I was waiting for your video before deciding whether I should buy it or wait. The quality of your videos are always top notch, in so happy I found your channel when you were starting 😊
RG405M sorta. Anbernic's next handheld thats in the works. I'll be getting at the 353M tho personally. A T618 in that small of a package is gonna be hotter than a stove top. My RP3+ is already too hot for me
I personally don't mind the fast release cycle of these devices. It only ever frustrates me if they don't widely announce they're making a new model a few months ahead of time. If they just make it known they have upgrades very soon in the works, it would let the patient know to wait, but if the announcement is short notice they just wouldn't know.
I'm not too interested in the device itself... However I am interested in those sliders. I'd like to get my hands on some and see if they'll fit in a Switch lite. I've always thought it would be cool if I could slim it down and those would be perfect.
The perfect handheld for me would be clamshell version of the Miyoo Mini. I actually prefer a device that is more focused towards 80's and 90's retrogaming. Instead of having one that "tries to do everything". It's kind of liberating how well they can make the console design once they ditch analogue sticks and stick with 4:3 aspect ratio. The retro pocket flip is nice, but for me it's still a pass. I cannot understand why the Powkiddy V90 is the best GBA SP-like console we have so far. We need more variants in the form factor.
@@CrispyChicken38 Same here! In a perfect world the Miyoo Mini+ would've been a clam shell. :) That would honestly be the perfect retro handheld for me.
Funny enough they just confirmed a clamshell Miyoo in early works. Check out Retro Breeze's channel he features what the model would look like in real life with 3d printing he did using the official blueprint released.
@@lucykaede5863 I saw it now. And I hate it! 😭I hate the inclusion of analogue sticks! What I loved about the Miyoo Mini was that it was purposefully built for 2D (and PlayStation) its simple design made it feel like an official Nintendo product. I REALLY hope they will offer a version without the sticks! They ruin what made the Miyoo Mini special. Of course I am aware that these renders were dirived from a patent. So hopefully it's not the final design, I want Miyoo Mini continue working on what made them special; Purposefully built devices.
@@PixelShade Yea the ergonomics with analog sticks might be uncomfy. Hopefully they release one without analog sticks. Also, isn't it uncomfy to play PS1 games without an analog stick since the original system had those?
A bright chrome yellow like that is so nice, interestingly looks so warm yet so fresh. One of my favorite summer palettes involves this color with teal and various pastel accents, can't wait for spring to kick off (As for this device... I'd pick either melon or indigo for sure, even if that red is giving me nostalgia for my GBA Advance)
I really hope this marks the return of the clamshell. I've always been a big GBA SP fan and am still loving the PowKiddy V90. Some more ergonomic designs like this could really stand out from the competition.
To me the major letdown is those bottom-firing speakers. The slits on this one look worse than those of my RP3+, which are just OK. With all the space available on the bottom part they could gave put some front-firing speakers, which would have meant much better audio.
I've always liked sliders. Analog sticks on smaller handhelds always made me feel like if I was too rough, it would break. The slider on the psp and 3ds really made me feel like I could play rougher with it. Games like smash bros 3ds or any fighter on the psp really help having a stick that's flush with the console for snappy movements.
I think instead of a second screen they could have made that blank space as a trackpad, do SOMETHING with it. Really dig the programmable m buttons, finally! I miss that from my Odin on the RP3+. But those sliders... I think I'll pass on this, I have enough devices for now heh. Great vid Russ! I think we were all waiting for your input on this.
@@cre8iveone699 That's what I was thinking too, could make them programmable and give them optional utility in the OS interface as well. I kinda hate it when button situations don't work out when they easily could've, even looking back at the old xbox and gamecube controllers, I wish they adopted shoulder buttons sooner. Those consoles accepted ports like SSX from PS2, but they weren't really able to accomodate them, Gamecube had one less button, and xbox's ''black and white'' weren't any good for many actions. PS2 emu is terrible on my end, xbox controls bake a stupid combination into a single button and have unintuitive tricks, so I have to settle for gamecube.
For those of us that dislike all the "tinkering" with Android I wish Ambernic or Powkiddy would use this as a template. I feel that the clam shell form factor is going to be incredible. I still rock my low powered V90!
@@youtubesucksbutts For sure. I basically use mine for systems that were originally handheld systems, GB, GBC, GBA, NG Pocket, stuff like that. Those systems had a smaller screen then the V90 so it's an improvement.
Imagine having two screens and watching RUclips on one of them while playing a game, or have a guide open in a web browser. I'd love to see it, though I can imagine Android not being a good OS for multiple screens right now.
I'm very happy to see this, as it's essentially the exact retro handheld I was waiting for. I hope it turns out to be as good as I hope when you review it!
Of course, a Steam Deck or any other handheld will never capture the magic of having friends come over during the 80s and 90s. I remember all those times my friends would come over to play NES, SNES, or PS1 with me. I remember having tournaments with my cousins with Super Mario Kart. I played Tekken 3 for 3 years against all my friends and family. I played Tekken 2 against my dad and his friends! Those days playing with actual friends in your home creating memories with them are long gone. But would I take a Steam Deck over every console I previously owned? Hell yeah. It can emulate the last 40+ years of gaming. Congrats to anybody who owns it. It's a gamechanger. To play triple-A titles anywhere like Elden Ring is mind-blowing to someone like me who could only get 3-hours with 6 AA batteries with a Sega Game Gear. Steam Deck is useful beyond gaming. If gaming gets boring, it's still a portable PC.
Really excited!! Hahah oh and please buy the watermelon colour and the black colour 😊 (those two specifically are the ones that I’d be most interested in personally anyway) And yes, I’ll probably wait for a possible Flip+ before I make any decisions here on this 😅
Regarding the shell colors, you could get a neutral black one along with whichever you decided. Custom modders from etsy would definitely come up with some sick skins, similar to how NDS/3DS got same treatments.
Personally, I'm going to wait for a plus version. You know its coming, and we are steadily approaching that $200 mark with a spec bump here. If the 'plus' could add a few systems to play in a clamshell form, I'd think that would be a good jack-of-most trades device to get.
