one, but it lacks enough storage, so you consider the same model with more storage, but for a bit more you get the pro, but not enough storage now, so you get the one above, and suddenly you spent double you intended to
I think the limit would be whether you'll pocket the device or use a travel case.
I wasn’t told to grab a snack. I almost didn’t make it.
Still think RG556 is better. I got RP3+ and RG405M at the same time and the RG performed way better with what I wanted to play. I honestly regret buying RP3+. I already ordered RG566 and will most likely not buy a RP4P
You can see in your video that the Retroid Pocket 4 has the same juddering issue that the Retroid Pocket 4 pro has.. what a disappointment 🙁 Hopefully Retroid will fix this in a firmware update.
A little clarification on PAL versions of games:
PAL versions of games are the European versions of a game. This means they're subject to different laws and customs that could lead to the game being different in some way. Usually, this is just a name change because a game's name in the North American market might mean something bad in another culture. For example, in the UK, the GBA game Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure was changed to Crash Bandicoot XS.
But sometimes it's much more substantial, so it's important to keep this in mind when considering using the PAL version of a given game.
Friends please help me I am looking for a gaming handheld which can play PS2 games easily. walked
The answer is always Odin 2
@@Bugside Maybe you are right, I was thinking of buying this but I was confused.
@@sonumalik.. The odin 2 at the moment is the cheapest android handheld that'll run pretty much all PS2 without configuring anything
Watch his videos. ^_^
I think we have basically reached the endgame with these retro handhelds, I don't see how much they can improve from stable GC/PS2 emulation without going into handheld PC territory
pocketable x86 device would be nice, though not sure if possible hardware wise
@@ExplicitniceNot possible, X86 Chipset's generate too much heat to be crammed into a Pocketable Handheld device.
That's what Odin 2 is in my opinion, it's limited only by the software and optimization. If a PS3/360 emulator ever comes to Android, Odin 2 should handle it well especially considering it can handle a lot of beefy Switch games.
The only thing that will change PS2 emulaton is an emulator that was sabotaged and abandoned.. the 4 pro has more than enough power
@@fillerbunnyninjashark271Idk about "more than enough", it needs High Performance mode with the fan blasting for a lot of games and even then it gets up to 90°C+ and drains battery like crazy. Could certainly stand to benefit from a more efficient chip, a better cooling solution, or both.
Hey Russ, how's the battery life 4 vs Pro emulating the same game?
4 lasts longer because weaker power, if pro was managed better it would last longer.
I just got into emulation and started with a miyoo mini plus. I’m getting the RP4 Pro bc it will suit my needs as a HH and a console for me and my kids ( lite use as a console). Love the videos and thank you for doing them.
The only thing that i don't like from retroid is the shipping cost to México. 40-50 dollars, that's a dealbreaker.
Yeah never again retro pocket 5 is literally probably less than 4 months away😂😂😂😂 don't waste your time with these I'll never again give this company money after this should they pull with retropocket 3 the pro comes out 4 months later but what the uck
Yep, I totally get that, and Retroid has owned up to their mistake of releasing the RP3+ so quickly after the RP3. And for what it's worth, they did wait 14 months between the RP3+ and the RP4/Pro (with the RP Flip and RP2S in between). But I agree that they lost many customers after that last debacle in 2022. Many of these companies release too many devices at once -- for example, in that same 14-month period, Anbernic released 10 different devices. It's hard for regular buyers to figure out which one is best for them, since the game is always changing!
100% agree thanks for the response man I think I made a mistake anyways by buying the Retro pocket 3 16x9 I should have gone with a 4x3 system since I already have a steam Deck@@RetroGameCorps
@@VSMOKE1 I have to disagree with both of you. Retroid was in the process of getting acquired by AYN after the release of the RP2+. And that specific device was the best in its category for a long time. The RP3 itself was delayed, it was supposed to be released about 9 months ago. But management change and technical issues caused it to be delayed. The new management was ticked off. So they scrambled to fix it, which they did with their software updates. But also with the release of the RP3+, and that was actually brought early.
Overall, Retroid didn't really lose many customers. This is still a new market, it has just been growing since 2019.
Another point is that the RP3, for all its faults, was actually the best device to buy during it's time. Even Taki regrets his reaction to it.
