Device comparison

WaveShare GPM280 CM3 vs. PowKiddy X18S

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

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GPM280 CM3
PowKiddy X18S

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

Quick verdict

Best value
GPM280 CM3
More portable
GPM280 CM3
Newer model
PowKiddy X18S

Main differences

  • PowKiddy X18S has stronger listed emulation coverage.
  • WaveShare GPM280 CM3 is about $23 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • WaveShare GPM280 CM3 is roughly 34% smaller.
  • PowKiddy X18S runs Android 11; WaveShare GPM280 CM3 runs Linux (RetroPie), Recalbox.

WaveShare

GPM280 CM3

Details
Price
$150
OS
Linux (RetroPie), Recalbox
Released
Dec 2020
Up to
PS1
Screen
2.8 inch IPS
Weight
?

No reviews yet

0 collectors

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

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecGPM280 CM3PowKiddy X18S
Price$150$173
OSLinux (RetroPie), RecalboxAndroid 11
Screen2.8 inch5.5 inch
Aspect ratio4:316:9
Resolution640 x 4801280 x 720
ChipsetBroadcom BCM2837UNISOC Tiger T618
CPUCortex-A53Cortex-A75 / Cortex-A55
GPUBroadcom VideoCore IVMali-G52 MP2
RAM1 GB DDR24 GB LPDDR4X
StorageExternal MicroSDInternal 64 GB eMMC,
Battery1500 mAh5000 mAh
Weight?308 grams
Dimensions136.4 mm x 67.5 mm x 16.8 mm152 mm x 92 mm x 22.5 mm
Video outNoYes
BluetoothNoYes
Touch screenNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemGPM280 CM3PowKiddy X18S
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

  • GPM280 CM3 DS: Nintendo DS: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games This device does not have a touchscreen, so you won't be able to play DS games that rely heavily on the touchscreen
  • PowKiddy X18S DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM3 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PowKiddy X18S 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • GPM280 CM3 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM3 N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • PowKiddy X18S N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM3 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM3 PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM3 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PowKiddy X18S PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • GPM280 CM3 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PowKiddy X18S PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GPM280 CM3 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • PowKiddy X18S PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM3 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PowKiddy X18S Wii: Nintendo Wii: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • GPM280 CM3 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM3 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 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.
  • GPM280 CM3 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • PowKiddy X18S Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • GPM280 CM3 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PowKiddy X18S Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • GPM280 CM3 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • PowKiddy X18S Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • GPM280 CM3 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: 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
  • GPM280 CM3 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • PowKiddy X18S GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • GPM280 CM3 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: 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

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the WaveShare GPM280 CM3 and the PowKiddy X18S?
PowKiddy X18S has stronger listed emulation coverage. WaveShare GPM280 CM3 is about $23 cheaper based on catalog pricing. WaveShare GPM280 CM3 is roughly 34% smaller. PowKiddy X18S runs Android 11; WaveShare GPM280 CM3 runs Linux (RetroPie), Recalbox.
Which is cheaper, the WaveShare GPM280 CM3 or the PowKiddy X18S?
The WaveShare GPM280 CM3 is the cheaper of the two at around $150, roughly $23 less than the PowKiddy X18S based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the WaveShare GPM280 CM3 or the PowKiddy X18S?
The PowKiddy X18S is the newer model, released in 2021.

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