Great coverage, as always. I don’t typically watch this type of video-conjecture of a sorts on a product not in hand-but your no-nonsense, rational, pragmatic approach always sucks me right in. Both the Watermelon and Sport Red flavors are pretty slick, and if I didn’t already have my hacked Vita and Steam Deck in hand, this would really appeal. Looking forward to the piece on your traveling reflections!
I do wish they upgraded the soc but I'm also a sucker for clamshell devices and that watermelon color looks amazing. You should get indigo if you grab two cause the contrast with the purple and light grey buttons looks awesome too! Thanks Russ :)
I mostly agree with you, it looks like an interesting alternative to the 3+ and it makes no real sense to make a DS/3DS clone nowdays, since finding an actual one in good condition at a reasonable price is still easy. My main concerns are ergonomics and how good the sliders actually are, I prefer sticks mostly because they don't mess them up so often. And watermelon is too the one I'd pick for myself, so I will wait for you reviewers to address those concerns before buying.
Clamshell devices have their pros. Of course, they are usually more compact, and let you worry a bit less about screen, as they protect the display quite well when they are closed. Another pro, is that you have the option to play with different inclinations, and find the one that fits you bets. The cons, is that they are potentially prone to hinge issues. If their build quality is not good, you might end having the shell being too loose, which might be very annoying, when you get the top shell moving while you're playing. Looking forward for your review, just because I'm curious to see how they did with the latest Retroid 3 evolution, and of course, because your reviews are a pleasure to see 😃 But I don't think I'll purchase it. I own a Retroid Pocket 3, and even if the raised performances of the RP3+ might be appealing for most people, are not worthy for me, at this stage. Considering how frequently a new retro console is coming out nowadays, I'll rather wait for the RP4 (or whatever they are going to call it) once it will come out, assuming the performances upgrade will be worthy, of course.
Me, personally, I'm actually stoked for this device! I have yet to purchase a Retroid device, and I'm a HUGE sucker for clamshells! Pretty almost every handheld I've ever owned were clamshells (excluding my GB Color, PS Vita, Switch, and Steam Deck) and my fondest memories of handheld gaming were on my Gameboy Advance SP, DSi, or 3DS XL! So, even if there's a plus version somewhere down the line, I still might buy this device, I mostly plan to play NES, SNES, GB/GBC, and GBA, maybe some PS1 and a few N64 games, and I might get Drastic to run DS emulators too! Great content as always, Russ! I can't wait for you to get the device and give us an in-depth review! Keep on gaming!!!
The GBA SP was my favorite and one of my first handhelds, and while I have and love my RP2+ I never got around to moving onto the 3+ - mostly because I wanted to see what else they'd come out with, since I got the 2+ right before the 3 was announced Glad I waited, cause this is right up my alley
Very excited for this! Great video, as always. However, Retroid taught me to wait for the inevitable + version of their products. i’ll just keep my eyes out for when that time comes. Truthfully, if they made an even smaller machine with the same power, i’d buy it in a heartbeat.
What I really want is a clamshell device with a second screen dedicated to UI options. FF, RW, save states, frame data, resolution, etc. It doesn't have to be a DS/3DS clone, but I feel like adding a small touchscreen with some functionality would be a huge end-user boon. Especially for people with little experience navigating these retro handheld OS's -- give it to my sister or son and have it be intuitive.
I personally am glad they went with a "playstation" placement for the analog sticks. I have a few retro handhelds and android controllers, because the analog sticks are placed at the outer edge of the device, my thumbs do not comfortably rest on them without being bent a lot or my thumb being halfway on the stick. With the sticks being closer to the center of the device it will allow the thumb to be comfortably extended on the thumbstick without a lot of bending. This in conjunction with the analog triggers will make it a decently comfortable game streaming device i imagine.
Sliders should really be more popular. Most of these handhelds have thumb-sticks with limited movement anyway, the main benefit of a thumb-stick over something like a slider or nub is that it should have greater range and finer control of movement. The sliders I've used are so much smoother than a lot of these handheld thumb-sticks, and feel like they have as much or even greater movement range.
I pre-ordered the Sport Red version. When I saw it I was instantly hooked for some reason, even if there's a chance of a plus version releasing very soon after. I hope I'm satisfied with it and am looking forward to your future videos on it. I really appreciate your optimism and upbeat attitude while also being concise when you talk about these systems. :)
This design definitely caught my eye! GBA SP was one of my all-time favorite pieces of hardware. Currently devoted to my PS Vita and using Sunshine/Moonlight to stream PS2 games running on PCSX2 Nightly. Trying to limit my footprint and hardware purchases, so I will probably hold out for the next Steam Deck as my next all-in-one handheld. Love trying out hardware vicariously on RetroGameCorps. Can’t wait for the full review.
The indigo one looks pretty nice. Also, if the flip already has the internals of rp3+, I think there might not be a flip+, since it’s just another form factor of the rp3+. But this is just a theory.
I have an RP3+ m’self and absolutely love it, and while I’m really excited for the prospect of the Flip, I’m most likely gonna hold off on it for now. I *do* enjoy the clamshell design a lot, having loved it on the GBA SP/DS/3DS, but the fact that it has the same specs as the RP3+ makes me just want to hold off on it and wait for the probably inevitable Flip+ or even the RP4, if one should be made
You're right to wait however we're going to be stuck with these current UNISOC T618 and Rockchip RK3566/3588 for like 2 more years minimum and I don't think there's going to be a faster RP4 unless they switch to Snapdragon or something. Rockchip and UNISOC do not have ANY new chips on the horizon that are even announced for the future yet and even after releasing it can take years for the chips to make it into handhelds. You're in for the long haul with these current chips kinda like how we were stuck with RK3326.
@@RandomPlaceHolderName Can you convince some company to use a T760/T770 in a gaming handheld? I always post comments about this stuff and it gets 0 upvotes and I feel like I must be posting about something nobody cares about.
I've been told that Unisoc chips, especially the T618, become very unstable even with a slight overclocking compared to something from Qualcomm or Dimensity, so I believe it will be unlikely. That would be cool if they were able to do that though!
