BOYHOM X6 Retro Handheld Gaming Console

Basic Plastic Build The X6 is made from basic plastic. While everything mostly holds together fine, it doesn’t exactly scream quality – it feels light and hollow, more like a toy than a solid gaming device.

Not All Preloaded Games Run Smoothly I ran into several games that stuttered, froze, or had audio/video glitches. This isn’t necessarily a flaw in the X6 itself – more often, these issues are caused by poorly optimized ROMs or limited compatibility with the built-in emulator.

Built-In Screen Lacks Color Depth The X6’s display looks okay at first glance — decent enough for a budget device. But after playing a while, I noticed the colors felt muted and a bit flat. This issue doesn’t appear when using the console with a TV, where colors look noticeably better. If you’re mainly playing on the handheld screen, this could affect your overall gameplay experience.

Overly Bright Front-Facing LED The power indicator on the X6 is way too bright — to the point it genuinely feels like a laser beam when it hits your eye at the wrong angle. This isn’t a minor annoyance; it caused real visual discomfort every time it happened. I strongly suggest covering it with a small piece of duct tape when using the device.

Limited Button Customization There are six action buttons, but no option to remap them — unless the individual game supports it. For players who prefer personal control layouts, this is a drawback.

No Built-In Headphone Port Or Bluetooth Surprisingly, the X6 has no 3.5mm headphone jack or Bluetooth support. That means you’re limited to the onboard speaker or AV-out – no private listening.

Not Ergonomically Designed The X6 has a classic retro form factor that may remind you of devices like the Game Boy. But personally, I found it uncomfortable to hold for long sessions. As an adult with relatively large hands, my fingers began to cramp after less than an hour — especially during fast-paced or button-heavy games.

No HDMI Output The X6 only supports AV (composite) output and doesn’t offer HDMI. Personally, I prefer using HDMI when possible — it’s simpler and more convenient for my setup. That said, if your TV doesn’t include AV input, you might be able to work around it by using an AV-to-HDMI adapter.

Missing Advertised Features & ROM Variation Some features mentioned in listings — like PlayStation support or an alarm clock — were not present on the unit I received. This likely depends on the specific version or firmware of the console. The actual selection of preloaded games may also vary between sellers.

No Gameplay While Connected To A Computer When you plug the X6 into a PC, it automatically switches to USB storage mode — allowing file transfers, but disabling gameplay entirely. You can’t navigate the interface or launch games until it’s unplugged. This also means you can’t charge the device via computer and play at the same time.

Specs Are Unclear The exact hardware details (like display resolution or battery type) aren’t always provided – and might differ depending on the seller or the brand label (there are many rebranded X6 units). That makes it hard to know what you’re actually getting.

2-Player Mode Requires Extra Hardware The X6 includes a port for connecting a second controller, which enables local multiplayer in supported games. Some sellers offer a bundle that includes an additional gamepad, but my unit came with the console only.

Some Games And Systems Are Duplicates There’s a fair amount of overlap — with different regional versions of the same game (USA, Europe, Japan), and similar console emulators (like NES and Famicom).

Mono Audio Only Sound output is mono — both from the built-in speaker and through the supplied AV cable (red audio connector only).