Pros
Great bodily controls
Brilliant display screen
Good emulation efficiency
Cons
D-Pad is a tad spongy
Takes effort to rise up and operating
Key Specifications
Review Price: £179.99
Rockchip RK3288 Quad-Core chipset
2GB RAM
32GB storage
MicroSD card slot
HDMI-out
5-inch IPS 720p HD display screen
Android 4.4.4
What is the GamePad Digital GPD XD?
The newest in a protracted line of Android-based emulation gadgets, the GPD XD is finest described as a bodily clone of Nintendo 3DS system which runs all method of apps and video games – most notably the rising host of retro gaming emulators at the moment out there on the Google Play market.
Powered by a quad-core Rockchip RK3288 and packing a 5-inch, 720p touchscreen, the GPD XD has smartphone internals however comes with full bodily gaming controls – together with two analogue sticks, an 8-way D-pad and a number of buttons. That makes it supreme for enjoying old-school video games from the ’80s and ’90s, and because of the affordable degree of energy offered by the {hardware}, it’s greater than as much as the problem of emulating platforms such because the Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation – and virtually each different system launched previous to these.Related: PS4 vs Xbox One
GamePad Digital GPD XD: Design
At first look you’d be forgiven for assuming that the GPD XD is a Nintendo product, such is its similarity to the million-selling 3DS vary of handhelds. It’s clear that the designers have merely ripped off the design of that clamshell system, even utilizing largely the identical association of bodily inputs – together with the 2 extra shoulder buttons launched with the New Nintendo 3DS.
Opening the system up reveals a single display screen as a substitute of two you’d discover on Nintendo’s console, with the decrease part of the unit that includes a big empty house surrounded by an array of bodily buttons. It appears to be like a bit odd – particularly in case you’re a 3DS proprietor – however doesn’t’ take lengthy to turn out to be accustomed to.
The GPD XD has a 5-inch, 1280 x 720 pixel IPS capacitive touchscreen, which boasts glorious color replication, good distinction, punchy brightness and rock-solid viewing angles. It places the ageing 400 x 240 pixel higher show of the 3DS to disgrace – though it lacks the distinctive glasses-free know-how seen on that system. The clamshell design implies that the show is fortunately protected when it’s not getting used, and shutting the console has the identical impact as “locking” the display screen on a regular Android system, permitting you to pause no matter it’s you’re doing.Related: Best PS4 Games 2015The GPD XD’s bodily gaming controls are one among its largest promoting factors, and supply it an enormous benefit over different Android gadgets which solely supply a touchscreen interface. The high quality of the controls and buttons on price range Chinese gadgets is often fairly missing, however fortunately the GPD XD largely bucks this pattern.
The twin analogue sticks are fairly stubby however snug to make use of, and relaxation fairly deeply within the casing. The D-pad is a little bit spongy, however reminds us of the pad on the Nintendo DS Lite, which is not any dangerous factor. The face buttons are additionally a little bit on the mushy facet, however they’re responsive sufficient. Finally, the shoulder triggers are good and clicky, however we discovered that fast presses generally don’t register correctly.
On the again edge you’ll discover the 3.5mm headphone socket, HDMI-out, Micro USB and Micro SD card slot, nestled in-between the aforementioned shoulder triggers. The HDMI port means you may hook up the unit to a HD TV for the big-screen console expertise, however you’ll want to purchase a cable as one isn’t included within the field.Related: New 3DS vs 3DS
GamePad Digital GPD XD: Software & Performance
The GPD XD is operating Android 4.4.4, which isn’t the most recent model of Google’s OS. That’s probably not a lot of a difficulty nevertheless, as you’ll be utilizing it primarily for gaming and emulation, slightly than writing emails or checking your social media accounts – each of those actions are completely potential on the system, however it’s awkward to make use of the touchscreen for typing – you’re higher off with a telephone or pill.
The GPD XD’s person interface is fairly distinctive; you’re introduced with a spread of classes made up of icon grids – a sensible transfer when you think about the system is principally going for use in panorama orientation, and also you’re primarily going to be interacting utilizing the D-pad slightly than the display screen itself.