I think Anbernic is really difficult to recommend. If its cheap, sure, there's not much expectation on the device. But they are a subsidiary of PowKiddy, and they sell their handhelds at a healthy markup. But their roots go back to copying and stealing from other companies. Retroid is not that. They were just a small rag-tag group that is international based, and haven't changed from their roots. Retroid have merely improved in time, and the new funding from AYN has been a net positive. Anbernic really has been trailing behind them overall.
The Retroid Pocket 2+ to the 4 Pro are the best handhelds that money can buy, that are POCKETABLE. There are a few Anbernic units that have advantages BUT these occupy a different market segment of PORTABLE. It is the difference between an iPhone Max versus an iPad Mini, as an analogy. A device that is small enough can be taken outdoors in a pinch and enjoyed anywhere. A larger device is enjoyed indoors, like your bed or lounge room, and if taken somewhere it would require a backpack. That is bad news, because we have the AYN Odin2 existing. And I don't even recommend that, I tell people to skip the AYN Odin2 and get the RP4+ instead as the better ARM Handheld. Or better yet, for the same price get yourself a v1 cheap Valve SteamDeck. Or save up a little more for the SteamDeck OLED. Or even better spring for the ASUS ROG Ally, since these are device for tinkerers and enthusiasts. For the layman who doesn't want to mess with Settings, there is always the NSwitch lineup of devices.
And if you're really dedicated to the cause, have a solution like this: buy a Google Pixel 8 Pro, 1TB space, and mod the heck out of it (root, EvoX ROM, or GrapheneOS). And slap it into a special case designed for the Samsung Note 9, and attach the Razer JungleCat to it. You can detach the controllers, put them together, and slide them into one pocket. The phone in the case goes into another pocket. Truly a next level form of gaming. The biggest issues come from the phone being consumer hostile: no microSD slot, no AUX Port, no User Removable Battery, no Front-firing stereo loudspeakers, etc etc. Also the chipset is not efficient, nor fast, and lacks the custom drivers/special sauce of Snapdragon chipsets. You can do the above solution with a Samsung S24+ as it also fits, but rather pricey. And there is the Sony Xperia 1 mk V, but you'll have to 3D-Print your own JungleCat case for it. There is also the Samsung xCover 6 Pro, one of the best devices out there. I mentioned the Pixel 8 Pro because it already has a case, and I do value the (custom) software aspect, since the industry has gone backwards: too many Ads, too many issues, loss of privacy, etc etc.
"Road Warrior" is the term some people use. Ages ago it was with a Nokia phone (eg 3315) and a Game Boy Color. Then upgraded (6800) and Gameboy Advance. Then maybe something like the Samsung D600 and Gameboy SP for those small pockets. Next evolution came with the likes of PDAs like the HTC TyTN II and the Nintendo DS Lite, a combination like that. Then it would have to be the PSP (Slim/Brite) with maybe the iPhone (3GS) around that era. That stayed as a formidable combination. Maybe until with the new3DS and Samsung NOTE. I would then say it was the PS Vita Slim (hacked) and the Samsung Note 4-Exynos. The common theme here is that all of these combinations have been pocket friendly. My last combination was along the lines of a Retroid Pocket (3 or higher) combined with an iPhone Mini (12/13) to hit TWO ecosystems, and to separate business from entertainment device-wise.
Those who carry a backpack always had a different lifestyle and option. Namely, it was from carrying around a Bluetooth Controller, like the DS3, and pairing that with your laptop, tablet, or phone. They had ancient options with the Zaurus, OQO, and VAIO range of UMPCs. They've had other options too, like say the phenomenal Sega Nomad. Or having XL versions of the DS/3DS. And things kept alive with the early GPD devices. The release of the original SteamDeck was the start of the current era for the Backpackers. But you can appreciate how these are actually vastly different and distinct categories of devices, people, and use-cases. The next step down are Keyring level, where devices are ultra small and ultra light. Whilst the next step up is the un-portables like those big, thick and heavy notebooks, a very distinct usecase compared to say the smallest iPads. Or a full-step up to non-portable category like a Desktop PC. Just to illustrate why these category distinctions exist. Hence why you should compare the Miyoo Mini to the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, but you should NOT compare it to the new Anbernic RG 556. You should compare the new Anbernic to the likes of the AYN Odin2, ASUS ROG Ally, and Valve SteamDeck, since all of these devices are fighting each other to be the one that goes into your backpack. The former devices were fighting to be the one that slides in your pocket. As explained above, distinct product segments, as that size matters.
Appreciate the review, gotta ask, were you using high performance with ps2, wii and gc?
