Retroid Pocket 5/Flip 2 Announced with 12GB RAM Upgrade and Price Increase
The entry models of Retroid Pocket 5 and Flip 2 will receive a free RAM upgrade to 12GB, but prices will rise by $10 starting July 14. Likely due to rising semiconductor memory costs.
Retroid Handhelds has announced that the entry-level models of its Android-based handheld gaming devices, Retroid Pocket 5 and Retroid Flip 2, will receive a free RAM upgrade from 8GB to 12GB. However, this upgrade will only apply to orders confirmed before July 14. Starting on that date, both models will see a $10 price increase.
Specification Changes in Detail
According to the company’s announcement, entry-level models currently equipped with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage will be automatically upgraded to 12GB of RAM for all unconfirmed orders. Since the price remains unchanged, customers who place orders before July 14 will effectively gain an additional 4GB of RAM at no extra cost.
On the other hand, starting July 14, the base prices for both models will increase. The Retroid Pocket 5 will be priced at $209, while the Retroid Flip 2 will start at $219. This marks a $10 increase from their current prices of $199 and $209, respectively.
Both devices are equipped with the Snapdragon 865 chipset, which is capable of running emulated games from older consoles such as the GameCube and PlayStation 2 at a practical performance level. With increased RAM, these devices are expected to deliver even better emulation performance.
The Reason Behind the Price Hike
Retroid has not officially disclosed the reasons behind these changes. However, a report by Engadget suggests that the overall rise in semiconductor memory prices is a major factor. With AI companies driving up demand for memory components, manufacturers have been steadily raising prices.
This trend is not unique to Retroid. Companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Framework are also facing similar cost pressures. Apple has responded by eliminating lower-RAM configurations for its devices, while Framework has revised its laptop modules and increased the minimum RAM offered.
Retroid’s situation appears to closely resemble that of Framework. While both companies enjoy significant popularity, they lack the scale of giants like Apple or Samsung. This limits their ability to secure their own memory supply chains or negotiate better prices through bulk deals.
The Reality of Eliminating Low-Cost Options
At first glance, a $10 price increase might seem minor. However, considering that this involves both a 4GB RAM upgrade and a simultaneous price hike, it effectively marks the end of the most affordable RAM and storage configuration.
Rather than eliminating the entry-level model, Retroid has essentially raised the baseline specifications to mid-tier levels. This move could be interpreted as the company’s attempt to avoid the profit margin erosion associated with low-cost models while addressing rising component costs.
For now, orders placed before July 13 will still be available at current prices. Customers who confirm their orders within this timeframe can secure the current price and receive the 12GB RAM upgrade.
Editorial Opinion
In the short term, this price increase might have a ripple effect across the entire emulation handheld market. Retroid’s competitors, such as AYN and Anbernic, are also likely grappling with similar cost pressures and may consider revising their RAM configurations and prices. Starting July 14, the new baseline price for Retroid products will hover in the low $200 range, which could dampen the purchasing enthusiasm of entry-level consumers.
From a long-term perspective, the biggest uncertainty lies in when the supply-demand balance for semiconductor memory will stabilize. With AI-related memory demand expected to persist, RAM costs for consumer products are likely to remain high. As a result, maintaining the traditional balance of increasing RAM capacity while keeping prices low will become increasingly challenging for devices like handheld gaming consoles and compact PCs. Manufacturers may be forced to reevaluate their product lineups and supply chain strategies.
From the editorial team’s perspective, the most optimal time for customers to make a purchase might be before July 13, during the current pricing period. However, since the price increase is relatively modest at $10, there’s no urgent need for buyers to rush their decisions.
References
- “Retroid Pocket 5 and Flip 2 are getting a spec bump, but will cost $10 more after July 14”, by [email protected] (Ian Carlos Campbell) — Engadget, 2026-07-09T21:21:53.000Z (ARR)
- Source URL: https://www.engadget.com/2211909/retroid-pocket-5-and-flip-2-are-getting-a-spec-bump-but-will-cost-10-more-after-july-14/
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will the free RAM upgrade apply to all orders?
- The upgrade is only applicable to unconfirmed orders of the 8GB RAM/128GB storage entry-level model. Orders already shipped or for higher configurations are not eligible.
- How much RAM will the models have after July 14?
- Starting July 14, all models, including the entry-level ones, will be sold with 12GB of RAM. However, prices will increase to $209 for the Pocket 5 and $219 for the Flip 2.
- Why is Retroid increasing RAM and raising prices at the same time?
- The rising cost of semiconductor memory due to increased demand from AI companies has made it difficult to maintain low-cost configurations. By eliminating the lower-cost options, Retroid is addressing these rising costs.
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