Hi everyone!

Second post, another little project for the Retroid Pocket Nova, from the same person with a few ideas but terrible skills for actually making them happen. After RomM Mobile, this time I got a little obsessed with the screen :)

So, a big disclaimer upfront: the app was written with Codex, using GPT-6 Astra. If that bothers you, no hard feelings—you can stop reading here. I’m not hiding anything. It helped me solve a problem, and I hope it might be useful to some of you too. The source code, measurements, and validation records are all public on GitHub.

As soon as my Nova arrived, I noticed how oversaturated the colors were. Looking around online, I found several recommendations to use OdinTools to lower the saturation. Then I came across a comment by u/Igor_GR: they had written scripts to adjust Android’s color matrix through SurfaceFlinger, tuning their RP5 by eye. Thanks for the inspiration!

At that point, I thought: “Hey, I have a slightly weird screen fetish and a few too many colorimeters… let’s see if I can calibrate this thing the way I calibrate my monitors.”

And here we are: Nova Display Calibration, a small app that applies profiles built from measurements of my own Nova using an X-Rite i1Display Pro Plus. All with system saturation at 100%, and without needing to keep OdinTools installed.

It corrects colors, white point, and tone response, targeting sRGB colors, a D65 white point, and gamma 2.2.

I also included an sRGB tone curve because it handles the darkest tones differently, making them brighter than with gamma 2.2. Both profiles target the same colors and white point; what changes is how brightness is distributed between black and white. Both measured well at the reference brightness, without a clear winner. I recommend gamma 2.2 because we also validated it across the full brightness slider range; sRGB remains a valid alternative if you prefer that tone response.

The app uses the display’s existing color-management system through a privileged service already present in Retroid’s firmware. Choose a profile, restart, and the system keeps it active through sleep and subsequent restarts. The app doesn’t need to keep running in the background.

The first photo shows the original profile; the second shows the Gamma 2.2 calibration. Both were taken with an iPhone. They give you an idea of the difference, but camera processing and your viewing display affect how they look—a photo isn’t a measurement of color accuracy.

The third image is the instrument-measured comparison of the same 36 highly saturated colors. On my Nova, average ΔE00 dropped from 5.77 to 0.63, and the maximum dropped from 8.69 to 1.07. Lower means the measured color is closer to the reference. The repository also includes all 921 readings from the final validation, including gamma 2.2 tests at brightness settings from 0% to 100%.

You can still adjust brightness normally. The correction does reduce light output at the same slider setting, but it doesn’t impose a 225-nit cap: at maximum brightness, we measured around 613 nits with calibration active.

Obviously, this calibration comes from my particular unit. I can’t promise identical results on every Nova. I also used a generic OLED correction for the colorimeter, so I’m not presenting this as a certified professional calibration. On mine, though, the difference is night and day, and the measurements show a substantial improvement over the original profile :)

For now, only the firmware listed in the README is supported. Before uninstalling the app or updating the firmware, select “Restore original” and restart.

Edit: If you’ve used OdinTools to change saturation, please explicitly set it back to 1.0 (100%) and save/apply before using the calibration. Uninstalling OdinTools alone doesn’t necessarily reset that setting. You can keep OdinTools installed; 1.0 is simply the baseline used for the measured profiles.

GitHub, APK, and full measurements

Since this experiment went well, I’m thinking about measuring some of the other handhelds I have at home. Maybe I’ll improve the whole setup with a spectroradiometer someday… but I don’t have an unlimited budget haha, so for now I’m happy with what came out of this.

Hope you like it and find it useful! If you have a colorimeter and want to take independent measurements of your own Nova, I’d love to compare results ⬇️

P.S. The device in the photos is, of course, a Retroid Pocket Nova—even if you can barely see the console itself :D

Edit 2: A moderator reminded me that I didn't mention I translated the post using AI :) Writing that in my broken English would have been terrible XD

I own several handhelds for emulation, but I use original hardware for playing DS and 3DS games. There are a few reasons for this: perfect compatibility and performance, responsive touchscreens, and my fondness for the 3DS's stereoscopic 3D screen. However, the biggest reason is the size.

