We won’t lie. Handhelds like the Pimax Portal can be a little intimidating, and our first few minutes with this handheld device more than backed this opinion up. Once we were over the steep learning curve we found huge amount to enjoy though. And be impressed by.
A handheld that offers Android based gaming on a Switch style device, it boasts many interesting features in what is becoming an increasingly competitive market. And those features are what ultimately make it worth investing in – but perhaps only for a specific audience.
Once out the box we were impressed at its sleek design, with detachable controllers either side of the screen. These are in the style of the Switch, except these controllers are connected by powerful magnets. And these magnets snap, and snap in an almost threatening way – adding to the initial sense of unease mentioned earlier. There’s also cameras dotted everywhere on the system, with VR mode promised soon.
However after some time the sleek design won us over. It’s weighty but still comfortable to hold for long periods, and the buttons have a pleasing matte finish. The D-Pad isn’t the greatest when playing certain games, but the analogue sticks get the job done and the shoulder buttons are well positioned.
The touch screen controls are a little less reliable, but we found they usually got the job done.
Launching the system up, we were fortunate to have some emulators already downloaded on it. These included Duskstation and GZDoom, but there are hundreds more including those for games and systems we would have never expected.
Boasting a Snapdragon XR2 chipset running 8 cores, it managed to run retro games easily – but when we pushed it to try playing even more recent titles it managed this with ease too. Overclocking and tweaking settings means Switch games are possible to play on the Pimax Portal. We honestly never expected that.
More graphically intensive games do drain the battery quicker of course – and it heats up the console sharpish – but then there is the system’s 5.5 inch LCD screen to consider, which is impressively sharp. Everything we tested out on it was clear and easy to play, including video content.
Certain systems work better on the Pimax Portal of course, with simpler control schemes tending to be much easier to set up and play comfortably. But there’s a world of different set ups here for those open to tinker and play around.
Which ultimately was our biggest sticking point with the system. There’s a wealth of options and menus you can mess around with, but with the price point of around $299.99 we think you need to love doing that kind of thing to get the most possible out of this.
You also have to bear in mind this can be used to play cloud-based games too, and there’s even the aforementioned VR compatibility to be available via future add ons. This a system that feels solidly future proofed.
For those who want an Android gaming system that’s simple to use every time, and makes emulation a breeze we have news for you though – this arguably isn’t the portable for you. But it’s worth noting this probably makes emulation as easy as it can be, in all honesty.
True Emulation Power
If you’re looking for a hugely powerful Android emulation device there are few better or more stylish options than the Pimax Portal though. It more than justifies its high price tag considering the features it provides too.