Clamshell is a trap, hard to have a good vision angle, usually unbalanced in weight and honestly the only feature is you don't need a screen protector. The main feature of the ds line was doing something with the extra space on the bottom part, here's they did nothing.
As someone who had his RP3 arrive a couple of weeks before the RP3+ was announced, I was a little displeased. But I decided to just stick with my 3. If the Flip has the same capabilities as the 3+, I’m gonna wait till we get one that is able to play most if not all GameCube games before I order my next device. Still, I do love what I’m seeing from Retroid.
I'm one of those in the camp that bought the pocket 3 only I was late to the party so I received mine only two weeks before the pocket 3+ released which was quite disappointing. :/ I've seen the 3+ PCB update for it but at $90 plus shipping I'd probably be better off trying to sell the pocket 3 and apply that to a 3+ or this flip I do like this new button layout a lot more. The pocket 3's button layout always felt more like a lazy design just adding buttons where they could around an android phone board layout and made pressing the start and select buttons a constant reminder of that. It's a tough call, this design is prepped for some great GC and PS2 emulation but needs the better processor to really take advantage of that.
On import taxes, that watermelon price is right on the current line for the UK. If Sterling lost any value on USD prior to the unit’s arrival, it’d become eligible for duty. Lottery!
I really just want the powkiddy v90 to get a substantial hardware upgrade.. the gba sp formfactor is pretty close to ideal. Yes, the screen is tiny, but bigger handhelds are just too big for the pocket. Just because it _technically_ fits in your pocket doesn't mean it's going to be very comfortable to carry around. The v90/gba-sp is small and light enough that you can forget it's in your pocket. Anything bigger than that and I'd be putting it in a backpack or something.
Hey man! Just wanted to say a big thank you for all of your dedication and hard work! I'll be releasing my video next month and it will be a shoutout for you. Thank you!
The problem I see with retroid is the supply cant keep up with the demand. Anbernic at least seems to have consistent stock and good builds. Im curious to see if the RG405M is worth it. I was hoping that this retroid was a bit of an upgrade power wise. We need a small pocketable handheld that can reliably play most of PS2, Gamecube/Wii, 3DS.
That would possibly need a minimum of a SD 845 or D900 or better. Which would also mean a bump in price as well. 3ds would be the only one iffy due to either drivers or the emulator itself (the Vulkan builds are good but still needs improvement). But we're close
My concern with clamshells consoles is end user serviceability. The screen ribbon cable is a delicate piece that will frequently bend thus will eventually get damaged over time regardless if careful or not. Having seen many a NDS , 3DS, and GPD XD have this issue. Hope the internals especially the hinge area are easy to work with.
I would fricking kill for this thing if it was able to emulate 3ds without problems and had a second screen. I would pay such a nice penny for it. An used 3ds is just not feasible anymore. Its so damn expensive I could buy a new Oled switch.
I think that the wasted space is where speaker should have been since they don't have rooms with the speakers next to the screen like the DS. They look like they are going to be in the front were they are on the 2DS XL. Not good.
It definitely has me interested, but I'd probably wait and see if there's a Flip+ on the way. Speaking of clamshell handhelds, I'd love to see you jailbreak a New 2/3DS XL. There are some decent videos on them on RUclips, but none go as in-depth as you always do. Also I think it would be interesting to see the differences in Emulation capabilities between the RP Flip and a modded 2DS XL.
@@mgb360 I know how the modding part works. I'd just like to see Russ' take on it, especially the Pros and Cons, like with the jailbroken PS Vita a while ago
They don't really need to go in-depth because it's become so much easier nowadays, 80% of the process is automated and the other 20% is pulling the SD Card out of your 3DS/2DS and pulling it in your Computer/Laptop/Phone.
I've always liked the DS/3DS clamshell form factor. I originally wanted an X18S, but decided against it from watching your video review. Great video Russ and I look forward to watching your review of this device. Cheers! 👍👍
I really want something that can play GameCube games decently, but I also really like the clamshell design, so I'm personally going to wait for the potential Flip+. I know buyers remorse is always going to happen, but since we already have a precedent for the upgrade pattern, I think it's worth waiting to see the upgrades they do and then I'm absolutely getting it.
It would eventually be nice to see a dual screen device that you can do 4x + res on 3DS/DS and be able to use the lower screen for FAQs and walkthroughs or something for other systems
@@mackw919 he said, FAQs, walk through, etc. Think about pc gaming, where something else is on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th monitor or playing console with something open on your phone, tablet, etc. Whether it's chat, faq, interactive map, bg vids, etc.
I ordered the Watermelon color when it first went live for the preorder. I'm excited to get it because I love clamshell devices. I didn't have a Pocket 3+ either so this was a great upgrade from my RP2+ that I have currently :)
I'm pretty happy with my RP3+. It was my pick to upgrade from the RG351M, so I'm not looking to get an another device so quickly. That being said I allllmost wish I waited. I love the clamshell look and that sports red is sexy as hell.
Imma wait it out for the plus model 😅 didn't with the rp2 or the rp3 i gotta just learn my lesson haha thanks for the vid tho Russ! And happy the vacay went swell!
very interesting. this reminds me of how we went from game boy to gba, to gba sp, to to nintendo ds. we're seeing the evolution again but for emulation handhelds.
Clamshell has me sold. This is a spec bump over my current RGB10Max2 which already more than covers all the 8- and 16-bit retro gaming I prefer, so I'm not worried too much about a Flip+ coming down the pike. If anything I might buy a new shell if they come out with a color I like more than the Watermelon which is pretty damn slick already.
