I had such a weird ride with the Retroid Pocket Flip 2. I had one preordered with the bundle for the classic night one or release. After watching some reviews, I decided to cancel the Flip. I then got FOMO and ordered one in May when they extended the tariff policy and ended up paying more and waiting longer. After some time with it, here are my thoughts.
The Buttons
I love the size of this thing. I really thought it would be too big, but it is just right and very similar to a Nintendo 3DS XL, despite some extra thickness to compensate for the stacked shoulder buttons. Coming from the Retroid Pocket 5, I do find this much more comfortable, even if it doesn’t look like it.
My favorite D-pad is the Vita-style one, and Retroid always provides that. I am also a fan of the stacked analog triggers, though, like stated earlier, it does add to the thickness. The power button being in the middle was weird at first, but I do like it because it almost feels like a laptop for some reason.
Now the face buttons…they feel better than the RP5, and I think maybe less clicky? I just wish they were a tad bigger. There is so much room on the bottom half of the device; they could’ve easily made them larger. Speaking of larger, the volume button on the right side, I wish it were a little larger as well. Luckily, the green A button is the correct shade, though (thanks, Zu).
The Pocket Flip 2
The hinge, of course, is always the question with these clamshell devices, and so far, I think it is great! I do notice that it closes a bit heavy, so I baby it a little bit when closing it. Do I need to? After watching YouTubers slam them over and over, probably not, but I bought this thing for myself, and I want it to last.
The hinge can be locked into 2 different positions, and you won’t have to push it all the way back and break it. As someone who had a resurgence with their N3DSXL, I feel right at home.
Here comes my complaint about the device’s aesthetic (well, besides the design in the lid, but that’s been beaten to death). At least for my GameCube colorway, it shows fingerprints like crazy! I don’t have this problem with my other devices, so it was shocking to see.
Performance
The performance of the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 is the same as the RP5, but it is always shocking to see how well it performs since the chip is so well optimized. I have made this my PS2, GameCube, Switch, and streaming handheld. So far, I have had no issues with any of the games I have thrown at it.
I really enjoy using XBPlay on this as I can play my Game Pass games from all around the house or on the go if there is an internet connection. I also love that the drop-down menu has an option to switch to the Xbox button layout.
Final Verdict?
I know I had some negative things to say about the Retroid Pocket Flip 2, but I do enjoy it quite a bit. I like it way more than the original that I sold off because of the anxiety of the hinge possibly breaking. This is a great device for my pocket, and I enjoy picking it up to play whenever I have a chance.
The Good
✅ Comfortable Design
✅ Great Hinge
✅ Performance for the Price
✅ Amazing Screen
The Bad
❌ Fingerprints for GameCube Model
❌ Face Buttons are Small
❌ Thick near the triggers
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