Russ, you are the sole reason I am having the time of life with emulating games I grew up with. Without your videos, guides, and insane dedication to the emulation community over the years, I'd be a lost cause. Thank you so much for being the most significant pillar of this community.
The 4 pro is EXACTLY what a lot of people hoped it would be. A mediatek SOC on par with a snapdragon 865 roughly but still small enough to be pocketable. I am very excited to get mine.
I'm personally going to wait for next years model. Obviously these emulation handhelds are a moving target. But I set a 'threshold' for when I would buy one, and that's once they have enough overhead that I basically don't have to worry about whether a psp/3DS game will run well and only whether it's supported in emulation. We should reach that with the 5 based on the 4's performance.
Russ, regardless of subject, your channel is the best channel on YT. I adore brevity above all and you somehow still manage to do it in a 43 minute video. Bravo.
Man, you are thorough but also to the point. I paused the video to write this after you compared the size AND the weight in rapid fashion. You also have the gift of sounding enthusiastic when warranted, but giving the trade-offs/negatives when warranted. I love when creators like you state emphatically that (basically) this is not a commercial. Thank you.
For me the smaller screen is a highly pro argument. Nowadays "portable" devices are good for long trips or couch and bed gaming. But to play spontaneous while you wait for the train the smaller the better imo. I usually still play witch my retro is pocket (the first one) or game boy micro on the go.
The problem is seen small things specially when there is a lot of things on the screen and/or your player is super small ala Smash Bros-types. I havew to use at least 70% brightness to be able to be aware of everything on the screen for 3D games. 2D games are vibrant and usually have more different colors on everything that ius easy to distigish the things on the small screen.
You can really see the crossover from AYN on this one, which is a very good thing. I love my Odin 2 but it's nice seeing retroid making high quality cheaper alternatives
I know this is an old vid/comment but thanks for this! Loved this game when I was younger. There still hasn't been a game where you play as a dog better than it lol
@@blitheringrando1410if you wanna play Die Hard Arcade, get the PS2 Sega Ages re-release. It has enhanced graphics and tons of new content and if you don't like the new graphics you can play the game exactly how it was on the saturn, all without dealing with Saturn emulation headaches. It's also a very lightweight PS2 game, too, easy to emumate.
The MediaTek Dimensity 1100 is really potent, and I'm glad we've finally moved away from Unisoc. It's much more stable and software support is better. But USD $200 is a decent amount. I was hoping they would have "downgraded" instead to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778. It's a relatively new midrange chipset, with decent long-term support, and the software optimisation is much better. Those tricky titles and tricky systems would simply run much better. Also the battery life seems to be superb. That would have made the comparison to the AYN Odin2 more favourable. It really is a bit like a Toyota Corolla (pocketable) versus (portable) Toyota RAV4. But where there are superior alternatives to the AYN Odin2 (SteamDeck, VSD OLED, ASUS ROG Ally, GPD Win-Max-3, etc)... well there isn't any for the Retroid Pocket 4+.
The only review I was patiently waiting for and I'm happy to conclude that my friends and I are glad we purchased the RP4 Pro! Keep up the amazing content!
Gonna watch this later but had to wake up and check it was uploaded. Been banking on this or odin 2 so will look forward to hearing your review. Thanks dude!
What a review. So many comparisons. You really know your stuff and your videos are top tier. 👏 I may finally upgrade now from my RG350M from 3 years ago! 👍
@@tynao2029 No they haven't. The processor this is closest too (and the dimensity actually beats) is a snapdragon 865 which didn't come out till late 2019. Not a single phone that uses that chipset is anywhere close to $100 or even $300 for that matter unless you're talking used prices, and even then it will be at $200+
@@Diosky27 The LG G7 ThinQ released in 2018, you can get them in 10/10 condition for around $80 and nearly all specs still pretty much blow this stuff out of the water for more than 2x less the price. Just look at the screen specs. We pay a premium on these devices for analogs and buttons when you could just connect attach a controller to a smartphone. Sure it's nostalgic but expensive, the really cool ones are the niche devices like Anbernic Arc-D that actually recreate a console controller
The big thing that prevents me from getting systems like the Steam Deck and Odin 2 is actually the size; they're just too large for me to really consider "portable" in the circumstances I'd use them in. The Pocket 4, on the other hand, seems like the perfect size, and considering i am primarily interested in PS2 emulation it really seems like a no brainer at this price point. Still hoping for a Steam Deck mini at some point in the future, but this is looking like more than enough for me in the meantime.
@@Espartanica the 405 has a far lower resolution screen, looks like it's a lot less ergonomic, and from what I've seen seems to run PS2 and GameCube games quite a bit worse across the board, and is only slightly lower cost compared to the Pocket 4. Really the only benefit seems to be the battery life, so it just doesn't seem worth it, at least for my use case.
Love seeing the in-depth Saturn testing. It's such a tricky system, and I see a lot of reviewers lumping it in with PSP and Dreamcast and figuring, "ah, it's old and this thing is powerful, it will probably be fine."
i'm not knowledgeable, just guessing, but I wonder if it has to do with using quads, a lot of its rendering hardware has to be emulated by software, more so than other systems that can be emulated a bit and then passed to the GPU in a workable state again just guessing, everything I said is likely wrong
@@snowzZzZzIt’s mostly because the saturn hardware is notoriously hard to develop for, emulating is a similar story. Up until a few years ago Saturn emulation was literally considered impossible.
The difficulty with Saturn emulation goes back to Sega's original sin of tuning the Saturn for 2D. When you are that far into development and the reaction to the PSX is exactly what you didn't need meant the midnight oil was going to be brunt. The fact it was so hard to program for adds to this difficulty of designing a emulator that works on most hardware that doesn't have extra CPU/GPU cores lying unused like a really powerful gaming PC or Media workstation. That said the mainstream games all seem to work okay and will require from tweaking from developers to work it's best.
Your channel is the best! I was actually binging your videos the past couple of days, comparing all the handhelds to see which one I'd like best. The other day, I finalized my choice being the Retroid Pocket 3 Plus, but since I wasn't in a hurry to buy anything just yet, I also kept in mind (per your suggestion) to hold out on the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro... and just like that, your review of it has arrived! Thank you for taking time out to review all these cool products extensively and unbiasedly. I not only got to make the best choice for myself as a first-time handheld buyer but also was able to learn so much about how handhelds work and are built! It's really fascinating and I'm excited to see what the future brings!
Excellent review as always, Russ! I’m thinking I’ll order this over the Odin 2, as I think it’ll serve my needs better. The extra resolution, better ergonomics, and battery on the Odin 2 would be nice for sure, but really I think the reason the RP4Pro would be a better fit for me is because I could actually fit it in my pocket. If I want something bigger, I can just use my Steam Deck OLED instead of the Odin. Whereas with the RP4Pro, it would just be awesome to have something I can play GameCube/Wii on in my pocket ready to go at a moment’s notice if I’m in a waiting room or on a train without needing to bring a separate bag.
Insane dedication to the retro handheld community. I've used your videos so much these last few years and learned so much. Still on the RG350M because i love Gameboy Advance resolution but thinking about this for those newer emulators like PS2 and Gamecube, just needed that more powerful chip for something to upgrade to
Even on the Odin 2 Pro, Star Wars Rogue Squadron is tough to run. This is pretty damn impressive. As far as some PS2 games being hard to run, you will also have this on an Odin 2 Pro. Transformers Armada for PS2 still has graphical issue along with some slowdowns. Rogue Trooper cannot run well beyond 1.5x. Alot of other games you can crank settings to the max with no issue.
