Retroid's two iconic handheld consoles, the Pocket 5 and Flip 2, are getting a significant memory upgrade from the company, and it will come without any additional costs.
However, the sad news is that there is already a planned price hike for the company's devices coming next week, and it is set to increase the price by as much as $10.
Retroid Pocket 5, Flip 2 Getting Memory Upgrade
Anyone with an unfulfilled order for the entry-level 8GB RAM and 128GB storage versions of either handheld will automatically have their order bumped up to 12GB of RAM at no extra charge, as per Retroid Handhelds.
The upgrade applies only to existing orders that have not yet shipped, so buyers who already received their devices will not see a change.
Both the Pocket 5 and Flip 2 run on the Snapdragon 865 chip, which is capable of emulating consoles up to the GameCube and PlayStation 2 generation. The extra 4GB of RAM should in theory make both devices handle those more demanding emulation targets with a bit more headroom, improving overall performance and multitasking.
Bad News: Price Hike Is Coming by July 14
The free memory upgrade comes bundled with an unavoidable catch. Starting July 14, both handhelds will see their prices increase by $10. The Retroid Pocket 5 will move from its current starting price to $209, while the Retroid Flip 2 will go up to $219.
Retroid has not explicitly stated what is driving the change, but the timing lines up clearly with the global RAM shortage that has been pushing component costs up throughout the tech industry. AI data center demand has led memory manufacturers to sharply raise their prices, and smaller companies like Retroid face that pressure more acutely than larger manufacturers.
As Engadget noted, companies like Retroid do not have the scale to negotiate bulk pricing or draw from a large back supply of RAM the way Apple or Samsung might, which makes eliminating cheaper tiers the most practical way to manage the cost increase.
The RAM crisis has already forced price hikes from Microsoft on Surface PCs, Apple on most of its hardware lineup, and Framework on its desktop products.
Should You Get Retroid's Handhelds?
For players who enjoy retro emulation on the go, both the Pocket 5 and Flip 2 remain strong picks even with the incoming price adjustment. The $10 increase is a relatively small bump compared to the broader hardware price hikes hitting the market right now and picking one up before July 14 locks in the current price while still getting the memory upgrade.
The Pocket 5 has been well received as a capable mid-range emulation handheld, praised for its comfortable grip, solid build quality, and strong performance across a wide range of older consoles.
The Flip 2 caters to players who prefer a clamshell form factor, offering the same core specs in a more portable folding design.
The Retroid Pocket Nova, Retroid's newest and most powerful device, is also on the way for buyers who want something with more headroom for newer emulation targets.
