The XU10 is one of the most talked-about budget vertical handhelds in the retro community, and it's easy to see why. It packs a 4:3 screen, a full set of shoulder buttons, and a big preloaded library into a pocket-sized body. We gathered what independent reviewers and everyday owners have said about it, the praise and the honest caveats, so you can decide if it's the right handheld for you.
XU10 at a glance (from our product page)
- 3.5-inch IPS screen, 640×480, with OCA full lamination
- Quad-core 64-bit Cortex-A35 chip with 1GB DDR4 memory
- 3000mAh battery, up to 6 hours of play, USB-C charging
- Open-source Linux system with 10,000+ preloaded games on a 64GB game card
- Save and load, a favorites folder, and customizable keys
- Purple, White, and Grey colors
See current pricing and colors on the Old Arcade XU10 Handheld Console page.
What reviewers like about the XU10
The 4:3 screen is "genuinely the right call"
Pocketgaming's device review singles out the display as a highlight. Its writers note that the 640×480 panel "runs ... at a native 4:3 aspect, and that is genuinely the right call," because classic consoles output 4:3, so "pixel art and PS1 games fill the glass without the black bars a 16:9 handheld forces on them." They add that at roughly 228 pixels per inch "it looks sharp." (Pocketgaming, MagicX XU10)
Flawless classics and strong PS1 play
The same review says that "everything up to the 16-bit era is flawless," listing NES, SNES, Genesis, PC Engine, Neo Geo and Game Boy through Game Boy Advance, and calls PlayStation 1 "the real sweet spot, with the vast majority of the library running at full frame rate." HandheldDatabase's platform chart agrees, rating Game Boy, GBA, NES, SNES, Genesis, PlayStation and Nintendo DS at full speed. (HandheldDatabase, MagicX XU10)
A top score for value
HandheldDatabase gives the XU10 a perfect 10.0 for value and lists its pros as "good community support, multiple CFWs available," "portable and pocket-friendly," and a "decent 3000 mAh battery." HandheldWiki places it among the top 15 of the 114 handhelds it lists in the $50 to $100 range. (HandheldWiki, MagicX XU10)
Controls built to avoid accidental diagonals
When the XU10 launched, Retro Dodo pointed out its four-button directional pad: "False diagonal input plagues the handheld market, and this is one easy way to address it." The site also praised its "decent looking triggers," the power LED placed on the side "out of our eyes," and a screen with "a minimal bezel." (Retro Dodo, XU10 launch coverage)
Owners say it "just works right out of the box"
In an r/SBCGaming thread comparing the XU10 with the R36S, one owner called it "a good first handheld" and said "the buttons and overall feel of the device are nicer than the R36S," describing it as "a no-fuss, user-friendly handheld that is not too expensive and just works right out of the box." Another owner wrote that the "64gb card that I got had a pretty good rom selection and everything was pretty much working as is." (r/SBCGaming owner discussion)
Room to grow with community firmware
Reviewers also like that the XU10 runs on one of the most mature chip platforms in the hobby. Pocketgaming notes that community systems like ROCKNIX, AmberELEC and UnofficialOS support it, and the ROCKNIX wiki lists it as a supported device. You don't need any of that to play, since the XU10 ships ready to go, but it's a nice option for tinkerers later on.
The fair caveats
Reviewers are honest about the trade-offs, and so are we:
- It's a retro-first device. Pocketgaming calls N64 "a lottery," with lighter games like Super Mario 64 playable but demanding ones stuttering. Dreamcast and PSP handle lighter 2D and simple 3D games best.
- No Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or video out. HandheldDatabase lists these as cons. Games are added by microSD card, and play happens on the built-in screen. If you're curious whether that matters, see our guide Do Retro Handhelds Need WiFi?
- Mono speaker. Sound comes from a single speaker, so headphones are the way to go for stereo audio.
- Chip naming. Some reviewers note that units sold as RK3326S often use the standard RK3326. Both are quad-core Cortex-A35 chips, and Pocketgaming says "in practice the difference is trivial."
Who the XU10 is best for
Pulling the reviews together, the XU10 suits players who want a pocketable, tall-screen handheld for NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy, GBA and PlayStation classics, with physical buttons that feel solid and a library that's ready the moment you power it on. As Pocketgaming puts it, treat it as "the pure retro sidekick it really is."
Want to compare it with other pocket models? Browse our full Handhelds collection, or see our plug-and-play consoles if you would rather play on a TV. Comparing battery life across models? Our retro handheld battery guide breaks it down.
Get the XU10
The Old Arcade XU10 Handheld Console comes in Purple, White and Grey, each with a 64GB game card preloaded with 10,000+ classic games. Orders over $60 ship free in the US.
Quotes are taken from the linked third-party reviews and public owner discussions, shortened for length. Reviewer opinions are their own. Emulation results can vary by game and firmware.
