The Switch is likely to be one of Christmas 2021's most desirable items, which means we could see it selling out everywhere – despite the fact that it's approaching its fifth birthday.
When there's high demand for something, it usually means that other companies try to cash in, and that's certainly true in the burgeoning Chinese-made gaming handheld sector. We've covered these emulation systems a few times on Nintendo Life, with products like the Anbernic R351V and Retroid Pocket 2 providing to be solid (and cheap) means of playing ROMs, but companies in the Far East seem to have struck upon an ingenious way of making their devices even more appealing to potential (and perhaps unsuspecting) customers: they're making them look like the Switch.
Check out the Anbernic PS5000, for example. Where did they get the idea for that fetching red/blue match-up, we wonder?
Or perhaps you'd prefer the X12 PLUS, which has a design based on that of the PS Vita but throws in the iconic Switch Joy-Con colour scheme for good measure. Why not, right?
The S9000A is another one of those "we've got this PS Vita clone shell and we need to spruce it up a bit, so let's add the Switch colours" deal:
Then there's the Powkiddy X2, which we've covered on this site before:
What about the CoolBaby RS-17? These things all have the BEST names:
The stupidly cheap and simplistically-named D20 might only play basic 8-bit games, but it's still rocking that all-important Switch look:
Perhaps you're after something a little more ergonomic? Then the X19plus could be the one for you. It is, of course, wearing this season's colours:
If you're looking for that 'Switch Lite' vibe, then the Powkiddy RGB10 MAX might be more to your liking:
Ironically, most of these devices run the same kind of thing – emulators for classic systems like the NES, SNES, Mega Drive and Game Boy – so while you're assured of some Nintendo-related gaming action if you find one under your tree (albeit of the legally dubious kind), we can't imagine these imposers will scratch quite the same itch as the Switch itself.
Comments 28
What are you talking about? I exactly do hope I end up with one of these. They look awesome!
I wanna order all of them for my collection!!!
I do have to commend the Anbernic PS5000 for using the N64 button layout. It gives quite a lot of possibilities.
They all run SNES games better than switch. No subscription required. Plus, lots of D-Pads there. I remember the days of D-Pads
Personally I'm hoping for a Swutch (TM).
It's disheartening to see Anbernic push out something like the PS5000, when they did a really good job with their RG351 line of systems.
At their core it seems many of these companies only copy what's current, rather than build upon successes.
"most of these devices run the same kind of thing – emulators for classic systems like the NES, SNES, Mega Drive and Game Boy"
Unlike polimega, that can't run any of those systems, and yet Nintendo Life tells us every 3 or 4 weeks how awesome, life changing and innovative polymega is.
But for whatever reason those systems (that are sofware emulators as well) don't get nearly the same love.
I want a better designed Switch now. With better joycons and a d-pad. However, I doubt these look that good in the flesh. Not chuffed for emulators as I don't really play on my PS4 anymore bar a few choice games. A lot of money saved there.
The X12 plus... taht was featured on rerez as the worst switch ever
@abdias Where do I begin?
"Unlike polimega, that can't run any of those systems"
Polymega supports the NES, SNES and Mega Drive - the only system I listed that it doesn't currently support is the Game Boy.
"But for whatever reason those systems (that are sofware emulators as well) don't get nearly the same love."
We've covered loads of these systems in the past, including the R351V, R351, Retroid Pocket 2, GameForce CHI, BittBoy, RG300X and many others.
And the Polymega isn't quite the same as this as it offers a way to dump your own personal collection of games (including CD titles) and leverage a powerful database whilst doing so.
@FishyS the Swutch is pretty good, similar to the Nintendo Wuu
@Mattock1987 The Ninturndar Swartch is on my wishlist.
@Damo
Um...
Why did my comment get removed ?
I felt ashamed to see those counterfeits made in China again. 🤦♂
These look like the kind of products my well-meaning grandparents would have bought me when I was younger.
"It's just like that other game you wanted but at a quarter of the price!"
@Mountain_Man I do wonder how many poor kids are going to find these under the Christmas tree for that exact reason lol
With names like Powkiddy and Coolbaby what could go wrong? I feel bad for the X12Plus though. It looks identical to a Vita. Nobody will buy it. I wonder if they have a WiiU clone to go with it?
@Mountain_Man My cheap-ass grandma bought me the X12 standard model because she didn't want to shell out for the Plus!
Looks like something SouljaBoy would try to sell.
@Zyph was just gonna say that
CoolBaby RS-17 now that‘s actually great!
"I‘ve got myself a CoolBaby!"
"Oh, you have a girlfriend?"
"No, the console!"
"Oh…"
"Yeah… "
Yeesh. Coolbaby is still a thing? Didn't they also make a NES Mini clone?
Edit: Found the article
I'll stick with my Super Polystation 2, thank you very much.
Chinese bootleg console makers knocking off current consoles, nothing new.
It's like the Among Us of consoles! Who's going to be called out?
Nitnedno Swap
@nimnio Cant really see many people in the comments asking for these kinds of things, if anything the general consensus is that people wouldn't want to receive these instead of a switch.
NintendoLife promoting, or at least making others aware, of something that damages Nintendo. Biting the hand that feeds you.
Dunno, I already have a switch and with these I'd get d-pads, possibly a higher-res screen, better emulation, folders, multimedia playback, also during gaming, possibly a longer battery life and the ability to play tons of android ports. Seems pretty awesome to me. XD
Cya
Raziel-chan
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