Retro gaming has this magical way of pulling us back to the good old days, doesn’t it? There’s just something about holding a handheld console in your hands, firing up a classic game, and feeling that rush of nostalgia. But let’s be real—retro gaming isn’t just about reliving the past anymore. It’s about finding devices that can deliver those timeless experiences while keeping up with modern expectations. That’s where the Powkiddy X35H comes into play. This little gadget might not look like much at first glance, but trust me, it packs a punch for its size and price.
The Powkiddy X35H is one of those devices that sneaks up on you. At $59.99, it’s hard not to raise an eyebrow and wonder if it’s too good to be true. I mean, we’ve all seen budget handhelds before, and they’re usually hit or miss. Some are clunky, others feel cheap, and a few just don’t deliver on performance. But Powkiddy has been around the block for a while now, carving out its space in the retro handheld market alongside bigger names like Anbernic and Retroid. The X35H is their latest attempt to prove they’re here to stay—and honestly, they might just be onto something.
What makes the X35H stand out isn’t just its retro vibes or affordable price tag. It’s the fact that it feels like a complete package. You’ve got a crisp 3.5-inch IPS display, dual analog sticks, and a build quality that actually feels solid in your hands. Sure, it’s compact, but it’s not so tiny that it cramps your style during long gaming sessions. And if you’re someone who loves diving into custom firmware, this device is ready to tinker with. From PortMaster support to custom themes, there’s plenty here to keep tech-savvy gamers busy.
But here’s the thing—the Powkiddy X35H isn’t perfect. Still, for under $60, it’s hard not to appreciate what Powkiddy has managed to pull off.
Design and Build Quality
The Powkiddy X35H might not look like much at first glance, but once you hold it in your hands, it starts to grow on you. The design is simple and no-frills, but there’s something about the way it feels that makes you appreciate the effort put into it. It’s compact, but not so tiny that it cramps your style while gaming. Instead, it hits this sweet spot where both hands can rest comfortably on the device without feeling like you’re wrestling with it. That’s a big deal because some handhelds either feel too cramped or too bulky, but the X35H avoids both extremes.
The build quality is surprisingly solid for its price point. It doesn’t feel like a cheap piece of plastic that’s going to fall apart after a few weeks. The outer shell has this soft-touch finish that gives it a premium vibe, especially on the translucent models. The material feels durable enough to handle regular use without showing scratches or scuffs right away. Even the buttons and analog sticks are mounted securely, so there’s no wobbling or loose parts when you press them.
One thing that stands out is the weight. It’s not super light, which is actually a good thing. A handheld that’s too lightweight can feel flimsy, but the X35H has just enough heft to feel substantial without being tiring to hold. It weighs around 180 grams, which is only a few grams lighter than a Game Boy Color. That comparison might help you picture how it feels—it’s not heavy enough to strain your hands, but it’s also not so light that it feels hollow.
The shape of the X35H is interesting too. It’s got this flat candy-bar design with slight bumps on the sides that almost act like pseudo grips. They don’t stick out too much, but they do give your fingers something to hold onto, which helps during longer gaming sessions. The buttons are laid out in a way that makes sense—nothing feels awkwardly placed or hard to reach, except maybe the L2 and R2 triggers, which sit a bit too far in. Those require some finger gymnastics if you’ve got bigger hands, but the face buttons and d-pad are easy to get to.
Controls and Gameplay
Speaking of the buttons, they’re decent but not perfect. The face buttons are flat and cylindrical, which might not appeal to everyone. Some people prefer rounded buttons that feel more inviting, but these have a certain tactile quality that works well enough. The d-pad, on the other hand, is a standout. It’s made of solid plastic with just enough curve to feel comfortable under your thumb. It doesn’t bottom out harshly either, which means it feels responsive without being jarring. Sure, there are occasional hiccups with diagonal inputs in certain games, but for the most part, it gets the job done.
The analog sticks are less impressive. They’re functional, but the texture around the edges feels rough, almost like sandpaper. This might help if your hands get sweaty during intense gaming sessions, but for casual play, it’s not the most pleasant sensation. Plus, they don’t feel as smooth or precise as higher-end controllers. Still, they’re not deal-breakers—they just take some getting used to.
