Thanks for the lively discussion as always! A few notes (and I'll probably add to this later): - The thing where the Home button kills RetroArch has to do with using Daijisho as your home launcher, so this isn't an issue exclusive to the KTR1. It's just that the Home button here is placed in a way that I press it accidentally. Here is a demonstration: imgur.com/a/8BOgkxE - The dev is aware of the Home button issue and is working on making all buttons fully mappable. Right now you *can* map the top-right button to something else, but it still keeps its Home button functionality too, effectively overriding whatever you set. - Unchecking the "Use Dual Core" option in Citra MMJ removes the stuttering in some games, thanks to Paul for the tip. Other games like Super Mario 3D Land continue to stutter, and don't play at fullspeed either. - If you order the model with the d-pad up top, it will come with the Nintendo ABXY pattern. - For my testing, I spent about four hours on GameCube/Wii and PS2 each. During that time I looked for example games that provided a spectrum of results, to give viewers an idea of what to expect with their own game catalog. There will be many other games that play just great on those systems, but bear in mind that there will be others that won't! And it will be possible to get better performance on some of these games, but it will take time and experimentation. - There should be a software update available by the time this device ships, and the dev indicates that will improve performance. - The screen resolution is 1620x1080 (vice 1690x1080 that I put in my specs). Late-night editing strikes again!
Love it, the quirks of the review unit seems to have put a lot of pause on people, which can be justified since like you said before it's not good to buy based on promises of what it could be in the future. But I personally think this will turn out excellent when all it said and done, just like the past 2 years you just have to wait for it all to fall into place lol
Another thing to add about the rattle too is that it should be fixed in the future with rubber sleeves for the stems on the shoulders and triggers (missing on the review units). And... no Wifi antenna on the review units which is why you had to sit next to the router lol
Is this device going to be able to play xenosaga episode 2 and 3 ? Once one of these devices can do that I am in. I want to play those while on my commute on the train.
I really appreciate your reviews. You thoroughly discuss more practical details which most people don't cover. You also have comparisons to justify your thoughts. Everything is VERY detailed and useful.
I love how long your videos are Russ. Especially when I'm about to buy a device, some of these 10 minutes ish reviews by other UA-camrs just don't go deep enough. I feel like when I'm paying out the $100-200+ that emulators cost these days I want as much info as possible. Thank you
He's very thorough, I agree. It's nice to get as much of an in-depth look at a system as possible when considering a purchase. Or heck, even just to check out the system out of curiosity. I mean I feel like I understand virtually every flaw with the system without having ever even seen one in real life.
@@Robin_3v especially on a behemoth of a handheld console 💀 i hate people who shill the steamdeck, expecting everyone to love the big, bulky, and ugly console
Those 3DS graphic stutters remind me of my experience on the Odin Lite using older builds on OpenGL. Vulkan improves it but runs a bit slower on the Vulkan compatible builds, as you discovered. You could try and disable multicore rendering (I think that's the setting), that seemed to alleviate the stuttering for me on my Lite.
Hey Paul, this is a great tip, thanks! This fixed the stuttering in many games, and while some don't play at full speed, there are quite a few that I would consider playable. Sadly, there are still graphical issues with Ocarina of Time and some others, but the experience is pretty good now. I'm going to leave this info in a pinned comment, thanks again!
I have the same problem of accidentally hitting the Home button instead of Start on my Odin. A free Android app called Button Mapper was the solution. I mapped a single press to "Back," which in retroarch does nothing, but in most emulators opens up the quick menu. Then I mapped a double-press to Home so that I still have access to that functionality, and a long press to open up the app switcher. It's not a perfect solution but at least now I'm not getting kicked out of my app when all I want to do is pause.
Been waiting for this review for a looong while! Am disappointed by the only slight bump in performance. I think I just need to be patient for next year. Maybe by then we will have an RG405M style handheld that can flawlessly play GC/PS2/Wii. For now ill just play those systems on my steam deck. Thanks for your work Russ!
I've been trying to tell the community that the KTR1 isn't the savior for playing 6th generation titles. I understand the optimism with some of the videos but I really don't think it has that capability. For everything else it's great though.
Possibly end of next year, but like we would have to jump the SOC performance by a ton. For instance, everyone is making and stuck on t618 currently, and that is weaker than the Odin still. Even the Odin with a SD845 doesn’t do all that flawlessly. So either you need a new company to shake everything up, or trust that current manufacturers jump well past the sd845 at a low price point, which I just don’t see happening for a long time.
I really wanted to hear you say that MMJR stands for "subscribe to Retro Game Corps" 🤣 Excellent video, as always. I appreciate how thorough you are. I always feel like I know these devices so well after watching you videos. Cheers, Russ!
Handheld emulation is almost getting there, but I think imma hold out another year on replacing my RG350m. At least until it's streamlined and ergonomic enough if I'm paying close to $200 for one. Also enother a big complaint I have with these is the tiny 2% - 5% performance increase with each new version of these's handhelds that come out. Everytime I am about to pull the trigger on buying a new model, something new comes out with tiny improvements of the last release. Just wish these companies would stop trying to milk the emulation consumers and just release a decent handheld with significant performance increases that pushes to do at least 15% - 20% better than these half @$$ new revisions.
The SoC choice is a big letdown but I guess that's a result of long development times. Big meh for me though. If i didn't already have an RP3+ I would likely get the 4GB version of this. Also, non-stacked triggers???
This unit just about hits the sweet spot for size, power and portability, and the 3:2 screen is awesome. I hope the competition takes notice and I hope the creator of this device can take constructive criticism and fix all of the weaknesses. It's a good time to be a retro-gamer!
Man, Saturn emulation on Android is REALLY a big problem. I respect the Yabasanshiro dev, but dude, just imagine how it would be if it had been open source until now. ALL the little hot fixes needed have have been PILING up man... My hope is the SSF emulator people working on their current Android pre alpha (I managed to make it work for super low end games, like Parodius etc.). But again, it's closed source I believe and the langage barrier is really compounding the issue (100% Japanese project). This device should be able to run it full speed no issue, as well as many other handhelds. Anyway. I've been waiting for this specific handheld for YEARS now, but I'm not going to lie, this is really disappointing to me in general. I LOVE the fact that it's a passion project and not from a soulless company... I'm still interested, but I find that the price is a bit out of my range for that type of low-ish handhelds. If things were better money-wise I would still be buying one 100% if only to support the guy. But right now... IDK. I'd be interested if he's planning to make a Ver 1.5 model next. One with stacked shoulder buttons, etc.
I got an RP2+, because I was sold on FINALLY playing Sega Saturn on a handheld. I can play most games I REALLY want to play on it, just not all. Marvel Super Heroes Vs Street Fighter won't play, Last Bronx is glitchy and Burning Rangers is kinda janky. Not sure if RP3+ and RG405/RG505 is better, because reviewers tend to jump straight to PSP, PS2, GC, Wii, 3DS and Switch.
