Retroid Pocket G2 review: a great Android handheld for a specific audience

Are you a fan of old games and have you considered a retro handheld? Then you surely know that (especially) Chinese marketplaces are full of similar devices, and navigating among them is not always easy. Nevertheless, amidst a flood of no-name or nascent brands, established manufacturers like Anbernic, Ayn, Trimui, Ayaneo, and Retroid also stand out. And we will take a look at one of the latest novelties from the latter in today’s review. The new Retroid Pocket G2 also arrived with the older, but still sold, Retroid Pocket 5, so it would be a shame not to compare the two models.

A bit like a Nintendo Switch (2) Lite

When I first picked up the Retroid Pocket G2, my initial thought was that if Nintendo were to release a second generation of the Switch Lite, this is probably what it would look like. Apart from a slightly different layout – which we’ll delve into in more detail a bit later – the Retroid Pocket G2 genuinely feels like a modern incarnation of the aforementioned cheaper variant of the Nintendo Switch. The front is entirely covered by glass with cutouts for the controls. I also received a tempered glass screen protector in the package, but that was a gift from the retailer from whom I bought the handheld. Otherwise, the package contains only the handheld itself, a charging cable, and the necessary literature that no one reads anyway.

The rest of the body is purely plastic. However, it is a matte and pleasant-to-the-touch plastic with a very nice texture in the grip areas. These are quite prominent but also relatively small. So, unless you have exceptionally small hands, you’ll find it difficult to find an optimal grip. This is, of course, also a trade-off for the device’s small dimensions, specifically 199.2 x 78.5 x 15.6 mm. For a more comfortable grip, the manufacturer sells an additional plastic grip that significantly increases the surface area for holding the handheld during gaming. The small dimensions go hand in hand with a low weight of 280 grams. This is, by the way, less than half the weight compared to most handhelds with Windows or SteamOS.

Nice display but weaker speakers

The Retroid Pocket G2 boasts an AMOLED display, which naturally offers vibrant colors, high contrast, and perfect blacks. The refresh rate, however, remained at a standard 60 Hz, which shouldn’t be an issue for most emulated games. Nevertheless, it’s a shame that the 120Hz display was only given to the higher-end Retroid Pocket 6 model, as even the G2 could benefit from it in some Android games. At least we got FullHD resolution, which suits the 5.5″ display with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

The maximum brightness reaches 500 nits across the entire screen. When playing indoors or in the shade, the brightness is sufficient, but you won’t get far in direct sunlight. Automatic brightness control is missing, so it’s up to you to adjust the brightness. It’s a shame about the speakers; while they offer sufficient volume and relatively clear sound, their sound is very flat, which is definitely a drawback when playing games. At least there’s Bluetooth 5.4 with Hi-Res codec support and a 3.5 mm jack – though I would have preferred it on the top side, but that’s a minor detail.

Excellent gamepad

The gamepad controls brought me a huge surprise. First and foremost, I must mention the excellent joysticks utilizing Hall effect magnetic sensors. These are not only reliable, without susceptibility to drift (a nod to Nintendo), but also precise, and I particularly appreciate the resistance they offer. Even with the small size of the joysticks, I had no trouble controlling them. It’s just a shame that customers can’t choose between this layout with both joysticks at the bottom or a swapped D-Pad and Joystick. Retroid only offers this option with the latest “six” model.

However, I really like the D-Pad itself. It has a subtly clicky tactile feedback and served me excellently, especially when playing older Gameboy Advance games. The layout of the X / A / B / Y buttons corresponds to the layout currently used by Nintendo. The triggers on the top side of the Retroid Pocket G2 are analog and offer just the right amount of pleasant resistance when pressed. Only the overall travel distance of the triggers could be a bit shorter, given the overall size of the handheld.

