I'm so happy you mentioned those horrible dpad and button errors. That's why I sold my on Ebay. It's very sad because screen and functionalities are amazing.
Thank you, it is incredibly frustrating given how capable the console is for it to be let down by something so simple. The buttons and the issues with the cartridge slot make it very frustrating to use when trying to use original game boy games.
I have owned my AP for almost 2 years and love it one thing that greatly improves the overall experience is getting the dock it takes owning the Pocket from an A++ tier device to an S tier imo. I do play all handheld games in handheld mode but playing Genesis, Neo Geo etc. the dock is a better experience for me.
@@JoeBleepsI love hooking up an 8bitdo arcade stick to the dock on the big TV for some Double Dragon Advance, or Atari Lynx Rampage. But then I've not had a 4 Slot Neo Geo at home like you, so you may not need to scratch that arcade itch as much as me 😅. But yeah, like you say, the handheld experience is great, and I am just getting so much mileage out of Tetris, Dr Mario (GBA and OG GB), and Wario Ware. Games I largely missed out on back in the day as I was too busy being obsessed with Sega Master Systems and Megadrives! The main selling point for me for the AP however was being able to play my Lynx and Neo Geo Pocket games on a nice crisp screen, so I picked up the adapter set. So I'll probably be selling off my Lynx and NGP soon. Thanks for taking the time to create and upload this video. I hope you get lots more joy from your AP, I think it's a great bit of kit, but yeah the price point is kerrrazy!
@@0800styles thank you! That was a great read. I'm glad all the accessories have been worthwhile for you. And as for arcade ownership, it's fun but you definitely spend more time repairing and troubleshooting than you do playing!
Funny I heard some actual arcade owners saying exactly the same thing a couple of days ago! Really reminds me of my experience of managing the onsite 3D printers at my old job... The most valuable learnings from that experience were patience, attention to detail and meticulous troubleshooting methods... Not the fun creative prototyping role I initially expected when setting up the lab 😅 I've got a fair collection of original consoles, CRTs and arcade sticks, and I often toy with the idea of creating a little videogame museum/café type thing in my local town centre, but I get scared off imagining my precious gear getting trashed 😅
@@0800styles yeah I couldn't cope with the general public playing on my hardware haha! 3D printer ownership is a very good comparison, you need to see it as a hobby rather than a service haha
Entertaining and informative video. I’ve been eyeing up the Pocket for years now, but haven’t pulled the trigger for the reasons you mentioned with inaccurate inputs as well as the high shipping and import duty costs. It’s a shame to see they haven’t addressed those particular issues, and the loose cart. Anyway, appreciate the in-depth review. This strikes me as a channel that should have way more subs and views, relative to the quality of the content. So keep doing what you’re doing, and I’m sure that’ll come soon.
Whether you run a game from a cart or a rom via your sd card, the pocket is still utilizing an fpga to run the game. It would be similar to an original console fitted with an sd card to run roms. These type setups are available for ps2, gamecube, dreamcast, etc. So don’t feel bad if you don’t want to use the carts. There really is no difference on the pocket running a cart or a rom
I was about to comment the same. The AP being FPGA based gives advantages over sofware emulation handhelds, less input lag and in general more accurate sound and slow downs.
Thank you and yes, that's definitely the advantage of having the FPGA, and although my brain understands what's going on, I can't help but thrive on the tactile satisfaction of slotting in the cartridge to play a game :)
Definitely good to have that accuracy! That's what makes the controls all the more frustrating. But seeing it deliver so well with all the platforms I've tried so far really is impressive.
I ended up getting the Black aluminum pocket. I'm a little unimpressed about the DPAD registering up and down presses occasionally when pressing left or right, or not registering an input at all. The same issue seems to exist on all previous models and the solution is just to remove bad padding underneath the DPAD on the board. Its a shame you need to open up the device for this fix and that it hasn't been rectified in assembly.
@@clintheistwood I absolutely agree with this, as I said in the video. With this being a known issue and them not addressing it for a console they are charging this much for, it's really bad form.
Great follow up video. I am glad you got the open FPGA going it really opens up the value of the pocket IMO. Enjoy your investment sir. I liked and subscribed
Thank you yes that works. I apologise I don't think I was clear about what I meant there; I was wondering about being able to switch between different cores when using carts
@@JoeBleeps Oh! My mistaken interpretation there. I know it's possible because I can choose "run cartridge" in the OpenFPGA SuperGB core. But that's the only example I've run across.
I got the black aluminum one its great! First unit i received had a similar shoulder issue as you but slightly worse. It also had rattling power/volume buttons. Got in contact with them and had a new one sent to me as soon as i shipped mine back. My replacement one has been excellent. I completely agree with something at this price point should be damn near perfect. The price is definitely ridiculous but when i was about to get an aluminum gba or SP from boxypixel for the same price, this was a no brainer. Great review!
As someone who also keeps umming and ahing on the AP, this video really helps. Am in the UK also and those import/customs/shipping fees are good to know. Cheers, really good content and production!
I have the plastic one without issues, I've read on reddit that someone else was also complaining about the dpad on their aluminium one and the customer support with analogue helped them after their complaint, so I don't think this is how it should work with yours.
I'm a happy owner of the white plastic Analogue pocket, I can say that I don't have the dpad nor button issues that are described in this video, perhaps it has something to do with the metal material? The shoulder buttons with the plastic one are almost inaudible BTW and the feel is just right I'd say. Comparable to the ones of the GBA SP. Also 700 dollars after tax and shipping is really insane. I live in a high vat country and the system including the dock set me back 420 Euro(or 480 dollar I guess). Speaking of the dock: it works amazing on the TV, the crt trinitron filter blew me away, it turns my 75 inch qled TV into a CRT TV basically no emulator for PC I've seen so far can compete here. Cause the filter not only uses scan lines but also a thin grid overlay that brings out the pixel art of snes, nes, megadrive and neo geo games so much better. Those games pixel arts were designed with crt tvs in mind, and the filter makes the 2d sprites and backgrounds really shine and bring me back to my childhood days playing old 8bit and 16bit games on my tiny Philips CRT, only with SUPER Power now 😅
@@theprophet2444 that really does sound amazing! And interesting to hear about the buttons on yours too. Seems the original is indeed the best in that department
@@JoeBleeps maybe or maybe you truly have some kind of defective unit, I'd ask their support, I think your issues aren't acceptable at this price point. I just tried some Tetris and other than me being rusty and losing after reaching two digit levels I didn't have any issues, well I guess the buttons are a bit mushy though but they work as intended. I also did the Contra test of pushing down down down to see if the D-Pad had any flaws I didn't notice so far but nope, also diagonal firing works as intended.
