At $99 before shipping, the Retroid Pocket 2+ is the best deal in retro handheld gaming. So let’s take a deep dive into the device and see if it’s worth considering.
Buy one here
Retro Handhelds’ RP2+ Settings Spreadsheet
Review: Retroid Pocket 2+
Tag: guide
Anbernic RG552 Linux Setup Guide
Last Updated: 27DEC2021 (see Changelog for details)
The Anbernic RG552 is a unique device in that it can boot into both Linux and Android, giving users a wide variety of use cases. In this guide we’ll go over some of your options when it comes to the Linux operating system, including a pre-configured SD card image that you can download and use directly on your device.
Some caveats:
- The Linux operating system that ships with the device is a modified version of Batocera v29. Several development teams (including the official Batocera team) are already hard at work on updated firmware that will improve the user experience. This guide is meant to be a stop-gap while we wait for proper updated firmware.
- This guide will show you how to install a pre-configured SD card image you can simply flash an SD card that has all of the changes baked in.
- I DO NOT recommend flashing this SD card image over your existing 16GB card that came with the device. Keep that one around for safekeeping; instead, I recommend using a SanDisk Ultra 16GB card because it is more reliable and can be found for under $10.
- If you don’t want to flash a new SD card image, I will also link to a shell script that will provide most of the tweaks to your existing stock firmware.
- Once custom firmware is available, I will likely NOT recommend using this guide, since updated firmware will likely improve the user experience as well as emulation performance.
- This updated image will include optimized hotkeys, auto save/load for most systems, scaling, and aspect ratios, plus the ability to download new themes.
- Big thanks to developers FGL82 and konsumschaf for help with dialing in the proper settings, and TheGreatCrippler for helping shrink down this image to a manageable size.
For now, I would focus on using the Linux interface for PS1 and below gameplay. The emulators on the Android OS side are much more optimized and will give you better performance across the board. Custom firmware might make Linux more performative in the future, but for now I would use Android for Nintendo DS, Dreamcast, PSP, Nintendo 64, Panasonic 3D0, Atari Jaguar, and Nintendo GameCube.
So without any further delay, let’s jump into it.
Continue reading “Anbernic RG552 Linux Setup Guide”Review: Miyoo Mini
For its price, the Miyoo Mini punches well above its weight class, with a 2.8″ 640×480 display, solid hardware, and performance up to the PS1. In this video we’ll take a deep dive into this new retro handheld and see what kind of potential it can bring to the table.
Buy one here (non-affiliate link)
Continue reading “Review: Miyoo Mini”Review: AWOW CreaPlay E6 Monitor
A portable monitor can come in handy for many reasons — they make a nice and simple secondary monitor, and are great when traveling. But how do they perform as a companion for your retro gaming setup? Let’s find out.
AWOW CreaPlay E6 monitor
AWOW CreaPlay E8 monitor
Note that the monitors have 36-month warranty
RG552 Preliminary Review
Anbernic’s new flagship device is finally here — so is it worth the hefty sticker price? Let’s take a deep-dive into the device, its features, and its potential.
Buy one here
Updated Linux firmware image
PowKiddy X18S Firmware Upgrade (LineageOS, Android 11)
In this video I’ll show you how to upgrade the operating system on the PowKiddy X18S to the slim and stable LineageOS from Black Seraph. We’ll also test out emulation performance with this new OS running N64, PSP, Dreamcast, GameCube, PS2, and more.
PowKiddy X18S
Black Seraph’s Patreon
JimRPG’s GameCube settings
Taki Udon’s PS2 settings
Stardew Valley on Retro Handhelds
Last updated: 13JUL2022 (see Changelog for details)
UPDATE: PortMaster has recently created a one-stop shop for all things related to running ports on retro handhelds. I recommend checking out their website and my most recent PortMaster guide instead of the guide below; I’m leaving this page up for posterity’s sake only. To get started, head over to their Games tab, find the game you want to run, and check out their instructions on that page. If you run into any issues, their discord server is also a great place to start.
The beloved farming simulator Stardew Valley has now been ported to RK3326 devices such as the Anbernic RG351 series, PowKiddy RGB10 series, ODROID Go Advance/Super, and the GameForce Chi. This game also works on other devices that work with PortMaster, such as the Anbernic RG552, RG353P, and RG503.
Setting up this game is similar to other ports such as Shovel Knight, Undertale, and Iconoclasts. Mad props to developer JohnnyOnFlame for getting this port running; please consider buying him a coffee for his hard work.
IMPORTANT NOTE: since making my installation video below, the game has been updated which affects that installation. From now on, it’s important to download the “Compatibility” version of the game in order for the process to work. The written instructions below will walk you through that process.
Continue reading “Stardew Valley on Retro Handhelds”Guide: Iconoclasts on Retro Handhelds (via PortMaster)
UPDATE: PortMaster has recently created a one-stop shop for all things related to running ports on retro handhelds. I recommend checking out their website and my most recent PortMaster guide instead of the guide below; I’m leaving this page up for posterity’s sake only. To get started, head over to their Games tab, find the game you want to run, and check out their instructions on that page. If you run into any issues, their discord server is also a great place to start.
Today we’re going to set up the indie game Iconoclasts to work on RK3326-powered retro handheld devices such as the RG351MP and the RG351V, as well as the RG552, RG503, and RG353P devices running PortMaster-friendly custom firmware. This port is available thanks to the PortMaster platform, which is available on the ArkOS, Retro Arena, JELOS, and AmberELEC firmwares.
Some notes
- The video guide shows you how to set up the device on ArkOS, but the process will be the same for the other firmwares.
- This game isn’t meant to play on low-resolution screens, and so the text is mostly illegible on 480×320 displays like on the RG351P, RG351M, and RGB10. In general, I would recommend this game for the RG351MP, RG351V, and the Chi GameForce.
- As of making this video, the port doesn’t work on RetroOZ, so there is no option to play this on the RGB10 Max or ODROID Go Super.
Guide: PowKiddy X18S Hardware Mods
Last updated: 24NOV2021
At $170, the PowKiddy X18S currently provides the best emulation performance you can find in a sub-$200 dedicated handheld right now. But as I demonstrated in my review video, its hardware leaves a lot to be desired. In this video we’re going to improve the gameplay experience by upgrading the d-pad, analog sticks, and face buttons to make this device a little bit more of a bargain. This is the first in a two-part video series; in the next X18S video I will upgrade the software experience with LineageOS.
PowKiddy X18S
My X18S review video
Tools and Materials:
Nintendo DS Lite d-pad
PS Vita 2000 analog sticks
RG350 rubber membranes
iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit
PS Vita analog stick caps – not recommended for this device, but they are mentioned in the video and work great on the PS Vita or ODROID Go Super (with PS Vita stick mod).
The eBay links above are affiliate links for which I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Continue reading “Guide: PowKiddy X18S Hardware Mods”Review: Anbernic RG280M
The Anbernic RG280M is on sale for $63 on Amazon so I decided to pick one up and compare it to the current catalog of sub-$100 retro handheld devices. With a well-established chipset and excellent custom firmware, is this a hidden gem, or something worth skipping?
Amazon sale ($63, limited stock)
AliExpress ($66)
Adam firmware guide
Retro Game Corps 