Retroid Pocket 6 vs Pocket 5: Why I’m Not Upgrading Just Yet

I want to get something out of the way early, because it matters for everything that follows. The Retroid Pocket 6 is a genuine step forward.

The performance uplift is real. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 puts it firmly into a different class compared to the Pocket 5. PS2, GameCube, Wii U, higher‑end Switch emulation, PC streaming, high‑refresh Android games — all of that is objectively better here. The screen is faster. The battery is bigger. The thermal performance is more mature. There’s no need to pretend otherwise. And yet, I’m not upgrading. At least, not yet.

Not because the device isn’t good enough — but because I’ve started to realise that I am. I’ve been forcing myself to stop and recognise that what I already have is enough for now. I don’t actually need more in this moment.

I have enough, therefore I can pause.

Owning the upgrade without needing it

Retroid Pocket 6 vs Pocket 5: One of the quieter truths of this hobby is that progress doesn’t always arrive with a problem attached. Sometimes something new exists simply because it can, not because what came before has suddenly become inadequate. The Retroid Pocket 6 feels like one of those moments. It’s the natural evolution of the line, not a course correction. And that matters, because my Pocket 5 hasn’t failed me. It hasn’t broken. It hasn’t stopped being capable. If anything, I probably haven’t even fully used it yet.

In practice, my Pocket 5 has mostly been a comfort device rather than a power showcase. I’ve used it far more for cloud gaming — Xbox Cloud and previously Boosteroid — than I ever expected, largely because it’s lighter and easier to settle into than a Steam Deck over long sessions. With a cheap AliExpress grip added, it’s been surprisingly comfortable. I’ve also set it up properly. ES‑DE is installed and dialled in using TechDweebs’ tutorials. Everything up to sixth‑generation systems runs beautifully. PS1, Dreamcast, N64, PSP — no drama at all.

Where it has shown its limits is PS2. Performance can be inconsistent depending on the title, and that friction is actually what pushed me down the path of original hardware instead. That’s how I ended up deep into my PS2 modding journey rather than shopping for another handheld. That alone says a lot.

When abundance changes the question

My Retroid pocket 5 with grip - Retroid Pocket 6 vs Pocket 5

Context matters here. Alongside the Pocket 5, I already own a Switch OLED, a Steam Deck LCD, a PS Vita, a PSP, an Xbox Series X, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, an original Xbox, and a recently upgraded PC. I also have an Anbernic RG40XX loaded with over 10,000 games — mostly curated by me rather than relying on a stock list.

None of that’s a brag. Most of my collection has been earned or ‘levelled up’ through finding and reselling retro gear. It’s a reality check for me — a reminder of how easily enthusiasm can slide into over‑consumption if I’m not careful.

At some point, adding another device doesn’t expand possibility — it dilutes attention. It turns enjoyment into comparison, and comparison into restlessness. I’ve got physical games I haven’t played yet. I’ve got modded systems packed with history. I’ve got entire libraries that deserve time rather than benchmarking. Upgrading right now wouldn’t unlock joy. It would simply add another option to an already crowded shelf.

The quiet pressure to move on

This isn’t about reviewers or creators — it’s about marketing cycles in general.

Hardware moves quickly now. Six months feels like a long time. There’s always another revision, another refinement, another leap just around the corner. If you let it, the hobby can start to feel like a conveyor belt where enjoyment is always deferred until the next thing arrives. But there’s a trap there. Once we’ve stopped discussing the Retroid Pocket 6 vs Pocket 5 leap, we’ll next be discussing the jump to the Retroid Pocket 7!

If we’re always waiting for the next device, we risk wishing today away just to hurry tomorrow. We miss the present version of the hobby — the one we already paid for, set up, and cared about. We don’t let ourselves enjoy the present. Lately, I’ve been trying to step back from that. Not out of resistance to progress, but out of gratitude for where things already are.

Why the RP6 still makes sense (just not for me, right now)

It’s important to say this clearly: the Retroid Pocket 6 absolutely does make sense for a lot of people. And if I didn’t already have the RP5 it certaintly would be the next shiny thing on my save up for list (It probably still is haha!) If you’re coming from an older Retroid, or you want reliable high‑end PS2 and GameCube performance in a compact form factor, the RP6 is one of the most compelling mid‑range handhelds available right now.

The choice of D‑pad or stick placement is genuinely excellent — a thoughtful touch that, as Wulff Den has pointed out, almost certainly increases production and tooling costs. The screen is lovely. The performance headroom is clearly there. Even coming from a Pocket 5, the upgrade is logical if that performance ceiling is something you regularly hit. I’m just not there yet.

My Pocket 5 still does what I ask of it. My Steam Deck covers the heavier lifting. My original hardware scratches the authenticity itch. And my smaller handhelds already give me instant access to thousands of games without friction.

At this point, the better choice for me isn’t more capability — it’s more time.

My upgrade line

This isn’t a permanent no. More likely, it’s a not yet. If prices settle, if stock normalises, or if one shows up second‑hand somewhere like CeX here in the UK, I can easily see myself moving to a Pocket 6 down the line. Or I might simply wait long enough for the inevitable Pocket 7. That feels healthier than reacting immediately.

Enjoying enough

There’s something quietly freeing about admitting you already have enough. Enough power. Enough choice. Enough games. The Retroid Pocket 6 represents how far this space has come — not how far behind we are. And recognising that has helped me slow down and enjoy the hobby again, rather than constantly measuring it.

For now, I’m staying put. Not because progress isn’t exciting, but because what I already own deserves my attention. And honestly, that feels like a good place to be.

These pieces sit naturally alongside this article and deepen the themes around ownership, hardware choices, and enjoying what you already have:

Further viewing and context

If you want deeper technical coverage and hands‑on impressions of the Retroid Pocket 6, these creators have done excellent work and I;ve really appreciated the detailed hands on reviews: