Puns aside, I was thinking that I'd set up a few of the 3D consoles up at booths in my bar so patrons can play Goldeneye and MarioKart against each other while they drink, which would pass the IRS sniff test. So I guess you could sign up as a ride share cabby, never actually do any work for them, and say you wired Pockets up in the passenger seating as entertainment for your fares? Should be worth a couple write-offs :P
It's funny that you mention the UI. I myself am a 20-year veteran of design and UI and I actually really really like it. I understand that it's simple and not flashy like other ones, but there's something about that old school just text charm that wins me over.
Yeah, I'm a graphic designer and I think the UI looks top notch, like a modern take on the classic iPod scroll wheel menu. Straight forward, minimal, and it reflects the hardware design language.
Plain text is an anti-UI. Probably the best case to be made for a plain text UI in this instance is minimizing battery consumption, but forcing a vertical scroll to locate a specific option on a small handheld screen is a rough experience. Please don't design UI like this.
@@terpfen since when text is anti UI? Sometimes abstract icons just get in the way, especially if the UI is simple enough. This is a limited scope device, for a niche audience. Minui UX gets you to your target much quicker, with less cognitive load.
Frame Blending is an option buried in the display settings, that is what is making the ghosting. You can disable that directly instead of switching to the CRT filter. The CRT filter does not feature BFI, its just using fine scanlines and a shadow mask that darkens the picture. You can also play with the size/integer+ to reduce the black borders.
Another accessory I'd like to call attention to is called the Analogizer. It is like the dock, but allows you to connect to an analog video device like a CRT, and SNAC adapters that are also compatible with MiSTer to use original console controllers on it.
While I LOVE the emulation devices, there is just something nostalgic and special about using physical cartridges. As a result I also love the Analogue Pocket very much.
@@SpicyHotShura I mean hey, I wouldn't judge someone for buying it if they have the money to do so, but if you really just want to play with the original cartridges you have, considering the price of this, you could probably buy a good second hand handheld for your desired cartridge system at the same time.
@@isuck6049 You are absolutely correct, and I agree that is what someone should do if these are their chief concern. But for enthusiasts, either retro, technical, or both and beyond, what's inside this thing is worth the money. From a technical standpoint, FPGA is a marvel all in its own right.
The dock supports certain 2.4 GHz 8bitdo controllers without needing a USB dongle. You do have to install a firmware from 8bitdo's website but it works great!
Came to the comments to see if anyone else caught that as well in the video. The label on the dock means it has 2.4ghz built in. Love using my SN30 2.4ghz from 8bitdo because it's one of the listed and makes the Dock experience feel so close to a Super Gameboy on SNES with the SGB Core.
Other than the gray dev unit, the White is the only one with a non-black bezel. The black bezel on the other colors make it seem like the screen is pretty big until you turn it on.
I picked up te white one and then was slightly disappointed when special editions appeared but now in the end I'm glad I picked up the white one cause of the bezel.
I just.....can't support this company in anyway man. Their pricing model is so dogshit and limited drops is such a scummy thing to do now a days that, I could care less about how great this thing is, there is just no way its worth the price. I would KILL to have the teal version of this, but even if it was at a huge discount I would absolutely pass. Knowing they still are part of this miserable practice when there is so much more innovation happening the in the handheld space its just such a bad look that unfortunately, many people with expendable money could care less about sigh
@DoubbleDdragon What 😂? Analogue, Inc. is the company that owns the Analogue Pocket, a handheld game console that was released in December 2021. Christopher Taber is the founder
Finally a device I don't have the slightest itch to pull the trigger. I'm glad they are succesful, because the more competition the better it is for all of us, but I really don't understand the appeal at this high price point.
Same, seeing as the fpgbc is about $90 but its DIY im sure they could lower the price on this. But seeing as most of their stuff is overpriced anyways i doubt it
@@Fancy405 They have a NeoGeo and PSOne core option this is why it isn't lower along with pretty much all 32 bit cores and below. There are a number of CPS and CPS2 cores.
@@NetflixForeign most retro handhelds have ps1 games playable it isn't that big of a positive. And I'm not saying it shouldn't be more expensive but definitely shouldn't be as expensive as it is right now while constantly being sold out. But as I said seeing as most of the stuff on their site is overpriced I'm 100% sure they could lower the price on this
@@Fancy405 Yes but to be fair FPGA hardware just costs more than emulation handhelds so that is comparing apples to oranges. My biggest complaint is them trying to make money off shipping. It sucks when you want to buy a screen protector or the Game Gear cart adapter. The way they have shipping you almost feel obligated to buy a screen protector, Game Gear adapter and a few other things in one go which really sucks.
I think it‘s the way it is, because they had the adapters for the other cartridge systems in mind from the beginning. If the cartridge was any deeper the adapters wouldn‘t fit. It was a compromise. I personally never knocked a GB cart loose in my two Pockets.
A horizontal shape like an rgb30 or og gba would drastically improve the ergonomics. They could also fix the triggers if they do a horizontal shape too.
Shipping to EU Germany is about 50$, add a dock and it is about 60$, ad a link cable and it is 80$. Then add 19% taxes to the total costs (items + shipping) and some fee for collecting the tax and it is way above 320$ just for one regular Analogue Pocket. I don't mind the price tag of the Pocket, I think it is worth every penny, but after shipping and taxes it just hurts. I already have a Pocket but I'd like to have the cables and a dock. But the dock alone (without the Pocket!!) is 59.99$ in shipping! I think my next Analogue order will be the Analogue 3D or a landscape Analoge "GBA" Pocket.
Yeah if they say they aren't overcharging on shipping and making a profit they are lying through their teeth. What is worse is if you live in a state that actually charges tax on shipping too.
Why do you support this scamming company? They even scam you with their hardware marketing. Talk about two FPGAs but sell you a board where one FPGA is broken and never possible to activate. Everything about them is scummy and you should not support this stuff. If you want an FPGA Gameboy get a funny playing Gameboy color. That thing also looks like an original GBA and feels so much better in the hand!
@@NetflixForeign/videos I looked into it previously and they did claim publicly (on Twitter, I think) that they are charging the actual costs. There's no way that's true though. Also, they conveniently don't always have everything in-stock (e.g. I wanted to buy a Pocket, the adapters, and the dock, but the adapters weren't in-stock) and will charge you the same absurd shipping price to ship just the thing that is currently out-of-stock since you have to buy it separately. Analogue is scumbag company.
@Or maybe that just the price it cost to ship across states and oceans… Remember that Analogue isn’t massive company that can just eat shipping cost like Amazon. People have gotten so spoil by Amazon cheap or free shipping that we’ve forgotten it expensive to ship even for a company. My parents tried shipping my laptop over night from the west to the east coast and it was $300.
This product isn't for everyone, but for retro enthusiasts who want accurate emulation the value is definitely there I am genuinely blown away by the look and feels of playing games on FPGA cores, it's that subtle difference in timing that makes it so much better than any other emulation device. Whether you're playing gameboy, console, arcade, or even game&watch on this thing there is hands-down nothing to compare it with. The market is full of android -based software emulator devices, but this 100% is in it's own league When I loaded up Galaga or even Super Mario World, I could instantly tell that it felt right as someone who has played extensively on original hardware. If you know, you know. If you don't know, go ahead and emulate via software as that is "close enough" for most folks. Is it expensive? Yes. As a die-hard retro fan is it worth it? Absolutely. People complaining about the price of this thing are just not the right market for it.
There's a huge difference in delay lag between emulation and FPGA hardware. If you played the originals, you'll definitely feel it and the emulation lag just ruins the original nostalgic feel for me.
I fully agree I also don't think the price is unreasonable for what you get. I got several cheap retro handhelds and they all feel cheaply made. The screen on Analogue Pocket and speakers made this well worth the price.
You could just snag a gameboy color for like.. 60 bucks in great condition. Unless the problem is actually obtaining the games you want to play, I get it..
