Right as we get the Anbernic RG34XXSP, the Powkiddy V90S is finally available for pre-order over at the company’s official site. It’s currently priced at $44.99, but if you use “V90SGOOD” at checkout, the price gets knocked down to $39.99. And we won’t have too much longer to wait, as Powkiddy says it will begin shipping out pre-orders on May 31.
Powkiddy V90S Specs
- Display: 3.5-inch IPS, 640 x 480
- Processor: Allwinner A133
- RAM: 1GB DDR3
- Storage: 2x microSD (up to 256GB)
- Battery: 3000mAh, 5V/2A, ~6 hours
- Wi-Fi: External Only (RTL8723BU, 8812AU, 8821CU)
- Bluetooth: ❌
- Dimensions: 89 x 85 x 26.5
- Colors: Yellow, Red, Grey, Transparent Black
On paper, there’s a lot to like about what the V90S brings to the table, offering the same power as the TrimUI Brick, in a clamshell form factor. We also, unsurprisingly, have an upgraded screen over the original V90, thanks to the 640 x 480 panel. Battery life should be pretty solid, with the 3,000mAh cell being rated for up to six hours on a single charge.
There are a couple of potential drawbacks to the V90S, as it doesn’t include Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which is a recurring theme with Powkiddy handhelds. On the bright side, USB-OTG can remedy these issues, but you’ll need to make sure that the Wi-Fi adapter is compatible.
Another surprising aspect of the launch of the Powkiddy V90S is that those in the US are able to actually order one. Powkiddy previously halted shipments to the US entirely, following the ongoing tariff situation, even removing handhelds from being available via AliExpress.
That’s no longer the case as the banner at the top of the Powkiddy website now says “US customers can place orders normally.” The corresponding webpage offers a bit of explanation:
Due to the customs clearance policy, the logistics costs continue to rise. We will charge a logistics fee of US$10. Please note: the product price and shipping fee you pay are all the costs of your purchase. There will be no additional fees (such as customs duties).
Logistics: We use the service provider USPS for the last leg.
Time limit: 12-20 days. Since parcels sent to the United States are currently in an outbreak state, our parcels will have air transportation waiting time during the first leg agent collection stage.
So basically, instead of paying $39.99, those in the US are looking at $49.99 as a minimum, which really isn’t all that bad. This still makes the V90S cheaper than the RG34XXSP and Miyoo Flip, and we suspect that it won’t be too long before it’s available via AliExpress or even Amazon.
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Looks amazing the new v90s. Keeping an eye on youtube in june. Have the rgb20 pro.
In case this helps, I experimented with these WiFi adapters (using an OTG adapter) and they seem to work fine with my V90S (running plumOS-V90S v0.4):
UGREEN AC650 11ac (model CM448, RTL8811CU chipset) (Amazon ASIN B08M9FX4G3)
unbranded Wifi 5 AC1300Mbps (RTL8812BU chipset) (Amazon ASIN B09XF54LVY)
unbranded Wifi 5 BT + AC600 Driver Free (RTL8821CU chipset) (Amazon ASIN B0B3MJB99T or B0DVMRW2FF)
I couldn’t get the V90S to find any bluetooth devices (controllers or otherwise) with that last adapter. Only tried briefly, so I don’t know if it is user error, a compatibility/software issue, or something else.