Photo: Evan-Amos · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons
SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color
SNK · Released Aug 1999 · NGPC
A cult-classic handheld beloved for its clicky microswitch stick and superb SNK fighting games, with phenomenal battery life.
Pros
- +Superb clicky microswitched directional stick
- +Excellent fighting and puzzle games
- +Around 40 hours on two AA batteries
- +Linked with the Dreamcast for unlock features
Cons
- −Small library, limited Western release
- −Reflective (non-backlit) screen
- −Discontinued early as SNK struggled
What can it play?
Emulation performance by platform, based on real-world testing.
Full specifications
Hardware
- Chipset (SoC)
- Toshiba TLCS-900H + Z80
- CPU
- 16-bit TLCS-900H @ 6.144 MHz (+ Z80)
- GPU
- Integrated 2D
- RAM
- 12 KB
- Storage
- Cartridge Neo Geo Pocket ROM cartridge
- Weight
- 110 g
- Dimensions
- 133 x 75 x 25 mm
- Cooling
- Passive
Display
- Size
- 2.6″
- Resolution
- 160x152
- Panel
- Reflective colour LCD
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
- Touchscreen
- No
Battery & Connectivity
- Battery
- 1000 mAh
- Real-world life
- ~40 hours
- Wi-Fi
- None
- Bluetooth
- None
- Ports
- Link cable, 3.5mm headphone
- Expandable storage
- No
Controls
- Analog sticks
- 0
- D-pad
- Yes
- Face buttons
- Yes
- Analog triggers
- No
- Gyroscope
- No
- Hall effect sticks
- No
Software & custom firmware
Ships with: None (cartridge-booted)
Also plays natively: Neo Geo Pocket Color cartridges, Neo Geo Pocket (mono) cartridges
No third-party custom firmware tracked for this device.
Our verdict
The Neo Geo Pocket Color is a connoisseur's handheld: its microswitched directional stick is a joy, and its library of fighting games (SNK vs. Capcom) and quirky titles is genuinely excellent. Around 40 hours from two AAs is remarkable. SNK's financial troubles cut it short, but it is rightly remembered as one of the best handhelds that too few people owned.