Yeah, it's emulation and these games are made for PS2 / NGC. There are very few emulators which tries to replicate the original device 1:1 in software emulation to expect the game running as on original hardware. This approach can be seen, when you compare SNEX9X, which is even today one of the most used emulators and compare it to bsnes, which is much more accurate but needs more power to run it. But if you can run it, it is to be expected that you can run every game without any issues. Sadly, AetherSX2 is not furthermore in development and there is no great alternative.
How does the Sly Cooper games and the Daxter and Clank games do? Might be getting those wrong, sorry. Am noob Edit: I meant Rachet and Clank and the Jax and Daxter series 😅
your video randomly popped into my recommended one day and i just knew i wanted this device. thanks for introducing me to the world of portable emulation.
Man, that Odin 2 is really tempting. The thing is, is it worth it for just retro gaming? I'm looking at NES all the way up to the PS2. When it comes to DS and 3DS, I'll just use the original hardware for those games.
@@SP-vl1jhI'd say if you think most of the time you want to play ps2/switch and heavy android games/pc streaming definitely odin 2 is a solid choice. However if you prefer older retro consoles with occasional ps2 and want something smaller you can't go wrong with rp4 pro.
@@imeverywhere9633 It'd strictly be for NES and consoles all the way up to GC/PS2. I have no desire to play Switch or android games on these handhelds. The screen size comparison during the Sea of Stars section made me think about it.
@@SP-vl1jh Fr that's exactly it. I was debating between Steam Deck and RP4 Pro but tbh I already have an overkill gaming PC so might as well get a handheld that runs PS2/GC/DS games, most of those consoles are all beat in the used market + I can game stream from my PC to the RP4 Pro if I really want to handheld PC games.
Two of the only youtubers I subscribe to. Russ and Mr Sujano. You guys are awesome, to the point, and very knowledgeable. Its nice to find people on youtube trying to help and not just try to sell you a bunch of over priced merch. Thank you for the in depth reviews!
@@skycloud4802I've been wondering the same. Perhaps it's got to do with Xbox running Windows in the background? I'm sure it's a resource intensive pain in the butt to emulate.
@@Kuchenwurst I think the underlying issue (that relates to the modified version of Windows2000 the 360 ran) was that the CPU architecture on the 360 was pretty close to x86 (close to a Intel Pentium or one of the intel processors of that time) which would prove pretty annoying to emulate on the ARM chips these handhelds run. Couple that with a kind of weird GPU that has (or maybe used to have) spotty community-driven documentation, and you have a rather difficult task to take on.
Thanks so much for the review! I'm convinced now, this is the exact handheld I was looking for when I got into this hobby and I'm definitely going to be picking one up.
This looks like an amazing device, especially for the price. Personally, I don't have a desire to play PS2/GC games on the go at this point so I'm sticking with my RP3+, but anyone who wants that, this looks great!
Russ, when i decide to buy someting first i check your videos. Thanks to you i bought i a lot of best handleheld devices. Thank you very much for your best quality videos.
As much as people hated on the flip, the fact that it didn’t have a second screen on the bottom allowed them to move the sliders in to be more comfortable like PlayStation controllers. Although I’m very excited for this device, I think I’ll wait and hope they release a flip 2. If not, it’s not the end of the world if I buy later
I really agree about the screen size not being ideal for later gen games that were designed for bigger screens, which is why I prefer to play those games on my Steam Deck. What I really wanted was a handheld that could handle the 3DS, PSP and other games made for the handheld factor, especially with regard to classic Monster Hunter. Can't wait for mine to arrive.
I don't care what someone names their channel, you are and will forever be THE tech daddy. Seriously though your reviews have guided me thru the retro gaming world over the last few months. Leading me to this purchase. And after preordering and watching others sorta stumble through their points I thought I made a mistake. Your review put those nerves at ease. Thanks for all the effort you're pouring into these videos 🔥
Thanks for the video. I recently got an Odin 2 Pro and I'm extremely happy with it. I did get a RP3+ earlier last year and love it for games which primarily use the d-pad. I can't justify the jump to the RP4 but it does look like a great little machine. Many thanks for all of the setup videos as well!
hadouken-able and Shoryuken-able, Russ making great reviews and setting new standards for controller quality... great review very detailed, thank you as always
I just purchased the flip right before Christmas, and just received it last week. I really do enjoy it a lot! I love the clamshell design and everything about it. It's cute and pocketable and I can put it in my bag and bring it to work and have a good time. My coworker just ordered him a steam deck and is super excited. I was considering getting the 4 Pro but I think I would be more happier playing with the Odin 2 Pro. I would like to get a steam deck, but I can't afford it at this moment. Maybe one day. But any games I want to play, could probably be played on the Odin 2 Pro and I wouldn't have no issues. I appreciate everything you do for us Russ. You have gotten me into the whole handheld emulator world and I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope I enjoy whenever I purchase my Odin 2 Pro.
This is super exciting for me. I have a steam deck and a miyoo mini plus. I've been wanting a "medium" handheld that is more powerful than the mm+ and much smaller than the sd. I have held off because I want solid PS2 and GC performance. I almost pulled the trigger on the Anbernic rg405m, but performance just isn't quite there for me. I hope Anbernic makes a handheld with the build of the 405m (4:3 screen, left analog placement, in line shoulders and triggers) but with this performance. That would be an instant buy for me.
That's actually a pretty powerful processor. A big step up from those unisoc T618 chips, but by the way when it comes to 3D Mark wildlife it's best just to look at the frames per second its able to get , because you're really just testing the ballpark 3D rendering capabilities. For playing retro games a lot of times that won't even be important, and some devices won't be so good in 3D rendering but will have great CPU speed which can often be the bottleneck in emulation performance.
Retro Game Corps is hands down one of the best portable handheld review sites for the community! Everyone up to this point has just been singing praises for the new RP4 (which is deserved of course), but after hearing how average the PS2 and Switch emulation is on this device I don't feel so bad anymore that I have an RG405M. Sticking to my orginal plan to wait for the Steamdeck 2 or for the new AMD (or intel!) devices coming out this year for PC gaming and high end emulation needs.
I bought a Steam Deck last year because of work. Lots of downtime. I ended up buying this after the review and find myself playing it a LOT more than my Steam Deck. The portability, the ergonomics, feel of the buttons, just fits everything I need. Hard to justify the Steam Deck when all I do is play retro games. Ended up selling my SD to my brother and haven't looked back.
@@Chris-cx6wl thats fair, i am nit picking. but i have yet to find the base odin 2 version for the original $300, and if i am spending anything over $300, might as well go a bit further and get something like the steamdeck
Have you considered getting a Galaxy S20fe second hand ($159 plus) and a controller grip like the GameSir X2 Pro ($67)? Around $226 or so total and you get a 6.5" OLED screen and Snap Dragon 865 with performance close to this D1100.
I just bought the Odin 2 pro and I love it so far but I’m really tempted to pick up the Retroid pro too. I kinda like the portability. Thanks for the video. Also thanks for the setup videos you do. It’s really helped me. Adios
I was able to grab a S20 FE 5G which has the Snapdragon 865 which is equivalent in performance to the D1100 for $50. Then add a Gamesir G8 for $80 and for $130 it’s pretty close to performance of the RP4 Pro though no active cooling and 2GB less RAM (while gaining an OLED 1080p screen on the S20). What I’m getting at is $199 isn’t a bad price for what you’re getting.. all in one pocketable handheld that can play PS2 and GameCube.. I’m glad we’re finally at this level of performance that is somewhat affordable.
This is really the way to go. You can find cheap smartphones a few years old that have great snapdragons in them, just get one of those and get one of those controller attachments and youre good to go!
@@craciunator99 I'm thinking that myself. I have the S22 and I'm like do I pick up a Retroid Pocket 4 Pro or just buy a good phone controller instead? I guess the pro with a dedicated handheld is not having to deal with background notifications and having to take the controller on and off but these high end phone have so much power...