If the normal analog pocket had stayed in stock the entire time they were releasing limited editions I don't think anyone would care. The problem is they were releasing expensive limited editions while scalpers were fleecing people on eBay.
I go back and forth on getting an Analogue Pocket. Honestly, I'm grateful it traditionally hasn't been in stock because I definitely would have impulsed purchased it earlier this year. Instead I bought an FPGBC and between that and my Miyoo Mini Plus - that might be all I need.
Yeah, I had that realization when I saw that the Odin Pro was the same price as an Analogue Pocket plus accessories. Pretty sure I got a lot more value out of my Odin than I would've out of a Pocket.
Russ, there is a way to display console cores in almost full screen with minimal bezels. When you select the CRT Trinitron display mode enter the mode settings, then size, and enable both "Integer+" and "Stretch CRT Width" options. This will nearly fill the screen entirely on the Pocket for all non-handheld cores and looks absolutely gorgeous for these systems. Then in the mode settings select "Fine Aperture Grille" and "Hard Edges" and you'll get the brightest and sharpest result with the CRT Trinitron display mode. Also you can disable "Frame Blending" on the Gameboy cores if you dislike the blur that it adds. Just note that some games require frame blending to be enabled, as some developers made clever use of the original screen in a way where flickering sprites would be displayed as being transparent because of how they used frame blending to achieve this effect. Personally I have grown up with systems like the Gameboy, Gameboy Color and Game Gear, and the Pocket absolutely nails these in their look and feel with the original display modes and optional frame blending, and even slows down in-game where the original systems would experience slow downs. The AP is like a perfect hardware copy of these systems with the benefit of having a larger backlit screen. What absolutely amazes me is how accurate the display modes are, it really feels like playing on the real systems, specifically the original blurry and desaturated Game Gear display mode totally blew me away when I saw it the first time, as it looks so incredibly accurate. In my opinion it's a great quality device, it fortunately works comfortably with my hands and I'll have to get two more eventually, one dedicated for traveling that I don't mind if it gets dinged up and one as a backup.
DANDYlyin’…. Glad to see how much unboxing mustard joy this FPGA brought you Russ, you earned/deserved it! I have loved my MiSTer daily for years, so I feel ya, SO MANY CORES, SO LITTLE TIME!! Oh that screen!!
@@rotationalbox588 I would add that if you care about precision, there are some very precise software emulators for various systems. They do sometimes require more high-end hardware to run properly, though.
I agree. It's difficult to justify the cost. I suspect many people who buy this device can't afford to. The artificial scarcity tactic they use is not respectable.
Okay add up the price of a real gb, GBC, GBA, nes, SNES and all the other systems. You looking at over 1000$ alone. The analogue has a nice screen and a doc. Price isn't that bad
@@JosephJoe-u7e or any other device that plays all of those things and more? I said I understand it’s a specialty device, but even with “hardware emulation” it’s not really competing with anyone who wants to own all the original hardware. It’s main competition is similar form factor devices that are far more capable for far less money. It’s a niche within a niche that will appeal to certain folks, but that’s far and away from a recommended product in my opinion.
I was interested in the Analogue Pocket for about 5 minutes back in 2021 -- just long enough to see the high price and general lack of features. I don't want a perfect recreation of the past; I want modern conveniences.
I'm so glad I missed out on my every attempt to buy one of these lol. I was really tempted on some colours because the Gameboy is my favourite handheld, but it is just way too expensive even as a collector. I'd rather just own the original hardware or spend that money on a handheld pc that is way more powerful and versatile.
Also to add, the Analogue Pocket does support the Pokémon roms you put on the sd card like sapphire, ruby and emerald's battery. like the error doesn't say 'the battery has dryed out...' when you launch it.
This video was very helpful! Thank you for taking the time to make it. I think I'll go with the Analogue Pocket. It's really not that expensive for what you're getting IMO
Protip: Don't remove the protective plastic near the cartridge slot. Reason is that there's alot of wear and tear from inserting/removing cartridges and can quickly scratch it with every day use
The Analog Pocket is a Godsend for the Retro Fighting Game Community. For what it can do, for as small as it is, is mind-blowing. A CPS 3 board of Street Fighter 3rd Strike used on Ebay can go upwards to $1000. To run a retro tourney with arcade perfect hardware on 4 games, each of those boards would cost a minimum of $300. This all can be done on the Analog Pocket for $219! That's insane!
the pocket is so rad. aside from being amazing for portable, I dock mine with a CRT and 8bitdo arcade stick and a snes controller and its super legit as a console as well. they just need to add better button mapping for multiple controllers
It was the recent analogue pockets that had the GBC colors that got me into retro gaming in the first place. Led me to find this channels and do some research on what device was right for me, and in the time I did said research the green kiwi color I wanted was sold out! I'm honestly kind of glad because I've found a much better entry device that I picked up instead (the RP2S), but I can't help but feel like one day down the road I'll inevitably pick up an analogue. The thing is so clean looking, but that price tag hurts a little too much for a first step into this world. All that's to say, thanks for these kinds of in depth reviews you make!
Another amazing video Russ. This channel got me through Covid. I got really sick and was in bed for about a week with Covid about 2 years ago and that’s when I discovered this channel. Throughout that week I went back and watched every single episode. Now every time I hear retro game corps intro music it reminds me of being sick and my bed lol!
love my pocket, have the black and clear one. ONLY issues I have: 1) the left/right triggers are really high up. I have large hands, and they are still very uncomfortable to reach. 2) More old-school arcade games. I know we will get them eventually, and i am thankful for all the work the developers do. But would love Pacman, Ms. Pacman, Centipede, Frogger, Time Pilot etc. Other than that, perfect handheld for an old gen-xer
@@MonoSimio this is the biggest scum of handhelds!!! way too expensive and simply can't do anything take it easy again...get an anbernic , miyoo mini plus , retroid pocket or the GOAT Odin2!!! but not something like this... wake up people!
Great video!! Only thing I wish you would have touched on is the difference in DPAD from your older white pocket and the newest GBC color. You may not know this but that is a big point of contention in the analogue pocket groups on reddit, fb, etc. A lot of people full bore deny that it's ever been an issue. In my experience, I've had two pockets, one was a non-launch black model and the other was a silver. The Dpads are VASTLY different. You can't tell when playing simple input games like pokemon but playing metroid zero mission and doing some moves like the speed booster was much easier to perform on the silver model. The false diagonals was an issue on my black model and tbh i was happy to sell it and get the silver. Now, i am over the moon with this device!! i'm just wondering if all new models have updated dpads.
Agreed, the only reason I had considered it is because Analogue doesn’t actually specify the device’s refresh rather, it just says “variable”. But I have a feeling that the screen isn’t 120Hz, since that’s quite a bit of overkill and if it was their marketing would probably be shouting about it 😂
Yeah, the reduced brightness is just going to be down to the scanlines on every other line darkening the overall image. The darker image probably also helps your sample and hold display with refreshing more quickly, reducing the perceived ghosting. You could reduce it further by using an OLED, which typically have better motion clarity than IPS panels.
I own 4 of them. I started with a black one from the original run and got the aluminum one in August, and I have to say the aluminum one actually has the best button feel.
Very timely, thank you. Someone is selling his for $200 cash since he upgraded to Metal... almost untouched since he only uses it docked. But you outline here cheaper and more attractive options, too... I mean, there's only really 5 GBA cartridges I want to play on cartridge other than my flash cart. Talking me down from jumping on the deal.
Great video as always. I picked up my Analogue Pocket earlier this year and it got me hooked into FPGA so much that I agonised over whether to buy the dock, or just go ahead and build a Mister system. I did the latter. Don't be intimidated, it's a lot easier to build a Mister system from the ground up (took me about 10 minutes) than it looks. There's a LOT more systems on the full blown Mister as well. If you get the chance at some point Russ, I think you'd get a huge kick out of doing it.
You should be able to scale the image with the CRT Trinitron filter applied. There are some extra options on the top of the list where you select the image filter. I believe they are called Integer, Integer+ and Fit I think.
