ExperimentalPi sells a handful of different kits that let you turn a Raspberry Pi into tabletop or handheld game console for retro gaming. But the new PiBoy Mini is the smallest and cheapest to date.

Available for pre-order for $90, the PiBoy Mini is a pocket-sized game system with a 3.5 inch, 640 x 480 LCD display and game controller buttons. It can be powered by either a Raspberry Pi Zero or Zero 2.

The only catch is that you’ll need to bring your own Raspberry Pi Zero – it’s not included with the PiBoy Mini. And while Pi Zero devices have list prices ranging from $5 to $15, they’re pretty hard to get your hands on these days. Most stores have a hard time keeping them in stock and resellers tend to charge pretty hefty markups.

So while PiBoy Mini is a pretty nice looking accessory for retro gamers who already have a Raspberry Pi Zero, you might be better off looking at a different handheld if you don’t already a Pi Zero.

The PiBoy Mini’s game controllers feature a D-Pad, start, select, and menu buttons, A, B, X, and Y buttons and two shoulder buttons.

There are two USB-C ports (one for charging and one for data), an HDMI output, and a 3.5mm headset jack plus an SD card reader. The system has a built-in speaker and a 2,800 mAh LiPo battery.

The game system measures 112 x 88 x 20mm (4.4″ x 3.5″ x 0.8″), making it smaller but thicker than most modern smartphones.

via Retrododo and NotebookCheck

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11 replies on “The $90 PiBoy Mini turns a Raspberry pi Zero into a retro game console”

  1. Things around the raspberry pi series seem to have the theme of being overpriced.

  2. Why would I buy this empty case for 90usd when I can buy full odroid go for 55usd?

    1. You’d be lucky to get everything shipped then assembled for USD $100. But if you decide to pay 50% more, for USD $150 you can get the Retroid Pocket 3+. You’ll be getting more than a +50% value for your dollar.

      Firstly, you get a more seasoned software experience, definitely better screen, and more comfortable controls. Both fit into your standard jeans pocket.

      There’s other cheaper options too, which don’t give you quiet as much value as the RP3+. Such as the $40 PowKiddy V90, Miyoo Mini, RG280V, RG280M, RG300X, RG351p, RG B10 and $100 RGB 10Max. If you want something newer, there’s the likes of the $60 Anbernic RG35xx, $80 Miyoo Mini+, and the Anbernic RG 353M at USD $140.

      There’s no market for a Raspberry Pi for these applications anymore, it’s saturated. The other popular use case is HTPC, and again the market is saturated with cheaper vendors who also offer more performance and features. Not to mention those x86 options, which is what I recommend, no market for the RPi here either. We’ve come full-circle. Buy a Raspberry Pi if you want to tinker with it, learn, make projects, particularly for robotics.

      1. Actually, , I’ve found quite a few items that were cheaper. Granted you’d sometimes have to wait around 3 weeks to receive it but it’s not really hard to find.

  3. I would not trust a lithium ion battery and IC charger from a kit build. I barely trust Anbernic and Odroid.

  4. I like the design, and great choice on the 640×480 screen.

    However the overall cost is too high for a system that can’t play anything beyond PS1 (due to the lack of analog stick).

    The Anbernic RG353V is roughly the same price, and it does a lot more.

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