You know, I think this was the first TechDweeb video I ever watched. You sold me on the RGB30, and while I don't use it much any more (those battery issues, hoo boy) it was the start of the hobby for me. Now I'm up an RGB30, RG ARC, Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, and more recently a Miyoo Mini +. Curse you TechDweeb, do you know how much time and/or money you cost me!? Seriously, though. I've loved every minute of this hobby, and I've got you to thank for that. Here's some Dollarydoos for the Root Beer fund, mate.
Woah thank you SO MUCH for the tip! That's super generous! And I'm not sorry at all for cursing you with handheld lust. It's the gift that keeps on giving! I'll kick your butt at Blades of Steel over a Root Beer some day.
Thank you so much for the in-depth and ultra charismatic review and, in particular, for the RGB30 bezels! You helped me save some money and a lot of time. This is just a humble, small token of my appreciation for the amount of work and care you put into your amazing content.
You are the only one that can make a review of a handheld so entertaining, keep the good work men :333 saddly i dont have the money for purchase one of this handhelds... But i keep coming back to your channel just to see what do you have to say. Your amazing!!! :3
I've been playing the RGB30 for about 3 weeks now. I installed ArkOS. That fixed the battery problem for me. Controls are good and get a bit better after a break-in period. Another plus for me is that you can update JELOS & ArkOS OTA thanks to the WiFi. I also love the fact it has a good Bluetooth connection for earphones and controllers and the output on TV is great too! Crisp 720p. I am playing GB, GBC, Pico 8, NeoGeo Pocket, NES & SNES (both in 7:8 screen ratio) mostly. The screen is absolutely lovely! All in all this is my favorite retro device! Edit: I find the RGB30 very comfortable to hold. It has to do with how tall the device is because of the 1:1 screen.
Thank you for the info. The battery drama with this device keeps me from buying one but it is good to red that ArkOS fixed that for you. In ArkOS, does Pico 8 run natively?
I've had my RGB30 for about two weeks now and I absolutely adore it. I mostly love playing NES, GB/GBC and DS on it. That 1:1 720p screen is just so GOATed. Highly recommend it.
@@zenithquasar9623 just downloading the games and playing! From my researches, NDS goes very well on it but it doesn’t have a touch screen so, not perfect but still very good
This Handheld is an insta-purchase for GB/GBC, Pico-8, and TATE Arcade lovers. My two biggest complaints are that this Handheld doesn't have a Touchscreen and the ergonomics are basically a slab with buttons on it.
I've been using my RGB30 for the last 3 weeks. It's my most played console of those last three weeks. It's awesome. I wish it had a better battery, but I can get 6 hours out of it between recharges. If you're on the fence with this, get one.
Hey guys. Quick question; Is it possibly to connect a Bluetooth controller to the device, when connect the unit to a tv using the hdmi port. Have either of you tried it? I basically want to play old school games on my tv. Thanks!
Wow. I had completely dismissed the RGB30 since the screen so clearly targets systems I don't play enough to warrant a dedicated device. But your coverage of bezels for 4:3 systems might have hooked me. I just love the idea of displaying the system logo under the game, complete with photo-realistic retro controls. And your coverage of vertical arcade and NDS, adds additional appeal to this device. These retro handheld companies owe you a salary for sure.
Same! I didn't expect to like it for anything more than Game Boy or Pico 8 but the actual screen quality is so Superior to many of my 3.5-in devices. And those bezels make it feel like not such a silly thing to run those games on a screen like this!
I would love to see an in-depth video of Pico-8! I bought Pico-8 back in 2021 and have put it on every single device I possibly can. It's the perfect system for quick pick up and go gaming.
Thanks for the video. Would be good to see a whole Pico 8 experience.. if you have designed your own game maybe show case it. I think giving developer some dollars for use of it may be worth it.
Just wanted to thank you for the tip about unplugging the battery. I didn't have the charging issue you had. I had a screen issue, but I think it was related to the battery. I think I charged my RGB30 with too powerful of a charger. When I used it next, it was warm to the touch and I happed to press on the screen to wipe away a smudge. As soon as I did, the screen got brighter - actually not bright, just washed out, like someone had cranked the contrast all the way up. The black background was light grey and everything was washed out. I couldn't get the device to go back to the beautiful stock display. I tried changing the brightness settings in the OS, rebooting, wiping the SD card and reinstalling the OS, running down the battery and charging again. Nothing helped. That is until I popped it open, unplugged the battery for 20 seconds and plugged it back in. When I reassembled, the device didn't want to power on. I had to press and hold the power button much longer than usual, but eventually it booted and the screen was back to normal! THANK YOU! You saved my RGB30 from an ignominious untimely death!
I had the exact same thing happen to me on the Original RG35XX. I thought it was broken, but it in my tinkering I unplugged the battery and that's what did the trick. Nerve-racking!
grabbed one for $80 on promotion, and it's amazing makess you want to replay all those gb/gbc titles all again gba and nds are also great. 4:3 can be also scaled to 7:8 which still looks great and fills most of the screen.