I don't think emulation requires active cooling. With Snapdragon 870 I can easily run ps2 games at 2k(didn't try 4k) and it doesn't get heated really. There are cheaper options than Gamesir G8, it is not really the best budget pick but it is great. So second hand phone with OLED screenreally the best option, also if controller drift you can change it, you are also getting better performance.
@@AndySomething Yeah that’s something to think about. Personally I like having a separate gaming device from my phone (Plus I’m an iPhone person so emulation isn’t as easy). But if you already have an S22 then you have more power then a RP4 Pro already. I own multiple handheld gaming devices but always seem to go back to the S20 with the GameSir G8… that G8 is just so comfortable to use.
@@Whiteshade Yeah active cooling def is not needed for most games. But it’s always something people point out when I mention just getting an old Android phone. I haven’t had any issues with running really any games using my S20. And at $80 the GameSir G8 def isn’t a budget phone controller but it’s sooooo nice and the build quality and what you get for that price is pretty insane considering something like the BackBone is $100. I can’t praise the G8 enough.. but yeah it’s def not necessary if you’re trying to get a device together at the lowest cost.
The VW vs BMW analogy is good but the RP4 Pro situation makes it even better. At least with the BMW when you wanted to go faster it would actually GO faster, could bring it to the race tracks for lapping days and have a blast (not to discount the VWs, I have seen VW Golf killing it there too, sometimes faster depending on the drivers). The point being, that overall, these games most of them are running perfectly fine, it doesn’t really make sense to have ‘more power’ for most, as what for, to run them at double speed or 2x the resolution would make no sense. But great GREAT review, you have made me get back to the joy of emulation and that magical craft of these older games
I remember when the Retroid Pocket 2+ (which I own) could barely play PlayStation 1 and Nintendo 64 games, it's insane how far modern SOCs have come and how efficient they are. It absolutely amazes me that the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro can comfortably play most 3DS games.
The whole point of this device in my mind is the ability to run ps2 games fluidly in a small form factor. With that in mind, having the sticks where they are is just a deal breaker for me. Katamari, Fight Night and racing games are why I would purchase this device and all of them I would prefer to play with twin sticks. If I want a device that can play dreamcast and down, there are more pocketable and cheaper devices available. Looks like Odin2 or Steam Deck for me, which is unfortunate as I was hoping that maybe with the grip the Pocket 4 pro would fit the bill, but that just doesn't seem to be the case. Thanks for the fantastic content!
Totally agree with you. Ergonomics of the RP4 just don't make sense, even if it's a great little machine overall. If they enlarge the screen just a bit and put the left stick on top it will become close to perfection
I think I'll be good with my 3+ for at least the next few years, but I hope they keep making better and better models like this until I'm ready for an upgrade!
I agree. Although I have to say the performance gap between 3+ and pro is huge, which is good. The only thing I do not like is battery life. From these old chip sets you can easily squeeze 8 hours of play (speaking of 3 and 3+ family), this is not the case for the 4 and 4 pro. Still retroid is heading in the right direction 👍
glad to hear the green screen issue is going to be fixed in production, Taki also mentioned it and it would be a total no-go for me if it doesn't get fixed
@@alexanderespinoza for me, it was a must. i printed a grip for my rp3+ and it really changed the feel of it. i could play it for hour and hours without it feeling uncomfortable.
Thanks so much for this detailed review! I just ordered the Retroid 4 Pro after watching this video. Looking forward to playing PS2, GameCube and PSP games on something so portable.
All this video did was make me appreciate the Odin 2 even more. When you have a relatively no compromise device like that existing, you spot all of the compromises in a device like the RP4pro. The analog placement, screen size/quality, home/back and select/start placement, active cooling, offset USB-C placement, battery management (such an underrated spec that needs to be considered) are all things that stand out in a negative way for me. Would I be happy if the RP4pro was my only device? Sure, but then I'd always regret not spending more and getting the Odin 2.
I have been going back and forth between multiple emulation devices to purchase and was almost sold on the RG35XX Plus but wanted some more power for PS2 and Gamecube specificially and this was THE ONE... until I ended up going deep and buying a Steam Deck. But this device is great and absolutely will be sending people here for recommendation!
Amazing review. Looks like a great little device!! I already have Odin 2 Pro so holding off for now. Will more than likely pick this up down the line for travel.
Kind of crazy you had issues with Sly Cooper. On my Odin Lite (D900) I had no issues once I switched to OpenGL. But I have heard other people have had issues with that game.
@@bulletpunch9317 Only thing I changed was Vulkan to OpenGL and it ran buttery smooth on my Odin Lite. Everyrhing else was set to whatever AetherSX2 is set to by default.
Very good and small, pocketable powerful console. The green-ish LCD screen breaks it for me, but then again i have an Odin2 so it wouldn't be for me anyway. Thank you for the great review and get well soon!
I doubt that would happen, namely valve isn't in the emulator handheld scene(they let you do what you want with the hardware but they are already selling at a loss, you can't make store sales on a something like that), they are in the handheld gaming PC scene, And we're probably at least a couple years away from performance being good enough to actually create a smaller form factor while having acceptable battery life and performance second even if it's $150 bump the base model steam deck competes well enough that I don't think it would be necessary, to be entirely honest the bigger competition for stuff like this is smart phones with a gamepad grip
The steam deck battery lasts at most 2 hours for graphic intensive games. If they made it smaller the battery life would be unusable. If you want something a bit smaller you have the Rog Ally.
I think Steam released their OS as a bootable file. So in theory they won't need to. If somebody put their mind to it, perhaps you could flash Steam OS on open Linux based handhelds already. Although it might be very bad and not work well.
@@skycloud4802 prefix: I'm nearly certain what he's asking for is a cheaper steam deck that's also smaller, what your proposing does meet what he was asking for... Anyways main comment yes but it's x86-64 only, the devices of a size comparable to any of the retroid ares almost entirely arm based or mips based, yes it's technically possible to run box 64 and emulate x86 steam but the performance is awful, the few that aren't are mostly older Intel handhelds with lackluster performance and they're still much larger than any of the retroids
This device is so close to perfect for me, but the left stick placement just kills it. The left stick position causes my hand to cramp so bad, even with the grip, and for them to keep it on the bottom with a device that is powerful enough to play ps2/GC/3DS is so unfortunate. Hopefully they release a version with the left stick on top in the future, I would buy it in an instant
Maaan. Great review as always. I've had my flip for literally 2 months today. I definitely love my clamshell but there's no denying this is a better, more exciting experience. I knew there would be some fomo buying a device right before going in to the new year. There's always something new in the world of emulation these days.
Struggling to understand putting the analogue stick at the bottom for a device primarily focused on newer retro titles. The RP3+ was, for me, very uncomfortable without the grip for longer play sessions.
Nice Coffee mug. I make those as a hobby. I have a mug press, printer with sublimation ink, blank mugs and the correct paper. The Retroid Pocket 4 is definitely a nice hand held. I still remember many years ago when these first started being released such as the GP2X line of hand helds.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this handheld!!! GC/PS2/DC all work great! I spent yesterday from 8am-6:30pm setting it up and downloading all the libraries. It’s totally set up and it’s so freaking cool!! 🎉❤
I'd love the form factor and look, but sadly the ergonomics are too bad for the size of my hands. I often use a grip with my RP3+, but my Odin 2 is absolutely perfect without one even for longer sessions.
@@bobbytaylor6363It's kind of funny how the RP3+ is simultaneously the most uncomfortable device ever *without* the grip, but also one of the best feeling *with* the grip haha
I actually had to get a grip for my Odin 2. The ergonomics are fine for 1 stick games, but IMO pretty bad for 2 stick games. The right stick is just way too close to the bottom corner. With the grip it is much more comfortable.