On the sides, you’ve got two pairs of shoulder buttons. The outer ones are fantastic—rounded and clicky, making them a joy to use. They sit at just the right height and angle, so your fingers naturally rest on them. The inner L2 and R2 buttons, though, are a different story. They’re small and tucked away in a position that forces you to arch your fingers awkwardly to press them. Smaller hands might struggle with this setup, but it’s manageable once you adjust.
Ports & Speakers
Ports and connectivity options are neatly tucked away along the edges. There’s a USB-C port for charging (though it doesn’t support fast charging), a headphone jack, an HDMI output for TV play, and even a reset button on the bottom. The inclusion of two SD card slots is a nice touch, letting you expand storage up to 256GB. No internal storage means you’ll need to rely entirely on microSD cards, but that’s not unusual for devices in this category.
The stereo speakers are down-firing, which isn’t ideal, but they get the job done. Sound quality is clear enough for casual listening, though serious gamers will probably want to plug in headphones for a better experience. Heat management is decent too—the device spreads heat evenly, so it doesn’t get uncomfortably warm even during extended play sessions.
Display Quality
The display on the Powkiddy X35H is one of those things that grabs your attention right away, but not because it’s flashy or over-the-top. It’s a 3.5-inch IPS screen, which might not sound like much compared to bigger handhelds, but it gets the job done in a way that feels satisfying for its size. The resolution is 640×480, and while that’s pretty standard for retro handhelds, it still manages to look sharp and clear when you’re playing games. You won’t be blown away by insane detail, but it’s more than enough to make old-school games feel crisp and vibrant.
Colors on this screen pop in a way that makes older games look better than they ever did on the original hardware. Brightness is solid too—enough to see everything clearly even in well-lit rooms. Contrast is decent, meaning darker scenes don’t get lost in a muddy blur, and lighter areas stay punchy without being harsh on the eyes. Saturation feels natural, so games don’t look overly saturated or washed out. It’s just balanced, which is exactly what you want when you’re revisiting classics.
One thing worth mentioning is how wide the viewing angles are. Even if you tilt the screen slightly or hold it at an odd angle, the colors and clarity stay consistent. That’s thanks to the IPS technology, which helps keep everything looking good no matter how you position the device. Sure, some high-end handhelds might have better displays, but for $59.99, this little screen punches above its weight class.
Now, there’s a small issue with light bleed on the translucent blue model. If you look closely at the edges of the screen, especially the lower left corner, you can notice some backlight spilling through. This isn’t something you’ll see during gameplay unless you’re really paying attention, but it’s noticeable when the screen is dark or off. On the solid-colored versions, though, this problem disappears entirely. So, if light bleed bothers you, go for one of the non-translucent options instead.
For retro gaming, the size of the screen feels just right. Games like Pokémon Emerald or Metroid Zero Mission look fantastic here, with pixel art shining brightly without feeling stretched or cramped. Even PSP games, which were designed for larger screens, scale down surprisingly well. Sure, text-heavy menus can sometimes feel a tad cramped, but it’s nothing that ruins the experience. And if you’re into tinkering, you can adjust font sizes for certain ports to make them easier to read.
Frame rates on the display are smooth enough for most games, but there are moments where enabling frame skip becomes necessary. For example, Nintendo DS games like The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass run smoother with frame skip turned on. Without it, the action can feel a bit choppy. But once you tweak the settings, everything flows nicely. The same goes for PSP titles like Persona 3 Portable, which runs buttery smooth and looks stunning on this screen.
Another cool feature is the ability to connect the X35H to a TV via HDMI. While the built-in screen is great for portable play, hooking it up to a bigger display adds a whole new dimension to the experience. Everything scales well to a larger screen, and the picture quality remains sharp. It’s not going to replace your main console setup, but it’s a fun bonus for sharing games with friends or enjoying nostalgic titles on a bigger screen.
