UPDATE 6/26/2026: The Retroid Pocket Nova launched at 6pm PST/ 8pm EST on Friday, June 26, 2026. If you would like to order the device for yourself, you can find the links to the Retroid website preorder page below.
UPDATE 6/24/2026 (9:45 PM ET): Retroid just dropped the first “Sizzle Reel” for the Pocket Nova, offering a look at the handheld from multiple angles and reiterating the specs that have already been shared.
UPDATE 6/24/2026: While many were waking up on the East Coast, Retroid kept the good times rolling with the Pocket Nova. This time, the company shared that the Pocket Nova will be powered by the “QCS8550”, also known as the Dragonwing, a modified version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Over on the Retroid Discord, it was also confirmed that all of the details regarding the Nova will be shared this weeek.
UPDATE: 6/23/2026: Unlike some devices in the past, it seems like Retroid isn’t wasting much time with sharing more details about the Pocket Nova. The most recent update reveals what color options the Pocket Nova will have once it’s released.
UPDATE: 6/22/2026: Right when the crew was about to kick off the weekly podcast, Retroid dropped a surprise on us, as more details of the Pocket Nova screen were revealed.
In the wee hours of the morning, Retroid dropped a teaser for an upcoming device, known simply as the Retroid Pocket Nova, a new horizontal handheld with a 4:3 aspect ratio and an OLED screen. Many in the retro handheld scene have already speculated this is the “mortgage screen” spoken about by Retroid’s CEO in response to the debacle that was the cropped screen on the Retroid Pocket Mini V1.
Let’s dig in!
What We Know About the Pocket Nova
The shadowy silhouette of the device that was provided seems to indicate a more compact, horizontal handheld. While it appears the device might have inline triggers from the image, Chris over on the Retroid Discord has already confirmed that this is not the case, as well as confirming that multiple color options will be available for the Pocket Nova.
While we can’t make out the location of the D-pad, face buttons, or analogue sticks, many have already started analyzing the image and are providing estimations. User Kirais over on the r/SBCGaming subeddit even provided some visual estimations, and they are calling for a 4.4″-4.5″ screen, which would give the device dimensions similar to that of the Retroid Pocket Mini.
With a 4:3 aspect ratio, it would make sense for this device to have the D-Pad above the analogue sticks, as this would favor older gaming consoles that work well with that aspect ratio. This would also make the Retroid Pocket Nova even more similar to the Retroid Pocket Mini, and is a layout that appears to be a favorite for many in the retro handheld and emulation communities based on the initial responses to the device. Maybe Retroid will provide options for both layouts, similar to the Retroid Pocket 6?
Looking Forward
No further details about the Retroid Pocket Nova have been shared at this time. While there’s plenty of speculation about the chip that will be inside – the Retroid Pocket Mini came with a Snapdragon 865, so many are hoping for something more powerful like a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 – and the price, Retroid is keeping silent on those details at the moment.
2026 has been a quiet year for handheld manufacturers, in large part due to the outrageous prices of storage and memory components in today’s market. This is some much-needed exciting news, especially given that this could be the device with the fabled custom AMOLED “mortgage screen” spoken about by Retroid previously.
Once we have more details and information, we’ll be sure to share with everyone!
2 Comments
that image was intentional on it’s obfuscation of the controls –> there’s nothing even remotely there when viewing histograms / inversion in photoshop. That is likely a render with the controls hidden…unless they are doing something really out-of-the-box, and going all digital on the controls.
What if it’s Cell Phone shaped? If you catch my drift…