Just got my Powkiddy RGB10X. Some first impressions.
I currently have the Anbernic RG35XX Plus to compare to. At one point I also had the R36s and the Kinhank K36, both having the same chipset and both trying to be a cost-cutting option for entry-level emulator handhelds.
China market, launch price 198 RMB without card, 228 RMB with 64GB MicroSD card.
The package I got includes a red-black pouch and a 64GB Kioxia card that looks in all intents and purposes legitimate. Also includes a screen protector, but it doesn't have alcohol wipes.
Its smell is not very pleasant. Smells like burnt paint. Anbernic devices smell a bit more pleasant, but I can't gather any useful info from that.
Display looks crisp and sharp. No complaint so far. Maybe a little more contrast-y than the Anbernic.
Single speaker at lower right corner. Not having dual speaker doesn't really hurt, but the Powkiddy's sound quality is far from ideal. It's much more muffled than on the Anbernic. I don't think the R36s and K36 fared much better.
"-", "+", "start" and "select" keys use tact switches and they sound cheap, whatever but the L/R bumper keys are decently clicky and don't rattle much.
D-pad has enough unwanted diagonals for me not to want to use it in shooters like Gradius. The Anbernic doesn't have the same issue. But otherwise they feel good in the hand. Some say the embossed stripes on the back shell might grind against their fingers. I haven't felt this issue so far, but I still do agree that the X label on the back should have been a silkscreened painting on a flat shell.
Firmware support: Stock OS is modified ArkOS 20240731. Community has found the RG351MP ArkOS release image to work well on this unit. I've also tried Lakka RG351MP but that image has very low audio volume and a downward shifted display window for some reason. Still, this proves that community support for this will come relatively easy. This is the main point I want to make in favor of new users buying the Powkiddy RGB10X.
The R36s for a while was the king of cheap handhelds due to community firmware support (albeit as a side effect of supporting the RG351 line and the Powkiddy RGB20s) and super low price, but more recently competitors are coming up with similar devices with the same chipset, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. And the anonimity of R36s manufacturing means less compatible clones have snuck in to make community firmware support infinitely harder. The Powkiddy RGB10X, if priced at a level similar to the R36s, should attract those new to the retro handheld community to a safe, relatively reputable and relatively less shady low-cost option, as long as they're not super picky about form factor.