A $50 difference is a lot more in other countries than in the USA and some others. That would cost me an additional $67cdn so instead of $150/$202cdn to a $200/$269cdn is a big diff.
Yes, I was in high performance mode with Saturn and beyond. That’s a good point that conversion rates might make the $50USD more significant!
Ahh thanks Russ! @@RetroGameCorps
Hey Russ thanks for the review. Are you sure that the ghosting is only happening in the menu's because I've noticed it ingame as well especially on 2D android games. Also the color saturation is really off and there are microstutters on my rp4pro which I heard were due to vsync issues.
I have ghosting on my Pro and I'm waiting for an update that hopefully mitigates it.
Retroid announced a patch coming after Chinese New Years break that addresses some screen issues due to Mediatek drivers. They mentioned the ghosting a vsync issue specifically too.
It seems strange that none of the reviews seem to mention the vsync issue, its even noticeable in this review.
Lol i have mine and the shit wont even stop crashing my android games so...its pretty useless atm smh good job,retroid
Update:all it took was a script to fix it 💀
How’d you do it ?
What script are you referring to?
I don't regret preordering the Odin 2 2 weeks ago when you announced it. I, for one, am fed up of getting the "nearly good enough" handhelds just because they cost "slightly less".
odin 2 max or a handheld pc if you want “the best” i guess
@@boney-jonie can't beat the price on the base for what you get. Otherwise I would've gone with a Steam Deck
the odin 2 is double the price of this, not slightly more
@@nefariou5 yes, and i’m saying that if you want the best, you’d probably get one that isn’t “slightly more”
You both misunderstood me. I am aware how much they cost and what's on the table. In the 5" sphere there is no better option than a RP, but I'm not looking for a 5" screen. In the realm of 6"+ screen there isn't a better piece for the price of 300 bucks, and what Odin 2 does in the realm of emulation at that price point is unparalleled. Bear in mind I am in Europe, and all of the ROGs, Decks and sum such cost way more than what you, I assume US folks, are paying for yours. So, once again, for 300 total I paid for Odin 2 with discount code and shipping included, I would otherwise get jack sh*t. And that RP 4 Pro would cost me like 50 less with everything included (in this case), so I call it a win in my book.
For me, my issue with retroid is the screen. That thing SUCKS in comparison to litterally any modern smartphone and most modern displays. Its dim, it ghosts a ton, anything near black gets crushed so you cant see anything, general picture quality is absolutely poor. The iphone 6 came out nearly a decade ago. Its time to move onto something more modern. At these prices, its more than possible to do better.
Already got RP4 Pro, my main complain is the screen just like you said, but it doesnt effect my gameplay.
The RP3+ screen still better. Hope with the future update retroid can fix the issue and add color profile, because i like cool color profile like RP3+ does.
About $50 more, i satisfy with it. RP4 Pro can emulate switch game what i want to play.
Retroid announced a patch coming after Chinese New Years that addresses some screen issues due to Mediatek drivers.
Cual es el problema de pantalla que tiene la retroid 4 pro?
I want to buy one, but it looks like it would take more time than it’s worth just to get all the emulators and roms on there😭😭
Retroid is on Chinese new year until the 19th, they've been that way for 2 weeks. Don't expect much for support or even fast orders any time soon. just a heads up!
I got the 4pro and I’m extremely satisfied with it, totally worth it got what I need. I also keep mine like almost exclusively docked using a switch pro controller and it works perfectly for me.
Why do that though? Why not just get a cheap PC that can play all the games this can play for cheaper?
@@craciunator99 or even a xbox series s.
This is my new favorite RUclips channel
I've really appreciated these videos. I hadn't purchased any of these handhelds over the last few years as I've been holding out for one that could handle GC, PS2, and 3DS very well. I really wanted to like the Retroid Pocket 4, because I have a weird attachment to the name 'Pocket' because the Game Boy Pocket was my first handheld growing up. But after watching all of these videos over the last few months, I finally decided on the Odin 2 and now I'm just waiting for mine to ship. I ordered the clear purple one, but I would've preferred if they had the clear teal that the Pocket 4 Pro has, because that looks awesome.
You made the right choice. Odin 2 is the end game for these devices right now and fully worth the price.
The Odin 2 is amazing in pretty much all areas. I love my Odin 2 Max very much at home. The only 2 areas that made me decide to buy the 4 pro as well are because of the pocketibility and location of the dpad for retro gaming, which Russ mentioned here and in other reviews as well.
