The Retroid Pocket Flip 2: In-Depth Review
Buy Retroid Pocket Flip 2
The Retroid Pocket Flip 2 is the latest clamshell handheld from Retroid, makers of one of the best retro handhelds of all time: The Retroid Pocket 5
The Pocket Flip 2 has the exact same internals as the Retroid Pocket 5: Same processor, same battery, same everything. But this time….it can FLIP!
And that changes everything.
This clamshell form-factor and reimagined control layout make this an excellent option to bring anywhere and game everywhere. And with it’s 5.5” AMOLED display, games are going to look excellent with rich colors and vibrant contrast. There’s a lot of great features with this device, but also a couple things that could be better…
So let’s take a look at the Retroid Pocket Flip 2, see how it feels, play some different games on it, and talk about what you can expect with this clamshell handheld. We’re gonna explore every aspect of the Flip 2 so you can decide if this is the right handheld for you.
Now we all know that inside of every clam could be a pearl. So is the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 the pearl that you’ve been looking for? Let’s find out…
Colors
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Size:
Metric: 140.5 x 89.5 x 24.4 millimeters
Imperial: 5.5” x 3.5” x 1” inches
Weight:
Metric: 306 grams
Imperial: 0.67 lbs
Display: 5.5” 1080p 60Hz AMOLED panel
Controls
Two Analog Sticks (with wide gamut RGB)
Face Buttons
Nintendo layout: A right / X top
D-Pad
Dome switch
Stacked shoulder bumpers and triggers:
Shoulder Bumpers (L1/R1)
Analog Triggers (L2/R2)
(1) MicroSD card slot, supports up to 1TB
(1) USB-C port for fast charging, data transfer, and video out
3.5mm headphone jack
Stereo speakers on front
Lanyard slot
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Chipset: Snapdragon 865 (SD865) or Dimensity 1100 (D1100)
SD865: Same chipset as Retroid Pocket 5 & Pocket Mini
D1100: Same chipset as Retroid Pocket 4 Pro
SD865 | CPU:
1 Core @ 2.8GHz
3 Core @ 2.4GHz
4 Efficiency Cores @ 1.8GHz
SD865 | GPU: Adreno 650
RAM: 8GB LPDDR4x @ 2133MHz
Storage: 128GB UFS 3.1 + TF Card Slot
Battery: 5000mAh
Intense: 3.5 hrs of Switch/Windows
Average: 5-6 hrs of Gamecube/PS2
Casual: 10+ hrs of GBA/SNES
SD865 | Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 & BT 5.1
OS: Android
SD865 also supports Linux (ROCKNIX)
Performance
Performance on the Flip 2 is amazing. Gamecube and PS2 played great at 2-3x resolution and even some switch and windows games. It’s just an absolute powerhouse for the price. And games just feel BIG on here, because of the clamshell and 5.5” display.
With this chipset, you can do plenty of upscaling and enhancements across different systems. You can also add shaders to retro consoles to give them a new feel. We also have a touchscreen display, so we can navigate any touch screen prompts on the DS and 3DS.
Speaking of the DS, the biggest downside of a clamshell like this is not having two screens. You’ll have to either show one screen time or do one big/one small. Or both the same side by side. It’s just a compromised experience overall. Now even if we did have 2 screens, DS and 3DS emulators aren’t really designed for dual screen devices so it wouldn’t really help things. This is really just the current state of DS and 3DS emulation. A wise old man once said: The best 3DS emulator is a 3DS.
However, I actually found that single screen 3DS games felt great on the Flip 2. Metroid: Samus Returns looks awesome and you can map the swap-screen and save state to L3/R3 to get the best experience out of it too.
Also in terms of efficiency, the performance is excellent — even in standard mode with the fan off. This can breeze through gamecube and PS2 at 2-3x resolution, with 3DS and PSP at 3-4x resolution too. Turning the fan on when playing higher end systems is a trade off that doesn’t feel too inconvenient since most other consoles are smooth in standard mode.
Size
This device feels larger than it actually is. A big part of that is the thickness of the body. It makes it feel almost like two 3DS’s stacked into one.
But on the Flipside (get it), the larger shape could be great for larger hands. This might make it a great option if you often find smaller/slimmer devices uncomfortable.
Comfort
But speaking of comfort, I’m personally disappointed by the overall comfort of the Flip 2. This thing has the ergonomics of a Minecraft slab — no curves, pretty angular, and very blocky too. Honestly, it digs into my left hand more than any other device I've used, including the Retroid pocket 5. It also has a ridge halfway along the side so the device is not smooth along the outer border.
It hasn’t gotten more comfortable over time either. The body is just too tall and weird shaped so it’s hard to say who this is made for. The face controls being spread out while the analog sticks are on top also takes some getting used to. Ergonomically, the Flip 2 is one of the strangest devices I’ve used in a long time.