@@TheObserver85 I KNOW dude. Exact same boat here. And not only do we have to deal with generally poor or at best uneven emulation, but most of those devices are not "Dpad centric" (which is why having the option to put the dpad on top made this particular handheld extremely interesting). And while most of those dpads are fine themselves, try to find a shield style one with a powerful enough device is impossible at the moment... Playing Saturn with a bad Dpad is just blasphemy in my opinion :P But anyway; if you're looking for better Saturn emulation with a similar profile as the RP2+, this device is kind of your best option right now. The screen of the RP3+ SUCKS for 4:3 content, imho. Going with the widescreen option destroyed that device for me. The new clamshell Retroid is also widescreen, BUT the dpad is well positioned so you might want to have a look at how it performs. To be honest, we're HIGHLY limited on Android in general, even with quite powerful devices like the Odin. It's STILL no enough to run Retroarch Beetle Saturn (just like the KTR1); so like all the others at that price point we're stuck with either the YabaSanshiro standalone, on Retroarch as a core (no save states for some fu**ing reason), or the even more outdated Yabause core but with the ability to save states. It's only 3 options, and it all depend on which game you want to emulate and how. Also, since there isn't a team behind any Yaba Sanshiro incarnation, it's updated twice a year usually for stuff nobody care about like the cloud saving option. This causes many compatibility issues when trying to use it with a fontend, as there are no device specific hotfixes. I'm always able to mange, but it can be a pain. ALL of that BS to come to ONE conclusion: Android is not what you want on a handheld right now if you want to the best portable Saturn emulation. WINDOWS is what you need, unfortunately. There you get so much additional options. A cheap one that is great (if REALLY short battery life isn't a problem for you) is the Aya Neo Air (with OLED screen). It's a low tier Windows handheld, but it's powerful enough to use virtually any Saturn emulator you'd want. Also, while the thumbstick is at the top, the position of the Dpad is still high enough to be quite ergonomic, and all the buttons are quite good. Otherwise AYN has an equivalent low end Windows handheld too, but I don't know which ones are readily available to purchase nor do I have experience with them. I do have a GPD Win 4, but it's 4 times the price lol... Last option is the HORRIBLE and rushed to market Anbernic Win600, STILL selling for an INSANE price for the piece of junk it is. NOBODY should support them honestly. But if you can somehow get one for like $200 MAX (I got mine for free and had already ram laying around to upgrade it too), the Dpad is great and perfectly placed. You also get a lot of screen real-estate for 4:3 content. And while performance isn't good (zero optimization), it's good enough for Beetle Saturn if you want accuracy, Kronos if you'd like to upscale a little bit, and SSF if for a mix of the two. Again, STAY AWAY unless you find one for at least half the price AND with the "best" configuration. I use mine exclusively for Saturn and it isn't bad. LOL; I just wrote a freaking novel :P But eh; It's so rare to see fellow Saturn fan in the portable handheld crowd so there you go. If you need help with anything Saturn emulation related let me know! Btw, do you know any device able to emulate Saturn that has a shield style Dpad? I have a cheap one that is vertical and has a Nomad button layout (forgot the name), but it's barely able to emulate Saturn (great for Genesis/MD though). Let me know if you'd like to know which one. Other than that there's new Evercade, which has an AWESOME shield Dpad, but I don't think it has been hacked yet (without or without a flash cart), nor that it will be powerful enough to brute force Saturn emulation without serious optimisation work that'll probably never be done (it's a weap cpu...).
@@Unholy_Louie As soon as I seen your post and Sega Saturn, I knew I had to jump in and reply. Us Saturn fans gotta stick together🤝 I even bought a PiBoy DMG because of its 6 face buttons. Was tempted to get a Powkiddy A20 for its 6 face buttons as well. I plan on getting a KTR1 for ol' skool gaming(Fighters, SHMUPs, Beat'em Ups etc.) and a Windows handheld for a little more modern emulation and Rpgs on from older consoles(Saturn's Shining Force 3 games and Panzer Dragoon Saga as an example). So the KTR1 would be for Arcade type Saturn games(also other consoles) and maybe an AYA NEO or Asus ROG Ally handheld for more home console type gaming. Hopefully the KTR1 will be up to task when it finally drops🤞 And no worries for the novel comment OP, if it's about the Saturn and some helpful tips, I'll read it and enjoy it🤜🤛
Hi, Russ! Have you tried the sharp-bilinear shaders in retroarch? What they do is scale the image to the highest integer below the screen's resolution and then apply a bilinear filter scaling from there to fill the rest of the screen. Now that you can stack shader presets in retroarch, i find it really useful. Another benefit i find in the KTR1 is that CRT shaders work substantially better with bigger resolutions. I remember 1440p and 4K being the ideal but 1080p is still way better than 480p, so you can take more advantage of shaders and bezels like the ones from the mega bezel project with the KTR1
Always an informative and detailed preview so thanks Russ. Yet another decent handheld that packs good features yet still not powerful enough to standout from the sub $300 competition which is a real shame but also expected for the price range.
⚠ BEWARE EVERYBODY i have purchased my KTR1 on june 23, and i have still nothing! Console isn't shipped yet, the status is still "prepare". I have sent 2 polites mail but no response at all......yet my money has been spent! 😡 If i have no response in a few day i will demand order cancelation and refund. So be aware of it before purchase. I will update you guys in a few days.
@@tomlion0116 Hi, i have well receipted my ktr1, but i ordered it on june 2023 and receipted it on november so it took 5 months. Yet, the console is cool.
I love the concept/idea and the story behind this device a lot, but I don’t think I’m in any hurry to snag one for the time being. I have an RP3+ that I absolutely adore and use daily, and this doesn’t strike me as being worth it as a possible upgrade Still, I love seeing more of these devices being made and hope that it brings a lot of happiness for those who pick one up!
same boat, until something is really giving me a sizable performance bump in the same form factor or smaller I will hold on to mine though after really taking a good look again, I don't think I can get down with the trigger/bumper setup, the RP3+ totally has spoiled me on that
The power of this is fantastic, the non-stacked triggers and lack of Linux sucks, I hope this is popular enough that a Version2 gets released with stacked triggers and linux
I was hoping you would be able to rebind the 4 buttons in the front so that start and select are on the top instead like the Switch. The current layout is very bizarre. Maybe in the future there will be a way to do that.
Everyone on the Discord servers are so hyped about this device. I just don't get it. The layout is cramped, the buttons aren't that great, and those 4 extra face buttons (start, select, home, back) are in the worst location. Also, I admire the creator for making the device, but they're also trying to make their own website, their own storefront, and their own payment system. Which is shady, at worst, and insecure at best.
Very late to the party and not nearly enough power for 2023, unfortunately. With an estimated delivery end of June with a price of over 300 € for the top model with import taxes to Germany, I'd rather keep my RG405M and wait for the Asus ROG Ally.
Chris PS2 is definitely possible on a Helio G99, I know from personal experience. It's not going to play literally every single PS2 game in existence, but I guarantee you it'll run like 2/3rds of the games at native resolution. Unless you're extremely petty or nitpicky it's not a big deal to have minor graphical issues or slight lag here and there
@@Apollo-iq1vx this ^ there are way weaker devices that can handle some ps2, and even more powerful devices that can't run the while library. I imagine the retail ktr1 will handle most of the games people would want to play portably
While this sounds cool I think I’m gonna pass on ALL of these handhelds until we get another jump in power, hoping for a future with a retroid flip with full ps2 and GameCube playability
@@bulletpunch9317 ehh, I've done it but not having built in controls and the weird aspect ratios always meant I'd go for a different device even if it's weaker. Plus I'd rather save my phones battery for phone stuff
If we're talking about comfort out of all of these I'd probably go with the KTR1 mostly because I _hate_ the offset controls. I'm a Playstation user mainly, so I prefer the option of analogs on the bottom on both sides. Plus like 85% of the playable retro games will prioritize the Dpad. But I'm confused by the button layout, if you can't remap that home button thought that's going to be a big issue. All of these systems were Android, so why are some of these using the Nintendo button layout while others use the Xinput style? A little annoying thing I noticed across all of these devices. Ultimately, it doesn't seem to do much significantly better than the RP3+. Which is sad because it's so close to being an upgrade with a lot of thought put into it.
