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Retroid Pocket 4 Pro review: The Nintendo Switch-style retro Android handheld to get
Retroid's Pocket 4 Pro is a tiny but capable Android handheld that is perfect for mobile gaming and retro emulation
The term "gaming handheld" now covers a wide variety of devices, from PC gaming handhelds with laptop-class processing power, to tiny retro game consoles taking design cues from a past era. For example, the OneXPlayer X1 is a gigantic and beastly gaming device that can barely be considered a handheld, while the Miyoo Mini+ is the size of a deck of cards. The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, by comparison, falls directly in the middle of those two extremes. It isn't a large and powerful computer like the best PC gaming handhelds, and it isn't a strictly-retro device powered by a single-board computer. With a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 processor and Android 13, the Pocket 4 Pro is like a mix of a budget Android phone's internals with the form factor of a Nintendo Switch Lite.
PC vs Android gaming handhelds: The battle is closer than you think
Does the extra power of a PC gaming handheld automatically make Android handhelds a worse option? As it turns out, it's not that simple.
If you want to play games on the go, you have a few options. Of course, there are the mainstream choices, like the Nintendo Switch or smartphone gaming with a mobile controller. Then you have PC gaming handhelds, like the Steam Deck or Asus ROG Ally, which offer unmatched performance and flexibility in the handheld form factor. However, most people have forgotten about Android gaming handhelds. They won't impress you on the spec sheet, and some might think they are obsolete in an era where smartphones are more powerful than ever and PC gaming handhelds are flourishing. When comparing the actual gaming experience, though, PC and Android gaming handhelds are more similar than you might think.
GameSir X2s review: A budget mobile gaming controller with some compromises
It's cheap in some areas, and premium in others. Overall, the GameSir X2s is a decent value at its price point.
Mobile gaming is starting to go mainstream, and I'm not referring to games like Candy Crush or Clash of Clans. With advancements like PC gaming handhelds and game streaming, you can play real AAA titles on the go. Though I'm a huge fan of gaming handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally, accessories can turn your smartphone into a portable gaming device without costing even remotely as much. GameSir has been in the mobile gaming controller space for a while, and the GameSir X2s is its latest offering. It's a solid value for under $50, offering a USB-C connector and quality internal hardware. However, the cheap overall build, Nintendo Switch layout, and lack of ports leave a bit to be desired.
Boox Palma review: Palm-sized e-reader with Android is a joy to use
The Boox Palma is a phone-shaped e-reader that fits in the palm easily and runs full Android with app support
Last year I tested an Android tablet from Boox with an e-ink screen (plus an excellent keyboard folio case and stylus) that proved to be a fun little machine for reading, sketching and typing, but I thought its $599 price made it a tough sell. That same Shenzhen-based company is back with a less ambitious e-ink device that is much smaller and more affordable. While it no longer has that great keyboard or stylus support, the Boox Palma is a more practical reading device, but the price is still perhaps too high.
4 gaming handhelds to look forward to this year
2023 was a great year for PC gaming handhelds, and 2024 is shaping up to be even better
Gaming handhelds like the original GPD Win and Pandora existed long before the Steam Deck, though it was the latter that truly made PC handhelds a worthwhile alternative to bulky gaming laptops. Following the success of the Steam Deck, many firms, including big-name brands like Asus and Lenovo began working on their own spin on the PC handheld formula to capitalize on the growing popularity of these portable gaming systems.
Retroid Pocket 4 & Pocket 4 Pro handheld game consoles now up for pre-order, starting at $149
They will start shipping next month.
Gaming on-the-go has become really trendy in recent years, and gamers have a plethora of great handheld gaming consoles to choose from. Valve's Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally remain two of the best options in the market, but new devices are also launching regularly. The two latest handhelds to join the bandwagon are the Retroid Pocket 4 and Pocket 4 Pro, which were announced earlier this month. Just over a week after their announcement, both are now finally up for pre-order.