@@theprophet2444 Oh really? Is yours a metal one too? I am nearing the end of Drill Dozer and the amount of incorrect directional readings is really frustrating at some points, luckily I am using save states a lot. Maybe I will reach out to them.
How wobbly would the heavier everdrive gbc be? I am also concerned about the everdrive menu button when pressed in such a wobbly fit? That is why my black plastic pocket and dock are still sealed. Unsure if i should open or sell. Want to use mainly the everdrive gbc. Currently using a fpgbc for the everdrive but the fpgbc has too much muffled audio for my ears. Will try real gbc mb with oled screen next but i am already put off by the touch screen. 😅
@@dinaya8560seconding this, mine is fine, but I’ve used it with a friend’s pocket and there was quite a bit of wobbliness. Seems like some of the kickstarter ones had the wobbly cartridge slot?
I have an original plastic Pocket and it also had d-pad issues where the diagonals were almost impossible to hit without pressing extremely hard. Loosening the 4 screws on the back of the handheld actually helped a lot and I was able to 1CC Street Fighter Alpha 2. Before loosening the screws, fighting games were just frustrating with that stock d-pad. Why are the perfected d-pads from Nintendo and Sega unable to be replicated in this premium version of modern hardware? It's insane how Analogue haven't addressed this dpad issue yet.
the metal contacts on the PCB are just too close together. When modders have addressed the issue by adding tape to the surface of the board, it wouldn't take much for Analogue to address it by modifying the motherboard design, adjusting the screen printing to cover part of the exposed pads or even adding a sticker into the process. Would make a big difference.
@@tappersreviews4677 Yea, for $500 you would think everything would be perfect. I actually put my Analogue Pocket in storage for a while right after getting it because I hated the dpad. Only when people came up with mods to fix the dpad, that I finally decided to give that shelf ornament a go again and it's been a real treat. However, having to do any mods at all to such an expensive device to get it working properly is a major wrong imo.
Every time I start craving a Pocket I remember the D pad grumbles and nope myself out of it. The D pad is a contender for the single most important aspect of any gaming device. Anything less than perfect is unacceptable for a device like this, imo. Having near flawless FPGA emulation while failing the simple Contra test is a farce
With the release of the new color variants (Gameboy color homage) do you think you would sell your metal analogue to recoup the cost and get a cheaper version of it?
That's a really good question. Since doing this review, I wanted to get hands on with a plastic one so I could make a more informed comparison. As it happens, I should be getting one of the GBC ones (Dandelion) so I'll be able to compare more accurately and choose a favourite. While I'm not ruling out keeping both, there is the possibility I may end up selling the one that gets the least use.
Great video - I'm exactly where you are with the Pocket, even though I only have a plastic one. It is special, but I probably play the Retroid Pocket more. That said I'm forced to play the Analog Pocket half the time because the kids always have the Retroid and I don't allow them to play the Analog!
That makes a lot of sense! I was tempted by the Retroid Pocket Pro 4 but decided it was too expensive. And now here I am with this thing. Go figure haha
I play mostly in docked mode and after a side-by-side comparison of an original NES and RetroTINK 2X Pro and the AP with CRT shaders, the AP just looks so good. I got several set of controllers from 8bitdo. They provide firmware specifically for some of their 2.4GHz controllers to work natively with the AP Dock, i.e. no dongle needed. I use 8bitdo 2.4GHz SNES controllers, designed specifically for real SNES hardware as my dedicated controllers for the AP Dock.
I don't see a difference in buying one of these for $500 or a PS5 for $500. Hell, my phone cost 3x as much and all i use it for is TH-cam and to send text to people who ignore them.
Hi Joe! Long time viewer first time commentator! I love your videos! I also got the pocket recently and I have seen the issues and good points you mentioned. My question to you is would you test out other analogue products if you could like the Super NT or SG that they sold a few years back?
Huh… just paid a ridiculously high price for the Aluminum indigo pocket on eBay. The sweat hands thing … I’m curious to see how that will play out for me personally ! Hopefully it’s not an issue and my hands don’t get sweaty 😅
Interested to hear how you get on with it. The sweaty hands thing isn't really a huge issue. It was a warm summer here so it was a bit more pronounced haha
@@JoeBleeps so update been playing it for a few days now & sweating problem is not an issue , it does feel substantial more hefty & heavy than a plastic analogue pocket which for me on that end I do prefer the lighter plastic analogue pocket for longer gaming sessions . Also at 24:42 I was also eager to see if my suffered same thing but it doesn’t ! My cartridges sit flush and don’t have that little gap yours & thus I also didn’t have the disconnect / freeze issue which leads me to … that’s a damn shame the quality control on these pockets should’ve been flawless for every single aluminum pocket… this should not be an issue . Also the official pocket clear case it’s known to scratch up the console . There’s bunch of cases on Reddit where these cases have scratched up their aluminum pockets . So your better off not buying one and just keeping it in a soft pouch like case 😅
@@elmentado9231 that's all very interesting, thanks for the feedback! Yeah I've given up on using cartridges on mine, may as well just load the ROM and avoid the risk of a crash. Glad yours is better.
I have always wanted of these. I was so tempted by the transparent models, but after delivery (and import fees), I just decided it wasn't worth it. I do have a large GameBoy, Color and Advance collection but I just decided to go with a Miyoo Mini and emulate instead.
Just wanted to say I really appreciate your videos man, and looking forward to more videos on other consoles you have and overall your honest opinion. Wanted to ask your thoughts on the ModRetro Chromatic? I can’t stand the creator, but as a collector and avid handheld fan I love the idea of another GB handheld that can play our physical collection and new carts (compatible with all GBs and the AP!)
@@JoeBleeps I have! I guess a follow up with new details of people playing with it in stores, GameStops exclusive and partnerships with Logan Paul. Guess it makes sense to wait until actual units are given out.
Great review, brother. I'm still on the fence about them. But the two colors I wanted (Noir and Indigo) are now sold out. So I'm less interested. My transparent orange Analogue is my goto device lately, so I'm fine.