I got the yellow Pocket and it gives me everything I want from a retro handheld, and more. One of my best purchases ever, and I‘m glad I went for one quality device instead of running after all those cheap emulation handhelds, with new ones being thrown on the market weekly.
This video sold me. I don't need it. I have delta on my iPhone. I have emulation on my computer, heck, I even have legal dumps of my collection. But, man, sometimes, you gotta treat yo self. This is just such a nice device to pop in a cart and play on a very well made device. I wish I could get a fun color, but, as you said in this video, only Black, White, and Gold are available. Decided to get black, and I'll slap a red vinyl sticker over it to mimick my old Red GB Pocket. Thanks for the video, as always!
It hasn't been talked about much as of late, but I'm also really looking forward to a review of the upcoming ayaneo pocket dmg. Feels like the hardware will be of similar quality to the Analogue Pocket, but with much more power, and a larger screen that's OLED. That price is rough though...
I think you glossed over the fact that the 2.4GHz logo isn't that the Dock supports 2.4GHz dongles but the Dock can be paried with specific 2.4GHz controllers as native controllers, almost all of which are 8bitdo. I bought a pair of their SN30 2.4GHz originally intended for SNES 2.4GHz dongles but can be flashed with Analogue Dock firmware on 8bitdo's website. They work natively with the Dock, no dongle needed. I also have their PCE and Sega 6-button style M30 2.4GHz controllers which also support the Dock 2.4Hz firmware but have a Home button to open the Analogue menu. Their NES 2.4GHz controllers also work this way. As for arcade controllers, I really like 8bitdo's NeoGeo controllers. They work great for all arcade type games. My 'Ultimate' pack with the AP, Dock, 2x of each 8bitdo SN30, PCE 2.4, M30 2.4 and NeoGeo was pricey but after eyeing an NEW, SNES, 2.4GHz controllers, flash carts, display mods and RetroTink 5X, the AP and all the controllers is a lot cheaper. It is very close to playing the real thing, and at this time, cheaper still than the Mister, until the Mister Pi becomes more easily available.
Bought it day one no regrets, use it everytime nostalgia hit me. Premium price totally worth it. Got the dock and also the waterfield case and it sure makes me blush too 😂
@Retro Game Corps, the learning curve for a mister isn’t as steep as you might think. I managed to get one of the Taki clone boards and was up and running within an hour, including assembly. I think you and your audience would appreciate how cool of a device it is.
The Analogue Pocket is currently my favorite handheld/Console (Own the Dock as well). I spent $220+ Shipping for the Pocket and $100 + shipping for the Dock. $320 + Shipping.
I think one of the guys working on a de-10 nano clone (the mister base hardware) is also working on making a portable version of it. It might be your big opportunity to dip into the mister fpga when it comes out (probably soon). It will be cheaper and also more powerful than the analogue version (running everything the mister does, for example, ps1 and n64 as well). Personally, I've been retroachievements-pilled to the point that even though I do think it is 100% better to play games accurately on fpgas, retroachievements just about inch over in making me care more about software emulation. At least for now. Who knows what future hardware could do.
After all these years, I'm perfectly okay with their pricing. The hardware, performance and software support is basically perfect. I _wish_ the face buttons were bigger to more closely resemble DMG or at least GBC face buttons, but it's okay. It's not for everybody, but no current handheld really is. I often use the fpGBC (they now have a preassembled option, too, btw., but assembling it is easy enough), but sometimes just miss the analogue's display and switch to it again for a while. (I bought a device to read/write GB/GBC/GBA cartridges and love writing newer homebrew games to cheapo-chinese knockoff DMG-cartridges of Perfect Dark. Works beautifully.)
You are days late Russ. I've already purchased one and watched your older videos multiple times lol. I am ready for this video though! Playing Pokemon Prism on it is very fun, and looks great!
I also played Prism on the AP and indeed it looks really good. It’s just the missing fast forward function is so sad, especially with Pokemon and old RPGs.
Excellent review. I have struggled with emulation devices, but FPGA is just so much easier for me to wrap my head around. It's just so easy and requires so little fiddling. When I turn on my Powkiddy, it feels like I'm turning on a tiny computer, whereas my analogue pocket feels like I'm turning on a game boy. I dunno, it's a weird mental thing but it affects my experience. It's not the best value for sure, and I wouldn't give it to someone very young, but for me playing it this way just gives me a nostalgic hit that can't be beat (plus popping in my Donkey Kong game boy cart feels so good). I do think that the new cheaper MiSTers are a way better lower price entry into the FPGA world for people.
I don't have any regrets purchasing one of these. The screen is beautiful and much better than my custom built GBA. It plays all my cartridges and the arcade cores are super addicting. I just wish they'd reduce the price so more people can experience this as well. I also hope we get a GBA shaped pocket in the future.
Glad to see the update video on this. Honestly though, it's not a device for me. I only play GB, GBC and GBA games. The cart slot being easy to bump loose would drive me crazy. I am extremely happy with my Funny Playing FPGBC even though it only plays GB and GBC carts. It's not a sleek but it feels good in my hands and I got to put it together myself which makes more of a difference than I thought it would. For me the ideal device would play GB, GBC and GBA carts on an FPGA device that has a better cart slot than the Analogue and allows customization with shell and buttons with a more reasonable price point.
I have an analogue pocket and while I do love it. The glow in the dark model really doesn’t live up to its name without a uv bulb/flash light. I actually just got the aluminum and it way better as I don’t feel like I need to baby it
The Analogue Pocket seems great, and based on my experience with the MiSTer I can definitely see the advantages of FPGAs over software emulation in certain areas such as input latency and sound reproduction but I’m still going to pass on the AP and wait and see what the competition comes out with. Taki Udon has an FPGA handheld coming soon. Maybe Anberbic will release something too.
Been playing with mine for a week now and loving it. Big upside for me: I have several Gameboy cartridges with dead batteries - so playing on my OG Gameboy I can't save anymore (RIP my original pokemon parties hah). Save states for a legit cartridge are amazing. I know one can replace those batteries, and I should, but still!
Do it before they start to leak and destroy your carts. It's really not that hard, takes about 15 minutes per cart if you're new to soldering. And for the love of god, actually solder them instead of using tape methods or similarly silly botch jobs.
I love my pocket, it’s my primary device. and even though I have some serious gripes (dac support, game list management and favorites…), it’s pretty cool in that the community makes it better about every week
Not sure I'd agree with your point on Genesis and SNES at 34:05, the Pocket screen looks much better even if a little smaller. The RG45XX seems to be crushing the background colors, losing detail, and the purples look blue.
I have a launch black Pocket and picked up one of the Glow in the Dark versions a while back. I sold the Glow in the Dark version because I felt like the original had better, fuller sounding audio and the screen seemed to have better contrast. It felt like they used different components to me. The controls did feel tighter though, as you pointed out.
Hey Russ, you may have skipped it do to a more complex setup, but I'm able to pair 2.4ghz 8BitDo directly to the dock without a dongle. Thanks for the great content!
Is there a way to have the individual cores, utilize the time from the analogue pocket for real time clock games? Pokémon crystal, silver and gold to be specific.
I've considered buying a second one for another color, but ive managed to resist so far. You should really consider getting a MiSTer and doing a video though. The experience of that device on a TV is far and away better than most of the emulation handhelds with hdmi-out. The Pocket with dock is great though for the cores it can run.
im just waiting for my analogue pocket to arrive and i’ve downloaded pocket updater v1.6.1 the windows gui version . but also downloaded pocket sync and the firmware from Analogue pocket website. im just wondering can i create my game micro sd before the pocket arrives . pocket sync say it doesn’t recognise the sd as i t says it in the correct format . yet pocket updater has no problems. i found this out when i clicked pocket sync instead of pocket updater please help as havent seen anyone mention this .