This is an AMAZING review - I don't even care about the system but the way you present it is so awesome! the write home about killed me I laughed out loud.. in work!!
no doubt about it,i have a modded 2ds with a R4 card and a 128gb sd for 3ds games, also i have an odroid go advance with arkos i can play up to psp/dreamcast,nice combo, its hard to have everything in 1 device
Influenced by this review, I just bought an RGB30. I've been trying for weeks to choose my first retro handheld that fits within my budget. Thanks TechDweeb ✌🏻
This thing is straight up badass, that screen is amazing especially with bezels it's literally perfect with 16bit retro systems and below. Well played sir another banger video by our favorite retro handhelds channel 🙌👏🤜🤛
I am new subscriber and I just love your humor and your dorkiness it’s so cute imo. Keep up the good work keep Making review videos. I have an RGB20s and love it but would like something a little more powerful and something that have a better form factor. The 20s is great but it cramps my hands after long play through
Thanks for saying so! Yeah the 20s is great but it's a little on the small side. The RGB30 is a much better experience if you find the vertical handhelds too crampy.
I'd love to see more content of the RGB30. I just bought one thanks to this video. TD is the only RUclipsr I've seen talk much about the bezels. Those seem essential for this screen.
Hey Tech Dweeb (or anyone with knowledge in the community), I've been dabbling in the space for a few months and have a pretty good grasp of what I'm doing; at this point. I have a Jailbroken PSVita, RG35xx (garlic), Miyoo Mini (onion), and RG405V. I've got a few kids that want to do a little retro gaming, but I don't know where to start for them. Price isn't an issue, but simplicity definitely is. I'd love to get them all RG35xx's or something like a Miyoo Mini +, but recently I had someone borrow my RG35xx and now they say the buttons don't work in Retroarch. They haven't hooked the system to a computer or gone into settings, so looks like I'll have to get it back and work out the kinks (I'm thinking maybe a hotkey issue). My ultimate question is, is there a device that you can "set and forget?" I'm not looking for a powerhouse, just simple UI where the user can't easily make mistakes on the system (let's say something you can hand to a kindergartner). As for the games to play, I was thinking something that will play my SNES, Genesis, GBA games, etc. Would I be better with one of those devices but maybe the stock OS, or hotkeys disabled? Or is there other devices on the market like this PowKiddy that would be better for this application? Thank you all for taking the time, and thank you for your efforts in building this community.
Well first of all thanks SO MUCH for the tip! That's very generous, and I am full of dweeby gratitude. ANd it's crazy that you should ask this now because I'm working on a 'giving a retro handheld to a kid' video RIGHT NOW! It'll be my video out later this week! The sneak peek is that, for a kid, I suggest an emulation-station based device (like the RG353VS/P), curating the roms list, then locking down the frontend so they can't mess it up, and then simplifying the hotkeys so that it's just the basic stuff. Sit tight my dweeb, this video is gonna be perfect for you!
Dude your videos are great and always give me a good chuckle. I also had an issue with the HDMI port in my RGB, it only showed the top half of the screen on my tv and the bottom half of the screen on my device. Oh well this device was fantastic anyways and I hope to be playing it until the day I die…. Or until the device dies…. We shall see who wins this game…. lol
I have had mine for about one week, and I can honestly say it is amazing. Just made some adjustments because the plain look is too clean for some retro consoles, so I used fakelottes shader.
@@TechDweeb Yeah, it rounds all the pixels, after that everything looks like it should, even shadows appear. Amazing for NES/Famicom. It is a somewhat better experience than a dot matrix. Try it :) In RetroArch - Quick Menu>Shaders>Load>crt>fakelottes. Then back to the shaders screen and go into Shader Parameters - change warpX/warpY to 0. Save everything. :) Enjoy your retro play like never before! :D
Fun as heck review! I wanna echo the voices in the comments asking for a detailed pico8 video: explaining the fantasy console concept and specs; a tutorial on how to get the official licence and emulator working on popular handhelds and PC's; and of course, game recommendations!
Thank you for the entertaining reviews! You Sir, are my new favorite emulation handheld device reviewer! Keep up the awesomeness! Liking and subscribed!
@@TechDweeb BTW, my bad if I missed it, but have you ever done a guide/review on running retroarch/emulators on Switch? Apparently it runs them quite well, all the way up to DC, when running the android OS on it! Just a random thought cuz I'm looking to start that lil project soon. :)
I got my RGB30 finally. That screen is something else. So many old school games look amazing on it. I've got Marvel Super Heroes playing right now and it fills out the screen so nicely.
Does anyone know if the bezels come with the system card or the additional games card? Dweeb says (10:12) the bezels are in the card that "comes with the device" so it was a bit unclear to me. Thank you in advance! UPDATE: Dweeb replied to another comment about this, bezels are included in the additional games card.
Yup. On the games card. But I uploaded them to Google Drive if anyone needed them: drive.google.com/file/d/1LgP80-Qi-nmqKtSFhioF4oPVYtbcVu85/view?usp=sharing
I really like that it comes with emulation station and a ton of Roms already setup right out of the box ready to go. That’s a huge plus because then I won’t spend 10 hours managing a library and configuring when I could be playing. You also sold me on the gameboy and mame shmup emulation, looks insane on this device. That screen format is so cool but the only reason I’m not crazy about it is the d pad looks really bad from your video. Wonder if there’s a fix for it?
