Head-to-Head
PiBoy XRS vs PiBoy DMG
PiBoy XRS vs PiBoy DMG: a head-to-head comparison of specs, performance, screen, battery, and which one is the better buy for your retro library.
| Spec | PiBoy XRS | PiBoy DMG |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Experimental Pi | Experimental Pi |
| Form Factor | Horizontal | Vertical |
| Operating System | Linux (RetroPie) | Linux (RetroPie) |
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM2711 (Raspberry Pi 4B) | Broadcom BCM2711 (Raspberry Pi 4B) |
| RAM | 1, 2, 4 or 8 GB | 1, 2, 4 or 8 GB |
| Screen | 3.5 inch | 3.5 inch |
| Resolution | 640 x 480 | 640 x 480 |
| Battery | 5600 mAh | 4500 mAh (Swappable) |
| Price | $150 | $90 (Base kit) $120 (Full kit) $180 (Assembled) |
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The PiBoy XRS and the PiBoy DMG are two retro handhelds that often end up on the same shortlist, and on our compatibility grid they grade identically on every system we track. The gap between them is hardware and price, not the games they can run.
Performance and emulation ceiling
The PiBoy XRS is powered by a Broadcom BCM2711 (Raspberry Pi 4B) with 1, 2, 4 or 8 GB. The PiBoy DMG uses a Broadcom BCM2711 (Raspberry Pi 4B) with 1, 2, 4 or 8 GB. On our performance scale, the PiBoy XRS scores 10/10 and the PiBoy DMG scores 10/10. The PiBoy XRS grades Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, Game Boy Advance as A-level, with Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Dreamcast in the B range. The PiBoy DMG grades Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, Game Boy Advance as A-level, with Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Dreamcast in the B range. In practice, the PiBoy XRS reaches N64, PSP & Dreamcast mostly playable but not all full speed. The PiBoy DMG reaches N64, PSP & Dreamcast playable.
Screen and ergonomics
The PiBoy XRS has a 3.5 inch display at 640 x 480. The PiBoy DMG has a 3.5 inch display at 640 x 480. The PiBoy XRS is a horizontal device, while the PiBoy DMG is vertical. That shape difference matters for how the device feels in the hand and how comfortable it is for longer sessions.
Battery and price
The PiBoy XRS carries a 5600 mAh battery, and the PiBoy DMG a swappable 4500 mAh battery. On price, the PiBoy XRS sits around $150, while the PiBoy DMG is around $90 (Base kit) $120 (Full kit) $180 (Assembled).
Which should you buy?
On every system we grade, the PiBoy XRS and the PiBoy DMG are level, so there is no spec-sheet winner: the difference is the battery (5600 mAh against swappable 4500 mAh) and the price ($150 against $90+). Buy the one that costs less where you are, or the one with the bigger battery. The best handheld is the one that makes the games you actually play feel natural.