If they permitted full signal on 8 directions, you would go faster on diagonals. I don't know in older games, but if you develop a game now, you would have to normalize the input so that it's circular like these
You CAN remap the HOME button. But on Android 12 only one app is able to do it in my experience. I don't have any device with me at the moment but if anyone is interested I can definitely come back here when I'm home to let you guys know which remap app it is. Let me know :)
My wife hates the clickyness as I tend to play my handhelds in bed at night, and she gets upset if she isn't already asleep. I haven't found one handheld that gets all the buttons right. Either the shoulder buttons are to clicky, or the face buttons are.
Really surprised these handhelds still can't do Gamecube/PS2 era when most phones can? Definitely not worth paying the price of a Switch for such poor emulation.
Excellent review! It seems like the KT-R1 was largely a victim of unfortunate timing. When it was announced there was nothing close to it's power level on the market so it was a really exciting proposition, but by the time it actually came out we already had a wide variety of similarly powered and probably better built devices to choose from. I really appreciate the thorough review though, and testing Star Fox Adventures for the GameCube! That's the one GameCube game that I always want to know how it's going to run on a device, and so far it seems like unfortunately nothing other than the Steam Deck can really play it well.
Anybody can announce anything. Timing really can be everything sometimes. Speaking generally when I say that it feels like some people are allergic to just get an Odin Lite still lol.
@@cheekydaze6018 I'd definitely be down to get an Odin Lite if it was just a little more powerful and could play GameCube more effectively without tinkering, but as it stands the really demanding GameCube games that I'd like to play (Metroid Prime 2, Star Fox Adventures, Rogue Squadron II, etc.) just don't run well on the Odin Lite without hiccups or slowdowns. The Steam Deck is a bit big for my liking though and I really prefer gaming on Android, so I'm hopeful that the upcoming Aya Neo Pocket Air will be the high powered GameCube capable Android device I've been waiting for. =)
If you want something Ps Vita sized that can play PS2 games the KT-R1 is your only option - there is the rg405m at a similar form factor but the performance is worse in all emulators.
The range of performance from GameCube and up is pretty crazy. It's crazy to me that you can't play every GameCube game (without a lot of hacks), but you are able to emulate some switch games.
Maybe it's because modern games seem to be more optimized than older ones? Game engines are quite good these days and libraries seem quite helpful. And I remember some older systems being criticized for having horrid architectures and being a pain to develop games for.
@@skycloud4802 And Nintendo is "kind" enough to make their consoles so low in graphical power that emulation is so much easier rural than other current Gen consoles lol
@@JonathanHolt1988 it doesnt work like that though, if that was the case, this thing should emulate without a problem xbox360/ps3/wiiu (let alone wii&gamecube), but it doesnt. It's just that the switch has a very developer friendly(/well understood) chipset, so it's also easier to emulate. So easy, that's it's easier for most hardware to emulate switch than ps2
Switch games were developed on hardware that has an arm chip and architecture from a 2015 android tablet. Gamecube play station 2 and wii were have custom cpus and graphics
Great video! I’m on the fence about this device. Leaning more towards the rg405m. I’m honestly new into the retro emulation world. I am curious would the 8gb ram version tweak the stuttering in the ps2 game play? I know in the video you showed that this device really wasn’t proving itself on that platform. Looking for a nice overall pocketable device. Thank you
Super mario bros wii runs at full speed with 60fps on my ambernic 505 so idk why this device which is more powerful have problem with this game. Also 3ds games like new super bros 2 and even super mario 3d land runs amazing on the ambernic 505 (with vulcan version).
Promised myself I would not buy another handheld as I do not need one with the deck and the RG35xx. But ou birthday is coming so ordered one for myself...
I had ordered one and I am happy about it with 8GB RAM it fulfilled all my requirements it is pocketable 7000 mh battery life can play almost all PS2, WII, GAMECUBE. I don't care about the drawbacks as it is not that much and the developer is one guy who is working hard for making this handheld. We should appreciate his hard work and wish him to make more consoles in future as well 👍
This device has pretty much everything I want; genuinely hope the full production model has more refined chassis and controls and some QOL tweaks ("hold to go home" to mitigate accidental home button presses, for example).. might be the one to make me finally open my wallet
I'd say with the spotty performance on the high end of BOTH systems, that the 405m looks far more desirable. Unless the full release of kt-r1 addresses all the hardware issues, the 405m has the better price, button quality, portability, and likely better customer support.
Apparently when you select the layout, it also changes the buttons. You get the Dreamcast/Xbox layout with the stick on top and the Nintendo layout with the d-pad on top. And while I appreciate that the "white" version has the SNES colors with the Nintendo layout, they really missed an opportunity to make the Dreamcast/Xbox layout have the correct Dreamcast or Xbox colors.
I think most people would have to wait for an Android handheld with Snap 888 or 8+ Gen 1 or 2 if they want to break the GameCube and even Wii barrier without breaking a sweat. Odin Pro came out last year with only 845 from 2018. I don't trust these cheap Chinese SoCs. Get a Qualcomm Snapdragon above 865 if it's an Android handheld if you want to emulate PS2 and GCN properly. I own a Pixel 3 with 845 and it struggles with PS2 and GameCube. But my Flip 3 with 888 has no problems with either retro consoles. It's not always perfect for every ROM but I'm very selective with the games I want to play and the Flip pretty much plays all of them smoothly except some Dolphin MMJR2 settings tweaking with F-Zero GX. I like how Russ keeps that Sonic the Hedgehog on loop in the background on a regular 4:3 standard TV that looks like my Sony Wega that I used to play all my 6th gen consoles on about 20 years ago. Has it been that long? Still feels like yesterday. I love Russ' handheld size comparisons. Extremely useful information for me as I'm very picky on size and comfort when buying a handheld. I like how RetroCorps uses that SNES controller in the intro logo. Still my favorite controller of all-time over 30 years later. So compact and comfortable. The SN30 Pro would be my fav if the D-pad and face buttons didn't feel so clicky and noisy. And the Wavebird would be my fav if the button layout wasn't all over the place. But that too was extremely comfortable and battery life lasted forever using rechargeable double-A batteries. Used IR and still years before wireless Bluetooth controllers became standard. I watched RGT 85's video yesterday about which games he kept after selling most of his game collection. I thought he was close to my age and Russ but he's about 5 years younger if he was 13 in 1998. His stories really made me reminisce my youth too. I think my favorite game ever is still Final Fantasy VII followed by Shenmue II but the most important to me was Super Mario Bros. (1985) and Sonic The Hedgehog (1991). I'm weird. I like Sony and Sega more than Nintendo but Nintendo has more meaningful games and moments for me growing up. I've owned 9 Nintendo systems (NES to Wii, GB, GBA, DSL, Switch Lite). Owned 6 Sony systems (PS1 thru PS4, PSP, Vita) and only 4 Sega systems (Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, Game Gear). I just like Sony and Sega more as companies. I still prefer Sonic over Mario. I actually prefer the Sonic movies over the recent SMB movie. Sonic has way more personality. I'm very aware of Nintendo's history like betraying Sony in CES 1991 or their monopolistic ways. Or pissing off UA-camrs with a Steam Deck emulating Switch games. But at the end of the day, Nintendo is still a very important company in my life and especially during my childhood. Will definitely get the Switch 2 Lite to move my Switch 1 games onto it. Nintendo for me still has the most replayable games and consoles. I always go back to them more than games on Sony and Sega systems. I'm currently replaying Super Mario 3D World to get all the green stars, top pole yellow flags, and stamps. Nintendo games and consoles are the best for emulation handhelds like this. Nintendo offers the most timeless charm with their cartoony graphics because that nostalgic drug is very strong to people who get older. You reminisce to a time when most people you loved (like a grandparent) were still alive. When you didn't stress as much. Nintendo catering mostly to children makes them live forever the way old animated Disney films do to people with their timeless, magical-feeling music. Forever young. Nintendo always inspired to be like Disney since the 1950s and they accomplished it by the 1980s. God bless, Shigeru Miyamoto, the Walt Disney/George Lucas/Steven Spielberg/Jim Henson of gaming. Love my Switch Lite and Vita slim right next to each other. Played both of them today. Once I win my NBA bets by June which could hit thousands of dollars as I've covered like 10 teams parlayed with NFL wagers that hit, a Steam Deck is going to be right to my Switch and Vita. And that will become my favorite gaming purchase I've ever made. Or at least no worse than top 3. The Asus ROG Ally and GPD Win 4 do look enticing. The Win 4 definitely is my favorite in terms of design and ergonomics. Just unsure they can provide the established ecosystem and online community support that the Steam Deck already has.
o no killer instinct "dipped" to 59 fps dude... seriously aggravating when ppl say stuff like this... THAT IS NORMAL...YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS. THAT IS NOT A PERFORMANCE HIT ...my god man....just why
kind of a small thing, but I personally dislike that there's an advertisement banner for something as simple as a diagnostics/settings menu (@ 5 min for joystick dead zone check). Hopefully that's something you'll only see when you're online at least.