I picked up one of the Gameboy Pockets, it's my first and I love it. The Pocket is more like vinyl I guess? You sit down, insert the cartridge, and are kind of immersed and connected in a physical way. I grew up with the OG gameboy and it's like an upgraded experience of the same feeling. Yes it's expensive but I personally think it's very worth it now since I play it every day. Gameboy games just don't look and feel like this on my miyoo.
Great perspective, Russ, appreciate the benefit of your experience (down to the purchase path-a cut above!). As I watch I can’t help but drool-this is such a beautiful device, but I also look at my desk and see my Steam Deck, my GPD Win Max 2 (2024), my PS Vita, and my Retroid Pocket Flip, and I think I may have a serious problem. The thing is, which this may be indulgence, you start to find a niche for each device-the Deck is currently my machine for grinding on Final Fantasy II on SNES. My Win Max is my no-compromise PC gaming on the go machine. My Pocket Flip is the Android emulation playground/random bathroom distraction. My PS Vita is, well, it’s my Vita, does it need to be more? The point being-it’s so easy to critique the hobby as a superfluous and inane, thereby any given device opening itself up to the same critique, but the point of the hobby can be exemplified in an array of different ways, different handhelds, different devices-rediscovering the joy and nostalgia of our gaming addictions. I love the whole FPGA take on the hobby and want to dive in, earn my stripes as an authentic “hardware emulator,” but I’m not sure I’m there just yet. Love to see how you are using your device and how you are finding the experience, though, as always! Thank you for your work!
I have an Analog Pocket, its crystal clear for my stupidly disabled eyes these days. Been 35 years since I got my first Gameboy at the age of 4 and my lord does it make me happy I have something to play all those classic carts on that I still own.
Have their buttons gotten better? I picked up the Limited Edition Smoke one and its been so disappointing with the buttons while playing Pokemon. DPAD not recording certain inputs and not feeling as nice as my Gameboy Advance SP, etc.
I picked up one in the Grape Colorway and the dpad feels good. I definitely haven't noticed any missed inputs over roughly 8 hours of playtime. My only gripe is the "flat" face buttons will sometimes squeak in their housing. And I believe this is due to the "textured" plastic that analogue uses to give it that matte finish. If the sides of the buttons and their housings were polished it would alleviate this.
I agree with a lot of what you said. The device is expensive, and not for everyone. That said it feels quite premium and does offer a superior gaming experience (though not enough to justify tree price for most people). I took mine to Japan and bought a bunch of game boy and game gear carts there to play and had a great time. The screen really is amazing and a great experience for game boy etc. That said, these days I find myself carrying my anbernic sp way more. It’s way more pocketable and save states are a life saver when you’ve just got a few minutes to play. Also it’s cheap enough that I don’t worry about the occasional scratch on the case. Overall I agree with your conclusion. The Pocket is really great and premium but hard to recommend because most people will be just as happy with a software emulation device that’s a fraction of the price.
I got mine last November when they dropped the gameboy pocket themed collection and it arrived to my house in NYC within 5 days. I use mine nearly everyday and prefer it over my own modded gameboys. It’s a fantastic device that revitalizes my gameboy collection. Its SNES open FPGA capabilities are great when paired with the dock. The adapters for game gear/lynx/ngp are great too. It’s a niche & luxury device that isn’t meant to be affordable, that’s what buying an Anbernic is for. I’m sure once cheap Chinese knockoffs come out it’ll be ways for the average person to buy an FPGA device like this.
The difference in details at 34:13 is incredible. How bad is that anbernic screen? on the pocket I can see more details on the background and the tires really come alive. I wish Anbernic would use screens that are better calibrated
I've definitely been considering one lately. I've been torn between that or a modded GBA. I have a GBA SP, Micro, and Steam Deck OLED. I find myself using the SP for cartridges, and Steam Deck for times I'd want speed up, save states, hacks, etc. For me the pocket would probably just be an upgrade to an SP (I can definitely see ghosting on the SP panel). I know the screen is even better than modded GBA screens, and that cores offer more functionality. The original GBA form factor seems like it would be a bit more comfortable, and since I expect to use it perpetually, being able to use AA's would actually be an upside. Analogue Pocket itself is fairly comparable to the price of a modded GBA, but the dock really pushes it over that - however, that's something the modded GBA can't do at all, so you could see it as a plus and/or optional for the Pocket. Tough choice! But I think that's just because they're both good choices.
I have one and I really like it. But yeah, it is very expensive. Since you mentioned the MiSTer, you should really try it out. The setup is not as complicated as it might seem first. I absolutley love my MiSTer and I do think, that it is by far the best option if you want to play retro games. I would love to hear your opinon and experiences with the device.
Thanks Russ. Have always been a fan of your videos because you return to the hardware after an extended period with an updated perspective.
How to make an alalogue pocket a business expense
Become a UA-camr 😂
I am not a UA-camr and I write off games and movies as “inspiration”. 🤷🏻♂️
@@rphntw1n This is the way, specially if by inspiration you mean beating up punks in Final Fight.
Call yourself a "Creative Freelancer" - write games off as research
Puns aside, I was thinking that I'd set up a few of the 3D consoles up at booths in my bar so patrons can play Goldeneye and MarioKart against each other while they drink, which would pass the IRS sniff test. So I guess you could sign up as a ride share cabby, never actually do any work for them, and say you wired Pockets up in the passenger seating as entertainment for your fares? Should be worth a couple write-offs :P
"Pocket Sync" on macOS works beautifully and has a very polished graphical user interface.
can confirm
I’ll check it out, thanks!
Works on windows as well.
I use it all the time. Highly recommend
Agreed! Great UI
It's funny that you mention the UI. I myself am a 20-year veteran of design and UI and I actually really really like it. I understand that it's simple and not flashy like other ones, but there's something about that old school just text charm that wins me over.
Yeah, I'm a graphic designer and I think the UI looks top notch, like a modern take on the classic iPod scroll wheel menu. Straight forward, minimal, and it reflects the hardware design language.
Yeah, it and the mister's simple text menu are easy to nav, fast, and responsive.
Plain text is an anti-UI. Probably the best case to be made for a plain text UI in this instance is minimizing battery consumption, but forcing a vertical scroll to locate a specific option on a small handheld screen is a rough experience. Please don't design UI like this.
@@terpfen since when text is anti UI? Sometimes abstract icons just get in the way, especially if the UI is simple enough. This is a limited scope device, for a niche audience. Minui UX gets you to your target much quicker, with less cognitive load.
@@terpfendisagree, plain text is the original UI, proper old school. I really like what Anbernic has done, it’s like using an iPod
Frame Blending is an option buried in the display settings, that is what is making the ghosting. You can disable that directly instead of switching to the CRT filter.
The CRT filter does not feature BFI, its just using fine scanlines and a shadow mask that darkens the picture. You can also play with the size/integer+ to reduce the black borders.
Thanks for the clarification! I did doubt the whole BFI thing due to the Pocket’s refresh rate, but I knew something neat was happening 😎
@@RetroGameCorps why didn't you check the dpad with the contra test and the street fighter test?
Another accessory I'd like to call attention to is called the Analogizer. It is like the dock, but allows you to connect to an analog video device like a CRT, and SNAC adapters that are also compatible with MiSTer to use original console controllers on it.
While I LOVE the emulation devices, there is just something nostalgic and special about using physical cartridges. As a result I also love the Analogue Pocket very much.
Incredibly absurd for its price though.
@@isuck6049 It's just not for you. Let the rest of us enjoy it.
@@SpicyHotShura I mean hey, I wouldn't judge someone for buying it if they have the money to do so, but if you really just want to play with the original cartridges you have, considering the price of this, you could probably buy a good second hand handheld for your desired cartridge system at the same time.
@@isuck6049 You are absolutely correct, and I agree that is what someone should do if these are their chief concern. But for enthusiasts, either retro, technical, or both and beyond, what's inside this thing is worth the money. From a technical standpoint, FPGA is a marvel all in its own right.
@@isuck6049
What's absurd about it? It's $220 + Shipping.
