So I got the Anbernic Win600 for Christmas 2022, specifically with the knowledge of all the ‘cons’ the Youtube and general public seem to have against it. Yes, overspec'd handhelds that run bloated software like an entire desktop operating system (eg. Windows) are a bit self defeating when it comes to purpose. But when you've already got a sea of viable Android-based portables that are perfect for retro emulation and mainstream game streaming, that relegates chunky, high horsepower devices like Steamdecks and Windows-based handhelds to very specific, niche use cases... but those use cases do exist.
So I got it regardless for 2 reasons over of a Steamdeck, Ayn Odin or any other... and honestly, for the only two good reasons to get a Windows handheld over something like a Retroid Pocket 3+ at all anyway:
1. Runs full-fledge Windows, handheld. So any special app or service you have that’s Windows-only, you now have a solution for. Plus if you’re an IT guy, having a relatively compact PC in your pocket for tech tasks over your home network is awesome.
2. Play arcade-y PC games on a nicely sized screen with built-in controls, natively. Games like TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, or Dynasty Warriors or Street Fighter V, all play so much nicer on Steam with this than mouse+keyboard on the desktop.
3 (bonus). Bigbox: If you prefer the Bigbox or Steam Big Picture UI’s and want a practical device to show them off on, this is perfect.The Steamdeck is a redundant, ridiculous mammoth of a handheld- it’s meant to stream AAA games from your desktop, yet it’s got the horsepower to run them anyway?
Back in the 90’s people made fun of chonkers like Gamegears and Atari Lynx’s, and now this thing dwarfs them both. It’s just so overkill for what it’s meant to do.So this, at an affordable price and with a solid build quality and modest specs for great battery life that can run what you want locally while streaming heavy-duty stuff from your desktop, and being more compact than the Steamdeck, is why I got it even knowing all the ‘drawbacks’.
I play my Retroid Pocket 3+ for retro gaming and PS5 streaming, and the Win600 for all the heavier and quirkier stuff. In summary: there is a pretty good use case for this thing, that the competition is a little overspec’d and overpriced for.
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