Sitting just under the size of a standard credit card and powerful enough to play PS1 & Dreamcast games, the GKD Pixel II is the newest mighty-metal-micro handheld on the block. It replaces the Game Kiddy Pixel, one of our previous favourite micro handhelds, bringing a new screen resolution and and bigger width to the table as well as some other small changes that Game Kiddy are hoping will keep them at the top of the micro handheld world without having to make too many changes to their winning formula. ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it… just make it more interesting’.
I’ve been putting the GKD Pixel II through its paces in order to discover just how much has changed on this new console, as well as giving anyone new to the minuscule world of the Pixel how it runs, what it can do, and if I have any gripes with it!
A Mighty Micro Handheld With Marginal Upgrades To Its Predecessor
The GKD Pixel II is a small but mighty micro handheld that can emulate consoles up to PS1, Dreamcast, and PSP. It’s the new and improved version of the Game Kiddy Pixel, though essentially an updated version as opposed to something that feels ‘brand new’. While the UI is a little sparse, it’s great for handheld games and emulates PS1 titles brilliantly.
- Price: $75.99
- What’s In The Box: GKD Pixel II, small strap, manual
- Operating System: Linux-based
- Emulates: Everything up to PS1, N64, PSP
- Battery: 1,800mAh
- Available From: Keep Retro Website
GKD II Specifications
- CPU: Rockchip RK3326S
- Screen: 2.4-inch IPS full-fitted screen
- Resolution: 640x480px
- Shell: Metal
- Charging: 5V/2A USB-C fast-charging
- Available Colours: Grey, Red, Green, Purple
- MicroSD Card: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
- Battery: 1800mAh
- Dimensions: 6.3cm x 8.1 cm x 1.7 cm
As you can see from the picture above, this is a seriously small handheld. Ok, it’s not as tiny as the minuscule Micro GB that I hid in my mouth for a product reveal, but it’s still half as big as a Game Boy DMG and smaller than a standard Pokémon Card. Most of the console is taken up by the 2.4-inch IPS full-fitted screen, with four action buttons, a D-pad, and Select/Start buttons on the bottom 1/3rd of the handheld.
Design & Build Quality
The GKD Pixel 2 boasts a metal shell which makes it feel premium and tough. I love picking up a cold-metal handheld that feels like it could withstand a drop from my bedroom window and still work perfectly afterwards, mainly because I’m incredibly clumsy and it gives me peace of mind that I’m not going to ruin it if it falls out of my pocket.
The overall shape of the console remains matchbox-shaped just like its predecessor, with the top panel housing four shoulder buttons for accessing strafing and extra functions when playing most home consoles and also allowing you to use C-buttons when playing N64 titles. If you’ve never played with one of these handhelds before, the design is very neat and satisfying, stylish even.
The grooves on the back of the handheld are there to give you some extra purchase on your fingers when holding it, a little like a rock climber trying to find a small crack in a boulder. Your hand will definitely feel like that after an hour of using this thing, but I’ll get onto that a little bit later on.
What Are The Differences From The GKD Pixel?
Before we go any further, some of you who might already be rocking the original Game Kiddy Pixel might be wondering what the differences are and if it’s worth upgrading. If you don’t have the original Pixel, then you can always skip past this bit, or brush up on your stats if you want to impress people at very niche parties.
As you can see from the picture above, the GKD Pixel 2 is bigger than its predecessor, even though it’s still a dinky little handheld. As I said above, the Pixel 2 measures in at 8.1cm x 6.3cm x 1.7cm, whereas the original measured in at 8cm x 5.6cm x 1.8cm.
Ok, so we’re talking a marginal difference in height, 1 mm reduction in thickness, and 7mm extra width on the new handheld. Still, when you’re dealing with a micro handheld, millimetres make all the difference. The 2.4-inch IPS full-fitted screen is still the same, though the bigger bezel around the edge creates the illusion of it being bigger now that the handheld is wider. The resolution has also changed from 320 x 240 px to 640 x 480 px and the battery has had an upgrade from the previous 1,300 mAh in the original Game Kiddy to 1,800 mAh, increasing your game time from around 4 to 6 hours of continuous gameplay.
