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The Odroid Go Ultra is a 5.0 inch 16:9 Linux handheld that plays everything up to PSP well, made by HardKernel. It came out in October 2022 at $111. Inside is the Amlogic S922X with 2 GB of RAM.
Who it's for
Buy it if
- You want to play everything up to PSP, plus some GameCube.
- You want a 5.0 inch screen and carry it in a bag or a jacket.
Skip it if
- You want 3DS games: it scores only 20 out of 100.
- You want Wi-Fi for updates and cloud saves.
Odroid Go Ultra videos
What it plays
Plays up to: PSP. Chip: Amlogic S922X.
Scores out of 100. 100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues on this device. 80 or more plays well (green), 50 to 79 plays partly (yellow).
What owners say
“My favourite is my Odroid Go Ultra. There are so many more capable handhelds around, but it just makes me smile.”
What the specs mean
16:9 screen
PSP and Switch games fill it. 4:3 home consoles show bars at the sides, and Game Boy games look small.
Based on: Display math: native screen shapes of each system
Sharpest fit: GBA
At 3x, GBA fills 84% of the screen with even pixels. Filling the rest means stretching, which some people smooth with a filter.
Based on: Display math: largest whole-number scale that fits the screen
Big battery for its class
Only 16 of 117 Linux and other handhelds in our database have a bigger battery than this 4,000 mAh (the middle one has 3,000 mAh).
Based on: Our handheld database: battery of 117 Linux and other handhelds
Digital triggers
The GameCube's triggers were pressure sensitive, and a few games use a light press, such as spraying while you walk in Super Mario Sunshine. Here the triggers are on or off.
Based on: Hardware fact: GameCube controller triggers are analog; this device is not listed with analog triggers
Shoulder buttons in a row
L1 and L2 sit side by side along the top edge instead of stacked. PS2 games that need L1 and L2 together mean sliding one finger between them.
Based on: Layout data (shoulder button layout)
D-pad on top, sticks below
The d-pad has the natural thumb spot, which suits 2D games. In 3D games your thumb lives on the lower stick.
Based on: Layout data (d-pad placement)
DS without touch
There is no touch screen, so DS games that need the stylus use a pointer moved by a stick.
Based on: Layout data: no touch screen
Rating
How we score: what it plays 30%, how many players own and recommend it 20%, screen 15%, price compared with handhelds that play as much 10%, controls 10%, size and weight 10%, battery size for its chip 5%.
Good
- Plays everything up to PSP well
Not so good
- Not built for PS2 games
- TFT screen, not IPS or OLED
- No Wi-Fi
- No video out
Screen fit
Screen: 5.0 inch, TFT, 16:9, 854 x 480.
| System | Original | Sharpest scale | Screen filled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Boy | 160 x 144 | 3x (480 x 432) | 51% |
| GBA | 240 x 160 | 3x (720 x 480) | 84% |
| NES and SNES | 256 x 224 | 2x (512 x 448) | 56% |
| Genesis | 320 x 224 | 2x (640 x 448) | 70% |
| PS1 and N64 | 320 x 240 | 2x (640 x 480) | 75% |
| DS, one screen | 256 x 192 | 2x (512 x 384) | 48% |
| PSP | 480 x 272 | 1x (480 x 272) | 32% |
Whole-number scales keep every pixel the same size. Screen 854 x 480.
Size
204 x 86 x 25 mm, 299 g. Too big for a jeans pocket
- Odroid Go Ultra (204 x 86 mm)
- iPhone 15 (71.6 x 147.6 mm)
True scale, front view. Jeans pocket = front no bigger than an iPhone 15 Pro Max in a case (160 x 82 mm).
Specs
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Chip | Amlogic S922X |
| CPU | Cortex-A73 |
| Cores | 6 |
| Clock speed | 2.0 GHz - 2.2 GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP6 |
| RAM | 2 GB LPDDR4 |
| Cooling | Yes |
| Screen | |
| Size | 5.0" |
| Type | TFT |
| Resolution | 854 x 480 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
| Pixel density | 195 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Dual screen | No |
| Controls | |
| D-pad | Cross, Upper placement |
| Analog sticks | Yes |
| Stick layout | Double, symetrical |
| Shoulder buttons | Side By Side |
| Rumble | No |
| Gyroscope | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Storage | 16 GB eMMC |
| SD card | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| USB-C | Yes |
| Video out | No |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Build | |
| Form factor | Horizontal |
| Dimensions | 204 x 86 x 25 mm |
| Weight | 299 g |
| Battery | 4000 mAh |
| Shell | Plastic |
| Speakers | Back |
| Software | |
| Operating system | Linux |
| Custom firmware | Batocera, UnofficialOS |
| PortMaster | Yes |
Questions
Can the Odroid Go Ultra play PS2 games?
Not well. PS2 scores 20 out of 100. It plays everything up to PSP well.
Can it play GameCube games?
Partly. GameCube scores 50 out of 100.
Is the Odroid Go Ultra good for GBA?
GBA runs at full speed. At 3x it fills 84% of the screen with even pixels.
Does it have a headphone jack?
Yes.
How big is the battery?
4,000 mAh. The middle Linux and other handheld in our database has 3,000 mAh.
Can it connect to a TV?
No, it has no video out.
How much does the Odroid Go Ultra cost?
It launched at about $111 in Oct 2022. Prices on the used market change, so check current listings.
Price and newer models
$111 at launch $60 to $120
The newest in its line we list, but the Odroid Go is announced. Worth a look before you buy.
Similar handhelds
Specs and emulation scores from the retrocatalog.com handheld database. The score out of 10 is our own.