Device comparison

PowKiddy RGB30 vs. QRD Vortex F5

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

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With

PowKiddy RGB30
QRD Vortex F5

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

Quick verdict

More portable
PowKiddy RGB30
Newer model
QRD Vortex F5

Main differences

  • QRD Vortex F5 has similar emulation coverage to PowKiddy RGB30.
  • PowKiddy RGB30 is roughly 45% smaller and 37% lighter.
  • QRD Vortex F5 runs Linux; PowKiddy RGB30 runs Linux (JELOS).
  • QRD Vortex F5 is highlighted for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA; PowKiddy RGB30 is highlighted for DS, PS1, Genesis, GBA.

PowKiddy

PowKiddy RGB30

Details
Price
$90
OS
Linux (JELOS)
Released
Sep 2023
Up to
Dreamcast
Screen
4.0 inch IPS
Weight
207 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

SpecPowKiddy RGB30QRD Vortex F5
OSLinux (JELOS)Linux
Screen4.0 inch5.5 inch
Aspect ratio1:116:9
Resolution720 x 7201280 x 720
RAM1 GB LPDDR41 GB LPDDR4X
StorageDual External MicroSDInternal 8 GB eMMC, External MicroSD
Battery4100 mAh5000 mAh
Weight207 grams330 grams
Dimensions145 mm x 86.5 mm x 18 mm223 mm x 103 mm x 35 mm
Hall effect sticksNoYes
Analog triggersNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemPowKiddy RGB30QRD 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

  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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
  • PowKiddy RGB30 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 PowKiddy RGB30 and the QRD Vortex F5?
QRD Vortex F5 has similar emulation coverage to PowKiddy RGB30. PowKiddy RGB30 is roughly 45% smaller and 37% lighter. QRD Vortex F5 runs Linux; PowKiddy RGB30 runs Linux (JELOS). QRD Vortex F5 is highlighted for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA; PowKiddy RGB30 is highlighted for DS, PS1, Genesis, GBA.
Which is newer, the PowKiddy RGB30 or the QRD Vortex F5?
The QRD Vortex F5 is the newer model, released in 2025.

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