Retroid Pocket 5 and Flip 2 Set for Enhanced Specs—Price Increases by $10 After July 14!
Challenges with RAM continue to affect even older handheld emulators.
Retroid, known for its range of Android-based handheld gaming devices, is offering an upgrade for customers who recently ordered the Retroid Pocket 5 and Flip 2 models. Buyers with pending orders of the entry-level variants featuring 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage will be upgraded to 12GB of RAM at no extra cost. However, starting July 14, both models will see a price increase of $10.
These models, while not the latest releases—superseded by the forthcoming Retroid Pocket Nova—utilize the Snapdragon 865 chip, allowing them to emulate systems as advanced as the GameCube and PlayStation 2. Increasing the RAM should enhance performance; nevertheless, the price hike complicates the situation. This change appears to signal Retroid’s intent to phase out its more affordable options entirely.
You have until July 14 to buy the Pocket 5 or Flip 2 at their current prices, but afterward, they will be priced at $209 and $219, respectively. The reasons behind this adjustment remain unclear, but given trends within the tech sector, rising costs and limited availability of RAM likely influenced the decision. Increased demand from AI companies has led to significant price hikes from component manufacturers, driving many brands, including notable firms like Microsoft and Apple, to raise their prices in response.
Similar to Apple’s tactics in addressing market challenges, Retroid’s approach to eliminating budget-friendly options is comparable to other smaller companies like Framework. While both companies offer sought-after products, they lack the scale of giants like Apple or Samsung. This limits their ability to stockpile RAM or secure favorable pricing. Therefore, removing lower-cost models likely represents the most strategic move for Retroid.