Thanks for covering this one, such a strange shape. I want one but I don't know why. I ordered a Retroid Pocket 2S after watching your review, still waiting for it to arrive :)
I actually ordered one a few days ago for PICO-8, Neo Geo Pocket and vertical arcade games. I would love to see a video on PICO-8 as I'm about to jump in on that shortly.
If it had a touch screen I would call it perfect. Went with the miyoo mini plus this time but anxiously awaiting the next square screen handheld that might have touch
how is the quality of the shell? thin, flimsy, creaking when moderately squeezed/twisted? i have the rgb20 also rk2023 both powkiddy and very cheap hardware. also how good are gogamegeek's with returns/replacements?
Great review pal. Finally someone touches on the bezels. Really good to know that they're incorporated into this particular JELOS build. Thanks alot. Keep doing your thing, it's well appreciated.
Actually they're not incorporated into the JELOS build, they came in a folder on the games card. I think that's where lots of people are getting confused.
@TechDweeb Cool, thanks for the info. So I'll be fine to burn a fresh Jelos installation and use the Original Roms card to access the bezels etc...????
@TechDweeb Cool, thanks for the info. So I'll be fine to burn a fresh Jelos installation and use the Original Roms card to access the bezels etc...????
DUDE! your reviews are frigging top tier stuffs... its like you know the things we want to hear about without us knowing we need the information lol... whatever devil you sold you soul to for this kind of talent.. it was worth it. keep up the rad work and i'll be a fan for a long time to come. Its not even a question you'll become as big as eta or game corps with this caliber of content. Personal side note, we're expecting our first child in a month or so which will render my gaming into entirely handheld (as hiding in my basement gaming wont be a constant in life anymore lol ) soo.. i guess i have to go friggin buy this cool thing now lol thanks.... XD
Wow thanks buddy! Having a handheld is a great tool to squeeze in quick games in a hectic life. Congrats and enjoy your new stuff! (the handheld, and the kid :P )
This, the Retroid Pocket 2S... just so many choices. At @7:39 you mentioned a retro handhelds discord -- I see and joined your discord but I'm assuming this is a different server? And does this mean, ultimately, you're not running the software that came with the device? And like others, I, too, am interested more about this pico-8 I have never heard of before.
Yeah, Retro Handhelds is a different server. They are a huge community with a ton of enthusiasts, if you ever need help they're the best choice discord.com/invite/retrohandhelds And yeah, I have the latest official Jelos. The version that came with the device isn't what I'm using. I'll get a Pico8 video on the way!
I'm not sure i really need this one, but i do like the overall look of the device. Too bad you were not anywhere near Quebec City, the wife and I are on vacation and will be enjoying all that Canada has to offer for the next several days.
I sent an email to PowKiddy talking about the last points to take into consideration that would make this device such a master piece! Thinking of increasing the processor a bit (using the RK3588 instead of RK3566) to tackle the last glitches in some emulators, adding touch capability to the screen (would be so nice for DS games at first but not only), and maybe an extra accelerometer... these won't increase the price much and it would make a perfect product that will nail the competition!!
I went from your most recent video, to the OG pico 8 video and now to figure out if I need to buy this RGB30 after I just bought the miyoo mini plus from your recommendation juuussstttt so I can play all these sweet pico 8 games with that amazing screen. Thanks for all the content!
i think I'm sold just on the Pico 8 alone. I have gotten into Gameboy dev but the Pico intrigues me enough that I might look into developing for it. All the more reason to consider grabbing this system!
i had the original for DS and there was never an issue with the screens not lining up. when i play the game on the rgb30 it feels like part of the screen is missing and the ball just teleports between screens making it impossible to play. dont you get the same issue? your footage looks the same as what im seeing @@TechDweeb
The battery issue could be realated to JelOS. I run JelOS on my RG353V and ist shows the wrong battery percentage. It shuts off at around 40 percent or something. On the same device in Android it shows the correct percentage and in ArkOS it also does. While using JelOS on it i can only rely to the LED on the device turning red, then i know i'm probably around 20% or something. So maybe your battery is fine but JelOS has the issue.
The x55 had a battery issue, it would show it was 130% and drop to 80% and stay at 10% for hours. It seems they introduced a patch to fix it so the need to open it up to fix the battery issue wasnt needed anymore.
I'm normally very leery of PowKiddy stuff because of quality issues, but dang if I don't love my RGB30. Playing Gameboy/GameboyColor/DS games on it has been a dream.
Great review as always, thanks! As for hdmi, I have it working, but it's not plug and play, you have to restart the device with the cable already plugged, not sure if you tried it 😊 edit - ops, you mentioned restart, well that sucks!
I am very interested into understanding how to speed up the load times as you mention. Is there a video or a link I can follow step-by-step? I am completely inept with any type of tinkering of this type. Is there a place I can get the official jelos? Or is it something you download? Sorry, I’m completely ignorant on the subject.
Yeah, you can download the official JELOS image and flash it to an SD card (either your current card, or a fresh one if you want to keep your current card as a backup). Here's the page with the download link and some instructions: jelos.org/devices/powkiddy/rgb30/
With the included ROM list being so comprehensive, would you recommend getting a card larger than 64gb to build a decent library if you don’t already have one?