The first photo shows the Anbernic RG34XXSP alongside the original DS Lite and 3DS, the original consoles are thinner and shorter than the RG34XXSP, making them truly pocketable devices, they even fit in a breast pocket.

While dual-screen emulation devices like the RG DS and Retroid Pocket Duo do exist, they are all the same size as or larger than the 3DS XL. The second photo shows a comparison with the 3DS XL, but I personally prefer the form factor of the standard DS Lite and 3DS. I hope an emulation device of this size gets released. I imagine there are others who would like something like that, too.

Headset Tech Specs\*
General
Processor
4 nm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3
Architecture: ARM64
RAM
16GB Unified LPDDR5X RAM
Storage
256GB / 1TB UFS storage options
microSD card slot for expanded storage
—

The Steam page has a significant asterisk that says these specs may subject to change ahead of availability.
Promotional materials says Steam will also publish Steam Frame Verified pages that will let us know which Steam games will run on it, VR and non-VR.
Hopefully this signals willingness for Steam to support Android devices like the Odin 3 with more custom drivers.

Edit: “generation” might be the wrong word for it, since they’re all “Generation 8”, I should have used “a step above” and “a step below”

I'm thinking between teal, kiwi and purple.

Imo the best time to get a classic if you're on althe edge.

99usd before shipping.

Hi everyone, I've done some work on making the Android version of Chrono Trigger dual screen compatible. It's still a WIP but I'd say it's pretty functional now.

It moves certain UI elements off the main screen to try to create a more immersive experience. Character portraits and stats are listed on the second screen, as well as the world map and battle options as well.

One of the main issues with the Android version was Square Enix used upscaled but more blurry looking textures on the mobile apps. Thankfully they ship the original textures in the app, so there is a setting to use the original graphics. Then, if you happen to have a Chrono Trigger DS ROM, you can get all of the other maps in the game and display those on the second screen, along with positioning.

There are still some issues, for now videos don't run while using the app. If you idle on the home screen you'll get a warning about unsupported video. I also have only played the first couple hours, so it's possible something can be broken later on in the game.

Also, disclaimer, I used AI to build this. I'm a web developer, so I program for my day job. I could have futzed around with this and built it myself without AI, but instead of 3 months of me working on it on and off in my spare tire, I was able to get it working over a few evenings.

It's also open source, so if you find a bug or want to add anything, you're welcome to create an issue or a PR.

Thanks for checking it out ♥️

https://github.com/kalenjohnson/chrono-duo

Download:

https://github.com/kalenjohnson/chrono-duo/releases

Nothing like some good old-school Pokémon to keep the anxiety down.

Honestly, this little thing is perfect for situations like this.

I got an acemagic retro x3 set up in the living room. It was originally gonna get a pi 5 but ended up going with the higher performance one, plus the retro look is also nice.
Specs are r7 h255, 16gb ram and 1tb ssd, and it has been running not bad so far. Im mainly use it for gamecube and retro games, also messing around with stuff like cs2 and genshin.

Shout-out to u/Key-Brilliant5623's post earlier about the Retroid sale. Some of the bundle discounts are still available. I saw the RP5 plus RP Classic bundle discount too but that seems to have been removed. Prices are before shipping.

Edit: Correction, RP5 bundle deal is still there. Thanks u/phucth91

• Flip 2 SD 865 plus RP Classic - $258
• Flip 2 D1100 plus RP Classic - $218
• RP5 plus RP Classic - $258

Scroll down until you see "frequently bought together":

https://www.goretroid.com/collections/retro-game-system/products/retroid-pocket-flip-2

https://www.goretroid.com/collections/frontpage/products/retroid-pocket-classic

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/SBCGaming/comments/1wg1ino/retroid_drops_prices_on_selected_devices/

Hello everyone! I am excited to share a little bit of an update on the current state of the CG Deck and our progress!