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As for the CPU, Game Kiddy have changed from the Ingenic X1830 to the Rockchip RK3326S but kept the same Linux-based OS. They’ve also recessed the Select/Start buttons and made them smaller. In essence, the Pixel is nothing inherently new, just an upgrade to one of our favourite micro handhelds. The change in screen resolution is definitely appreciated, though you’ll still need to hold the console pretty close to your face to see what’s going on!
Buttons & Power
One of the complaints we had when we tested the original Pixel is that the buttons could be nudged from side to side without actually pushing them in, giving a cheap feel to a handheld that, to look at and hold, otherwise felt pretty sturdy. Game Kiddy have sorted that in the Pixel 2, with everything feeling more snug and secure. The plastic buttons aren’t as pleasing as the ones you might find in your original Game Boy or ModRetro Chromatic, but they’re sturdy enough and have a good depth to them when pressed in and don’t rattle around – you can button mash and actually feel like you’re putting some effort into something which is always a winner.
On the side of the handheld, you’ll see that same power bar that we loved from the first iteration of the Pixel. It makes it incredibly easy to see how much battery life you have (not much in my case here!), and how the status of your charging is going without having to constantly be looking for a tiny percentage bar. It’s pretty futuristic and more than just a clever gimmick, something we’d still like to see in more handhelds if any developers out there are reading this right now! You’ll need to hold the power button down for a few seconds to turn the handheld off as opposed to putting it to sleep, something else that has carried over from the first handheld.
You’ll also find a circular button with three dots in it on this side of the console which takes you to the emulator’s settings, allowing you to exit the game, change controller settings, and more. I would have liked a button that takes you straight back to the console selection screen like on the AYANEO Pocket Micro, but the Pixel II is so small that I guess I should just be happy with the buttons that Game Kiddy have managed to fit on here.
On the opposite side of the Pixel II, you’ll find your microSD card slot and volume buttons, with the headphone jack and USB-C charging port underneath near the speaker. I’m always surprised when the speakers sound so nice on these little handhelds because by all rights they should be tinny and whiney, but I’ve been playing Pokémon Fire Red and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 this afternoon without resorting to sticking earplugs in, so it’s a thumbs up from me.
The shoulder buttons remain unchanged from the previous Pixel, still taking up a large portion of the top of the handheld. The L1 and R1 buttons are easy to press, the L2 and R2 less so. Granted, you’ll be using the L1/R1 buttons more for a lot of titles, but if you’re powering on to play Ocarina of Time on the N64, that little R2 button turns your action buttons into C-buttons, so you’ll be using it quite a lot.
Would I have liked them to both be the same size? Yes, I think it would have made pressing the L2/R2 buttons much easier, especially for someone like me with fingers like rolling pins. The device itself isn’t the easiest thing to hold, so that might have made things a little better when in the heat of a battle or while trying to navigate my way through a particular tough puzzle where I don’t have the time to mess up.
What Can It Emulate?
Right, let’s get to the reason you’re here, shall we? The GKD Pixel 2 uses RetroArch for the majority of its emulation and has an impressive array of consoles, handhelds, and arcade machines on offer, with the simple IUX user interface that was used on the previous device providing access to settings, apps, and other gaming platforms like MS-DOS and PC-98. You’ll be able to emulate everything up to Dreamcast, PS1, and PSP with varying success after installing your legally acquired ROMs.
Early consoles like the NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Master System, Atari 2600, etc work like a dream on here and look brilliant on the 640×320 resolution screen. I had no problems whatsoever getting games for those systems to run and spent a long amount of time playing… I mean ‘researching’ how Killer Instinct on the SNES ran on this thing. I use that game a lot as I’m familiar with it and can tell if it’s looking too squashed on certain handhelds, but it played really well and was smooth too
One place this handheld definitely shines is on Game Boy titles, including those for the GBC and GBA too. There’s something brilliant about loading up classics like Kid Dracula, Oracle of Seasons, and Pokémon Fire Red on a device that is the same size as your palm, and the screen ratio is perfect for them. As you might expect from less demanding titles, they all ran perfectly and caused me no issues whatsoever.
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Surprisingly, neither did PS1 or Dreamcast titles, which is wild considering how small this device is. I did ‘more research’ on Crash Team Racing on the PS1 and Sonic Adventure 2 Battle on the Dreamcast, and they both ran really well. Granted, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle needed me to head into RetroArch’s settings and play around mapping the D-pad to an analogue stick and I still didn’t get that same control that an analogue stick would have, so while the graphics ran smoothly, the gameplay wasn’t great.