Great video as usual, but goodness, I've been watching your channel since the start (been having a great time!) and I swear every time we get to the d-pad fighting game test, it's heartbreak. Unironic question: are there _any_ of these machines with a pad suited for someone wanting to mess around with Third Strike on the go?
Great review as Always ! One thing bugs me tough, from what I understand this is supposed to be less powerful than the Odin lite but for most of the games I saw in the video (god of War 2 especially) they seem to run better on this than on the Odin lite video ? Is this juste because of emulators updates ? I m asking because I m wondering which one to buy between the two ! Thanks !
I feel this device is 6-12 months too late. It’s much less appealing with the rp3+ and it’s similar competitors around. Not too mention all the more powerful handheld pcs if u wanted to spend more.
Russ, can you make a video or a point of giving us a better sense of where the processors and screens sit relative to competitor devices? The model numbers for processors doesn’t tell us much tbh. Same with screens. You do mention the screen aspect ratio which is great but other things such as size comparisons, anti reflective performance, etc would be great.
Thanks for the video! Did you ever compare psp game screen size between the KT-R1 and the RG405M? I would think the KT-R1 would be a better experience.
Just received it the other day. A bit later than June :D Very, very nice. Had to switch to "white", but it's more like old PC beige. Looks, feels, and works fantastic :)
Looking forward to seeing other upcoming handhelds with this chip. All of the complaints you had on this unit were highly valid and would be a turnoff for me enough so that I'd avoid this particular layout/choice of components.
@@harleyn3089 that chip uses a lot more power and needs a fan since it's 4 big cores, so you have to pick your battles. It'll never fit a small device.
KTR1 is a good start, but it’s just too many flaws. My ideal device: 1. Build quality of an Anbernic metal/plastic option 2. 5.1 1080p OLED screen 3:2 3. Stacked analogue triggers 4. Rounded back like the Odin 5. Front firing Speakers 6. Snapdragon processor 7. Tall hall sensor Analogue sticks slightly concave (smooth and clickable for L3 and R3), RP3+ Dpad but 2o% larger Larger dome switch face buttons 8. 1080p video out 9. Android (latest version 13), WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 10. Large battery (>5500)
The seller has them on eBay, I ordered it today (6gb model in black)..... Thanks for the review on it, I wanted a pocket version for it.... Got it, nice device, pocketable, now just to get it all set, Android devices needed a lot of work... You will like the fact that home button has been moved to the below the buttons...
Good review! I'm sticking with my Steam Deck even though I pretty much exclusively use it in docked mode. I am looking forward to seeing the next wave of more powerful portable devices that can comfortably run most Dreamcast/PS2/GameCube/Wii game (and perhaps beyond) without too much need to tweak a ton settings. Though, we'll just have to wait and see as the technology improves.
@@maxamillion2k7 Yeah, I've actually heard good things about that one, too. May eventually bite the bullet and pick it up, but just weighing my options.
Thanks for the lively discussion as always! A few notes (and I'll probably add to this later):
- The thing where the Home button kills RetroArch has to do with using Daijisho as your home launcher, so this isn't an issue exclusive to the KTR1. It's just that the Home button here is placed in a way that I press it accidentally. Here is a demonstration: imgur.com/a/8BOgkxE
- The dev is aware of the Home button issue and is working on making all buttons fully mappable. Right now you *can* map the top-right button to something else, but it still keeps its Home button functionality too, effectively overriding whatever you set.
- Unchecking the "Use Dual Core" option in Citra MMJ removes the stuttering in some games, thanks to Paul for the tip. Other games like Super Mario 3D Land continue to stutter, and don't play at fullspeed either.
- If you order the model with the d-pad up top, it will come with the Nintendo ABXY pattern.
- For my testing, I spent about four hours on GameCube/Wii and PS2 each. During that time I looked for example games that provided a spectrum of results, to give viewers an idea of what to expect with their own game catalog. There will be many other games that play just great on those systems, but bear in mind that there will be others that won't! And it will be possible to get better performance on some of these games, but it will take time and experimentation.
- There should be a software update available by the time this device ships, and the dev indicates that will improve performance.
- The screen resolution is 1620x1080 (vice 1690x1080 that I put in my specs). Late-night editing strikes again!
Love it, the quirks of the review unit seems to have put a lot of pause on people, which can be justified since like you said before it's not good to buy based on promises of what it could be in the future. But I personally think this will turn out excellent when all it said and done, just like the past 2 years you just have to wait for it all to fall into place lol
Another thing to add about the rattle too is that it should be fixed in the future with rubber sleeves for the stems on the shoulders and triggers (missing on the review units).
And... no Wifi antenna on the review units which is why you had to sit next to the router lol
Is this device going to be able to play xenosaga episode 2 and 3 ? Once one of these devices can do that I am in. I want to play those while on my commute on the train.
Russ, what Daijisho's theme that you use in minutes 22:00?
@@ranggasukarno2846 it’s the “Circuit” theme.
Can we make “hadoukenable” and “shoryukenable” the official grading system for D pads
I had a good laugh about that one.
Came here to say just that. It's perfect.
@@jacobnobles8453 Same
I second this
Yeah man, I wanna do it
I really appreciate your reviews. You thoroughly discuss more practical details which most people don't cover. You also have comparisons to justify your thoughts. Everything is VERY detailed and useful.
I love how long your videos are Russ. Especially when I'm about to buy a device, some of these 10 minutes ish reviews by other UA-camrs just don't go deep enough. I feel like when I'm paying out the $100-200+ that emulators cost these days I want as much info as possible. Thank you
Many reviewers just read the spec sheet, film an unboxing and call it a day. Almost nobody goes to the lengths and depths of Russ.
He's very thorough, I agree. It's nice to get as much of an in-depth look at a system as possible when considering a purchase. Or heck, even just to check out the system out of curiosity.
I mean I feel like I understand virtually every flaw with the system without having ever even seen one in real life.
I'm so sad this one didn't break that GameCube barrier. because it's the most attractive handheld yet with size and aesthetic
Sadly we're still a couple years away from that I believe
Steam Deck is out now lol… I have tons of GameCube games on it
Same, I wanna have my ps2 games and windwaker in my pocket
@@kratos2105 Ain't nobody tryna pay $400 just to play GameCube on the go lol
@@Robin_3v especially on a behemoth of a handheld console 💀 i hate people who shill the steamdeck, expecting everyone to love the big, bulky, and ugly console
Those 3DS graphic stutters remind me of my experience on the Odin Lite using older builds on OpenGL. Vulkan improves it but runs a bit slower on the Vulkan compatible builds, as you discovered. You could try and disable multicore rendering (I think that's the setting), that seemed to alleviate the stuttering for me on my Lite.
