The PowKiddy V90 is a retro gaming handheld device designed to bring the nostalgia of classic games to the palm of your hand. With its compact clamshell design and a wide range of emulation capabilities, it is a great option for on the go gaming.

Design and Build Quality

AeThe PowKiddy V90 features a charming clamshell design reminiscent of the Game Boy Advance SP. It comes in various color options, including red, yellow, and blue, each adding a touch of retro flair. The device is constructed from durable plastic, giving it a lightweight feel without compromising on sturdiness. The buttons and D-pad are responsive and provide a satisfying tactile feedbac though the click on compression sounds louder then I would like and expect.

And yes it is pocketable! Measuring just 3.4 x 3.2 x 0.9 inches or 86.36 x 81.28 x 22.86 mm and weighing around 150 grams, the V90 is incredibly portable. It easily fits into a pocket or small bag, making it ideal for gaming on the go.

Technical Specifications

The V90 boasts a 3-inch IPS display with a resolution of 320×240 pixels. The screen offers vibrant colors and good viewing angles, enhancing the gaming experience. Under the hood, the V90 is powered by an ARM Cortex-A7 processor, paired with 64MB of RAM. It includes 16GB storage housed on a micro SD card, expandable via an SD card this can go up to 128gb. I doubt that for this hand held that much would be nessesary. A 1500mAh battery sits on the body of the device that provides several hours of gameplay, battery life will vary depending on settings and games played. The device features a USB-C port for charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an SD card slot for additional storage. However, it lacks wireless capabilities.

User Interface and Experience

The V90 comes with a pre-installed firmware that is user-friendly but somewhat limited in customization options. Out of the box performance is not what I would call top notch. The out of the box firmware can be a bit laggy and a number of playstation one games simply are unplayable. It supports a range of emulators out of the box though leading all the way up to PS One, making it easy to start gaming right away.

For those looking to enhance their experience, custom firmware options like Miyoo is avaliable. I started my custom firmware journy on Version 1.3.3 while this did imrpove playability for higher end emulators and general user experience it did have some pitfalls like powering down, if doen incorectly could corrupt your data. But it is not all gloom and doom! Version 2.0.0 Beta 2 has been released and fixed a number of issues that the erlier release had suffered from.

Dispite my large hands and the size of the device The buttons and D-pad are well-placed and comfortable to use, though not so much for extended game sessiions, this however is due to its size compared to my hands. The controls are responsive, ensuring a smooth gaming experience for games that do not require a joystick.

Performance and Emulation

The V90 can emulate a variety of retro gaming systems, including NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, PS One to name a few. Practicality of running these however is less then desirable. A great example of this is Quake, playing quake on the DPad meant overshooting or even entierly missing enemies makieng the gameplay less then enjoyable but when looking at DPad centric titles say from the calssic gameboy, GBA and others like it there is no issues at all.

Most games run smoothly on the V90. For the lower end emulated consoles but when you begin to hit thoes higher teirs you can run in to some trouble. Out of the box Tony Hawks Pro Skate 2 runs so slow that the sound stutters terribly and the framrate is horiffic. When you move to the custom firmware mentioned earlier. With some tweaking you can get even Tony Hawk working pretty nicely. The emulation quality is generally good, with minimal screen tearing and decent audio quality. The gameplay experience is enjoyable, though not perfect.

Comparison with Similar Devices

When compared to other devices like the Miyoo Mini and Anbernic RG280V, the V90 holds its own. It offers a similar range of features at a competitive price point at just $39.99USD The PowKiddy V90 is an affordable option for retro gaming enthusiasts. While it may not have the premium build quality of some competitors, it provides excellent value for its price.

7. Pros and Cons

Personal Thoughts

Using the PowKiddy V90 has been a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The device is easy to use and offers a solid gaming experience, though it does have its limitations. For myself I find the most enjoyable on the go experience to be my favourite pokemion title Pokemon Yellow and Harvest Moon from the SNES. These types of titles play well and don’t wear down the battery too fast making ideal to just stuff in my pocket for anylast minuet gameing chances.

If you are just starting out in the retro hand held market like I am, the V90 is best suited for casual gamers and retro fans who want an affordable and portable way to enjoy classic games. It’s not the most powerful device on the market, but it offers great value for its price.

Additional Resources

Official PowKiddy V90 store page | More Information

PowKiddy V90 Review and Guide by Retro Game Corps