Device comparison

Retroid Pocket 4 vs. Retroid Pocket Nova

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

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Retroid Pocket 4
Retroid Pocket Nova

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

Quick verdict

Best value
Retroid Pocket 4
Better screen
Retroid Pocket Nova
More portable
Retroid Pocket Nova
Newer model
Retroid Pocket Nova

Main differences

  • Retroid Pocket Nova has stronger listed emulation coverage.
  • Retroid Pocket 4 is about $103 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • Retroid Pocket Nova is roughly 6% smaller and 2% lighter.
  • Retroid Pocket Nova has a 120 Hz AMOLED screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on Retroid Pocket 4.
  • Retroid Pocket Nova runs Android 13; Retroid Pocket 4 runs Android 11.
  • Retroid Pocket Nova is highlighted for PS2, GameCube, Dreamcast, Saturn, N64, PS1; Retroid Pocket 4 is highlighted for GameCube, Saturn, Dreamcast, PSP.

Most played

Retroid Pocket 4

No one has logged play time on the Retroid Pocket 4 yet — the other device just has a head start.

Own one? Add it to your shelf

Most played on Retroid Pocket Nova

  1. 1
    Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2

    Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2

    1 player · 20 sessions

  2. 2
    Kingdom Hearts

    Kingdom Hearts

    1 player · 11 sessions

  3. 3
    We Love Katamari

    We Love Katamari

    1 player · 1 session

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecRetroid Pocket 4Retroid Pocket Nova
Price$149$252
OSAndroid 11Android 13
Screen4.7 inch4.5 inch
Aspect ratio16:94:3
Resolution1334 x 7501280 x 960
Refresh rate60 Hz120 Hz
PanelIPSAMOLED
ChipsetMediaTek Dimensity 900Qualcomm QCS8550 (Dragonwing, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-class)
CPUCortex-A78 / Cortex-A55Cortex-X3 / Cortex-A715 / Cortex-A710 / Cortex-A510
GPUMali-G68 MC4Qualcomm Adreno 740
RAM4 GB LPDDR4x8 GB / 12 GB LPDDR5X
Weight261 grams255 grams
Dimensions184.8 mm x 82.6 mm x 15.8 mm169.9 mm x 84.1 mm x 15.6 - 26.3 mm

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemRetroid Pocket 4Retroid Pocket Nova
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

  • Retroid Pocket 4 DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 PS1: Sony Playstation: All games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova PS1: Sony Playstation: All games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retroid Pocket Nova PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Retroid Pocket 4 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova Wii: Nintendo Wii: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 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 Nova Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • Retroid Pocket Nova Switch: Nintendo Switch: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket Nova Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the Retroid Pocket 4 and the Retroid Pocket Nova?
Retroid Pocket Nova has stronger listed emulation coverage. Retroid Pocket 4 is about $103 cheaper based on catalog pricing. Retroid Pocket Nova is roughly 6% smaller and 2% lighter. Retroid Pocket Nova has a 120 Hz AMOLED screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on Retroid Pocket 4. Retroid Pocket Nova runs Android 13; Retroid Pocket 4 runs Android 11. Retroid Pocket Nova is highlighted for PS2, GameCube, Dreamcast, Saturn, N64, PS1; Retroid Pocket 4 is highlighted for GameCube, Saturn, Dreamcast, PSP.
Which is cheaper, the Retroid Pocket 4 or the Retroid Pocket Nova?
The Retroid Pocket 4 is the cheaper of the two at around $149, roughly $103 less than the Retroid Pocket Nova based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the Retroid Pocket 4 or the Retroid Pocket Nova?
The Retroid Pocket Nova is the newer model, released in 2026.
Which is more popular on retroshelf, the Retroid Pocket 4 or the Retroid Pocket Nova?
The Retroid Pocket Nova is in more collections on retroshelf right now, with 5 collectors tracking it.

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