Device comparison

1UP Pi-Boy XL vs. ClockworkPi GameShell

Compare specs, emulation support, community reviews, ownership, and play history.

Compare

With

1UP Pi-Boy XL
GameShell

Shown to scale from each device’s real-world dimensions.

Quick verdict

Best value
GameShell
Better screen
1UP Pi-Boy XL
More portable
GameShell
Newer model
1UP Pi-Boy XL

Main differences

  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL has similar emulation coverage to ClockworkPi GameShell.
  • ClockworkPi GameShell is about $16 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • ClockworkPi GameShell is roughly 26% smaller and 61% lighter.
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL has a 60 Hz IPS screen, versus 60 Hz TFT on ClockworkPi GameShell.
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL runs Linux (RetroPie); ClockworkPi GameShell runs Clockwork OS.

1UP

1UP Pi-Boy XL

Details
Price
$175
OS
Linux (RetroPie)
Released
Apr 2019
Up to
PS1
Screen
3.5 inch IPS
Weight
500 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

ClockworkPi

GameShell

Details
Price
$159
OS
Clockwork OS
Released
Jan 2018
Up to
PS1
Screen
2.7 inch TFT
Weight
195 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

Spec1UP Pi-Boy XLGameShell
Price$175$159
OSLinux (RetroPie)Clockwork OS
Screen3.5 inch2.7 inch
Aspect ratio3:24:3
Resolution480 x 320320 x 240
PanelIPSTFT
ChipsetBroadcom BCM2837B0Allwinner R16-J
CPUCortex-A53Cortex-A7
GPUBroadcom VideoCore IVMali-400 MP2
RAM1 GB DDR21 GB DDR3
StorageExternal MicroSDInternal MicroSD
Battery9000 mAh1020 mAh BL-5C
Weight500 grams195 grams
Dimensions157 mm x 99 mm x 35 mm136 mm x 85 mm x 24 mm

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

System1UP Pi-Boy XLGameShell
Classic systems
Game Boy
NES
Genesis
GBA
SNES
PS1
Mid-generation systems
DS
N64
Dreamcast
PSP
Saturn
Sixth-generation systems
GameCube
Wii
PS2
Modern systems
3DS
Switch
Wii U
PS3

Emulation source notes

  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL DS: Nintendo DS: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games This device does not have a touchscreen, so you won't be able to play DS games that rely heavily on the touchscreen
  • GameShell DS: Nintendo DS: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games This device does not have a touchscreen, so you won't be able to play DS games that rely heavily on the touchscreen
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameShell 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GameShell GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • GameShell N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GameShell NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GameShell PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameShell PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameShell PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • GameShell PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameShell Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GameShell SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameShell Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Saturn: Sega Saturn: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • GameShell Saturn: Sega Saturn: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameShell Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GameShell Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GameShell Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GameShell GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • GameShell Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the 1UP Pi-Boy XL and the ClockworkPi GameShell?
1UP Pi-Boy XL has similar emulation coverage to ClockworkPi GameShell. ClockworkPi GameShell is about $16 cheaper based on catalog pricing. ClockworkPi GameShell is roughly 26% smaller and 61% lighter. 1UP Pi-Boy XL has a 60 Hz IPS screen, versus 60 Hz TFT on ClockworkPi GameShell. 1UP Pi-Boy XL runs Linux (RetroPie); ClockworkPi GameShell runs Clockwork OS.
Which is cheaper, the 1UP Pi-Boy XL or the ClockworkPi GameShell?
The ClockworkPi GameShell is the cheaper of the two at around $159, roughly $16 less than the 1UP Pi-Boy XL based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the 1UP Pi-Boy XL or the ClockworkPi GameShell?
The 1UP Pi-Boy XL is the newer model, released in 2019.

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