GDK Pixel: the next BIG (little) Retro Emulator

Every once in a while a handheld comes along that you don’t need and know may not perform the way you want without putting in some work. For me that handheld is currently the GKD Pixel. An all metal micro machine that can fit in any open crevice and works mostly sometimes just the way you might want it to sort of.

(If you don’t feel like reading check the video review here)

This is one of the smallest emulation handheld boxes I’ve ever unboxed. Part of its size may be due to the lack of the needed USB-A to C cable required for charging. GKD seems to have taken their policy of cutting down eWaste to whole new level by not including the brick and now the charging cable. Interestingly the scratch paper that is included is taller than the handheld itself.

• • TF Card: 64GB
• • Ingenic x1830 processor
• • Screen: 2.4-inch full fitted screen, screen resolution 320x240px
• • RAM: 128MB
• • Battery: 1300mah
• • Full Metal housing and keys, double L/R keys.
• • Size: 80mmx56mmx18mm

Even with all the things I truly love about this handheld, we need to get the herd of elephants out of the room before we can move forward.

This handheld gets uncomfortably hot in specific situations. With its metal shell trying to dissipate heat it gives you that warm all over vibe. I’ve found the biggest culprits for this flaming famiclone are PS1 emulation and stand bye mode. PS1 emulation makes sense as this SOC is out performing in an over clocked state to get your games playing mostly at their best. When in standby it’s a bit confusing but only the screen shuts down and it’s almost like the Pixel feels neglected in your pocket and like a nagging child poking you heats up to remind you it wants to be played with. I’ve tried to capture performance dips do to device temperatures but like everything else here out of the box I’m not exactly sure what or how I’m doing anything even though things seem to be working fine. Or to simplify it, I don’t know how I got here so I can’t tell if it’s better or worse. 

This is very heavy for its size but as for mentioned it is an all metal design. This makes this feel like one of the best built handhelds I own with one of the seemingly most fragile or maybe susceptible to damage screens out there. I’m not sure yet if it’s warranted but I am constantly concerned about the screen on this handheld. It seems like the only week point on the externals and I haven’t been able to find a screen cover to protect it. Maybe it’s all the odd screen falling out with the original Miyoo Mini that has me concerned here.

Along with the body everything else on the externals of this metal mech warrior including the buttons are also metal. Ready for any FPS battle and contributing to that premium look and feel. The shoulder buttons are difficult to use as they are flat but they did try and make it is easier by including inverted Letters on L1/R1 giving the L2/R2 a lightly different feel that somehow my brain connects with making it easier to use them. Keeping with the design of the handheld they really did need to make these buttons flatter than…. They obviously knew usage wasn’t going to serve them well so at least they put a little effort into adding dexterity. You just have to look at this handheld to know you couldn’t fit joysticks and with the SOC it really, it doesn’t play any games you would need them. In past smaller devices that GKD has made they have sold separately a joystick attachment but there wouldn’t be any benefit to the Pixel to have this.  

If you pickup the Pixel you can toss ergonomics right out the window. This isn’t a handheld for extended gaming sessions. When they start making tiny tetris transformers ergonomics takes the back bench. They packed everything in that they could and then said well we will invert the molde for the shoulder buttons cause anything will help at this point.

The firmware that comes with this is about as easy as using a 286 in 2024 if you didn’t grow  up using DOS to create that coded mindset, the amount of backdoors into and out of applications is mind boggling. It will cause you to find yourself saying I have no idea how I got into this game or why it loaded but who cares I’m having fun. This is the first handheld I may suggest carrying around the user manual for a few days until you learn everything as simple as to how to change the screen brightness. Probably why they made their manual so  pretty on the outside. 

There is an offering from MinuUI which full discloser I am testing now. I was staying away from it due to the limitations with what systems you can emulate but Russ from Retro Game Corps created an addon to add back the initial emulators and give you options as how to get all your initial roms playing at their best. If you like to tinker this will keep you busy as you find yourself moving roms around between folders to attempt to get the best overall experience for you. I am still working on this which is why it’s not included here but look out to the future once I get it all setup the way I want I will double back.

You aren’t going to see this emulating switch games no matter what firmware you are running but feel confident that you can get some good PS1 performance after a little TLC.

It’s good that this doesn’t emulate higher end systems because it only has a 1300mAh battery which maybe seems about right for its size but it wont last you long playing PS1 or putting into standby. You are better off staying in a GB game with it on the screen than putting it into standby. If your thought is that you will just charge it quick whenever the battery goes you will find yourself digging for a charger that didn’t come with the handheld and waiting for the battery to trickle charge. 

Part of what got me excited about this handheld is it being advertised with WiFi. If you have been here before you know I love my RetroAchivements. It really helps me keep track of my progress across multiple handhelds and gives me goals for the games I play over and over. There is a menu system for Wifi from the factory but there doesn’t seem to be any way to make it work. I’ve gone far enough to try and manually place the settings on the memory card which thinking back it would be easier to open it up and see if wifi is actually on the card.

Somehow  they were able to place a 3.5mm headphone jack in there. CellPhone manufactures take notes. Lots of gamers like wearing headphones that cost more than their consoles so to keep them happy this is a peripheral that seems mandatory. Take notes Miyoo. There is also this nifty spot to put a lanyard by the headphones which is neat. I am not a lanyard person but having that right there had me on Etsy trying to find one to use with the handheld. If I pull the trigger it might prevent this thing from flying out of my hand while I am sprinting across the room to prevent our newborn from getting into something. 

I know it sounds like a lot of negatives for this handheld because it is. But for those who didn’t make it this far I love the GKD Pixel. We all love things that aren’t always good for us and when you get things working the way you want this piece of metal mastery is phenomenal. I can think of far worse ways to spend my time chasing what feels like a bad habit. Every time you pull this out in public someone is almost guaranteed to ask you about it (I should have ordered green or better yet yellow). It gives you a chance to talk about your hobby you probably currently mostly hide from the world and thats healthy. You never know where you are going to pull it out because it literally fits everywhere. Also it’s actually far more playable than the Funky keychains that lots of collected a couple years ago. You couldn’t even play pokemon on that because you couldn’t read the text.

The GKD Pixel is close to the perfect balance between size and playability. I have found that its not my favourite way to play many games but it is my favourite handheld to have in my pocket so its there when I want it. The best retro emulator is the one you have with you. I struggle without physical buttons on my phone and this allows me to use it’s battery than that of my primary communication device.

Have you tried the GKD Pixel? Is this a handheld you have looked at picking up? I would love to hear from you.

This has become one of my favourite micro handhelds. I’m not sure that it has edged out my MyiooMini as I think that it is about the perfect size. But it gets more use as the Pixel is always in my pocket. With the nice charing dock I got for it I just need to remember to charge it. It makes  everything from feeding our newborn to waiting inline to pickup the kids from school and adventure that I’m here for it.

GameOn