For the love of god please upload more frequently.. your videos are the only time I remember to eat a snack and drink.. I’m famished
Perzonaly I prefer less frequency but indepth review like this. Quality requires time.
@@SagSagoth I agree, I was making a joke about the snack and drinks lol
@@JasonALMS2010 yes, now I figured out :D. For Snacks&Drinks then yes , I agree :D
The dock supports certain 2.4 GHz 8bitdo controllers without needing a USB dongle. You do have to install a firmware from 8bitdo's website but it works great!
Came to the comments to see if anyone else caught that as well in the video. The label on the dock means it has 2.4ghz built in. Love using my SN30 2.4ghz from 8bitdo because it's one of the listed and makes the Dock experience feel so close to a Super Gameboy on SNES with the SGB Core.
Other than the gray dev unit, the White is the only one with a non-black bezel. The black bezel on the other colors make it seem like the screen is pretty big until you turn it on.
I picked up te white one and then was slightly disappointed when special editions appeared but now in the end I'm glad I picked up the white one cause of the bezel.
I just.....can't support this company in anyway man. Their pricing model is so dogshit and limited drops is such a scummy thing to do now a days that, I could care less about how great this thing is, there is just no way its worth the price. I would KILL to have the teal version of this, but even if it was at a huge discount I would absolutely pass. Knowing they still are part of this miserable practice when there is so much more innovation happening the in the handheld space its just such a bad look that unfortunately, many people with expendable money could care less about sigh
Analogue and 8bitdo are the same Company ;)
It’s a collectors toy. Not an everyday carry. For that reason it’s still not justified to be charging that much for it. I am in agreement.
@@DoubbleDdragon one makes quality products for a great price, the other is Analogue
💯
@DoubbleDdragon What 😂? Analogue, Inc. is the company that owns the Analogue Pocket, a handheld game console that was released in December 2021. Christopher Taber is the founder
The fact they couldn't even ship it with firmware at least from this year says a lot about this company
2022… This is extremely embarrassing
Pretty obvious they just put the old 2022 hardware in a new case
Oh wow… it took me all of 5min to update my device… you people want to be handheld so badly
@@Rudgged My brother in Christ why do i have to put up with a 2022 firmware in a 2024 handheld?
@@xXxLuismaxXxAgreed, specially since you'd be paying a crazy premium for this device.
I use a rumble kart as the dust cover for the cartridge slot. Might as well use it for something functional.
I love my white one, it looks so clean and beautiful.
Finally a device I don't have the slightest itch to pull the trigger. I'm glad they are succesful, because the more competition the better it is for all of us, but I really don't understand the appeal at this high price point.
Same, seeing as the fpgbc is about $90 but its DIY im sure they could lower the price on this. But seeing as most of their stuff is overpriced anyways i doubt it
A perfect replication of the experience of original hardware.
@@Fancy405 They have a NeoGeo and PSOne core option this is why it isn't lower along with pretty much all 32 bit cores and below. There are a number of CPS and CPS2 cores.
@@NetflixForeign most retro handhelds have ps1 games playable it isn't that big of a positive. And I'm not saying it shouldn't be more expensive but definitely shouldn't be as expensive as it is right now while constantly being sold out. But as I said seeing as most of the stuff on their site is overpriced I'm 100% sure they could lower the price on this
@@Fancy405 Yes but to be fair FPGA hardware just costs more than emulation handhelds so that is comparing apples to oranges.
My biggest complaint is them trying to make money off shipping. It sucks when you want to buy a screen protector or the Game Gear cart adapter.
The way they have shipping you almost feel obligated to buy a screen protector, Game Gear adapter and a few other things in one go which really sucks.
I already have an analogue pocket, but I just couldn’t justify buying another one, no matter how much I like the yellow.
Well, you can always just sell the old one after you buy the new one. That’s what I did with my white one after I bought a transparent blue one 😊
I think overall analogue should redesign their analogue pocket and make it so the cartiage slot more down so it will be comfy.
I think it‘s the way it is, because they had the adapters for the other cartridge systems in mind from the beginning. If the cartridge was any deeper the adapters wouldn‘t fit. It was a compromise. I personally never knocked a GB cart loose in my two Pockets.
A horizontal shape like an rgb30 or og gba would drastically improve the ergonomics. They could also fix the triggers if they do a horizontal shape too.
Shipping to EU Germany is about 50$, add a dock and it is about 60$, ad a link cable and it is 80$. Then add 19% taxes to the total costs (items + shipping) and some fee for collecting the tax and it is way above 320$ just for one regular Analogue Pocket. I don't mind the price tag of the Pocket, I think it is worth every penny, but after shipping and taxes it just hurts. I already have a Pocket but I'd like to have the cables and a dock. But the dock alone (without the Pocket!!) is 59.99$ in shipping! I think my next Analogue order will be the Analogue 3D or a landscape Analoge "GBA" Pocket.
Yeah if they say they aren't overcharging on shipping and making a profit they are lying through their teeth.
What is worse is if you live in a state that actually charges tax on shipping too.
Why do you support this scamming company?
They even scam you with their hardware marketing.
Talk about two FPGAs but sell you a board where one FPGA is broken and never possible to activate.
Everything about them is scummy and you should not support this stuff.
If you want an FPGA Gameboy get a funny playing Gameboy color.
That thing also looks like an original GBA and feels so much better in the hand!
Lol
@@NetflixForeign/videos I looked into it previously and they did claim publicly (on Twitter, I think) that they are charging the actual costs. There's no way that's true though.
Also, they conveniently don't always have everything in-stock (e.g. I wanted to buy a Pocket, the adapters, and the dock, but the adapters weren't in-stock) and will charge you the same absurd shipping price to ship just the thing that is currently out-of-stock since you have to buy it separately. Analogue is scumbag company.
@Or maybe that just the price it cost to ship across states and oceans… Remember that Analogue isn’t massive company that can just eat shipping cost like Amazon. People have gotten so spoil by Amazon cheap or free shipping that we’ve forgotten it expensive to ship even for a company.
My parents tried shipping my laptop over night from the west to the east coast and it was $300.
This product isn't for everyone, but for retro enthusiasts who want accurate emulation the value is definitely there
I am genuinely blown away by the look and feels of playing games on FPGA cores, it's that subtle difference in timing that makes it so much better than any other emulation device. Whether you're playing gameboy, console, arcade, or even game&watch on this thing there is hands-down nothing to compare it with.
The market is full of android -based software emulator devices, but this 100% is in it's own league
When I loaded up Galaga or even Super Mario World, I could instantly tell that it felt right as someone who has played extensively on original hardware.
If you know, you know. If you don't know, go ahead and emulate via software as that is "close enough" for most folks.
Is it expensive? Yes.
As a die-hard retro fan is it worth it? Absolutely.
People complaining about the price of this thing are just not the right market for it.
There's a huge difference in delay lag between emulation and FPGA hardware. If you played the originals, you'll definitely feel it and the emulation lag just ruins the original nostalgic feel for me.
I fully agree I also don't think the price is unreasonable for what you get. I got several cheap retro handhelds and they all feel cheaply made. The screen on Analogue Pocket and speakers made this well worth the price.
You could just snag a gameboy color for like.. 60 bucks in great condition. Unless the problem is actually obtaining the games you want to play, I get it..
If the normal analog pocket had stayed in stock the entire time they were releasing limited editions I don't think anyone would care. The problem is they were releasing expensive limited editions while scalpers were fleecing people on eBay.
34:10 - I just love how Earthworm Jim reacts to you saying "quite a bit bigger" 😂If you did that on purpose, masterfully done!
I go back and forth on getting an Analogue Pocket. Honestly, I'm grateful it traditionally hasn't been in stock because I definitely would have impulsed purchased it earlier this year. Instead I bought an FPGBC and between that and my Miyoo Mini Plus - that might be all I need.
