It’s the Fourth Edition of Retro Handhelds Weekly, meaning that it’s already been a month since we started! A lot has happened in the past month, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. In the past week, Anbernic launched pre-orders for another new handheld, PCSX2 2.0 was announced, and so much more. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and catch up on what’s happened this week in the world of Retro Handhelds.
Hardware
If there’s one thing we know about retro handhelds, it’s that there is always something new around the corner. Seriously, it’s “worse” than smartphones, as some companies release new handhelds every other week. On the bright side, at least there’s no shortage of options.
Anbernic RG40XX H Pre-orders
It’s kind of fitting that the RG40XX H kicks off the latest edition of Retro Handhelds Weekly. It’s been about a month since the RG40XX H was first leaked in a random video on BiliBili. Now, you can finally pre-order one for yourself. If you’re on the fence, check out Stubbs’ video and Jalanimal’s first impressions article.
Powkiddy RGB20 Pro Enters Testing Stages
The Powkiddy V10 pre-orders are arriving, but there’s another device that we should see soon. Powkiddy’s RGB20 Pro is an upcoming vertical handheld with a 3.2-inch screen. Unlike the RGB20SX and RGB30, the RGB20 Pro doesn’t come equipped with a 1:1 screen. However, the most intriguing aspect of this is the transparent portion found at the bottom.
RetroBreeze Builds a DIY Retro Game Console
We’re big fans of DIY projects, whether it’s retro gaming-related, or not. RetroBreeze dropped a new video this week that has us completely blown away. He’s created his own DIY retro game console, complete with a custom design while being powered by the Orange Pi 5 Plus. It sports a five-inch touchscreen display and is even capable of playing GameCube and PS2 games. Seriously, this is definitely one video that you’ll want to check out.
Ayaneo Pocket Evo Sets Its Sights on Odin 2
A few days after first teasing a new Android handheld, the Ayaneo Pocket EVO was officially unveiled. Many details have been shared, as it’s powered by the same Snapdragon G3X Gen 2 as the Pocket S. The Pocket EVO is also slated to be the “first 7″ 120Hz Android Handheld.” Check out our coverage of the announcement to learn more. But, we’re still waiting to hear about pricing and a release date.
SCUF Working on Android Compatibility
The SCUF Nomad is a new controller for smartphones, but it currently only works with the iPhone. However, SCUF has confirmed to RetroGameCorps that Android compatibility is in the pipeline. Hopefully, it will arrive sooner rather than later. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for our full review.
Analogue Pocket – Aluminum Limited Edition
Do you love the Analogue Pocket, but have been wanting one with an Aluminum shell? Do you have $500 to throw down the drain in the case that you can beat the scalpers? Well, you’re in luck as the Analogue Pocket: Aluminum Edition was announced. It retails for $499, and the company claims that the only parts not made from Aluminum are the screen and the PCB. Pre-orders open on July 15, and shipping is said to commence just two days later.
Is There Another Odin on the Way?
As AYN attempts to keep up with the demand for the Odin 2 Mini, it seems as though another model may already be in the works. As spotted in the RH Discord, there’s a third model mentioned in the codebase. In the screenshot above, we can see Q9 and Q9 Mini, which are the codenames for the Odin 2 and Odin 2 Mini. However, the Q9EX refers to another handheld under the same tree. It’s probably powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but it could be AYN’s response to the Ayaneo Pocket EVO.
PlayStation Buttons for the RG Cube from SakuraRetroModding
The new #RGCube #PlayStation buttons available on Etsy:https://t.co/9trA8PVVTN#Anbernic #Modding #Ps1 #Ps2 #Retrogaming #Sakuraretromodding pic.twitter.com/nNgW6zF2iX
— SakuraRetroModding (@SakuraRetroModd) July 13, 2024
It’s one thing being able to enjoy all of your favorite games on retro handhelds, but there’s something to be said about customizing it to your liking. Arguably the most popular source for buttons and stickers is SakuraRetroModding. And now, there are new PlayStation buttons available for the Anbernic RG Cube!
Software and Custom Firmware
Don’t get me wrong, hardware is definitely fun and exciting to talk about. But what good is an awesome handheld if it doesn’t even work? That’s where software and custom firmware come into play, so here’s everything you might’ve missed this week.
RetroAchievements Finally Comes for GameCube
July 15th, 2024 // 5PM Eastern Standard Time pic.twitter.com/epjBqbDZ3Q
— RetroAchievements (@RetroCheevos) July 7, 2024
While much of our focus has been on what’s been happening with Switch emulation, Dolphin has just been chugging along. It remains the best way to play your favorite Wii and GameCube games, but until now, it’s lacked support for RetroAchievements. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case as one of the most recent updates to the Dolphin emulator brings support for RetroAchievements.
PCSX2 2.0
Big Picture Mode in PCSX2 2.0
It’s been four years since the last stable release of PCSX2, as many improvements have been relegated to the Beta channel. However, PCSX2 2.0 has just been announced, bringing with it a slew of new features, changes, improvements, and so much more. This might just be the biggest single update to an emulator that we’ve ever seen. You can check out the announcement blog post where all of the changes are detailed.
Custom Firmware for the RG40XX H
I was able to get MinUI running on the Anbernic RG40XX H this morning by installing it on top of the pre-packaged SD card instead of swapping out my existing MinUI cards. Everything works great! https://t.co/Mir7EzsSDt pic.twitter.com/PQ7ex0YZto
— Retro Game Corps (@RetroGameCorps) July 9, 2024
Although Anbernic has improved the firmware for its various handhelds, your best bet is still to install a custom firmware solution. The RG40XX H is no different, but thanks to Anbernic’s reliance on the H700 chip, some options are already available. Notably MinUI seemingly already works on the RG40XX H, and we should see a compatible build of muOS in the coming days.