The left and right bumpers, or L1 and R1 buttons, are sufficiently large and protrude just enough to be pressed comfortably. Here, however, I would criticize their noisy, clicky feedback and minimal travel – although I know that some players prefer it exactly this way. On the front, we also find a total of four small buttons. Those at the top edge serve as Select / Start, and + / – buttons respectively in games. The buttons at the bottom edge, alongside the speakers, then serve to return to the home screen and as a back button.

Gamepad software

Naturally, the controller also comes with utility software and customization options. First and foremost, there’s the option to switch between two layout modes: the default “Retroid” and the Xbox controller layout. You can also personalize the triggers to function as analog (i.e., recognizing how much you press them) or digital (i.e., functioning as a regular button). Additionally, there’s an automatic mode that adjusts trigger behavior depending on the specific game/emulator. The joystick backlighting can also be adjusted, each separately. Color, saturation, and intensity of the backlighting can be set.

Android 15 on a handheld

The Retroid Pocket G2 comes factory-equipped with Android 15, and during testing, one OTA update arrived, adding Widevine support for streaming platforms. Furthermore, separate charging was introduced, where the device draws power directly from the mains when the battery is fully charged, thus preserving the battery itself. Last but not least, a number of fixes and stability improvements were included. So, I must credit the manufacturer for not completely forgetting about the device after sale, although I wouldn’t bet too much on exemplary software support here either.

Upon first startup, you’ll encounter a customized initial setup where you can choose which applications, emulators, and games you want to install immediately. Within this, you even have the option to choose whether you want to install Google Services on the handheld. Theoretically, you can completely do without Google here. As for the interface, we are mostly dealing with a clean AOSP Android with several enhancements and specific features. I’ve already touched upon gamepad settings, but I haven’t mentioned the built-in controller mapping function with the ability to create and save custom profiles. This is especially useful for Android games that don’t have built-in gamepad support. I personally tried it with Delta Force, and the mapping worked perfectly, including movement and camera control using the joysticks.

In the settings, you’ll find a special section dedicated to handheld features. These include, for example, gamepad input settings, including joystick calibration and dead zone adjustment. Additionally, there are settings for a virtual mouse cursor, app lock, or virtual RAM. The system also features a floating sidebar that pulls out from the right edge of the screen. Here, the user can monitor FPS, temperature, or CPU and RAM utilization. This panel also provides quick access to brightness control, do not disturb mode, and taking screenshots or videos of gameplay. The sidebar can also be used to access controller mapping, create profiles from these maps, and quickly test buttons.

Do it yourself?

The system itself is smooth, and during the testing period, I didn’t encounter any outright bugs. However, it’s still Android and not a system primarily designed for consoles or handhelds. The manufacturer is aware of this, and so the Retroid Pocket G2, besides the classic AOSP launcher, is also equipped with its own, more console-like home screen. The Retroid Launcher, at first glance, looks very similar to the Nintendo Switch console environment, just with categories for different platforms and then lists of games.

The launcher itself isn’t outright bad, but it didn’t really win me over, and I preferred the Beacon Game Launcher from Google Play for 85 CZK. I prefer it more, especially for its layout that organizes individual platforms into tabs on the main screen and its easily accessible Android app menu. Aesthetically, it also looks modern and clear, and unlike the Retroid Launcher or the extremely popular ES-DS among the community, it doesn’t require any complicated setup. The trade-off for this is limited customization options.

A certain ease of getting started is also the option to install selected emulators during the initial setup of the Retroid Pocket G2. However, these do not cover all potentially emulatable platforms, and above all, you still have to go through the initial setup for each one. For some emulators, setup is just a simple installation wizard; elsewhere, it can be more complex. But don’t worry, popular emulators have dozens of guides (especially on YouTube) on how to set them up. Just be aware that, unlike weaker handhelds with modified Linux onboard, there isn’t a custom-prepared environment and pre-configured emulators here that only need the games themselves. With the Retroid Pocket G2 (and other Android handhelds), you might spend hours setting things up initially before everything is to your liking. More or less, it depends on you and how demanding you are.