I just got an RGB30 a few days ago and so far I'm really enjoying it. It's got a small screen, but I haven't been feeling like it's too small. Also my D-pad doesn't seem to have the false diagonal issue. I have the RP2S as well and while I love the look of it, I already know I'll be using the RGB30 much more because of the bigger screen.
My unit had issue with R2 and L2 so I'm returning it, they are very stiff (no movement at all) but they do register a press when they are clicked most of the time. Not going to risk it so it is getting returned and I'll order it from Powkiddy directly instead of from a third party.
Thanks for this awesome review TechDweeb! Between your review and the retro game corps one I was convinced and order the pow kiddy for me. I was having lots of fun with it, unfortunately when I updated JELOS I started having sound issues. I decided I would go to the red zone and reset the device, when I did my game card was wiped clean. I have no games anymore... I am trying to find a torrent with the game card contents but I haven't been able to get it :(. So know is just looking for the games and setting up the card which is exactly what I didn't want to do. But it still a good device, I am just such a noob...
If I buy a retro handheld like this from amazon, and buy the 3 year warranty from asurion that amazon offers, will it be replaced or fixed, if it breaks? Being that it's kinda iffy in terms of legality, how would that work?
Hard to say. The x55 is much more powerful so if you wanted gamecube or whatever definitely go for that. Also if you preferred PSP that would be the better choice. The RGB 30 is the winner if you want to prioritize game boy, Game Boy color, p08, vertical shooters, or Nintendo DS. Both are amazing systems but they are very different so it just comes down to which is more important for you.
You know, I think this was the first TechDweeb video I ever watched. You sold me on the RGB30, and while I don't use it much any more (those battery issues, hoo boy) it was the start of the hobby for me. Now I'm up an RGB30, RG ARC, Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, and more recently a Miyoo Mini +.
Curse you TechDweeb, do you know how much time and/or money you cost me!?
Seriously, though. I've loved every minute of this hobby, and I've got you to thank for that. Here's some Dollarydoos for the Root Beer fund, mate.
Woah thank you SO MUCH for the tip! That's super generous!
And I'm not sorry at all for cursing you with handheld lust. It's the gift that keeps on giving!
I'll kick your butt at Blades of Steel over a Root Beer some day.
Thank you so much for the in-depth and ultra charismatic review and, in particular, for the RGB30 bezels! You helped me save some money and a lot of time. This is just a humble, small token of my appreciation for the amount of work and care you put into your amazing content.
Wow thanks so much buddy! Much appreciated!
Pico 8 video with that classic TechDweeb humor, please.
Can do!
Yay! Ehehe..ehehe
Pico-8 options for Android, please
make that dork dance some more!
A video about Pico-8 on the V90 and the 405v would be super.
I'm so impressed with how high your production quality is!
Thanks buddy!
You are the only one that can make a review of a handheld so entertaining, keep the good work men :333 saddly i dont have the money for purchase one of this handhelds... But i keep coming back to your channel just to see what do you have to say. Your amazing!!! :3
I've been playing the RGB30 for about 3 weeks now. I installed ArkOS. That fixed the battery problem for me. Controls are good and get a bit better after a break-in period. Another plus for me is that you can update JELOS & ArkOS OTA thanks to the WiFi. I also love the fact it has a good Bluetooth connection for earphones and controllers and the output on TV is great too! Crisp 720p.
I am playing GB, GBC, Pico 8, NeoGeo Pocket, NES & SNES (both in 7:8 screen ratio) mostly. The screen is absolutely lovely! All in all this is my favorite retro device!
Edit: I find the RGB30 very comfortable to hold. It has to do with how tall the device is because of the 1:1 screen.
Does the Bluetooth audio work well? On the fence, but the Bluetooth audio would tip me over. I don't do wired headphones anymore
Yes, BT Audio works great! @@simoneatough6391
Thank you for the info. The battery drama with this device keeps me from buying one but it is good to red that ArkOS fixed that for you.
In ArkOS, does Pico 8 run natively?
@@Endr29Yes, you can run the Raspberry Pi Pico-8 console in ArkOS
I've had my RGB30 for about two weeks now and I absolutely adore it. I mostly love playing NES, GB/GBC and DS on it. That 1:1 720p screen is just so GOATed. Highly recommend it.
@derrickfinzer_retro I do have a real NES
How do you fit DS on there?
@derrickfinzer_retrohow does one play the real NES on the go?
@@zenithquasar9623 12:33
@@zenithquasar9623 just downloading the games and playing! From my researches, NDS goes very well on it but it doesn’t have a touch screen so, not perfect but still very good
This Handheld is an insta-purchase for GB/GBC, Pico-8, and TATE Arcade lovers. My two biggest complaints are that this Handheld doesn't have a Touchscreen and the ergonomics are basically a slab with buttons on it.
Haven't watched a video in a long time, your new affected voice is much better! Great video!
Thanks for saying so
I've been using my RGB30 for the last 3 weeks. It's my most played console of those last three weeks. It's awesome. I wish it had a better battery, but I can get 6 hours out of it between recharges. If you're on the fence with this, get one.
Yup Can't Agree More . This Is 1st Retro Handheld I Know I'm Keeping .
Hey guys. Quick question; Is it possibly to connect a Bluetooth controller to the device, when connect the unit to a tv using the hdmi port. Have either of you tried it? I basically want to play old school games on my tv. Thanks!