Thanks for this review, I went with the Odin 2 after having an RP3 and RP3+ I wanted something with a larger screen. After using the CRKD controller thing with my switch I knew the form factor was it for me, love the form factor of the Odin 2.
Enjoyed the review. To me, $200 is pretty much the most I’d pay. I have a hacked Vita and a Switch, plus a Super Console X2 Pro and a PS2 with a 2TB HDD. So I’m pretty good on gaming both emulation wise and portable. But playing so much on the go - including reliving GameCube’s library - is very appealing. Odin is definitely NOT in my budget.
This is my issue with people comparing the RP4P and the Odin. I understand that it's probably the closest thing to compare it to spec wise, but the price difference is insane. Someone said you might as well get the Odin like it's not $100 MINIMUM for the Odin 2 base model.
This device is decent but for only 100 bucks more with Odin 2 you get a bigger screen... bigger battery.... and more emulation headroom. Have to choose Odin 2 over this.
@@art3misrrs Yeah but if you get the deck you want the new model with longer battery life which starts at 550 which is double the price so you might as well SHUTYUP!! just kidding. :)
I'm guessing the prices have changed a bit in four months. I just bought a RP4Pro for $400 NZD rather than spending $1100 NZD on the Odin 2. More than double the price for maybe 20% extra performance didn't feel very worth it. The 1080p screen would have been nice, but not for double the price.
Personally...For $200 I think we can let the fan noise slide. I set $200 on fire and inhale it for recreation. This is a price point I can mind a few things at. Very detailed review. I'm getting one
Great video! Sticking with the $200 price,if someone is looking to play a decent amount of PS2 and GameCube would you recommend RP4pro or the original Odin Pro? I’m torn between a larger screen and processing power 😖
I'm still rocking my RP2+ and think that it's time to upgrade to this RP4-Pro. Thank you for the in-depth review! It was your RP2+ review and setup guide that got me into the whole retro gaming world! Keep up the great work Russ!
Im playing my old Ps2 games from like 15 years ago for the first time since then, it's really a great time and I should REALLY look into more emulators on the pc for PS3 and XBOX stuff now, what a surreal moment it was to play a game and almost feel like my old kid self. It sounds cheesy but they say those things for a reason, because ya its true man, you really get transported back in time and that felt very special to me right now
Looks good, although I'd much prefer a device with completely passive cooling. Perhaps if Retroid releases a metal version of this like they did for the RP3+, they can remove that fan.
Fair, but honestly I’m not going to be surprised if Retroid is already working on a custom GPU Driver for this (like they did with the RP3+) that would actually fix a good amount of the incompatibility issues Mali has with most emulators, so for all we know the base RP4 Model could end up actually being genuinely great for PS2/GC/Wii (which the $150 price range would end up making that insanely good) and the Pro could end up becoming the cheapest high-end handheld that handles Switch.
It’s chipsets still wouldn’t be as good as a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but the main problem with chipsets that use Mali was always that they don’t work as well with emulation, so if Retroid can alleviate that issue enough, it would definitely make them even better devices for those price points.
I have a cold, please forgive the stuffy nose 🤧
lol first thing i noticed was the deeper voice! feel better!
You're doing a fantastic job. Thanks for such a quick review out. I was looking forward to this. Purchases RP4 thanks to your channel.
I’m sick with the flu
I thought you had hired someone to do an impression of you.
You sound fine, Russ. Get well soon.
Russ, you are the sole reason I am having the time of life with emulating games I grew up with. Without your videos, guides, and insane dedication to the emulation community over the years, I'd be a lost cause. Thank you so much for being the most significant pillar of this community.
It starts with
one thing
one thing
@@Fluvv I don't know why
@@cav-_-9857it doesn’t even matter how hard you try
Insane how well produced your videos are, thanks a bunch for the written guides!!
My pleasure!
19:18 "I think the 4 Pro is going to be great in bed"
Russ, you go above and beyond with your reviews
His wife probably not impressed.
@@skycloud4802 She might be happier than he is
Does it have a dual shock feature?
The 4 pro is EXACTLY what a lot of people hoped it would be. A mediatek SOC on par with a snapdragon 865 roughly but still small enough to be pocketable. I am very excited to get mine.
I'm personally going to wait for next years model. Obviously these emulation handhelds are a moving target. But I set a 'threshold' for when I would buy one, and that's once they have enough overhead that I basically don't have to worry about whether a psp/3DS game will run well and only whether it's supported in emulation. We should reach that with the 5 based on the 4's performance.
@@Bustermachine But then aren't you talking about the model in 2-3 years?
The rp4 basic can play psp and 3ds just fine with 2x resolution. @@Bustermachine
I still want one with a Snapdragon 8 gen 2!
@@netnomad47just get ayn odin 2 then lol
The review we’ve all been waiting for. Thank you for your honesty and consistency!
100%, I wanted to jump on this one but decided to wait for Russ' review.
I have a vita and have no intention of buying another emu device for a few years - I still watch EVERY video 😂
Such a warm and homely channel ❤
Russ, regardless of subject, your channel is the best channel on YT. I adore brevity above all and you somehow still manage to do it in a 43 minute video. Bravo.
I second that! ❤ you Russ
Man, you are thorough but also to the point. I paused the video to write this after you compared the size AND the weight in rapid fashion. You also have the gift of sounding enthusiastic when warranted, but giving the trade-offs/negatives when warranted. I love when creators like you state emphatically that (basically) this is not a commercial. Thank you.
Thanks! Your channel is the gold standard for handhelds. I appreciate all that you do ❤😊
I just made food, have my blanket and I'm about to enjoy one of the best handheld youtubers out there! Keep up the great work Russ!
For me the smaller screen is a highly pro argument. Nowadays "portable" devices are good for long trips or couch and bed gaming. But to play spontaneous while you wait for the train the smaller the better imo. I usually still play witch my retro is pocket (the first one) or game boy micro on the go.
I agree, the smaller screen is a pro for me too! I don't want a huge handheld, this size is pretty good
The problem is seen small things specially when there is a lot of things on the screen and/or your player is super small ala Smash Bros-types.
I havew to use at least 70% brightness to be able to be aware of everything on the screen for 3D games.
2D games are vibrant and usually have more different colors on everything that ius easy to distigish the things on the small screen.
You can really see the crossover from AYN on this one, which is a very good thing. I love my Odin 2 but it's nice seeing retroid making high quality cheaper alternatives
Exactly what I was thinking!! Beat me to saying it.
I’ve been thinking about getting an Odin 2 but the input lag is a huge dealbreaker for me, I’m very sensitive to such issues
@MugenDad Can you elaborate on the input lag?
Which color did yiu get odin2
Normal lite red bra
It was me who asked for Dog's Life, thank you! It was slow on my KTR1 too haha, played it when I was little at my best friend's house
I know this is an old vid/comment but thanks for this! Loved this game when I was younger. There still hasn't been a game where you play as a dog better than it lol
I’m definitely convinced now that GC and PS2 have shown really good performance.
I was hoping Saturn would look better, but Die Hard is what I really wanted to play on that system and he showed it playing so I'm happy.
@@blitheringrando1410if you wanna play Die Hard Arcade, get the PS2 Sega Ages re-release. It has enhanced graphics and tons of new content and if you don't like the new graphics you can play the game exactly how it was on the saturn, all without dealing with Saturn emulation headaches. It's also a very lightweight PS2 game, too, easy to emumate.
Not there yet
Hooooooooold
The MediaTek Dimensity 1100 is really potent, and I'm glad we've finally moved away from Unisoc. It's much more stable and software support is better.
