The Retroid Pocket Duo has been fully detailed, positioning the dual-screen Android gaming handheld as a direct competitor to Anbernic’s offerings. Following an initial teaser earlier in the week, Retroid has now confirmed the specifications, models, and pricing for its latest hardware.
The device arrives in two variants: the standard Pocket Duo and the more affordable Pocket Duo Lite. Both feature a two-screen layout reminiscent of the Nintendo 3DS. While the pair share a similar overall design, there are a couple of distinguishing details. The secondary display on the standard model is slightly larger than the one found on the Lite. The button arrangement also differs, with the L1/L2 and R1/R2 controls positioned horizontally on the Duo Lite, whereas the standard Duo places L1 and R1 above L2 and R2.
Specifications and Display Differences
The Pocket Duo ships with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, while the Pocket Duo Lite starts at 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, with a 6GB/128GB configuration also available. Both figures exceed the RAM and storage on the Anbernic RG DS, notable given the modest price gap between the two devices.
Under the bonnet, the standard model runs a Qualcomm Dragonwing Q-7790 chip paired with an Adreno 722 GPU, while the Lite uses a Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS6125 with an Adreno 610. The displays also set the two apart. The Pocket Duo features a 5.5-inch AMOLED primary panel at 1080p and 120Hz, alongside a 4.5-inch AMOLED secondary screen at 960p and 120Hz. The Lite opts for TFT panels, with a 5.5-inch 1080p primary and a 4.2-inch 960p secondary, both running at 60Hz.
The standard Duo runs Android 16, while the Lite ships with Android 15. Both handhelds are equipped with a 6,000mAh battery and active cooling. The Pocket Duo offers analogue L2/R2 triggers, Hall sticks, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.4. The Lite provides digital L2/R2 triggers, Hall sticks, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.0.
Pricing, Colours, and Emulation
Retroid has also released footage of the Pocket Duo in action. The demonstration shows games including Kirby, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, and Mario Kart running through the Azahar emulator, while MelonDS handles titles such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Contra.
Both models are available in five colours: GC, 16Bit, Black, Ice Blue, and Clear Purple. The Retroid Pocket Duo is priced at around £200, while the Pocket Duo Lite starts at approximately £110, rising to roughly £125 for the higher RAM and storage configuration.
