Retroid Pocket 3+ Assessment: Higher in each method

With a bigger display screen and improved efficiency, the Retroid Pocket 3+ is healthier than its predecessor in each method.

Concerning the Retroid Pocket 3+

Listed below are the specs of the hand held console we examined:

• Worth: Begins at $149
• Processor: Unisoc Tiger T618
• Graphics: Mali G52 MC2 at 850MHz
• Reminiscence: 4GB LPDDR4x at 1866MHz
• Storage: 128GB eMMC 5.1
• Battery: 4500mAh
• Show: 4.7-inch, 1334 x 750 pixels (16:9), 60Hz, IPS contact display screen, max brightness 450 nits
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5.0GHz), 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C in, mini-HDMI out
• Working system: Android 11
• Colours: Retro, Indigo, 16 Bit, Orange, Black, 16 Bit (alternate US fashion), Clear Purple, Clear Blue
• Dimensions: 7.27 x 3.2 x .95 inches (at thickest level)
• Weight: 235 grams (8.28 ounces)
• Particular options: Haptic suggestions, pre-loaded with emulation and recreation streaming apps, Micro SD card slot, included display screen protector

Retroid as soon as once more went all-in on retro console and handheld-themed colorways, bumping the accessible fashions as much as eight from the 5 accessible for the Retroid Pocket 2+. We reviewed the Clear Purple coloration, which references Nintendo’s Atomic Purple Recreation Boy Coloration, Recreation Boy Advance, and Nintendo 64 however has fallen by the wayside in recent times. Whereas the bottom Retroid Pocket 3+ prices $149, selecting Clear Purple or Clear Blue will elevate the worth to $154.

On first boot, you’ll be prompted to decide on between Retroid’s proprietary recreation launcher that aggregates emulators in a single simply accessible place, RetroidLauncher, and a fundamental Android 11 set up. You’ll be able to freely swap between them at any time, and I primarily used the Android 11 interface for this evaluation. Retroid hasn’t but confirmed whether or not you’ll finally have the ability to replace to Android 12 or 13.

What we like

The construct high quality

The Retroid Pocket 3+ seems to be suspiciously just like the Nintendo Swap Lite at first look. Other than the smaller measurement and left thumbstick placement, the 2 gaming handhelds are almost similar. The swap to a widescreen structure coming from the 4:3 Retroid Pocket 2+ is a welcome one which addresses a lot of the points I had with that older system.

The Pocket 3+ options the identical structure and display screen because the Retroid Pocket 3 (which itself makes use of the identical older internals because the Pocket 2+): two full quick thumbsticks that you may click on for L3 and R3 performance, a D-pad on the left aspect above the stick, a a lot wider physique than the Pocket 2+, and most noticeably, Retroid has completed away with the clunky “chin” below the display screen. The quantity rocker has been shunted to the left edge, the house button moved to the best, and the ability, choose, and begin buttons moved to the highest.

Though the quantity and residential buttons now sit below the place your left and proper index fingers relaxation whereas taking part in, they’re stiff sufficient that I by no means unintentionally activated them. In actual fact, aside from the D-pad, the entire buttons on the Pocket 3+ are uniformly glorious, even when the journey on the triggers is a bit quick.

The face buttons on our Retroid Pocket 2+ unit had a jagged, “crusty” high quality to them and I typically missed time-sensitive jumps, however that isn’t the case right here. The rubber dome switches used below the A, B, X, and Y buttons give them a handy guide a rough and responsive really feel with out the rattle present in fashionable controllers, and so they have a stunning depth. I truthfully like them greater than the face buttons on my Steam Deck, Nintendo Swap, and Xbox Core Wi-fi Controller.

Should you don’t just like the face buttons and wish to change the colours or swap between rubber dome switches or conductive pad switches (that are softer and fewer clicky), Retroid sells $5 kits for altering them out on their web site. Should you bought a Retroid Pocket 3, which makes use of the identical shell, you can too purchase the Pocket 3+ PCB for $85 and improve it your self.

The one sticking level within the design is the D-pad. Whereas the face buttons are nice, the D-pad is simply mediocre. It’s shallow and clicky, and I had bother pulling off extra sophisticated combating recreation combos with it.

