8BCraft Retrostone 1 vs. PowKiddy X18

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

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Quick verdict

Best value
PowKiddy X18
Better screen
PowKiddy X18
More portable
PowKiddy X18
Newer model
PowKiddy X18

Main differences

  • PowKiddy X18 has similar emulation coverage to 8BCraft Retrostone 1.
  • PowKiddy X18 is about $57 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • 8BCraft Retrostone 1 is roughly 7% smaller and 1% lighter.
  • PowKiddy X18 has a 60 Hz IPS screen, versus 60 Hz Analog TFT on 8BCraft Retrostone 1.
  • PowKiddy X18 runs Android 7.0; 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

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PowKiddy

PowKiddy X18

Details
Price
$100.00
OS
Android 7.0
Released
Mar 2019
Up to
N64
Screen
5.5 inch IPS
Weight
296 grams

We’re not tracking prices for this one yet.

No reviews yet

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecRetrostone 1PowKiddy X18
Price$157.00$100.00
OSLinux - RetrorangePiAndroid 7.0
Screen3.5 inch5.5 inch
Aspect ratio4:316:9
Resolution320 x 2401280 x 720
PanelAnalog TFTIPS
ChipsetAllwinner H3MediaTek MTK8163
CPUCortex-A7Cortex-A53
GPUMali-400 MP2Mali-T720 MP2
RAM1 GB DDR2 GB DDR3
StorageExternal MicroSDInternal 16 GB & External MicroSD
Battery3000 mAh5000 mAh
Weight300 grams296 grams
Dimensions130 mm x 90 mm x 25 mm145 mm x 87 mm x 27 mm
BluetoothNoYes
Touch screenNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemRetrostone 1PowKiddy X18
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
  • PowKiddy X18 DS: Nintendo DS: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Retrostone 1 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • Retrostone 1 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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
  • PowKiddy X18 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 PowKiddy X18?
PowKiddy X18 has similar emulation coverage to 8BCraft Retrostone 1. PowKiddy X18 is about $57 cheaper based on catalog pricing. 8BCraft Retrostone 1 is roughly 7% smaller and 1% lighter. PowKiddy X18 has a 60 Hz IPS screen, versus 60 Hz Analog TFT on 8BCraft Retrostone 1. PowKiddy X18 runs Android 7.0; 8BCraft Retrostone 1 runs Linux - RetrorangePi.
Which is cheaper, the 8BCraft Retrostone 1 or the PowKiddy X18?
The PowKiddy X18 is the cheaper of the two at around $100.00, roughly $57.00 less than the 8BCraft Retrostone 1 based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the 8BCraft Retrostone 1 or the PowKiddy X18?
The PowKiddy X18 is the newer model, released in 2019.

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