So does anbernic, they also sells famiclone, PAP II (ps2 slim lookalike emulation box), retroid done that too. The only company that produce decent retro handheld that wasn't a big company like ASUS, Logitech, or Steam is AYN (the one who make Odin and Loki)
That's such a shame about the dpad and analogue sticks. All they needed was a bit more effort when it came to Quality Control and this would have knocked it out of the park. ⚾
Powkiddy doesn't have time for quality control. They have to release to market as soon as the prototype is done because by that time, 10 other Chinese knockoffs are hitting the market. I'm not saying that's the right way to do things....
@@Boogie_the_cat The irony in that a Chinese Knockoff company is afraid of the Chinese market that is going to knockoff their product. Ya know, maybe they should get Intellectual Property Rights there in China, might be good for the consumers and businesses alike....?
@@powkiddy3810 Are PowKiddy open to getting advice for their next handheld build ? We have plenty of good feedback to give, but we do not know if they are accepted.
@@powkiddy3810 AFAIK this video here shows the issues very clearly. Please watch this review and respond to the actual video with a counter argument. Can Powkiddy release a software fix? A hardware revision? If the answer is yes, then there's hope for this handheld (and Powkiddy) yet.
Which is why I believe snapdragon based devices, with an external controller and a touchscreen are going to be the ONLY devices in a couple years. Youll be able to connect basically any external monitor, controller, or audio output easily while emulating everything up to gamecube/ps2 games seamlessly. Just hold on till 2024/25 and for $300 or less, I think well have 1080p 7"+ touchscreen displays, an external controller of YOUR choice, and much better battery life. You can already display the top screen externally while making your phone the touchpad on DraStic DS Emu, nintendos been using touchpad for their games for a while now, very few of these handheld consoles are touch compatible. You could also program steam trackpad like input to the screen. An android phone will be THE way to go in a couple years.
Thank you for stating whether it was worth getting within the first couple minutes of the video 🙂 that’s really handy for a lot of people who just want to know whether it’s worth buying or not. Of course I still watched the whole video but I appreciate that information ☺️
Unluckily, the problems with the d-pad, the analogue sticks, and the "faulty" L2 and R2 buttons are way too much. Definitely a no brainer to NOT choose this handheld. I really don't understand, they have to have a QA that's aware of these kind of problems. Seems it does some things really good, but how are you supposed to enjoy gaming if the device is lacking of proper controls?
It's such a shame because "Powkiddy x28" is a great handheld console. Better than their usual crappy handhelds. I just the parts are easier to replace. And it has T16 processors which both RP3+ and Anbernic RG505 and 405m both uses so. It can play PS2, GCN, Wii, and PSP and PS1 and other emulators with ease. I love the size of the display 5.5 inch is still pocketablr size which is great but the quality control makes it not want to get it. I'll stick with RP3+ for now!
It's baffling because Powkiddy *has* hit the mark on button quality many times. The Max 2 was a basically perfect device, why can't they just cram a new chip in that thing?
eh this is not the cheapest best performer at $150, that would be the RP3+. For $20 more you can also get the Flip that has a better design and is more premium. Both the Flip and the 3+ come with DOUBLE the base memory......
I got this chip in a Retroid pocket 3+ and it is a power house I'd recommend the RP3+ as the control issues that are on this device are not present in the RP3+
That dpad is brutal. I had the same issue on an RG353v that I did the "tape mod" on. Definitely something I look out for now before buying. Thanks for testing it.
I cannot believe that Powkiddy still hasn't figure out a decent d-pad while claiming to be a retro gaming company, I will never buy anything from this company, let's face it, their hardware is absolute garbage. Generation after generation they have the same problems....
Hey Russ great review! Are you also going to make a video on Powkiddys other handheld that can out not too long ago the x55 it has a rk3566 chipset like a lot of the other devices but it is being priced at around $90 and looks like it has nice ergonomics. I saw when it first came out the software was extremely underwhelming but with custom firmware they’ve fixed most of the issues in it and it seems like a great budget device with a bigger screen.
May as well skip all this stuff and just get a steam deck.. lol at this point how much more portalable are these vs a SD/Rog ally.. I mean the whole point in these is to be portable at this point because these chips sets are barley surpassing an rgb351 chip. And if your looking to play ps2 + might as well spend a little more money and get a SD:Rog Ally
A few disappointments with the X28. Looking forward to the previews for the Max 3, Max 3 Pro and Trimui Smart Pro. The X55 is in my Wishlist to possibly purchase later.
Bad d-pads and analog sticks are a deal breaker. It doesn't matter how good the rest of the package is, you are never not using the controls. That's a pity, because that screen at that price looks pretty attractive otherwise.