Yeah, I had that realization when I saw that the Odin Pro was the same price as an Analogue Pocket plus accessories. Pretty sure I got a lot more value out of my Odin than I would've out of a Pocket.
Russ, there is a way to display console cores in almost full screen with minimal bezels. When you select the CRT Trinitron display mode enter the mode settings, then size, and enable both "Integer+" and "Stretch CRT Width" options. This will nearly fill the screen entirely on the Pocket for all non-handheld cores and looks absolutely gorgeous for these systems. Then in the mode settings select "Fine Aperture Grille" and "Hard Edges" and you'll get the brightest and sharpest result with the CRT Trinitron display mode. Also you can disable "Frame Blending" on the Gameboy cores if you dislike the blur that it adds. Just note that some games require frame blending to be enabled, as some developers made clever use of the original screen in a way where flickering sprites would be displayed as being transparent because of how they used frame blending to achieve this effect.
Personally I have grown up with systems like the Gameboy, Gameboy Color and Game Gear, and the Pocket absolutely nails these in their look and feel with the original display modes and optional frame blending, and even slows down in-game where the original systems would experience slow downs. The AP is like a perfect hardware copy of these systems with the benefit of having a larger backlit screen. What absolutely amazes me is how accurate the display modes are, it really feels like playing on the real systems, specifically the original blurry and desaturated Game Gear display mode totally blew me away when I saw it the first time, as it looks so incredibly accurate. In my opinion it's a great quality device, it fortunately works comfortably with my hands and I'll have to get two more eventually, one dedicated for traveling that I don't mind if it gets dinged up and one as a backup.
DANDYlyin’…. Glad to see how much unboxing mustard joy this FPGA brought you Russ, you earned/deserved it! I have loved my MiSTer daily for years, so I feel ya, SO MANY CORES, SO LITTLE TIME!! Oh that screen!!
Thanks for the review. That cartridge slack is a really interesting design choice. Also the sharp front edge.
Am i watching this on my morning commute? Yeah, I wanna do it.
I just can’t get over the price here. I understand that this is a specialty device that does some cool stuff, but the value proposition is tough
@@rotationalbox588 I would add that if you care about precision, there are some very precise software emulators for various systems. They do sometimes require more high-end hardware to run properly, though.
I agree. It's difficult to justify the cost. I suspect many people who buy this device can't afford to. The artificial scarcity tactic they use is not respectable.
Okay add up the price of a real gb, GBC, GBA, nes, SNES and all the other systems. You looking at over 1000$ alone. The analogue has a nice screen and a doc. Price isn't that bad
@@JosephJoe-u7e or any other device that plays all of those things and more? I said I understand it’s a specialty device, but even with “hardware emulation” it’s not really competing with anyone who wants to own all the original hardware. It’s main competition is similar form factor devices that are far more capable for far less money. It’s a niche within a niche that will appeal to certain folks, but that’s far and away from a recommended product in my opinion.
I was interested in the Analogue Pocket for about 5 minutes back in 2021 -- just long enough to see the high price and general lack of features. I don't want a perfect recreation of the past; I want modern conveniences.
I'm so glad I missed out on my every attempt to buy one of these lol. I was really tempted on some colours because the Gameboy is my favourite handheld, but it is just way too expensive even as a collector. I'd rather just own the original hardware or spend that money on a handheld pc that is way more powerful and versatile.
Also to add, the Analogue Pocket does support the Pokémon roms you put on the sd card like sapphire, ruby and emerald's battery. like the error doesn't say 'the battery has dryed out...' when you launch it.
This video was very helpful! Thank you for taking the time to make it. I think I'll go with the Analogue Pocket. It's really not that expensive for what you're getting IMO
Protip: Don't remove the protective plastic near the cartridge slot. Reason is that there's alot of wear and tear from inserting/removing cartridges and can quickly scratch it with every day use
The Analog Pocket is a Godsend for the Retro Fighting Game Community. For what it can do, for as small as it is, is mind-blowing. A CPS 3 board of Street Fighter 3rd Strike used on Ebay can go upwards to $1000. To run a retro tourney with arcade perfect hardware on 4 games, each of those boards would cost a minimum of $300. This all can be done on the Analog Pocket for $219! That's insane!
Kinda hard to land a Raging Demon on the AP though... 😅
_Hardware_ emulation: OOH!
No save states: oh :(
Oh man, teeny 3.5" screen + gigantic bezels, 250 quid...I'm alright 😂 thanks for the vid Russ!
@@OSWyeahhh honestly can’t see anyone who doesn’t review these handhelds for a living buying one of these. Still love Russ tho!
Cougar: WOW!
Cougar: wow
Guess you didn’t watch the video it has save states…
12:19 Save States
the pocket is so rad. aside from being amazing for portable, I dock mine with a CRT and 8bitdo arcade stick and a snes controller and its super legit as a console as well. they just need to add better button mapping for multiple controllers
It was the recent analogue pockets that had the GBC colors that got me into retro gaming in the first place. Led me to find this channels and do some research on what device was right for me, and in the time I did said research the green kiwi color I wanted was sold out! I'm honestly kind of glad because I've found a much better entry device that I picked up instead (the RP2S), but I can't help but feel like one day down the road I'll inevitably pick up an analogue. The thing is so clean looking, but that price tag hurts a little too much for a first step into this world.
All that's to say, thanks for these kinds of in depth reviews you make!
Great honest video I may not comment on all your vids but I watch most of them.
Another amazing video Russ. This channel got me through Covid. I got really sick and was in bed for about a week with Covid about 2 years ago and that’s when I discovered this channel. Throughout that week I went back and watched every single episode. Now every time I hear retro game corps intro music it reminds me of being sick and my bed lol!
I'll grab some grapes
Grapes grapes grapez
The white one will look good in the case and dandelion for playing !
Just FYI - the power and volume buttons are slightly updated compared to the original. The buttons now pop out a little bit instead of laying flush.
Hoping we get handhelds with DE10 Nano clone boards soon so Analogue finally has some competition in this space.
love my pocket, have the black and clear one. ONLY issues I have: 1) the left/right triggers are really high up. I have large hands, and they are still very uncomfortable to reach. 2) More old-school arcade games. I know we will get them eventually, and i am thankful for all the work the developers do. But would love Pacman, Ms. Pacman, Centipede, Frogger, Time Pilot etc. Other than that, perfect handheld for an old gen-xer
Get an anbernic, retroid or and Odin and put this dogshit in the basket!
@@EliasPfaiffer Way to show you got 0 units of clue what you're talking about
@@EliasPfaifferbased
@@EliasPfaiffer Imagine being this clueless
@@MonoSimio this is the biggest scum of handhelds!!!
way too expensive and simply can't do anything
take it easy again...get an anbernic , miyoo mini plus , retroid pocket or the GOAT Odin2!!!
but not something like this...
wake up people!
I love mine, totally worth it if it's within your means. Even the dock is an incredible experience playing in 4k.
Great video!! Only thing I wish you would have touched on is the difference in DPAD from your older white pocket and the newest GBC color. You may not know this but that is a big point of contention in the analogue pocket groups on reddit, fb, etc. A lot of people full bore deny that it's ever been an issue. In my experience, I've had two pockets, one was a non-launch black model and the other was a silver. The Dpads are VASTLY different. You can't tell when playing simple input games like pokemon but playing metroid zero mission and doing some moves like the speed booster was much easier to perform on the silver model. The false diagonals was an issue on my black model and tbh i was happy to sell it and get the silver. Now, i am over the moon with this device!! i'm just wondering if all new models have updated dpads.
I don’t think it can be using black frame insertion, as that would require it to run at 120hz to hit 60hz with every other frame being black.
Agreed, the only reason I had considered it is because Analogue doesn’t actually specify the device’s refresh rather, it just says “variable”. But I have a feeling that the screen isn’t 120Hz, since that’s quite a bit of overkill and if it was their marketing would probably be shouting about it 😂
@@RetroGameCorps IIRC the screen goes from 30 to ~62hz.