@@johnnydutoit Yes to both, works great!
4100mA is plenty, I think. You can always use a powerbank
I'm really liking the humor in your videos. 👍
omg man. you are another unique geek guy. Loved the hand gesture method. I think I will use this method as well, NICE!!
Wow. I had completely dismissed the RGB30 since the screen so clearly targets systems I don't play enough to warrant a dedicated device. But your coverage of bezels for 4:3 systems might have hooked me. I just love the idea of displaying the system logo under the game, complete with photo-realistic retro controls. And your coverage of vertical arcade and NDS, adds additional appeal to this device. These retro handheld companies owe you a salary for sure.
Same! I didn't expect to like it for anything more than Game Boy or Pico 8 but the actual screen quality is so Superior to many of my 3.5-in devices. And those bezels make it feel like not such a silly thing to run those games on a screen like this!
I Put Everything At The 1X1 Screen Ratio Of My RGB30 . Ms Pac Man Speed Hack Version On The Go Is An AweSomeNess PerSoNiFied Past From My Blast
I would love to see an in-depth video of Pico-8! I bought Pico-8 back in 2021 and have put it on every single device I possibly can. It's the perfect system for quick pick up and go gaming.
Thanks for the video. Would be good to see a whole Pico 8 experience.. if you have designed your own game maybe show case it. I think giving developer some dollars for use of it may be worth it.
Just wanted to thank you for the tip about unplugging the battery. I didn't have the charging issue you had. I had a screen issue, but I think it was related to the battery. I think I charged my RGB30 with too powerful of a charger. When I used it next, it was warm to the touch and I happed to press on the screen to wipe away a smudge. As soon as I did, the screen got brighter - actually not bright, just washed out, like someone had cranked the contrast all the way up. The black background was light grey and everything was washed out. I couldn't get the device to go back to the beautiful stock display. I tried changing the brightness settings in the OS, rebooting, wiping the SD card and reinstalling the OS, running down the battery and charging again. Nothing helped. That is until I popped it open, unplugged the battery for 20 seconds and plugged it back in. When I reassembled, the device didn't want to power on. I had to press and hold the power button much longer than usual, but eventually it booted and the screen was back to normal! THANK YOU! You saved my RGB30 from an ignominious untimely death!
I had the exact same thing happen to me on the Original RG35XX. I thought it was broken, but it in my tinkering I unplugged the battery and that's what did the trick. Nerve-racking!
grabbed one for $80 on promotion, and it's amazing makess you want to replay all those gb/gbc titles all again gba and nds are also great. 4:3 can be also scaled to 7:8 which still looks great and fills most of the screen.
That 7:8 is what I'm aiming for with SNES Mega Drive and Neo Geo! As well as all the classic arcade games!
The “hug little Judy for me” made me snort laugh way too much! You got a subscription sir! Thanks
This is an AMAZING review - I don't even care about the system but the way you present it is so awesome! the write home about killed me I laughed out loud.. in work!!
The more I get into retro emulation the more I believe in the perfect tool for the job. The perfect DS/3DS emulator is still modded original 2/3DS.
Definitely. Maybe someday we'll get a perfect 3ds system, I do like upscaling things, but nothing on the horizon yet.
no doubt about it,i have a modded 2ds with a R4 card and a 128gb sd for 3ds games, also i have an odroid go advance with arkos i can play up to psp/dreamcast,nice combo, its hard to have everything in 1 device
Influenced by this review, I just bought an RGB30. I've been trying for weeks to choose my first retro handheld that fits within my budget.
Thanks TechDweeb ✌🏻
Niiice! Hope you love it!
Thanks for another excellent video! I've only had my RGB30 for a few days, but I've really been enjoying it. I would love to see a Pico-8 video.
I've always been interested in Pico 8 stuff but haven't had the time to research it. I'd love to see a video on it.
Was just about to comment this! Second!
Just ordered mine for pico-8 only -- I've been looking at this for a long time and it's finally here: square screen, wifi, native pico-8
I would like a more in depth engagement with pico-8. I've seen them on some retros and can't wrap my head on how to run/set them up.
Will do! Very soon!
By chance did it come with any Pokemon games?
This thing is straight up badass, that screen is amazing especially with bezels it's literally perfect with 16bit retro systems and below. Well played sir another banger video by our favorite retro handhelds channel 🙌👏🤜🤛
Thanky!
@@TechDweeb 🙌
Made my day, 😂
Great review! Always fun to watch your content!
Thanky!
That intro skit was gold
I am new subscriber and I just love your humor and your dorkiness it’s so cute imo. Keep up the good work keep
Making review videos. I have an RGB20s and love it but would like something a little more powerful and something that have a better form factor. The 20s is great but it cramps my hands after long play through
Thanks for saying so! Yeah the 20s is great but it's a little on the small side. The RGB30 is a much better experience if you find the vertical handhelds too crampy.
Actually lol’d at the letter dude wrote home about the specs. Good stuff
I'd love to see more content of the RGB30. I just bought one thanks to this video. TD is the only RUclipsr I've seen talk much about the bezels. Those seem essential for this screen.
Do you recommend?