Nintendo DS emulation is a no-go on here; seeing two tiny screens on top of each other on a screen that’s only 2.4″ to begin with is begging for a trip to the opticians, and a couple of the games I tried to load stayed on blank screens. I’ve had varying success with the PSP too; I thought that the games might look rubbish on this small screen, but they’re actually alright and don’t look overtly squashed. I’ve been playing Soul Calibur for the last 15 minutes and all of Kratos’ moves worked fine. There were a few instances of lag, but nothing that would put me off playing for longer periods. Tekken 6, on the other hand, just sat on a loading screen for a while and didn’t do anything; there are plenty of better handhelds out there for PSP emulation if that’s what you’re after, but it is possible on the GKD Pixel II nevertheless.
Sadly, N64 emulation was a little disappointing. Ocarina of Time is a game I know inside out and have enjoyed playing over and over again since I was a kid, but it took a while to load and was laggy during both cutscenes and gameplay. It made the whole thing feel quite cumbersome and not very enjoyable. The same can be said for Lylat Wars which ended up having some screen tearing at the top of the display which was very distracting.
How Easy Is It To Use & Change Settings?
For those of you who have used RetroArch before, you’ll already be used to tinkering with settings and messing around with how your games look. For any novices, RetroArch has a lot of settings that can be altered to your own specifications, but it does take a little while to get used to how it all works. For some games that require analogue sticks, for example, you’ll need to head into controller settings to remap the D-pad to -Y/+Y/-X/+X controls so you can move your character around the screen. I won’t blag your head too much now; it’s best to get in and play around with stuff to learn first-hand or follow dedicated guides if you get stuck.
For PSP emulation, the GKD Pixel uses PPSSPP, which is another intuitive emulator that runs well without any tinkering. I’m a big fan of PPSSPP in general, so it’s nice to see it making an appearance here.
When it comes to actually holding the GKD Pixel 2, it isn’t the most comfortable handheld on the planet. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as tough to hold as the Funkey S or the Thumby, though I can’t play it for as long as I might do my GBA or the TRIMUI Brick without getting pains in my fingers.
Final Thoughts
Pros
- Emulates up to PS1, N64, & PSP
- Wider than the previous Pixel with a better screen resolution
- Bigger battery with 4-6 hours gameplay
- Small enough to fit in your pocket
- Sturdy metal shell gives a premium feel while also being durable
Cons
- It’s hard to hold for long periods of time
- N64 games were a little hit and miss
- Not enough change for owners of the first Pixel to upgrade for
- Too small for DS gameplay
- UI is a little boring
If you’ve already got a Game Kiddy Pixel, is it worth upgrading to the GKD Pixel 2? In short, no. There’s not enough new going on here to warrant you upgrading, and as they have the exact same screen size, it’s not like you’re getting more screen for your buck, just a better resolution. Yes, the battery is better and it’s a little wider, but they’re not enough reasons for me to advise you to upgrade.
If, however, you’re in the market for a new micro handheld and never had the original Pixel, then I would definitely advise you to grab one of these, even if it’s just for keeping in your jacket pocket for playing on long journeys. The emulation performance is, for the most part, great. The buttons are nice, and the screen is crisp despite being small. It’s a neat-looking handheld, make no mistake, and it will definitely withstand more than a few knocks and bumps.
As I mentioned above, some games can be a little hit and miss, and you’ll need to mess around with settings to make others work as you’re used to, but on the whole, this is an easy-to-use, affordable handheld for anyone looking for a handheld to complement their main gaming system. I’d like to see Game Kiddy address that boring UI in the next iteration of the Pixel and maybe come out with a ‘Pro’ version that’s a little thinner but taller and more powerful to add something new into the mix, but metal so it doesn’t end up looking like the GKD Mini Plus. Just as long as they keep that futuristic charging indicator; if they lose that, then I’ll be having some serious words with them!
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Like what you are reading? If you do and want to support us, you can do so by becoming a member or tipping us! This allows us to continue what we do without succumbing to algorithms, click-bait and over-intrusive ads, while paying human writers instead of AI.