Overall, I’m pretty excited to see what happens with the Flip; I’ve been looking for a more accessible way to play older games, some mobile games, and indie games on the go for a while now. And this seems like it’d be just what I need. As for issues/complaints… Things like the joysticks being Hall effect sliders and not proper dome switches probably won’t bother me, at least as long as there’s minimal input lag or good sensitivity acceleration. (That being said, I do wish that there was something to fill up that extra space in between the face buttons; Maybe a medium-sized touchpad with customizable functions.) My last complaint is less with the device itself, and more with Retroid’s business model: I’ve always felt that models like the Pocket 3+ (and to a lesser extent, even the Flip itself) are really more akin to day one patch updates you see on modern console games; That is to say, the upgrades boasted by the “+” versions are really standard features that should’ve been available as part of the base product from the very beginning. And it all leads me to believe that Retroid really needs to rethink their business model, at least as far as properly developing their hardware is concerned.
I love the clamshell designs, I am a huge fan of the 3ds line. Once you get the device It would be great if after your review you could also a comparision video, comparing the Retroid Flip with the Powkiddy X18s which is very similiar.
I don’t mind the clamshell style, there’s a lot this new device has going for it. I like the analogue triggers, the placement of start/select, and programmable m1 and m2. The things I personally don’t like are the sliders… I tend to imagine any thumbstick to tilt. And I’ve owned a 3ds and always tried to tilt the stick rather than slide/drag it to around. I own a 2 plus and 3 plus. And enjoy that form factor a bit more. Retroid did address they won’t be having a new device 5 weeks after this releases at least!
People need to understand why it was so easy to go from the 3 to 3+. They were both 12 nm SOCs. To make a plus they have to engineer everything again. I would say it’s going to take a long time.
Same as they usually do, new form factor then chip upgrade. I totally want one as a collector, either way. So into the clamshell. If theyre releasing a new model 2-4 weeks from now with a new chip however, I'd rather wait since I have a 3 and two 3+
I’m thinking the analog sticks are positioned too close to the center of the console for good reachability. Perhaps they should have been under the d-pad and below the face buttons.
Seems like it would be a good companion to my Odin Lite. I love the clamshell design and even like the sliders. Much more pocketable than my Odin and I've found that a lot of the vertical handhelds hurt my hands for anything longer than super short play sessions. I don't really need one, but it's tempting me.
Despite it's age I'm still a huge fan of the GPD Win 2. And still find myself finding reasons to go back and play with it. I really wish GPD would make an updated version that still retained it's small form factor.
i still have a gpd win 1.. the OG from like 6-7 years ago lol. Granted its a crappy portable "gaming" Pc that only plays very simple 3d games and 2d games.. but it was very novel for its time in 2016. i was jelly of GPD win 2 users but i waited.. and now the 4 is almost out even.
@@jar768jake Yeah man.. its crazy how far we've come in the past 6 years lol. theres actually quite a few handful of ppl on the bus and at work and the street who stopped me to ask me what on earth i had in my hands and i explained to them how the Win1 is a portable gaming PC.. they were surprised lol. ( this is around 5 ish yrs ago before Covid). Now the market is flooded with them.
I was waiting for your video before deciding whether I should buy it or wait. The quality of your videos are always top notch, in so happy I found your channel when you were starting 😊
Sooooo are you going to buy it I think I'll wait till they update the chip
@VSMOKE I agree, no sense in getting a 3ds looking form factor if it can't smoothly run that level of content
I've been waiting to hear your take on this device!
They should sell the rp3+ innards in a rp2 shell with a better thumbstick. I would buy it instantly
Couldn't agree more! RP2 design still the best.
agreed still use my rp2 with lineage daily just cuz i cant buy new models constantly but it works good up to dreamcast so no big deal
@@LuthfiArfiansyah Cap
Would they actually fit inside that shell?
RG405M sorta. Anbernic's next handheld thats in the works. I'll be getting at the 353M tho personally. A T618 in that small of a package is gonna be hotter than a stove top. My RP3+ is already too hot for me
I personally don't mind the fast release cycle of these devices. It only ever frustrates me if they don't widely announce they're making a new model a few months ahead of time. If they just make it known they have upgrades very soon in the works, it would let the patient know to wait, but if the announcement is short notice they just wouldn't know.
lol patient i guess we really are the insane ones buying these things
I'm not too interested in the device itself... However I am interested in those sliders. I'd like to get my hands on some and see if they'll fit in a Switch lite. I've always thought it would be cool if I could slim it down and those would be perfect.
You want to make the sticks even worse? 😂
@@terribletimes902 3ds pads were cool. Especially on a pocket handheld.
I was thinking the same thing, they would be right at home on the Anbernic RG353V
@@terribletimes902 trade offs my friend. He is willing to take that on order to get it slimmer.
I would actually buy a 'Nintendo Switch Pocket' model if it has a clamshell design. I wouldn't be surprised if we get a model like that this year.
Looking forward to your perspective on this 😀
The perfect handheld for me would be clamshell version of the Miyoo Mini. I actually prefer a device that is more focused towards 80's and 90's retrogaming. Instead of having one that "tries to do everything". It's kind of liberating how well they can make the console design once they ditch analogue sticks and stick with 4:3 aspect ratio. The retro pocket flip is nice, but for me it's still a pass. I cannot understand why the Powkiddy V90 is the best GBA SP-like console we have so far. We need more variants in the form factor.
It hurts my soul because the the v90 has awful screen tearing.
@@CrispyChicken38 Same here! In a perfect world the Miyoo Mini+ would've been a clam shell. :) That would honestly be the perfect retro handheld for me.
Funny enough they just confirmed a clamshell Miyoo in early works. Check out Retro Breeze's channel he features what the model would look like in real life with 3d printing he did using the official blueprint released.
@@lucykaede5863 I saw it now. And I hate it! 😭I hate the inclusion of analogue sticks! What I loved about the Miyoo Mini was that it was purposefully built for 2D (and PlayStation) its simple design made it feel like an official Nintendo product. I REALLY hope they will offer a version without the sticks! They ruin what made the Miyoo Mini special. Of course I am aware that these renders were dirived from a patent. So hopefully it's not the final design, I want Miyoo Mini continue working on what made them special; Purposefully built devices.
@@PixelShade Yea the ergonomics with analog sticks might be uncomfy. Hopefully they release one without analog sticks. Also, isn't it uncomfy to play PS1 games without an analog stick since the original system had those?
A bright chrome yellow like that is so nice, interestingly looks so warm yet so fresh.