11:30 The pixel's look 'chewed up here - is it a scaling issue or the camera?
Definitely a camera issue. It's hard to film screens!
I was hoping you would review this device! As always, great video! Thank you so much!
Thanks buddy!
Hey Tech Dweeb (or anyone with knowledge in the community),
I've been dabbling in the space for a few months and have a pretty good grasp of what I'm doing; at this point. I have a Jailbroken PSVita, RG35xx (garlic), Miyoo Mini (onion), and RG405V. I've got a few kids that want to do a little retro gaming, but I don't know where to start for them. Price isn't an issue, but simplicity definitely is. I'd love to get them all RG35xx's or something like a Miyoo Mini +, but recently I had someone borrow my RG35xx and now they say the buttons don't work in Retroarch. They haven't hooked the system to a computer or gone into settings, so looks like I'll have to get it back and work out the kinks (I'm thinking maybe a hotkey issue). My ultimate question is, is there a device that you can "set and forget?" I'm not looking for a powerhouse, just simple UI where the user can't easily make mistakes on the system (let's say something you can hand to a kindergartner). As for the games to play, I was thinking something that will play my SNES, Genesis, GBA games, etc. Would I be better with one of those devices but maybe the stock OS, or hotkeys disabled? Or is there other devices on the market like this PowKiddy that would be better for this application? Thank you all for taking the time, and thank you for your efforts in building this community.
Well first of all thanks SO MUCH for the tip! That's very generous, and I am full of dweeby gratitude.
ANd it's crazy that you should ask this now because I'm working on a 'giving a retro handheld to a kid' video RIGHT NOW! It'll be my video out later this week!
The sneak peek is that, for a kid, I suggest an emulation-station based device (like the RG353VS/P), curating the roms list, then locking down the frontend so they can't mess it up, and then simplifying the hotkeys so that it's just the basic stuff.
Sit tight my dweeb, this video is gonna be perfect for you!
@@TechDweeb righteous. Owe you big man!
Dude your videos are great and always give me a good chuckle. I also had an issue with the HDMI port in my RGB, it only showed the top half of the screen on my tv and the bottom half of the screen on my device. Oh well this device was fantastic anyways and I hope to be playing it until the day I die…. Or until the device dies…. We shall see who wins this game…. lol
I'd love to know more about Pico 8. I never heard of it before!
Iv had my eye on this for a while it's the only retro emulation handheld that got my attention.
Still waiting for a Linux device with 6 button device, with touchscreen stylus, powerful chipset and a front camera.
I have had mine for about one week, and I can honestly say it is amazing. Just made some adjustments because the plain look is too clean for some retro consoles, so I used fakelottes shader.
Good call.
@@TechDweeb Yeah, it rounds all the pixels, after that everything looks like it should, even shadows appear. Amazing for NES/Famicom. It is a somewhat better experience than a dot matrix. Try it :) In RetroArch -
Quick Menu>Shaders>Load>crt>fakelottes. Then back to the shaders screen and go into Shader Parameters - change warpX/warpY to 0. Save everything. :) Enjoy your retro play like never before! :D
Much appreciated
Fun as heck review! I wanna echo the voices in the comments asking for a detailed pico8 video: explaining the fantasy console concept and specs; a tutorial on how to get the official licence and emulator working on popular handhelds and PC's; and of course, game recommendations!
Awesome suggestion. Will do!
Thank you for the entertaining reviews! You Sir, are my new favorite emulation handheld device reviewer! Keep up the awesomeness! Liking and subscribed!
I really appreciate hearing that!
@@TechDweeb BTW, my bad if I missed it, but have you ever done a guide/review on running retroarch/emulators on Switch? Apparently it runs them quite well, all the way up to DC, when running the android OS on it! Just a random thought cuz I'm looking to start that lil project soon. :)
Hey another Canuck reviewer like Joey. Subbed. Powkiddy, of all companies, hit a homerun with this handheld.
YES do a pico 8 video! i love that "system" and considering buying this handheld just for pico8
I got my RGB30 finally. That screen is something else. So many old school games look amazing on it. I've got Marvel Super Heroes playing right now and it fills out the screen so nicely.
I love the letter to you mom. I am sure she will it.
Great video bro. 😊
Does anyone know if the bezels come with the system card or the additional games card? Dweeb says (10:12) the bezels are in the card that "comes with the device" so it was a bit unclear to me. Thank you in advance!
UPDATE: Dweeb replied to another comment about this, bezels are included in the additional games card.
Yup. On the games card. But I uploaded them to Google Drive if anyone needed them: drive.google.com/file/d/1LgP80-Qi-nmqKtSFhioF4oPVYtbcVu85/view?usp=sharing
You're AMAZING@@TechDweeb
I really like that it comes with emulation station and a ton of Roms already setup right out of the box ready to go. That’s a huge plus because then I won’t spend 10 hours managing a library and configuring when I could be playing. You also sold me on the gameboy and mame shmup emulation, looks insane on this device. That screen format is so cool but the only reason I’m not crazy about it is the d pad looks really bad from your video. Wonder if there’s a fix for it?
I've heard of other people using tape to fix theirs. Look around and you will find some info. I didn't bother, works fine for everything I play on it.
