Retro Lite CM5: SBC-powered gaming handheld debuts with PS2, GameCube, and 3DS emulation capabilities

The creators behind the Retro Lite CM4 have fully showcased the Retro Lite CM5. Now, while the predecessor was powered by the Raspberry Pi 4, the new version of the DIY gaming handheld doesn't rely on the updated Raspberry Pi 5, and there's a good reason behind it.

As the developers highlight, the Retro Lite CM5 aims to be more capable than the predecessor, which is why it's powered by the Radxa CM5 Compute Module (available on Amazon). This SBC allows the gaming handheld to emulate PlayStation 2, GameCube, and 3DS games, "none of which the Pi can do," per the modders.

By default, this DIY gaming handheld is outfitted with an LCD screen. However, there's an option to install an OLED display, which would eventually rename the device to RetrOLED CM5.

Another notable aspect highlighted by the developers is that the Retro Lite CM5 aims to offer a "modern gaming experience." It sports a decent selection of ports, including USB 3.0, HDMI 2.1, and USB Type-C with DisplayPort Alt mode. For wireless connectivity, it has Bluetooth 5.2 and WiFi 6.

With a 5,000mAh battery, the Retro Lite CM5 is said to offer up to 5 hours of gameplay depending on the load. However, the developers note that the project will soon be upgraded to hold a larger battery. Of course, these aren't the only highlights of this project, and you can learn all there's to it and how to build the gaming handheld on your own from the detailed GitHub project page.