One of the most anticipated retro handhelds of the year is now up for pre-order, which is quicker than I expected due to the new design fiasco that didn't go down well with Retroid's community.
They quickly turned it around, though, by changing the design and offering everyone a choice of where they would like the DPAD, alongside the choice of 8GB or 12GB of RAM. It shows that Retroid cares, which I respect.
The website listing is now live and available to pre-order, with shipping beginning in "January".
This new, updated version comes with a refreshed look, upgraded specifications, new button layouts of your choice, back menu buttons and a 5.5" AMOLED 1080p display.
Depending on what specification you go for, this will lkely emulate most of your retro gaming collection, including Playstation 2 and beyond, which could mean it will be the last Android retro handheld you have to be for a long while.
Pricing starts at $209 for the 8GB version and $259 for the 12GB version. And as mentioned, you can choose which button layout you would like, without it affecting the price.
Including shipping, this will likely push it closer to the $300 mark for many of us in the west (it's an extra $20 - $35 for me in the UK).
Which is a considerable amount, but I do believe this could be one of the best retro handhelds to come out of 2026, seeing as the Retroid Pocket 5 sat at Number 1 in our best retro handhelds list for over a year.
What variant will you be going for? Personally, the 12GB with the Analogue Stick up top is tickling my fancy.
