Analogue Pocket Worth It? 2024 Re-Review

Hey, do you recall how I made some people angry in Ban's piece here by talking a lot of shit about the Analogue Pocket? In summary, I had a Pocket from the initial release and became dissatisfied with it after a year. The absence of emulation conveniences (save states, sleep mode, cheats, and fast forward) was what bothered me. I am aware that not all cores have this, but some do! In addition, my device's shoulder and D-pad buttons were terrible.

I sold my Analogue Pocket, and I was mostly pleased with my decision, but then Retro Game Corps' Russ showed up. I adore Russ. Although my wallet despises him, he is the one who actually drew me into the pastime. In 2024, he produced a video showcasing the Analogue Pocket, emphasizing its excellent docking capabilities. I was prepared to get harmed again because I had never had the dock before.

The Ordering Process

Analogue has a famously lousy ordering experience. Since I purchased my first one on eBay for a fair price, I had never done it before. I was a sucker for the white version and wasn't particularly interested in any of the additional hues. I opted to get another one since my first one lasted a year and looked as good as the day I received it, with no signs of dirt or yellowing. I chose the black for the dock because, for some reason, the white one costs more.

The black and white variants were available for $219 on Analogue's website when I visited. A year or two ago, this would have been unheard of. I decided to go ahead and do it. After I left the gym on Tuesday morning, I placed my order, and my Pocket and Dock arrived at my house on Thursday before I had even arrived home. Although I didn't like how expensive the delivery was, it arrived really quickly! A significant contrast to the Chinese emulators I've just become used to.

First (Second) Impressions

I couldn't have been more thrilled to arrive home and unlock a device that I had previously owned. Even though I adore vertical devices, a part of me misses them. I was eager for another vertical gadget to help rekindle my enthusiasm for the Game Boy after enjoying the RG406V.

I tested out the buttons as soon as I opened the Analogue Pocket. The shoulder buttons and D-pad on my first model were terribly loose, making both really difficult to use. On my new one, they feel so much better! I am unable to determine whether my prior gadget was defective or whether Analogue has made any current advancements. I was already much happier overall, even if it was only wear and tear.

The night before, I loaded all of my games from the openFGPA choices onto my SD card. I also unlocked all of the display modes for the different cores and upgraded it to the most recent firmware. Once it booted up, I went through the settings and forgot how beautiful the screen was. I put on Gargoyle Quest, and the Game Boy looks fantastic.

The Dock

I was most looking forward to the dock. Along with an HDMI cable, it also included a USB-C cable and adapter for quick charging. These things are often distinct, so this was a pleasant surprise. It was a relatively simple process. Simply placing your pocket device on the dock will update the dock's firmware if you update the firmware on your pocket device.

The TV's screenshaders are fantastic. It was enjoyable to play Breath of Fire 2 with the CRT filter. It's easy to connect to the dock and disconnect. I own the Ultimate 2 C, M30, SN30 Pro, and 8BitDo Arcade Stick. These all function flawlessly. The pocket can even be roused from slumber if you have the USB adapter.

It's fantastic to play arcade games with the arcade stick and CRT filters. My wife and I had a lot of fun playing Dig Dug, The Simpsons, TMNT, and other childhood favorites. Although I'm sure there are less expensive options for this event, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

One issue I have with the dock is that docking the pocket requires extreme caution. Your device's bottom is easily scratched. The best technique to install it is to slowly lower it in while positioning the corner at a 45-degree angle to the right. To help safeguard it in case I become lazy in the future, I got some bottom stickers for mine.

Dealing With Customer Service

I was so excited about using the dock that I failed to see the black line that was running across the bottom of my screen. Restarting did not fix it, and internet research revealed that the LCD itself was the issue. Since it was less than a week old, I hoped that by contacting customer service, I could swap it or obtain a refund.

After a few days, support finally responded to me. I inquired if I could exchange it, but they said no, as they wanted me to send it in for repair, which I knew would take longer. At last, I visited their website and snapped a snapshot of their policy, which says that they will repair any defective hardware. They promised to make an "exception" for me when I sent this. This left a sour taste in my mouth and felt very shady.

Fortunately, a new Pocket arrived after I returned the old one, saving me money after a long week of waiting. It took roughly five days to ship my original, which came in two days using the quickest delivery option. It's a minor grievance, but frustrating nonetheless. It didn't help that this coincided with preorders for Analogue 3D.

One fantastic feature was the ease with which I could plug in my SD card and continue where I left off. It was like turning on the old pocket after the firmware was upgraded. Every shader preset I had was saved, including the locations of my scrolls on each system.

Final Thoughts

I'm happy I met the Analogue Pocket for this pricey encounter. I was too hard on it, and now I can see why it would be appealing. That screen is unbeatable, and having it with a dock opens up a whole new level of awesomeness for which I was unprepared. I'm grateful to Russ for persuading me to give it another go.

Although it isn't the most affordable gadget available, it is the best for playing original applications. It is a lovely item that works. The controls are superior to my initial ones, which was my main grievance. Observing the new cores that emerge is also a lot of fun.