But USD $200 is a decent amount. I was hoping they would have "downgraded" instead to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778. It's a relatively new midrange chipset, with decent long-term support, and the software optimisation is much better. Those tricky titles and tricky systems would simply run much better. Also the battery life seems to be superb. That would have made the comparison to the AYN Odin2 more favourable. It really is a bit like a Toyota Corolla (pocketable) versus (portable) Toyota RAV4. But where there are superior alternatives to the AYN Odin2 (SteamDeck, VSD OLED, ASUS ROG Ally, GPD Win-Max-3, etc)... well there isn't any for the Retroid Pocket 4+.
Between this review and Taki Udon's that covers a few other details, the retro community has everything we need to know. I'm so glad we have both!!
The only review I was patiently waiting for and I'm happy to conclude that my friends and I are glad we purchased the RP4 Pro!
Keep up the amazing content!
Just bought one for my son after watching. Hopefully he lets me use it too!
Gonna watch this later but had to wake up and check it was uploaded. Been banking on this or odin 2 so will look forward to hearing your review. Thanks dude!
Which one you get it I’m deciding on this 2 as well
The “putting analog sticks on a piece of toast” got me lol
What a review. So many comparisons. You really know your stuff and your videos are top tier. 👏 I may finally upgrade now from my RG350M from 3 years ago! 👍
sold mine today :"( the metalic version
Finally an afordable portable handheld that runs PS2 and GC well. Retroid did a good job. Mine is coming soon. Thanks for the video!
phones have had this performance for $100 since 2017, but I guess we needed 6 years and +$100 to add buttons and analogs...
@@tynao2029 No they haven't. The processor this is closest too (and the dimensity actually beats) is a snapdragon 865 which didn't come out till late 2019. Not a single phone that uses that chipset is anywhere close to $100 or even $300 for that matter unless you're talking used prices, and even then it will be at $200+
@@Diosky27 The LG G7 ThinQ released in 2018, you can get them in 10/10 condition for around $80 and nearly all specs still pretty much blow this stuff out of the water for more than 2x less the price. Just look at the screen specs. We pay a premium on these devices for analogs and buttons when you could just connect attach a controller to a smartphone. Sure it's nostalgic but expensive, the really cool ones are the niche devices like Anbernic Arc-D that actually recreate a console controller
Most people have modern smartphones @@Diosky27
@@tynao2029 There was no phone in 2017 for $100 with this performance.
The big thing that prevents me from getting systems like the Steam Deck and Odin 2 is actually the size; they're just too large for me to really consider "portable" in the circumstances I'd use them in.
The Pocket 4, on the other hand, seems like the perfect size, and considering i am primarily interested in PS2 emulation it really seems like a no brainer at this price point.
Still hoping for a Steam Deck mini at some point in the future, but this is looking like more than enough for me in the meantime.
once the switch came out the word "portable" lost all meaning. The PSP is portable, The Gameboy is portable, the switch is a consle for on the go.
I agree I use to love my switch. But its not very portable at all
@@craiggers2331That's why I'm turning to options like GPD, although their units are admittedly quite pricey.
RG405 from Anbernic seems a much better deal
@@Espartanica the 405 has a far lower resolution screen, looks like it's a lot less ergonomic, and from what I've seen seems to run PS2 and GameCube games quite a bit worse across the board, and is only slightly lower cost compared to the Pocket 4.
Really the only benefit seems to be the battery life, so it just doesn't seem worth it, at least for my use case.
Love seeing the in-depth Saturn testing. It's such a tricky system, and I see a lot of reviewers lumping it in with PSP and Dreamcast and figuring, "ah, it's old and this thing is powerful, it will probably be fine."
i'm not knowledgeable, just guessing, but I wonder if it has to do with using quads, a lot of its rendering hardware has to be emulated by software, more so than other systems that can be emulated a bit and then passed to the GPU in a workable state
again just guessing, everything I said is likely wrong
@@snowzZzZzIt’s mostly because the saturn hardware is notoriously hard to develop for, emulating is a similar story. Up until a few years ago Saturn emulation was literally considered impossible.
The difficulty with Saturn emulation goes back to Sega's original sin of tuning the Saturn for 2D.
When you are that far into development and the reaction to the PSX is exactly what you didn't need meant the midnight oil was going to be brunt.
The fact it was so hard to program for adds to this difficulty of designing a emulator that works on most hardware that doesn't have extra CPU/GPU cores lying unused like a really powerful gaming PC or Media workstation.
That said the mainstream games all seem to work okay and will require from tweaking from developers to work it's best.
I need a handheld to play Dragon Force on. Pleaseeee
Your channel is the best! I was actually binging your videos the past couple of days, comparing all the handhelds to see which one I'd like best. The other day, I finalized my choice being the Retroid Pocket 3 Plus, but since I wasn't in a hurry to buy anything just yet, I also kept in mind (per your suggestion) to hold out on the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro... and just like that, your review of it has arrived!
Thank you for taking time out to review all these cool products extensively and unbiasedly. I not only got to make the best choice for myself as a first-time handheld buyer but also was able to learn so much about how handhelds work and are built! It's really fascinating and I'm excited to see what the future brings!
Excellent review as always, Russ! I’m thinking I’ll order this over the Odin 2, as I think it’ll serve my needs better. The extra resolution, better ergonomics, and battery on the Odin 2 would be nice for sure, but really I think the reason the RP4Pro would be a better fit for me is because I could actually fit it in my pocket. If I want something bigger, I can just use my Steam Deck OLED instead of the Odin. Whereas with the RP4Pro, it would just be awesome to have something I can play GameCube/Wii on in my pocket ready to go at a moment’s notice if I’m in a waiting room or on a train without needing to bring a separate bag.
Insane dedication to the retro handheld community. I've used your videos so much these last few years and learned so much. Still on the RG350M because i love Gameboy Advance resolution but thinking about this for those newer emulators like PS2 and Gamecube, just needed that more powerful chip for something to upgrade to
It better be hadokenable
Or at least shoryukenable
@@greenshell5735
Damn. Just beat me to it
@@greenshell5735 what about "haba-dipe-dipe-shourudipe" able
Apparently it has the same controls than the RP2S
So it is...
is it Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku able?
Cheers Russ, kudos for getting a review out so quickly despite the cold. $200 for pocketable GC and PS2 hits a sweet spot for sure.
Even on the Odin 2 Pro, Star Wars Rogue Squadron is tough to run. This is pretty damn impressive. As far as some PS2 games being hard to run, you will also have this on an Odin 2 Pro. Transformers Armada for PS2 still has graphical issue along with some slowdowns. Rogue Trooper cannot run well beyond 1.5x. Alot of other games you can crank settings to the max with no issue.
My pc can't even run it. Yes I really need to replace my pc internals
Yeah, it's emulation and these games are made for PS2 / NGC. There are very few emulators which tries to replicate the original device 1:1 in software emulation to expect the game running as on original hardware. This approach can be seen, when you compare SNEX9X, which is even today one of the most used emulators and compare it to bsnes, which is much more accurate but needs more power to run it. But if you can run it, it is to be expected that you can run every game without any issues.
Sadly, AetherSX2 is not furthermore in development and there is no great alternative.
Dolphin development/android driver issue probably, bet these run fullspeed on slower pc.
How does the Sly Cooper games and the Daxter and Clank games do? Might be getting those wrong, sorry. Am noob
Edit: I meant Rachet and Clank and the Jax and Daxter series 😅
@@ImGairBair Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter looked great at 2x. Waiting to hear back on Jak 2!!
your video randomly popped into my recommended one day and i just knew i wanted this device. thanks for introducing me to the world of portable emulation.
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro and Ayn odin 2 are just really good Android handhelds out there and amazing review by you as always 😊💙
Man, that Odin 2 is really tempting. The thing is, is it worth it for just retro gaming? I'm looking at NES all the way up to the PS2. When it comes to DS and 3DS, I'll just use the original hardware for those games.
