Welcome to the latest edition of Retro Handhelds Weekly. This week saw a bunch of news in both the world of hardware and software, our writing team continues to be on an absolute tear, and there’s even a surprise or two sprinkled in! So 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 RG40XXV Arrives on August 26
A few weeks after the initial teaser, Anbernic shared all the rest of the information regarding its RG40XXV handheld. Pre-orders for this device commence on August 26, with a retail price of $66.99. However, as we’ve seen in the past, you’ll be able to save a few bucks if you pre-order one in the first 72 hours.
Next MagicX Handheld Might Feature a Familiar Processor
The MagicX XU Mini M has been slowly taking over as one of our favorite mini handhelds of the year. While the current iteration is still available to buy, MagicX might be forced to move away from using Rockchip processors. If this ends up happening, the company has confirmed it already has an agreement with Allwinner for future MagicX devices.
Zotac Zone Finally Launches
Credit: @ZOTAC
After making its grand entrance at Computex, the Zotac Zone is finally available for pre-order. This is just the latest competitor attempting to dethrone the Steam Deck OLED and ROG Ally X, but carries the same price tag as ASUS’ offering. The difference here is that the Zone is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U while sporting a 7-inch AMOLED display.
GKD Bubble Sample Units
Bubble is looking 👌 https://t.co/EUBOuMHJh0
— Retro Handhelds (@RetroHandhelds) August 15, 2024
It’s been almost a month since we last saw anything of substance regarding the GKD Bubble. However, the Z-Pocket Game Twitter account recently published a quick teaser video of the upcoming handheld. Frankly, we can’t wait to get our hands on one.
Abxylute S9 Nearing Launch
Looks like the Abxylute S9 is nearing their launch! It feels like the telescopic controller market has been booming recently, and we can’t wait to see this one enter the fray 👀 pic.twitter.com/Rl4TGGPvwu
— Retro Handhelds (@RetroHandhelds) August 17, 2024
The market for telescopic controllers continues to heat up, and Abxylute is jumping into the mix with the S9. We’re expecting to learn more about the launch, price, and availability in the coming days, so stay tuned.
Other Hardware News
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.
Valve Implements ROG Ally / Ally X support
We have been hoping for Valve to make SteamOS available for other handhelds for quite some time now. However, it seems that we’re inching closer to the finish line. In a recent SteamOS beta update, Valve added support for the “extra ROG Ally keys.” Then, it was confirmed to The Verge that the SteamOS team is working to bring support “for additional handhelds.”
Valve Releases Windows Drivers for Steam Deck OLED
Speaking of Valve, bringing SteamOS to other handhelds isn’t the only thing in the works. Just last week, new drivers were released that made it possible to install Windows 11 on the Steam Deck OLED. We can’t natively dual-boot just yet, but presumably, that’s also something that’s still being worked on.
Lime3DS Nearing Play Store Launch
via the RH Discord
A few days ago, a surprising note was found in the changelog for a recent Lime3DS update. It says that “a version of Lime3DS on the Google Play Store is currently being prepared.” This is huge news for the Android scene, as there hasn’t been much in the way of 3DS emulators on the Play Store since Citra was removed.
Other Software and Custom Firmware News
- MinUI Gets a Major Update
- ROMhack.ing Opens Alpha Version of New Site
- ShadPS4 Continues Rapid Development
- Star Wars Outlaw PC Gameplay Teaser
- Play Diablo in a Browser
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.
RH Games: What We’re Playing This Week
Welcome back to another What We’re Playing This Week. This is our biggest one yet! A ton of the staff here at RH shared what they are playing and we also got to include 3 of our readers as well! If you want to be featured in an article in the future, fill out this form here.
6 Back to School Games You’ll Love
So as the seasons change and the leaves turn, let us celebrate the games of the fall. Whether you’re still a student trying to fit in a game in the back of the bus, or looking for a way to reconnect with your scholastic years, we’ve got you as covered as oak leaves on the lawn.
Powkiddy V10 vs. RGB20: Come Here Often?
I don’t think the V10 will personally replace any of my daily driver devices. But it’s such a damn good little device that I’d be happy to recommend it to anyone at its under $40 price tag. Just, remind them how to change volume and brightness. And don’t offer the RGB20. It’s a bit ugly, its soft touch finish will goop eventually, and the V10 is just cheaper.
How to Emulate the N64 Transfer Pak
Not only did this unlock the ability to play your Game Boy Pokémon games on the big screen, but you were also able to battle your friends or the computer in full 3D battles. If you didn’t own the Game Boy games, you could still use rental Pokémon to battle. In 2024, there are few ways to emulate this childhood experience on modern devices.
The Best Way to Play Majora’s Mask
While I know we want to hear about the fabled PC ports and the infamous 3DS remake, I feel like those would better be suited to a part 2 to fully flesh those out since the console emulation topic is so broad. Do you have all or some of these versions? Are they good enough for you? My favorite out of these versions is the Gamecube version for exclusively nostalgia reasons so it wouldn’t phase me if even the Wii U version was.. Just fine for… some.
XBPlay Makes Xbox on Handhelds Awesome
If you are paying for a Game Pass subscription already, it seems silly to not use it as much as possible. These handhelds that we talk about and use so much are the perfect way to enjoy it. If you have a decent internet connection and want to play your Xbox games, this is a great solution that I highly recommend. My TV is horrible, so it is nice to play these games on my OLED screen of the deck.
ASUS ROG Ally X Review: The Best Handheld, For Now
Okay, so here’s the thing. If you already own any of the other best x86 Windows handhelds, you don’t need the ROG Ally X. For one, it costs more than the retail price of the original Ally. For that, the only major differences are battery life, more RAM, and a functional microSD card slot.
On the YouTubes
Don’t think that the writers are the only ones getting things done. Over the past week, Zu’s been on a tear, sharing his thoughts on the Powkiddy V10, and whether XR glasses are worth it for retro gamers. There’s also a new face on the scene, as Mikey Sax gives us his take on the RG Cube after a month, and Stubbs takes us through the ROG Ally X and why he thinks its the best Windows handheld.
Looking for Deals?
Another week, another set of deals to be had. The MagicX XU Mini M has been the “talk of the town” as of late and can be had for as low as $41. Meanwhile, the Miyoo A30 is turning into a fan favorite thanks to custom firmware, and it’s just $29. Plus, you can get a bunch of games for free from Amazon Prime Gaming and Epic Games.
- Miyoo A30 for $29
- Anbernic RG28XX for $34
- Miyoo Mini Plus for $34
- Powkiddy RGB20S for $37
- Anbernic RG35XX SP for $43
- Powkiddy RGB20SX for $52
- Anbernic RG Cube for $136
Retro Handhelds Deals of the Week
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