Retroid Pocket 3 Console – a handheld retro gaming system featuring Imagination’s PowerVR GPU

The Retroid Pocket 3's maker, GoRetroid, is well-known in the vintage handheld gaming scene for its incredibly dependable products and aggressive price approach.

In September 2022, the Retroid Pocket 3 was finally released after being "in the making" for a while and being advertised by GoRetroid for a few months. The amount of power packed into a device at this pricing point is astonishing, given that it starts at $119.00 and goes up to $129.00 for a little more RAM.

Instead of using other popular operating systems that are usually used with retro gaming consoles like RetroPie or other Linux-based systems, GoRetroid has decided to employ an Android OS to enable the gaming capability for the Retroid Pocket 3. The Retroid Pocket 3's Android interface helps make it more recognizable to smartphone users and people who are new to retro gaming, which puts it ahead of many of its rivals. With a system that looks and feels familiar, most users can load and manage their games more easily than they would if they had to read through a detailed guide or watch a lengthy YouTube video.

Since then, GoRetroid has introduced the Retroid Pocket 3+, which is now more expensive. This does not, however, imply that the Retroid Pocket 3 is not worthwhile.

I was excited to evaluate the Retroid Pocket 3 because I have a lot of expertise with video game emulation and have owned and played a lot of vintage gaming consoles and portable devices.

Specifications 

At Imagination, we are keeping an eye on the Retroid Pocket 3 since it has our PowerVR GE8300 GPU, a powerful graphics processor ideal for entry-level markets. The Retroid 3's complete specifications are as follows:

SoC: Unisoc Tiger T310  

GPU: Imagination PowerVR GE8300 

RAM: 2GB and 3GB options 

Storage: 32GB internal memory (expandable with an SD card) 

Display: 4.7-inch HD touchscreen with a 16:9 aspect ratio 

Battery: 4000mAh 

Connectivity: 2.4GHz + 5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 

OS: Android-based GoRetroid game launcher and front end 

With a sweet spot of power, performance, and area, the legendary PowerVR GE8300, which was first produced in 2019, has proven to be a popular option for many consumer and mobile devices that are cost-conscious. Thus, it should come as no surprise that it is still present in many SoC. It can be found, for instance, in the still-available Amazon Fire Stick 4K. Performance and battery life are balanced by the GE8300, which is clocked at 800MHz inside the Unisoc Tiger T310 SoC, which is made using a 12nm technology. For those seeking a cutting-edge GPU solution for their SoCs, the IMG BXE-4-32 MC1 GPU may be of interest.

Because the SoC has Bluetooth 5.0, you can use both Bluetooth headphones and video game controllers. This is helpful because you can utilize the device's micro-HDMI port to link it to your TV, which can display games in 720p for a comfortable, sofa-based gaming experience. In addition to a 3.5mm headphone connector, the device has a USB-C port that can be used to connect it to your laptop or PC and charge it.

Considering that Android is the operating system on the handheld, it makes perfect sense to include a touchscreen. It's a hassle to use Android handhelds without a touchscreen, as I've experienced. Since the system will naturally work harder on more demanding games and other factors like screen brightness, the 4000mAh battery lasts approximately 5–6 hours, depending entirely on what you are playing.

Appearance 

The design of the Retroid Pocket 3 and the Nintendo Switch Lite may be compared almost immediately. It appears to be Nintendo's portable system's younger sibling. Overall, the design is simple, elegant, and cozy. It's fantastic that GoRetroid kept things basic. Numerous retro gaming systems make an excessive effort to stand out with extra buttons and distinctive designs, which occasionally succeed. However, why take the chance when you can employ a tried-and-true formula that works for everyone?

Firstly, the Retroid Pocket 3's screen is amazing. With its tiny screen and full brightness (which will drain the battery), its saturation and clarity appear better than those of the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite. The Retroid Pocket 3 outperforms the other two—and pretty much any other throwback handheld gadget at this price range—but the colors don't stand out as much as the Nintendo Switch's OLED variant.

The button arrangement is largely acceptable; it adheres to the same format that numerous game systems have been using for many years. Both the shoulder buttons and the analog sticks feel fantastic. There are extra buttons in your GoRetroid box that you may swap around if you'd like. Whether you like "clickier" or more rubbery buttons ultimately depends on your personal preference. The start and select buttons are at the top of the system, which is my only complaint about the buttons. This isn't a deal breaker, but it may take some getting used to, particularly if you're playing a game that needs frequent access to these buttons.

The Retroid Pocket 3's lack of an LED light to indicate whether the system is on or off is, in my opinion, its sole significant drawback. Depending on the settings, the screen may not indicate whether the device is on or off when it is locked, therefore you shouldn't keep it idle for an extended period of time. It would have been fantastic if there had been a small LED light someplace to indicate whether the device was charging, on, or low on power. I have been accustomed to it because it's a feature of many of my old retro gadgets, but you won't miss it if you're not.

The Setup 

GoRetroid seems to have prioritized usability when creating the Retroid Pocket 3. When you initially boot up the computer, a launcher appears with a list of emulators that you may download right away. If you have the ROMs, this lets you start playing games as soon as they're installed.