One of my favorite summer palettes involves this color with teal and various pastel accents, can't wait for spring to kick off
(As for this device... I'd pick either melon or indigo for sure, even if that red is giving me nostalgia for my GBA Advance)
I really hope this marks the return of the clamshell. I've always been a big GBA SP fan and am still loving the PowKiddy V90. Some more ergonomic designs like this could really stand out from the competition.
I hope RP can keep doing both layouts in parallel. Seems both have their perks and flaws but also devoted fans.
I sure hope so. I miss the clamshell design when using a Switch. It would make the unit much easier to carry around in my pocket.
To me the major letdown is those bottom-firing speakers. The slits on this one look worse than those of my RP3+, which are just OK. With all the space available on the bottom part they could gave put some front-firing speakers, which would have meant much better audio.
I'm getting 2DS XL vibes sadly. They ahve enough "empty space" they could ahve put them there.
I've always liked sliders. Analog sticks on smaller handhelds always made me feel like if I was too rough, it would break. The slider on the psp and 3ds really made me feel like I could play rougher with it. Games like smash bros 3ds or any fighter on the psp really help having a stick that's flush with the console for snappy movements.
facts, keeps its pocketable too!
3DS slider was fine, PSP was serviceable. RP2+ slider was closer to PSP feel.
The PSP slider was the pinnacle, 3DS Sliders always sucked
@@metroids224 You got those reversed
@@metroids224 both would easily break if handled too roughly. Always liked 3ds better, but possibly because it was just seated terribly on a psp
I think instead of a second screen they could have made that blank space as a trackpad, do SOMETHING with it. Really dig the programmable m buttons, finally! I miss that from my Odin on the RP3+. But those sliders... I think I'll pass on this, I have enough devices for now heh.
Great vid Russ! I think we were all waiting for your input on this.
They should just release the regular version and plus version at the same time, with the plus being slightly higher in price.
6 face buttons would have been good for Sega Saturn and game cube
@@cre8iveone699 That's what I was thinking too, could make them programmable and give them optional utility in the OS interface as well. I kinda hate it when button situations don't work out when they easily could've, even looking back at the old xbox and gamecube controllers, I wish they adopted shoulder buttons sooner.
Those consoles accepted ports like SSX from PS2, but they weren't really able to accomodate them, Gamecube had one less button, and xbox's ''black and white'' weren't any good for many actions.
PS2 emu is terrible on my end, xbox controls bake a stupid combination into a single button and have unintuitive tricks, so I have to settle for gamecube.
They could have put the speakers upfront instead of on the back.
a qwerty would have been nice
I usually go for the indigo colors for these handhelds but the all black looks really slick.
I do like this form factor, and am glad clamshell designs are getting some use.
Hope you had a good cruise Russ.. that was very thoughtful of you to keep the content coming.. good on you man! 👍🏼
For those of us that dislike all the "tinkering" with Android I wish Ambernic or Powkiddy would use this as a template. I feel that the clam shell form factor is going to be incredible. I still rock my low powered V90!
I love my V90. I wanted a basically upgraded GBA SP and that's what it does.
@@youtubesucksbutts For sure. I basically use mine for systems that were originally handheld systems, GB, GBC, GBA, NG Pocket, stuff like that. Those systems had a smaller screen then the V90 so it's an improvement.
Imagine having two screens and watching RUclips on one of them while playing a game, or have a guide open in a web browser. I'd love to see it, though I can imagine Android not being a good OS for multiple screens right now.
I'm very happy to see this, as it's essentially the exact retro handheld I was waiting for. I hope it turns out to be as good as I hope when you review it!
yooooo the design is 🔥🔥 dope they need to make the next design like the PSP Go and call it the Retroid Pocket Slide 🔥🔥
I still have my GPD XD Plus! Still liking it.
Of course, a Steam Deck or any other handheld will never capture the magic of having friends come over during the 80s and 90s. I remember all those times my friends would come over to play NES, SNES, or PS1 with me. I remember having tournaments with my cousins with Super Mario Kart. I played Tekken 3 for 3 years against all my friends and family. I played Tekken 2 against my dad and his friends!
Those days playing with actual friends in your home creating memories with them are long gone. But would I take a Steam Deck over every console I previously owned? Hell yeah. It can emulate the last 40+ years of gaming. Congrats to anybody who owns it. It's a gamechanger. To play triple-A titles anywhere like Elden Ring is mind-blowing to someone like me who could only get 3-hours with 6 AA batteries with a Sega Game Gear.
Steam Deck is useful beyond gaming. If gaming gets boring, it's still a portable PC.
Really excited!! Hahah oh and please buy the watermelon colour and the black colour 😊 (those two specifically are the ones that I’d be most interested in personally anyway)
And yes, I’ll probably wait for a possible Flip+ before I make any decisions here on this 😅
Regarding the shell colors, you could get a neutral black one along with whichever you decided. Custom modders from etsy would definitely come up with some sick skins, similar to how NDS/3DS got same treatments.
Your voice helps me through anxiety attacks man even if I didn't care about handhelds - like your takes too
Personally, I'm going to wait for a plus version. You know its coming, and we are steadily approaching that $200 mark with a spec bump here. If the 'plus' could add a few systems to play in a clamshell form, I'd think that would be a good jack-of-most trades device to get.
Thx to your reviews I got me the rg505 and no regrets so far
Great coverage, as always. I don’t typically watch this type of video-conjecture of a sorts on a product not in hand-but your no-nonsense, rational, pragmatic approach always sucks me right in. Both the Watermelon and Sport Red flavors are pretty slick, and if I didn’t already have my hacked Vita and Steam Deck in hand, this would really appeal. Looking forward to the piece on your traveling reflections!
It's a retroid pocket 3+ that folds closed. Glad to see it.
I do wish they upgraded the soc but I'm also a sucker for clamshell devices and that watermelon color looks amazing. You should get indigo if you grab two cause the contrast with the purple and light grey buttons looks awesome too! Thanks Russ :)
This is gonna be the one for me. Cant wait.