@@SP-vl1jhI'd say if you think most of the time you want to play ps2/switch and heavy android games/pc streaming definitely odin 2 is a solid choice.
However if you prefer older retro consoles with occasional ps2 and want something smaller you can't go wrong with rp4 pro.
@@imeverywhere9633 It'd strictly be for NES and consoles all the way up to GC/PS2. I have no desire to play Switch or android games on these handhelds. The screen size comparison during the Sea of Stars section made me think about it.
@@SP-vl1jh Fr that's exactly it. I was debating between Steam Deck and RP4 Pro but tbh I already have an overkill gaming PC so might as well get a handheld that runs PS2/GC/DS games, most of those consoles are all beat in the used market + I can game stream from my PC to the RP4 Pro if I really want to handheld PC games.
Two of the only youtubers I subscribe to. Russ and Mr Sujano. You guys are awesome, to the point, and very knowledgeable. Its nice to find people on youtube trying to help and not just try to sell you a bunch of over priced merch. Thank you for the in depth reviews!
This is amazing! Exactly what I'd get, if I didn't already buy an AYN Odin 2 months ago
Yeah once you have that device then there's no point for this one
@@GangityBirdity yeah my thoughts exactly
'If you're old like me and you have hard seeing things from time to time..'
I feel you brother.
We're at a point now where playing PS2 on an android device is limited more by the emulator than by the power of the device itself.
It's a shame there aren't more options for PS2. And where the hell is a Xbox emulator for that matter?
@@skycloud4802I've been wondering the same. Perhaps it's got to do with Xbox running Windows in the background? I'm sure it's a resource intensive pain in the butt to emulate.
@@skycloud4802 Apparently, Xemu and Xenia don't run on Android because Xbox software is tied too much to Windows.
That’s one of the things that is keeping the Odin 2 of being the perfect handheld! Size is another thing 😅
@@Kuchenwurst I think the underlying issue (that relates to the modified version of Windows2000 the 360 ran) was that the CPU architecture on the 360 was pretty close to x86 (close to a Intel Pentium or one of the intel processors of that time) which would prove pretty annoying to emulate on the ARM chips these handhelds run. Couple that with a kind of weird GPU that has (or maybe used to have) spotty community-driven documentation, and you have a rather difficult task to take on.
Thanks so much for the review! I'm convinced now, this is the exact handheld I was looking for when I got into this hobby and I'm definitely going to be picking one up.
This looks like an amazing device, especially for the price. Personally, I don't have a desire to play PS2/GC games on the go at this point so I'm sticking with my RP3+, but anyone who wants that, this looks great!
Very cool, thanks @konkavstylisten - I had no idea!
Russ, when i decide to buy someting first i check your videos. Thanks to you i bought i a lot of best handleheld devices. Thank you very much for your best quality videos.
As much as people hated on the flip, the fact that it didn’t have a second screen on the bottom allowed them to move the sliders in to be more comfortable like PlayStation controllers. Although I’m very excited for this device, I think I’ll wait and hope they release a flip 2. If not, it’s not the end of the world if I buy later
Flip 2: Electric Boogaloo
I will be getting my unit soon. This will be my first time using an emulation handheld. Thank you!
I really agree about the screen size not being ideal for later gen games that were designed for bigger screens, which is why I prefer to play those games on my Steam Deck. What I really wanted was a handheld that could handle the 3DS, PSP and other games made for the handheld factor, especially with regard to classic Monster Hunter. Can't wait for mine to arrive.
I don't care what someone names their channel, you are and will forever be THE tech daddy.
Seriously though your reviews have guided me thru the retro gaming world over the last few months. Leading me to this purchase. And after preordering and watching others sorta stumble through their points I thought I made a mistake. Your review put those nerves at ease. Thanks for all the effort you're pouring into these videos 🔥
Thanks for the video. I recently got an Odin 2 Pro and I'm extremely happy with it. I did get a RP3+ earlier last year and love it for games which primarily use the d-pad. I can't justify the jump to the RP4 but it does look like a great little machine. Many thanks for all of the setup videos as well!
hadouken-able and Shoryuken-able, Russ making great reviews and setting new standards for controller quality... great review very detailed, thank you as always
WiFi 6 support is the killer standout feature for me, at the same price of the Portal this does way more.
You are missing the point of the portal
1) 8inch screen vs 4.7
2) full blown dual sense features and comfort
The portal is completely pointless
@@Drivenbystill can't believe they didn't go for a nice OLED for the portal.
@@Drivenby that's fair, but the fact that the Portal can't interface by WiFi 6 when the PS5 can is a bit of an oddity for me.
@@MasDouclol y u mad
If I didn't back the Odin Pro, this would've been a sure pick! Excellent stuff
Appreciate this! This confirms my belief to get the Odin 2
I just purchased the flip right before Christmas, and just received it last week. I really do enjoy it a lot! I love the clamshell design and everything about it. It's cute and pocketable and I can put it in my bag and bring it to work and have a good time. My coworker just ordered him a steam deck and is super excited. I was considering getting the 4 Pro but I think I would be more happier playing with the Odin 2 Pro. I would like to get a steam deck, but I can't afford it at this moment. Maybe one day. But any games I want to play, could probably be played on the Odin 2 Pro and I wouldn't have no issues. I appreciate everything you do for us Russ. You have gotten me into the whole handheld emulator world and I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope I enjoy whenever I purchase my Odin 2 Pro.
This is super exciting for me. I have a steam deck and a miyoo mini plus. I've been wanting a "medium" handheld that is more powerful than the mm+ and much smaller than the sd. I have held off because I want solid PS2 and GC performance. I almost pulled the trigger on the Anbernic rg405m, but performance just isn't quite there for me. I hope Anbernic makes a handheld with the build of the 405m (4:3 screen, left analog placement, in line shoulders and triggers) but with this performance. That would be an instant buy for me.
No Sly Cooper makes me a little sad though
@@noahjdavis7396makes me super sad :/
Or maybe even in the rgb30
Same here! I’m still looking at the RG405M for its screen ratio and size but damn this Retroid Pocket 4 Pro is calling me...
Excellent machine. And video too. Thank you, them receiving your heads up and fixing it talks a LOT about them as a company, well worth the $.
That's actually a pretty powerful processor. A big step up from those unisoc T618 chips, but by the way when it comes to 3D Mark wildlife it's best just to look at the frames per second its able to get , because you're really just testing the ballpark 3D rendering capabilities. For playing retro games a lot of times that won't even be important, and some devices won't be so good in 3D rendering but will have great CPU speed which can often be the bottleneck in emulation performance.
A portable $200 device that could play ps2 at 2x in the palm of my hands 😮 if only that existed back in early 2000s 🔥
Hell if that existed even 5 years ago.
That's honestly what the PSP felt like to me when it came out
20 years later we will have handheld device that can play PS5 for $199
@fajarkurniawan9434 well all be underwater by then
@@MasDouc ill be in space
Retro Game Corps is hands down one of the best portable handheld review sites for the community! Everyone up to this point has just been singing praises for the new RP4 (which is deserved of course), but after hearing how average the PS2 and Switch emulation is on this device I don't feel so bad anymore that I have an RG405M. Sticking to my orginal plan to wait for the Steamdeck 2 or for the new AMD (or intel!) devices coming out this year for PC gaming and high end emulation needs.