Yeah, the reduced brightness is just going to be down to the scanlines on every other line darkening the overall image. The darker image probably also helps your sample and hold display with refreshing more quickly, reducing the perceived ghosting. You could reduce it further by using an OLED, which typically have better motion clarity than IPS panels.
I own 4 of them. I started with a black one from the original run and got the aluminum one in August, and I have to say the aluminum one actually has the best button feel.
Yo your camera is stunning quality!
Very timely, thank you. Someone is selling his for $200 cash since he upgraded to Metal... almost untouched since he only uses it docked. But you outline here cheaper and more attractive options, too... I mean, there's only really 5 GBA cartridges I want to play on cartridge other than my flash cart. Talking me down from jumping on the deal.
thats what i bought too. love the yellow. it's what I use to have on GBC.
Great video as always. I picked up my Analogue Pocket earlier this year and it got me hooked into FPGA so much that I agonised over whether to buy the dock, or just go ahead and build a Mister system. I did the latter. Don't be intimidated, it's a lot easier to build a Mister system from the ground up (took me about 10 minutes) than it looks. There's a LOT more systems on the full blown Mister as well. If you get the chance at some point Russ, I think you'd get a huge kick out of doing it.
You should be able to scale the image with the CRT Trinitron filter applied. There are some extra options on the top of the list where you select the image filter. I believe they are called Integer, Integer+ and Fit I think.
I got the yellow Pocket and it gives me everything I want from a retro handheld, and more. One of my best purchases ever, and I‘m glad I went for one quality device instead of running after all those cheap emulation handhelds, with new ones being thrown on the market weekly.
But now many gamers have more than one retro gaming device.
@ So? I‘m not a collector myself.
This video sold me. I don't need it. I have delta on my iPhone. I have emulation on my computer, heck, I even have legal dumps of my collection. But, man, sometimes, you gotta treat yo self. This is just such a nice device to pop in a cart and play on a very well made device. I wish I could get a fun color, but, as you said in this video, only Black, White, and Gold are available. Decided to get black, and I'll slap a red vinyl sticker over it to mimick my old Red GB Pocket. Thanks for the video, as always!
Taki udon releases a FPGA Habdheld this year with a Full de10 Nano
But will you be able to actually buy one?
Yep anyone in the market should hold off a few months and see how that plays out. FPGA gaming is at an interesting point right now
I would really love to see Russ do a review of Taki Udon's handheld!
@@jgorres or a Review of a Mister FPGA
@@DoubbleDdragon I'm more interested in the consoles than the current "stack".
17:13 Hee Hee! Shamon! Love Moonwalker! 4 player was a BLAST!
Superb video, Russ :)
It hasn't been talked about much as of late, but I'm also really looking forward to a review of the upcoming ayaneo pocket dmg. Feels like the hardware will be of similar quality to the Analogue Pocket, but with much more power, and a larger screen that's OLED. That price is rough though...
I think you glossed over the fact that the 2.4GHz logo isn't that the Dock supports 2.4GHz dongles but the Dock can be paried with specific 2.4GHz controllers as native controllers, almost all of which are 8bitdo. I bought a pair of their SN30 2.4GHz originally intended for SNES 2.4GHz dongles but can be flashed with Analogue Dock firmware on 8bitdo's website. They work natively with the Dock, no dongle needed. I also have their PCE and Sega 6-button style M30 2.4GHz controllers which also support the Dock 2.4Hz firmware but have a Home button to open the Analogue menu. Their NES 2.4GHz controllers also work this way. As for arcade controllers, I really like 8bitdo's NeoGeo controllers. They work great for all arcade type games. My 'Ultimate' pack with the AP, Dock, 2x of each 8bitdo SN30, PCE 2.4, M30 2.4 and NeoGeo was pricey but after eyeing an NEW, SNES, 2.4GHz controllers, flash carts, display mods and RetroTink 5X, the AP and all the controllers is a lot cheaper. It is very close to playing the real thing, and at this time, cheaper still than the Mister, until the Mister Pi becomes more easily available.
Bought it day one no regrets, use it everytime nostalgia hit me. Premium price totally worth it. Got the dock and also the waterfield case and it sure makes me blush too 😂
That intro music is fire
You don't need these dongles for the 8bitdo Controllers, the 2.4ghz is build in. You might have to use a different FW from 8bitdo.
Yeah that part annoyed me.
That price tag is freaking insane man, absolutely beautiful, just like the new ´´N46´´ they also developed but dang....hard to justify the price.
@Retro Game Corps, the learning curve for a mister isn’t as steep as you might think. I managed to get one of the Taki clone boards and was up and running within an hour, including assembly. I think you and your audience would appreciate how cool of a device it is.
The Analogue Pocket is currently my favorite handheld/Console (Own the Dock as well).
I spent $220+ Shipping for the Pocket and $100 + shipping for the Dock. $320 + Shipping.
Completely forgot about Golden Axe! Holy crap! I played the heck out of that game as a kid.
Oh man! Also Altered Beast!
I think one of the guys working on a de-10 nano clone (the mister base hardware) is also working on making a portable version of it.
It might be your big opportunity to dip into the mister fpga when it comes out (probably soon). It will be cheaper and also more powerful than the analogue version (running everything the mister does, for example, ps1 and n64 as well).
Personally, I've been retroachievements-pilled to the point that even though I do think it is 100% better to play games accurately on fpgas, retroachievements just about inch over in making me care more about software emulation. At least for now. Who knows what future hardware could do.
After all these years, I'm perfectly okay with their pricing. The hardware, performance and software support is basically perfect. I _wish_ the face buttons were bigger to more closely resemble DMG or at least GBC face buttons, but it's okay. It's not for everybody, but no current handheld really is. I often use the fpGBC (they now have a preassembled option, too, btw., but assembling it is easy enough), but sometimes just miss the analogue's display and switch to it again for a while. (I bought a device to read/write GB/GBC/GBA cartridges and love writing newer homebrew games to cheapo-chinese knockoff DMG-cartridges of Perfect Dark. Works beautifully.)
You are days late Russ. I've already purchased one and watched your older videos multiple times lol. I am ready for this video though! Playing Pokemon Prism on it is very fun, and looks great!
I also played Prism on the AP and indeed it looks really good. It’s just the missing fast forward function is so sad, especially with Pokemon and old RPGs.
@@igniatesch9664 it has it for me. Right bumper fast forwards!
Excellent review.
I have struggled with emulation devices, but FPGA is just so much easier for me to wrap my head around. It's just so easy and requires so little fiddling. When I turn on my Powkiddy, it feels like I'm turning on a tiny computer, whereas my analogue pocket feels like I'm turning on a game boy. I dunno, it's a weird mental thing but it affects my experience.
It's not the best value for sure, and I wouldn't give it to someone very young, but for me playing it this way just gives me a nostalgic hit that can't be beat (plus popping in my Donkey Kong game boy cart feels so good).
I do think that the new cheaper MiSTers are a way better lower price entry into the FPGA world for people.
Funny playing is also selling their GBC FPGA fully assembled for $100 now.
I don't have any regrets purchasing one of these. The screen is beautiful and much better than my custom built GBA. It plays all my cartridges and the arcade cores are super addicting. I just wish they'd reduce the price so more people can experience this as well. I also hope we get a GBA shaped pocket in the future.
Glad to see the update video on this. Honestly though, it's not a device for me. I only play GB, GBC and GBA games. The cart slot being easy to bump loose would drive me crazy. I am extremely happy with my Funny Playing FPGBC even though it only plays GB and GBC carts. It's not a sleek but it feels good in my hands and I got to put it together myself which makes more of a difference than I thought it would. For me the ideal device would play GB, GBC and GBA carts on an FPGA device that has a better cart slot than the Analogue and allows customization with shell and buttons with a more reasonable price point.