@@i3nu240101 I don't think they will, because the material won't wear in the same way. As with most things, time will tell. I think the issue with these would be if the anodised colour scratches or wears away but it seems really solid. I'm becoming less precious about it the longer I have it, and it seems pretty tough
Great video mate, I know I’ll never purchase one due to price, changing the subject slightly, I know you like your music stuff. I’ve just picked up the Mega Synthesis by SonicWare, it’s basically a mega drive music groove box, something I think you might be interested in 👍🏻
Chromatic is still an unknown quantity but it is a much better price point at least. OLED GBC is a fantastic way to play the original GB and GBC games on a much better budget - especially if you have a GBC to use for the project
I think you got the best colour of the metal ones, and it must be nice knowing your purchase is an instant collector's item that'll (probably) only appreciate in value. For me though, Analogue stuff doesn't appeal enough to cough up for the extra 'premium' shipping tax plus import fees. Not gonna pretend their hardware isn't great though.
I agree with you on all those points. It was at least reassuring that the Indigo model sold out fairly quickly, but I still don't think it's likely to appreciate in value in the same way their previous LE models did. The shipping and taxes really do take even the plastic ones to a very high price.
I’ll say this from personal experience I bought a modded Gameboy with updated ips screen and everything, then I bought a Black regular Analogue Pocket aswell from EBay. No matter how you look at it , the Analogue is miles and miles ahead of : 1. Original Hardware 2. Modded Gameboys 3. Other clone handhelds . The build quality, the level of accuracy and Clarity of how these older games run on this handheld is unmatched . There’s nothing better out there .
Price is high, BUT not too high because they sold out. I still bought the blue model. Love the idea and look…BUT it is too heavy. So it will be either sold off or used in the dock.
@@JoeBleeps You’re welcome! By the way the rumble cards there have normal pricing and you can also adjust the rumble intensity. Good alternative overall.
Cool - glad to see a video on this release but not something I would buy. On the other hand if someone starts making DSi / 3DS clone FPGAs then I would be all and willing to spend.
I think this is just the start when it comes to this kind of machine. Plenty of clever people out there and lots of potential for amazing consoles yet to come using this technology (and, hopefully executing the hardware a little more effectively)
I'm playing this one all the time! Only way I can justify the cost. I am feeling more and more like I may have to open it up though. This d pad is really frustrating.
Damn, that's unfortunate about the aluminum pocket, I have 2 black pockets '1 that I've put 100s of hours into, finished Pokémon blue, yellow & fire red from start to finish' and used on the dock alot. Then I have 1 clear, purple clear and a red clear. Also a silver pocket. And the ONE issue that I had was with the dpad. Press left or right and slightly pushing down will register as a down press for example. As with the L & R buttons, minus the awful reach mine do not wiggle like that, and with being plastic it doesn't have that awful sound Also all my carts fit flush against the back of the cart slot Seems there's some quality control issues with these aluminum pockets unfortunately I have had one of my black pockets that I had to send back due to the SD card slot spring loaded slot failing... like it would not click in the SD card slot. Thankfully they responded and made the repairs there and back within about 3 weeks.. still that was a issue Also I surprisingly have never had any of my games crash, I do clean them though. Been using the Analogue Pocket since early 2022
Really interesting feedback, especially about the shoulder buttons and the cartridge clearance. You'd think with it being machined, the tolerances would be better than when using plastic. How disappointing.
@@8bitflea that's what I was thinking about too. I'll keep an eye on them. I actually think a kind of weathered look after many years of use could look really cool on this
Have already a black standard pocket and I was still tempted by the aluminum version. But it's way too much for me. I want it but I totally don't need it.^^ ☮️
Yes I would say if you already have that one, it wouldn't be worth the additional spend to get the new one as the experience would largely remain the same.
Thank you for this 100% honest and nitpicky review! I would be very disappointed to experience these false diagonals, double taps and cartridge disconnections, so thank you for saving me money! I think that the FPGBC with real OEM buttons and membranes are a good option, because I experienced the same false diagonals with Funnyplaying membranes and buttons. Also Start and Select from Funnyplaying feel awful compared to OEM ones.
Thank you! When the asking price is high, I think we are all at liberty to nitpick! I'm a huge fan of the FPGBC and as I've said before, given its price, it is much easier to forgive it for its shortcomings. And it stays true to cartridge gaming too. Don't get me wrong, I really like using the AP but I really think they should have released a better product or set a lower price for it.
I’ve had the AP for a year and I only got missed inputs perhaps the first 3 days of playing it. Maybe the membranes need break in? I haven’t had any of the other issues on people complain about like loose cartridges or anything.
lol funnyplayig is very inferior, the AP has two fpgas aristotle and socrates the open FPGA chip with 49K Logic elements and the closed 15K LE for video procesing and other stuff funny peasant crap lol
@@gem7303 I needed a few attempts to reseat the speaker on mine before it sounded better; I was getting a lot of vibration with it. Still sounds way better than the GBC speaker when they are side by side.
@@karlhanso of course it's inferior when it costs a fraction of the price of the AP. My issue is that while the FPGA performance is lacking, it still manages to be better when it comes to the controls. When the Analogue gets so much of the technical side of things right, it drops the ball on things that other, cheaper manufacturers do better
For $500 are you willing to risk carrying this around on the go? Never mind that it doesn't even fit in most pockets. It's a great product but it's going to sit in people's game's rooms.
To be fair most of my handheld consoles are used at home. When I'm on the go I have my phone with me and use that. But you're right that it's a concern, which is why I got the carry case for it. Much happier taking it away with me if I know it's well protected.
For the price, this device should have been tested out to perfection. How long have we been making controls and d-pads? Can we not get this down consistently by now? Come on.
@@realmchat6665 I absolutely agree. Over long term use I've become more used to the shortcomings of the controls but it's that gap between the cartridge and console that drives me nuts. Crashes the game any time you put it down
Well they've got the clear shells already, it's not so far fetched. Although they would be better off focusing on getting more black and white ones out there!
i seriously don't see the point of these aftermarket repro consoles, especially with analogue's artificial scarcity business model. you can still just get a poor condition but still working gbc/insert handheld here and fix it up for way less money and then it's tailored to you and still has full compatibility. if we reach a day where that's no longer possible, there's the funnyplaying FPGA handheld or a million ways to emulate. i guess it's good to have options and maybe people who didn't grow up with it aren't bothered but anything besides the original form factor is not the experience i'm after personally.
