8BCraft Retrostone 1 vs. 1UP Pi-Boy XL

Specs, emulation, community reviews, ownership and play history, side by side.

Compare

With

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

Quick verdict

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

Main differences

  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL has similar emulation coverage to 8BCraft Retrostone 1.
  • 8BCraft Retrostone 1 is about $18 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • 8BCraft Retrostone 1 is roughly 25% smaller and 40% lighter.
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL has a 60 Hz IPS screen, versus 60 Hz Analog TFT on 8BCraft Retrostone 1.
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL runs Linux (RetroPie); 8BCraft Retrostone 1 runs Linux - RetrorangePi.

8BCraft

Retrostone 1

Details
Price
$157.00
OS
Linux - RetrorangePi
Released
Jan 2018
Up to
N64
Screen
3.5 inch Analog TFT
Weight
300 grams

We’re not tracking prices for this one yet.

No reviews yet

1UP

1UP Pi-Boy XL

Details
Price
$175.00
OS
Linux (RetroPie)
Released
Apr 2019
Up to
PS1
Screen
3.5 inch IPS
Weight
500 grams

We’re not tracking prices for this one yet.

No reviews yet

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecRetrostone 11UP Pi-Boy XL
Price$157.00$175.00
OSLinux - RetrorangePiLinux (RetroPie)
Aspect ratio4:33:2
Resolution320 x 240480 x 320
PanelAnalog TFTIPS
ChipsetAllwinner H3Broadcom BCM2837B0
CPUCortex-A7Cortex-A53
GPUMali-400 MP2Broadcom VideoCore IV
RAM1 GB DDR1 GB DDR2
Battery3000 mAh9000 mAh
Weight300 grams500 grams
Dimensions130 mm x 90 mm x 25 mm157 mm x 99 mm x 35 mm
BluetoothNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemRetrostone 11UP Pi-Boy XL
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

  • Retrostone 1 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 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
  • Retrostone 1 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retrostone 1 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retrostone 1 N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Retrostone 1 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retrostone 1 PS1: Sony Playstation: 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
  • Retrostone 1 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retrostone 1 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: 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
  • Retrostone 1 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • Retrostone 1 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retrostone 1 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retrostone 1 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retrostone 1 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Saturn: Sega Saturn: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • Retrostone 1 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retrostone 1 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retrostone 1 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: 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
  • Retrostone 1 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retrostone 1 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • 1UP Pi-Boy XL Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the 8BCraft Retrostone 1 and the 1UP Pi-Boy XL?
1UP Pi-Boy XL has similar emulation coverage to 8BCraft Retrostone 1. 8BCraft Retrostone 1 is about $18 cheaper based on catalog pricing. 8BCraft Retrostone 1 is roughly 25% smaller and 40% lighter. 1UP Pi-Boy XL has a 60 Hz IPS screen, versus 60 Hz Analog TFT on 8BCraft Retrostone 1. 1UP Pi-Boy XL runs Linux (RetroPie); 8BCraft Retrostone 1 runs Linux - RetrorangePi.
Which is cheaper, the 8BCraft Retrostone 1 or the 1UP Pi-Boy XL?
The 8BCraft Retrostone 1 is the cheaper of the two at around $157.00, roughly $18.00 less than the 1UP Pi-Boy XL based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the 8BCraft Retrostone 1 or the 1UP Pi-Boy XL?
The 1UP Pi-Boy XL is the newer model, released in 2019.

Compare Retrostone 1 with