Good for
PSP, N64, PS1, GBA
Support listed to
Dreamcast
OS
Linux
Released
Feb 2025
The QRD Vortex F5 is a budget horizontal retro handheld from QRD with a 5.5-inch 1280×720 IPS screen, Bluetooth, and runs Linux. It is best suited for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA, with support listed up to Dreamcast. It typically sells for around $90.
Played on the QRD Vortex F5
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Emulation
Supports 14 of 18 tested systems: 7 at excellent, 3 running well.
Mid-generation systems
Mixed5 of 5 systems listed as playable or better
Modern systems
Limited1 of 4 systems listed as playable or better
Classic systems
Excellent6 of 6 systems listed as playable or better
Sixth-generation systems
Limited2 of 3 systems listed as playable or better
Emulation source notes
- DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without 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: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable 3DS will only work on Android, not Linux
- 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: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable PS2 will only work on Android, not Linux
- 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
5.5 inch
Aspect ratio
16:9
Resolution
1280 x 720
Pixel density
267.02 PPI
Panel
IPS
Refresh rate
60 Hz
Performance
Chipset
RockChip RK3566
CPU
Cortex-A55
CPU clock
1.8 GHz
CPU cores
4
CPU threads
4
GPU
Mali-G52 2EE
GPU clock
850 MHz
RAM
1 GB LPDDR4X
Storage
Internal 8 GB eMMC, External MicroSD
Architecture
ARM
Build
Battery
5000 mAh
Battery life
6+ hours
Weight
330 grams
Dimensions
223 mm x 103 mm x 35 mm
Material
Plastic
Charge port
USB-C x2
Controls
Shoulder buttons
Stacked
D-pad
Left
Thumbsticks
Symmetrical
Extra buttons
Home/Back, Power, Volume +-
Features
FAQ
- What systems can the QRD Vortex F5 emulate?
- The QRD Vortex F5 plays systems up to Dreamcast well. It is at its best with PSP, N64, PS1, GBA.
- Can the QRD Vortex F5 play Dreamcast games?
- Yes. Dreamcast performance on the QRD Vortex F5 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 QRD Vortex F5 play Saturn games?
- Only partially. Saturn on the QRD Vortex F5 is playable with compromises. Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
- How much does the QRD Vortex F5 cost?
- The QRD Vortex F5 typically sells for around $90, which puts it in the budget tier of retro handhelds.
- What operating system does the QRD Vortex F5 run?
- The QRD Vortex F5 ships with Linux.
- What screen does the QRD Vortex F5 have?
- It has a 5.5 inch IPS display with a 16:9 aspect ratio, running at 1280 x 720 at 267.02 PPI.
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