{"id":365217,"date":"2026-08-19T17:09:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T16:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/droix.net\/blogs\/retroid-pocket-nova-review\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T17:09:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T16:09:26","slug":"retroid-pocket-nova-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/droix.net\/blogs\/en-au\/retroid-pocket-nova-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Retroid Pocket Nova Review \u2013 A 4:3 AMOLED Handheld for Retro Gaming"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the Retroid Pocket Nova?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Retroid Pocket Nova<\/a> review covers a device that works well as an Android handheld console, with a Qualcomm QCS8550 processor, Adreno 740 graphics, a 4.5-inch 1280\u00d7960 AMOLED touchscreen and a 120Hz refresh rate. It is designed for native Android games, retro emulation and more demanding systems, with a 4:3 screen that suits many classic consoles and handhelds. That makes it a strong candidate for anyone comparing the best Android gaming handheld<\/a> options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retroid Pocket Nova Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Retroid Pocket Nova<\/a> measures around 6.68 x 3.31 x 0.61 inches (169.9 x 84.1 x 15.6 mm) and weighs around 256g (0.56 lbs). It is available in seven colours: Black, 16-Bit, GC, Crystal, Watermelon, Clear Purple and Ice Blue.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Retroid<\/a>
Retroid Pocket Nova<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The 4.5-inch AMOLED display has a 1280 x 960 resolution with a 4:3 aspect ratio, which makes it well suited to retro gaming. It also adds a modern touch with support for a refresh rate of up to 120Hz.On the sides are the usual gaming buttons and controls, with Home and Back buttons on the bottom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Retroid<\/a>
Retroid Pocket Nova Top View<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Retroid<\/a>
Retroid Pocket Nova Bottom View<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the top are the left and right shoulder, trigger and macro buttons. The volume and power buttons are on the right side. On the bottom are a covered microSD card slot, a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB Type-C port for charging and data, including output to a TV or monitor.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Retroid<\/a>
Retroid Pocket Nova Swappable Shell Grip<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A separate back shell is available with additional grip. You simply remove the four screws, take off the original back, fit the new one and replace the screws. This is a matter of personal preference, but I prefer the extra grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ALREADY DECIDED? ORDER THE RETROID POCKET NOVA HERE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Retroid Pocket Nova Technical Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Retroid Pocket Nova<\/a> features the Qualcomm<\/a> QCS8550. It is essentially a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2<\/a>-class processor without components normally used in a cellular device, such as 5G data. This design can provide a small performance and power-efficiency advantage in a handheld, while the Adreno 740 provides the graphics power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specification<\/th>Details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Processor<\/td>Qualcomm QCS8550<\/td><\/tr>
GPU<\/td>Adreno 740<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Display<\/td>4.5-inch AMOLED<\/a>, 1280 x 960, 4:3, up to 120Hz<\/td><\/tr>
RAM<\/td>8GB or 12GB LPDDR5X<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Storage<\/td>128GB UFS 3.1<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Connectivity<\/td>Wi-Fi 7<\/a> and Bluetooth 5.3<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Battery<\/td>5,000mAh<\/td><\/tr>
Charging<\/td>Up to 27W<\/td><\/tr>
Operating system<\/td>Android 13<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Dimensions<\/td>6.68 x 3.31 x 0.61 inches (169.9 x 84.1 x 15.6 mm)<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/td>Around 256g (0.56 lbs)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Battery Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Powering the Nova is a 5,000mAh battery supporting up to 27W charging. We performed our battery-life test while running AnTuTu on a loop, with full screen brightness, maximum performance and the fan profiles set accordingly. We got around four hours of battery life. Average usage should be around the eight-hour mark, depending on the games and settings used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fan noise & Temperatures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"Retroid<\/a>
Retroid Pocket Nova Front Thermals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Retroid<\/a>
Retroid Pocket Nova Back Thermals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While running the battery test, we also tested fan noise and temperatures. We measured 53dB on the Smart fan setting, rising to 63dB on the Maximum setting. Temperatures reached around 42\u00b0C in the display area and the high 30s elsewhere, so the chassis remained very cool during the test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

System Benchmarks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Retroid Pocket Nova<\/a> benchmark results compare the handheld with the AYN Thor and Retroid Pocket 6 using AnTuTu, Geekbench 5, Geekbench 6 and 3DMark Wildlife Extreme. This section of the Retroid Pocket Nova review uses our supplied hands-on testing. As with any Android emulation handheld, results can vary with the software configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Testing conditions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n