this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2024
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I mean... is this a big deal? Every retro ARM handheld out there runs some version of Linux or Android. I gues Retroid was an Android-focused brand, hence the name, but if you wanted to run Batocera on a handheld there is no shortage of options.
It could be a big deal if the developers of GarlicOS / OnionOS support it. I have a Retroid 3+, a Miyoo Mini (lost it) , and now an Anbernic GBA SP.
The Retroid seemed amazing at first but after using a Miyoo with OnionOS, I'm not going back to Android retro gaming.
The usability of being able to pick up a hand held and play immediately cannot be understated. Android doesn't normally shutdown. It sleeps which means it only lasts a few days (not being used!) without being plugged in unless you explicitly pick power down from the menu. If you do power down, it takes over a minute to boot. The Android retro front ends also take hours and hours to setup.
OnionOS/GarlicOS completely power down so the battery always has charge and is ready to go. Because there is no Android, boot to being back in your game (it defaults to powering up right back where you left off in a game), takes seconds. The menu scraping works so there's virtually no setup needed.
This thing is supposed to be fairly powerful, I don't know that the straightforward, minimal approach of Garlic/Onion makes sense on it. Ideally you'd want a bit more versatility. For that I think the Anbernic SP and that class of slightly cheaper devices probably make more sense.
I mean, as I said above that's my thing with these flagship ARM handhelds. At some point it takes a lot to justify spending a couple hundred on one of these instead of a bit more for a more flexible Steam Deck. The smaller, cheaper ones are a lot more charming, and they fit in your pocket, so they can be a throwaway toy to carry with you.
But hey, we live in the handheld golden age, I'm not gonna complain about more options.
Yes, that's what I thought which is why I bought the Retroid. But I discovered Android introduces so much overhead that it ruins the purpose of a gaming handheld. I might as well use my much more powerful Pixel with those slide in controllers for thumbsticks and buttons.
A Retroid for the better screen/CPU with a streamlined gaming specific Linux OS would be the best of both worlds.