Overview
The PowKiddy X18S is a mid-range clamshell retro handheld from PowKiddy with a 5.5-inch 1280×720 IPS screen, WiFi and Bluetooth, and runs Android 11. It is best suited for Dreamcast, PSP, DS, N64, with support listed up to Saturn. It typically sells for around $173.
- Screen
- 5.5 inch IPS
- Chipset
- UNISOC Tiger T618
- RAM
- 4 GB LPDDR4X
- Battery
- 5000 mAh
- Weight
- 308 grams
- OS
- Android 11
Emulation
- Classicexcellent
- NESExcellent
- Game BoyExcellent
- SNESExcellent
- GBAExcellent
- GenesisExcellent
- PS1Excellent
- Mid-genexcellent
- N64Excellent
- DSExcellent
- PSPExcellent
- DreamcastExcellent
- SaturnGood
- 6th genlimited
- GameCubePlayable
- WiiPlayable
- PS2Playable
- Modernlimited
- 3DSPlayable
- Wii UNo
- PS3No
- SwitchNo
Notes on 18 systems
- DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
- GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without 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: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
- PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
- PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- Wii: Nintendo Wii: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
- SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
- 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.
- Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
- 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: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
- Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
Played on the PowKiddy X18S
Nobody's tracked play on the PowKiddy X18S yet.
Yours could be the first. Track yours
Track your play on the PowKiddy X18S
Install the plugin for Android and every session syncs to retroshelf on its own: what you played, and for how long.
Setup guides
Specifications
General
- Released
- September 2021
- Type
- Handheld, Clamshell
- Operating system
- Android 11
- Price range
- Mid-Range
Display
- Screen
- 5.5 inch IPS
- Resolution
- 1280 x 720 (16:9)
- Pixel density
- 267.02 PPI
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
Performance
- Chipset
- UNISOC Tiger T618
- CPU
- Cortex-A75 / Cortex-A55, 8 cores, 2.0 GHz
- GPU
- Mali-G52 MP2, 850 MHz
- RAM
- 4 GB LPDDR4X
- Storage
- Internal 64 GB eMMC,
- Architecture
- ARM
Battery and build
- Battery
- 5000 mAh
- Weight
- 308 grams
- Dimensions
- 152 mm x 92 mm x 22.5 mm
- Material
- Plastic
- Rumble
- Yes
Controls
- Sticks
- Symmetrical
- Shoulders
- Inline
- Inputs
- Analog sticks, L3/R3, L2/R2, Touch screen, Gyroscope
- Extra buttons
- Power, Volume +-, Back, Home, Keymap, Menu
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- WiFi 5
- Bluetooth
- 5.0
- Ports
- USB-C, HDMI out, 3.5mm jack
- Storage slot
- microSD
- Speakers
- Stereo
FAQ
What systems can the PowKiddy X18S emulate?
The PowKiddy X18S plays systems up to Saturn well. It is at its best with Dreamcast, PSP, DS, N64.
Can the PowKiddy X18S play Saturn games?
Yes. Saturn performance on the PowKiddy X18S is rated good in our catalog. Sega Saturn: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
Can the PowKiddy X18S play GameCube games?
Only partially. GameCube on the PowKiddy X18S is playable with compromises. Nintendo GameCube: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
How much does the PowKiddy X18S cost?
The PowKiddy X18S typically sells for around $173, which puts it in the mid-range tier of retro handhelds.
What operating system does the PowKiddy X18S run?
The PowKiddy X18S ships with Android 11.
Can I track my play time on the PowKiddy X18S?
Yes. Install the retroshelf plugin for Android and every session syncs to retroshelf on its own, with the game and how long you played.
Price alert
We’re not tracking prices for this one yet.
Reviews
No reviews of the PowKiddy X18S yet. Own one? Say what you play on it, which firmware you run, and where it sits in your rotation.
