Is the Retroid Pocket 2 right for you?

Is the RP2 Right For You?

The people in this community generally love their RP2s. But if you're not used to rolling up your sleeves and digging into the guts of emulators, or Android, you might face a steep learning curve.

The RP2 has the ability to run under two separate operating systems. Out of the box, it runs a slightly customized version of Android 6.0. After a few simple steps, you can switch to RetroidOS, which is a more streamlined, one-size-fits-all emulation system.

If you're looking for an experience similar to other handhelds in this price range, RetroidOS delivers. However, under RetroidOS, the RP2 doesn't offer any more features or significantly improved performance when compared to similarly-speced handhelds. RetroidOS is also closed-source, which means that unlike other software such as EmulationStation, Batocera, or EmuElec, we can't add new features or emulators.

What makes the RP2 different to other budget handhelds is the fact that it also runs (mostly regular) Android 6.0. Emulating retro systems under Android, you have access to all the options provided by the emulators, allowing you to tweak settings until you get the best possible performance in your games. You also have the ability to install emulators for dozens of systems that few, if any, other retro handhelds support, such as the 8-bit and 16-bit home computer systems of the 80s and 90s, as well as some more obscure and unusual consoles.

However, this flexibility comes at a cost. You're going to need to learn at least a little about how Android and each emulator works. Under the hood, Android is more like a full computer than the consumer device that most phone manufacurers make it seem, and getting the most out of your RP2 means getting your hands a little dirty with that side of things.

But don't worry! There's already a thriving community of enthusiasts for the RP2 (just look at this wiki!), and if you need a guide, or have a question that you just can't find the answer to anywhere else, someone can probably help you out.

Check out the All Emulation Options Within Android section to see if the RP2 can emulate the systems you want.