PowKiddy is the support organization you've never heard of if Anbernic is the big name in the world of emulation handhelds. That's definitely a harsh comparison, but even if PowKiddy produces a range of endearing (and reasonably priced) portables, it doesn't have the same level of market awareness as Anbernic.

One such device is the RGB20S Sydney, which is priced at about $90 / £70 and has the RK3326 chipset, making it as middle-of-the-road as devices in this market can go. Nevertheless, we were really impressed with its potential, and we'll explain why in a moment.

Review of PowKiddy RGB20S: Screen and Design

Because PowKiddy's reputation is based primarily on pricing, the RGB20S's low-quality appearance and feel should be a manageable surprise. The item is made of very cheap plastic and has very little weight to it. There are also problems with the way the display is attached to the device; on the review model, you can press down on the corners of the screen and feel it 'bend' quite a bit inside the shell, indicating that the internal design integrity may not be that good. With this smartphone, you definitely get what you pay for in terms of build quality.

However, the 3.5-inch IPS display of the RGB20S Sydney is everything but cheap and inexpensive. With its 640 x 480 resolution and excellent brightness and colour balance, it's ideal for retro games.

PowKiddy RGB20S Review: Emulation Performance

You should only anticipate a little from the RGB20S's emulation, given that it uses Rockchip's RK3326 chipset. However, we were pleasantly surprised when we first turned it on (well, not the first time; the device had low battery life and showed a screen with jumbled text; a full charge fixed this issue, thankfully).

Emulation Station, which is powered by the RGB20S Sydney, facilitates customization and makes navigation simple. Everything functions flawlessly right out of the box; systems are arranged logically; practically every game has box art and images (some even have video trailers), and there are a ton of games on the included MicroSD card.

PowKiddy RGB20S Review

Battery Life Expecting an enormous battery life would be unrealistic, considering the system's small size. PowKiddy claims that the inbuilt rechargeable battery of the RGB20S Sydney may last for about four hours of playback. However, we found that it only lasted slightly longer under moderate use.

The amount also varies greatly depending on the type of emulation you're using; for example, playing Dreamcast and PSP games will use up the battery more quickly than playing NES or Game Boy games. Volume and screen brightness both affect one's ability to maintain endurance. The device takes about two hours to charge fully.

Wrapping Up

The RGB20S Sydney isn't perfect because of its low price and subpar build quality, but it does have some positive aspects. For example, it's simple to use right out of the box and has the appropriate size for portable gaming. Its screen is also a bit of a selling feature.

Even though it operates illegally, the RGB20S is a charming and affordable way to play a ton of classic games. It won't challenge the industry's big guns, though.