I agree. I think it's expensive enough for people in the USA, but if you're dealing with import duty, shipping, conversion fees and handling fees it just gets to a point where it's way too much. That final payment of around £100 to actually take delivery of the parcel nearly finished me off.
@@JoeBleeps Super yikes! I think the AP is an awesome device. Beautiful looking hardware! But after the years of delays, FOMO sales tactics and the very slow roll out of some features I can't suggest it to most people.
I would be so mad if I dropped $500 and change on a retro emulation device and all of the buttons were ass. Double registers, false diagonals, L and R have a bunch of play and don't ergonomically fit the device. Tetris is all I play on handhelds and the questionable build quality here is a deal breaker.
You're right that the pricing and limited releases are anti-consumer. I'm normally a very budget conscious gamer and I've made many videos about budget friendly options and modifications to improve them. This particular purchase was an impulsive decision after years of people telling me I'd like the Analogue Pocket. It's really disappointing at this price point that there are still issues with it. However when I disregard the cost and controversy, and just focus on the experience of using it, I would be dishonest if I said I didn't like it. Also I've spent a lot of money on it, I think it's fair to make a video about it.
You can buy a normal Analogue Pocket for half the price and everything you said would still be true. No discussion about the premium metal form factor. Waste of time.
@@pauljacob99 how do you mean? As I said at the start it's my first experience of using an analogue pocket so my observations would include that too. I mentioned a lot about the metal shell, the pros and the cons.
No way you paid $500 for this , you mostly got it for dirt cheap or free for review . Bought it my a**. Unless you all a sudden woke up decided to pay $500+ and do free review and advertisements for the company .
Oof... 500$ for some double inputs and a sensitive D-Pad 🥲no way man. Have you contacted them ? Those in particular sound unacceptable to me honestly. Man is it a beautiful device though, especially in that indigo color. Cheers for this very thorough review ! :)
@@KrazyShark I hadn't contacted them, no. I might give it a try though. The thought of the shipping and returns costs just filled me with anxiety so I figured I would quit while I'm ahead 🤣
Is artificial rarity worth it? NEVER!
Very wise words, it's always the true rarities that surprise.
Its analogue. Its worth it.
@@handyalley2350 I'll be really interested to see how this one is viewed in, say, ten years' time
I ordered one. I think analogue is this generations Gameboy.@@JoeBleeps
I'm so happy you mentioned those horrible dpad and button errors. That's why I sold my on Ebay. It's very sad because screen and functionalities are amazing.
Thank you, it is incredibly frustrating given how capable the console is for it to be let down by something so simple. The buttons and the issues with the cartridge slot make it very frustrating to use when trying to use original game boy games.
Thanks for your honest opinions. I'm glad that you're enjoying the device.
@@Evercade_Effect thank you!
I have owned my AP for almost 2 years and love it one thing that greatly improves the overall experience is getting the dock it takes owning the Pocket from an A++ tier device to an S tier imo. I do play all handheld games in handheld mode but playing Genesis, Neo Geo etc. the dock is a better experience for me.
@@PongbyAtari maybe I'll get the dock some day if I see one for a decent price in the UK
@@JoeBleepsI love hooking up an 8bitdo arcade stick to the dock on the big TV for some Double Dragon Advance, or Atari Lynx Rampage. But then I've not had a 4 Slot Neo Geo at home like you, so you may not need to scratch that arcade itch as much as me 😅.
But yeah, like you say, the handheld experience is great, and I am just getting so much mileage out of Tetris, Dr Mario (GBA and OG GB), and Wario Ware. Games I largely missed out on back in the day as I was too busy being obsessed with Sega Master Systems and Megadrives!
The main selling point for me for the AP however was being able to play my Lynx and Neo Geo Pocket games on a nice crisp screen, so I picked up the adapter set. So I'll probably be selling off my Lynx and NGP soon.
Thanks for taking the time to create and upload this video. I hope you get lots more joy from your AP, I think it's a great bit of kit, but yeah the price point is kerrrazy!
@@0800styles thank you! That was a great read. I'm glad all the accessories have been worthwhile for you. And as for arcade ownership, it's fun but you definitely spend more time repairing and troubleshooting than you do playing!
Funny I heard some actual arcade owners saying exactly the same thing a couple of days ago!
Really reminds me of my experience of managing the onsite 3D printers at my old job... The most valuable learnings from that experience were patience, attention to detail and meticulous troubleshooting methods... Not the fun creative prototyping role I initially expected when setting up the lab 😅
I've got a fair collection of original consoles, CRTs and arcade sticks, and I often toy with the idea of creating a little videogame museum/café type thing in my local town centre, but I get scared off imagining my precious gear getting trashed 😅
@@0800styles yeah I couldn't cope with the general public playing on my hardware haha! 3D printer ownership is a very good comparison, you need to see it as a hobby rather than a service haha
Entertaining and informative video. I’ve been eyeing up the Pocket for years now, but haven’t pulled the trigger for the reasons you mentioned with inaccurate inputs as well as the high shipping and import duty costs.
It’s a shame to see they haven’t addressed those particular issues, and the loose cart.
Anyway, appreciate the in-depth review. This strikes me as a channel that should have way more subs and views, relative to the quality of the content. So keep doing what you’re doing, and I’m sure that’ll come soon.
I really appreciate the kind words, that means a lot. Thank you.
Get one. The standard version is worth the money imo. ☮️
@@ninetendopesaitama2107 I'm inclined to agree! Just a case of getting hold of one
Whether you run a game from a cart or a rom via your sd card, the pocket is still utilizing an fpga to run the game. It would be similar to an original console fitted with an sd card to run roms. These type setups are available for ps2, gamecube, dreamcast, etc. So don’t feel bad if you don’t want to use the carts. There really is no difference on the pocket running a cart or a rom
I was about to comment the same. The AP being FPGA based gives advantages over sofware emulation handhelds, less input lag and in general more accurate sound and slow downs.
Thank you and yes, that's definitely the advantage of having the FPGA, and although my brain understands what's going on, I can't help but thrive on the tactile satisfaction of slotting in the cartridge to play a game :)
Definitely good to have that accuracy! That's what makes the controls all the more frustrating. But seeing it deliver so well with all the platforms I've tried so far really is impressive.
