Device comparison

Game Kiddy GKD Bubble vs. QRD Vortex F5

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

Compare

With

GKD Bubble
QRD Vortex F5

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

Quick verdict

Best value
GKD Bubble
More portable
GKD Bubble
Newer model
QRD Vortex F5

Main differences

  • QRD Vortex F5 has similar emulation coverage to Game Kiddy GKD Bubble.
  • Game Kiddy GKD Bubble is about $5 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • Game Kiddy GKD Bubble is roughly 40% smaller and 31% lighter.
  • QRD Vortex F5 is highlighted for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA; Game Kiddy GKD Bubble is highlighted for N64, PS1, GBA, SNES.

Game Kiddy

GKD Bubble

Details
Price
$85
OS
Linux
Released
Oct 2024
Up to
Dreamcast
Screen
3.5 inch IPS
Weight
227 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

QRD

QRD Vortex F5

Details
Price
$90
OS
Linux
Released
Feb 2025
Up to
Dreamcast
Screen
5.5 inch IPS
Weight
330 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecGKD BubbleQRD Vortex F5
Price$85$90
Screen3.5 inch5.5 inch
Aspect ratio4:316:9
Resolution640 x 4801280 x 720
RAM1 GB LPDDR41 GB LPDDR4X
StorageDual External MicroSDInternal 8 GB eMMC, External MicroSD
Battery4000 mAh5000 mAh
Weight227 grams330 grams
Dimensions166.8 mm x 82 mm x 24 mm223 mm x 103 mm x 35 mm
Hall effect sticksNoYes
Analog triggersNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemGKD BubbleQRD Vortex F5
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

  • GKD Bubble DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip This device does not have a touchscreen, so you won't be able to play DS games that rely heavily on the touchscreen
  • QRD Vortex F5 DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip This device does not have a touchscreen, so you won't be able to play DS games that rely heavily on the touchscreen
  • GKD Bubble 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable 3DS will only work on Android, not Linux
  • QRD Vortex F5 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable 3DS will only work on Android, not Linux
  • GKD Bubble GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GKD Bubble N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • GKD Bubble NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GKD Bubble PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GKD Bubble PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable PS2 will only work on Android, not Linux
  • QRD Vortex F5 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable PS2 will only work on Android, not Linux
  • GKD Bubble PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GKD Bubble PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • GKD Bubble Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GKD Bubble SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GKD Bubble Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GKD Bubble Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • QRD Vortex F5 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • GKD Bubble Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GKD Bubble Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GKD Bubble Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GKD Bubble GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • QRD Vortex F5 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • GKD Bubble Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 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 Kiddy GKD Bubble and the QRD Vortex F5?
QRD Vortex F5 has similar emulation coverage to Game Kiddy GKD Bubble. Game Kiddy GKD Bubble is about $5 cheaper based on catalog pricing. Game Kiddy GKD Bubble is roughly 40% smaller and 31% lighter. QRD Vortex F5 is highlighted for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA; Game Kiddy GKD Bubble is highlighted for N64, PS1, GBA, SNES.
Which is cheaper, the Game Kiddy GKD Bubble or the QRD Vortex F5?
The Game Kiddy GKD Bubble is the cheaper of the two at around $85, roughly $5 less than the QRD Vortex F5 based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the Game Kiddy GKD Bubble or the QRD Vortex F5?
The QRD Vortex F5 is the newer model, released in 2025.

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