Been waiting for this review. Just ordered a Odin 2 thanks to your suggestion 😁
Odin 2: Electric Boogaloo
I bought a Steam Deck last year because of work. Lots of downtime. I ended up buying this after the review and find myself playing it a LOT more than my Steam Deck. The portability, the ergonomics, feel of the buttons, just fits everything I need. Hard to justify the Steam Deck when all I do is play retro games. Ended up selling my SD to my brother and haven't looked back.
honestly, if it cost $50 more and had a 5.5/6" OLED, it would be my dream machine (would not even need to be 1080p)
Just get the Odin 2 at that price point
@@Chris-cx6wl thats fair, i am nit picking. but i have yet to find the base odin 2 version for the original $300, and if i am spending anything over $300, might as well go a bit further and get something like the steamdeck
Have you considered getting a Galaxy S20fe second hand ($159 plus) and a controller grip like the GameSir X2 Pro ($67)? Around $226 or so total and you get a 6.5" OLED screen and Snap Dragon 865 with performance close to this D1100.
@@discardedparticles I do have a Note 10+ that has been collecting dust in my closet, i may just break it out and test out the capabilities of it.
I just bought the Odin 2 pro and I love it so far but I’m really tempted to pick up the Retroid pro too. I kinda like the portability. Thanks for the video. Also thanks for the setup videos you do. It’s really helped me. Adios
I was able to grab a S20 FE 5G which has the Snapdragon 865 which is equivalent in performance to the D1100 for $50. Then add a Gamesir G8 for $80 and for $130 it’s pretty close to performance of the RP4 Pro though no active cooling and 2GB less RAM (while gaining an OLED 1080p screen on the S20). What I’m getting at is $199 isn’t a bad price for what you’re getting.. all in one pocketable handheld that can play PS2 and GameCube.. I’m glad we’re finally at this level of performance that is somewhat affordable.
This is really the way to go. You can find cheap smartphones a few years old that have great snapdragons in them, just get one of those and get one of those controller attachments and youre good to go!
@@craciunator99 I'm thinking that myself. I have the S22 and I'm like do I pick up a Retroid Pocket 4 Pro or just buy a good phone controller instead?
I guess the pro with a dedicated handheld is not having to deal with background notifications and having to take the controller on and off but these high end phone have so much power...
I don't think emulation requires active cooling. With Snapdragon 870 I can easily run ps2 games at 2k(didn't try 4k) and it doesn't get heated really.
There are cheaper options than Gamesir G8, it is not really the best budget pick but it is great. So second hand phone with OLED screenreally the best option, also if controller drift you can change it, you are also getting better performance.
@@AndySomething Yeah that’s something to think about. Personally I like having a separate gaming device from my phone (Plus I’m an iPhone person so emulation isn’t as easy). But if you already have an S22 then you have more power then a RP4 Pro already. I own multiple handheld gaming devices but always seem to go back to the S20 with the GameSir G8… that G8 is just so comfortable to use.
@@Whiteshade Yeah active cooling def is not needed for most games. But it’s always something people point out when I mention just getting an old Android phone. I haven’t had any issues with running really any games using my S20. And at $80 the GameSir G8 def isn’t a budget phone controller but it’s sooooo nice and the build quality and what you get for that price is pretty insane considering something like the BackBone is $100. I can’t praise the G8 enough.. but yeah it’s def not necessary if you’re trying to get a device together at the lowest cost.
Glad that this review was favorable given that I preordered the RP4 Pro last month!
Well done Retroid. Now give us an oled version of rp4pro, add rp3s as a budget option, and we are hooked.
The VW vs BMW analogy is good but the RP4 Pro situation makes it even better. At least with the BMW when you wanted to go faster it would actually GO faster, could bring it to the race tracks for lapping days and have a blast (not to discount the VWs, I have seen VW Golf killing it there too, sometimes faster depending on the drivers).
The point being, that overall, these games most of them are running perfectly fine, it doesn’t really make sense to have ‘more power’ for most, as what for, to run them at double speed or 2x the resolution would make no sense.
But great GREAT review, you have made me get back to the joy of emulation and that magical craft of these older games
I remember when the Retroid Pocket 2+ (which I own) could barely play PlayStation 1 and Nintendo 64 games, it's insane how far modern SOCs have come and how efficient they are. It absolutely amazes me that the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro can comfortably play most 3DS games.
When did the Retroid Pocket 2 come out
Out of all the retro handhelds to come out this is the one I’m most excited for. Preordered based on this preview.
The whole point of this device in my mind is the ability to run ps2 games fluidly in a small form factor. With that in mind, having the sticks where they are is just a deal breaker for me. Katamari, Fight Night and racing games are why I would purchase this device and all of them I would prefer to play with twin sticks. If I want a device that can play dreamcast and down, there are more pocketable and cheaper devices available. Looks like Odin2 or Steam Deck for me, which is unfortunate as I was hoping that maybe with the grip the Pocket 4 pro would fit the bill, but that just doesn't seem to be the case.
Thanks for the fantastic content!
Totally agree with you. Ergonomics of the RP4 just don't make sense, even if it's a great little machine overall. If they enlarge the screen just a bit and put the left stick on top it will become close to perfection
You are truly one of the best reviewers for these emulation handhelds🙏🙏🙏
I think I'll be good with my 3+ for at least the next few years, but I hope they keep making better and better models like this until I'm ready for an upgrade!
I too will wait this one out, maybe the 4 pro plus version
I agree. Although I have to say the performance gap between 3+ and pro is huge, which is good. The only thing I do not like is battery life. From these old chip sets you can easily squeeze 8 hours of play (speaking of 3 and 3+ family), this is not the case for the 4 and 4 pro. Still retroid is heading in the right direction 👍
glad to hear the green screen issue is going to be fixed in production, Taki also mentioned it and it would be a total no-go for me if it doesn't get fixed
I think dual stick games might work a lot better with the grip accessory (they do with the 2S).
That'd be a great addition to see in more reviews because I wonder how effective some can be to help the feel
@@alexanderespinoza for me, it was a must. i printed a grip for my rp3+ and it really changed the feel of it. i could play it for hour and hours without it feeling uncomfortable.
How much weight would it add?
Thanks so much for this detailed review! I just ordered the Retroid 4 Pro after watching this video. Looking forward to playing PS2, GameCube and PSP games on something so portable.
All this video did was make me appreciate the Odin 2 even more. When you have a relatively no compromise device like that existing, you spot all of the compromises in a device like the RP4pro. The analog placement, screen size/quality, home/back and select/start placement, active cooling, offset USB-C placement, battery management (such an underrated spec that needs to be considered) are all things that stand out in a negative way for me. Would I be happy if the RP4pro was my only device? Sure, but then I'd always regret not spending more and getting the Odin 2.
I have been going back and forth between multiple emulation devices to purchase and was almost sold on the RG35XX Plus but wanted some more power for PS2 and Gamecube specificially and this was THE ONE... until I ended up going deep and buying a Steam Deck. But this device is great and absolutely will be sending people here for recommendation!
I recall Rouge Squadron 2 displaying a little slow down on the actual Gamecube - so the emulation you showed here might be accurate.
Too much red with Rouge Squadron
Amazing review. Looks like a great little device!! I already have Odin 2 Pro so holding off for now. Will more than likely pick this up down the line for travel.
Kind of crazy you had issues with Sly Cooper. On my Odin Lite (D900) I had no issues once I switched to OpenGL. But I have heard other people have had issues with that game.
Turned of all the speedhacks and underclocking?
@@bulletpunch9317 Only thing I changed was Vulkan to OpenGL and it ran buttery smooth on my Odin Lite. Everyrhing else was set to whatever AetherSX2 is set to by default.
Very good and small, pocketable powerful console. The green-ish LCD screen breaks it for me, but then again i have an Odin2 so it wouldn't be for me anyway. Thank you for the great review and get well soon!
A smaller Steam Deck light would be awesome to compete with this stuff. The Steam library is huge.
