This is the coolest retro game console of the moment

Inspired by the Game Boy, the Analogue Pocket is a very cool piece of retro design.

Nintendo has always believed strongly in portable gaming devices. In a world where PlayStations and Xboxes mainly remain on your desk, Nintendo still considers portability of paramount importance with the Switch.

Portable Nintendo devices

Of course, that goes back much further than the Switch. Just think of the Game Boy series. These were portable devices that already resembled a kind of gaming phone. Probably the most famous appearance is the original: an upright rectangular device with the screen on top and two sets of buttons just below. The thing is a product of the early 90s and so it is all nice and old. That’s why Analogue thought their Pocket is a good idea for the present.

Analog Pocket

The basic idea is very simple: the same device as before, but with modern technology. A color screen with 1600×1440 pixels for playing in HD. Charge with USB-C and dock with a dock that has connections for all modern cables.

no emulator

Perhaps even more special: the Analogue Pocket is compatible with original Game Boy cartridges, but it is not an emulator! So the Pocket can simply translate these games to modern times on the original cartridge. Not only that, all kinds of Game Boy games are compatible (including the newer Advance) and there are also converters for games for Game Gear, Neo Geo and Atari Lynx. This device is compatible with thousands of games from many different devices. You can also develop yourself with their Open Source developer program.

Music

The Analogue Pocket is also compatible with music programs. This allows the device to work as a synthesizer. It is of course not an extremely advanced DJ program, but for someone who enjoys working with music it can be a useful accessory to experiment with live music.

Old-fashioned

If you don’t want all this modern stuff, the Analogue Pocket can also take over the quality and resolution of the old Game Boy games. This way you get an accurate version of how it used to be. So retro. A feature that the old Game Boy didn’t have: the Analogue Pocket can be in a kind of always-standby mode. If you want to continue, you turn it on and the thing remembers where you were and you can just continue. The battery is 4,300 mAh and Analogue promises about 6 to 10 hours of playtime.

Buy Analog Pocket

The Analogue Pocket can be pre-ordered and the first devices are expected to be delivered by December 13. Pre-order costs $199.99 and the Pocket is available in black and white.