If you weren’t conscious of the GPD XD’s emulation prowess at buy then that can change the second you energy the unit on, because it comes preloaded with a complete host of emulators and accompanying ROM recordsdata. A smattering of Android video games – together with Virtua Tennis, which works splendidly with the bodily controls – can also be included, and reveals off the uncooked energy of the surprisingly agile Rockchip chipset.
Many different Android titles are able to supporting the GPD XD’s bodily interface, and for those who don’t, you need to use the button mapping software program to bind on-screen controls to actual buttons on the system. It’s fairly a clunky course of the primary time you strive, however it quickly turns into second nature, and is straightforward to allow due to the truth that the function has its personal bodily button on the underside part of the unit.Related: Best Games 2015Whereas the GPD XD is a wonderful approach to play Android video games, its focus is undeniably retro in nature. It runs just about each emulator on the Google Play market flawlessly, with solely the Saturn emulator uoYabause proving problematic – and that may hardly be thought of the fault of the system, as that specific app continues to be very early in growth. 8 and 16-bit consoles are replicated nigh-on completely right here, with the NES, SNES, Mega Drive, PC Engine, Game Boy and Master System all operating at full pace with sound. Moving into the 32-bit period, PlayStation emulation is near-faultless, as is N64.
Even the Sega Dreamcast – a fairly current providing in comparison with a few of the classic platforms we’ve simply listed – runs like a dream, with the one issues being occasional glitches that are almost definitely all the way down to the emulator itself slightly than the {hardware} not being highly effective sufficient.
Of course, once you begin speaking about emulation and ROM distribution it’s not possible to not handle the slightly shady nature of the method. There are authorized points to contemplate right here – a few of the video games you may obtain and play on the GPD XD are nonetheless very a lot beneath copyright, and plenty of can be found through authorized channels, equivalent to Nintendo’s Virtual Console companies on its 3DS and Wii U consoles.
Of course, the counter argument to that is that an important many basic video games are unavailable as a consequence of licensing points or the truth that their writer not exists; it’s most undoubtedly a gray space and in case you have even the slightest quibble in regards to the legality and morality of emulation then the GPD XD is clearly not going to be the system for you.
GamePad Digital GPD XD: Storage & Battery
The GPD XD is on the market in three variations – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. The 32GB is the model we’re masking right here, and is promoting for £179.99 from Funstock. Even in case you resolve to obtain loads of ROMs, you’re unlikely to expire of house for some time. If you do, then the MicroSD card slot is certain to turn out to be useful – it could possibly settle for playing cards of as much as 128GB in capability.
The console is powered by a meaty 6000mAH battery, which supplies you round 8 hours of steady play time in case you’re operating emulators. Naturally, the extra demanding the emulation the decrease the stamina goes to be, however general we had been impressed with the endurance of the GPD XD. Even with a number of use, we managed to get a number of days out of it earlier than the battery wanted a top-up.
Should I purchase the GamePad Digital GPD XD?
If you’re a fan of outdated consoles and have dabbled in emulation prior to now, then the reply to that query is a convincing sure. Putting apart the legally questionable nature of downloading ROMs from dodgy websites on the net, the attraction of getting an entire library of classic classics within the palm of your hand certainly wants little rationalization.
Performance is stable and there’s sufficient storage on the 32GB mannequin to carry hundreds of titles. The bodily controls are nice too, and the added bonus is that they enrich an important many Android video games that assist exterior pads and controllers. For those who don’t, the unit’s built-in button mapping software program neatly fills the hole.
At £180, it’s not low cost – for that value you can decide up an actual New Nintendo 3DS XL, which isn’t solely blessed with a formidable pool of authentic video games but additionally gives a authorized technique of enjoying retro titles, due to its Virtual Console service. However, that service is proscribed to NES, Game Boy and a handheld of 3D-enabled Sega video games at current, whereas the GPD XD grants entry to virtually each online game made throughout previous to the flip of the millennium, albeit through much less authorized means.
Verdict
The final emulation machine, the GPD XD is undeniably dear however is a clever funding in case you’re eager on classic gaming.
Thanks to Funstock Retro for supplying the GPD XD used on this overview.