@@jakesmith5278 it's funny, despite the fact that the GB Pocket was my first handheld, I've never been the type to pocket my games. Even as a kid I've always despised putting anything bigger than my house keys in my pockets. I just carry around a bag with me so if I'm bringing my game with me, I just shove it in there.
The main thing that made me take the Odin 2 was just that it appears to run the 3DS games a bit better than the Pocket, and I'm looking to actually get rid of my 3DS once I receive my unit. The other was just the ergonomics. Because the grips are built into the unit, the cases made for the Odin 2 accommodate that. Whereas with the Pocket, since the grip is a detachable, separate piece, the case is made for the unit without its grip. Both of these nitpicks seem silly to me considering the price difference, but I think the extra power behind the Odin 2 will leave me with less buyer's remorse.
@@BBB_bbb_BBBDo NOT sell your 3ds unless you're hurting for cash because those things are expensive now! I have grips for my 3ds and it's much more enjoyable.
Also you made the right choice if pocketability and portability isn't that important to you. For my the RP4 Pro is just small enough for me to not carry a backpack all the time I want a gaming device on my person.
I feel like the 4 has a good market in people who already have a Steam Deck or ROG Ally and want a smaller secondary device that's a little more pocketable. Like, for higher end GameCube/PS2 emulation, I would probably prefer the Steam Deck's larger screen on the whole... But something like the Retroid Pocket 4 would be perfect for SNES, Genesis, GBA, PS1, etc., games that don't necessarily need quite as big a screen to be enjoyable, and easier to pull out for a quick session on my lunch break at work or something.
To me, GameCube and PS2 are more nice-to-have than necessary given I already have a steam deck, so saving the 50 bucks could be worth it. Obviously that's not the case for everyone but I think it will be for a lot of people.
Then get the 2S if you gonna use it for PS1 and below, its even smaller.
I have an Ally... I got the 4 pro to play PS2/GameCube... My ally is for PS360/PC and the rest of switch the 4p cannot do... (Bayonetta, No More Heroes 3, Dragon Quest 11...)
unfortunately, the pockets on most women's pants are only large enough for an early 00's flip phone at best. Pocketable turned into 'pocket-book-able' in my case... in which case i have my switch lite (or oled if i can get it from my boyfriend), Oukitel 8" ruggedized waterproof tablet, and my gamepad for my cellphone that is one of those 'case around the phone' deals and makes me remember why i haven't gotten one of these yet, though i still want one of course!
Can this play the Nobody May cry Mod for Kingdom Hearts 2 well? Im considering this device but running this KH2 mod is a deciding factor
Yeah i got it running but you cant use the skateboard in the town and reverse quick action sometimes gliches out. Theres definitely some bugs but if you're good with quick saves you can play the whole thing.
@@hectora3998 thanks for the info you legend.
Yeah. The RP4 is in a weird spot. Usability-wise, this is still very similar to the RP3+ which is even better in some aspects like the screen, for en even lower price now. And if you want to upgrade from a 3+, it has to be the 4 Pro.
Great review! I actually ordered the RP4 Pro a month ago and it is arriving soon this week. I figured the extra $50 is well worth that extra power. can't wait to finally set it up and try it out! Being able to comfortably play many GameCube and PS2 games on a pocketable device was a huge draw for me. I've been waiting for a retro handheld device like this for awhile! It seems Retroid has set the bar pretty high here!
I really love your videos! I actually got the Pro version of the RP4 and your starter guide was really helpful!
What I can't figure out however is how to set up the Wii IR thing. It seems that dolphin changed a lot in version 5, so a lot of tutorials simply don't work anymore. Is it possible that you include the setup steps for Dolphin in your tutorial or on your written guide? I'd love to use it with the touchscreen of the RP4 but with the right analogue stick would be okay as well :)
They should have try to price this down abit ($139?) or use maybe a different chip abit closer to the d1100.
Still a decent product overall, but then considering the Odin Lite got into hands of buyers more than a year ago (even after the delay) with the same chip, a larger 6 inch screen and battery for $199 does dampen the "wow factor" abit, and of course their own RP4 Pro does the same thing.
Was going to buy it but a lot of people are having issues with the R2 button.