Build Quality
The plastic on the Ice Blue transparent model feels decent. Meanwhile, the “clock” shaped design isn’t super appalling as some people were reporting. It might be worse on the solid models because it’s more noticeable, but on the Ice Blue it looks fine. To be honest, I’m usually interested in weird designs, but this one is just confusing so I don’t have much of an opinion on it.
When opening it up, the hinge is a bit stiff at first — but then it glides smoothly and confidently to the first hinge point at 150 degrees.
Looking at the face controls, you’ll notice the placement of everything is very spread out…and in my opinion, a bit too spread out, to the point that it feels like too much travel when switching between analog sticks and the dpad/face buttons
The SD Card Slot is also weirdly deep with a short flap cover. Not really a dealbreaker, but it just another aspect that speaks to the numerous random decisions made on this handheld.
The Hinge
The hinge was very good…until it wasn’t. After about 10 days, it started to squeak and feel “worn out” — almost like rusty plastic. It looks like I just “lost the hinge lottery” with this one. Unfortunately, I can’t speak to the longevity and reliability of other manufactured units. But mine is still rough and squeaking after 2 months of use, so hinge quality overall might be a gamble.
This hinge also pops back from 180 degrees to 150 degrees with a little bit of movement. Not a constant problem, but it happens enough that it’s worth being aware of.
Display
The display is absolutely gorgeous, and it looks even better now that it’s not sandwitched between controls like the Pocket 5. This 5.5” screen is so rich, colorful, and detailed at 1080p that it really feels like the perfect immersive experience. The Steam Deck has an 800p display at 7.4”, so a 1080p 5.5” panel looks very crisp and detailed in games.
D-Pad
The dpad is excellent. It’s really tactile. It’s practically identical to the Retroid Pocket 5 but finely tuned for the Flip 2.
Face Buttons
These buttons feel great and they’re nice and rounded. They sit at a great height right between shallow and tall. They’re also pretty comfortable to use — they press in all the way and it’s very satisfying. They’re not the quietest buttons but they’re not super loud either. I’d put them a notch the medium volume.
I suspect that they might be using different face buttons for different color models. Some people are reporting loud face buttons that feel similar to the Retroid pocket 5, but mine are very quiet and curved like the Retroid pocket 4.
Analog Sticks
The analog sticks feel amazing. They glide smoothly and they have the textured rim to keep your thumb from slipping around. They’re slim but they don’t feel that small either. Retroid really peaked with these analog sticks.
The RGB rings are also really cool, especially on the transparent Ice Blue model. They just radiate through the device at night. I also found this app Ambiluma that dynamically changes the RGB lights based on what’s on screen — it has a really cool ambient effect.
I just love these sticks, so much that I would want a pair for my Retroid Pocket 5.
Shoulder Buttons & Triggers
The shoulder bumpers are a little bit thin and feel okay overall. They’re also quite clicky — so if you prefer louder, clicky shoulder bumpers then these will be for you.
The L2/R2 triggers are extremely odd. They have an unnatural shape to them and feel like they’re facing too far away from you. Every other analog trigger has a natural slope along the side and top, but these are very flat with a steep falloff. It just doesn’t feel very natural and it’s not conducive to holding them comfortably in most settings.
Connectivity
Internet speed is fast and gamestreaming is solid. This might be one of the best streaming devices at this price — the battery life is incredible, the screen is beautiful, and there are limited other clamshell streaming handhelds.
Software
The Retroid Pocket Flip 2 runs Android so it’ll inevitably need some tweaking. Luckily, because it’s also Android, there are so many amazing apps and up-to-date emulators and play store games. I’ve used a handful of new emulators on this device that I haven’t used before, so this is a great device if you like being able to play a ton of mid-range consoles like Gamecube, Wii, PS2, and even some switch, WiiU and Windows.
“Quiet” Fan Mode
The quiet fan mode is really loud. It sounds like a steam deck or an X86 handheld, which shouldn’t be the case since it’s a lower powered android handheld. It also has a high pitch coil whine sound. I find that I need to play with at least quarter volume or with headphones on to drown it out. This loud quiet fan was kind of fixed in a software update that changed the fan curves, but it’s still quite loud even after that OTA update. I’d say it reduced the fan volume by 15-20%
Heat Check
One thing I noticed quickly after receiving the Retroid Pocket Flip 2: This thing gets very hot in a few specific spots. There's been times that I forget to turn the fan on and I have to stop playing because it gets too hot.
So I ran an experiment to see how hot it gets in three scenarios:
Smart Fan (Performance Mode)
Quiet Fan (Performance Mode)
No Fan (Standard Mode)
The Experiment: I would play Switch Emulation for 15 minutes then measure the temperature. Then I let it cool down, measure to confirm when cool, then repeat with the next mode.