Introducing: Snapdragon G2 Gen 2

Qualcomm chipsets are notoriously known (not only) to every modern technology enthusiast, yet I dare say that their Snapdragon G series has been missed by many. This is a series of chipsets designed for gaming devices, especially handhelds. The current generation was released in 2025 and includes a total of three chipsets – Snapdragon G1 Gen 2, Snapdragon G2 Gen 2, and Snapdragon G3 Gen 2. The first is primarily intended for cloud gaming, while the mid-range and high-end in the form of the second generations of G2 and G3 chipsets can handle more demanding games and emulation. As the name suggests, the Qualcomm Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 ticks inside the Retroid Pocket G2.

However, don’t be misled by my calling the chipset used here mid-range; while it represents the middle of the gaming Snapdragon lineup, it offers truly solid performance. It is closest to the well-known Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. In fact, one could say that the G2 Gen 2 represents its variant optimized for long-term high loads. The chipset uses an octa-core processor with one most powerful, four powerful, and three efficient cores. Compared to the aforementioned Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, however, the maximum clock speed here is set slightly lower, at 2.8 GHz compared to 3.2 GHz for its more famous sibling.

Similarly, the Adreno A22 graphics chip used is in many ways similar to that in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, offering slightly lower performance but much better stability under long-term load, even while retaining modern and demanding features like hardware-accelerated Ray tracing. The chipset is then complemented by 8 GB of RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 storage, expandable with microSD memory cards. It’s a shame that the manufacturer doesn’t offer at least a 12 / 256 GB variant. Especially more RAM can have a positive effect on more demanding emulation.

Active cooling and performance profiles

However, the Retroid Pocket G2 does not rely solely on chip optimization. Inside the device, there is active cooling using a single fan. The handheld also includes three performance and several cooling profiles. I have found the combination of the medium performance and silent cooling profile to be effective long-term. If the user chooses the highest performance profile, not only will they get a performance boost at the edge of measurability, but they will also lose the option to set a silent fan profile. This is a problem mainly because the fan speed control behaves quite aggressively in automatic or performance mode, maintaining a high speed. Moreover, the sound of the fan at higher speeds is quite unpleasantly whiny and loud.

Yet, even in the 3D Mark Wild Life Extreme stress test, the Retroid Pocket G2 easily managed with the silent profile, and performance stability reached a respectable 94%. With the active performance profile, it was 95%. For comparison, current flagship smartphones without active cooling are often happy to exceed the 40% mark in this test. Below, you can see other results from popular benchmarks, which confirm that the price for stability is slightly lower performance compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

Retroid Pocket G2 benchmarks

• AnTuTu v11 – 1,702,159 points
• Geekbench 6 Single core – 1,950 points
• Geekbench 6 Multi core – 4,976 points
• 3D Mark Wild Life Extreme – 3,093 points

What can I play on the Retroid Pocket G2?

We’re getting to a crucial part of the Retroid Pocket G2 review and something that everyone must carefully consider before buying a similar device. There are many retro handhelds on the market, especially in Chinese stores. From the cheapest, where Playstation 1 games at native resolution are the ceiling, through mid-range devices approaching Nintendo Switch performance, to models with the performance of current smartphone flagships. So, if you don’t want to overpay unnecessarily, or – worse – be disappointed with your new toy, you should first consider what you plan to play on the handheld.

It probably won’t surprise anyone that the Retroid Pocket G2 has absolutely no problems – whether performance-related or through optimization – with games from all Gameboy consoles, the original Playstation, or even Sega Saturn. If we look at slightly more demanding emulators for Nintendo Gamecube and Wii consoles, the tested Retroid has no problem with emulation at up to three times the native resolution. Controlling some Wii titles can be more complicated due to their focus on motion-controlled Nunchucks. However, especially on YouTube, you’ll find plenty of guides on how to deal with this and properly configure your handheld’s gamepad. PlayStation Portable games at several times native resolution also posed absolutely no problems. The Retroid Pocket G2 can even handle PS Vita games, but emulators are still in their infancy, and the list of supported titles for them is not yet very large.

