When the one I want is so near yet so far.
Lots of potential endgame handhelds for PS2. But personally, I still haven't found the one. There's one that came closest, but it came with a major flaw that only affects the minority - and I'm one of them.
Now, if only I have the power to modify it, it'll be perfect in the very essence of the word.
The almost perfect handheld is the Retroid Pocket Nova. Its major flaw is it has an OLED display, which has PWM flickering, and I'm sensitive to it. One minor flaw is the D-pad on top. But the D-pad position is valid for 4:3 retro gaming because most of those retro consoles favor D-pad usage. So, it doesn't really bother me, but I'd use it primarily for PS2 which is why stick on top is my preference, though, it's no biggie.
A D-pad on top for 4:3 retro gaming makes more sense. Joystick on top for PS2 is really a personal preference and I wouldn't fault Retroid for it.
Retroid Pocket Nova - My Almost Perfect PS2 Handheld
| My Perfect PS2 Handheld | Retroid Pocket Nova | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 4:3 aspect ratio | 4:3 aspect ratio | ✅ |
| at least 720p resolution | 960p resolution | ✅ |
| at least 4" screen size | 4.5" screen size | ✅ |
| IPS LCD screen | AMOLED screen | ❌❌❌ |
| TMR joystick on top | D-pad on top | ❌ |
| stacked shoulder buttons | stacked shoulder buttons | ✅ |
| powerful Snapdragon processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | ✅ |
Retroid Pocket Nova Modified – Perfect
What a perfect PS2 handheld looks like to me
I already love the overall design of the RP Nova payments. I'm nothing but a speck of dust, but if Retroid releases an LCD version of the Nova, I'd be beyond joyful. If they also manage to put the joystick on top, it will be the closest to an endgame PS2 portable for me. My perfect PS2 handheld.
I'm sure the 5 of us who are sensitive to PWM flickering from an OLED display would greatly appreciate an LCD version. If Retroid can't fulfill such stubborn request, I hope another company will come up with a handheld as polished as Retroid's Pocket Nova, slap a high quality IPS LCD, stay within the budget and call it a day.
BONUS!
A plastic version of Anbernic RG477M with joystick on top, stacked shoulder buttons and a powerful Snapdragon SoC is good enough for me. RG477M's 4.7" LCD screen is delightful. If we put that screen on the RP Nova, it's over.
We are truly in an exciting era for handhelds. There's always something new to look forward to in the retro handheld scene. Who knows maybe in 6 months or a year, I'll finally find my perfect PS2 handheld.