The colourful display screen

Gone is the tiny 3.5-inch, 4:3 display screen of the Retroid Pocket 2+; the Pocket 3+ packs a 4.7-inch, 1334 x 750 IPS show with deep distinction and wealthy colours (partially due to how shiny and reflective the end is). Whereas the Pocket 2+ can emulate as much as some PlayStation 2 and GameCube video games and stream video games regionally over Steam Hyperlink or Moonlight simply effective, the dimensions and facet ratio introduced some textual content legibility issues, particularly for widescreen video games. That’s all been mounted.

I had no downside streaming Management, Elden Ring, or Hades to the Retroid Pocket 3+ from my private PC, and all of them appeared nice due to the display screen’s darkish blacks. I wouldn’t counsel operating a text-heavy recreation like Disco Elysium or Baldur’s Gate 3, however I used to be capable of stream Spider-Man: Miles Morales at 1080p at max settings to the Pocket 3+ with low sufficient enter latency that it felt like native gaming.

The brightness vary has additionally been expanded significantly. The Retroid Pocket 3+ tops out at 450 nits, which I take into account vibrant sufficient to play outdoors, and drops to just about black when the brightness is lowered to its minimal. The latter repair addresses a serious criticism patrons had with the earlier mannequin, as some items didn’t get darkish sufficient to comfortably play at night time. I additionally didn’t discover any backlight bleed or bloom round vibrant objects.

Retroid has additionally upped the pixels-per-inch (PPI) of the Pocket 3+ to 326, which is what Apple considers “retina high quality,” or the purpose the place your eye can’t discern particular person pixels any longer. That’s seemingly not a coincidence on condition that the show has suspiciously related specs to the display screen used within the iPhone 6.

Examine that 326 to the 229 PPI of the Pocket 2+, or the 267 PPI of the Swap Lite, and the elevated pixel density turns into instantly obvious. Fortunately, the Retroid Pocket 3+ can push these pixels simply effective due to its newer {hardware}.

The improved efficiency

The most important promoting level of the Retroid Pocket 3+ is what the corporate claims is a 50% enchancment in efficiency over the Pocket 2+ and Pocket 3. The whole lot has been clocked larger, from the processor to the newer GPU, to the RAM (which you get 4GB of as an alternative of two).

I couldn’t quantify if the rise was precisely 50%, however you’ll really feel the distinction. Whereas the Pocket 2+ may deal with every little thing as much as PlayStation 2 and GameCube with ease, something newer was often a uneven mess. The Retroid Pocket 3+, nevertheless, can lastly play most of the titles the Pocket 2+ couldn’t—although, for a $149 handheld, don’t count on 100% excellent playability throughout the board.

On the PlayStation aspect, I used to be capable of upscale Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 2 to 6x native decision, or 1080p, and stay locked at 60 frames per second (fps). That degree of efficiency was seen in each recreation I examined, however PlayStation 2 was the place issues received a bit dodgy. I performed by way of the opening sequence of Ultimate Fantasy X locked to about 30 fps and was capable of run Responsible Gear X2 Reload and different less-demanding 2D titles at full pace utilizing the included AetherSX2 emulator, however the expertise wasn’t excellent.

Soul Caliber 2 stuttered and ran so slowly that it was unplayable, however that was my worst-performing exception. Like with previous Retroid handhelds, the group maintains a spreadsheet with particular person recreation efficiency. Flagship titles like Kingdom Hearts, Persona 3 and Persona 4, Satan Could Cry 2 and others ran completely with out the necessity for tweaks or cutting down the decision. On the plus aspect, due to the display screen measurement and efficiency improve, PlayStation Transportable (however not Vita) video games will now run completely almost throughout the board.

Nintendo 64 efficiency was additionally uniformly glorious, which is to be anticipated. What wasn’t anticipated is that the Retroid Pocket 3+ can run GameCube, Wii, and even some Swap video games at full pace. Tremendous Smash Bros. Melee runs at 60fps with solely minor occasional dips at full decision on the Dolphin for Handheld emulator, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker equally ran at a gradual 30fps throughout my testing. I didn’t take a look at any Wii or Swap video games, however compatibility there’s extra hit and miss. Nonetheless, the truth that even some video games will run on a $149 Android handheld is spectacular.

One of many greatest enhancements, in my guide, is that Retroid has upped the inner storage to 128GB. That’s seemingly greater than sufficient for most individuals; you won’t even have to purchase an SD card.