Those diagonals make the device useless. Going by that alone how does it make it the "$150 king"? I don't even have to watch the rest of the review by this point.
I broke my PS Vita (dead for months now) and I have been looking around for a worthy successor for my retro gaming console. This one ALMOST did the cut but the D-pad and the joystick sensitivity was a big turn off for me. I just really hope Asus provides some ROG Ally love to Asia as well...
Man, broking a vita sounds terrible, it's my biggest fear while using mine. Personally, I want to replace my vita with a Odin lite or a RP3+, but the first one is a little to big for my liking and the second one is just to chocolate bar alike to be a perfect vita replacement for me. I want something that it fells good in my hands as well as being easy to carry around, sadly, nothing quite the vita.
@@0525ohhwell was also torn between the RP3+ and RG505 few weeks ago. But where I'm at, local retailers are selling the RP3+ at US$230. At that price I thought I'd just wait a bit longer and save up for the ROG Ally
Might have well ended the review at the dpad and sticks problem. The device is not suitable for purpose with controls that are awful, there is no point buying it at all unless they are fixed.
Thanks Russ for another great video and thanks for reviewing my fav budget handheld company.. Pooooowkiddy!!! ❤ I have an 🎉RGB10 Max 2 and with the way things are this is a little too late. I love the screen size but I prefer to wait a year until there are budget devices that can do PS2 and Gamecube well not just 50/50. ❤ This is the best first larger screen handheld, so if you already have a V90 and want a bigger screen that does more this is it.
I've been really loving mine. Had to swap the lcd out, but this thing is really, really feeling great in my hands. Love the big screen and ergonomics. Also- about the OTA Uptade- It is there. Go into settings, about game "devies" and it says "wireless update." I used it today and there was one.
@@lawrence8895 I wish I could but I have no answer. My unit has some prototype hall sticks in it that give the same kind of issues with precision. I know they are still actively trying to update, but also that Gamma is working on it as well. Personally, I'd love to see a wide adoption of GammaOS as he's got a lot of those issues solved out of the box.
@@jedewitz Thanks man, I too would like to see GammaOS on this device but from what I see on the discord, it looks like Gamma has hit a bit of a wall for now. From what I could understand, the problem with the thumb sticks is deeply inbeded in the devices core code and to find it would be a timely case of trial and error. It seems to be the same with the aspect ratio when docking with the TV and audio for headphones. I don't think the issue is that he can't fix the problematic code, it's more that he is struggling to find the problematic code. I'm messaging the Chinese webstore at the moment to see if they can put me in contact with a dev who can at least point us in the right direction. Probably won't amount to anything but I figure it's worth a shot.
Can you make a video, how to remove Android OS ???! I dont like it, and LaunchBox is a pain to use and you have to pay for it. Maybe Ark Os/ eMULEC Os, without any trace of that stupid android os ? Please!
I’m wondering if the tape mod would fix the diagonals? I know a lot of folks did not have false diagonals with the rg35xx, but mine did, and the tape mod fixed it for me.
ROG Ally vs. Win 4 comparison, please Russ? But I'll probably still end up with the Steam Deck. I trust Valve more and don't mind the weaker hardware to save $300.
Does the x28 come with game system games pre installed like PSP, Game Boy, Sega, Capcon, PC Engine, Nintendo etc. etc.? Cause I’ve got the RGB version and it came with almost 20000 games already installed and I was just wondering if I was to upgrade to an X28 if it would be the same thing, Thanks
The false diagonals seems to be a common problem with handhelds/controllers. I wonder if someone could design a better dpad and make a STL of it. I'm not sure how the 'feel' would be but a SLA printer could be really smooth.
There are many designs that don't have this problem, but then they're less comfortable to use. It's hard to get the best of both worlds, but I think this one is good enough especially with an easy tape mod
Makes you wonder who's designing these machines because this company has made that many different handhelds you would think they would know by now how to put decent quality DPADS and sticks on their machines. They don't seem to get it that it's a deal breaker when you put bad controls on a handheld. Doesn't matter how good the rest of the machine is,if it has bad controls then it's not worth the price of the plastic it's made from.
My understanding is that PowKiddy just orders these handhelds to be manufactured by various factories, which is why there is such a huge variety to their catalog. Traditionally, the devices with the “X” nomenclature have the worst software and build quality. I think this might be the best X device they’ve released, sadly.