I ended up getting the Black aluminum pocket. I'm a little unimpressed about the DPAD registering up and down presses occasionally when pressing left or right, or not registering an input at all. The same issue seems to exist on all previous models and the solution is just to remove bad padding underneath the DPAD on the board. Its a shame you need to open up the device for this fix and that it hasn't been rectified in assembly.
@@clintheistwood I absolutely agree with this, as I said in the video. With this being a known issue and them not addressing it for a console they are charging this much for, it's really bad form.
Great in-depth review, sounds like a great console but comes with it's flaws. Love the T-shirt btw!
Thank you! And yes they were so close with this one
Great follow up video. I am glad you got the open FPGA going it really opens up the value of the pocket IMO. Enjoy your investment sir. I liked and subscribed
THank you so much! I appreciate your support. And yes the cores really do add a lot to the console. Was well worth doing.
23:51 Changing display mode with cartridge should be the same button combo (analogue+Left or +Right)
Thank you yes that works. I apologise I don't think I was clear about what I meant there; I was wondering about being able to switch between different cores when using carts
@@JoeBleeps Oh! My mistaken interpretation there. I know it's possible because I can choose "run cartridge" in the OpenFPGA SuperGB core. But that's the only example I've run across.
@@GuitarHester thank you!
I got the black aluminum one its great! First unit i received had a similar shoulder issue as you but slightly worse. It also had rattling power/volume buttons. Got in contact with them and had a new one sent to me as soon as i shipped mine back. My replacement one has been excellent. I completely agree with something at this price point should be damn near perfect. The price is definitely ridiculous but when i was about to get an aluminum gba or SP from boxypixel for the same price, this was a no brainer. Great review!
Interesting to hear, thank you! Did you incur any additional charges for that or did they cover shipping etc?
As someone who also keeps umming and ahing on the AP, this video really helps. Am in the UK also and those import/customs/shipping fees are good to know. Cheers, really good content and production!
Thanks very much! And yes as a UK buyer it's a much less enticing prospect
I have the plastic one without issues, I've read on reddit that someone else was also complaining about the dpad on their aluminium one and the customer support with analogue helped them after their complaint, so I don't think this is how it should work with yours.
I'm a happy owner of the white plastic Analogue pocket, I can say that I don't have the dpad nor button issues that are described in this video, perhaps it has something to do with the metal material? The shoulder buttons with the plastic one are almost inaudible BTW and the feel is just right I'd say. Comparable to the ones of the GBA SP. Also 700 dollars after tax and shipping is really insane. I live in a high vat country and the system including the dock set me back 420 Euro(or 480 dollar I guess). Speaking of the dock: it works amazing on the TV, the crt trinitron filter blew me away, it turns my 75 inch qled TV into a CRT TV basically no emulator for PC I've seen so far can compete here. Cause the filter not only uses scan lines but also a thin grid overlay that brings out the pixel art of snes, nes, megadrive and neo geo games so much better. Those games pixel arts were designed with crt tvs in mind, and the filter makes the 2d sprites and backgrounds really shine and bring me back to my childhood days playing old 8bit and 16bit games on my tiny Philips CRT, only with SUPER Power now 😅
@@theprophet2444 that really does sound amazing! And interesting to hear about the buttons on yours too. Seems the original is indeed the best in that department
@@JoeBleeps maybe or maybe you truly have some kind of defective unit, I'd ask their support, I think your issues aren't acceptable at this price point. I just tried some Tetris and other than me being rusty and losing after reaching two digit levels I didn't have any issues, well I guess the buttons are a bit mushy though but they work as intended. I also did the Contra test of pushing down down down to see if the D-Pad had any flaws I didn't notice so far but nope, also diagonal firing works as intended.
@@theprophet2444 Oh really? Is yours a metal one too? I am nearing the end of Drill Dozer and the amount of incorrect directional readings is really frustrating at some points, luckily I am using save states a lot. Maybe I will reach out to them.
How wobbly would the heavier everdrive gbc be? I am also concerned about the everdrive menu button when pressed in such a wobbly fit? That is why my black plastic pocket and dock are still sealed. Unsure if i should open or sell. Want to use mainly the everdrive gbc. Currently using a fpgbc for the everdrive but the fpgbc has too much muffled audio for my ears. Will try real gbc mb with oled screen next but i am already put off by the touch screen. 😅
I believe you can deactivate the touch screen
I have an Everdrive GBC and the Pocket. It’s not wobbly at all and you can press the Everdrive button very well without moving anything ^^
@@dinaya8560seconding this, mine is fine, but I’ve used it with a friend’s pocket and there was quite a bit of wobbliness. Seems like some of the kickstarter ones had the wobbly cartridge slot?
@@autumnjacaranda106 that's reassuring. What are the advantages of using the Everdrive vs the internal SD card?
@@dinaya8560 good to know! Is the Everdrive GBC worth it? I have the very first edition
I have an original plastic Pocket and it also had d-pad issues where the diagonals were almost impossible to hit without pressing extremely hard. Loosening the 4 screws on the back of the handheld actually helped a lot and I was able to 1CC Street Fighter Alpha 2. Before loosening the screws, fighting games were just frustrating with that stock d-pad.
Why are the perfected d-pads from Nintendo and Sega unable to be replicated in this premium version of modern hardware? It's insane how Analogue haven't addressed this dpad issue yet.
the metal contacts on the PCB are just too close together. When modders have addressed the issue by adding tape to the surface of the board, it wouldn't take much for Analogue to address it by modifying the motherboard design, adjusting the screen printing to cover part of the exposed pads or even adding a sticker into the process. Would make a big difference.
That's crazy that these have such an issue. I bought a $40 handheld a few weeks ago with reliable diagonals and reliable fighting game inputs.
@@tappersreviews4677 Yea, for $500 you would think everything would be perfect. I actually put my Analogue Pocket in storage for a while right after getting it because I hated the dpad. Only when people came up with mods to fix the dpad, that I finally decided to give that shelf ornament a go again and it's been a real treat.
However, having to do any mods at all to such an expensive device to get it working properly is a major wrong imo.
