Retroid Pocket 5: what the reviews agree on

Reviewers agree the Snapdragon 865 handles retro systems up to PS2 and GameCube well and runs Android games smoothly. They differ on how far past that it goes, with Switch the common limit.

• Retro Handhelds says the chip comfortably plays up to PS2, with a smattering of Switch titles, and tinkering with emulator versions and drivers is needed for those.
• The Sixth Axis says it handles Dreamcast, PS2, GameCube and some Switch games, and ran Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero and Infinity Nikki well.
• Joey's Retro Handhelds tested PS2, GameCube, 3DS, Wii U, Switch and GBA, and says most games on every system except Switch are well set. He also compares it with the Odin 2 Mini, which he calls much more powerful for Switch and Winlator.
• In its Android handheld buying guide, Android Authority credits years of driver work for letting the older Snapdragon 865 keep pace with pricier handhelds on retro systems, and puts Switch, PS3 and Windows emulation in the hit-or-miss column.
• Retro Handhelds had Halls of Torment crash several times regardless of performance or fan profile, and saw it happen far less often after a retail update.

Every review that covers battery calls it a strength. Joey's worst-case test is the only hard number: about 3 hours 35 minutes in demanding use, with light retro play lasting far longer.

• Joey's Retro Handhelds saw a lowest runtime of 215 minutes (3 hours 35 minutes) with settings maxed in Android games and Switch emulation, and the same figure in GameCube and PS2 at 3x upscaling. GBA reached 11 hours after the retail update.
• Joey's Retro Handhelds measured standby drain of 5 to 8% over 24 hours, which he calls average for an Android device.
• The Sixth Axis says the 5000 mAh battery outlasts its Nintendo Switch and ROG Ally by many hours.
• Android Authority's buying guide lists excellent battery life among its positives.

Retro Handhelds, Joey's Retro Handhelds and The Sixth Axis, plus Android Authority's buying guide, all single out the 5.5-inch 1080p OLED. The only caveat is outdoor use, where Joey puts the Odin 2 Mini's panel ahead.

• Retro Handhelds calls the screen bright, vibrant and crisp, and points out that some phone displays at twice the price look no better.
• Joey's Retro Handhelds calls the 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED the highlight, confirms a clean 60 Hz in the UFO test and RetroArch, and noticed no extra input lag. He says the Odin 2 Mini has the better panel outdoors.
• Android Authority's buying guide calls the 5.5-inch AMOLED, shared with the Pocket Flip 2, a clear highlight. The Sixth Axis notes that on the black model the screen blends into the body.

Reviewers disagree on comfort. Retro Handhelds and The Sixth Axis find the curved back comfortable and the Hall effect sticks and shoulders good. Joey's Retro Handhelds, Android Authority and Pocket Tactics criticise the d-pad and stick placement or the lack of a grip.

• Retro Handhelds could play for more than 30 minutes at a time, which was not possible on the Pocket 4 Pro. The Sixth Axis says the rear curve beats the Vita and Switch, though smaller hands may cramp.
• The Sixth Axis rates the Hall effect sticks as excellent and the shoulders and analogue triggers among the best on a handheld.
• Joey's Retro Handhelds finds it more comfortable than the Pocket 4 Pro but says the d-pad position cramps his thumb in stick-heavy games, and that the buttons are on the louder side.
• In their buying guides, Android Authority rates the ergonomics as middling without a grip and suggests adding one, and Pocket Tactics warns of hand cramps in long play because the thumbsticks sit a little off.

Only Joey's Retro Handhelds describes cooling in detail and found the device stays cool. The fan is adjustable and loud in its top mode.

• Joey's Retro Handhelds says active cooling is adjustable, the device never got quite hot in any task, and the fan rarely ran, though Sport mode is loud.
• Joey's Retro Handhelds rates its cooling as better than the Odin 2 Mini's.

It runs Android with Play Store apps and a redesigned launcher, and reviewers like the flexibility. Setup of emulators and frontends takes work, and storage is tight at 128 GB.

• Retro Handhelds notes ROCKNIX and Batocera builds exist. With ROCKNIX it got PortMaster titles and Xbox emulation through Xemu, though Halo ran with slowdowns, and it needs a second microSD card.
• The Sixth Axis says you must do some legwork to make the emulators feel like one console, and that simpler retro handhelds are easier but do less.
• Pocket Tactics' buying guide likes that emulators and apps go on the device directly, with no PC involved.
• Joey's Retro Handhelds calls the 128 GB of internal storage a bigger limit than the 8 GB of RAM, since GameCube, Wii, PS2 and Switch emulators and Android games all use it. Zenless Zone Zero takes about 28 GB.

Reviewers treat the price as a strength. They compare it favourably with cheaper Anbernic devices and, for most buyers, with the more powerful Odin 2 Mini.

• The Sixth Axis gave the price as $219 / £180 in its March 2025 review and calls that a significant investment, though cheaper than some top-end retro devices.
• Retro Handhelds says the screen is remarkable at under $250. In their buying guides, Pocket Tactics grants that cheaper Anbernic options exist but says the Pocket 5's quality stands out, and Android Authority names it the best-value Android handheld.
• Joey's Retro Handhelds says he would pay extra for it over the cheaper Anbernic RG556 and RG406H, and would stick with the Pocket 5 over the Odin 2 Mini unless he needs the extra power.