This isn’t the first time I’ve mentioned it but with the clamshell revolution happening in the Retro Handheld space, but we are due for an ‘New’ New 3DS XL handheld.
This morning Retroid teased a new dual screen retro handheld. We don’t yet even have a full image of the device, but I’ll share my speculations.
I don’t yet have any inside info on the Retroid Pocket Due so I’m basing my thoughts on educated guesses based on past design decisions made by Retroid. I’m also assuming the Pocket Duo will mostly be made with existing parts from Retroid current/previous lineup of devices.
TL;DR
This breakdown is based on price to performance and the assumption Retroid isn’t done using that beautiful 2nd Mortgage display on the Pocket Nova. Retroid has a lot of great components they have used and I’m building based on those.
OS: Android 14?
Top Display: 5.5” AMOLED 16:9 [RP6]
Bottom Display: 4.5” AMOLED 4:3 [RP Nova]
Snapdragon G2 Gen2 [from Retroid Pocket G2] [SD7 Gen3]
Joystick: HallEffect, DPad Top [because Retroid]
Connection: WiFi 7 [multi-link], BT5.3 [low energy wireless pairing]
In heavy GPU-Bound emulation the SDG2 Gen2 out performs the SD8 Gen 2 because it’s designed to be in actively cooled gaming handhelds so it won’t throttle to keep a smartphones glass display cool. This helps maintain high frames over long sessions.
The SDG2 Gen2 was in the short lived RP G2 which supports WiFi 7 multi-link connections and BT5.3 for efficient low power pairing.
If it wasn’t so difficult to use the same size display on dual handhelds I would see the Nova display being used on both. I don’t see them using a 6” display matching the Ayn Thor so the 5.5” Retroid Pocket 6 display Top with the RP Nova 4.5” display bottom would make the most sense. I think Retroid will be trying to slide the Pocket Duo in as a ‘New’ New 3DS XL and Retroid being Retroid will place the DPad on top [if they don’t put it up for a vote].
We’ll see how close my assumptions are in the coming week or so. Retroid seems really excited to get this out and they normally work on a 2-3 week turnaround from initial announcement.
Power
Seeing as this device is in the Retroid Lineup it would only make sense for the Pocket Duo to have a Snapdragon 8 Gen2. I do think however that they still have G2 chipsets from the pocket G2 that they could use with this.
The G2 Gen2 would have similar performance to the Snapdragon 7 Gen3 and use an Adreno A22 GPU. This would also offer QHD+ Resolution at 144Hz. This easily could be the option to drive the price down and has enough headroom to support dual displays.
The obvious answer again is the SD8 Gen2 as I don’t believe Retroid is ready to move into a cost class with the SD8 Elite. All of the chipsets mention here should have no problem emulating N3DS with multiple times resolution. [these chips will emulate some switch, vita and pc as well]
Update: while in the Retro Handhelds podcast tonight Chris from Retroid confirmed the Pocket Duo isn’t equipped with the SD865 from the Flip 2.
Display/Displays
[I apologize in advance as this is me thinking out load and typing up my thoughts]
I don’t think it makes any sense to equip this handheld with anything other than the Retroid Pocket 6 on top and Nova display on the bottom or the 4.5” AMOLED 4:3 120Hz display found on the Pocket Nova on top with the Pocket Classic display flipped horizontal on bottom. New 3DS XL however awkwardly has a 4.88” 400×240 5:3 upper display and 320×240 4.1” 4:3 lower display.
If Retroid wants to offset the sizes like a New 3DS XL the most sense is using the Nova 4.5” AMOLD display on top with the Retroid Pocket Classic’s 3.92” AMOLED 5:4 60Hz display mounted horizontally on the bottom. This would swap aspect ratios but I’m sure some custom bezels could help fill them in decently. The only issue with this setup really is the RP Classic display only being 60Hz.
Update: The RP Duo will have a 16:9 Top and 4:3 Bottom display]
Retroid could also use that 4.5” 120Hz AMOLED display for both. This is what I would recommend because that screen is gorgeous and would open up the most options [unless they want to use the 16:9 display from the Pocket 6 for the top].
The display renders do look massive in the teaser video, but the lights are also off for dramatic effect so it’s really hard to judge.
Body
I’m in the group that really wants this Pocket Duo to look and feel like the original Pocket Flip. I think however this will be a cross between the Flip 2 and the Ayn Thor.
If they do go with a 4.5” or larger display the device will be forced to be a little bigger than the Flip 2 while allowing for game controls around the bottom screen. The Ayn Thor has a 6” display which makes me think the size will fall between.
This would make it slightly bigger than a New 3DS XL and with some ergonomics hopefully more comfortable as well.
Because it’s Retroid odds are in favor for DPad on top, but I thunk the RP6 which had the option sold more left stick top devices.
I would love to see Retroid release the Pocket Duo with some really fun colors both solid and translucent. They have in previous “Flip” handhelds, so no point in stopping the practice now.
Thoughts
Retroid is going to have to try and thread the needle with the Pocket Duo price to performance. With the complications in the market environment it will be difficult to use less than the SD8 Gen2 unless they can get the SDG2 Gen2 for a steal and separate the pricing enough that gamers won’t go to the default which is the Thor.
The Pocket Duo is going into arguably the Hottest Class in the Retro Handheld space right now and need to nail the quality and value out of the gate. Even if it’s a great handheld there is a lot of close competition.
I would have to assume there is an Ayn Thor 2 not too far down the road likely with a SD8 Elite 5, it will probably have to compete for space with as well.
Retroid’s biggest advantages are going to be brand recognition and an amazingly loyal customer base. Seeing as gamers are starting to see Retroid and Ayn as one company a better value Thor type device with 16:9 top and 4:3 bottom displays would differentiate the Pocket Duo from its big brother.
I’m super excited to get more info on the Retroid Pocket Duo and get one in my hands.
You can check the Retroid website by clicking the button below if you want to get ahead of our posts.
Are you as excited as I am for the Retroid Pocket Duo? Are you going to pick one of these up?
Once I get more info I’ll keep you posted.
GameOn
CellPhish
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