Retroid is the brand of Chinese manufacturer GoRetroid, which has been producing Android handheld consoles since the first Retroid Pocket, released in September 2020. Its speciality: powerful emulation machines at aggressive prices, roughly between $100 and $250, where premium rivals ask for twice as much. Updated in August 2026.
The Retroid Pocket 2 of September 2020, sold for $85, set the formula: a horizontal Android console, praised for its build quality at a rock-bottom price, despite a slightly clumsy in-house interface and battery life limited to a few hours. Next came the Pocket 2+ in early 2022, with an improved touchscreen, then the Pocket 2S in mid-2023, with a beefed-up processor and memory. Generation after generation, GoRetroid moved up in power to the current range, built since late 2024 around the Pocket 5 and its variants. The brand sells direct on its own site and has built a loyal community, not least because its consoles lend themselves well to alternative systems.
The number indicates the generation: Pocket 2, 3, 4 then 5, the current horizontal flagship. Around that base, GoRetroid varies the formats: Mini for the compact version with a smaller screen, Flip for the clamshell that protects the screen, Classic for the vertical Game Boy-style format, without analogue sticks. Each time the idea is the same: Android, a well-made AMOLED screen, and a proven smartphone processor rather than an exotic chip. As a result, you know roughly what you are buying just by reading the name.
Retroid Pocket 5 (late 2024). Snapdragon 865, 5.5-inch AMOLED screen, around $219 at launch: the heart of the range. Everything up to the Dreamcast and the PSP is a breeze, a large part of the GameCube catalogue runs well according to reviews, and the PS2 still has to be checked game by game.
Retroid Pocket Flip 2 (2025). The same components as the Pocket 5 (Snapdragon 865, 5.5-inch AMOLED, 8 GB of RAM), in a clamshell whose hinge is considered solid, under the $250 mark. The screen travels protected; the only regret noted by reviews is a hinge limited to two positions, 150 and 180 degrees.
Retroid Pocket Classic (early 2025). The vertical Game Boy-style model: 3.92-inch AMOLED at 1240 by 1080, Android 13, $119 to $129 depending on the version. Excellent for Game Boy, NES, Mega Drive, Neo Geo Pocket or PS1; without sticks, 3D consoles such as the N64 or the PSP remain uncomfortable.
Retroid Pocket Mini (late 2024). The same philosophy in a reduced format, with a compact AMOLED screen of fine quality, designed as a secondary console for retro gaming on the move.
Build quality is a long-standing strength of the brand: from the very first Pocket 2, reviewers highlighted it, and it is still true of the current generation. The reservations concern the software instead: the in-house launcher could still be improved, and many users end up with a third-party front-end or an alternative system such as ROCKNIX, well supported on the Pocket 5 and the Flip 2. On the Flip 2, occasionally sticky triggers have also been reported. On after-sales service, GoRetroid sells and ships from China: the brand says little about its warranty in Europe, so allow for delays in the event of a return, or go through a reseller with a local warranty. And like all the consoles we offer, Retroid consoles are sold without games or ROMs.
Anbernic dominates the Linux entry level with varied formats and rock-bottom prices. Retroid focuses on more powerful Android consoles, roughly between $120 and $250: for an equivalent budget, you generally get more performance with Retroid.
Its Snapdragon 865 is recognised by reviewers for comfortably running a large part of the GameCube catalogue. The PS2, on the other hand, remains uneven: some titles run well, others do not. Always check game by game before buying.
No, they are supplied without games or ROMs, like all the consoles on the site. You then install your own legal copies on the microSD card.
Both share the same processor and the same 5.5-inch AMOLED screen. Take the Flip 2 if you want a clamshell that protects the screen in a bag, and the Pocket 5 if you prefer a classic grip, slimmer and more immediate.
Find the available models in our Retroid Pocket consoles collection, or widen your search to all the handheld consoles on the site. To compare a Retroid with an Anbernic or an AYANEO at equal specs, head to the comparison tool; and before installing an alternative system, take a look at the firmware compatibility page.