Zu is back with a new video, addressing the single worst issue with this author’s favourite clamshell: the Powkiddy V90S.
While the V90S technically does come with a version of Batocera, it is a version that is essentially the result of a splice of Batocera and KNULLI code, without many of the configuration settings working. It’s not a top-tier experience.
Here are some examples of the issues that have been faced by V90S owners using the stock Batocera OS:
- The device will refuse to boot unless a second MicroSD card is present,
- The menu button does not appear to have been mapped to any function, either in the EmulationStation front end or in RetroArch during gameplay. Select has been mapped as the hotkey when the menu button would be a logical choice.
- The Box Art Scraping options are limited, with all options other than ArcadeDB being disabled
As Zu shows, all of these, and many other issues, can be solved through using KNULLI, a fork of Batocera. While the KNULLI build for the V90S is only in Alpha, it has been made available via Ko-Fi. Despite it being an Alpha build, Zu found the build to be more stable than some of the custom firmware options on other devices.
Rounding out the video, Zu covers some of the aspects of the V90S that don’t need fixing, and we usually call these the “good points”. These are the hinge, which is as solid as any Anbernic device, the screen, which is the standard 3.5-inch screen found in many, many devices these days, and the price. Currently, you can get the V90S from GoGameGeek for $42.50 when using code RH15 at checkout.
As always Zu finishes his video with a quick “What Did We Learn?”
Bronny James jokes aside, Zu basically surmises that the V90S is much like “polishing a turd.” The lack of onboard Wi-Fi support and mediocre controls are two big deterrents that keep this from competing with the RG34XXSP. Really, the only saving grace is the price. But even still, unless you have an affinity for Powkiddy devices, you might be better off putting the money towards a better handheld.
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