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| The Retroid Pocket 6 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. |
If you blinked, you might have missed it. The hotly anticipated Retroid Pocket 6 handheld gaming console opened for pre-orders in early November, following its buzzy late-October relaunch. That initial window, complete with an early bird discount, has now officially closed.
But here’s the good news for everyone who hesitated or simply got caught up in the holiday rush: Retroid isn’t making you wait for a general sale. The company has quietly opened a second batch of pre-orders, giving retro gaming enthusiasts another shot at securing the powerful device—albeit with a slightly later ship date.
What’s the Shipping Timeline?
According to a notice on Retroid’s official website, the company is on track to fulfill its initial promises. The first batch of Retroid Pocket 6 orders is still scheduled to start shipping in early January 2026.
For those jumping in on this new wave, patience will be required. Retroid states that units from this second pre-order batch will begin shipping in March 2026. There’s no official word on when this pre-order window will slam shut, but if it mirrors the first batch’s roughly six-week duration, we could see it run through late January 2025.
This leads to the big question Retroid hasn’t yet answered: will the Pocket 6 move to open, non-pre-order availability after this second round? It’s unclear. Given the sustained high demand for premium handhelds, there’s a real possibility of another waiting period before it’s freely in stock.
The bottom line? If you want a Retroid Pocket 6, the safest bet is to secure your unit now. Waiting for some hypothetical "in-stock" date could mean months of additional delay.
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| The two versions of the Pocket 6 have the same rear design. |
A Quick Recap of the Retroid Pocket 6’s Killer Specs
Whether you’re a seasoned emulation enthusiast or new to the handheld scene, the Pocket 6’s specs explain the frenzy:
- Display: A gorgeous 5.5-inch AMOLED screen with a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
- Design Choice: A unique offering—you can choose between a model with symmetrical thumbsticks (PlayStation-style) or one with the left thumbstick above the D-pad (Nintendo-style).
- Powerhouse Performance: At its heart lies the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, configurable with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage.
- Battery & Connectivity: It’s fueled by a substantial 6,000mAh battery and comes future-proofed with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3.
- Software: Runs Android 13 out of the box, opening the door to a vast library of games from the Play Store and beyond.
With pricing set at $229 for the 8GB RAM base model and $279 for the 12GB RAM variant, the Retroid Pocket 6 is positioned as a formidable competitor in the high-performance portable market.
For a closer look at what this device can do, the community is already buzzing with hands-on impressions and gameplay previews. Check out this detailed overview and early performance test on YouTube to see the Pocket 6 in action before you commit.
The message from Retroid is clear: demand is high, and production batches are limited. For gamers looking for their next emulation powerhouse or a premium Android handheld, this second pre-order window might be the last clear opportunity to get a unit before the potentially long wait for general inventory.
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| The Retroid Pocket 6 is available in two design options. |