Retroid needs to use a new screen for the next version... time for a 5.5in OLED
The screen is iPhone 6 correct? That’s why it ghosts. The iPhone 6 screens definitely all did that eventually. I still own my iPhone 6 and it lies around but still turns on and the ghosting is pretty bad
The same issue doesn't happen on the rp3+ which supposedly uses the same screen. I am debating whether I want to sell my rp4pro and keep my rp3+ tbh. The ghosting is that bad.
@@plim-sj6jvsome people have reported plugging their RP4 to the tv and the ghosting still being visible. If that’s true then it could all be a software issue which could be patched in the future.
Does anyone have the same Wild Life Stress Test scores for the original Steam Deck, Ally, etc.? Trying to compare a few more to those mentioned here, regardless of price.
first review of "base" RP4
I’m gonna wait like 6 months for the retroid pocket 5pro.
Now I'm wondering where the RG556 lies compared to BOTH the RP4 and RP4 Pro - is the performance difference justifying its price relative to the Retroids, or is it just the superior ergonomics and screen that'll have to sway my decision...?
"I had the same hesitation as you, but the Retroid's joysticks are really better, and the overall quality is superior. I wanted to get the RG556 to stream cloud games, but with the average quality joysticks, I think I'll lean towards the Retroid 4pro
If you prefer a larger screen and more ergonomic/comfortable feel, than go for the RG556. You will be basically paying $35 more for the better screen, ergonomics as the performance is the same as the D900/RP4.
If you want the best performance/dollar, the RP4 Pro, or if PS2/GC/Wii is your main interest as the chip is capable of running a very large portion of the library at 2x and higher (though no point going above 2x with the screen) , including stuff like of God of War 2 that cannot even run at 1x full speed on the RP4/RG556 without enabling hacks/accuracy impacting tweaks.
RP4 if you want the cheapest, happy with decent but not great performance for ps2/gc/wii. Still runs older systems (except saturn) perfectly at >= the resolution of the screen, and having dpad on top if that is important for you.
@@samhuang683 Oh, I always prefer Xbox/GC-style offset sticks, as my main focus is racing games, but I'm also an extremely cheap bastard, so if there's really no performance advantage with the RG556 over the base RP4, I'd rather save $35, though more likely, I'll just save all my money, and continue to wait for more/better options...
I find it crazy, Americans complaining about price, yet here in the uk, were roped off left right and centre for the same product. Rp4p 200 bucks, uk £250 if you're lucky. Same with every product.
should I buy Retroid Pocket 4 or rg556 🤣🤣
What dock are you using?
At this stage of the market, the best 150$ device should be a 5,5" n100 handheld with chimeraos tbh.
Great video as always but I see that you are not mentioning anything about the Android version.
With A11, there's no support for controller mode with the built in controller.
Many games like Honkai Star Rail required the built in controller to be recognized as wireless Xbox controller to be supported on the controller mode.
On Odin 2 and RP4P, this won't be a problem due its Android version,
Russ that you playing a Hunter in Destiny 2?
Yeah I've been a Hunter main since Destiny 1 :)
When the fps counter shows 58fps and then alternates with 62fps, that's fine, is a problem with the counting algorithm, because a 62fps simply can't exist.
A different matter is when it shows consistent 58fps, that's under-power.
How this algorithms works, to get a persistent 60fps you need plenty of wait time.
I hope Retroid Pocket fixed their poor quality controls on their buttons make me reconsider buying their products
Excellent review Russ. My Ordin 2 is amazing but just not really pockeble. My 4 pro is on its way.
Still it's not what i call a gamecube/ ps2 era platform yet, so i don't see the point to update from RP3+ to this. Unless in some month, we see a huge optimization step specifically for this device.
Now i wonder if it's even possible to do better this year, for this pricetag/ size with actual hardware?
I wonder if you could take the 4 pro guts and use the 3+ screen..i just dont know about the pro screen,its just off
So many new handhelds and pocket sizes coming out and it’s only the 3rd month of the new year
additional $50 is a big deal for some including me who lives in a third world country LOL!
Or Canada.
@@gregmillhand9697 Yes I heard that the cost of living there is so high
I wish the clear blue was like the GBA clear blue. They called it Glacier Blue
I would have liked to see a cpu benchmark against the PRO and the 556
They need more D-Pad centric/top control styles. I'd love a high D-Pad 6-7" screen
As someone who's just now getting into retro handhelds and trying to decide which one to buy, it seems to me that all the developers came together and made a deal to release products that all have at least one thing wrong with them, so that you'll buy all of them.
