Analogue Pocket - Nostalgia or Gimmick?

Have you ever had a Gameboy—or knew someone who did—and begged to play it? Do you remember that satisfying *click* when you slotted the cartridge into the back, flipped the switch, and heard the iconic Game Freak logo chime before the Pokémon animation began?

For me, it’s a feeling similar to the excitement of crisp fall weather, the cozy warmth of hot chocolate, or my fiancée’s enthusiasm for pumpkin spice latte season.

I take a sip or two… most men do and it’s alright. Give in to the latte! That moment of pride you feel after completing a long, tough project,  or when you look down to your fur baby and their eyes are gleaming with happiness and excitement to see you. Playing Pokemon again is a rush of warm nostalgia that takes me back to a simpler time—a time we all love to reminisce about and share with friends and family.

As a '90s baby, I grew up just as Pokémon swept across Europe and the U.S., becoming a phenomenon. Pokémon cards were everywhere, and playing Pokémon Gold & Silver on Gameboys was the height of cool. If you saw two kids huddled over a Gameboy connected by a link cable, you knew they were either trading or battling Pokémon. Faces tense with concentration, “crowds” would gather around, ready to claim the next battle or swap stories about their collections. These are moments forever etched in my mind—and in the memories of millions of others.

Now, as a practicing adult, I have little time to find new hobbies—which is probably why we all say, "I’m an adult; I know what I like and what I don’t." Usually, that phrase gets thrown around when our partners drag us somewhere—almost literally against our will. You know exactly what I mean. It’s just not called kidnapping because we’re driving ourselves (and them), lol. But then, while doom-scrolling through Instagram a few years ago, I stumbled upon a company called Analogue selling a device that looked just like the Gameboy Color—except with a bigger, brighter screen, beefed-up audio, and a modern USB-C charging port. As a techie and gadget lover, I was instantly hooked. It was called the Analogue Pocket, and the claim was simple: it could play any Gameboy or Gameboy Advance game, original or otherwise.

Naturally, I had to have it. I'd recently unearthed my old Pokémon games after a move, and this seemed like the perfect excuse to relive those childhood memories. But after some brief research (okay, very brief), I discovered it was *sold out*. For four long years, I tried to snag one. Then, recently Analogue released a limited-edition, all-metal, machined aluminum version, and it was beautiful—but with a steep $499 price tag.

The gears and cogs in my head started turning, scheming and plotting the next multiverse of sales pitches I’d use on my fiancée... Then I remembered U.S. Admiral Grace Hopper’s famous quote: “It’s better to ask forgiveness than permission.”

So, I pulled the trigger! Thankfully, Apple Wallet made the purchasing process so easy and fast that I didn’t even have time to back out—it was like playing the game of chicken with yourself. A real toss-up! The responsible adult in me had no chance, threw in the towel before the bell!

A couple of weeks later, the damn thing arrived—and it was magnificent! A bit on the heavy side, but the quality was on par with Apple’s MacBook line—precision and attention to detail all the way. I had to update the device, which was slightly annoying, so make sure you have a micro SD card with an adapter (I snagged a 32GB one at Best Buy for less than 10 bucks). Once I downloaded the update onto the SD card and inserted it into the Pocket, everything was a breeze—until I tried loading my old Pokémon Silver, Gold, and Yellow cartridges. Turns out, those cartridges have an internal battery that needs to be replaced, or the games won’t save. The Gameboy Advance games, luckily, don’t need batteries. After watching a few YouTube videos and digging out my old soldering iron, I swapped the batteries in the games. Finally, I inserted them into the Pocket, and in an instant, I was transported back to my childhood—only 20 years later. The screen was crystal clear, and this time I didn’t have to hide under the covers from my mom to pull an all-nighter! Adulting at its finest!

**Verdict: Is the Analogue Pocket worth it?** For me, absolutely. Equipped with a convenient USB-C port to charge at any time, a crisp 3.5” 1600x1440 display which compared to my old Gameboy Advance’s 2.9” 241x160, it's a massive upgrade!

Your ageing eyes will thank you. The Pocket allows you to switch the graphics to match the original Gameboy look, but with a much brighter and crisp display. To me, the Pocket is more than just a device—it’s a gateway to memories with my brother and my friends, Ross and Stewart, back in the U.K. Even my fiancée loved it, and my mom got a kick out of hearing those familiar sounds again.

Sure, there are cheaper alternatives, and there are things I don’t love—like the loudness of the buttons when you’re spamming A & B trying to catch Lugia—but the device holds up well! I’ve already planned to open it up and swap out the rubber inserts to make it more "stealthy," but after hours (and years) of research, I can confidently say no other device beats Analogue’s craftsmanship and attention to detail. They know exactly how to tug at the heartstrings (and wallets) of nostalgic fans like me.

If you’re thinking about getting one, keep an eye out—or better yet, wait until I DIY one for my fiancée, and I’ll show you how to build one yourself!

P.S. This is not a paid add from Analogue, Apple or anything of sorts - This is my opinion, for a device that I paid for myself and wanted to share with other nostalgic people out there! Enjoy!

Analogue Pocket - Natural Silver
3.5" Display at 1600x1440

The video upload is not of the best quality, the animation is crisp, the black detail is sharp. Critics aside, enjoy the sound of your childhood!