Retroid Pocket Duo Vs. AYN Thor: What We Know so Far

Note: This article will be updated as more information about the upcoming Retroid Pocket Duo is released.

The handheld community has been buzzing in recent weeks. After months of speculation about an upcoming dual-screen handheld from Retroid, it is finally announced, and its name is the Retroid Pocket Duo. Here’s what we know so far about its specs, its price, and how it stacks up against the other dual-screen giant: The AYN Thor.

Variants: Retroid Pocket Duo Lite

Almost no one expected that we wouldn’t just be getting one Retroid Pocket Duo, but two. The baseline version, and the cheaper less powerful Retroid Pocket Duo Lite. Compared to the AYN Thor lite this revision of the hardware is more than just a different chip. The Retroid Pocket Duo Lite is altogether an entirely different design. It has dual LCD screens instead of dual OLED screens, it has slightly different weight and dimension, and it lacks the protruding bumpers and instead has inline triggers.

Specs and Performance

The announcement of the SoC that powers the Retroid Pocket Duo was something of a shock. Instead of opting for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 like the AYN Thor and Retroid’s recent releases, the Nova and the RP6, it uses a chip previously unseen in a handheld. Officially dubbed the Qualcomm Q-7790, it’s the IoT version of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4. Meaning it has no cellular capabilities, but otherwise functions the exact same.

When it comes to other specs related to the Retroid Pocket Duo information is more sparse. We don’t know yet what kind of RAM and storage configurations will be available. However given the ongoing “RAMpocalypse” the likeliest standard configuration available on launch are 6 or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

How will the Retroid Pocket Duo Perform?

To the disappointment of many in the community the Qualcomm Q-7790 only delivers performance at levels somewhere in-between the Snapdragon 865 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Meaning it’s more powerful than SD865 devices like the Retroid Pocket 5 or the AYN Thor Lite, but noticeably less performant than SD8Gen2 devices like the Retroid Pocket 6 and AYN Thor (Base-Max configurations).

Retroid Pocket Duo in Benchmarks:

	Qualcomm Q-7790	Dragonwing QCS6125 (% Vs. Q-7790)	Snapdragon 865 (% Vs. Q-7790)	Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (% Vs. Q-7790)
CPU Performance	48	15 (-68.8%)	40 (-16.7%)	64 (+33.3%)
GPU Performance	25	3 (-88%)	17 (-32%)	43 (+72%)
Energy Efficiency	91	77 (-15.4%)	86 (-5.5%)	91
Devices using the chip	Retroid Pocket Duo	Retroid Pocket Duo Lite	Retroid Pocket 5, AYN Thor Lite, Mangmi Pocket Max	Retroid Pocket 6, AYN Thor, AYN Odin 2

Source and for more data check out: nanoreview.net

The benchmark data available on the Qualcomm Q-7790/Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 gives us a decent picture of how the SoC compares to other common Qualcomm chips. And the conclusion is that for those that hoped for a direct Thor competitor this device is probably not going to be it, unless you’re talking about the Thor Lite with the weaker SD865 chip. If you want uncompromising flagship dual-screen performance without waiting for Retroid’s preorder fulfillment window, the AYN Thor remains the available option to buy right now.

It should also be noted that the SD865 is still a competent chip for most use cases. Especially dual screen focused ones. Before the onslaught of flagship SD8Gen2 devices the Retroid Pocket 5 with its SD865 was considered by many to be “end game”. With a chip that’s even stronger it’s fair to say that GameCube and PS2 emulation, as well as 3DS will be very viable on the Retroid Pocket Duo.

Will the Retroid Pocket Duo have Turnip Drivers?

One concern that’s popped up regarding the unusual choice of Qualcomm chip is the risk of immature Turnip drivers. The graphics drivers that make high end emulation viable on many retro handhelds. And thankfully the answer is there will be driver support from day one. The Retroid Pocket Duo will have a Adreno 722 GPU, a GPU whose architecture is well supported.

What will Real World Performance be like?

Retroid has released two videos showcasing mostly 3DS titles. One video focused on the Retroid Pocket Duo, and one focused on the Lite model. Do note that because this is the manufacturer’s own showcase, and not testing from an independent third party. Also both of these feature prototype units with slightly different design.

Retroid Pocket Duo Gameplay

Retroid Pocket Duo Lite Gameplay

Price: What will the Retroid Pocket Duo Vs. The AYN Thor?

The price for both models of the Retroid Pocket Duo have been announced. At pre-order the baseline model will cost $249 and go up to $269 when the device releases. The pre-order price for the base configuration of the Lite model will be $135 at pre-order and go up to $149. To get the pre-order price you have to use the codes DUO for the baseline version, and DUOLITE for the Lite version. Pre-orders are announced to start Saturday the 12th of September.