I just picked up a retoid pocket 3 plus for $100. It came with lots of extra goodies (a case, 512 gb sd card, 2 128 gb sd cards, 2 nice grips, hall sticks, and 2 sets of headphones), and i feel like I got a good deal. i was working with a rg350 , so i feel like it's an awesome upgrade. I'm in the mindset that just because the new hotness came out, the pocket 3+ is still a great device. The next handheld i get will definitely be the 4 pro or if something comes out that's more powerful than that, ill grab it instead. I'm definitely happy with the 3 pro though. For $100, i feel like I got a pretty good deal. Any input? Did i get a good deal?
I got a good deal with my RP3+, $120 with grip and case. Still in the process of setting it up, I like it. Thinking about the 4, but the display and triggers bothers me. If I get it, I dont want my RP3+ to get neglected.
Can you do a RG556 vs. RP4Pro Comparison Video please :D
He literally said he's going to next week in the full RH556 review. It was like 2 minutes into the video.
It's nuts that they are selling the 3+ and the 4 for basically the same price.
I'm not a professional Retrogamer so I think I'll buy this one instead.
Man here in the Philippines the RP4 Base w shipping costs ALMOST as much as a RP4 Pro w free shipping online (without games) 28 whole dollars shipping, damn!
My output via hdmi went pink on the red version, i think they rushed this device i went live doing some game testing last night and it was impressive for the price but definitely dont expect high end switch if at all any switch.
Totally jacked for the Retroid Pocket 5 review to drop next month 😅
And once you buy that the Odin 3 comes out!
Let's see the anbernic how does it compares to this
You talk about looking at the Odin 2 but for me in Canada and we look at some systems based off price to performance. The RP 3+ is $170 plus shipping. The RP 4 is 201 Plus shipping. The RP Pro is $268 plus shipping. The Odin 2 is 403 plus shipping. The Steam Deck 64 GB - Valve Certified Refurbished is $349 I think included shipping if you can find them and the Steam Deck 64GB LCD is $439. I can not see in any case buying the Odin 2 when you can get a brand new steam deck for 39 more dollars or a Refurbished deck for 50 dollars cheaper. Based of my look at the pricing to performance Something like the RP4 for 200 or look at the Refurbished Deck for 150 more. I can not see in any case where you buy the Odin 2. IMO its pricing is just just does not make sense when the deck is that cheap. Maybe am missing something as I do not have all these systems to test side by side and maybe the side plays a factor. Be cool if you made a video breaking all the systems down price to performance for retro gaming and Game Streaming.
It depends what you want to play. I've got both. The Deck will of course play newer gens of retro games, PC games, and it has awesome controls, and superb speakers. If you are playing up to GameCube/PS2 however, it does have its shortcomings compared to the Odin 2. The Deck's screen quality, and battery life are a step below. Moreover, it feels like it's double the size and slightly inconvenient when playing, especially when you have to plug in the charger because the battery drains too fast.
got the 4 pro waiting for it to arrive 😎
You will enjoy it, don't listen to people who crap on it
If this was like 125 or something this would bomb but 150 is crazy might as well just save up for the RP4Pro
Pretty lousy power comparison. I want to see FPS differences in gamecube and ps2. I dont care what the gpu score is. I want to know fps percentage. The pro version is 25 percent better. Are the fps 25 percent better. You FAILED to answer that.
I would say this product is awesome if I had it. But I don't, because my goddamn fucking stupid mailman misplaced it. Emailed retroid pocket about the situation, and demanded either a refund or have another one shipped. But nothing. So fuck this goddamn company.
Do you have a gameforce ace coming?
@Creative4Gaming Has a review up
Bro you have the Rg556??? It's not even out yet wtf 😮
Hi my friend.
Thanks for your test, it is interested.
Do you thinks all games wii can be good with this version ?
For $280 Australian dollars, this is the same price as a Switch Lite.
That's a rip off...
Thanks so much for testing Saturn emulation on this.
Can You Send Me A Link About What HDMI Cable To Connect This Handheld To The TV
I have a few emulation questions if anyone with knowledge on this subject is willing to help..
Meh the ayn odin 2 is were life is at.
If you have money to burn.
there is no "perfect experience". it wasnt perfect on the original console...and it's not "perfect" on emulation.
thinking that a steamdeck owner can only play 1hour before the battery is dead. 🤣
About GameCube how does phantasy star online run? If at all thanks