I mostly agree with you, it looks like an interesting alternative to the 3+ and it makes no real sense to make a DS/3DS clone nowdays, since finding an actual one in good condition at a reasonable price is still easy. My main concerns are ergonomics and how good the sliders actually are, I prefer sticks mostly because they don't mess them up so often. And watermelon is too the one I'd pick for myself, so I will wait for you reviewers to address those concerns before buying.
Clamshell devices have their pros. Of course, they are usually more compact, and let you worry a bit less about screen, as they protect the display quite well when they are closed.
Another pro, is that you have the option to play with different inclinations, and find the one that fits you bets.
The cons, is that they are potentially prone to hinge issues.
If their build quality is not good, you might end having the shell being too loose, which might be very annoying, when you get the top shell moving while you're playing.
Looking forward for your review, just because I'm curious to see how they did with the latest Retroid 3 evolution, and of course, because your reviews are a pleasure to see 😃
But I don't think I'll purchase it.
I own a Retroid Pocket 3, and even if the raised performances of the RP3+ might be appealing for most people, are not worthy for me, at this stage.
Considering how frequently a new retro console is coming out nowadays, I'll rather wait for the RP4 (or whatever they are going to call it) once it will come out, assuming the performances upgrade will be worthy, of course.
Me, personally, I'm actually stoked for this device! I have yet to purchase a Retroid device, and I'm a HUGE sucker for clamshells! Pretty almost every handheld I've ever owned were clamshells (excluding my GB Color, PS Vita, Switch, and Steam Deck) and my fondest memories of handheld gaming were on my Gameboy Advance SP, DSi, or 3DS XL! So, even if there's a plus version somewhere down the line, I still might buy this device, I mostly plan to play NES, SNES, GB/GBC, and GBA, maybe some PS1 and a few N64 games, and I might get Drastic to run DS emulators too!
Great content as always, Russ! I can't wait for you to get the device and give us an in-depth review! Keep on gaming!!!
The GBA SP was my favorite and one of my first handhelds, and while I have and love my RP2+ I never got around to moving onto the 3+ - mostly because I wanted to see what else they'd come out with, since I got the 2+ right before the 3 was announced
Glad I waited, cause this is right up my alley
Very excited for this! Great video, as always. However, Retroid taught me to wait for the inevitable + version of their products. i’ll just keep my eyes out for when that time comes. Truthfully, if they made an even smaller machine with the same power, i’d buy it in a heartbeat.
What I really want is a clamshell device with a second screen dedicated to UI options. FF, RW, save states, frame data, resolution, etc. It doesn't have to be a DS/3DS clone, but I feel like adding a small touchscreen with some functionality would be a huge end-user boon. Especially for people with little experience navigating these retro handheld OS's -- give it to my sister or son and have it be intuitive.
One of the best channels on RUclips. Love your vids.
I'm excited! The device looks great and it'll be fun to play on the go with that pocketability and experience.
Even if we have to wait a bit longer than the short time between 3 and 3 plus, I’m excited about the idea of a flip plus. Dimensity D900 perhaps?
I personally am glad they went with a "playstation" placement for the analog sticks. I have a few retro handhelds and android controllers, because the analog sticks are placed at the outer edge of the device, my thumbs do not comfortably rest on them without being bent a lot or my thumb being halfway on the stick. With the sticks being closer to the center of the device it will allow the thumb to be comfortably extended on the thumbstick without a lot of bending. This in conjunction with the analog triggers will make it a decently comfortable game streaming device i imagine.
Sliders should really be more popular. Most of these handhelds have thumb-sticks with limited movement anyway, the main benefit of a thumb-stick over something like a slider or nub is that it should have greater range and finer control of movement. The sliders I've used are so much smoother than a lot of these handheld thumb-sticks, and feel like they have as much or even greater movement range.
I pre-ordered the Sport Red version. When I saw it I was instantly hooked for some reason, even if there's a chance of a plus version releasing very soon after.
I hope I'm satisfied with it and am looking forward to your future videos on it. I really appreciate your optimism and upbeat attitude while also being concise when you talk about these systems. :)
This design definitely caught my eye! GBA SP was one of my all-time favorite pieces of hardware. Currently devoted to my PS Vita and using Sunshine/Moonlight to stream PS2 games running on PCSX2 Nightly. Trying to limit my footprint and hardware purchases, so I will probably hold out for the next Steam Deck as my next all-in-one handheld. Love trying out hardware vicariously on RetroGameCorps. Can’t wait for the full review.
The next Steam Deck is what i think about holding out for too
Yep, buying this.
Next gen
- oled screen
- better soc
- use empty space for quality soundbar facing upwards
Bring it on!
I like the watermelon and the snes style colors
The indigo one looks pretty nice.
Also, if the flip already has the internals of rp3+, I think there might not be a flip+, since it’s just another form factor of the rp3+. But this is just a theory.
I have an RP3+ m’self and absolutely love it, and while I’m really excited for the prospect of the Flip, I’m most likely gonna hold off on it for now. I *do* enjoy the clamshell design a lot, having loved it on the GBA SP/DS/3DS, but the fact that it has the same specs as the RP3+ makes me just want to hold off on it and wait for the probably inevitable Flip+ or even the RP4, if one should be made
You're right to wait however we're going to be stuck with these current UNISOC T618 and Rockchip RK3566/3588 for like 2 more years minimum and I don't think there's going to be a faster RP4 unless they switch to Snapdragon or something. Rockchip and UNISOC do not have ANY new chips on the horizon that are even announced for the future yet and even after releasing it can take years for the chips to make it into handhelds. You're in for the long haul with these current chips kinda like how we were stuck with RK3326.
@@zyxyuv1650 Unisoc has 6nm chips in budget phones. T760 and T770 spring to mind.
@@RandomPlaceHolderName Can you convince some company to use a T760/T770 in a gaming handheld? I always post comments about this stuff and it gets 0 upvotes and I feel like I must be posting about something nobody cares about.
@@zyxyuv1650 You get 0 upvotes because you say ignorant things like 'UNISOC do not have ANY new chips on the horizon'.