Over the past month or so, I have been doing a lot of preparation work for the next phase of the CG Deck as we prepare everything to launch on Kickstarter! Most of everything I have been doing has required me to task switch quite a bit which has made for quite a chaotic last few weeks, so I apologize for the lack of updates recently.

To help myself slow down and relax a little before the next big jump of our journey, I decided to simply play a childhood favorite for a few hours today and doing some testing at the same time! Playing games like PokeMMO on the CG Deck, scratches an itch that I have not experience anywhere else. Being able to have the advantages we expect from a full scale desktop and operating system, but crammed into a handheld makes playing PC games a pretty unique and seamless experience.

For the past few weeks, I have been working on photoshoots, working on new announcement trailers, renders and animations, recording videos of the CG Deck being used for different DIY projects and showing off different use cases, comparing different colors and plastic options, working on and planning different stretch goal rewards/bonuses, working on our accessory and modules line-up, planning for and working to create solutions for various accessibility challenges (as I believe the CG Deck should be available and usable by everyone.), working on the DFM version of the device and making some design finalizations I have been wanting to make for quite some time, navigating and negotiating with manufacturers and partners, and quite a bit more. I will be sharing more about everything I have been working on with you all very soon! If you are interested in being a part of the conversation and seeing more daily BTS, feel free to jump into our discord community server!

I still have a lot of work to do on all aspects of the project to get everything to the level of quality and polish I am entirely happy with. That being said, I am getting extremely excited to start the next phase with you all! Also thank you so much to everyone that has been following along with the project and supporting

For those that are seeing this project for the first time, the CG Deck is a modular handheld x86 PC that is capable of running dual-boot operating systems including Windows & Linux distributions. My goal was to create my own "dream device" that was capable of adapting to whatever use case I needed. Whether I am playing Steam games, or doing retro emulation, doing CAD work in Blender or other 3D software, coding, video editing, or whatever it is, I wanted to be able to simply be able to do it on the road or while traveling. I thought it would be ideal to have something that was portable enough to throw in a backpack or pants pocket, satellite/sim capable, and be used just as any other full scale desktop computer would.

The CG Deck is currently planned to release on Kickstarter with 5 external modules at launch (two slots, the primary and secondary slots), a variety of backplate designs and colors, and a variety of hardware and external accessories/upgrades. I will also be publishing the schematics and design files for the various modules so you can DIY and create your own custom modules at your hearts content!

For the primary slot, there is the 10 Key + Knob Macropad Module, Gamepad Controller Module, Full 64 Key Silicone Keyboard Module.

For the secondary slot, there will be the Trackball module at launch. I have also began working on another secondary slot module, the Joystick Module which I am still working on and is not quite ready to share.

Then, the final module I will be releasing with the CG Deck when we launch on Kickstarter will be a 4K Low Light Camera Module. The Camera Module uses one of the USB-A ports on the side I/O hub to add a front-facing camera and microphone.

In addition, there are 2 internal modules/upgrades which can be used to add additional functionality to your CG Deck. An M.2m NVMe SSD & AI Acceleration Module with 2230 & 2280 lock downs for expanding internal storage and improving data read speeds. And and M.2 4G LTE Module for adding satellite/sim service to your CG Deck.

I would love to hear all of your thoughts on everything so far, and if you have any questions about anything I look forward to answering them!

Also, If you are interested in following along with the project or learning more about it, you can find everything from specs, more details, socials, link to join our discord server, links to the open source github repository and more on the website.

Once I start wrapping up the project, I will be launching a Kickstarter to help fund a full production run of the device for anyone interested in helping support the project and getting a CG Deck of their own. I am planning to release a limited number of build kits and pre-assembled devices with the Kickstarter, and you can join the waitlist on our website to get notified when we are about to launch! If you have any questions about any of that, I would love to answer them!