Hey Paul, this is a great tip, thanks! This fixed the stuttering in many games, and while some don't play at full speed, there are quite a few that I would consider playable. Sadly, there are still graphical issues with Ocarina of Time and some others, but the experience is pretty good now. I'm going to leave this info in a pinned comment, thanks again!
Was the new in progress citra vulkan build tested? I must have missed it
I have the same problem of accidentally hitting the Home button instead of Start on my Odin. A free Android app called Button Mapper was the solution. I mapped a single press to "Back," which in retroarch does nothing, but in most emulators opens up the quick menu. Then I mapped a double-press to Home so that I still have access to that functionality, and a long press to open up the app switcher. It's not a perfect solution but at least now I'm not getting kicked out of my app when all I want to do is pause.
AFAIK this was never stated in the video but how much RAM did your review unit come with? Is it the 8GB version?
"Hadokenable" and "Shoryukenable" are now in my english dictionary. Thanks, Russ.
Been waiting for this review for a looong while! Am disappointed by the only slight bump in performance. I think I just need to be patient for next year. Maybe by then we will have an RG405M style handheld that can flawlessly play GC/PS2/Wii. For now ill just play those systems on my steam deck. Thanks for your work Russ!
I've been trying to tell the community that the KTR1 isn't the savior for playing 6th generation titles. I understand the optimism with some of the videos but I really don't think it has that capability. For everything else it's great though.
These things come out so fast, we may see one by the end of the year i hope
@@IYamJayJay I think this is really likely. Who knows retroid might be on the 5+ by EOY lmao
Possibly end of next year, but like we would have to jump the SOC performance by a ton. For instance, everyone is making and stuck on t618 currently, and that is weaker than the Odin still. Even the Odin with a SD845 doesn’t do all that flawlessly. So either you need a new company to shake everything up, or trust that current manufacturers jump well past the sd845 at a low price point, which I just don’t see happening for a long time.
@@josealvarado2309 What about a $300+ device with snap 865? An overclocked and actively cooled 865 would be a beast.
I really wanted to hear you say that MMJR stands for "subscribe to Retro Game Corps" 🤣
Excellent video, as always. I appreciate how thorough you are. I always feel like I know these devices so well after watching you videos. Cheers, Russ!
But Anrose, I can't say that, because MMJR stands for "subscribe to Mr. Sujano". It goes against the laws of physics!
Handheld emulation is almost getting there, but I think imma hold out another year on replacing my RG350m.
At least until it's streamlined and ergonomic enough if I'm paying close to $200 for one.
Also enother a big complaint I have with these is the tiny 2% - 5% performance increase with each new version of these's handhelds that come out.
Everytime I am about to pull the trigger on buying a new model, something new comes out with tiny improvements of the last release.
Just wish these companies would stop trying to milk the emulation consumers and just release a decent handheld with significant performance increases that pushes to do at least 15% - 20% better than these half @$$ new revisions.
It's basically a lot of e-waste we're getting right now. Would be nice if they just made 1 model for each price range per 1-2 years
The SoC choice is a big letdown but I guess that's a result of long development times. Big meh for me though. If i didn't already have an RP3+ I would likely get the 4GB version of this. Also, non-stacked triggers???
"hadoukenable but not shoryukenable" exactly the vocabulary I demand out of reviewers
This unit just about hits the sweet spot for size, power and portability, and the 3:2 screen is awesome. I hope the competition takes notice and I hope the creator of this device can take constructive criticism and fix all of the weaknesses. It's a good time to be a retro-gamer!
The 4:3 screen... Ugh. I wish the RP3+ had a 4:3 screen.
Hadokenable and Shoryukenable, love it! 😂
Man, Saturn emulation on Android is REALLY a big problem. I respect the Yabasanshiro dev, but dude, just imagine how it would be if it had been open source until now. ALL the little hot fixes needed have have been PILING up man...
My hope is the SSF emulator people working on their current Android pre alpha (I managed to make it work for super low end games, like Parodius etc.). But again, it's closed source I believe and the langage barrier is really compounding the issue (100% Japanese project).
This device should be able to run it full speed no issue, as well as many other handhelds.
Anyway. I've been waiting for this specific handheld for YEARS now, but I'm not going to lie, this is really disappointing to me in general. I LOVE the fact that it's a passion project and not from a soulless company...
I'm still interested, but I find that the price is a bit out of my range for that type of low-ish handhelds. If things were better money-wise I would still be buying one 100% if only to support the guy. But right now... IDK. I'd be interested if he's planning to make a Ver 1.5 model next. One with stacked shoulder buttons, etc.
I got an RP2+, because I was sold on FINALLY playing Sega Saturn on a handheld.
I can play most games I REALLY want to play on it, just not all.
Marvel Super Heroes Vs Street Fighter won't play, Last Bronx is glitchy and Burning Rangers is kinda janky.
Not sure if RP3+ and RG405/RG505 is better, because reviewers tend to jump straight to PSP, PS2, GC, Wii, 3DS and Switch.
@@TheObserver85 I KNOW dude. Exact same boat here.
And not only do we have to deal with generally poor or at best uneven emulation, but most of those devices are not "Dpad centric" (which is why having the option to put the dpad on top made this particular handheld extremely interesting). And while most of those dpads are fine themselves, try to find a shield style one with a powerful enough device is impossible at the moment... Playing Saturn with a bad Dpad is just blasphemy in my opinion :P
But anyway; if you're looking for better Saturn emulation with a similar profile as the RP2+, this device is kind of your best option right now. The screen of the RP3+ SUCKS for 4:3 content, imho. Going with the widescreen option destroyed that device for me. The new clamshell Retroid is also widescreen, BUT the dpad is well positioned so you might want to have a look at how it performs.
To be honest, we're HIGHLY limited on Android in general, even with quite powerful devices like the Odin. It's STILL no enough to run Retroarch Beetle Saturn (just like the KTR1); so like all the others at that price point we're stuck with either the YabaSanshiro standalone, on Retroarch as a core (no save states for some fu**ing reason), or the even more outdated Yabause core but with the ability to save states.
It's only 3 options, and it all depend on which game you want to emulate and how.
Also, since there isn't a team behind any Yaba Sanshiro incarnation, it's updated twice a year usually for stuff nobody care about like the cloud saving option. This causes many compatibility issues when trying to use it with a fontend, as there are no device specific hotfixes. I'm always able to mange, but it can be a pain.
ALL of that BS to come to ONE conclusion: Android is not what you want on a handheld right now if you want to the best portable Saturn emulation. WINDOWS is what you need, unfortunately. There you get so much additional options.
A cheap one that is great (if REALLY short battery life isn't a problem for you) is the Aya Neo Air (with OLED screen). It's a low tier Windows handheld, but it's powerful enough to use virtually any Saturn emulator you'd want. Also, while the thumbstick is at the top, the position of the Dpad is still high enough to be quite ergonomic, and all the buttons are quite good.
Otherwise AYN has an equivalent low end Windows handheld too, but I don't know which ones are readily available to purchase nor do I have experience with them. I do have a GPD Win 4, but it's 4 times the price lol...
Last option is the HORRIBLE and rushed to market Anbernic Win600, STILL selling for an INSANE price for the piece of junk it is. NOBODY should support them honestly. But if you can somehow get one for like $200 MAX (I got mine for free and had already ram laying around to upgrade it too), the Dpad is great and perfectly placed. You also get a lot of screen real-estate for 4:3 content. And while performance isn't good (zero optimization), it's good enough for Beetle Saturn if you want accuracy, Kronos if you'd like to upscale a little bit, and SSF if for a mix of the two.