The active cooling might be there because they're overclocking the processor somehow.
I've been told that Unisoc chips, especially the T618, become very unstable even with a slight overclocking compared to something from Qualcomm or Dimensity, so I believe it will be unlikely. That would be cool if they were able to do that though!
@@RetroGameCorps oh, interesting! I didn't know. Thanks, Russ!
Clamshell is a trap, hard to have a good vision angle, usually unbalanced in weight and honestly the only feature is you don't need a screen protector.
The main feature of the ds line was doing something with the extra space on the bottom part, here's they did nothing.
As someone who had his RP3 arrive a couple of weeks before the RP3+ was announced, I was a little displeased. But I decided to just stick with my 3. If the Flip has the same capabilities as the 3+, I’m gonna wait till we get one that is able to play most if not all GameCube games before I order my next device. Still, I do love what I’m seeing from Retroid.
I'm one of those in the camp that bought the pocket 3 only I was late to the party so I received mine only two weeks before the pocket 3+ released which was quite disappointing. :/ I've seen the 3+ PCB update for it but at $90 plus shipping I'd probably be better off trying to sell the pocket 3 and apply that to a 3+ or this flip
I do like this new button layout a lot more. The pocket 3's button layout always felt more like a lazy design just adding buttons where they could around an android phone board layout and made pressing the start and select buttons a constant reminder of that. It's a tough call, this design is prepped for some great GC and PS2 emulation but needs the better processor to really take advantage of that.
I recommend you to get the Sport Red
Never knew you were from Hawai‘i. I'm from and live on O‘ahu. Great content as always🤙
On import taxes, that watermelon price is right on the current line for the UK. If Sterling lost any value on USD prior to the unit’s arrival, it’d become eligible for duty. Lottery!
I'm definitely going from my RP2+ to this clamshell. I love this upgrade.
I really just want the powkiddy v90 to get a substantial hardware upgrade.. the gba sp formfactor is pretty close to ideal. Yes, the screen is tiny, but bigger handhelds are just too big for the pocket. Just because it _technically_ fits in your pocket doesn't mean it's going to be very comfortable to carry around. The v90/gba-sp is small and light enough that you can forget it's in your pocket. Anything bigger than that and I'd be putting it in a backpack or something.
Hey man! Just wanted to say a big thank you for all of your dedication and hard work! I'll be releasing my video next month and it will be a shoutout for you. Thank you!
The problem I see with retroid is the supply cant keep up with the demand. Anbernic at least seems to have consistent stock and good builds. Im curious to see if the RG405M is worth it. I was hoping that this retroid was a bit of an upgrade power wise. We need a small pocketable handheld that can reliably play most of PS2, Gamecube/Wii, 3DS.
That would possibly need a minimum of a SD 845 or D900 or better. Which would also mean a bump in price as well. 3ds would be the only one iffy due to either drivers or the emulator itself (the Vulkan builds are good but still needs improvement). But we're close
Yeah but their devices are all so ugly.
Anbernic and good builds in the same sentence? Sorry still upset about the rg35xx that died in 8 days
@@obvious_giraffe8386 f
@@obvious_giraffe8386 you played yours in Syria's WAR BATTLEFIELD, right?
My concern with clamshells consoles is end user serviceability. The screen ribbon cable is a delicate piece that will frequently bend thus will eventually get damaged over time regardless if careful or not. Having seen many a NDS , 3DS, and GPD XD have this issue. Hope the internals especially the hinge area are easy to work with.
I would fricking kill for this thing if it was able to emulate 3ds without problems and had a second screen.
I would pay such a nice penny for it.
An used 3ds is just not feasible anymore. Its so damn expensive I could buy a new Oled switch.
iTS GOOD TO SEE YOUR PASSION FOR THE RETRO GAMING
I think that the wasted space is where speaker should have been since they don't have rooms with the speakers next to the screen like the DS. They look like they are going to be in the front were they are on the 2DS XL. Not good.
It definitely has me interested, but I'd probably wait and see if there's a Flip+ on the way. Speaking of clamshell handhelds, I'd love to see you jailbreak a New 2/3DS XL. There are some decent videos on them on RUclips, but none go as in-depth as you always do. Also I think it would be interesting to see the differences in Emulation capabilities between the RP Flip and a modded 2DS XL.
Just watch Blaine Lockers video
Use the online guide. It's quick and easy.
@@mgb360 I know how the modding part works. I'd just like to see Russ' take on it, especially the Pros and Cons, like with the jailbroken PS Vita a while ago
@TheMarslMcFly there's no cons, especially since the Wii U/3DS eshop is closing like next week. Hack away!
They don't really need to go in-depth because it's become so much easier nowadays, 80% of the process is automated and the other 20% is pulling the SD Card out of your 3DS/2DS and pulling it in your Computer/Laptop/Phone.
Aye! I was hoping you'd upload on this. Look forward to see thoughts when you get your hands on it
As a current owner of a retroid pocket 2+ and a fan of clam devices I'm quite interested on this
If I buy one and 90 days later they release a new more powerful version...
_is that considered being _*_flipped off?_*
Already waiting for the RP Flip+
I've always liked the DS/3DS clamshell form factor. I originally wanted an X18S, but decided against it from watching your video review. Great video Russ and I look forward to watching your review of this device. Cheers! 👍👍
X18S control is bad. I Hope this one has good control and I'll buy one 16bitUS.
Thank you for mentioning the shipping and vat extra pricing!!
Imagine a dual screen flip handheld emulating Wii U gamepad
I really want something that can play GameCube games decently, but I also really like the clamshell design, so I'm personally going to wait for the potential Flip+. I know buyers remorse is always going to happen, but since we already have a precedent for the upgrade pattern, I think it's worth waiting to see the upgrades they do and then I'm absolutely getting it.
I'll wait for the + and hope they eventually put a 4:3 screen in the middle there. Love the idea of a dual screen setup
I can almost guarantee to you this will not happen. There's a lot of work to be done in putting a second screen like that there
@@rony_rst with time my friend with time, if not retroid then another
@@rony_rst Yep. It's way too much development for very little gain. Especially for a small company like Retroid.
