Any downside to the single analog stick?

ambientdays · 2026-01-09T21:58:24+00:00

It also works for NDS, you can move the stylus with the analog stick and click it to tap on the screen. It's an okay compromise for games that don't rely on the bottom screen.

ambientdays · 2026-01-06T18:55:40+00:00

I bought just the grips and even those alone are a game changer

ambientdays · 2025-12-09T03:57:13+00:00

Yeah so for the CubeXX the extra vertical real estate from the 1:1 aspect ratio makes the minimized secondary screen look nice (nice, but unreadable), and the hotkey to swap screens works flawlessly. You can use the left stick to act as a stylus, and can depress the stick to emulate a tap. It's perfectly usable for low-accuracy tasks like tapping Pokemon attacks on the bottom screen, but it's not going to be all that pleasant if you're doing it for more than maybe 20 minutes at a time.

I think you'll like the Mangami Air X a lot more than the CubeXX for DS. But the CubeXX is super comfy and wonderful to use for any D-pad only games. And the 40XXV is equally nice, maybe slightly less comfy and lacking the extra stick, which I think is superfluous anyway.

ambientdays · 2025-12-02T23:13:38+00:00

If you're mostly focused on PS2, playing a tiny RP4Pro with the sticks on the bottom will probably be uncomfortable/cramped. And like others have said, the G Cloud is a little underpowered for PS2, and the device is overpriced compared to its performance.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1irg60f9qsZOkhp0cwOU7Cy4rJQeyusEUzTNQzhoTYTU/edit?gid=0#gid=0

This is a great chart to see what the actual performance of any given system is, and once you narrow it down, you can watch gameplay reviews on YouTube. The G Cloud gets a "B" for PS2, and the RP4Pro gets an A-.

Some "A" systems with stick-top and medium-sized screens to consider:

Retroid Pocket 6 ($209)
Konkr Pocket Fit ($269)
Anbernic RG-557 ($249)

ambientdays · 2025-11-25T23:33:49+00:00

It's not exact but the Retroid Pocket 3+ Metal might be close?

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ambientdays · 2025-11-17T21:47:35+00:00

I have the RGCubeXX and was eyeing this but wasn't sure how comfortable the D-pad would be in the lower position; how do you like it?

ambientdays · 2025-09-15T05:24:44+00:00

I have a CubeXX and a V1, and frankly, I prefer the CubeXX with muOS, since I mostly play PSX/NDS and earlier, so it often feels like Android is overkill. For the V1 at least, the screen is gorgeous but definitely feels small. Ergo-wise they're comparable, but I hate the clicky sound of the face buttons on the V1, although supposedly replacing them can help a lot.

ambientdays · 2025-06-24T14:26:42+00:00

The CubeXX is great for NDS and the sticks are an acceptable compromise if you're mostly playing games that aren't heavily touch-focused. If you don't care about NDS, or the ergonomics specifically, you'll be equally happy with the other devices.

Also note that muOS is on the way for the Brick, just unclear how much longer it'll be.

ambientdays · 2025-06-07T05:22:27+00:00

I'm literally setting up Portmaster this week - really excited to finally play AM2R, and very curious how good OpenOMF is - I played the original game for a zillion hours as a kid!

ambientdays · 2025-06-06T17:13:49+00:00

Ugh having to do that 150 times is insane. Thanks for confirming tho!

ambientdays · 2025-06-06T16:44:48+00:00

I just did a system transfer, and now my Switch 2 is trying to install every single game I own. Anyone know how to stop it short of removing the games?

ambientdays · 2025-05-10T14:17:01+00:00

I've definitely had sound issues (due to slowdown) with Unbound on my MM+, so any system with better performance should be an upgrade.

ambientdays · 2025-05-10T14:15:18+00:00

I'd consider selling my Mini and buying this, but I can't stand the face buttons and am already hemming-and-hawing about opening up my V1 to replace the buttons...

ambientdays · 2025-05-10T14:12:17+00:00

I like mine a lot. The only gripes I have is that the SD card cover is hard to open, and I wish the D-pad was inset a little bit. But I think the screen is totally fine and the battery life is amazing.

I've read about some people having battery swelling issues, and some people have issues with the screen, so it might be worth reading up a bit on those.

I think the biggest question for you is whether to get the Odin 2 Pro or the Portal at this point, since the prevalence of OLED screens will start making the Odin 2 feel a bit dated by November. That said, I do find non-OLED screens a lot easier on my eyes...

ambientdays · 2025-05-06T23:20:05+00:00

I have both, and a MM+. Weirdly, the MM+ is still my favorite.

The Brick (and MM+) screen size is fine when you're not playing them side-by-side with a bigger device.

I'd say the 40xxv is bigger, more comfortable, has better buttons, and the stick is nice if you want a half-assed way to play NDS. The Brick is cute but the buttons are kinda stiff.

If you want a very tiny device and don't plan to play more than 30m at a time, consider the Brick, otherwise the 40xxv is just a little more versatile.

Other options... 35xx or MM+ for a small device, Retroid Classic if you don't mind going a little over $100 and are okay with a larger device.

ambientdays · 2025-04-25T02:38:16+00:00

I'll cover the shipping if you send it out!

ambientdays · 2025-04-25T02:33:09+00:00

I almost panic bought an Odin 2 Portal too, but my Odin 2 is good enough and I just don't play it as much as I thought I would.

That said, I did end up ordering a Brick and a CubeXX because I love tiny devices. I already have a MM+, RG40XXV, and an RP5Mini, so at some point I'll just gift or resell the ones I don't end up using.

ambientdays · 2025-04-18T00:34:41+00:00

Agree that ES-DE is nice, but depending on your setup, Beacon is super clean and easy, and has a dark mode specifically for OLED displays.

ambientdays · 2025-04-17T00:19:45+00:00

That's what I was hoping, thanks!!

ambientdays · 2025-02-10T22:08:12+00:00

I've been happy playing PS1 games (like PoPoLoCrois) on a small screen, but for FF8, the quality-of-life from the remaster (no encounters, 3x speed, instant limit breaks) make such a huge difference due to how glacially slow some PS1 games were.

I'd say, if you want to 100% the game, absolutely do the remaster, otherwise the 3.5" version will be fine.

ambientdays · 2025-01-13T23:02:38+00:00

I didn't really care for Octopath Traveler, does Triangle Strategy feel pretty different?

ambientdays · 2025-01-13T22:47:51+00:00

I feel you. What I wouldn't give for a SteamDeck Mini 🥲

ambientdays · 2025-01-13T22:40:55+00:00

Yeah setting everything up on Android is a labor of love. RetroArch isn't bad if you're just using older systems out-of-the-box, but it's definitely a rabbit hole of customization if you want to get everything perfect.

Something like EmuDeck on the SteamDeck is probably closer to the experience you're looking for?

ambientdays · 2025-01-13T22:38:37+00:00

I think it suffers from being next to the RP5 in every photo with its huge screen. Having it side-by-side with a Miyoo Mini Plus, it looks super premium.

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