Device comparison

Retroid Pocket Nova vs. Retroid Pocket 4

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

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Retroid Pocket Nova
Retroid Pocket 4

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

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

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

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecRetroid Pocket NovaRetroid Pocket 4
Price$252$149
OSAndroid 13Android 11
Screen4.5 inch4.7 inch
Aspect ratio4:316:9
Resolution1280 x 9601334 x 750
Refresh rate120 Hz60 Hz
PanelAMOLEDIPS
ChipsetQualcomm QCS8550 (Dragonwing, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-class)MediaTek Dimensity 900
CPUCortex-X3 / Cortex-A715 / Cortex-A710 / Cortex-A510Cortex-A78 / Cortex-A55
GPUQualcomm Adreno 740Mali-G68 MC4
RAM8 GB / 12 GB LPDDR5X4 GB LPDDR4x
Weight255 grams261 grams
Dimensions169.9 mm x 84.1 mm x 15.6 - 26.3 mm184.8 mm x 82.6 mm x 15.8 mm

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

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

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the Retroid Pocket Nova and the Retroid Pocket 4?
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 Nova or the Retroid Pocket 4?
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 Nova or the Retroid Pocket 4?
The Retroid Pocket Nova is the newer model, released in 2026.
Which is more popular on retroshelf, the Retroid Pocket Nova or the Retroid Pocket 4?
The Retroid Pocket Nova is in more collections on retroshelf right now, with 5 collectors tracking it.

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