Smart Fan Mode
Front = 120° F (~50° C)
Hot spot was on the Start/Select and system buttons
Back = ~85° F
Controller Area (Sticks, D-Pad, ABXY) = 85-95° F
Quiet Fan Mode
Front = Over 130° F (above 55° C)
Same hot spot
Back = 88° F
Controller Area = 95-110° F
No Fan
Front = Over 150° F (above 65° C)
Same hot spot
Back = 122° F (50° C)
Controller Area = 110-125° F
I honestly didn't expect it would reach over 150° F in just 15 minutes. I've owned the Retroid Pocket 5 for months and it never felt this extremely hot.
For the final experiment, I ran the same test on The Retroid Pocket 5 (only the No Fan scenario) since it has the same chipset.
No Fan (Retroid Pocket 5)
Front = 118° F (48° C)
Hot spot on touch screen
Back = 122° F (50° C)
Controller Area = 100-110° F (D-Pad, Left Stick) and under 100° F (ABXY, Right Stick)
Result: The Retroid Pocket Flip 2 gets extremely hot.
It's over 30° F hotter (16° C higher) on the hot spot compared to the RP5. It seems like the Retroid Pocket 5 spreads the heat more evenly, leading to a safer operating temperature. While the RP Flip 2 is extremely congested along the Start/Select area, leading to a dangerous temperature.
In Smart Fan Mode, the surface still gets very hot (120° F after 15 minutes)
This is not a fully controlled experiment and I'm not super technical. But I found the measurements to be something worth putting out there.
TL;DR Flip 2 get hot
Accessories
I didn’t cover accessories in the review video, but I ordered a handful of Retroid accessories alongside the Flip 2.
Having the option for a lanyard is pretty cool. If you like lanyards or charms, this has a very subtle slot on the bottom right.
Personally, I didn’t like the Retroid lanyard designs and they were pretty large, so keep that in mind if you’re a lanyard user. You may want to pick one up elsewhere or BYOL (bring your own lanyard)
Case is a good compact size, fits the Flip 2 snug with an extra zipper pocket for earbuds, joystick caps, or a lanyard. This is probably one of the last devices you’d need a case for though since it’s a clamshell. But it’s always good to use protection right…
The "Retroid Buds here have way too much delay to be usable. I set them to game mode by tapping 4 times and it still had too much latency for gaming. Maybe there’s a setting to reduce latency further?
I would not recommend the Retroid bluetooth earbuds. Just grab a pair of Xaomi Pistons for $4. They’re excellent in-ears for the price.
Pros (Mids) & Cons
Cons
Heat
Boxy Shape
L2/R2 Triggers
Fan noise
Pros
Clamshell
Display
Performance
D-Pad and Face Buttons
Analog Sticks
Android & Linux
Mids
Size
L1/R1 Bumbers
Controls Layout
Hinge
Quality
As a whole, the quality of this device feels excellent for an upper midrange retro handheld. The screen punches well above its weight class and the snapdragon processor is a perfect pairing. the dpad and face buttons feel solid and the analog sticks are smooth and satisfying. Some design choices have me scratching my head, but the quality here is undeniable. This is a very premium android gaming experience.
Value
Now let’s talk value: At $229, this is an upper midrange android handheld. The clamshell design is a main feature here because we don’t have many other android clamshell options. Especially with this price and performance. So that kind of puts the Flip 2 in its own unique category, alongside the Flip 1.
Looking at other handheld options, the only real competitor here is the Retroid Pocket 5. That device has the exact internals and screen, but with a slimmer and much more curvy shape. So it really comes down to your personal preference.
Retroid Pocket 5 or Pocket Flip 2?
Ask yourself: Would I spend more time gaming on a horizontal device or a clamshell? And knowing that this is pretty thick and not too “pocketable” clamshell, would you still imagine using it as frequently?
There’s no right answer to that and it’ll change from person to person. I’m still deciding which one I personally prefer. The Retroid Pocket 5 has been my most used device for the last few months — I’ve been recording all my gameplay on it and playing for fun too. It’s a very lovely device.
The Flip 2 has a lot of the same feelings in terms of performance and immersion. The games just feel big on here. But the blocky shape and strange ergonomics don’t quite mesh with me personally as much as I was expecting.
Objectively, this chipset is fantastic. The snapdragon 865 rips through Gamecube and PS2 at 2-3x resolution, a surprising amount of Switch games, and even some Windows games with a bit of tweaking. Here’s Ryan Retro’s game compatibility sheet — it’s a great resource to see what games can run on the Retroid Pocket 5 and Flip 2.
Final Verdict
Well at last, this isn’t my one shining pearl, the endgame handheld, the final frontier of retro gaming...the quest lives onto see another day!
But for you: Your quest has just begin. Let me know what you think of the Retroid Pocket Flip 2. Would you pick one up? And if you are interested, what games are you looking to play on it?
Thanks for reading and I’ll catch you in the next one.