Again, STAY AWAY unless you find one for at least half the price AND with the "best" configuration. I use mine exclusively for Saturn and it isn't bad.
LOL; I just wrote a freaking novel :P But eh; It's so rare to see fellow Saturn fan in the portable handheld crowd so there you go. If you need help with anything Saturn emulation related let me know!
Btw, do you know any device able to emulate Saturn that has a shield style Dpad?
I have a cheap one that is vertical and has a Nomad button layout (forgot the name), but it's barely able to emulate Saturn (great for Genesis/MD though). Let me know if you'd like to know which one.
Other than that there's new Evercade, which has an AWESOME shield Dpad, but I don't think it has been hacked yet (without or without a flash cart), nor that it will be powerful enough to brute force Saturn emulation without serious optimisation work that'll probably never be done (it's a weap cpu...).
@@Unholy_Louie
As soon as I seen your post and Sega Saturn, I knew I had to jump in and reply. Us Saturn fans gotta stick together🤝
I even bought a PiBoy DMG because of its 6 face buttons. Was tempted to get a Powkiddy A20 for its 6 face buttons as well.
I plan on getting a KTR1 for ol' skool gaming(Fighters, SHMUPs, Beat'em Ups etc.) and a Windows handheld for a little more modern emulation and Rpgs on from older consoles(Saturn's Shining Force 3 games and Panzer Dragoon Saga as an example).
So the KTR1 would be for Arcade type Saturn games(also other consoles) and maybe an AYA NEO or Asus ROG Ally handheld for more home console type gaming.
Hopefully the KTR1 will be up to task when it finally drops🤞
And no worries for the novel comment OP, if it's about the Saturn and some helpful tips, I'll read it and enjoy it🤜🤛
Hi, Russ! Have you tried the sharp-bilinear shaders in retroarch? What they do is scale the image to the highest integer below the screen's resolution and then apply a bilinear filter scaling from there to fill the rest of the screen. Now that you can stack shader presets in retroarch, i find it really useful.
Another benefit i find in the KTR1 is that CRT shaders work substantially better with bigger resolutions. I remember 1440p and 4K being the ideal but 1080p is still way better than 480p, so you can take more advantage of shaders and bezels like the ones from the mega bezel project with the KTR1
Always an informative and detailed preview so thanks Russ. Yet another decent handheld that packs good features yet still not powerful enough to standout from the sub $300 competition which is a real shame but also expected for the price range.
More hope in KTR1 pro/KTR2 then.
⚠ BEWARE EVERYBODY i have purchased my KTR1 on june 23, and i have still nothing! Console isn't shipped yet, the status is still "prepare". I have sent 2 polites mail but no response at all......yet my money has been spent! 😡 If i have no response in a few day i will demand order cancelation and refund. So be aware of it before purchase. I will update you guys in a few days.
7 months later... What happened?
@@tomlion0116 Hi, i have well receipted my ktr1, but i ordered it on june 2023 and receipted it on november so it took 5 months. Yet, the console is cool.
A handheld salesman appears, run or fight.
I've been waiting for this handheld for 3 years
I love the concept/idea and the story behind this device a lot, but I don’t think I’m in any hurry to snag one for the time being. I have an RP3+ that I absolutely adore and use daily, and this doesn’t strike me as being worth it as a possible upgrade
Still, I love seeing more of these devices being made and hope that it brings a lot of happiness for those who pick one up!
same boat, until something is really giving me a sizable performance bump in the same form factor or smaller I will hold on to mine
though after really taking a good look again, I don't think I can get down with the trigger/bumper setup, the RP3+ totally has spoiled me on that
Yeah, it's a shame that this is releasing now. It'd be real popular if it cane out a year ago...
The power of this is fantastic, the non-stacked triggers and lack of Linux sucks, I hope this is popular enough that a Version2 gets released with stacked triggers and linux
Lol "hadoukenable". How about Zangief's 360 motion? Is it piledriverable?
I STILL want a Saturn model 2 style D-pad (the best D-pad design in history). When will they learn?
I was hoping you would be able to rebind the 4 buttons in the front so that start and select are on the top instead like the Switch. The current layout is very bizarre. Maybe in the future there will be a way to do that.
Everyone on the Discord servers are so hyped about this device. I just don't get it. The layout is cramped, the buttons aren't that great, and those 4 extra face buttons (start, select, home, back) are in the worst location. Also, I admire the creator for making the device, but they're also trying to make their own website, their own storefront, and their own payment system. Which is shady, at worst, and insecure at best.
I don't think that totally fair.
As a developer, his site isn't very good.
But he's using the standard processors. Nobody makes their own processor.
Very late to the party and not nearly enough power for 2023, unfortunately. With an estimated delivery end of June with a price of over 300 € for the top model with import taxes to Germany, I'd rather keep my RG405M and wait for the Asus ROG Ally.
Never knew this existed and I really like the options. Would make for a cool PSP and PS2 system.
PS2? he said in the video that this is not a PS2 device this would not be good for that
@@R04D3Xhaving to tinker =/= no ps2.
Chris PS2 is definitely possible on a Helio G99, I know from personal experience. It's not going to play literally every single PS2 game in existence, but I guarantee you it'll run like 2/3rds of the games at native resolution. Unless you're extremely petty or nitpicky it's not a big deal to have minor graphical issues or slight lag here and there
@@Apollo-iq1vx this ^ there are way weaker devices that can handle some ps2, and even more powerful devices that can't run the while library. I imagine the retail ktr1 will handle most of the games people would want to play portably
While this sounds cool I think I’m gonna pass on ALL of these handhelds until we get another jump in power, hoping for a future with a retroid flip with full ps2 and GameCube playability
Sounds like a steamdeck!
@@EckHockey nope
@@EckHockey it's just way too big
@@cow8697 sounds like a phone then?
@@bulletpunch9317 ehh, I've done it but not having built in controls and the weird aspect ratios always meant I'd go for a different device even if it's weaker. Plus I'd rather save my phones battery for phone stuff
The First Customizable Handheld bullshit statment
If we're talking about comfort out of all of these I'd probably go with the KTR1 mostly because I _hate_ the offset controls. I'm a Playstation user mainly, so I prefer the option of analogs on the bottom on both sides. Plus like 85% of the playable retro games will prioritize the Dpad. But I'm confused by the button layout, if you can't remap that home button thought that's going to be a big issue. All of these systems were Android, so why are some of these using the Nintendo button layout while others use the Xinput style? A little annoying thing I noticed across all of these devices. Ultimately, it doesn't seem to do much significantly better than the RP3+. Which is sad because it's so close to being an upgrade with a lot of thought put into it.
Ditto.
I am accepting its shortcomings, looking forward to my plastic 4G model, great review! Stubbs
Well time to wait another year for something in this size that can play PlayStation 2 :c
“The d-pad is hadokenable but not Shoryukenable” should be the definitive way to describe d-pads from now on.
If they permitted full signal on 8 directions, you would go faster on diagonals. I don't know in older games, but if you develop a game now, you would have to normalize the input so that it's circular like these
28:10 that is interesting the Odin Lite it's still the king 😳
$300 USD + tax + shipping is WAY too much for what I'm seeing here. Maybe half that would be reasonable.
I just want this to be a Xperia Play 2.
But you don't show using it as a smartphone.
Does it have a gps sensor?
No tv-out...:-(
You CAN remap the HOME button.
But on Android 12 only one app is able to do it in my experience. I don't have any device with me at the moment but if anyone is interested I can definitely come back here when I'm home to let you guys know which remap app it is.
Let me know :)
My wife hates the clickyness as I tend to play my handhelds in bed at night, and she gets upset if she isn't already asleep. I haven't found one handheld that gets all the buttons right. Either the shoulder buttons are to clicky, or the face buttons are.