Sure, the screen isn’t perfect. There’s no option for brightness adjustment directly from the hardware buttons, which would’ve been handy. And while it handles most games beautifully, some fast-paced titles might expose minor weaknesses in motion clarity. But these are nitpicks rather than deal-breakers. What matters is that the screen delivers a reliable, enjoyable experience that makes retro gaming feel fresh again. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel—it’s just doing what it needs to do, and doing it well.
Software and User Interface
The software and user interface on the Powkiddy X35H are a mixed bag. It’s not bad, but it’s not exactly smooth sailing either. The device runs on something called Powkiddy OS, which is essentially their own take on Linux. At first glance, it looks clean and straightforward—almost like a stripped-down version of Onion OS if you’re familiar with that. It’s got big icons for different systems like NES, SNES, Game Boy, and so on, making navigation pretty simple. But there’s a catch: customization options are limited. You can’t tweak much beyond what’s already laid out for you. If you’re into personalizing your setup or diving deep into settings, this might feel a little restrictive.
One thing worth mentioning is how the menu system works. There’s no dedicated “menu” button on the handheld itself, which feels like an odd oversight. Instead, you have to use the select button to access menus in games, or sometimes even L3 and R3 depending on the app. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it does make things slightly clunky when you’re trying to pause a game or adjust settings mid-play. It’s one of those quirks that reminds you this isn’t a high-end device—it’s functional, sure, but not refined.
Now, let’s talk about custom firmware because that’s where things get interesting. Out of the box, Powkiddy OS feels barebones. It gets the job done, but it lacks polish. That’s why most people who pick up the X35H end up installing Rock N—a popular custom firmware option. Once you switch over to Rockn, the experience improves dramatically. You get access to themes, better organization, and features like box art scraping directly on the device. Having beautiful cover art pop up alongside your games makes everything feel more premium. Plus, Rock N integrates tools like PortMaster, which opens up a whole new world of gaming possibilities. Suddenly, you’re not just limited to emulators—you’ve got indie ports, decompilations, and more at your fingertips.
But here’s the kicker: installing custom firmware isn’t as seamless as it could be. For starters, setting up Rock N requires some tinkering. You’ll need a second SD card to store your ROMs since using just one often leads to issues where games don’t show up properly. And then there’s the problem with the right analog stick being inverted. This seems to be a hardware issue rather than a software one because it behaves normally in Powkiddy OS but flips directions in standalone apps like Drastic (for DS) or Mupen64Plus (for N64). This means every time you install custom firmware, you’ll likely need to dive into configs to fix the stick mapping. It’s annoying, especially since Powkiddy has had similar issues with other devices in the past. They really should sort this out before releasing future models.
Another hiccup comes from sleep mode behavior. In Powkiddy OS, the battery drain during sleep is minimal—about 1% every two hours. However, under Rock N, it drains faster. Again, it’s not catastrophic, but it’s another reminder that the software side still needs work. These little annoyances add up over time, especially if you plan to use the device for long gaming sessions or leave it idle between plays.
On the bright side, having Bluetooth built-in is a nice touch. You can connect wireless controllers or headphones without needing extra dongles for those tasks. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi doesn’t come standard—you’ll need an external USB dongle to access online features like RetroAchievements, Netplay, or streaming services.
While this isn’t uncommon for budget handhelds, it’s still disappointing. Once you do plug in a Wi-Fi dongle, though, the possibilities expand significantly. With internet access, you can download PortMaster, scrape box art, and unlock all sorts of cool functionality. Just keep in mind that doing so turns your sleek handheld into something resembling a Transformer with a USB limb sticking out the top.
Hardware and Gaming Performance
The Powkiddy X35H is packing some decent hardware under the hood, and for its price point, it’s hard not to be impressed. At the heart of this little handheld is a Rockchip RK3566 processor. Now, if you’re into retro gaming or even just tech specs, you’ll know that this isn’t the most powerful chip out there, but it gets the job done for what this device is meant to do. It’s a quad-core Cortex-A55 CPU clocked at 1.8 GHz, paired with a Mali-G52 GPU. These components are solid enough to handle most retro games smoothly, though they do start showing their limits when you push them too far.
