Device comparison

Game Case Retro Dreamer vs. Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS

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

Compare

With

Retro Dreamer
PiBoy XRS

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

Quick verdict

Best value
Retro Dreamer
More portable
Retro Dreamer
Newer model
PiBoy XRS

Main differences

  • Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS has similar emulation coverage to Game Case Retro Dreamer.
  • Game Case Retro Dreamer is about $39 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • Game Case Retro Dreamer is roughly 21% smaller.
  • Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS runs Linux (RetroPie); Game Case Retro Dreamer runs Linux (RetroPie, Batocera, EmuELEC, Lakka, Recalbox, RetroLX).

Game Case

Retro Dreamer

Details
Price
$111
OS
Linux (RetroPie, Batocera, EmuELEC, Lakka, Recalbox, RetroLX)
Released
Dec 2021
Up to
Dreamcast
Screen
3.0 inch IPS
Weight
Unknown

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Experimental Pi

PiBoy XRS

Details
Price
$150
OS
Linux (RetroPie)
Released
Sep 2022
Up to
Dreamcast
Screen
3.5 inch IPS
Weight
330 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecRetro DreamerPiBoy XRS
Price$111$150
OSLinux (RetroPie, Batocera, EmuELEC, Lakka, Recalbox, RetroLX)Linux (RetroPie)
Screen3.0 inch3.5 inch
StorageExternal MicroSD (Game Cartridge)External MicroSD
Battery14500 x25600 mAh
WeightUnknown330 grams
Dimensions145 mm x 82 mm x 24 mm162 mm x 93 mm x 36 mm
Video outNoYes
BluetoothNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

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

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the Game Case Retro Dreamer and the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS?
Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS has similar emulation coverage to Game Case Retro Dreamer. Game Case Retro Dreamer is about $39 cheaper based on catalog pricing. Game Case Retro Dreamer is roughly 21% smaller. Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS runs Linux (RetroPie); Game Case Retro Dreamer runs Linux (RetroPie, Batocera, EmuELEC, Lakka, Recalbox, RetroLX).
Which is cheaper, the Game Case Retro Dreamer or the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS?
The Game Case Retro Dreamer is the cheaper of the two at around $111, roughly $39 less than the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the Game Case Retro Dreamer or the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS?
The Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS is the newer model, released in 2022.

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