Really surprised these handhelds still can't do Gamecube/PS2 era when most phones can? Definitely not worth paying the price of a Switch for such poor emulation.
Is it better to get this device, or the Odin Lite when it comes to emulation of 3D games?
Odin Lite has the superior chip. And better shoulder buttons.
@@kevtn8 thx for the tip 👍
We're not there yet...
But very very close!
Hiw many of these damn handheld retro consoles so we need at this point? Damn. Who is actually buying and playing these
Is this the 6 or 8GB RAM option you are using?
I appreciate that you can have a symmetrical stick layout, or "D-Pad Up". I'm sick of all these handhelds + controllers with asymmetrical sticks.
Same
A-men!
For real. The asymmetrical layout goes against everything these devices are even good at running!
Exactly
What android based CPU other than snapdragons can play up to GameCube emu games? Even used or old models pls recommend.
What RAM configuration did yours come in? I'm not sure I heard you mention it, or I may have missed it.
Can’t wait to get a Linux handheld that can play up to ps2 and GameCube… I can dream. Lmao
No stacked shoulders and no analog triggers is a no from me
Excellent review! It seems like the KT-R1 was largely a victim of unfortunate timing. When it was announced there was nothing close to it's power level on the market so it was a really exciting proposition, but by the time it actually came out we already had a wide variety of similarly powered and probably better built devices to choose from.
I really appreciate the thorough review though, and testing Star Fox Adventures for the GameCube! That's the one GameCube game that I always want to know how it's going to run on a device, and so far it seems like unfortunately nothing other than the Steam Deck can really play it well.
Anybody can announce anything. Timing really can be everything sometimes. Speaking generally when I say that it feels like some people are allergic to just get an Odin Lite still lol.
@@cheekydaze6018 I'd definitely be down to get an Odin Lite if it was just a little more powerful and could play GameCube more effectively without tinkering, but as it stands the really demanding GameCube games that I'd like to play (Metroid Prime 2, Star Fox Adventures, Rogue Squadron II, etc.) just don't run well on the Odin Lite without hiccups or slowdowns. The Steam Deck is a bit big for my liking though and I really prefer gaming on Android, so I'm hopeful that the upcoming Aya Neo Pocket Air will be the high powered GameCube capable Android device I've been waiting for. =)
If you want something Ps Vita sized that can play PS2 games the KT-R1 is your only option - there is the rg405m at a similar form factor but the performance is worse in all emulators.
With the sim option, is it basically a phone? Does it have a mic and all that, or is it only for Internet?
The range of performance from GameCube and up is pretty crazy. It's crazy to me that you can't play every GameCube game (without a lot of hacks), but you are able to emulate some switch games.
Maybe it's because modern games seem to be more optimized than older ones? Game engines are quite good these days and libraries seem quite helpful.
And I remember some older systems being criticized for having horrid architectures and being a pain to develop games for.
@@skycloud4802 And Nintendo is "kind" enough to make their consoles so low in graphical power that emulation is so much easier rural than other current Gen consoles lol
@@JonathanHolt1988 it doesnt work like that though, if that was the case, this thing should emulate without a problem xbox360/ps3/wiiu (let alone wii&gamecube), but it doesnt. It's just that the switch has a very developer friendly(/well understood) chipset, so it's also easier to emulate. So easy, that's it's easier for most hardware to emulate switch than ps2
Switch games were developed on hardware that has an arm chip and architecture from a 2015 android tablet. Gamecube play station 2 and wii were have custom cpus and graphics
Great review! Honest and straightforward. Always a great job Russ! Thank you. Hopefully they correct the hardware issues.
What version did you use? There is a 4GB, 6GB and 8GB version? If you're using a 4GB version well then yeah PS2 and stuff are going to run poorly.
Whenever i see a new Russ video, youtube is like, "You wanna watch this video?" and I'm like, "Yeah. I wanna do it man."
Great video! I’m on the fence about this device. Leaning more towards the rg405m. I’m honestly new into the retro emulation world. I am curious would the 8gb ram version tweak the stuttering in the ps2 game play? I know in the video you showed that this device really wasn’t proving itself on that platform. Looking for a nice overall pocketable device. Thank you
Super mario bros wii runs at full speed with 60fps on my ambernic 505 so idk why this device which is more powerful have problem with this game. Also 3ds games like new super bros 2 and even super mario 3d land runs amazing on the ambernic 505 (with vulcan version).
Thank you for this review! I am going to maintain my 8GB red plastic order. Did you mention what RAM size you had in your unit?
Probably the best configuration for the best review, but that's just speculation
I was wondering the same
still waiting for an actual pocketable gamecube/ps2 emulator
I was excited until I saw android, I wanted to see steamOS or JellOS
The website doesnt seem to work, is the developer still working on this?
Promised myself I would not buy another handheld as I do not need one with the deck and the RG35xx. But ou birthday is coming so ordered one for myself...
I had ordered one and I am happy about it with 8GB RAM it fulfilled all my requirements it is pocketable 7000 mh battery life can play almost all PS2, WII, GAMECUBE. I don't care about the drawbacks as it is not that much and the developer is one guy who is working hard for making this handheld. We should appreciate his hard work and wish him to make more consoles in future as well 👍
This device has pretty much everything I want; genuinely hope the full production model has more refined chassis and controls and some QOL tweaks ("hold to go home" to mitigate accidental home button presses, for example).. might be the one to make me finally open my wallet
KTR1 or RG405?
I'd say with the spotty performance on the high end of BOTH systems, that the 405m looks far more desirable. Unless the full release of kt-r1 addresses all the hardware issues, the 405m has the better price, button quality, portability, and likely better customer support.
Very cool! - I hope there'll be a custom Linux dist - and perhaps a PSVita-like D-pad option (dome switches rock :) )
405m GANG GANG 🔥🔥🔥
Sell us another handheld boy.
Apparently when you select the layout, it also changes the buttons. You get the Dreamcast/Xbox layout with the stick on top and the Nintendo layout with the d-pad on top. And while I appreciate that the "white" version has the SNES colors with the Nintendo layout, they really missed an opportunity to make the Dreamcast/Xbox layout have the correct Dreamcast or Xbox colors.
Use the triggers to drift in F Zero GX. It's pretty much necessary.
I think most people would have to wait for an Android handheld with Snap 888 or 8+ Gen 1 or 2 if they want to break the GameCube and even Wii barrier without breaking a sweat. Odin Pro came out last year with only 845 from 2018. I don't trust these cheap Chinese SoCs. Get a Qualcomm Snapdragon above 865 if it's an Android handheld if you want to emulate PS2 and GCN properly.
I own a Pixel 3 with 845 and it struggles with PS2 and GameCube. But my Flip 3 with 888 has no problems with either retro consoles. It's not always perfect for every ROM but I'm very selective with the games I want to play and the Flip pretty much plays all of them smoothly except some Dolphin MMJR2 settings tweaking with F-Zero GX.
I like how Russ keeps that Sonic the Hedgehog on loop in the background on a regular 4:3 standard TV that looks like my Sony Wega that I used to play all my 6th gen consoles on about 20 years ago. Has it been that long? Still feels like yesterday.
I love Russ' handheld size comparisons. Extremely useful information for me as I'm very picky on size and comfort when buying a handheld. I like how RetroCorps uses that SNES controller in the intro logo. Still my favorite controller of all-time over 30 years later. So compact and comfortable.
The SN30 Pro would be my fav if the D-pad and face buttons didn't feel so clicky and noisy. And the Wavebird would be my fav if the button layout wasn't all over the place. But that too was extremely comfortable and battery life lasted forever using rechargeable double-A batteries. Used IR and still years before wireless Bluetooth controllers became standard.
