Retroid just announced the Pocket 6, but the community wanted something different, and that's exactly what it got

What you need to know

• Retroid has announced the Pocket G2 and the Pocket 6.
• The Pocket G2 is already available for purchase, and is on sale for the next two weeks.
• After initially announcing the Pocket 6, Retroid reversed course due to community feedback.

Surprisingly enough, it's been about a year since the Retroid Pocket 5 and Pocket Mini were announced by Retroid. Both handhelds were powered by the Snapdragon 865, marking them as the two most powerful gaming handhelds to come from the company. And earlier this week, two new devices were introduced, as the Pocket G2 and Pocket 6 are slated to be the next Retroid flagships.

Starting with the Pocket G2, this is essentially just the Retroid Pocket 5, but with a fresh coat of paint and some upgraded internals. Namely, the Snapdragon 865 is being replaced by the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2, which was announced at GDC 2025 alongside the G3 Gen 3, and G1 Gen 2. In terms of performance, it seems that the the G2 Gen 2 falls between the Snapdragon 865 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

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Some of the other Pocket G2 specs include 8GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and a 5,000mAh battery. Arguably the best part about this, besides getting a brand new chip, is that Retroid is sticking with the same 5.5-inch AMOLED display from the Pocket 5, which is an absolute delight.

What makes this so exciting is that you can get a brand new chip, in a brand new handheld that sports an AMOLED display, all for under $200. The Pocket G2 retails for $219, but for the next two weeks, Retroid is dropping the price down to $199.

And then there's the Retroid Pocket 6.

Getting the fun stuff out of the way first, the Pocket 6 will be Retroid's new flagship handheld, as it's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This is the "darling" of the emulation community, as it powered the AYN Odin 2, Odin 2 Mini, and Odin 2 Portal, three of the most popular Android handhelds over the past few years.

However, in true Retroid fashion, not everyone was happy with the Pocket 6, and it had nothing to do with the spec sheet. Especially considering that the 8GB/128GB model was priced at $229 with a 12GB/256GB variant coming in at $279. Instead, this time around, it was all about the design.

It was pretty immediately apparent that Retroid was trying to do something a bit different, while also trying to appeal to as broad of an audience as possible. To some, myself included, Retroid nailed it, as the design was reminscent of a modern PSP or PS Vita, just with better ergonomics and a unique set of buttons below the screen.

Sadly, the community did not agree. It reached a tipping point, as the polls were posted to both the Retroid Discord and X accounts, in an attempt to figure out what the community wanted. In the poll, renders of the original Pocket 6 were shared, alongside what a potential redesign would look like.

With almost 10,000 votes just on the X Poll, almost 70% voted in favor of the redesign. As such, this redesign removed the buttons from below the screen, placing two of them below the left and right joysticks, and the other two on the back.

The potential problem here is that ultimately, the Retroid Pocket 6 looks pretty similar to both the AYN Odin 3 and Retroid Pocket 5. So instead of getting a handheld that stands out from the pack, the community decided to opt for more of a cookie-cutter design.

While disappointing, this entire saga did result in Retroid doing something it hasn't done before. Once pre-orders re-open for the Pocket 6, in addition to the redesign, Retroid is also letting you choose the layout for the left D-Pad and joystick. This is a first for the company, and is actually a pretty great idea when you think about it.

It's also already been confirmed that customer service will reach out to those who pre-ordered based on the original design, while some have already been refunded. And as luck would have it, just as we were getting ready to publish this piece, the Pocket 6 landing page has returned and the banner across the top of the Retroid website has been updated with a countdown.

Pre-orders for the Pocket 6 will re-open on Monday, November 3, at 9 PM ET.

Retroid Pocket G2: $209 $199 at Retroid

If you were a fan of the Retroid Pocket 5, but like the idea of the new colors and an all-new processor, then Pocket G2 is right up your alley. Just make sure you grab one sooner rather than later, so you can take advantage of some savings.

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