What we don’t like

Ergonomics are a bit funky

Retroid made some sacrifices to attain the Pocket 3+’s slim, horizontal design. The annoying chin under the display screen from the Pocket 2+ is gone, however so are the wonderful front-firing audio system and line of simply accessible buttons.

As an alternative, the Retroid Pocket 3+ makes use of downward-firing audio system that my fingers naturally lined when taking part in a recreation. I want the Pocket 3+ was a contact taller, as my pinkies dangle on the backside. Tucking them upwards to the physique of the gadget locations them proper the place the audio system are positioned, additional muffling the sound. The audio system are a lot loud, however due to their orientation, they don’t present the clearest sound even when unobstructed.

Fortunately, as a result of the Retroid Pocket 3+ is an Android gadget, you may pair your favourite wi-fi earbuds or headphones and they need to work simply effective. I’ve seen some complaints of audio latency over Bluetooth, however didn’t discover substantial lag when paired with my Sony WH-1000XM3 (so newer fashions just like the WH-1000XM5 ought to work simply effective).

Shifting the quantity rocker and residential buttons to the outer edges makes them extra annoying to press whereas gaming, however the brand new mixed Choose/Begin rocker on the very prime subsequent to the best shoulder button is my least favourite new addition. It’s simply not intuitively positioned, particularly in menu-heavy video games.

The choice to maneuver the D-pad above the left thumbstick can also be baffling, as you’ll seemingly be taking part in extra 3D video games on the Retroid Pocket 3+ than the Pocket 2+. It’s not uncomfortable, however it feels less-than-optimal for those who’re utilizing that stick.

Retroid’s launch cadence

On the time of writing, Retroid hasn’t but listed the Pocket 3+ on Amazon—although it seemingly will finally—and remains to be fulfilling preorders. We positioned our order on November 14 and acquired our take a look at unit from China on December 12. Other than the possibly lengthy delivery occasions, I can’t dance round the truth that that is the third Pocket gadget Retroid has launched in 2022 alone.

Make no mistake, the Retroid Pocket 3+ is an efficient product total, priced nicely, and it’s clear the corporate cares about consideration to element given the vary of colours and DIY objects accessible for buy. However for those who purchase the Pocket 3+, simply put together (or gird) your self to take care of potential buy FOMO if and when the Retroid Pocket 4 and 4+ are introduced.

Retroid hasn’t formally introduced something but, however I wouldn’t be shocked if no less than one of many newer fashions launches subsequent yr.

Do you have to purchase the Retroid Pocket 3+?

Sure, except you’re pleased with the Pocket 2+

The Retroid Pocket 3+ is a slim, pocketable Android gaming handheld that fixes the entire issues I had with the earlier mannequin. The bigger and extra vibrant display screen is large enough to deal with recreation streaming and newer console emulation, and battery life is respectable, with about 5 to seven hours per full cost relying on what you’re taking part in (though I seen the battery drained by about 10% per day on standby, an issue I’ve had with the Swap Lite).

The primary situation is the worth. At $149, the Pocket 3+ suits a snug area of interest. Retroid has delivered a tool that’s 50% extra highly effective than the Pocket 2+ at 50% higher price, and it simply outpaces equally priced emulation handhelds just like the Anbernic RG353M whereas remaining reasonably priced. Should you’re trying to purchase a single gaming handheld, although, a Nintendo Swap Lite is just $50 extra, and even much less if it’s used, and also you gained’t must take care of the effort of discovering ROMs or tweaking emulator settings. For the funds aware who simply wish to play older retro titles, the Retroid Pocket 2+ remains to be a terrific deal.

However for those who’re in search of a succesful handheld that may run every little thing from NES as much as GameCube video games and generally even past, the Retroid Pocket 3+ is your only option on the $150 worth level. The wonderful Ayn Odin is the subsequent step up and even is available in clear purple, however it’s additionally $240. Should you can dwell with a smaller display screen and barely worse efficiency, the Pocket 3+ can’t be beat.

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Costs have been correct on the time this text was printed however might change over time.

Meet the tester

Jonathan Hilburg

Electronics Editor

@jhilburg

Jonathan is an Electronics Editor for Reviewed specializing in gaming gear and has expertise with every little thing from controllers to benchmarking the most recent GPUs. He was beforehand the Internet Editor at The Architect’s Newspaper.

See all of Jonathan Hilburg’s evaluations