Retrode Pocket Classic Unveils New Qualcomm Gaming Chip: Pre-Orders Open Tonight!

The Retrode Pocket Classic will feature the Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 processor, a new chip designed specifically for gaming handhelds. This new chip line was announced today, explaining why Retrode was hesitant to reveal the full specs earlier. Notably, this chip does not support video output, which accounts for one of the device's most unusual drawbacks.

Pre-orders for the Classic will open tonight at 9:30 PM, starting at $114.

Over the past few weeks, Retrode has been gradually revealing the features and design of the Pocket Classic. However, the chipset remained a mystery until now, despite being one of the device's most crucial components.

The Retrode Pocket Classic will debut with Qualcomm's Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 processor, part of the new chip series designed specifically for gaming handhelds. This marks Retrode's first device to feature one of these chips, offering certain advantages over traditional smartphone processors.

Similar to the Snapdragon 4s Gen 3, which was previously rumored to power the Classic, the G1 Gen 2 is performance-focused. It features two performance cores and six efficiency cores, allowing for lower peak performance but improved sustained performance and battery life.

Qualcomm's new chipset is built for consistent performance and efficiency. While it may struggle to support high-demand Android emulators, the device’s lack of joysticks and nearly square screen make it less ideal for such systems anyway. We'll have to wait for benchmarks to assess its full potential, but it should handle systems up to the Sega Saturn with ease.

However, there is one significant downside. According to confirmation from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 does not support video output. This is one of the device’s most notable shortcomings, making it the first Retrode handheld without video output, which could be a major drawback for some users.

Aside from the new SoC, the Pocket Classic offers fairly budget-friendly specs. It comes with 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of eMMC 5.1 storage. While eMMC is an aging standard that has largely been replaced by UFS 3.1, it still offers faster read speeds compared to microSD cards.

The 3.92-inch AMOLED display is the only premium component, previously seen on the Anbernic Pocket DMG, which costs more than three times the Classic’s price. With only two vertical Android handhelds released last year, the Classic could fill a niche in the market.

Pre-orders for the Retrode Pocket Classic will open on the official website at 9:30 PM tonight. The price starts at $114 for the 4GB + 64GB version and $124 for the 6GB + 128GB version when using the code "CLASSICSAVE5." It will be launched alongside the Retrode Pocket Flip 2, a clamshell handheld with similar features to the company’s flagship Pocket 5.