PlayStation 2 games in FullHD

Potentially more complicated can be the emulation of games from Nintendo DS consoles (or rather 3DS and 2DS). As you surely know, these are characterized by the use of two displays. Various menus, inventories, maps, and contextual options are often found on the secondary, touch-sensitive screen. Typically, thanks to the widescreen display, the screen can be split, with approximately 2/3 taken up by the main screen and the remaining third by the secondary screen. If playing games from these handhelds is one of your primary goals, consider acquiring an original secondary display. For approximately 1,500 CZK, you’ll get an identical display to the handheld itself. You then attach it with a clip, creating a setup similar to Nintendo DS consoles. Not to mention, you can use the split screens for watching a YouTube tutorial directly while playing.

The Retroid Pocket also delivers excellent performance when emulating Playstation 2 games, but for smooth gameplay even with more demanding titles, I recommend setting the resolution to 2.5 times native – which corresponds to the Retroid’s FullHD resolution. Playstation 2 emulation on Android is already quite well-handled, and I personally encountered only one title that didn’t work at all: LoTR: Return of the King. However, the problem here seems to be with the game itself, as its emulation causes issues across devices. In the end, I opted for the Gamecube version, which works without any problems.

It can handle more demanding challenges

A slightly bigger challenge is the emulation of the Nintendo Wii U console, which is not only hardware-specific but also more powerful. Hand in hand with its rather limited success comes its poorer support, with only one emulator existing for Android, and that one has been around for a relatively short time and still has a way to go before its final version. Nevertheless, the Retroid Pocket G2 handled games for this console quite decently, although with a few titles, it already encountered not only compatibility but also performance limits. For example, I couldn’t get Call of Duty series games to run at all, and Need for Speed: Most Wanted had issues with both stability and overall performance. On the other hand, many titles, especially exclusives, worked decently here, which gives hope for the future that the list of playable titles on the Retroid Pocket G2 will gradually expand.

The emulation of the original Nintendo Switch is significantly better, with several emulators in active development and a very vibrant community. Here too, the Retroid Pocket G2 performs very well. Although I wouldn’t entirely claim that emulating this console should be the main motivation for purchase, as emulation may not always be 100% reliable. Thanks to the much wider adoption of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and the development of alternative drivers for it, the more expensive Retroid Pocket 6 is a more reliable choice. On the Retroid Pocket G2, I tested around 30 games, both exclusive and from third-party developers, and more than 80% of them were ultimately playable without issues, though it did require trying various alternative drivers and some settings.

Ultimately, it’s still more of a solution for tinkerers, but it can reward your time spent on setup. The Retroid Pocket G2 handles most tested Switch games at the console’s native docked resolution – meaning higher resolution than the Switch in handheld mode. It goes without saying that on the 5.5″ FullHD display, these games look great. Android emulators for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are also in development, but they are in a very early stage, and even for the future, I would expect only less demanding titles to be playable here.

PC games? Yes, but with a big BUT

For some time now, you can also run games designed for Windows on Android through applications like GameHub, GameNative, and Winlator (and its derivatives). Each has its pros and cons; for older games, Winlator proved most effective, through which I played Need for Speed Underground 2 at maximum graphics settings with a stable 60 FPS. Via GameHub or GameNative, you can then play games from your online libraries on Steam or Epic. I tried Ryse: Son of Rome, for example, which ran at minimum details but stably at 30 fps. However, for Windows games, the need to find optimal settings is exponentially greater than for the aforementioned Switch.

Due to the limited adoption of the chipset used, you will rarely find the option to apply proven settings for smooth gameplay in individual games. And I even encountered complications with the not-so-widespread chipset in some Android games. For example, the Android version of Red Dead Redemption noticeably lagged on the tested handheld regardless of settings. In contrast, the current hit Where Winds Meet ran completely smoothly on the second-highest setting (maximum details were not available here). I had no problem with Delta Force or Fall Guys. The racing title Grid Legends is compatible according to Google Play, but upon first launch, the game kicked me out precisely due to unsupported hardware. Thanks to Retroid, I once again fell for Titan Quest and finally learned the principles of survival in Subnautica.