@@tappersreviews4677 yeah it really shouldn't have such basic drawbacks
Every time I start craving a Pocket I remember the D pad grumbles and nope myself out of it. The D pad is a contender for the single most important aspect of any gaming device. Anything less than perfect is unacceptable for a device like this, imo. Having near flawless FPGA emulation while failing the simple Contra test is a farce
With the release of the new color variants (Gameboy color homage) do you think you would sell your metal analogue to recoup the cost and get a cheaper version of it?
That's a really good question. Since doing this review, I wanted to get hands on with a plastic one so I could make a more informed comparison. As it happens, I should be getting one of the GBC ones (Dandelion) so I'll be able to compare more accurately and choose a favourite. While I'm not ruling out keeping both, there is the possibility I may end up selling the one that gets the least use.
Great review. I’ve got one of the plastic ones and love mine for Pokémon nuzlockes. It is annoying how easily the cartridges can come out though.
Thank you!
Great video - I'm exactly where you are with the Pocket, even though I only have a plastic one. It is special, but I probably play the Retroid Pocket more. That said I'm forced to play the Analog Pocket half the time because the kids always have the Retroid and I don't allow them to play the Analog!
That makes a lot of sense! I was tempted by the Retroid Pocket Pro 4 but decided it was too expensive. And now here I am with this thing. Go figure haha
I play mostly in docked mode and after a side-by-side comparison of an original NES and RetroTINK 2X Pro and the AP with CRT shaders, the AP just looks so good. I got several set of controllers from 8bitdo. They provide firmware specifically for some of their 2.4GHz controllers to work natively with the AP Dock, i.e. no dongle needed. I use 8bitdo 2.4GHz SNES controllers, designed specifically for real SNES hardware as my dedicated controllers for the AP Dock.
Really good to know, thank you!
Great review!
Thanks very much!
I don't see a difference in buying one of these for $500 or a PS5 for $500. Hell, my phone cost 3x as much and all i use it for is TH-cam and to send text to people who ignore them.
I genuinely expect to get more gaming time spent on this than I would on a PS5, so I can get behind this argument :)
Hi Joe! Long time viewer first time commentator! I love your videos! I also got the pocket recently and I have seen the issues and good points you mentioned. My question to you is would you test out other analogue products if you could like the Super NT or SG that they sold a few years back?
Huh… just paid a ridiculously high price for the Aluminum indigo pocket on eBay. The sweat hands thing … I’m curious to see how that will play out for me personally ! Hopefully it’s not an issue and my hands don’t get sweaty 😅
Interested to hear how you get on with it. The sweaty hands thing isn't really a huge issue. It was a warm summer here so it was a bit more pronounced haha
@@JoeBleeps so update been playing it for a few days now & sweating problem is not an issue , it does feel substantial more hefty & heavy than a plastic analogue pocket which for me on that end I do prefer the lighter plastic analogue pocket for longer gaming sessions .
Also at 24:42 I was also eager to see if my suffered same thing but it doesn’t ! My cartridges sit flush and don’t have that little gap yours & thus I also didn’t have the disconnect / freeze issue which leads me to … that’s a damn shame the quality control on these pockets should’ve been flawless for every single aluminum pocket… this should not be an issue .
Also the official pocket clear case it’s known to scratch up the console . There’s bunch of cases on Reddit where these cases have scratched up their aluminum pockets . So your better off not buying one and just keeping it in a soft pouch like case 😅
@@elmentado9231 that's all very interesting, thanks for the feedback! Yeah I've given up on using cartridges on mine, may as well just load the ROM and avoid the risk of a crash. Glad yours is better.
I have always wanted of these. I was so tempted by the transparent models, but after delivery (and import fees), I just decided it wasn't worth it. I do have a large GameBoy, Color and Advance collection but I just decided to go with a Miyoo Mini and emulate instead.
@@Tacozilla can't go wrong with the Miyoo Mini Plus 😊
Those shoulder button sounds are like anti-ASMR :x
Haha they really do
Just wanted to say I really appreciate your videos man, and looking forward to more videos on other consoles you have and overall your honest opinion.
Wanted to ask your thoughts on the ModRetro Chromatic? I can’t stand the creator, but as a collector and avid handheld fan I love the idea of another GB handheld that can play our physical collection and new carts (compatible with all GBs and the AP!)
Thank you so much! I've made a video following the initial announcement of the Chromatic, you might enjoy that if you've not seen it already 😊
@@JoeBleeps I have! I guess a follow up with new details of people playing with it in stores, GameStops exclusive and partnerships with Logan Paul. Guess it makes sense to wait until actual units are given out.
@@Vidalburgos well thanks for watching that! I won't be buying one but I'm intrigued to see what happens if and when it releases
Great review, brother. I'm still on the fence about them. But the two colors I wanted (Noir and Indigo) are now sold out. So I'm less interested. My transparent orange Analogue is my goto device lately, so I'm fine.
@@NaraMakesGames I think you have the best looking one they've made there. You're right to stick with that
I have one from launch and my battery drains like mad. Also cool tidbit about the rumble pak I still had mine shoved in a bag full of games.
Ahh I hope my battery lasts okay in that case. Glad you had a rumble pak handy!
ok, so what i hate about the plastic one, is they tend to become more glossy after using, would this also happen to alumnium one?
@@i3nu240101 I don't think they will, because the material won't wear in the same way. As with most things, time will tell. I think the issue with these would be if the anodised colour scratches or wears away but it seems really solid. I'm becoming less precious about it the longer I have it, and it seems pretty tough
@@JoeBleeps should be more careful or you will get silver marks everywhere >.
@@i3nu240101 doesn't seem to be an issue thankfully. Anodising is a pretty hard wearing process
My smoke edition gets warm too after playing for extended periods. I play on it every day 😊 I think analogue will release an OLED edition next 😂
I really don't think a screen upgrade is needed on these, it's absolutely fantastic compared to everything else I've played on.
Great video mate, I know I’ll never purchase one due to price, changing the subject slightly, I know you like your music stuff. I’ve just picked up the Mega Synthesis by SonicWare, it’s basically a mega drive music groove box, something I think you might be interested in 👍🏻
Ohhh I've seen those they look awesome. Have fun! I've just ordered the new Medieval synth from TE 😅
Thoughts vs the OLED GBC or the upcoming Chromatic?
Chromatic is still an unknown quantity but it is a much better price point at least. OLED GBC is a fantastic way to play the original GB and GBC games on a much better budget - especially if you have a GBC to use for the project
@@JoeBleeps Do you think you'd ever use your GBC now you've got the Pocket to play GB/C?
