The Retroid Pocket 6 and Retroid Pocket Nova share the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-class chip and the same ₱17,990 starting price, so the choice comes down to one thing: the screen. Get the Retroid Pocket 6 if you play PSP, widescreen PS2 games, Android games or stream from a PC, because its 5.5" 16:9 AMOLED suits widescreen content and its 6000mAh battery lasts longer. Get the Retroid Pocket Nova if you mostly play SNES, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, arcade and most PS2 and GameCube games, which were made for 4:3 TVs and fill its 4.5" 4:3 AMOLED edge to edge in a smaller, lighter body.
Quick verdict
| If you mostly play… | Get | From |
|---|---|---|
| PSP, Switch-era, Android games, PC streaming | Retroid Pocket 6 | ₱17,990 |
| SNES, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, arcade, most PS2 and GameCube | Retroid Pocket Nova | ₱17,990 |
| A bit of everything and long sessions | Retroid Pocket 6 | ₱17,990 |
| Maximum portability | Retroid Pocket Nova | ₱17,990 |
Both start at ₱17,990 for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The 12GB versions of both are currently out of stock. See all models in our Retroid collection.
Side-by-side specs
| Retroid Pocket 6 | Retroid Pocket Nova | |
|---|---|---|
| From | ₱17,990 | ₱17,990 |
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 class (Qualcomm QCS8550) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 740 |
| RAM | 8GB or 12GB LPDDR5X | 8GB or 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB UFS 3.1 + microSD | 128GB UFS 3.1 + microSD |
| Screen | 5.5" AMOLED, 1920×1080, 16:9, 120Hz | 4.5" AMOLED, 1280×960, 4:3, 120Hz |
| Battery | 6000mAh | 5000mAh |
| Charging | 27W | 27W |
| Controls | 3D Hall effect sticks, analog L2/R2 | 3D Hall effect sticks, analog L2/R2 |
| Cooling | Active (fan) | Active (fan) |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Size | About 205.5 × 80.5 × 17.2mm | About 169.9 × 84.1mm |
| Weight | About 304g | About 255g |
| Android | Android 13 | Android 13 |
Same performance
Both handhelds use the same class of Qualcomm chip with an Adreno 740 GPU. The Nova's QCS8550 is essentially the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 without the phone modem. In practice, they play the same games at the same speed.
- Runs well: everything up to PS1, N64, Dreamcast and PSP, plus PS2, GameCube, Wii and 3DS, usually with upscaling.
- Hit or miss: Switch. Many games run well, but results depend on the game and emulator.
- Out of reach: PS3 and most Wii U games.
The Nova has a slight edge here because it renders fewer pixels at its 1280×960 resolution than the RP6 does at 1920×1080. That leaves a little more headroom for upscaling. The difference is small, so don't choose on performance. For more on this chip tier, see our PS2 and GameCube handheld guide.
The real difference: 4:3 vs 16:9
Every console outputs a picture with a fixed shape, and the handheld's screen decides how big that picture can be.
| System | Native shape | Better on |
|---|---|---|
| NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast | 4:3 | Nova |
| Arcade (most) | 4:3 | Nova |
| PS2, GameCube, Wii (most games) | 4:3 (some widescreen) | Nova, unless you use widescreen modes |
| Game Boy Advance | 3:2 | Close; slight bars on both |
| PSP | About 16:9 | Retroid Pocket 6 |
| 3DS (top screen) | Widescreen | Retroid Pocket 6 |
| Switch, Android games, PC streaming | 16:9 | Retroid Pocket 6 |
A 4:3 game on the Nova uses the whole 4.5" panel. The same game on the RP6 is shown with black bars on both sides. The RP6's screen is taller in absolute terms, so 4:3 games end up roughly similar in size on both, but the Nova shows them without bars and in a smaller device. Widescreen content is where the RP6 pulls clearly ahead: PSP and Switch games fill its 5.5" screen and are letterboxed on the Nova.
The Nova's 1280×960 resolution is also an exact 4× multiple of 320×240, a resolution many older consoles use, so pixel art scales cleanly.
Size, weight and battery
The Nova is about 35mm shorter and around 50g lighter, so it's the easier one to carry around on an MRT commute or in a small bag. The RP6 is longer and has more to grip, which some players prefer for long sessions at home.
The RP6's 6000mAh battery is 1000mAh larger. Its bigger, higher-resolution screen uses more power, though, so real-world battery life is closer than the numbers suggest. For either one, expect most of a day of light retro play and a few hours of PS2 or Switch emulation, depending on settings and brightness.
Things they share
- 3D Hall effect sticks that resist drift, and analog L2/R2 triggers for racing games.
- Active cooling, which keeps performance steady during long sessions. That matters in Philippine heat.
- Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 for downloads, game streaming and wireless controllers or earphones.
- Android 13 with access to the Play Store for emulators, frontends and streaming apps.
- Video output over USB-C for playing on a TV.
The Nova is also designed to work with Retroid's optional dual-screen add-on for DS and 3DS games. For a built-in dual-screen option, see our dual-screen handheld guide.
8GB or 12GB?
For everything through PS2, GameCube and 3DS, 8GB is plenty. 12GB mainly helps with demanding Switch emulation and running several apps at once. The 12GB versions of both are out of stock right now, and the 8GB models cover most buyers well.
Pick this if…
- Pick the Retroid Pocket 6 if you play PSP, Switch-era or Android games, stream from a PC or console, or want the bigger battery and screen.
- Pick the Retroid Pocket Nova if your favorite systems are SNES, PS1, N64, Dreamcast and arcade, you play PS2 and GameCube in their original 4:3, or you want the smaller, lighter handheld.
Comparing more than these two? Our AYN Thor vs Odin 3 vs RP6 vs Nova guide adds the AYN Thor and Odin 3.
FAQ
Is the Retroid Pocket Nova faster than the Retroid Pocket 6?
No. They use the same class of chip and perform the same. The Nova renders fewer pixels, which gives it a little extra headroom, but you won't notice it in most games.
Which is better for PS2 games?
Both run PS2 well. Most PS2 games are 4:3, so they fill the Nova's screen without black bars. On the RP6 they show side bars unless the game has a widescreen mode.
Which is better for PSP?
The Retroid Pocket 6. PSP games are widescreen and fill its 16:9 screen, while the Nova shows them letterboxed.
Is the Retroid Pocket 6 worth it over the Nova?
If you play widescreen games or want the bigger battery, yes. If you mainly play retro systems and value portability, the Nova is the better buy at the same price.
Can they connect to a TV?
Yes. Both support video output over USB-C, so you can play on a TV with a Bluetooth controller.
Still deciding? Message GameCove on our chat or Facebook page and tell us your favorite games, or browse all our Android handhelds.