Device comparison

Retroid Pocket 4 vs. WaveShare GPM280 CM4

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

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Retroid Pocket 4
GPM280 CM4

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

Quick verdict

Best value
Retroid Pocket 4
More portable
GPM280 CM4
Newer model
Retroid Pocket 4

Main differences

  • Retroid Pocket 4 has stronger listed emulation coverage.
  • Retroid Pocket 4 is about $1 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • WaveShare GPM280 CM4 is roughly 40% smaller.
  • Retroid Pocket 4 runs Android 11; WaveShare GPM280 CM4 runs Linux (RetroPie).
  • Retroid Pocket 4 is highlighted for NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA; WaveShare GPM280 CM4 is highlighted for Game Boy, NES, Genesis, GBA.

Retroid

Retroid Pocket 4

Details
Price
$149
OS
Android 11
Released
Jan 2024
Up to
3DS
Screen
4.7 inch IPS
Weight
261 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

WaveShare

GPM280 CM4

Details
Price
$150
OS
Linux (RetroPie)
Released
Sep 2021
Up to
Dreamcast
Screen
2.8 inch IPS
Weight
?

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecRetroid Pocket 4GPM280 CM4
Price$149$150
OSAndroid 11Linux (RetroPie)
Screen4.7 inch2.8 inch
Aspect ratio16:94:3
Resolution1334 x 750640 x 480
ChipsetMediaTek Dimensity 900Broadcom BCM2711
CPUCortex-A78 / Cortex-A55Cortex-A72
GPUMali-G68 MC4Broadcom VideoCore VI
RAM4 GB LPDDR4x1 GB
StorageInternal 128 GB UFS 3.1, External MicroSDExternal MicroSD
Battery5000 mAh3500 mAh
Weight261 grams?
Dimensions184.8 mm x 82.6 mm x 15.8 mm136.4 mm x 67.5 mm x 16.8 mm
Video outYesNo
BluetoothYesNo
Hall effect sticksYesNo
Analog triggersYesNo
Touch screenYesNo

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemRetroid Pocket 4GPM280 CM4
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
  • GPM280 CM4 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
  • 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
  • GPM280 CM4 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retroid Pocket 4 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM4 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
  • GPM280 CM4 N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • Retroid Pocket 4 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM4 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
  • GPM280 CM4 PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost 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
  • GPM280 CM4 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retroid Pocket 4 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GPM280 CM4 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retroid Pocket 4 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM4 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with 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
  • GPM280 CM4 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retroid Pocket 4 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM4 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.
  • GPM280 CM4 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM4 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • GPM280 CM4 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM4 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
  • GPM280 CM4 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
  • GPM280 CM4 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM4 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 Retroid Pocket 4 and the WaveShare GPM280 CM4?
Retroid Pocket 4 has stronger listed emulation coverage. Retroid Pocket 4 is about $1 cheaper based on catalog pricing. WaveShare GPM280 CM4 is roughly 40% smaller. Retroid Pocket 4 runs Android 11; WaveShare GPM280 CM4 runs Linux (RetroPie). Retroid Pocket 4 is highlighted for NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA; WaveShare GPM280 CM4 is highlighted for Game Boy, NES, Genesis, GBA.
Which is cheaper, the Retroid Pocket 4 or the WaveShare GPM280 CM4?
The Retroid Pocket 4 is the cheaper of the two at around $149, roughly $1 less than the WaveShare GPM280 CM4 based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the Retroid Pocket 4 or the WaveShare GPM280 CM4?
The Retroid Pocket 4 is the newer model, released in 2024.

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