Retro Handhelds - news and discussion

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I play a GBA SP on a regular basis. Does that count as a "retro handheld"?

BTW don't bother trying to emulate a NEO GEO Pocket on it, it's ass, same for PC Engine and probably Wonderswan. NES emulation is extremely good, as is GB/C, Master System/Game Gear, You can get SGB borders from Game Boy emulation but why bother.
 
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I have mixed feelings about this, The sticks just don't make sense for a GBA machine.

I would use the sticks for the 2D Zeldas and SMUPS, i think they play better with a stick rather than a d-pad, not to mention most handhelds in this price range can emulate DS games, so games like Rayman 2 and Mario 64DS (both games barely use the second screen anyway) would play better on an emulator handheld than an original DS.
 
I play a GBA SP on a regular basis. Does that count as a "retro handheld"?
Sure, still might have mine kicking around somewhere.

I would use the sticks for the 2D Zeldas and SMUPS, i think they play better with a stick rather than a d-pad, not to mention most handhelds in this price range can emulate DS games, so games like Rayman 2 and Mario 64DS (both games barely use the second screen anyway) would play better on an emulator handheld than an original DS.
I'm still on the fence - the extra RAM for ports make sense with the sticks, and in retrospect would make the RG35XX SP perfect for portmaster. Eh
 
AYANEO Flip 1S DS dual-screen handheld announced: Ryzen AI HX 370 and OLED

AYANEO-DS-1S-HX370-1-1200x645.webp

I thought this thing had already been announced, but there it is.

I'm sure it will be absurdly expensive, but it's a cool idea that could be helpful for ol' DS/3DS/WiiU games. None of which should require one of the latest AMD APUs.
 
AYANEO Flip 1S DS dual-screen handheld announced: Ryzen AI HX 370 and OLED

View attachment 7488558

I thought this thing had already been announced, but there it is.

I'm sure it will be absurdly expensive, but it's a cool idea that could be helpful for ol' DS/3DS/WiiU games. None of which should require one of the latest AMD APUs.
What’s the point in having that much power? Just make something with the power of a ~$100 handheld, something that can comfortably play DS games at 2-3x, and add a second screen.
 
What’s the point in having that much power? Just make something with the power of a ~$100 handheld, something that can comfortably play DS games at 2-3x, and add a second screen.
You may need more performance than the ARM chips that would be in a typical $80-120 handheld, for some 3DS and WiiU games (WiiU technically has a second screen). You don't need a Strix Point APU as far as I know, which could probably play WiiU games like the Breath of the Wild port at 4K or something absurd. The previous version had a Phoenix Point APU (7840U) which was similarly overkill.

You could play PC games on it, I guess. And they have made an alternate version that is the same form factor but swaps the secondary screen for a tiny keyboard:

1_03.webp

It would be nice to see some cheaper clones of the DS-like form factor with weaker hardware and longer battery life. Heck, they probably already exist. Getting a Strix Point DS handheld is for bragging rights.
 
It would be nice to see some cheaper clones of the DS-like form factor with weaker hardware and longer battery life. Heck, they probably already exist. Getting a Strix Point DS handheld is for bragging rights.
That’s my whole point, they don’t already exist. The only option is these absurdly-priced mini PCs. We’re just now at the point where a lot of single-screen clamshells are being released, and Retroid just announced a screen addon for existing devices, but a low-mid range dual screen handheld is a giant hole in the market that’s heavily requested but still hasn’t happened yet.
 
That’s my whole point, they don’t already exist. The only option is these absurdly-priced mini PCs. We’re just now at the point where a lot of single-screen clamshells are being released, and Retroid just announced a screen addon for existing devices, but a low-mid range dual screen handheld is a giant hole in the market that’s heavily requested but still hasn’t happened yet.
Gotcha, I wasn't sure about it.

Maybe we'll get discount (<$200) Samsung Galaxy Z Folds (they are on version 4) with a telescopic attachment for the bottom half before the device you're looking for exists.
 
Why are there handhelds with Troondroid? Isn't Linux enough?
 
Why are there handhelds with Troondroid? Isn't Linux enough?
Dumb question, but I will answer it anyway.

Because of cost of components, battery life, heat and other issues with running full-fat Linux. You can make an Android handheld that runs anything up to about PS2 with a battery that lasts all day and won't roast the skin off your hands for a lot less than the parts cost to make a decently performant Linux machine, and that Linux machine will have to draw more power and run hot while getting half the run time on the same battery.
 
Dumb question, but I will answer it anyway.
Because of cost of components, battery life, heat and other issues with running full-fat Linux. You can make an Android handheld that runs anything up to about PS2 with a battery that lasts all day and won't roast the skin off your hands for a lot less than the parts cost to make a decently performant Linux machine, and that Linux machine will have to draw more power and run hot while getting half the run time on the same battery.
Android uses Linux kernel, it has other components similar to which Linux distros use, it also runs Java VM and Google services upon all that (I doubt Anbernic uses ungoogled Android).
How does it keep battery life better than any other specific Linux distro for mobile devices?
 
@Two Dollars Here's a new ARM-based dual-screen handheld that is barely cheaper than the cheapest AYANEO Flip 1S DS (Ryzen 7 8840U):

ONEXPlayer Introduces ONEXSUGAR: World’s First Dual-Screen Android Handheld, Starting At $599 With Early Bird Discount

The parts appear to be detachable:

View attachment 7664488View attachment 7664489View attachment 7664490
Cut the price in half and I might consider it. I just want something that plays DS and 3DS, not a nuke with the latest Snapdragon.
 
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