Thanks for covering this one, such a strange shape. I want one but I don't know why. I ordered a Retroid Pocket 2S after watching your review, still waiting for it to arrive :)
The RP2s is my #1 recommended handheld. You made a great choice!
I actually ordered one a few days ago for PICO-8, Neo Geo Pocket and vertical arcade games. I would love to see a video on PICO-8 as I'm about to jump in on that shortly.
Great review as normal. I just bought the new purple one and cant wait to play it!
I think we hugged gogamegeek to death😵
They deserve a hug. They've been good to me, sending me so much good stuff to review.
I just bought RGB30 and I love it ❤
Thank you, TechDweeb!
If it had a touch screen I would call it perfect. Went with the miyoo mini plus this time but anxiously awaiting the next square screen handheld that might have touch
PowKiddy Q90
The "write home about" bit was hilarious xD
Got this little guy to fire up my Pico8 machine ^_^
Hey, Dweeb, which retro handheld console runs PS2 and Gamecube best?
Odin 2!
how is the quality of the shell? thin, flimsy, creaking when moderately squeezed/twisted? i have the rgb20 also rk2023 both powkiddy and very cheap hardware. also how good are gogamegeek's with returns/replacements?
Solid shell on this one IMO. Here's gogamegeek's return policy: www.gogamegeek.com/Return-Refund-n545208.html
@@TechDweeb thanks also sounds like a solid policy
That laugh at the start is precious
Great review pal. Finally someone touches on the bezels. Really good to know that they're incorporated into this particular JELOS build. Thanks alot. Keep doing your thing, it's well appreciated.
Actually they're not incorporated into the JELOS build, they came in a folder on the games card. I think that's where lots of people are getting confused.
@TechDweeb Cool, thanks for the info. So I'll be fine to burn a fresh Jelos installation and use the Original Roms card to access the bezels etc...????
@TechDweeb Cool, thanks for the info. So I'll be fine to burn a fresh Jelos installation and use the Original Roms card to access the bezels etc...????
@@TechDweebthat’s why I can’t find them?! Has anyone shared these bezels online? I bought one without the games card…
interested as well @@bson5192
DUDE! your reviews are frigging top tier stuffs... its like you know the things we want to hear about without us knowing we need the information lol... whatever devil you sold you soul to for this kind of talent.. it was worth it.
keep up the rad work and i'll be a fan for a long time to come.
Its not even a question you'll become as big as eta or game corps with this caliber of content.
Personal side note, we're expecting our first child in a month or so which will render my gaming into entirely handheld (as hiding in my basement gaming wont be a constant in life anymore lol ) soo.. i guess i have to go friggin buy this cool thing now lol thanks.... XD
Wow thanks buddy! Having a handheld is a great tool to squeeze in quick games in a hectic life. Congrats and enjoy your new stuff! (the handheld, and the kid :P )
This, the Retroid Pocket 2S... just so many choices.
At @7:39 you mentioned a retro handhelds discord -- I see and joined your discord but I'm assuming this is a different server?
And does this mean, ultimately, you're not running the software that came with the device?
And like others, I, too, am interested more about this pico-8 I have never heard of before.
Yeah, Retro Handhelds is a different server. They are a huge community with a ton of enthusiasts, if you ever need help they're the best choice discord.com/invite/retrohandhelds
And yeah, I have the latest official Jelos. The version that came with the device isn't what I'm using.
I'll get a Pico8 video on the way!
I'm not sure i really need this one, but i do like the overall look of the device.
Too bad you were not anywhere near Quebec City, the wife and I are on vacation and will be enjoying all that Canada has to offer for the next several days.
Haha nope. I don't speak a word of french (which is ironic, because I have a very french name :P)
Why does the battery drain so quickly..it has 4100 mh. I even updated jelos. How to fix this ?
It's a testiment to how good it is that you have a bunk HDMI port but can still wholeheartedly recommend this product. That screen is A +++
If I heard other reports of HDMI problems I wouldn't have been so forgiving, but mine seems to be an outlier. I always seem to get the lemons!
@TechDweeb That sucks. A bitter pill to swallow for someone who loves orange. Sweet review though.
Happy Halloween!
Your coverage of all these neat emulation handheld makes me want a dedicated Tate game handheld
Definitely!
I sent an email to PowKiddy talking about the last points to take into consideration that would make this device such a master piece!
Thinking of increasing the processor a bit (using the RK3588 instead of RK3566) to tackle the last glitches in some emulators, adding touch capability to the screen (would be so nice for DS games at first but not only), and maybe an extra accelerometer... these won't increase the price much and it would make a perfect product that will nail the competition!!
I went from your most recent video, to the OG pico 8 video and now to figure out if I need to buy this RGB30 after I just bought the miyoo mini plus from your recommendation juuussstttt so I can play all these sweet pico 8 games with that amazing screen. Thanks for all the content!
i think I'm sold just on the Pico 8 alone. I have gotten into Gameboy dev but the Pico intrigues me enough that I might look into developing for it. All the more reason to consider grabbing this system!
i noticed the stacked screens on metroid prime pinball (DS) dont line up right making it awkward to play :/
WHY IS THIS?