Personally I don't own any of these but IMO the Analogue screen is better because it's much more versatile.
@@banboosy definitely. That whole experience with the shape of the GBC shell is still perfect. And the controls are more reliable too
@@tappersreviews4677 screen, yes. And sound too. But the shape and controls are better on the original.
I'm waiting for one made out of cardboard. The price should come down a little.
Cardboard would be fun haha! I wouldn't bank on anything being cheap from Analogue though...
The Cardboard limited edition would probably still cost $100.
@@tappersreviews4677 or more haha
I think you got the best colour of the metal ones, and it must be nice knowing your purchase is an instant collector's item that'll (probably) only appreciate in value. For me though, Analogue stuff doesn't appeal enough to cough up for the extra 'premium' shipping tax plus import fees. Not gonna pretend their hardware isn't great though.
I agree with you on all those points. It was at least reassuring that the Indigo model sold out fairly quickly, but I still don't think it's likely to appreciate in value in the same way their previous LE models did. The shipping and taxes really do take even the plastic ones to a very high price.
I’ll say this from personal experience I bought a modded Gameboy with updated ips screen and everything, then I bought a Black regular Analogue Pocket aswell from EBay. No matter how you look at it , the Analogue is miles and miles ahead of : 1. Original Hardware 2. Modded Gameboys 3. Other clone handhelds .
The build quality, the level of accuracy and Clarity of how these older games run on this handheld is unmatched . There’s nothing better out there .
I've definitely enjoyed playing on it a lot over the summer. Lovely console.
Price is high, BUT not too high because they sold out. I still bought the blue model. Love the idea and look…BUT it is too heavy. So it will be either sold off or used in the dock.
@@Xanduur see I quite like the weight of it. It's the poor controls and wobbly cartridge slot that frustrate me
do you have the link for that case?
@@user-hg7jx7jq2m amzn.to/3SHKFW3
Got a gba sp ags-101 for around $100 earlier this year. That's good enough for me.
That's a good deal and a great console!
Thanks Joe for the rumble cart hint.
There are alternative carts from one of the Australian cart mod shops, which work well with the Pocket ^^
@@dinaya8560 Thank you! Good to know
You're welcome. I can't take the credit, but happy to share. Think I learned it from @RetroGameCorps - always a fantastic source of information
@@JoeBleeps You’re welcome! By the way the rumble cards there have normal pricing and you can also adjust the rumble intensity. Good alternative overall.
Cool - glad to see a video on this release but not something I would buy. On the other hand if someone starts making DSi / 3DS clone FPGAs then I would be all and willing to spend.
I think this is just the start when it comes to this kind of machine. Plenty of clever people out there and lots of potential for amazing consoles yet to come using this technology (and, hopefully executing the hardware a little more effectively)
I bought the aluminum noir model JUST to store it away....have not, will not, touch it. I will just bang up my transparent smoke version from now on.
I'm playing this one all the time! Only way I can justify the cost. I am feeling more and more like I may have to open it up though. This d pad is really frustrating.
Damn, that's unfortunate about the aluminum pocket, I have 2 black pockets '1 that I've put 100s of hours into, finished Pokémon blue, yellow & fire red from start to finish' and used on the dock alot. Then I have 1 clear, purple clear and a red clear. Also a silver pocket. And the ONE issue that I had was with the dpad. Press left or right and slightly pushing down will register as a down press for example.
As with the L & R buttons, minus the awful reach mine do not wiggle like that, and with being plastic it doesn't have that awful sound
Also all my carts fit flush against the back of the cart slot
Seems there's some quality control issues with these aluminum pockets unfortunately
I have had one of my black pockets that I had to send back due to the SD card slot spring loaded slot failing... like it would not click in the SD card slot. Thankfully they responded and made the repairs there and back within about 3 weeks.. still that was a issue
Also I surprisingly have never had any of my games crash, I do clean them though. Been using the Analogue Pocket since early 2022
Really interesting feedback, especially about the shoulder buttons and the cartridge clearance. You'd think with it being machined, the tolerances would be better than when using plastic. How disappointing.
The blue will scratch off around the buttons from grinding over time
@@8bitflea that's what I was thinking about too. I'll keep an eye on them. I actually think a kind of weathered look after many years of use could look really cool on this
Have already a black standard pocket and I was still tempted by the aluminum version. But it's way too much for me. I want it but I totally don't need it.^^ ☮️
Yes I would say if you already have that one, it wouldn't be worth the additional spend to get the new one as the experience would largely remain the same.
Thank you for this 100% honest and nitpicky review!
I would be very disappointed to experience these false diagonals, double taps and cartridge disconnections, so thank you for saving me money!
I think that the FPGBC with real OEM buttons and membranes are a good option, because I experienced the same false diagonals with Funnyplaying membranes and buttons. Also Start and Select from Funnyplaying feel awful compared to OEM ones.
Thank you! When the asking price is high, I think we are all at liberty to nitpick! I'm a huge fan of the FPGBC and as I've said before, given its price, it is much easier to forgive it for its shortcomings. And it stays true to cartridge gaming too. Don't get me wrong, I really like using the AP but I really think they should have released a better product or set a lower price for it.
I’ve had the AP for a year and I only got missed inputs perhaps the first 3 days of playing it. Maybe the membranes need break in? I haven’t had any of the other issues on people complain about like loose cartridges or anything.
I would have bought microfreak for that price 😢. Its extremely expensive for what it is.
I can't disagree there
Day light robbery is what the analogue pocket is 😂😂 get the funnyplaying fpga for £78
I have that one too. A fantastic little console
Sadly on my fpgbc with fw 1.10 the speaker sounds too muffled.
lol funnyplayig is very inferior, the AP has two fpgas aristotle and socrates the open FPGA chip with 49K Logic elements and the closed 15K LE for video procesing and other stuff funny peasant crap lol
@@gem7303 I needed a few attempts to reseat the speaker on mine before it sounded better; I was getting a lot of vibration with it. Still sounds way better than the GBC speaker when they are side by side.
@@karlhanso of course it's inferior when it costs a fraction of the price of the AP. My issue is that while the FPGA performance is lacking, it still manages to be better when it comes to the controls. When the Analogue gets so much of the technical side of things right, it drops the ball on things that other, cheaper manufacturers do better
Can you play gba movies on it?