The device comes with 1GB of LPDDR4X RAM, which might sound skimpy compared to modern smartphones or even other handhelds, but let’s be real—it’s plenty for running old-school games. You won’t notice any lag while playing NES, SNES, or Game Boy Advance titles, and even PSP games feel pretty smooth once you tweak a few settings. Storage-wise, there’s no internal memory, so everything relies on microSD cards. The good news is that it supports two SD card slots, each capable of holding up to 256GB. That’s more than enough space to load up thousands of ROMs, though you’ll need to manage your files carefully since organizing them can get messy without proper tools.
Gaming Performance
Now, let’s talk about gaming performance because that’s really what matters here. For classic systems like NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis, the X35H absolutely shines. Games like Super Mario World, Yoshi’s Island, and Sonic the Hedgehog run flawlessly, with crisp visuals and responsive controls. The d-pad feels precise enough for platformers, and the face buttons are satisfying to mash through action-packed sequences. Even Game Boy Advance titles like Metroid Zero Mission and Pokémon Emerald perform beautifully, making this a great choice for fans of those systems.
Nintendo DS games are where things get interesting. Titles like The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass require frame skip to run smoothly, but once you enable that setting, the experience becomes much more enjoyable. Unfortunately, the right analog stick being inverted in custom firmware throws a wrench into certain DS games that rely on touch controls, like Mario Kart DS. This quirk forces you to either remap controls manually or stick with the stock OS, which handles stylus input properly. It’s annoying, but not a dealbreaker.
PSP emulation is another strong suit for the Powkiddy X35H. Games like LocoRoco and Persona 3 Portable run buttery smooth, with vibrant graphics and excellent frame rates. Some heavier titles may need tweaks to sensitivity settings or occasional frame skipping, but for the most part, the experience is fantastic. Indie ports like Celeste and Stardew Valley also work well, though you’ll often need to transfer files from your computer to make them run correctly. Still, seeing these modern indie darlings on such a compact device is a treat.
Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 games, however, are hit-or-miss. On the Dreamcast side, simpler games like Rayman 2 perform admirably, but more demanding titles like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater struggle even with frame skipping enabled.
As for N64, don’t expect miracles. While lighter games like Banjo-Kazooie are playable, others like Super Mario 64 suffer from choppy frame rates and inconsistent performance. Decompilation ports like Render96x offer slightly better results, but they still aren’t perfect. Honestly, if N64 is your main focus, you might want to look elsewhere.
One of the standout features of the Powkiddy X35H is its ability to support PortMaster, a magical app that opens the door to countless indie and commercial ports. Through PortMaster, you can dive into games like Half-Life, Diablo, and even Majora’s Mask with HD texture packs.
These ports breathe new life into the device, turning it into a powerhouse for both retro and modern gaming experiences. Sure, setting them up requires a bit of tinkering, but the payoff is worth it. Being able to play Celeste or Stardew Valley on a handheld this small feels special, especially when everything runs smoothly.
Performance dips occasionally, especially with emulators that aren’t optimized for the RK3566 chipset. For example, standalone apps like Drastic (for DS) and Mupen64Plus (for N64) sometimes behave oddly due to hardware quirks like the inverted right analog stick. These issues remind you that the X35H is still a budget-friendly option, but they’re minor annoyances rather than major flaws. Most users will find ways to work around them, especially if they’re willing to invest time in configuring custom firmware.
Battery Life & Charging
The Powkiddy X35H doesn’t blow anyone away with its battery life, but it gets the job done for what it is. You’re looking at a 3,000mAh battery, which might sound decent on paper, but in practice, it translates to about 5 to 6 hours of gameplay depending on how you use it. If you crank the brightness up or keep Bluetooth and Wi-Fi dongles plugged in, expect that number to drop closer to the 4-hour mark. On the flip side, if you’re playing less demanding games like NES or Game Boy Advance titles and keep the screen dimmed, you can squeeze out closer to 6 hours or maybe even a little more. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s enough to get you through a lazy afternoon or a long commute without needing to recharge.
