Device comparison

PowKiddy X18S vs. Retroid Pocket Flip

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

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PowKiddy X18S
Retroid Pocket Flip

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Quick verdict

Best value
Retroid Pocket Flip
More portable
Retroid Pocket Flip
Newer model
Retroid Pocket Flip

Main differences

  • Retroid Pocket Flip has similar emulation coverage to PowKiddy X18S.
  • Retroid Pocket Flip is about $14 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • Retroid Pocket Flip is roughly 18% smaller and 12% lighter.
  • Retroid Pocket Flip is highlighted for Dreamcast, PSP, DS, N64, PS1; PowKiddy X18S is highlighted for Dreamcast, PSP, DS, N64.

PowKiddy

PowKiddy X18S

Details
Price
$173
OS
Android 11
Released
Sep 2021
Up to
Saturn
Screen
5.5 inch IPS
Weight
308 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Retroid

Retroid Pocket Flip

Details
Price
$159
OS
Android 11
Released
Apr 2023
Up to
Saturn
Screen
4.7 inch IPS
Weight
270 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecPowKiddy X18SRetroid Pocket Flip
Price$173$159
Screen5.5 inch4.7 inch
Resolution1280 x 7201334 x 750
StorageInternal 64 GB eMMC,Internal 128 GB eMMC 5.1, External MicroSD
Weight308 grams270 grams
Dimensions152 mm x 92 mm x 22.5 mm139 mm x 82 mm x 25.4 mm
Hall effect sticksNoYes
Analog triggersNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemPowKiddy X18SRetroid Pocket Flip
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 X18S DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Flip DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Retroid Pocket Flip 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • PowKiddy X18S GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Flip GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Flip N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Flip NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Flip PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Retroid Pocket Flip PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • PowKiddy X18S PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retroid Pocket Flip PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PowKiddy X18S PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Flip PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S Wii: Nintendo Wii: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Retroid Pocket Flip Wii: Nintendo Wii: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • PowKiddy X18S SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Flip SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Cemu for Android is only compatible with Adreno GPUs and Android 11-14, so any device with a Mali GPU will not run Cemu.
  • Retroid Pocket Flip Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Cemu for Android is only compatible with Adreno GPUs and Android 11-14, so any device with a Mali GPU will not run Cemu.
  • PowKiddy X18S Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Flip Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retroid Pocket Flip Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PowKiddy X18S Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Flip Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Flip Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Retroid Pocket Flip GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • PowKiddy X18S Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Flip Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the PowKiddy X18S and the Retroid Pocket Flip?
Retroid Pocket Flip has similar emulation coverage to PowKiddy X18S. Retroid Pocket Flip is about $14 cheaper based on catalog pricing. Retroid Pocket Flip is roughly 18% smaller and 12% lighter. Retroid Pocket Flip is highlighted for Dreamcast, PSP, DS, N64, PS1; PowKiddy X18S is highlighted for Dreamcast, PSP, DS, N64.
Which is cheaper, the PowKiddy X18S or the Retroid Pocket Flip?
The Retroid Pocket Flip is the cheaper of the two at around $159, roughly $14 less than the PowKiddy X18S based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the PowKiddy X18S or the Retroid Pocket Flip?
The Retroid Pocket Flip is the newer model, released in 2023.

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