In 2025, retro handhelds are more than nostalgia—they’re legit gaming tools. Whether you’re grinding through classic Zelda on a commute or streaming Black Ops 6 during study breaks, two top contenders lead the charge: the Aya Neo Pocket S2 Pro and the Retroid Pocket 5. Both offer access to your retro library and cloud games, but one might suit your vibe more than the other. Let’s break it down—design, display, emulation chops, and day-to-day use—so you can pick the one that fits your gaming style.
Aya Neo Pocket S2 Pro
This one screams premium. It’s got a sleek metal body that feels solid and futuristic—definitely more “pro tech” than “toy.” The 6-inch 1440p IPS screen is ultra-crisp, making pixel art and PS2 titles look stunning. Under the hood: Snapdragon G3x Gen 3, up to 24GB LPDDR5X RAM, and 1TB UFS 4.0 storage. It handles PS2 and some Switch titles smoothly and can stream Black Ops 6 via cloud with zero stutter. The 6,000mAh battery gets you 5–7 hours, and Wi-Fi 7 support keeps your cloud sessions stable.
Retroid Pocket 5
This one leans into that retro charm. It’s smaller, lighter, and more affordable—but still punches above its weight. The 5.5-inch 1080p OLED screen delivers rich colors and deep blacks, great for pixel-heavy games and streaming. It runs on a Snapdragon 865, with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. You’re looking at solid PS2 and GameCube emulation, and cloud gaming is surprisingly decent. The 5,000mAh battery lasts around 6–8 hours, and a microSD slot lets you expand your ROM library easily.
Design and Portability
The Aya Neo is built like a tank—about 350g and 14mm thick. It feels amazing but won’t fit in your pocket. Detachable D-pads and RGB-lit Hall sticks are a nice touch, though it’s more of a “backpack companion” than a pocket one.
The Retroid Pocket 5 is much more portable at 269g and thinner all around. It slips into jeans or a hoodie pouch easily, and its GameCube-inspired shell feels fun, not fragile. Pocket S2 Pro wins on premium feel; Retroid 5 wins on pocketability.
Display
The Aya Neo’s 1440p IPS screen is super sharp with vibrant colors and great detail, but it struggles a bit in direct sunlight due to glare.
The Retroid’s OLED panel isn’t as sharp, but the contrast is unbeatable. Blacks are inky, and retro pixel art looks fantastic.
Aya Neo for sharpness and size; Retroid 5 for OLED richness and better contrast.
Performance & Emulation
The Aya Neo Pocket S2 Pro is a powerhouse. It runs demanding emulators like AetherSX2 and Skyline at higher settings, and cloud streaming is seamless. You’ll even get some light Switch play with the right tweaks.
The Retroid Pocket 5 can handle PS2 and GameCube at around 2x resolution, but struggles on newer or heavier titles. It’s fine for NES through Dreamcast and a few PS2 games with light configs.
Pocket S2 Pro wins hands down for raw power and flexibility.
Game Library & Software
Both run Android, but the experiences are different. Aya Neo uses Aya Space for launching games, cloud services, and settings—all streamlined for performance.
Retroid sticks to Android 13 with a clean launcher that auto-scans ROMs. It’s more plug-and-play with RetroArch and standalone emulators.
Aya Neo for power users and cloud gaming; Retroid 5 for quick retro fun with minimal setup.
Use Cases
The Aya Neo Pocket S2 Pro is ideal for enthusiasts who want power, flexibility, and can handle a bit of tinkering. It’s great for long sessions, streaming AAA titles, or diving deep into emulated libraries.
The Retroid Pocket 5 is better suited for students, casual players, or anyone who wants something lightweight and easy to use. Toss it in your bag, load it up with classics, and you’re ready to game between classes.
Aya Neo for advanced users; Retroid 5 for portable plug-and-play.
Final Verdict
The Aya Neo Pocket S2 Pro is the retro handheld for power users. Bigger screen, better specs, more versatility—it’s basically a mini cloud/retro gaming PC in your hand.
The Retroid Pocket 5, on the other hand, is all about ease, comfort, and fun. It costs less, fits anywhere, and nails the retro feel without much hassle.
If you want raw power, emulation flexibility, and cloud gaming, go Aya Neo. If you want simplicity, portability, and OLED charm, Retroid’s your pick.
