Just over a week ago, the retro gaming community was abuzz when Retroid announced permanent price cuts for its existing lineup, a classic move that often signals new hardware is on the horizon. The speculation was right on the money. After teasing an October 27th launch, Retroid has officially pulled back the curtain not on one, but two new devices. The headliner, without a doubt, is the Retroid Pocket 6, a handheld that represents the company's most significant leap forward in years, packing a premium chipset, a stunning new design, and a battery boost, all starting at a compelling $229.
A Fresh, Familiar Feel: The Retroid Pocket 6 Design
Arriving just a little over a year after the Retroid Pocket 5, the RP6 immediately distinguishes itself from its predecessor with a complete design overhaul. Gone are the angular edges, replaced with rounder, more ergonomic sides that early impressions compare favorably to the popular AYN Odin 2 Mini, suggesting a comfortable grip for long gaming sessions.
The device will be available in six colorways, catering to a range of tastes from vibrant to classic. The most striking change, however, is on the front face. Retroid has moved the menu and function buttons directly below the screen, flanked on each side by stereo speakers—a clean and modern arrangement. The D-Pad has also been redesigned and, along with the ABXY buttons, is now surrounded by a circular accent, giving the controller layout a more unified look. One thing that hasn't changed is the symmetrical thumbstick placement, a design choice that always divides opinion. While some fans expressed disappointment that Retroid didn't switch to an offset layout, others are relieved that the muscle memory built on previous models remains intact.
The company has been building hype for this new look, and you can see the official reveal for yourself in their launch post on X (formerly Twitter).
Under the Hood: A Specifications Powerhouse
If the new design is the sizzle, the internal specifications are the steak, and the Retroid Pocket 6 is serving a full-course meal. While it retains the 5.5-inch, 1920 x 1080 AMOLED display from the RP5—a screen already praised for its vibrant colors and sharpness—it gets a massive upgrade with a 120Hz refresh rate. This means buttery-smooth scrolling in the Android menus and a potentially transformative experience for game streaming services and supported native Android games.
The real story is the chipset. Retroid has made a monumental jump, equipping the Pocket 6 with the flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. This is a huge step up from the Snapdragon 865 used in the Pocket 5 and places the RP6 firmly in the upper echelon of Android handhelds. This power will be harnessed by either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM, paired with 128GB or 256GB of ultra-fast UFS 3.1 storage, respectively.
Powering this new setup is a substantial 6,000mAh battery, a notable increase from previous models, which should translate to longer play sessions. When it’s time to recharge, 27W fast wired charging will get you back into the action quickly. For connectivity, it features a USB 3.1 Type-C port with DisplayPort support (allowing for 4K output at 60fps to an external monitor or TV), a 3.5mm audio jack, a MicroSD card slot for expansion, and the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 standards. It ships with Android 13 out of the box, offering a familiar and customizable platform for gaming and emulation.
This level of performance makes the Retroid Pocket 6 a direct successor to powerful devices like the Retroid Pocket 5 (which you can still find on Amazon for a comparative look).
Retroid Pocket 6 Price and Availability: Stunning Value
Perhaps the most impressive feat Retroid has pulled off is the pricing. Despite the substantial upgrades, the Retroid Pocket 6 starts at an aggressive $229 for the base model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The higher-end configuration with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is priced at $279.
For early adopters, there's even better news. Retroid is offering pre-order discounts, bringing the base model down to $209 and the high-end version to $259. This pricing strategy positions the Retroid Pocket 6 as an incredible value proposition, offering near-flagship smartphone performance in a dedicated gaming form factor for hundreds less than many of its competitors.
At the time of launch, Retroid has not specified when these pre-orders will officially begin, only confirming that the window will open soon. For anyone in the market for a powerful, modern Android handheld that can handle everything up to demanding GameCube, PS2, and Wii titles, plus high-end game streaming, the Retroid Pocket 6 has just reshuffled the deck and set a new benchmark for price-to-performance.
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