Device comparison

DIY Retro Carnival CM3 vs. Curious Chip PIP

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

Compare

With

Retro Carnival CM3
PIP

Not shown to scale. Real-world dimensions are missing for one or both devices.

Quick verdict

Best value
PIP
Newer model
PIP

Main differences

  • Curious Chip PIP has similar emulation coverage to DIY Retro Carnival CM3.
  • Curious Chip PIP is about $18 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • Curious Chip PIP runs PIP OS, RetroPie; DIY Retro Carnival CM3 runs Linux (RetroPie).

DIY

Retro Carnival CM3

Details
Price
$358
OS
Linux (RetroPie)
Released
Aug 2019
Up to
PS1
Screen
3.2 inch IPS
Weight
303 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Curious Chip

PIP

Details
Price
$340
OS
PIP OS, RetroPie
Released
Apr 2022
Up to
PS1
Screen
4.0 inch IPS
Weight
?

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecRetro Carnival CM3PIP
Price$358$340
OSLinux (RetroPie)PIP OS, RetroPie
Screen3.2 inch4.0 inch
Aspect ratio3:216:9
Resolution480 x 320?
Battery2920 mAh2000 mAh
Weight303 grams?
Dimensions149 mm x 60 mm x 17.5mm?
BluetoothNoYes
Touch screenNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemRetro Carnival CM3PIP
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

  • Retro Carnival CM3 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
  • PIP 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
  • Retro Carnival CM3 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PIP 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retro Carnival CM3 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PIP GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retro Carnival CM3 N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • PIP N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Retro Carnival CM3 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PIP NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retro Carnival CM3 PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PIP PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retro Carnival CM3 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PIP PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retro Carnival CM3 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PIP PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retro Carnival CM3 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • PIP PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • Retro Carnival CM3 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PIP Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retro Carnival CM3 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PIP SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retro Carnival CM3 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PIP Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retro Carnival CM3 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • PIP Saturn: Sega Saturn: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • Retro Carnival CM3 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PIP Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retro Carnival CM3 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PIP Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retro Carnival CM3 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PIP Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retro Carnival CM3 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PIP GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retro Carnival CM3 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • PIP Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the DIY Retro Carnival CM3 and the Curious Chip PIP?
Curious Chip PIP has similar emulation coverage to DIY Retro Carnival CM3. Curious Chip PIP is about $18 cheaper based on catalog pricing. Curious Chip PIP runs PIP OS, RetroPie; DIY Retro Carnival CM3 runs Linux (RetroPie).
Which is cheaper, the DIY Retro Carnival CM3 or the Curious Chip PIP?
The Curious Chip PIP is the cheaper of the two at around $340, roughly $18 less than the DIY Retro Carnival CM3 based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the DIY Retro Carnival CM3 or the Curious Chip PIP?
The Curious Chip PIP is the newer model, released in 2022.

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