@@powkiddy3810 It is very unprofessional for a company to come into my comments and badmouth my channel and reviews because you disagree with my findings. If you need to reach me, my email address is on my website and my WeChat is RetroGameCorps. I started my comment with the words "my understanding", because PowKiddy is very poor at communicating to reviewers and community members. We don't know how PowKiddy operates because your company never explains how these devices are built. However, the community has observed patterns in your products, like how certain designs are different from the others, which leads us to believe that you are using various design teams and production factories to build your products. It is hard to believe that the same designer and factory that creates your cheap Y6 or X39 products is the same team that designed the RK2023. If you want people to speak the truth about how your company operates, then you need to explain it; otherwise, all we can do is speculate. I do not have a bias against PowKiddy. I want this company to succeed, because I like cheap products that are good for customers. This is why I pay out of pocket for these devices, and spend a lot of time making these reviews -- as an example, it took me over 40 hours of work to make this video. If I had a bias against PowKiddy, I wouldn't even bother with your products. But in my reviews, I always point out the good and bad with every system, and include tips on how to improve them. That has nothing to do with your company, if you watch any other review you will see the same pattern. Instead of attacking the reviewer who found some negative issues with the X28, I would recommend you talk to the contractor who developed your software, and ask if they can fix the L2/R2 button key coding and the analog stick input calibration. These are simple fixes that Black Seraph already made for the X18S last year, so I recommend discussing the solution with him.
If they had to cut corners to keep the costs down or something, controls really isn't where to do it. If you can't control your game properly, the whole device is kind of ... pointless?
@@jennyrosedeleon2557 It's the main reason I look at those coming out then think "My GPD XD still seems more usable" A shame this one got a problematic d-pad.
At this point in gaming device trends, devices are mostly cellphone/tablet devices slapped in with side controllers and buttons with an overlay for gaming menus and emulators with the main purpose of gaming./emulation. If a company cannot nail down the controls and buttons to almost perfect, might as well not develop and sell this product. This is the ultimate deal breaker for any gaming device in this genre. At $150 no one expects a device like this having major issues with the directional pad and joystick -- sure at 40 bucks maybe as even at 50 bucks there are devices that deliver with good controllers. So having these issues are unforgivable. A company can be great at everything else of the product, and they fail at this aspect(controllers and buttons) they still fail royally. Stay away from this device.
Thanks for the video. It may be interesting video if you mod it? Swap out the joysticks and look to see if you can sort the dpad out? Maybe just a simple electrical tape fix the diagonal issue?
Why android low performance gaming handheld even exist?? Just buy an old Note 9 and 50$ controller and you get a way more powerful gaming device🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Cause plenty people just prefer dedicated game handheld devices with built in controls. Ive had both, and even if you do get more performance for your money with a phone or tablet and controller, using a dedicated device can feel so much better. To each their own.
@@Guitario666 of course they should but they don't so we can do something about it. Maybe. I love the size of the handheld, it's unique and offers much larger screen than Retroid devices do. Just trying to get some information about all the possibilities over there
@Maksym Tkachenko yeah you can do what you want. The screen is great and ability to diy is nice too. But dpad and sticks are handheld 101 fails that's all I'm saying
I want to see a new, non-Android handheld with the chipset in the x55 family but stronger. Basically a JELOS x55 with a stronger RK chip. I want nothing to do with Android.
I hate devices like these. They’re nice devices that perform well and are priced attractive enough to be an impulse buy, but with me a Steam Deck and an ROG Ally on the way, there’s no way I’m going to use this enough to justify its price.
Its a pretty decent device but i think its better still to save for one of the bigger hitters and just cover all the retro systems once and be done for a long time! Great review though!
@@petetherealrelentless6542 I do collect and i think thats my problem haha, i need to stop! Trying not to get the ROG one now since I already have the Steam Deck.
@@razgrizgaming yeh man I know the feeling.. im almost 50 and I have to constantly stop myself from buying yet another one of these machines. But the thought of owning another unique little handheld that effortlessly plays the games I played growing up becomes too great. Im actually going to need to put some shelves up to give my collection somewhere to live. 😂
@@petetherealrelentless6542 Yah I've got a bookshelf area devoted to handhelds from Gameboy on to bigger hitters and many versions of them as well. I have 9 switches for example.... I have a problem lol. Great to meet another enthusiast /lunatic lol. I think its for me anyway the joy the handhelds brought as a kid when i couldn't play my main consoles.
@@razgrizgaming 9 switches? bloody hell you do have a problem! 😂 But its a far better problem to be spending your money on than drugs and crap. But yeh I do love these little handhelds and the fact they have so much more power than my atari 2600, vic20, c64, amiga, xt or 386 did and these things rest in the palm of your hand.