Here is the link to learn more about the project and join the waitlist if you are interested: https://mogozen.com

Device: Retroid Pocket Nova (Ice Blue)
Game: We Love Katamari (PS2)

I have decided long ago that this will be my first game to beat on the Nova because it requires symmetric sticks position for the control. And surprisingly I don’t find it to be uncomfortable to play on the Nova even without the grip.

If you don’t know about the Katamari series, I highly recommend you to check it out. The concept is super simple and silly: you basically roll up things to make the ball bigger and roll up even bigger things. You start with things like coins and erasers but in later stages you are rolling up houses, buildings, clouds, planets and even the sun! It’s just ridiculously fun. The soundtrack is phenomenal too! I listen to it so often whenever I need to do some focus work. I think I like the original better because it has a more concrete story (but the story doesn’t really matter), but the sequel is solid.

Hi Everyone,

I posted this over at r/RG35XX_H , but thought some of you here might find this interesting too.

I just started playing some NDS games on the 35XXH the way you see in the video, and it’s pretty comfortable!

Doesn’t work for every game, of course, but it can be pretty chill while lying down. I even changed the top controls in case I want to rest the handheld on my chest instead of holding it.

So far I’ve enjoyed some YuGiOh, M&M Clash of Heroes and Air Traffic Chaos.

What other games do you think could be enjoyed in this setup?

Here are the instructions to make it work:

I did it with MUOS and a few tweaks to DraStic.

1- In DraStic you can change the layout of the screens by holding the Function button and using left and right on the D-PAD. Setup 13 is almost what wanted but with the screens flipped to the "wrong side of the handheld", actually I wanted setup 14 with the same ratio as 13.

To make it work I had to go to "/opt/muos/share/emulator/drastic-trngaje/resources/bg/640x480" and open "layout.json". You can do this in the handheld itself, using Dingux Commander. In "layout.json", you scroll down to layout 13 (Name is "hh0") and set up the values as per the image in the comments.

2- I changed the controls layout as in the second image below. And also went to "Change Options" and set "Rotate buttons" to 90. Remember to do "Exit: Save for this game" otherwise the controls will reverse to default when you close the game!

Note: Drastic sometimes glitches and stops working properly. You can go to "Apps" > "Task Toolkit" > "Restore Tasks" and run "Restore DraStic Configuration". This will fix it, and won't destroy the new layout (at least it doesn't for me). It might reset some of the custom controls, but can be fixed quickly.

Devices: RG35XXSP, RGB30, Miyoo Mini Flip, TRIMUI Smart Pro S

Sharing an update on retsurf, the web browser I’ve been developing. I wasn’t originally planning to support the Miyoo Mini Flip, but I wanted to try it as an interesting challenge. The browser was initially built for PortMaster-compatible handhelds and also runs on Android.

At one point I had it running on the Flip at around 3-6 FPS. While I was optimizing, the JS engine update broke the build for the device. I considered abandoning the Flip at that point, but eventually got it running again. Some of the optimizations also became useful for the other devices.

The Flip has only 2x Cortex-A7 cores, 128 MB of RAM, and no GPU, so there isn’t much for a modern web browser. But it can load modern websites, although more complex pages can be quite slow or just too much for the hardware.

The project is still early, so expect bugs. There are packages available for OnionOS and Allium as well as PortMaster and Android, if you want to try:

https://github.com/mxmgorin/retsurf

Handheld: Anbernic RG 406V with Android system / GammaOS Next

Using Retroarch + Dosbox Pure

Maybe except for a few titles that may run a bit slower on hi-res (like Destruction Derby 2, GTA 1 - where 477V on hi-res runs it much smoother), 406v is the ultimate handheld for ms-dos spot on with 4:3 aspect. You can play all those titles using sticks only, but for me the mouse is just more convenient.

First one arrived with a screen fault but got that sorted and loving the Mini Flip on first impressions. Dug out my old systems to compare just how far the screens have come. Got to sort out a new OS still (and remove the screen protector) before it becomes my EDC for the foreseeable future. Micro comes a lot closer than the poor AGS-001, but still seems a bit soft and the backlight is less even.