One thing worth noting is how the battery behaves during standby. If you leave the device sitting idle, it drains at a rate of about 1% every two hours. That’s pretty good, especially if you’re the type to pick it up and put it down throughout the day. However, there’s a catch when it comes to sleep mode.
The X35H uses a USB-C port for power, which is great because it means no messing around with outdated cables. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support fast charging. The charging speed tops out at 5V/1.5A, so it takes a while to fully juice up the battery from empty—usually around 2 to 3 hours. Again, it’s not ideal, but it’s par for the course with budget-friendly handhelds. Just make sure you don’t try to force faster chargers onto it; sticking to the recommended specs will save you from damaging the battery or the internal components.
Final thoughts
The Powkiddy X35H sits in that weird middle ground where it’s neither the absolute best handheld on the market nor a total disappointment. At $59.99, it’s clear this device is aiming to be a budget-friendly option for retro gaming enthusiasts who want something compact but capable. For that price, you’re getting a lot of features that make it hard to dismiss outright—but also some glaring flaws that might give you pause.
On one hand, you’ve got solid hardware like the Rockchip RK3566 processor, dual analog sticks, and a crisp 3.5-inch IPS display. These aren’t groundbreaking specs, but they’re enough to deliver smooth performance for most retro systems, especially Nintendo DS and PSP games. Add in custom firmware support through Rockn, and suddenly you’ve got access to indie ports, decompilations, and even HD texture packs for games like Majora’s Mask. That kind of flexibility makes the X35H feel surprisingly versatile for its size and cost.
But then there are the compromises. The lack of built-in Wi-Fi is a big one. Sure, you can plug in an external dongle to get online for RetroAchievements or PortMaster, but having a USB stick sticking out the top feels clunky and awkward. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s definitely annoying when so many other devices at this price point include Wi-Fi as standard. Then there’s the software experience, which feels unfinished out of the box. Powkiddy OS works fine if you’re okay with basic functionality, but it lacks polish and customization options. Even after installing Rockn, little quirks pop up—like the inverted right analog stick issue—that remind you this isn’t a premium product. These annoyances add up over time, making the user experience feel less refined than it could be.
Another thing worth mentioning is the control layout. While the face buttons and d-pad are decent, the L2/R2 triggers feel cramped and awkward to use. Smaller hands might manage, but anyone with larger fingers will struggle. And while the inclusion of two SD card slots is nice, the lack of internal storage means you’re stuck juggling microSD cards if you want to switch between ROMs or game files frequently. None of these issues completely ruin the experience, but they do highlight areas where Powkiddy could improve.
Still, for $59.99, the X35H delivers value in ways that matter to certain gamers. If you’re looking for a portable device to play classics like Super Mario World, Yoshi’s Island, or Metroid Zero Mission, this handheld nails it. The screen looks great, the controls are responsive enough for most games, and the battery life lasts long enough for extended sessions. Indie fans will appreciate how well titles like Celeste and Stardew Valley run once configured correctly. And let’s not forget the HDMI output—hooking this little guy up to a TV adds a whole new dimension to the experience. Watching older games scale to a bigger screen without losing clarity is genuinely satisfying.
So where does that leave us? The Powkiddy X35H is a solid choice if you know what you’re getting into. It’s not trying to compete with high-end handhelds like the Steam Deck or even mid-tier options like the Anbernic RG35XX series. Instead, it carves out its niche as a budget-friendly retro machine that punches above its weight in some areas while falling short in others.
In the end, the Powkiddy X35H feels like a labor of love from a company that knows its audience. It’s not perfect, but it’s packed with potential. For $59.99, it’s hard to complain too much about what it brings to the table. It’s a great entry-level device for newcomers to retro gaming, and seasoned enthusiasts will appreciate its flexibility and customizability. Just don’t expect miracles—this is a handheld that requires a bit of patience and tinkering to truly shine. If you’re willing to put in the effort, though, the payoff is a fun, nostalgic gaming experience that fits snugly in your pocket.