Aokzoe is launching its A2 gaming handheld featuring Ryzen APUs on Dec. 22
The A2 also features a seven-inch bezel-free display rated up to 1920x1200
There are numerous gaming handhelds available on the market, each with its own perks and drawbacks. If you prioritize performance, you know that the processor in the device can make or break its value. Many handheld gaming devices feature accelerated processing units (APUs), which combine the CPU and GPU to create a single powerful microprocessor. The A2 from Aokzoe is one of these devices, and it will be launching before the end of December 2023 with two Ryzen APU options.
OneXPlayer is making an 11-inch gaming handheld with Intel Core Ultra CPUs
The handheld’s 2.5K high-resolution display will feature 150% sRGB color volume
When you think of a gaming handheld, you likely envision a portable device that can be conveniently stowed on the go. Depending on the size of the handheld, however, this might be easier said than done. For instance, the weight of a device might defeat the purpose of it being portable. Now, OneXPlayer has announced that it has a new gaming handheld on the way, and its sizeable screen is raising eyebrows.
GameSir G8 Galileo review: Your phone is finally a proper portable gaming station
GameSir's latest handheld controller aims to turn a smartphone into a gaming device. The real question is whether your phone is up to the task.
Mobile processors are getting much more powerful, with Apple's A-series lineup and Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips leading the charge. With improvements to remote play and game streaming, we've gotten a reinvigorated market for handheld mobile gaming controllers. Just attach them to your phone, and you have an experience somewhat like a Nintendo Switch or a Steam Deck.
4 reasons why 2023 was an inflection point for gaming handhelds
Gaming handhelds were really good in 2023, and they're going to get even better in 2024
Gaming handhelds have, by and large, been a mostly dead industry for a few years now. Aside from the Nintendo Switch, nothing has captivated the handheld market in the way that the likes of the Game Boy, Nintendo DS, or the PSP once did in the past. However, PC gaming handhelds are now taking the gaming industry by storm. 2023 was a huge turning point for the handheld market, and 2024 might be when things really take off.
Handheld gaming needs better hardware to push the industry forward
Fewer devices that just use the highest-end silicon and more that are purpose-built, please
When the Steam Deck came out late last year, it was great in spite of its relatively older hardware, most of which was a generation or two out of date. On paper, you can improve the handheld gaming PC market by quite a bit just by updating the hardware, but that hasn't panned out. Many newer handhelds use the latest hardware, and we're still not making generational progress.
Ayaneo Pocket S brings big power with Qualcomm's Snapdragon G3x Gen2
Ayaneo is aiming to deliver a flagship Android gaming handheld experience with the Pocket S.
It's been over a year since the initial release of the Steam Deck and it's still seen as one of the best handheld gaming options because of its excellent software support and price. But that doesn't mean other competitors haven't tried entering the space, offering their take on a gaming handheld. While brands like Logitech, Razer, and Asus come to mind, Ayaneo has also been releasing a steady stream of new products, offering some fantastic gaming devices — if you're willing to purchase them from its crowdfunding campaigns.
Ayaneo's Pocket Air is a compact retro gaming handheld running Android
Ayaneo reveals its next gaming handheld, the Pocket Air, powered by Android.
In 2022, Valve did the unthinkable, introducing a Linux-based gaming handheld. But over a year later, it's still one of the best options out there when it comes to portable gaming consoles. With that said, other companies have clearly taken notice, and have tried to introduce a competing console of their own.
What do you think of Qualcomm's rumored Nintendo Switch clone that runs Android?
Chipmaker Qualcomm may launch its gaming console with Android and pit it against the Nintendo Switch. What do you think about it?
Gaming phones have usurped a major share in the market of handheld gaming devices. While brands like ASUS have gone as far as making gaming phones like the ROG Phone 5 that offer functionality similar to a gaming console, the Nintendo Switch has still stood at the top. Its ability to be used both as a handheld gaming device or a dedicated console that can be hooked up to a bigger screen has made it immensely popular. While an upgraded Nintendo Switch is set to arrive later this year, chipmaker Qualcomm is also reported to be working on its own gaming console with a Snapdragon chipset and running a modified version of Android 12.