Two new handhelds from Retroid are here! The Pocket 6 features an OLED display and can handle Windows games

When Retroid lowered the price of its Pocket 5 handheld a week ago, it was clear something was brewing. Now we know what: the Chinese manufacturer has unveiled two new gaming handhelds – the mid-range Pocket G2 and the flagship Pocket 6. The former is particularly interesting as it is the very first device in the world to use the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2, a chip designed specifically for gaming handhelds.

Pocket G2: The first handheld with Snapdragon G2 Gen 2

The Retroid Pocket G2 is essentially a modified Pocket 5 with a new processor. The original Snapdragon 865 (a flagship chip from 2020) has been replaced by the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2, which Qualcomm introduced this year at GDC 2025 specifically for gaming handhelds. According to Retroid, the new chip is almost twice as fast as the Snapdragon 865, meaning smoother emulation of more demanding consoles like PlayStation 2, GameCube, or PSP.

Specifications are as follows:

• Display: 5.5″ AMOLED, 1920×1080, 60 Hz
• Processor: Snapdragon G2 Gen 2
• RAM: 8 GB LPDDR5x
• Storage: 128 GB (expandable via microSD)
• Battery: 5000 mAh
• System: Android 15

The design remained practically the same as the Pocket 5 – symmetrical joysticks, D-pad top left, ABXY buttons right. Five color variants are available: GC (white-purple inspired by GameCube), 16-bit (Nintendo style), black, turquoise, and yellow.

Price and availability: The standard price is 219 dollars (approximately 4,600 CZK), but those who order within the first two weeks will pay only 199 dollars (about 4,200 CZK). This is the same price for which the discounted Pocket 5 is currently sold. The first three colors (GC, black, gray) will start shipping on October 29, with turquoise and yellow following from November 5.

Pocket 6: Flagship with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

The Pocket 6 is the most powerful handheld Retroid has ever produced. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 – a flagship chip from 2023, found in devices like the Galaxy S23. This means significantly higher performance than the Pocket G2 – it can handle more demanding Android games, but more importantly, also emulate Windows games via Wine or Box86.

Specifications:

• Display: 5.5″ AMOLED, 1920×1080, 120 Hz
• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
• RAM: 8 or 12 GB LPDDR5x
• Storage: 128 or 256 GB UFS 3.1
• Battery: 6000 mAh, 27W charging
• Ports: USB-C 3.1 with DisplayPort (4K@60Hz), 3.5mm jack, microSD
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3
• System: Android 13 (which is surprisingly older than on the G2)

Interestingly, the Pocket 6 runs on Android 13, while the cheaper Pocket G2 has the newer Android 15. The reason is not clear – perhaps due to compatibility with emulators, but it’s an unusual choice.

Design: Rounded Edges and Controversial Joysticks

The Pocket 6 received a new design with more rounded edges, reminiscent of the AYN Odin 2 Mini. A row of buttons (back, home, M1, M2) has been added below the display, and speakers are on the sides. Both the D-pad and ABXY buttons are now encircled, which is a visual change from the previous generation.

The placement of the joysticks remains controversial – still symmetrical, both at the bottom. This is popular among retro emulation fans (reminiscent of a PlayStation controller), but many would prefer an asymmetrical layout like on the Xbox, where the left joystick is at the top. Retroid did not avoid this discussion with previous models and apparently decided to stick with the symmetrical layout due to the existing user community.

Six colors are available, including the well-known GC variant inspired by GameCube.

Price and Availability: When and for How Much?

The Pocket 6 will be available in two configurations:

• 8GB RAM + 128GB: 4,400 CZK (pre-order) / 4,800 CZK (full price)
• 12GB RAM + 256GB: 5,400 CZK (pre-order) / 5,800 CZK (full price)

Retroid has not yet announced a specific start date for sales – only promising that pre-orders will begin “soon” with a $20 discount. After the official launch, the price will increase to the standard level.

Are you tempted to try a handheld console?

Source: Retroid