Yes if you decide to sell let me know 😀
I'd be surprised to get a buyer if I sold it haha
For $500 are you willing to risk carrying this around on the go? Never mind that it doesn't even fit in most pockets. It's a great product but it's going to sit in people's game's rooms.
To be fair most of my handheld consoles are used at home. When I'm on the go I have my phone with me and use that. But you're right that it's a concern, which is why I got the carry case for it. Much happier taking it away with me if I know it's well protected.
LOL 500 is price is over the price is 900 in ebay you cant purchase a aluminium indigo and noir. the only options remains are natural and black
@@karlhanso I ended up paying way over $500 in the end anyway, so it's good to know eBay prices are higher now haha
For the price, this device should have been tested out to perfection. How long have we been making controls and d-pads? Can we not get this down consistently by now? Come on.
@@realmchat6665 I absolutely agree. Over long term use I've become more used to the shortcomings of the controls but it's that gap between the cartridge and console that drives me nuts. Crashes the game any time you put it down
Their next variant will be light-up LED versions. I am saying this on the 11th of August 2024.
Well they've got the clear shells already, it's not so far fetched. Although they would be better off focusing on getting more black and white ones out there!
Unfortunately the price is too high for it to have this many issues. The sweaty hands are a big no no for me
I do love it, but if I knew then what I know now, I'd be getting the plastic version I think.
i seriously don't see the point of these aftermarket repro consoles, especially with analogue's artificial scarcity business model. you can still just get a poor condition but still working gbc/insert handheld here and fix it up for way less money and then it's tailored to you and still has full compatibility. if we reach a day where that's no longer possible, there's the funnyplaying FPGA handheld or a million ways to emulate. i guess it's good to have options and maybe people who didn't grow up with it aren't bothered but anything besides the original form factor is not the experience i'm after personally.
I think it's good that there are so many options available so that no matter your preference, there's something to meet your needs ☺️
@@JoeBleeps agreed!
this would come to probably about $1200 NZ. That is absolutely obscene
I agree. I think it's expensive enough for people in the USA, but if you're dealing with import duty, shipping, conversion fees and handling fees it just gets to a point where it's way too much. That final payment of around £100 to actually take delivery of the parcel nearly finished me off.
Not even anodised CNC milled Aluminium parts warrant *that* cost.
Agreed. I think it's worth paying a premium for but the asking price here is too high.
With tax and shipping you are looking at close to 600 bucks for that price might as well get a steam deck Oled
To get it t the UK it ended up being closer to $700 so you're right, there's a whole lot of other stuff I could have bought instead
heavy metal? excellent! (electric guitar trill)
most excellent
You have to justify that price tag some how to your self now that you bought it 😂😂
You're absolutely right, just for the sake of my sanity. I do think it's really disappointing that it's not perfect for that price
Over twice the cost of the OG AP because of the aluminum shell? Hard pass.
@@JeremyKingTech understandable. I've seen there's an aluminium shell kit that you can get but I think it's approaching the same price.
@@JoeBleeps Super yikes! I think the AP is an awesome device. Beautiful looking hardware! But after the years of delays, FOMO sales tactics and the very slow roll out of some features I can't suggest it to most people.
@@JeremyKingTech they would have been much better off just focusing on having the black and the white one consistently stocked
I made my own with real Nintendo hardware using Boxy Pixel. Cost $250
Awesome. Was that the GBA SP one?
I would be so mad if I dropped $500 and change on a retro emulation device and all of the buttons were ass. Double registers, false diagonals, L and R have a bunch of play and don't ergonomically fit the device. Tetris is all I play on handhelds and the questionable build quality here is a deal breaker.
No it is not worth it at that price, still cool tho.
You just distilled what I took over half an hour trying to say into one short sentence! Nailed it.
An extra $50? Cool. $100, maybe. $300!? Absolutely not.
@@Dangansona you're right. If it delivered, if it was perfect, I'd be happy. But it doesn't, which is unforgivable at this price
Lol this company, they have no shame
I hope they've at least been a little humbled by the response to this edition.
I'd buy one for $20.
Would have sold out a little quicker too :)
All analogue pockets should be aluminium. The plastic is crappy and not durable 😔
@@Hetkanookanders I've yet to try the plastic version but I've heard the tolerances are better
Stop enabling this kind of anti-consumer behavior.
You're right that the pricing and limited releases are anti-consumer. I'm normally a very budget conscious gamer and I've made many videos about budget friendly options and modifications to improve them. This particular purchase was an impulsive decision after years of people telling me I'd like the Analogue Pocket. It's really disappointing at this price point that there are still issues with it. However when I disregard the cost and controversy, and just focus on the experience of using it, I would be dishonest if I said I didn't like it. Also I've spent a lot of money on it, I think it's fair to make a video about it.
@@JoeBleeps facts Joe
@@JoeBleeps Tell ‘em Joe
I’ll stick my originals
They are hard to beat!
You can't save SNES games😢
500$😂
@@dim_rgr I know, I know 😅
You can buy a normal Analogue Pocket for half the price and everything you said would still be true. No discussion about the premium metal form factor. Waste of time.
@@pauljacob99 how do you mean? As I said at the start it's my first experience of using an analogue pocket so my observations would include that too. I mentioned a lot about the metal shell, the pros and the cons.
No way you paid $500 for this , you mostly got it for dirt cheap or free for review . Bought it my a**.
Unless you all a sudden woke up decided to pay $500+ and do free review and advertisements for the company .
Sadly I didn't pay $500 for it, it came to a lot more. No discount, no freebies, I'm just an impulsive fool
No, and you get a downvote for buying it.
Ouch.
Oof... 500$ for some double inputs and a sensitive D-Pad 🥲no way man. Have you contacted them ? Those in particular sound unacceptable to me honestly. Man is it a beautiful device though, especially in that indigo color. Cheers for this very thorough review ! :)
@@KrazyShark I hadn't contacted them, no. I might give it a try though. The thought of the shipping and returns costs just filled me with anxiety so I figured I would quit while I'm ahead 🤣
@@JoeBleeps Yeah that shipping fee is craaaaazy...
What a waste of money. Even my Miyoo Mini+ mogs it
Miyoo Mini+ is one of the best out there, especially for the price. I love mine.