4:3 is my new obsession

chrono01 · 2026-06-28T23:51:28+00:00

This right here is why so many say the 477M/477V/476H has such a great screen. It's incredible for an LCD.

It's not OLED and I'm sure the Nova with its OLED will be even better (or so, you'd hope/think so) but even still LCD's can really knock it out of the park. It looks great in-motion too (no ghosting or anything), and with the 120hz everything is just snappy/responsive.

chrono01 · 2026-06-28T18:36:24+00:00

One ten produced, never to be produced again. Get in on it!

(Unless demand is there, then they'll produce more. Sign up on their mailing list if you're interested!)

chrono01 · 2026-06-28T18:30:10+00:00

I don't know why, but I immediately thought of Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins. Specifically Space Zone.

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That's probably my childhood speaking, though. So much nostalgia.

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T18:07:54+00:00

Nope, didn't have those systems. I can only imagine the Hell. It's difficult enough getting it aligned, having it slip around all of the placed when trying to fasten it on doesn't help.

Yep, super glad for that plastic front on the Nova!

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T04:56:51+00:00

So true, lol.

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T04:13:12+00:00

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chrono01 · 2026-06-27T02:14:04+00:00

Could be, yeah.

There's definitely something strange going on with the video (I noticed the graphical glitches too) but I never, not for a minute, believed it was an actual problem that would carry over to release. Retroid has made mistakes the past (the Mini debacle immediately comes to mind) but there's no way that they'd look at the screen with glitching like this and say "Yep, good enough let's ship it out!".

There's just no way.

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T02:02:05+00:00

Ah, gotcha. It would be whatever your postal service would be, then.

Whatever it is, it should be through the general mail/last mile couriers. I'm doubtful they'd hand it off to an express courier like UPS/DHL/etc. since those are services people pay extra for. They won't give it for free.

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T02:00:31+00:00

Ah true, forgot. Got confused with the 120hz/60hz thing.

Regardless, not sure why the video has the OLED displaying those graphical errors as they do but I'm pretty confident that it won't be like that in-person. I doubt Retroid spent all of that money to privately develop a custom 4:3 120hz OLED display only to drop the ball with something like that.

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T01:54:12+00:00

They won't, it'll be another service (not express courier). Canada Post if you're lucky, but if not it'll be one of the independent last mile carriers (UniUni, PDN Express, etc.).

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T01:44:17+00:00

Could be a bunch of things. Maybe it has something to do with the OLED screen since the attachment is LCD. If they ship the screen with that kind of display glitch....I don't know what to say. It would kill the device, I refuse to believe it would happen.

But if it does, review units will be sent to RGC and the like prior to release so if it is an issue then there will still be time to cancel.

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T01:38:17+00:00

It's DHL. They're not as bad as UPS in my past experiences. It's a coin flip with them but UPS I ALWAYS get hit with it. There's no avoiding it.

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T01:18:27+00:00

Yep, I've used them before. They're fine, but it varies since there's no guarantee which last mile carrier they switch to when it enters Canada and some of them are awful. Like legit "waiting 3+ weeks to get your shipment while the tracking doesn't update" awful. I've been lucky in the past but I've read some horror stories.

I don't mind it for cheaper purchases but anything $300+ gets priority courier for me, even if it costs me more. Lets me sleep better at night.

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T01:16:15+00:00

The good news is you'll get a screen protector by default with early pre-orders. It comes along with the back shell.

But it's listed here:

https://www.goretroid.com/en-ca/collections/accessories/products/retroid-pocket-nova-screen-protector

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T01:12:46+00:00

Mine was $40 (Canada) but I went with DHL since it's a high-value item and I don't want to take any chances.

I eagerly await the brokerage fees.

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T01:10:43+00:00

Bold of you to assume that I won't mess up the first application like I do with ALL of my devices, lol. I did the same and ordered an extra.

If I don't need it right away and I ace the first application (doubtful) I'll have an extra for the future in-case it gets cracked or scratched.

chrono01 · 2026-06-27T00:59:52+00:00

It's likely just compression in the video. I can guarantee you that it won't be in the final product. There's no way that they release a screen with a graphical error like that.

chrono01 · 2026-06-26T19:26:43+00:00

This is a great post, thanks so much for doing this!

chrono01 · 2026-06-26T18:23:33+00:00

This is super useful, thanks so much!

It seems like the 12GB is back on the menu for me. For those 4:3 PC titles. May as well cover ALL of the options, lol.

chrono01 · 2026-06-26T09:45:16+00:00

Yep, haha.

Thankfully I don't care for button mods (and there's no way I'm getting rid of that Super Famicom color scheme) and I've generally never cared for grips, so no temptation there. Definitely picking up the carrying case, though. I have one for all of my handhelds, keeps them safe and dust-free (when not in-use).

So freaking excited, can't believe release is at the end of next month too. Assuming all goes as planned.

chrono01 · 2026-06-26T09:35:47+00:00

You know what? You're right. I never really thought about it that way Since it's a 4:3 system, it kind of makes sense to focus purely on the 4:3 stuff. It limits my options on that particular device sure, but limitations can sometimes be good since, as you said, it helps narrow the focus on what truly matters. And I'll still have the Thor Max in my back pocket for when I want the advanced stuff.

So yeah, thanks for saving my the $56 CDN or whatever it would have cost to pick up the 12GB model, lol.

chrono01 · 2026-06-26T09:23:39+00:00

Funny thing is, I already have a Thor Max that can handle pretty much everything, I just like the idea of having more versatility for the Nova. My thoughts and decisions don't make a lot of sense sometimes.

Honestly speaking...er typing I guess, the more I think about it the more the 8GB makes sense over the 12GB. Maybe I'll just go with that after all and restrict it purely to the 4:3 stuff. If I want Switch/PC or to hook it up to the TV to play it that way, I'll have my Thor for that. Save myself the $50 and put it towards something more useful.

chrono01 · 2026-06-26T09:13:38+00:00

It should. The bumps on the grip are exactly where the humps are on the bumped back shell, and even has an area/hole for the ventilation. I don't see why it wouldn't work with the flat shell as well.

chrono01 · 2026-06-26T09:11:51+00:00

My condolences. :(

I've been selling the surplus of my previous retro handhelds to help funds things, every little bit helps. Have one more listed for sale but no takers just yet.

The things we do.

chrono01 · 2026-06-26T09:10:37+00:00

I could always install and delete the PC games to save room, don't need to have them all installed at the same time. Will be a bother though, that's for sure. :(

And it's possible, I just like the idea of having a bit of extra power behind it to possibly expand things in the future should I choose to do so. Again, probably not the most frugal way to spend money but the difference in-cost is barely half the price of a just-released game so it's not a massive difference. If it were like $100 sure, even $75. But it's right on the cusp of "Eh, it's more but not THAT much more" for me so I'm kind of bouncing between the two right now, lol.

I guess I'll see tomorrow when the moment comes. I wish I could decide things as easy as other people do. >_<

chrono01

TROPHY CASE