I doubt that would happen, namely valve isn't in the emulator handheld scene(they let you do what you want with the hardware but they are already selling at a loss, you can't make store sales on a something like that), they are in the handheld gaming PC scene,
And we're probably at least a couple years away from performance being good enough to actually create a smaller form factor while having acceptable battery life and performance
second even if it's $150 bump the base model steam deck competes well enough that I don't think it would be necessary, to be entirely honest the bigger competition for stuff like this is smart phones with a gamepad grip
The steam deck battery lasts at most 2 hours for graphic intensive games. If they made it smaller the battery life would be unusable.
If you want something a bit smaller you have the Rog Ally.
I think Steam released their OS as a bootable file. So in theory they won't need to. If somebody put their mind to it, perhaps you could flash Steam OS on open Linux based handhelds already. Although it might be very bad and not work well.
@@skycloud4802 prefix: I'm nearly certain what he's asking for is a cheaper steam deck that's also smaller, what your proposing does meet what he was asking for... Anyways main comment
yes but it's x86-64 only, the devices of a size comparable to any of the retroid ares almost entirely arm based or mips based, yes it's technically possible to run box 64 and emulate x86 steam but the performance is awful, the few that aren't are mostly older Intel handhelds with lackluster performance and they're still much larger than any of the retroids
Comparissons tickle my fancy so I really appreciate you going in-depth with it. Thanks as always!
This device is so close to perfect for me, but the left stick placement just kills it. The left stick position causes my hand to cramp so bad, even with the grip, and for them to keep it on the bottom with a device that is powerful enough to play ps2/GC/3DS is so unfortunate. Hopefully they release a version with the left stick on top in the future, I would buy it in an instant
Totally agree, let's hope it will happen for the RP5
Maaan. Great review as always. I've had my flip for literally 2 months today. I definitely love my clamshell but there's no denying this is a better, more exciting experience. I knew there would be some fomo buying a device right before going in to the new year. There's always something new in the world of emulation these days.
Struggling to understand putting the analogue stick at the bottom for a device primarily focused on newer retro titles. The RP3+ was, for me, very uncomfortable without the grip for longer play sessions.
Nice Coffee mug. I make those as a hobby. I have a mug press, printer with sublimation ink, blank mugs and the correct paper. The Retroid Pocket 4 is definitely a nice hand held. I still remember many years ago when these first started being released such as the GP2X line of hand helds.
I just purchased one. Not sure what he’s taking about with the fan. On all 3 modes it’s fine
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this handheld!!! GC/PS2/DC all work great! I spent yesterday from 8am-6:30pm setting it up and downloading all the libraries. It’s totally set up and it’s so freaking cool!! 🎉❤
This is a tough product because the Odin 2 is so great and retro Is know for hardware problems. At least my retroid 3+ came broken
I ordered the ice blue model. After watching your video, I'm even more excited to receive my unit.
I'd love the form factor and look, but sadly the ergonomics are too bad for the size of my hands. I often use a grip with my RP3+, but my Odin 2 is absolutely perfect without one even for longer sessions.
The grip made the RP3 soooo much better
@@bobbytaylor6363It's kind of funny how the RP3+ is simultaneously the most uncomfortable device ever *without* the grip, but also one of the best feeling *with* the grip haha
I actually had to get a grip for my Odin 2. The ergonomics are fine for 1 stick games, but IMO pretty bad for 2 stick games. The right stick is just way too close to the bottom corner. With the grip it is much more comfortable.
Thanks for this review, I went with the Odin 2 after having an RP3 and RP3+ I wanted something with a larger screen. After using the CRKD controller thing with my switch I knew the form factor was it for me, love the form factor of the Odin 2.
"The 4 Pro is going to be great in bed"
nice
Enjoyed the review. To me, $200 is pretty much the most I’d pay. I have a hacked Vita and a Switch, plus a Super Console X2 Pro and a PS2 with a 2TB HDD. So I’m pretty good on gaming both emulation wise and portable. But playing so much on the go - including reliving GameCube’s library - is very appealing.
Odin is definitely NOT in my budget.
This is my issue with people comparing the RP4P and the Odin. I understand that it's probably the closest thing to compare it to spec wise, but the price difference is insane. Someone said you might as well get the Odin like it's not $100 MINIMUM for the Odin 2 base model.
@@snipebp If anything, comparing it to the Odin 2 is a sparkling review for this. Literally half the price
This device is decent but for only 100 bucks more with Odin 2 you get a bigger screen... bigger battery.... and more emulation headroom. Have to choose Odin 2 over this.
Not everyone has $100 extra.
@@jaywest3734 I feel that but honestly if you can save $200 you can save $300 🤷🏾♂️
also can't justify spending 300 on the Odin when it's priced so closely to a steam deck you might as well get a deck at that point
@@art3misrrs Yeah but if you get the deck you want the new model with longer battery life which starts at 550 which is double the price so you might as well SHUTYUP!! just kidding. :)
I'm guessing the prices have changed a bit in four months. I just bought a RP4Pro for $400 NZD rather than spending $1100 NZD on the Odin 2. More than double the price for maybe 20% extra performance didn't feel very worth it. The 1080p screen would have been nice, but not for double the price.
Personally...For $200 I think we can let the fan noise slide. I set $200 on fire and inhale it for recreation. This is a price point I can mind a few things at. Very detailed review. I'm getting one
Great video! Sticking with the $200 price,if someone is looking to play a decent amount of PS2 and GameCube would you recommend RP4pro or the original Odin Pro? I’m torn between a larger screen and processing power 😖
I'm still rocking my RP2+ and think that it's time to upgrade to this RP4-Pro. Thank you for the in-depth review! It was your RP2+ review and setup guide that got me into the whole retro gaming world! Keep up the great work Russ!
unless you're really constrained by size, I'd consider a second hand steam deck. some sell at or under $250. and it's a far more capable device.
@@DarkPhoenix1515 I have a steam deck that I dont use much. Maybe Ill keep the RP2+ because it is quite compact.
I hope there's a Retroid Pocket Flip 2 coming soon with these specs. The clamshell design is the best for pocketability
A flip 2 would be really cool as i wanted to get the flip but held back due to some issues that were mentioned in reviews
@@dadou193 same. I was looking forward to the Miyoo Flip, but there hasn't been anything about that in awhile, and a Retroid Flip 2 could be better
Im playing my old Ps2 games from like 15 years ago for the first time since then, it's really a great time and I should REALLY look into more emulators on the pc for PS3 and XBOX stuff now, what a surreal moment it was to play a game and almost feel like my old kid self. It sounds cheesy but they say those things for a reason, because ya its true man, you really get transported back in time and that felt very special to me right now
Looks good, although I'd much prefer a device with completely passive cooling. Perhaps if Retroid releases a metal version of this like they did for the RP3+, they can remove that fan.
yup, ODIN 2 is the move, thank you I've been waiting for this
Still in love for 4:3 screens on handhelds, if I need something at 16:9 i would use my phone.
Exactly, it makes no sense to make it widescreen when 99% of the use case is for 4:3 content
I like both. To be honest, I'm moving away from having a "one for all" mindset. I have a very small 4:3 handheld, and looking for a widescreen one.
Great review as always! Thanks Russ. This one just shot to the top of my list... I think I am getting one of these at some point this year.
I still prefer the odin 2 for the ps2/gc performance it has
Fair, but honestly I’m not going to be surprised if Retroid is already working on a custom GPU Driver for this (like they did with the RP3+) that would actually fix a good amount of the incompatibility issues Mali has with most emulators, so for all we know the base RP4 Model could end up actually being genuinely great for PS2/GC/Wii (which the $150 price range would end up making that insanely good) and the Pro could end up becoming the cheapest high-end handheld that handles Switch.
It’s chipsets still wouldn’t be as good as a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but the main problem with chipsets that use Mali was always that they don’t work as well with emulation, so if Retroid can alleviate that issue enough, it would definitely make them even better devices for those price points.
Thanks, Russ! Yours was the RP4 Pro review that I was waiting for!