RGB20SX: Powkiddy’s Next Device Has a Square Screen

The next emulation handheld from Powkiddy is going vertical, with a 1:1 square screen that promises to make Game Boy games big and beautiful.

The RGB20SX hasn’t been officially announced by the manufacturer yet, but instead leaked from an insider (@retrohandheldcollection, via Retro Dodo). The renders of the device look great (across three different colorways), and are consistent with Powkiddy’s previous devices.

The face button arrangement is reminiscent of the popular RGB20S, particularly that signature smiley face look of the Start – Select – Function buttons. The big difference over that device is that the analog sticks have been moved to the bottom and the D-pad and face buttons to the top.

But the real headline here is that big, square screen. Take a look:

The 1:1 aspect ratio display is ideal for emulating Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and other retro handhelds with a nearly square display. Powkiddy’s most recent device, the RGB30, was also released with a square screen and quickly became a budget favorite in the retro gaming community. So the RGB20SX looks to be something of a hybrid between the company’s two recent hits: the vertical form factor of the RGB20S and the square screen of the RGB30.

If the RGB20SX ends up the same width as the 20S (which the leaked images suggest), we’re looking at an IPS screen around 4 inches. That’s the same size as the RGB30 screen, which came in at 4 inches and 720 x 720 pixels.

That 1:1 aspect ratio also fits the device’s expected performance. It’s going to excel at emulating games from those 80s and 90s handhelds, along with the PlayStation 1 and older systems.

What is the new device likely to cost? The RGB20S is currently selling at $59.99 USD (on sale from a $89.99 list price) and is powered by a weaker RK3326 chip. The RBG30 has a slightly more powerful RK3566 chip and sells for $89.99 USD (down from a list price of $109.99). So the RGB20SX’s price is likely to land in that $60-90 range, depending chiefly on which chip it gets.

Other devices with the RK3326 chip tend to top out at PS1 emulation, and might get a few N64, PSP, and Dreamcast games with some performance compromises such as a frameskip. The RK3566 devices tend to do much better with emulating those systems.

Retro Dodo reports that Powkiddy is aiming at giving the new device the same internals as the more powerful RGB30. The mock-up images show off white, blue, and yellow devices. A beige-colored device with orange controls has also been shown off, though that might not finally become a reality.

We don’t have any firm specs on the RGB20SX screen or the device internals just yet, so stay tuned as we await Powkiddy’s official announcement.