Battery life isn’t dazzling

Inside the handheld is a battery with a not particularly dazzling capacity of 5,000 mAh. Not that it’s a complete disaster, but in a body this size, I could imagine a noticeably larger capacity – and I’m not necessarily talking about Si-C cells. After all, the new Retroid Pocket 6 also received a 6,000mAh battery. Charging then takes place at a relatively decent 27 W, and you can charge the handheld from 15 to 100% in just over an hour.

As for battery life on a single charge, it can be extremely variable and, naturally, depends on what you’re playing. For example, with medium display brightness, I managed to play Need for Speed: Underground 2 via Winlator for almost 4.5 hours. Some more demanding Nintendo Switch titles drained all the energy even faster – around 3.5-4 hours. For PS2 games, battery life was over 5 hours. In the case of Nintendo DS titles, battery life even exceeded 8 hours, and relatively undemanding Gameboy Advance emulation on the Retroid Pocket G2 should be able to run for over 14 hours.

Thus, it extremely depends on which specific games and, if applicable, what settings you will play on the device. For more demanding titles, it is – unsurprisingly – necessary to automatically account for higher consumption. Similarly, you can achieve longer battery life by, for example, not pushing the given titles to triple resolution with upscaling, but rather settling for native resolution. Setting frame rate limits and the experiences of other users, as well as the specific graphics driver used, also helps. Compared to handhelds with Windows or SteamOS, a certain advantage is that a relatively small power bank is sufficient for a full charge on the go, giving you hours of extra playtime.

Retroid Pocket G2 – availability and price

Unfortunately, I couldn’t have chosen a worse time for the Retroid Pocket G2 review. During its preparation, the manufacturer announced that this particular model fell victim to the memory crisis and is being temporarily removed from the offer. Until then, it was available on the official manufacturer’s website for $219 + shipping and tax, so after accounting for everything, we arrive at a sum of approximately 7,000 CZK. You currently cannot buy this handheld directly from the manufacturer and must rely on other sellers, especially from Chinese marketplaces like Aliexpress.

There, the Retroid Pocket G2 is currently also selling from 7,000 CZK, but without tax, which brings its price dangerously close to the basic version of the Pocket 6. I was lucky when buying, as I managed to get my unit on sale from a European warehouse, including shipping, for less than 6,000 CZK. And from my perspective, that is precisely the right price for such a device.

Retroid Pocket G2 review conclusion

The tested Retroid Pocket G2 is undoubtedly a great gaming device, but first, consider what you want to use it for and whether it’s the right solution for you. Definitely don’t expect the Retroid Pocket G2 to replace Steam Deck-type handhelds. PC game emulation is still more of a niche activity, and here we also hit the device’s performance ceiling.

It can be a great device for tinkerers who want to customize the user environment to their liking, or who enjoy testing the limits of what’s possible with similar devices. You’ll certainly be satisfied if you don’t mind the Android environment and simply want to play games from your youth up to Playstation 2 or Nintendo Gamecube and DS. Emulation of (especially) older consoles works simply great here. Thanks to the ability to easily upscale the resolution on a relatively small but high-quality AMOLED display, old games often look better than ever before. As a bonus, you can also enjoy a whole range of Android games here – although you might occasionally encounter compatibility issues.

While I would have appreciated a higher refresh rate and a bit more brightness in some situations for the display, it’s otherwise a nice sight. The handheld itself has compact dimensions and low weight, making it a great travel companion – though it might not fit everyone’s hands perfectly. A pleasant surprise for me were the really well-executed gamepad controls – especially the joysticks. On the other hand, I was slightly disappointed with the sound, which simply should be better in a device like this.

Editor’s rating: 78 / 100

Are you interested in the Retroid Pocket G2 or another retro handheld?