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Retroid has been unusually busy this spring. Within the span of a few weeks, the brand quietly added new color options to the Retroid Pocket 5, adjusted pricing on the Retroid Pocket 6 second batch, discontinued the Pocket G2, and raised the price on the Pocket Classic. If you’ve been keeping an eye on Retroid’s lineup for your next purchase, here’s a full breakdown of what’s changed — and what it means for you.
Retroid Pocket 5 Gets Yellow and Turquoise Colorways
The Retroid Pocket 5 has been one of the most popular mid-range retro handhelds of the past year — and it just got a little more colorful. Retroid has added Yellow and Turquoise colorways to the RP5 lineup, giving buyers two fresh options alongside the existing GC, 16Bit, Black, and White variants. The new colors draw comparison to the Switch Lite’s playful palette and give the device a distinctly retro-casual appeal.
If you’ve been holding off on an RP5 because the earlier colors felt a bit safe, these new options are worth a look. The hardware underneath is unchanged: you still get a 5.5-inch AMOLED display at 1080p@60fps, a Snapdragon 695 (Adreno 619), 8GB LPDDR4x RAM, 128GB UFS 3.1 storage, 5000mAh battery, analog L2/R2 triggers, 3D hall effect sticks, Wi-Fi 6, and BT 5.1. It’s a genuinely capable device for systems up through PS1, N64, and demanding GBA titles.
A quick note on availability: Retroid’s RP5 units have been selling through the refurbished stock at $156 (currently sold out). The new colorways appear to be part of freshened inventory — check goretroid.com directly for current stock status, as these sell quickly.
Retroid Pocket 6 Second Batch: Now $244
The Retroid Pocket 6 launched in October 2025 with a first-batch price of $229 for the 8GB configuration. The first batch shipped in January 2026 — and if you missed it, the second batch is now open for pre-order, with shipments beginning in March 2026. The catch? The price has increased to $244 for the 8GB model. The 12GB version remains at $279.
What do you get for that extra $15 over the launch price? Here are the key specs, verified directly from the goretroid.com listing:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- CPU: 1× GoldPlus @ 3.2GHz, 4× Gold @ 2.8GHz, 3× Silver @ 2.0GHz
- GPU: Adreno 740 @ 680MHz
- RAM: 8GB or 12GB LPDDR5x
- Storage: 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.1 + microSD slot
- Display: 5.5-inch AMOLED, 1080p @ 120Hz
- Battery: 6000mAh with active cooling
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.3
- Controls: Analog L2/R2, 3D hall effect sticks
The jump from RP5 to RP6 is significant on paper. The Adreno 740 GPU sits in a different performance class than the RP5’s Adreno 619 — you’re looking at smooth PS2, Dreamcast, and GameCube emulation that the RP5 can struggle with under load. The 120Hz display is also a genuine quality-of-life upgrade for both gaming and general Android use, and Wi-Fi 7 is a nice future-proofing touch. For anyone in the market for a capable Android emulation handheld at this form factor, the RP6 at $244 (8GB) or $279 (12GB) remains compelling even after the price bump.
One extra detail worth knowing: layout options are selectable at checkout. DPAD_TOP puts the D-pad above the left stick (Nintendo-style), while STICK_TOP places the left stick above the D-pad (Xbox-style). Both configurations are available across all color options. It’s a small but meaningful touch for players with strong layout preferences.
Pocket G2 Discontinued, Pocket Classic Price Goes Up
Alongside the colorway and pricing news, Retroid has been quietly trimming its product catalog. The Retroid Pocket G2 has been pulled from the lineup. This isn’t entirely surprising — the Pocket G2 occupied an awkward middle position between the Classic and the more capable RP5 and RP6, making it a tough sell at its price point. Expect to see G2 units showing up in the used market over the coming weeks as the device exits the primary storefront.
More consequentially for budget shoppers: the Retroid Pocket Classic has seen a price increase. The Classic was one of the more accessible entry points into the Retroid ecosystem, and the price rise comes amid broader component pressure. The RAM shortage situation — which the community has taken to calling “RAMageddon” — has been driving up costs across multiple handheld manufacturers throughout early 2026. Retroid is not alone here. This same pressure contributed to the AYN Odin 3’s chip rebrand story and has touched Anbernic’s supply chain as well.
Whether the Classic’s price increase is a temporary market response or a permanent reset to a new baseline isn’t clear yet. Retroid hasn’t made any public statement about the change.
What Does This Mean for Buyers Right Now?
If you’re shopping Retroid today, the lineup has simplified considerably:
- Budget pick: The Retroid Pocket Classic is the entry-level option, now at a higher price. If cost is the primary constraint and you primarily want 8- and 16-bit gaming, the Anbernic RG35XX H at $57.99 from anbernic.com is worth considering as an alternative.
- Best value: The Retroid Pocket 5 at $156 (refurb) hits the sweet spot for most players — capable AMOLED display, solid emulation performance through N64/PS1, and now available in fresh new colorways. Watch goretroid.com for stock.
- Power user pick: The Retroid Pocket 6 at $244 (8GB) / $279 (12GB) is for anyone who wants PS2, GameCube, and Wii capability without compromise. The $15 price increase over launch is annoying but doesn’t fundamentally change the value proposition.
Retroid’s lineup churn is a known quantity at this point — the brand moves fast, iterates often, and isn’t shy about adjusting prices and cutting underperforming SKUs. The net result heading into spring 2026 is a tighter, more coherent catalog even if the path to get here was a little abrupt for anyone who bought a G2 recently.
Keep an eye on goretroid.com for restocks on the RP5 Yellow and Turquoise colorways. Based on past patterns, new color drops at Retroid don’t stay in stock for long.
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