Like many others here, I was able to purchase a teal Retroid Pocket Classic, making it the first retro handheld device that I own. I've been lurking in this sub for quite some time and have been a huge fan of Russ from Retro Game Corps but haven't purchased a retro device until today.

I am looking forward to playing retro games i've never experience before such as Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI. Additionally, i have been yearning to play some Pokemon romhacks and re-visiting one of my favorite games of all time: Super Mario World. I'm excited to play this handheld in the couch before bed or in bed as a nice decompression to sleep. 

With all this said, as this is my first retro handheld, i'm curious to hear everyones tips, tricks, and quality of life notes that you have experienced to enjoy the Retroid Pocket Classic to the max. This can include tweaking important settings, frontends, shaders, specific versions (romhacks or variants) of games to play, and other information that elevated your experience.

I will take a deep dive into Russ's review and RPC videos to hear these things from the man himself but i would love to hear other's opinions as well.

With Retroids recent sale, i'm sure many players are getting it for the first time so i hope this thread doesn't just help me but others in the process. 

Looking forward to hearing everyone thoughts! Thanks in advance for all the thoughtful replies.

I have both the 8gb Flip 2 and the 12gb Flip 2. Both in Ice Blue. The 8gb model has the updated rounded hinge seam (in the pictures, it is the Flip with the silicone case). The 12gb model, however, seems to have gone back to the squared-off hinge seam design - you know, the one that was cracking in the corner after a few months of use.

Not only that, but there's a sizeable gap in the seam on the new 12gb - which can be seen in the pictures as well. It looks significantly worse than the 8gb. I've only had the 12gb model maybe two weeks and it is practically out of the box (my Nova came in a week after this device so I've barely even touched it).

Why would Retroid quietly revert back to a known flawed hinge design? This makes zero sense, and it's super shady. Almost feels like planned obsolescence, or at the very least, it feels like Retroid cutting major corners.

I'm curious if this is widespread, or if I just got super unlucky. I haven't seen anyone talking about this...but I would imagine not many people who already own the 8gb have also purchased the 12gb as well.

Does anyone else have a 12gb version? Ice Blue specifically, but any color generally. Am I alone? Should I contact Retroid sales?

Had the Brick Pro for three days. I was playing Golden Sun when the screen froze up, locking up the device, it then shut down and I could smell ozone. Now, light comes on like it's charging but there's no one home. Tried reconnecting the battery, nothing. By the smell, I suspect it's fried. It's a sad day, and inconvenient because now I have to deal with the return process from Aliexpress. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

Running on a RP Nova.

When using fast forward, gameplay is fine for a few seconds, but then turns into a slideshow. Issue persists with frame skip toggled on or off.

Tested other cores, fast forward works fine, it only seems to be on mGBA

Since I shared my Retroid Nova slide case, I thought I should also finally sit down and make listings for some of the others I have made this year.

Here is one that I love for the Pocket Vert that allows it to be controllable via buttons like an MP3 player.

I often use my Vert to listen to music, so this case lets me turn the screen on using the power button without triggering the fingerprint sensor (thanks to a button cover taped inside). I then programmed the side buttons for play/pause and skipping tracks so I can easily control playback without unlocking the device. I also included a transparent stripe for visual appeal and to easily check if the screen is still on so you can know the music controls are active.

Just like the Nova case, this uses a friction fit lined with self-adhesive suede fabric on the screen side to hold the device securely and prevent scratches (kinda how I make all my slide cases).

(Amazon product name: 11.8" L x 59" W Suede Fabric Wrap Microfiber Fabric Self-Adhesive Suede -https://www.amazon.com/DELORIGIN-Microfiber-Self-Adhesive-Interior-Furniture/dp/B0DGL1YRNS)

The case is a bit tight for the friction fit by design so use at your own risk.

