:what-the-hell:
Why even make something like this? It's way too small to be genuinely usable, and it'd be one thing if this was 15 bucks and only played built-in Chinese NES romhacks but it's actually got a decent build quality and can even play some of the PS1 library.
For 10 dollars less you can get a device that's 3 times bigger, still pocketable and actually comfortable to play on.
:lenin-confused:
Anbernic lost the plot with their pricing a long time ago. They had a hit in the RG350 and nothing has been priced all that well since then.
How good are rechargeable AA and AAAs these days? I can't help but wonder if it'd be more convenient to carry an extra set around than to have the machine hooked up to a power bank.
There's several tiers of different devices going from 50 to 300+ dollars, from simple Android and Linux handhelds to fullblown portable gaming PCs like the Steam Deck. What systems would you like to emulate and what's your budget?
For 10 dollars less you can get a device that’s 3 times bigger, still pocketable and actually comfortable to play on.
Which one are your referring to here?
Sorry for the late response I think between 100-200, I've been thinking about a deck for a bit. But I feel like it is not future proof enough to drop 500+ on the ssd variant and storage. I feel like a 2 is rolling around. So in my head I'm thinking something with a bit less power ideally like 150.
In that price range your best choice is probably the Retroid Pocket 3+ or the Retroid Pocket Flip. Powerwise, they are the exact same, the Flip just has a clamshell form factor if you're into that. (The Flip also features analog triggers (good) and slider-style analog sticks to accomodate the clamshell design (not good, kinda bad))
Here are reviews of each from the same channel
They will handle up to Dreamcast and PSP with no problems with upscaling applied, and you can even run some Gamecube and PS2 games on them, with the empasis on some. For stable PS2 and Gamecube emulation of most of their libraries you're going to need a Steam Deck or equivalent portable gaming PC or a really high end phone, these Chinese handhelds aren't quite there yet.
Edit: There's also the non-Plus Retroid Pocket 3 which is slightly cheaper but struggles on some DC and PSP games and is a complete nogo as far as PS2 and GC games
Holly shit we are on psp now? There are some bangers locked on that system. Thanks for all the info!
PSP emulation has been a thing for at least 8 years. We're on Vita now 😎
I have the retroid pocket 1 and it's nice, the buttons aren't that good and android is finicky but i finished earthbound on that thing. The screen looks pretty good. RP3+ is sort of the same but better specced than the one I have. If you like tinkering with your phone to get emulators running, you'll like that thing. If not maybe look for something with a better ootb experience
These Chinese handheld companies are making them from leftover phone parts from a few hardware generations ago, so they just keep making slightly better ones year after year.
I think it's related to the :brainworms: behind "MUST GET NEW IPHONE EVERY YEAR BECAUSE ITS SLIGHTLY THINNER" :soypoint-2: compulsions.
I wanted one of these for a while that i could just leave in my backpack long term and not worry about it. Some were honestly too big to keep in a bag in a side pocket. I ended up just hacking my psp and playing a 1/3rd of chrono trigger before getting sorta lost.
A PSP is not made for literal ants though- this thing is minuscule, literally intended as a keychain.
Portable emulators are cool but this is just silly.
There are tens of thousands of psychotic "collectors" who will buy every color, put them on a shelf, have them all display different games in the same series, take a picture, and post on reddit for 213 karma. Then never touch them again. It's a Chinese company taking westerner's money, so I'm like :shrug-outta-hecks:
It's weird people would do that for these Chinese emulator things, they don't have the same nostalgia/prestige/brand factor "real" consoles have.
It's the bazinga factor of being able to play Pokemon on something the size of a thumb. There's a whole ecosystem of paid influencers shilling every one of these things.