Emulators do not even Support dual screens
It would eventually be nice to see a dual screen device that you can do 4x + res on 3DS/DS and be able to use the lower screen for FAQs and walkthroughs or something for other systems
3ds still exist why would you need another screen for retro games
@@mackw919 he said, FAQs, walk through, etc.
Think about pc gaming, where something else is on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th monitor or playing console with something open on your phone, tablet, etc. Whether it's chat, faq, interactive map, bg vids, etc.
@@mackw919 have you seen how expensive a 3DS is?
I ordered the Watermelon color when it first went live for the preorder. I'm excited to get it because I love clamshell devices. I didn't have a Pocket 3+ either so this was a great upgrade from my RP2+ that I have currently :)
Monday : retriod flip
Tuesday: retriod flip +
I'm pretty happy with my RP3+. It was my pick to upgrade from the RG351M, so I'm not looking to get an another device so quickly.
That being said I allllmost wish I waited. I love the clamshell look and that sports red is sexy as hell.
Analog triggers and magnetic sliders ! They will update and squeeze out more performance and the active cooling will allow some good performance imo.
Man, i'm obsessed with hexagonal shapes.
Imma wait it out for the plus model 😅 didn't with the rp2 or the rp3 i gotta just learn my lesson haha thanks for the vid tho Russ! And happy the vacay went swell!
Looking forward to see your video talking about the ABXYLUTE that we saw at the intro of this video.
watermelon and red to test fingerprints
watermelon because it is tasty
very interesting. this reminds me of how we went from game boy to gba, to gba sp, to to nintendo ds. we're seeing the evolution again but for emulation handhelds.
Clamshell has me sold. This is a spec bump over my current RGB10Max2 which already more than covers all the 8- and 16-bit retro gaming I prefer, so I'm not worried too much about a Flip+ coming down the pike. If anything I might buy a new shell if they come out with a color I like more than the Watermelon which is pretty damn slick already.
Overall, I’m pretty excited to see what happens with the Flip; I’ve been looking for a more accessible way to play older games, some mobile games, and indie games on the go for a while now. And this seems like it’d be just what I need.
As for issues/complaints…
Things like the joysticks being Hall effect sliders and not proper dome switches probably won’t bother me, at least as long as there’s minimal input lag or good sensitivity acceleration.
(That being said, I do wish that there was something to fill up that extra space in between the face buttons; Maybe a medium-sized touchpad with customizable functions.)
My last complaint is less with the device itself, and more with Retroid’s business model: I’ve always felt that models like the Pocket 3+ (and to a lesser extent, even the Flip itself) are really more akin to day one patch updates you see on modern console games; That is to say, the upgrades boasted by the “+” versions are really standard features that should’ve been available as part of the base product from the very beginning. And it all leads me to believe that Retroid really needs to rethink their business model, at least as far as properly developing their hardware is concerned.
I love the clamshell designs, I am a huge fan of the 3ds line. Once you get the device It would be great if after your review you could also a comparision video, comparing the Retroid Flip with the Powkiddy X18s which is very similiar.
I don’t mind the clamshell style, there’s a lot this new device has going for it.
I like the analogue triggers, the placement of start/select, and programmable m1 and m2.
The things I personally don’t like are the sliders… I tend to imagine any thumbstick to tilt. And I’ve owned a 3ds and always tried to tilt the stick rather than slide/drag it to around. I own a 2 plus and 3 plus. And enjoy that form factor a bit more.
Retroid did address they won’t be having a new device 5 weeks after this releases at least!
Guy gets to play retro handhelds and live in paradise.. trade lives with me Russ!
People need to understand why it was so easy to go from the 3 to 3+. They were both 12 nm SOCs. To make a plus they have to engineer everything again. I would say it’s going to take a long time.
this is pretty close to my dream handheld. still holding out for a GBA SP formfactor clamshell
Same as they usually do, new form factor then chip upgrade. I totally want one as a collector, either way. So into the clamshell. If theyre releasing a new model 2-4 weeks from now with a new chip however, I'd rather wait since I have a 3 and two 3+
Ehh. I want multiple colors so I'll probably just buy one of each, I'm just too lazy to redo my retro library once I get comfy with a device 😅
I hope they offer the + version in a new limited color. I'd definitely get both models then.
The sport red looks absolutely gorgeous 😍 I’d buy it for that alone😝😂
The black one looks stealthy and cool , black buttons be ideal imo .
If this survives the reviews this is gonna be my first retro handheld, when its not way to expensive.
I’m thinking the analog sticks are positioned too close to the center of the console for good reachability. Perhaps they should have been under the d-pad and below the face buttons.
Very good insight I will pick one up for the simple fact the clam shell design.
Seems like it would be a good companion to my Odin Lite. I love the clamshell design and even like the sliders. Much more pocketable than my Odin and I've found that a lot of the vertical handhelds hurt my hands for anything longer than super short play sessions.
I don't really need one, but it's tempting me.
Retroid confirmed in a comment that there will be no Flip+ fwiw
Despite it's age I'm still a huge fan of the GPD Win 2. And still find myself finding reasons to go back and play with it. I really wish GPD would make an updated version that still retained it's small form factor.
i still have a gpd win 1.. the OG from like 6-7 years ago lol.
Granted its a crappy portable "gaming" Pc that only plays very simple 3d games and 2d games.. but it was very novel for its time in 2016.
i was jelly of GPD win 2 users but i waited.. and now the 4 is almost out even.
@@heyjeySigma I also got the GPD win 1 back when it was like one of the only portable PC handheld’s as well, I used to play fallout 3 a lot on it
@@jar768jake Yeah man.. its crazy how far we've come in the past 6 years lol.
theres actually quite a few handful of ppl on the bus and at work and the street who stopped me to ask me what on earth i had in my hands and i explained to them how the Win1 is a portable gaming PC.. they were surprised lol. ( this is around 5 ish yrs ago before Covid).
Now the market is flooded with them.
retroid team: thanks for the nice review. heres your free handheld flip
I will wait for RP FLIP 3 PLUS 😅