Because that's the way it was on the original DS. Not much we can do about that 🤷♂️
i had the original for DS and there was never an issue with the screens not lining up. when i play the game on the rgb30 it feels like part of the screen is missing and the ball just teleports between screens making it impossible to play. dont you get the same issue? your footage looks the same as what im seeing @@TechDweeb
The battery issue could be realated to JelOS. I run JelOS on my RG353V and ist shows the wrong battery percentage.
It shuts off at around 40 percent or something.
On the same device in Android it shows the correct percentage and in ArkOS it also does.
While using JelOS on it i can only rely to the LED on the device turning red, then i know i'm probably around 20% or something.
So maybe your battery is fine but JelOS has the issue.
Seems like a great value I have had some PowKiddy devices that I have really liked so I definitely would be willing to give it a shot.
Thank you for telling us aboat this handheld.
The writing home about computer spec gag was mint 👌
How do you change your shadow colors to purple? Looks great! Great video review.
5:52 youre testing the inputs. How?
The x55 had a battery issue, it would show it was 130% and drop to 80% and stay at 10% for hours. It seems they introduced a patch to fix it so the need to open it up to fix the battery issue wasnt needed anymore.
I'm normally very leery of PowKiddy stuff because of quality issues, but dang if I don't love my RGB30. Playing Gameboy/GameboyColor/DS games on it has been a dream.
Video was worth it for the “write home” joke alone
Loved the look of the 2DS, and this comes close
Great video. Been thinking about one of these. I have a Miyoo Mini Plus and I’ll hang on to it, but this looks more up my alley.
Subscribed. 🙂
Great review as always, thanks! As for hdmi, I have it working, but it's not plug and play, you have to restart the device with the cable already plugged, not sure if you tried it 😊 edit - ops, you mentioned restart, well that sucks!
Bro thanked us for clicking on the video, so wholesome 👌
I am very interested into understanding how to speed up the load times as you mention. Is there a video or a link I can follow step-by-step? I am completely inept with any type of tinkering of this type. Is there a place I can get the official jelos? Or is it something you download? Sorry, I’m completely ignorant on the subject.
Yeah, you can download the official JELOS image and flash it to an SD card (either your current card, or a fresh one if you want to keep your current card as a backup).
Here's the page with the download link and some instructions:
jelos.org/devices/powkiddy/rgb30/
I'd love to see more on pico-8!
Is the Powkiddy RGB30 more powerful than a Miiyo Mini Plus? How do i know which PS1/N64 may run on the RGB 30?
Definitely more powerful. Every PS1 game will run fine. Just the 10% hardest N64 games won't run well.
You've almost convinced me to get one of these handhelds ... almost.
I'll get through to you one of these days!
With the included ROM list being so comprehensive, would you recommend getting a card larger than 64gb to build a decent library if you don’t already have one?
Yeah probably. The price difference isn't that much so I'd say it's worth it if you don't have a source to get your own roms.
Hi just wanted to say that I've bought the rg353v and love it so so so much, especially it's HDMI and Android side! Thank you!
thx for the bezels Dweebie!
I just got an RGB30 a few days ago and so far I'm really enjoying it. It's got a small screen, but I haven't been feeling like it's too small. Also my D-pad doesn't seem to have the false diagonal issue.
I have the RP2S as well and while I love the look of it, I already know I'll be using the RGB30 much more because of the bigger screen.
Just found this channel and subscribed instantly 🤣
Welcome!
So all of these games come included on the base 16gb handheld? Thanks.
Nope. The base 16gb version doesn't come with any games. You'll need to add your own SD card and add your own games.
My unit had issue with R2 and L2 so I'm returning it, they are very stiff (no movement at all) but they do register a press when they are clicked most of the time. Not going to risk it so it is getting returned and I'll order it from Powkiddy directly instead of from a third party.
Bummer 😕
Is this better than the x55?
Thanks for this awesome review TechDweeb! Between your review and the retro game corps one I was convinced and order the pow kiddy for me. I was having lots of fun with it, unfortunately when I updated JELOS I started having sound issues. I decided I would go to the red zone and reset the device, when I did my game card was wiped clean. I have no games anymore... I am trying to find a torrent with the game card contents but I haven't been able to get it :(. So know is just looking for the games and setting up the card which is exactly what I didn't want to do. But it still a good device, I am just such a noob...
Google "1g1r set" to find the best game collections (these are what I use). Look for the 'archive' site ;)
thanks you!!!! :D@@TechDweeb
Just bought one, thanks for the vid!
More about PICO-8 please. I like the system but it doesn't run well on my RG35XX. You got the official software running on this? Linux or RPi?
Yeah this was the official version from Lexaloffle Games. I'm definitely planning a Pico8 video!
If I buy a retro handheld like this from amazon, and buy the 3 year warranty from asurion that amazon offers, will it be replaced or fixed, if it breaks? Being that it's kinda iffy in terms of legality, how would that work?
I have no idea but yeah I think that's how it's supposed to work.
Would you recommend this over the X55?
Hard to say. The x55 is much more powerful so if you wanted gamecube or whatever definitely go for that. Also if you preferred PSP that would be the better choice. The RGB 30 is the winner if you want to prioritize game boy, Game Boy color, p08, vertical shooters, or Nintendo DS. Both are amazing systems but they are very different so it just comes down to which is more important for you.
Waiting for comparison between rgb30 and pocket 2s