GoRetroid has been keeping us on the edge of our seats with the release of information about the Retroid Pocket 2S.
The release of information was not slow, it just felt slow because it was released one day at a time.
First, we got a cryptic picture that got us hyped. Then, a reveal video followed by the announcement of the official colorways. And now, we finally have the full specs!
It’s worth noting that these specs seem to be exclusive to Retro Handhelds, so a big shout out to them for being the first to share this information!
Retroid Pocket 2S Details
Many of us in the handheld community were expecting the Retroid Pocket 2S to have the hardware of the Retroid Pocket 3+ in the Retroid Pocket 2 design.
It was expected that this new handheld would feature the well-known T618 CPU. However, it turns out that the upgraded Retroid Pocket 2S will make use of the Unisoc T610, which is a similar alternative to the T618.
According to local tech expert James Dewitz, the T610 offers a slightly cooler performance, slightly better battery life, and a barely noticeable dip in overall performance compared to the T618. It is also more affordable for GoRetroid.
Overall, James believes that the experience will be nearly identical. As for me, I focus more on the user experience in the handheld world, and I can say that the Retroid Pocket 2S will bring several quality of life improvements to the previous design.
One of the major improvements is the better screen, addressing a previous point of complaint. Additionally, the use of hall sensor joysticks instead of digital sliders on the right joystick of the Pocket 2 is a significant upgrade. The joysticks are also positioned closer to the screen for improved ergonomic fit.
Moving the Start and Select buttons to the front face of the device is another necessary upgrade that will be seen on the Retroid Pocket 2S.
Overall, there are many great improvements to an already popular handheld.
Retroid Pocket 2S Specifications
- CPU: 2*A75 1.8GHz + 6*A55 1.8GHz
- GPU: Mali G52MC2 614MHz
- RAM: 3GB/4GB
- Storage: 32GB/128GB eMMC
- Screen: 3.5″ Touch Screen
- WiFi: 2.4G/5G 802.11 b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth: BT5.0
- Interface: HDMI
- OS: Android 11
- Battery: 4000mAh
- Size: 155*80.6*28mm
- Weight: 270g
Purchasing Information
The improved and updated Retroid Pocket 2S will be available for pre-orders starting on July 25th.
Surprisingly, the 3GB model will be priced at $99 and the 4GB model at $119. It’s great to see that GoRetroid is keeping an affordable price tag, which they are known for.
However, it was disappointing to see “TBD” next to the metal shell edition in the colorways announcement. We still don’t know which color will be available in a metal shell.
But to our surprise, the 4GB metal shell edition will also be offered for pre-sale at $149.
With only 5 days until July 25th, GoRetroid has plenty of time to keep us excited for the final piece of information – the color of the metal shell edition.
Update July 23, 2023: After a Twitter poll, GoRetroid has settled on a silver finish for the metal edition.