Hi Russ, thanx for the amazing video and the review. I think I'll stick with RP3+ I have sent U a mail with Miyoo Mini Plus and Anbernic RG35XX mod, hope U will like the tactile mod 😉
To my eyes the RP3+ screen leans too hard into warm colors, especially yellow, even after I tinker with the settings. (It’s really clear to see at 20:19 how warm the Retroid screens are.) It looks like this Powkiddy has much more balanced colors, which would be great. Too bad about that d-pad though…
Seems like a nice device for 150 bucks if you don't have one I think this is a steal or something cool to get your kids is it perfect no but it's $150 and that's to my front door because of this video I ordered one so thank you
Hi Russ, would you recommend this X28 (or another T618 device eg. RP3+/Flip) or the Anbernic Win600 as a better emulation device upto ps2/gamecube? I realise win600 is more expensive than this... but its still cheaper than getting a Steamdeck. Also, as a side note...where would you place An Odin or a Loki into the mix? I mention the Win600 because it was a cheap PC device...and although it cant compete with the other handheld PC devices....for latest AAA games...i'm really just concerned about emulation upto PS2//Gamecube as mentioned above. In summery : Is a mid/higher Android device better than an entry PC handheld for emulation???
Really, the only step up from the Retroid pocket would be something like a Steam Deck. But in term of android units why would anyone get anything other than the RP or maybe Odin?
Always close but never quite enough for my needs for a secondary retro handheld I can share or take to group meet ups. A D-pad with a good click (preferably disc shaped Saturn style), analog triggers and a stronger cpu is what I'd expect these days. The menu buttons all look nicely featured and I like how they use the standard joystick parts to make them repairable. If this one was much cheaper maybe but I feel like I need just a little more power and some quirks fixed.
I'm actually considering it. I want another affordable handheld with a bigger screen that doesn't have ass software, and so far this is also the first in this category that I don't find ugly, so perhaps...
You forgot to put Tekken 3 at 21:42 but otherwise, nice video. Edit: Oh! and is there a micro function? Because I can think of two NDS games that need a device with such function to be finished.
Hey Russ! It would be nice to hear your opinions on the PSP. I think it is still a great emulation machine because it's cheap and available. And it can play PSP games without a problem. 😁
Love my PSP. I was looking for a retro handheld and then remembered that i got a PSP which i didn't use for around 10 years. New battery new micro SD and this thing is so much fun again. There are so many great PSP games and all the GBA SNES PS1 runs great 😸
@@Dec4AllTimeAlways I have a Vita too but I like to play more pick up and play games like the NES, Gameboy and GBA. The Vita is great but it's a bit larger, heavier and the PSP is more comfortable for my tiny hands. 😅
This machine ticks so many box's for me. The style of the device looks sleek and modern while also being ergonomic. The screen quality and sound seem to be the best on the market for this chip set. Where I am based I can pick it up cheaper than the rg405m. It's so frustrating that they aren't spending more time on the control software because otherwise this would be arguably better than retroid pocket 3+ and cost less. It's literally a software update away from being the best handheld. Such a pity.
I kind of ignored the warnings about the D-pad and bought an X28 anyway, and I've had it for about 6 weeks now. I wanted a big screen because my old-man eyes don't like the smaller 4" ones (or the 3.8" one that 4:3 content on the Retroid Pocket 3+ works out to be). The 4.3" 4:3 screen size makes a big difference. The 960x720 screen area is high-res enough that stretching and using an interpolation shader and stretching to fill the height looks good enough. The D-pad is definitely not as good as an Anbernic or Retroid device, but after a bit of an adjustment, I got used to it. I actually really like it for fighting games where you need the Hadouken or Shoryuken movements like Russ said. Platformers are okay with some work. I can play Super Mario World without any issues after some practice. All that said, this thing is just going to stick around as what I play until my Ayaneo Pocket S Dimensity 1200 arrives early next month. That screen is much nicer and Ayaneo's controls are typically much nicer as well. That device cost me twice what I paid for the X28, so if you don't have the money for that, this can be okay. The D-pad issues are real, but they _can_ be overcome with some practice. It's definitely a con, but so is the display size on the Pocket 3+ (IMO). Which con can you overcome? If your eyes are better than mine, the Pocket 3+ is probably the better bet.
@@alebustamanteq No but in the intervening two months, the L1 button has broken off entirely. The switch mounted on the PCB came loose and fell off. It's inside the system. And I can't really resolder it because the legs broke off. I don't feel like I'm rough on these things; nothing like this has ever happened to a handheld I've owned before. This thing is just kind of junk.
Kind of a shame really, had the setup to be good but seems to have fallen short in both how the software handles the controls and timing since its being compared to several that released before it.
What I wish people like yourself would add when going over the specs, is a comparison to a known console/handheld....sometimes you get an idea from the emulators but to those of us who have no clue where to start, it would be a great addition.