I watched RGT 85's video yesterday about which games he kept after selling most of his game collection. I thought he was close to my age and Russ but he's about 5 years younger if he was 13 in 1998. His stories really made me reminisce my youth too. I think my favorite game ever is still Final Fantasy VII followed by Shenmue II but the most important to me was Super Mario Bros. (1985) and Sonic The Hedgehog (1991).
I'm weird. I like Sony and Sega more than Nintendo but Nintendo has more meaningful games and moments for me growing up. I've owned 9 Nintendo systems (NES to Wii, GB, GBA, DSL, Switch Lite). Owned 6 Sony systems (PS1 thru PS4, PSP, Vita) and only 4 Sega systems (Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, Game Gear).
I just like Sony and Sega more as companies. I still prefer Sonic over Mario. I actually prefer the Sonic movies over the recent SMB movie. Sonic has way more personality. I'm very aware of Nintendo's history like betraying Sony in CES 1991 or their monopolistic ways. Or pissing off UA-camrs with a Steam Deck emulating Switch games. But at the end of the day, Nintendo is still a very important company in my life and especially during my childhood.
Will definitely get the Switch 2 Lite to move my Switch 1 games onto it. Nintendo for me still has the most replayable games and consoles. I always go back to them more than games on Sony and Sega systems. I'm currently replaying Super Mario 3D World to get all the green stars, top pole yellow flags, and stamps.
Nintendo games and consoles are the best for emulation handhelds like this. Nintendo offers the most timeless charm with their cartoony graphics because that nostalgic drug is very strong to people who get older. You reminisce to a time when most people you loved (like a grandparent) were still alive. When you didn't stress as much.
Nintendo catering mostly to children makes them live forever the way old animated Disney films do to people with their timeless, magical-feeling music. Forever young. Nintendo always inspired to be like Disney since the 1950s and they accomplished it by the 1980s. God bless, Shigeru Miyamoto, the Walt Disney/George Lucas/Steven Spielberg/Jim Henson of gaming.
Love my Switch Lite and Vita slim right next to each other. Played both of them today. Once I win my NBA bets by June which could hit thousands of dollars as I've covered like 10 teams parlayed with NFL wagers that hit, a Steam Deck is going to be right to my Switch and Vita. And that will become my favorite gaming purchase I've ever made. Or at least no worse than top 3.
The Asus ROG Ally and GPD Win 4 do look enticing. The Win 4 definitely is my favorite in terms of design and ergonomics. Just unsure they can provide the established ecosystem and online community support that the Steam Deck already has.
You don't trust mediatek?
Lol.
@daemon targaryen, they need to make a video game documentary about your life
they need to put a superb dpad or this thing sux
i'm not good into specs and stuff but i was wondering: is the bigger RAM gonna help with PS2/GC emulation or that's restricted mostly to the chipset?
o no killer instinct "dipped" to 59 fps
dude... seriously aggravating when ppl say stuff like this... THAT IS NORMAL...YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS. THAT IS NOT A PERFORMANCE HIT ...my god man....just why
kind of a small thing, but I personally dislike that there's an advertisement banner for something as simple as a diagnostics/settings menu (@ 5 min for joystick dead zone check). Hopefully that's something you'll only see when you're online at least.
This is the one for me. When its for sale..
Great video as usual, but goodness, I've been watching your channel since the start (been having a great time!) and I swear every time we get to the d-pad fighting game test, it's heartbreak. Unironic question: are there _any_ of these machines with a pad suited for someone wanting to mess around with Third Strike on the go?
Miyoo Mini, Mini + is the only one I've come across. That being said, it's amazing. I indeed use it for 3S on the go.
Great review as Always ! One thing bugs me tough, from what I understand this is supposed to be less powerful than the Odin lite but for most of the games I saw in the video (god of War 2 especially) they seem to run better on this than on the Odin lite video ? Is this juste because of emulators updates ? I m asking because I m wondering which one to buy between the two ! Thanks !
I feel this device is 6-12 months too late. It’s much less appealing with the rp3+ and it’s similar competitors around. Not too mention all the more powerful handheld pcs if u wanted to spend more.
It has a more powerful chip than the rp3+ and has 1080p screen instead of a 720p screen like the rp3+ so I would say it is slightly better.
@@netnomad47 The RP3+ has a best in class screen, a comparable processor and better build quality.
I'd say it's slightly better overall.
It could be named better then "KTR1", I will wait for "KTR2" instead ;) I will stick with my RP3+.
Seems like the DPAD needs a taller pivot pole in the center.
Russ, can you make a video or a point of giving us a better sense of where the processors and screens sit relative to competitor devices? The model numbers for processors doesn’t tell us much tbh. Same with screens. You do mention the screen aspect ratio which is great but other things such as size comparisons, anti reflective performance, etc would be great.
Thanks for the video!
Did you ever compare psp game screen size between the KT-R1 and the RG405M? I would think the KT-R1 would be a better experience.
"hadoukenable" and "shoryukenable" are currently my favorite nouns or adjectives and should be included and the dictionaries ASAP!!
Just bought one. Top model, in gray. When it gets here in June, I'll be ecstatic :D
Just received it the other day. A bit later than June :D Very, very nice. Had to switch to "white", but it's more like old PC beige. Looks, feels, and works fantastic :)
Since so many of these are coming out now, you should do a spreadsheet with a Corps score like Doug Demero does with cars with his Doug Score
Looking forward to seeing other upcoming handhelds with this chip. All of the complaints you had on this unit were highly valid and would be a turnoff for me enough so that I'd avoid this particular layout/choice of components.
The A76 cores are also in the RK3588, and that chip has much more software support. So IMO I'd rather have the RK3588 than this chip.
@@harleyn3089 that chip uses a lot more power and needs a fan since it's 4 big cores, so you have to pick your battles. It'll never fit a small device.
Keep in mind this is a sample unit with most of the criticism going to be addressed on retail units. Save judgement for the final product review
Was honestly never sure it would come out. I'm currently trying sell my xd+ and rg353v to get funds for this
Nice to see some love towards Dark Cloud @35:10. One bright spot for this handheld is that it can play it at full speed.
KTR1 is a good start, but it’s just too many flaws. My ideal device:
1. Build quality of an Anbernic metal/plastic option
2. 5.1 1080p OLED screen 3:2
3. Stacked analogue triggers
4. Rounded back like the Odin
5. Front firing Speakers
6. Snapdragon processor
7. Tall hall sensor Analogue sticks slightly concave (smooth and clickable for L3 and R3), RP3+ Dpad but 2o% larger
Larger dome switch face buttons
8. 1080p video out
9. Android (latest version 13), WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
10. Large battery (>5500)
4g connectivity basically makes this a smartphone 😆. that's pretty cool lol
playing dark cloud on my rp3+ at full speed while watching this lmao
Really awesome you dig into the handhelds and literally cover anything possible.
The seller has them on eBay, I ordered it today (6gb model in black)..... Thanks for the review on it, I wanted a pocket version for it....
Got it, nice device, pocketable, now just to get it all set, Android devices needed a lot of work... You will like the fact that home button has been moved to the below the buttons...
Good review! I'm sticking with my Steam Deck even though I pretty much exclusively use it in docked mode. I am looking forward to seeing the next wave of more powerful portable devices that can comfortably run most Dreamcast/PS2/GameCube/Wii game (and perhaps beyond) without too much need to tweak a ton settings. Though, we'll just have to wait and see as the technology improves.
The GPD Win 4 crushes emulation in a small form factor....im saving up for that handheld
@@maxamillion2k7 Yeah, I've actually heard good things about that one, too. May eventually bite the bullet and pick it up, but just weighing my options.
Why couldnt they giive us mini hdmi out on this or the 405m its a must have feature for me