Cemu for Android Begins Development
When it comes to emulation on Android, we’ve pretty much reached the pinnacle of what’s currently possible with PS2 and Switch. However, it appears that Wii U is one of the next frontiers, as the team behind Cemu has started working on an Android version. There is a leaked build floating around, but you’re better off avoiding it for the time being. On the Cemu Discord, the team states that we’re “maybe a year too early,” but any progress will be documented on GitHub.
Snes9x Gets Its First Update In More Than a Year
You might not think that an SNES emulator would need a lot in the way of updates, and that’s largely the case. However, Snes9x received its first update in more than a year. With this latest update, there are a slew of bug fixes, along with a few new features for both the Windows and Mac versions, respectively.
Delta Emulator Brings Official Support for the iPad
🚀 The first major Delta update is here and is fully optimized for iPad! Delta 1.6 is available now in AltStore PAL and soon in the App Store – complete with our new 100% legal logo 😎
And for our 10M+ users already playing Delta on iPhone, we’ve got plenty more for you too! pic.twitter.com/afsAWIGYBA
— AltStore.io (@altstoreio) July 10, 2024
There’s no denying that Delta helped put iOS emulation on the map after it made its debut on the Apple App Store. However, people were surprised to see that the initial release didn’t include native support for the iPad. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case as Delta 1.6 is now available for the iPhone and iPad. Along with iPad support, Delta 1.6 also introduces “iPadOS-specific features like Multiple Windows, Stage Manager / Split View, and Handoff.” We already have a guide for how you can play games on Delta for iPhone, but we’re already working on updating that guide to include the iPad.
Be Wary of Fake Emulators
Don’t buy or download this
There’s a “new” listing on the Google Play Store for a NetherSX2 emulator, but it’s not what you might think. This is very much a case of someone trying to make a quick buck. We won’t be linking to the listing, as it should be avoided entirely. NetherSX2 is free to download from GitHub, so don’t make the mistake of falling for this.
Microsoft Increases Game Pass Prices
Odin 2 Mini playing Halo via Xbox Game Pass
It doesn’t seem like we’ll ever be able to get away from the onslaught of subscriptions. This is made worse when companies end up making changes to those services, and Microsoft is the latest offender. The company has announced that Game Pass is getting overhauled, with the removal of “Xbox Game Pass for Console.” In its place, Microsoft is introducing “Xbox Game Pass Standard,” priced at $14.99 per month. Meanwhile, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate are seeing price increases up to $11.99 and $19.99, respectively.
From the Writers
While there’s always a lot of news to cover and talk about, we also try to take a step back and give everyone something a bit different to enjoy. These are the more editorial-styled articles that you might have missed over the course of this week.
5 Cozy Games to Relax With
Before the Steam Summer Sale came to a conclusion, Jalanimal jumped in to share a few games that you probably haven’t heard of. These are more in line with Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing and are great for just sitting back and relaxing. Although the Steam Sale has ended, these are five games that you’ll still want to check out.
Avoid Getting Burned: Handheld Safety PSA
It seems that many people forgot about the proper and correct way to charge their various retro handhelds. There has been a recent increase in reports of devices with swollen batteries, and others that have been fried. However, Nick provides everyone with a Handheld Safety PSA so that you can avoid running into similar issues yourself and keep your handheld in tip-top shape.
From the Depths: Ban’s Bins 2
From the Depths Bans Bins
The Ban with more devices than sense is back again. In this edition of Ban’s Bins, he takes a look at four different devices that currently reside in his ever-growing collection. This time around, the list includes the Chicken Boy, New 3DS XL, Odroid Go, and Nvidia Shield Portable.
Odin 2 Mini First Impressions: Simply Divine
The Odin 2 Mini is finally making its way into the hands of more people, and I give everyone my first impressions of this Vita-esque handheld. Spoiler Alert: It’s really good, really pretty, and might just be a better option than the Odin 2. At least for some.
Anbernic RG40XX H First Impressions
We’re back again talking about the RG40XX H, as Jalanimal gave us his first impressions of Anbernic’s latest retro handheld. Click the link below to read his article, but, he comes to a much different conclusion than I was expecting.
Metroid on July’s Handheld of the Month
In case you didn’t know, the Anbernic RG Cube was voted as the Handheld of the Month on the RH Discord. To celebrate, Team Retrogue takes us on a trip through history, as he plays through much of the Metroid library, including Metroid Dread for the Switch.
On the YouTubes
Don’t think that the writers are the only ones getting things done. Stubbs and Zu are constantly working on new videos, and now’s the best time to subscribe. The past week saw Zu give us a look at one of the latest offerings from Kin and Hank, while Stubbs gets his hands on the RG40XX H.
Looking for Deals?
Another week, another set of deals to be had. Our latest roundup sees the Miyoo A30 discounted by 15% while including a free grip, plenty of great deals on storage, and a tiny deal if you want to pre-order the Switch Lite: Hyrule Edition. Oh, and there are two new promotions taking place, the AliExpress Getaway Deals promo is now underway, while Anbernic hosts its Holiday Sale.
- Miyoo A30: $47 w/ free Grip w/ code RH15
- Anbernic RG Nano: $33 w/ code USGD03
- TrimUI Smart: $30 w/ code USGD03
- Miyoo Mini Plus: $35 w/ code USGD03
- Powkiddy RGB20S: $28 w/ code USGD03
- TrimUI Smart Pro: $45 w/ code USGD03
- Powkiddy X55: $54 w/ code USGD03
- Powkiddy RGB20SX: $61 w/ code USGD08
- Anbernic RG Cube: $149 w/ code USGD20
What did you think of this article? Let us know in the comments below, and chat with us in our Discord!
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