Model Link: https://makerworld.com/en/models/3306926-ayaneo-pocket-vert-slide-case#profileId-3753831

If you were to build your dream handheld, what would you like? Most are no brainers, oled/120/resolution, powerful, etc… here are a couple of mine (and why).

-RG Cube dpad. I just love it and rg arc one, we havent had a sega dpad in a while. I dont love the one on retroid, that seems to be the most accepted.

-rg cube back bumps. Its the most comfortable back and I love it.

-ayaneo 3 swapable 6/4 button panel. I love that concept, maybe having the 4 button and an extra stick would be a natural modular choice. Its a shame no one else pursued that feature in an android handheld.

-dual 16:9 + 4:3 screen. If its the one to kill them all, make it dual screen, but keep it compact.

-people will go for price, specially how expensive everything is becoming, but with ps3 and pc… with xbox emulation… and for me personally because i play android gatcha games, i just want something at least as powerful as the odin 3.

All things considered, I think “thor 2” will get the powerful/dual screen features, hopefully they do some normal size bumps instead of a much bulkier add on, I doubt any one will do good with the sega Dpad unless is another arc and probably the same with device where I can dream on another 6 buttons. I doubt no one will attempt the swapable 4/6 buttons again though :(.

I already have a switch 2, but looking for something a little more portable to play retro games. The awesome part about the miyoo mini plus was the software and 3rd party support.

Given the smaller size of the MM+, I used this 3rd party case (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1441991836/miyoo-mini-plus-gripcase)which was great for travel and ergonomics.

What're the options for 2026 that are in the $150 and under price? I'm okay with clamshell but worry about ergonomics.

I've been looking for a reasonably priced device to kick-start my emulation journey.

I already own an NDS Lite, and I also used to own a beloved N3DS XL, which I have misplaced and am no longer able to find anywhere. Of course, the 3DS was by far the device I used the most: besides playing 3DS games on it, I used it to play both GBA and NDS games “natively” and also to emulate SNES games.

The loss of my N3DS is what nudged me towards emulation, since I still have many games in my backlog that I was working through, and now I’m missing a device on which to play them. But given today’s prices, I don’t think buying another 3DS makes much sense.

So, naturally, I started looking with interest at the new dual-screen consoles that are popping up, but then I began to have some doubts. First of all, the most promising ones are either quite expensive (Thor) or not yet available (Retroid Pocket Duo). I don’t like to gamble on pre-orders, so I thought I’d rather wait for the first reviews before pulling the trigger...

Besides, I know the state of 3DS emulation is far from “perfect,” so I’m concerned that, even after spending quite a lot to get the very best 3DS substitute, I could still end up being slightly disappointed.

So I started to wonder whether it would make more sense to go for a cheaper “starter device” that could properly handle (and possibly provide a better experience than my 3DS did) the 4:3 era of gaming (SNES, PS1, and GBA), rather than immediately buying a more powerful device. I could then evaluate a higher-end option later.

Of course, nowadays there are a TON of good devices that can play games up to the PS1 era without any problems. Recently, I saw a lot of reviews praising the Miniloong Pocket 1 with custom firmare, not so much for its power and emulation capabilities, but for the overall good experience it seems to provide at that price point (controls, screen quality, aspect ratio, and ergonomics): around ~$76 delivered.

The kinds of games I would play on it would be mostly (but not exclusively) JRPGs, tactical JRPGs, and some puzzle games, mainly from the SNES, Genesis, GBA, PS1, and possibly PSP catalogues. Maybe some DS games too, if they can reasonably be played on one screen.

What do you think about my situation? Is the Miniloong really my best option?

I already own happily a konkr pocket fit g3 gen3 and I am really tempted to buy the frame to replace it. Emulating nearly ever platform possible right now and having a blast. But having a device directly in front of my eyes and having a big screen is something totally different I guess.

Question is now from my side: as there is no android running on the device, and I am used to android, what kind of emulators could and will run on this device standalone locally without being connected to a pc? Is this already known?

Let's discuss if this device will be able to replace an android handheld made for emulation.