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro + Analogue Pocket = Retrogaming heaven
I have an analogue pocket and while I do love it. The glow in the dark model really doesn’t live up to its name without a uv bulb/flash light. I actually just got the aluminum and it way better as I don’t feel like I need to baby it
The Analogue Pocket seems great, and based on my experience with the MiSTer I can definitely see the advantages of FPGAs over software emulation in certain areas such as input latency and sound reproduction but I’m still going to pass on the AP and wait and see what the competition comes out with. Taki Udon has an FPGA handheld coming soon. Maybe Anberbic will release something too.
Been playing with mine for a week now and loving it. Big upside for me: I have several Gameboy cartridges with dead batteries - so playing on my OG Gameboy I can't save anymore (RIP my original pokemon parties hah). Save states for a legit cartridge are amazing. I know one can replace those batteries, and I should, but still!
Do it before they start to leak and destroy your carts. It's really not that hard, takes about 15 minutes per cart if you're new to soldering.
And for the love of god, actually solder them instead of using tape methods or similarly silly botch jobs.
I love my pocket, it’s my primary device. and even though I have some serious gripes (dac support, game list management and favorites…), it’s pretty cool in that the community makes it better about every week
Seeing this in yellow got me thinking, imagine if Analogue Pocket and the PlayDate did a collab? What an incredible system that would be.
Not sure I'd agree with your point on Genesis and SNES at 34:05, the Pocket screen looks much better even if a little smaller. The RG45XX seems to be crushing the background colors, losing detail, and the purples look blue.
Nooo Anbernics & co. are so much better because potato! Delete that! :P
I have a launch black Pocket and picked up one of the Glow in the Dark versions a while back. I sold the Glow in the Dark version because I felt like the original had better, fuller sounding audio and the screen seemed to have better contrast. It felt like they used different components to me. The controls did feel tighter though, as you pointed out.
Hey Russ, you may have skipped it do to a more complex setup, but I'm able to pair 2.4ghz 8BitDo directly to the dock without a dongle. Thanks for the great content!
Great Video 💯
Thank you
Is there a way to have the individual cores, utilize the time from the analogue pocket for real time clock games? Pokémon crystal, silver and gold to be specific.
I've considered buying a second one for another color, but ive managed to resist so far. You should really consider getting a MiSTer and doing a video though. The experience of that device on a TV is far and away better than most of the emulation handhelds with hdmi-out. The Pocket with dock is great though for the cores it can run.
im just waiting for my analogue pocket to arrive and i’ve downloaded pocket updater v1.6.1 the windows gui version . but also downloaded pocket sync and the firmware from Analogue pocket website. im just wondering can i create my game micro sd before the pocket arrives . pocket sync say it doesn’t recognise the sd as i t says it in the correct format . yet pocket updater has no problems. i found this out when i clicked pocket sync instead of pocket updater please help as havent seen anyone mention this .
I picked up one of the Gameboy Pockets, it's my first and I love it. The Pocket is more like vinyl I guess? You sit down, insert the cartridge, and are kind of immersed and connected in a physical way. I grew up with the OG gameboy and it's like an upgraded experience of the same feeling. Yes it's expensive but I personally think it's very worth it now since I play it every day. Gameboy games just don't look and feel like this on my miyoo.
To anyone that has the device. What was the wait time from the purchase to receiving the Analogue Pocket?
Great perspective, Russ, appreciate the benefit of your experience (down to the purchase path-a cut above!). As I watch I can’t help but drool-this is such a beautiful device, but I also look at my desk and see my Steam Deck, my GPD Win Max 2 (2024), my PS Vita, and my Retroid Pocket Flip, and I think I may have a serious problem. The thing is, which this may be indulgence, you start to find a niche for each device-the Deck is currently my machine for grinding on Final Fantasy II on SNES. My Win Max is my no-compromise PC gaming on the go machine. My Pocket Flip is the Android emulation playground/random bathroom distraction. My PS Vita is, well, it’s my Vita, does it need to be more? The point being-it’s so easy to critique the hobby as a superfluous and inane, thereby any given device opening itself up to the same critique, but the point of the hobby can be exemplified in an array of different ways, different handhelds, different devices-rediscovering the joy and nostalgia of our gaming addictions. I love the whole FPGA take on the hobby and want to dive in, earn my stripes as an authentic “hardware emulator,” but I’m not sure I’m there just yet. Love to see how you are using your device and how you are finding the experience, though, as always! Thank you for your work!
I have an Analog Pocket, its crystal clear for my stupidly disabled eyes these days. Been 35 years since I got my first Gameboy at the age of 4 and my lord does it make me happy I have something to play all those classic carts on that I still own.
Have their buttons gotten better? I picked up the Limited Edition Smoke one and its been so disappointing with the buttons while playing Pokemon. DPAD not recording certain inputs and not feeling as nice as my Gameboy Advance SP, etc.
My silver one has a much better DPAD on it than the older black model. It was a night and day experience difference for me.
I picked up one in the Grape Colorway and the dpad feels good. I definitely haven't noticed any missed inputs over roughly 8 hours of playtime. My only gripe is the "flat" face buttons will sometimes squeak in their housing. And I believe this is due to the "textured" plastic that analogue uses to give it that matte finish. If the sides of the buttons and their housings were polished it would alleviate this.
I agree with a lot of what you said. The device is expensive, and not for everyone. That said it feels quite premium and does offer a superior gaming experience (though not enough to justify tree price for most people).
I took mine to Japan and bought a bunch of game boy and game gear carts there to play and had a great time. The screen really is amazing and a great experience for game boy etc.
That said, these days I find myself carrying my anbernic sp way more. It’s way more pocketable and save states are a life saver when you’ve just got a few minutes to play. Also it’s cheap enough that I don’t worry about the occasional scratch on the case.
Overall I agree with your conclusion. The Pocket is really great and premium but hard to recommend because most people will be just as happy with a software emulation device that’s a fraction of the price.
I wouldn't consider an exposed cartridge as premium, but the screen, and dock are both quite tempting.
I got mine last November when they dropped the gameboy pocket themed collection and it arrived to my house in NYC within 5 days. I use mine nearly everyday and prefer it over my own modded gameboys. It’s a fantastic device that revitalizes my gameboy collection. Its SNES open FPGA capabilities are great when paired with the dock. The adapters for game gear/lynx/ngp are great too. It’s a niche & luxury device that isn’t meant to be affordable, that’s what buying an Anbernic is for. I’m sure once cheap Chinese knockoffs come out it’ll be ways for the average person to buy an FPGA device like this.
The difference in details at 34:13 is incredible. How bad is that anbernic screen? on the pocket I can see more details on the background and the tires really come alive. I wish Anbernic would use screens that are better calibrated
I've definitely been considering one lately. I've been torn between that or a modded GBA. I have a GBA SP, Micro, and Steam Deck OLED. I find myself using the SP for cartridges, and Steam Deck for times I'd want speed up, save states, hacks, etc. For me the pocket would probably just be an upgrade to an SP (I can definitely see ghosting on the SP panel). I know the screen is even better than modded GBA screens, and that cores offer more functionality. The original GBA form factor seems like it would be a bit more comfortable, and since I expect to use it perpetually, being able to use AA's would actually be an upside. Analogue Pocket itself is fairly comparable to the price of a modded GBA, but the dock really pushes it over that - however, that's something the modded GBA can't do at all, so you could see it as a plus and/or optional for the Pocket.
Tough choice! But I think that's just because they're both good choices.
Can I use my Skull & Co. Dock that I use for my Steam Deck with the Analogue Pocket?
God I love my Retroid Pocket
I never got the Analogue Pocket, I just ordered the Trimui Brick instead! I also got both colors the black one and the white one.
Just got one this week! This video dropped at the perfect time lol
The best analogy I have heard is “you tell a cpu what to do, but you tell an FPGA what to be”
I have one and I really like it. But yeah, it is very expensive. Since you mentioned the MiSTer, you should really try it out. The setup is not as complicated as it might seem first. I absolutley love my MiSTer and I do think, that it is by far the best option if you want to play retro games. I would love to hear your opinon and experiences with the device.