PowKiddy X28

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Device Overview: PowKiddy X28

The PowKiddy X28 is a horizontal Android retro handheld built around the Unisoc Tiger T618, the same mid-range chip that powers the Retroid Pocket 3+. That comparison matters, because the T618 has a well-documented ceiling and the X28 does nothing to rewrite it. What PowKiddy did was wrap that silicon in a large 5.5-inch 720p body, hang two analog sticks and a mini-HDMI output off it, and sell it for around $150 at its May 2023 launch, with a list price that has bounced between a $129.99 sale tag and $179.99. It is a competent PS1-through-PSP machine that occasionally reaches higher, sold by a company whose hardware usually outpaces its software.

Emulation performance, generation by generation

The T618 pairs two Cortex-A75 cores at 2.0GHz with six Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8GHz and a Mali-G52 MP2 GPU. In practical terms, everything up to and including the fifth and sixth console generations runs cleanly. NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy Advance, PS1 (DuckStation) and Nintendo 64 (M64Plus FZ or the Mupen cores in RetroArch) are effectively solved, usually with upscaling and run-ahead headroom to spare. PSP through PPSSPP is the device’s comfort zone: the large majority of the library holds full speed at 2x or 3x internal resolution, with only the heaviest 3D titles asking for compromises. Dreamcast via Redream or Flycast is similarly reliable, and arcade sets from Neo Geo through CPS3 to most CPS2/MAME romsets run without drama in FBNeo.

Above that line, expectations need managing. Sega Saturn through the Beetle core is playable but never effortless. GameCube on Dolphin (typically an MMJR-style fork) runs a real subset of the library — lighter 3D and most 2D games hold up, while demanding titles drop frames or need per-game tweaking; treat it as a “some games, with patience” tier rather than a full GameCube machine. Wii is harder still, and its motion controls are awkward without dedicated hardware. PS2 is the genuine wildcard: AetherSX2, now continued as the NetherSX2 fork, will run plenty of 2D and lighter 3D games, but the T618 is no PS2 powerhouse and the demanding half of that catalog stutters. Nintendo 3DS through Citra or Lime3DS is reasonable; Switch emulation is simply not on the table for this chip.

Screen, build and controls

The 5.5-inch IPS panel runs 1280×720 at 60Hz with 5-point capacitive touch, roughly 267 PPI. It is bright and sharp enough, and the 16:9 shape flatters PSP and widescreen Dreamcast far more than it does square-ish retro systems, which sit inside thick pillarboxes. The chassis is large: 207.6 x 80.7 x 26.9 mm and about 296 grams, so this is a two-hands-on-the-couch device, not a pocket one. The 5000mAh battery lands near five hours of mixed emulation, and noticeably less once you lean on PSP and PS2. Connectivity is generous for the class: two USB-C ports, a microSD slot for ROM storage, a 3.5mm jack, Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 for pads and headphones.

Controls are where the X28 shows its budget. The dual sticks are conventional potentiometer units, not Hall-effect, and reviewers consistently flag them as the weak point for anything needing precision. They are usable for N64 and PSP but not confidence-inspiring for twin-stick shooters or fine aiming, and drift over time is the familiar risk with this style of stick. The face buttons, the top-placed d-pad and the stacked L1/L2/R1/R2 shoulders are serviceable rather than special. A gyroscope is included, which helps a handful of PSP and Dreamcast titles.

Software and setup

This is the part most likely to be misunderstood. The X28 runs stock Android 11, and — this is important — the Linux custom-firmware scene does not apply to it. muOS, Knulli, ArkOS and ROCKNIX target Rockchip and Allwinner Linux handhelds; none of them boot on a Unisoc Android device like this one. Your “custom setup” here means staying on Android and layering a front-end over it: RetroArch for the cores that suit it, standalone emulators (PPSSPP, DuckStation, Dolphin, Redream, NetherSX2) for the systems that run better solo, and a launcher such as Daijisho or ES-DE to make the whole thing behave like a console instead of a phone. PowKiddy’s out-of-box software is the usual mixed bag — functional, lightly translated, and worth replacing with the community stack within the first hour.

Price, value and who it is for

At roughly $150 the X28 sits directly against the Retroid Pocket 3+, which uses the same chip and is generally regarded as the more polished package, particularly on stick feel and software. The X28’s counter-arguments are its larger screen, its mini-HDMI-plus-USB-C connectivity for TV output, and PowKiddy’s habit of steep discounting. It is a sensible buy for someone who wants a big-screen Android handheld to master everything through PSP and Dreamcast, is comfortable installing their own emulators, and treats GameCube and PS2 as an occasional bonus rather than the reason to buy. Anyone expecting reliable PS2, a pocketable form factor, or a polished plug-and-play stock experience should spend their money elsewhere.