It is possible to use the Retroid Pocket 3 in two different ways.GoRetroid's Retroid Launcher is available for usage. In a sense, this serves as a front end, cataloging and organizing your games and ROMs for you. With tiles that you may explore with a touchscreen or controls, it has an incredibly neat layout and looks a lot like the home screen of the Nintendo Switch. The tile will open when you choose a console, like the Game Boy Color, and show you a list of all the ROMs you have. Just pick and play.

You can also think of the Retroid Pocket as an Android device. In essence, the Retroid Launcher is merely another program that runs on the device. With a customizable home screen and your own apps and widgets, the entire device may work like any other Android device, letting you customize the layout anyway you desire (within Android's bounds, of course). It's crucial to remember that since this is really an Android device, you can download and utilize the Retroid Pocket 3's controls in practically any program from the Google Play Store. Genshin Impact, for instance, may be downloaded and played on this device using the buttons on the handheld (but on a reduced setting because it's a beast!).

As long as your ROMs are ready to use and you have downloaded the appropriate emulators—something the Retroid Launcher may help with—there isn't much more setup that needs to be done. For someone who is new to retro portable gaming, there are various parts of this to take into account that may be a little perplexing or picky.

Many of the programs you use will naturally read as Android apps because this is ultimately an Android device. As a result, most emulators, if not all of them, will load with onscreen buttons at first (much like on a smartphone). In many cases, you can just press any button on the Retroid Pocket 3 to have the onscreen overlay vanish, but in others, you'll need to go through the menu to make this adjustment. Most apps should save settings and modifications, so this is a one-time event. However, some of these applications' settings aren't always the easiest to use.

You can go deeper into the settings of these emulator programs and experiment with things like speeding up (or having the option to turn it on and off), adding filters to make the video games look like they did in the past (like CRT), adding the greenish tone to original Game Boy games, and even adjusting the aspect ratio to your liking if you want to further customize your experience. If you take the time to determine where each of these sits in the settings, you may change them all. If you are unfamiliar with the emulator, I would advise you to watch a few tutorials because one mistake could ruin your pleasure.

Being the proud owner of a Retroid Pocket 3, you must be familiar with the directory on your device. A lot of programs and emulators won't find your ROMs on their own. You must be aware of their location and the best way to reach them. There are two easy ways to do this. Saving all of your ROMs on an SD card and then inserting it into your device is the first option. In this manner, you can choose the external storage, and voilà, everything is there. The alternative is to connect your Retroid Pocket 3 to your computer or laptop and make a folder or clear path where you will store your ROMs if you are not utilizing external storage. That way, you'll know where to go when asked. This is uncommon in other vintage handhelds; in my experience, they handle this component much better, and it is typically smooth and automatic; although, they are not able to use the Android operating system.

If all you want to do is jump right into a game, the setup is rather easy overall. particularly in contrast to its rivals, who usually require long setup instructions or other software downloads. I have no doubt that anyone can quickly get up and running and start playing games, even if they have no prior knowledge of Android or cellphones.

Performance 

The Retroid Pocket 3 performs far better than its budget would indicate, making it a retro gamer's dream for its price range. Nearly anything up to the PSP may be smoothly played on the Retroid Pocket 3. The majority of Dreamcast games are included in this, along with the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation, PSP, Sega Master System, Game Gear, and Sega Saturn.

As was already noted, the screen is stunning and clear, and it enhances the visual appeal of many of these vintage games. You can upscale some of these games to make them even more amazing if you want to change the settings! You'll be in retro-gaming nirvana when you combine that with the HD screen.

It is not worth trying any consoles that are higher on this list. Games for the GameCube and PlayStation 2, for instance, can be made to run, but they will be so sluggish that they are nearly unplayable and not worth the effort to get to a level that is at least passable.

It's also important to note that, despite having a fantastic screen, the writing in games can occasionally be difficult to read, particularly if you're playing a console game that isn't often played on a handheld device. At that point, connect your Bluetooth controller to the TV!

Another thing to think about is that, because this is primarily an Android device, you have access to a wide range of cloud gaming alternatives, all of which are fantastic. You can play some really high-end games that look and function flawlessly as long as you have an account with at least one of the cloud gaming services. However, you will want a steady (and reliable) internet connection.

For the price of a Retroid Pocket 3, you are receiving a highly powerful system that outperforms its competitors at the same price range, with the option of Android gaming and a stunning screen. Typically, when you buy a retro gaming system, you are aware of what it can and cannot play. What's not to enjoy?

Final thoughts 

One of the greatest retro handheld consoles on the market at the moment is the Retroid Pocket 3. For $119.00 to $129.00, you can't go wrong with purchasing this and getting started.

Compared to other vintage handhelds, it may not be the most affordable, but this is justified because the screen is among the best without breaking the bank, and its performance is unrivaled in this price range. Both large adult hands and smaller hands will find it more comfortable due to its larger size compared to its competitors. Additionally, it comes in a variety of colors, so you may choose your favorite to add a bit more individuality or go for more inspired styles like their "retro" design, which matches the colors of the original Game Boy.

To get the most out of the system and its performance levels, I think it's worth playing about with the settings. You should also buy an SD card to store your ROMs because you'll want to play everything on it.