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Make way for an $80 handheld that runs Ubuntu with the ODROID-Go Super

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Looking for a little gaming on the go or perhaps something in bed? The upcoming ODROID-Go Super announced recently sounds like quite a useful little Switch-styled device.

Going on sale in late January for $80, this is the next-generation of the ODROID-Go Advance which Hardkernel announced back in 2019. This time the ODROID-Go Super will feature a bigger 5 inch screen with tough tempered glass for protection, a higher resolution at 854x480 and also a bigger 4000mAh battery. On top of that a bunch of hardware design changes also went in including being pre-assembled instead of a kit, dedicated volume buttons, a second joystick and more smaller changes.

Seems it will have no wireless chips built in, but they did mention better support for USB Wifi and Bluetooth plus the micro-SD slot has been changed to the nicer spring-eject style rather than needing you to push and pull.

The question is: what are you going to use it for? The answer is of course - emulation.

As for the actual system specs compared with the older ODROID-Go Advance, they say it will have very similar specifications and performance so it seems it's mostly the new design you're getting here with the better screen and battery. This means Ubuntu 20.04 along with EmulationStation for the front-end.

$80 for a pre-made dedicated on-the-go emulation unit? Seems pretty sweet.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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9 comments

scaine Dec 28, 2020
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Amazing price for the specs of this thing. It's in that magical Raspberry Pi range of value where you might afford to take a risk on it, even if you end up hardly ever using it.
jordicoma Dec 28, 2020
It's a shame... I have an odroid go advance (black edition) and it's great. One of the reasons that I choose odroid was becouse I could build myself. And it has the same chip... It needs more power for some n64, psp, dreamcast games. I will wait for the ordoid go super advanced next year.
Solarwing Dec 28, 2020
Is this a hit for Linux we need?I doubt about it.Still emulation is good for older generations. I know some old games I would love to play again but maybe I'll play them with a bigger screen.But I admit the concept is a tempting one. Hopefully it gains success...
jordicoma Dec 28, 2020
Quoting: SolarwingIs this a hit for Linux we need?I doubt about it.Still emulation is good for older generations. I know some old games I would love to play again but maybe I'll play them with a bigger screen.But I admit the concept is a tempting one. Hopefully it gains success...
Yes this odroid with double power and tv output will be perfect. We should wait a little more... But as it is it has great value. The ps1 games look better on a small screen that on my big screen on my pc.
chorn Dec 28, 2020
I got one of these handhelds for emulation some months ago. I really wondered before how much I would use it.. I got it - and have barely used it.
Sslaxx Dec 28, 2020
Powerful enough to run OpenMW maybe? There was a video of the Retroid Pocket 2 (an Android device) running it, for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmzlQtdl64k
Mountain Man Dec 28, 2020
That is not merely "Switch-styled" but an almost direct Switch Mini rip off.

Also at only $80, I can't imagine the quality is going to be very good. Even in the picture, the molding on the plus-pad and the ABXY buttons looks terrible.
sneakeyboard Dec 28, 2020
Sadly I haven't seen a unit with good build quality and smooth emulation (up to n64). There are plenty of arm chips capable of emulating old-gen consoles but these companies prefer to use lower end parts. I know part of the problem are the obstacles with the current "tech war" going on; exhibit A: Huawei. I hope they have decent casing/buttons; after all, that's the product's function.



Quoting: SslaxxPowerful enough to run OpenMW maybe? There was a video of the Retroid Pocket 2 (an Android device) running it, for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmzlQtdl64k

It would be interesting to see what limits this handheld has on the software side. I considered the Retroid but it runs on an ancient Android build (6 or 7...I forgot). Their claim is that you can also run apps but I'd be more interested in having these apps run in a sandbox (similar to LineageOS) rather than expecting apps/games to support an Android build half a decade old. I know they plan to upgrade to 8.0 but the upgrade is a hassle on end-users and fiddling with software to make the handheld functional is difficult to justify when the RG350 does this out of the box. The retroid has a decent build quality but the RG350 has better software.


Personally I'm waiting for the next RG351 or whatever comes next.
const Dec 29, 2020
I'll be waiting for similar devices featured by cm4. It feels like indy games for pi4 will get a big push in the next months and it's a shame to use such hardware only for emulation.
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