Experimental Pi
PiBoy XRS
Handheld · Horizontal · Linux (RetroPie)
Good for
PS1, Genesis, GBA, SNES
Support listed to
Dreamcast
OS
Linux (RetroPie)
Released
Sep 2022
The PiBoy XRS is a mid-range horizontal retro handheld from Experimental Pi with a 3.5-inch 640×480 IPS screen, WiFi and Bluetooth, and runs Linux (RetroPie). It is best suited for PS1, Genesis, GBA, SNES, with support listed up to Dreamcast. It typically sells for around $150.
Played on the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS
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Emulation
Supports 12 of 18 tested systems: 6 at excellent, 4 running well.
Mid-generation systems
Mixed5 of 5 systems listed as playable or better
Modern systems
Unsupported0 of 4 systems listed as playable or better
Classic systems
Excellent6 of 6 systems listed as playable or better
Sixth-generation systems
Limited1 of 3 systems listed as playable or better
Emulation source notes
- 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
- 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
- GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
- NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
- PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
- PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
- Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
- SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
- Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
- Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
- Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
- Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
Specifications
Display
Screen
3.5 inch
Aspect ratio
4:3
Resolution
640 x 480
Pixel density
228.57 PPI
Panel
IPS
Refresh rate
60 Hz
Performance
Chipset
Broadcom BCM2711
CPU
Cortex-A72
CPU clock
1.5 GHz
CPU cores
4
CPU threads
4
GPU
Broadcom VideoCore VI
GPU clock
500 MHz
RAM
1, 2, 4 or 8 GB
Storage
External MicroSD
Architecture
ARM
Build
Battery
5600 mAh
Weight
330 grams
Dimensions
162 mm x 93 mm x 36 mm
Material
Plastic
Charge port
USB-C
Controls
Shoulder buttons
Stacked
D-pad
Top
Thumbsticks
Symmetrical
Extra buttons
Menu
Features
FAQ
- What systems can the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS emulate?
- The Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS plays systems up to Dreamcast well. It is at its best with PS1, Genesis, GBA, SNES.
- Can the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS play Dreamcast games?
- Yes. Dreamcast performance on the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS is rated good in our catalog. Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
- Can the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS play Saturn games?
- Only partially. Saturn on the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS is playable with compromises. Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
- How much does the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS cost?
- The Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS typically sells for around $150, which puts it in the mid-range tier of retro handhelds.
- What operating system does the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS run?
- The Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS ships with Linux (RetroPie).
- What screen does the Experimental Pi PiBoy XRS have?
- It has a 3.5 inch IPS display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, running at 640 x 480 at 228.57 PPI.
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Community reviews
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