Vortex F5: Gaming handheld offers Hall effect joysticks for just $119

The new QRD Vortex F5 is a gaming handheld capable of playing various games via emulation. Specifically, it is compatible with titles for the PlayStation 1, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, various Game Boy consoles and games for the Nintendo 64. The device is available with two different storage capacities and a microSD card with either 64GB or 128GB of capacity, which are likely preloaded with some titles. The system can be ordered for $119, but shoppers should review shipping conditions before placing their order.

The retro handheld further comes with an RK3566 SoC with four Cortex-A55 cores. Performance is significantly lower compared to full-fledged gaming devices like the Asus ROG Ally X (from $649 on Amazon), which we have already reviewed thoroughly. That said, the processor is paired with 1GB LPDDR4X memory and 8GB of internal eMMC storage.

Furthermore, the Vortex F5 weighs 0.73 lbs and sports a 5.5-inch display with 1280 x 720 pixels, while buttons and joysticks are located to the left and right side of the IPS screen. To be more precise, there are two joysticks, action buttons, a D-pad and shoulder buttons. The joysticks make use of the Hall effect technology, which should prevent stick drift even after extensive use.

Two speakers are integrated, as is a 3.5mm headphone jack and an HDMI port, which can be useful for playing multiplayer games on a larger screen. The QRD handheld also features a 5,000mAh battery with a runtime of over six hours, but the actual battery life likely depends on which games are emulated and played.