Relive classic hames with the Retro Console X6 for €24

Today we are going to review the Retro Console X6, a portable video game console that you can find from international sellers for about 23-24€.

Retro consoles are trendy. It’s not a new thing, it’s been years. The nostalgia for the classic essence of retro games, combined with modern technology, is a delight for those in their 30s and 40s.

In my case, I already had a console with EmuElec/RetroPie connected to the living room TV. It works quite well, but of course… when you use it, you leave the whole family without a TV. So I didn’t use it much.

So, taking advantage of an upcoming gift, I was looking for a portable console, with its own screen. Something you can use by yourself on the sofa, or when traveling, or during those “idle” moments you have.

Of course, there are many consoles, from 8 to 200€. And you never know which one will work or which one is a scam. While searching, I found the Retro Console X6, and frankly… I didn’t know if it was worth a dime. But (spoiler!) I was surprised by how well it works.

Let’s start with the important part, the power. The X6 console features a 32-bit RISC ATJ2273 SoC @450Mhz. An unusual and very interesting SoC that incorporates a GPU and is designed for multimedia applications.

But what matters to us in this post is: How does it perform? Well, this little processor is capable of running even the most demanding GBA games completely smoothly. They run really well, without FPS drops or stutters.

Regarding software, the Retro X6 console internally runs RTOS with firmware from the manufacturer. It is compatible with 11 types of emulators, including SFC, GBC, GBA, GB, FC, NES, MD, MAME, SMC, CPS, SMD.

I have to highlight the software, because honestly they did a great job here. It has a menu to choose the emulator, the game, save game state with 8 slots per game… very impressive.

The other interesting point is the huge 3.5-inch IPS screen at 640x480px. This is an advantage over other consoles, even much more expensive ones, which run at resolutions of “400-something pixels”.

Overall, the screen looks quite good, sharp and detailed. Colors and brightness are correct. Although I would wish for a tiny bit (just a tiny bit!) more contrast. But in general, it’s very good.

Regarding controls, the console features two analog joysticks for precise control, a directional pad, six buttons, and two triggers. All work very well, except for the D-pad, which I found a bit slow or lacking sensitivity. I get by with the analog joystick, which also has a better position.

For audio output, the X6 console has a 2W speaker, which fulfills its function reasonably well. It’s obviously not Hi-Fi, nor particularly powerful. It’s, more or less, what you might find in a GameBoy.

Furthermore, the console allows adding a controller for two players and supports output to a big screen with a composite video cable. I haven’t tried it because I’m not very interested, so I can’t tell you how it works.

On the other hand, it also has functions like movie playback, music playback, calendar, image library, and stopwatch. I don’t find it particularly useful but, hey, it’s there.

Regarding battery life, it has a 2,000 mAh Li-Po battery, which can be recharged via a USB Type C connector. According to the manufacturer, it has an autonomy of up to 6 hours, although in practice it’s more like 3-4 hours. Which is not bad.

Regarding storage, the X6 console has a TF card slot with support up to 128GB. In my case, it came with a 32GB card with about 6,000 games.

Don’t be “impressed” by the 6,000 games. As usual, 98% of them are worthless. There are even duplicates. Personally, I recommend adding your own ROMs. It’s much better to have 50 “good” games than 6,000 pieces of junk. Otherwise, it turns into a continuous cycle of “try, don’t like, try, don’t like”.

The other important point that I really liked is the overall look and portable design. The finish is quite good, robust. The Retro Console X6 is comfortable to use and fits easily in your pocket or bag, allowing you to take your games wherever you go.

In short, is it worth it? And the answer is… it depends. Keep in mind that there are emulators for Android and it’s probably more convenient to use your phone directly. The screen is bigger, you have more battery, and you always carry your phone with you.

However, if you really feel like treating yourself, or making a gift, for 23-25€ the Retro Console X6 is a very interesting option to relive the excitement of the classics. At least, it pleasantly surprised me.