Powkiddy V90
May. 9th, 2023 01:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chuckroThere are actually two form-factors for the Powkiddy Q90 device, and this is the second one, a clamshell handheld that strongly resembles the Game Boy Advance SP, only with more buttons and without a card slot.
My first impression was just that it was exactly what I expected: It’s just like the Q90, just with a different shape. The clamshell design is a sensible setup because this is another system that’s designed for pick-up-and-play, and you don’t even really need a case with this design. I have a cell phone belt holster for the Q90, but this can get shoved into a purse or pocket with less worry.
All the expected features are there: 2.8” screen (on the smaller side, but generally fine), both sets of shoulder buttons (thought they’re small and a little uncomfortable), a dedicated menu button, headphone jack but no HDMI out, USB-C charging. (The biggest disappointment is that closing the lid doesn’t put the system to sleep...it actually does nothing at all.) I don’t find the shape as comfortable to hold or play on as the candybar Q90, but that’s more a personal preference as I wasn’t wild about the SP, either.
As noted, the emulators on the stock version of OpenDingux are middling--SNES emulation is pretty choppy and GBA doesn’t always upscale correctly. As I also noted earlier, there’s a new OS you can flash onto a card relatively easily that improves both problems and gives you a bunch of new emulators to work with, including Atari Lynx and Pokemini. (Another 32 gb microSD card will only run you $5; still totally worth it.) This device (in either shape) does great with Game Boy, GBA and Game Gear titles that the screen size and button layout are ideal for. And hey, you can still get them for $30 on AliExpress, so still half the price of the RG35XX or Miyoo Mini+ (which are both superior in terms of emulation quality, but really need a case to match portability).
Overall: Still the best you’ll find for under $50. Now that I’ve tried it, I suspect I’m going to give this away when I find someone who’s nostalgic for their GBA SP. (And I’ll update it to the new OS first if asked nicely.)
My first impression was just that it was exactly what I expected: It’s just like the Q90, just with a different shape. The clamshell design is a sensible setup because this is another system that’s designed for pick-up-and-play, and you don’t even really need a case with this design. I have a cell phone belt holster for the Q90, but this can get shoved into a purse or pocket with less worry.
All the expected features are there: 2.8” screen (on the smaller side, but generally fine), both sets of shoulder buttons (thought they’re small and a little uncomfortable), a dedicated menu button, headphone jack but no HDMI out, USB-C charging. (The biggest disappointment is that closing the lid doesn’t put the system to sleep...it actually does nothing at all.) I don’t find the shape as comfortable to hold or play on as the candybar Q90, but that’s more a personal preference as I wasn’t wild about the SP, either.
As noted, the emulators on the stock version of OpenDingux are middling--SNES emulation is pretty choppy and GBA doesn’t always upscale correctly. As I also noted earlier, there’s a new OS you can flash onto a card relatively easily that improves both problems and gives you a bunch of new emulators to work with, including Atari Lynx and Pokemini. (Another 32 gb microSD card will only run you $5; still totally worth it.) This device (in either shape) does great with Game Boy, GBA and Game Gear titles that the screen size and button layout are ideal for. And hey, you can still get them for $30 on AliExpress, so still half the price of the RG35XX or Miyoo Mini+ (which are both superior in terms of emulation quality, but really need a case to match portability).
Overall: Still the best you’ll find for under $50. Now that I’ve tried it, I suspect I’m going to give this away when I find someone who’s nostalgic for their GBA SP. (And I’ll update it to the new OS first if asked nicely.)
