Hardkernel ODROID-Go Ultra (OGU) portable gaming console and devkit is powered by the same Amlogic S922X hexa-core Cortex-A73/A53 processor found in the company’s ODROID-N2+ SBC. The new model also adds a 16GB eMMC flash for faster storage and increases the RAM capacity to 2GB.
The Korean company’s adventure with portable gaming consoles started with the ESP32-based ODROID-Go to celebrate its 10th birthday in 2018. At the time it looked like a side project, but the console was popular enough that they released their first Linux handheld game console with the ODROID-Go Advance (OGA) in 2019, and then the ODROID-Go Super (OGS) in 2020 with a larger 5-inch display, and both equipped with a Rockchip RK3326 quad-core Cortex-A35 processor. The new ODROID-Go Ultra is based on the same design as the OGS model, but with a serious jump in performance, and the ability to support more demanding emulators.
ODROID-Go Ultra specifications:
- SoC – Amlogic S922X hexa-core processor with 4x Arm Cortex-73 cores @ up to 2.2 GHz, 2x Cortex-A53 cores @ up to 2.0 GHz, Arm Mali-G52 MP4 @ 846 MHz
- System Memory – 2GB LPDDR4 @ 1608MHz, 32 Bits bus width
- Storage – 16GB eMMC Flash, MicroSD Card slot (UHS-1 capable interface)
- Display – 5-inch 854×480 TFT LCD (MIPI-DSI interface)
- Audio – 3.5mm earphone stereo jack, 0.5 Watt 8Ω Mono speaker
- Connectivity – Optional dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth USB adapter
- USB – 1x USB 2.0 host port, 1x USB Type-C port with data support (same as used for power)
- Buttons – F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, A, B, X, Y, direction pad, left shoulder, right shoulder, 2x analog joysticks, volume buttons
- Expansion – 10-pin header with I2C, GPIO, IRQ at 3.3Volt
- Battery
- 3.7V/4,000mAh Li-Polymer battery
- 6+ hours of continuous game playing time (was 10+ hours on OGS)
- Charging time – 3 to 4 hours when turned off, 6 to 7 hours when in use
- Power Supply – 5V/1.5A max via USB Type-C port; Y-cable provided for faster charging
- Power Consumption
- Idle – > 1mA
- Gaming – 800 to 1300 mA depending on brightness, game played, and wireless usage
- Dimensions – 204 x 86 x 25mm
- Weight – 299 grams
The OGU also has a different power circuitry, and that’s why a Y USB cable has been designed to connect it to both the USB-C and USB-A ports to make the device charge faster. The console runs Ubuntu 20.04.4 with Linux 4.9.277 and a modified EmulationStation front-end with Libretro, OpenGL ES acceleration on DRM-FB.
Hardkernel has tested the console with a range of emulators including atari5200, gb/gba/gbc, mastersystem, megadrive, nes, pcengine, psx, segacd, snes, psp, n64, dreamcast, gamecube, and others. As noted in the introduction, performance should be like night and day with the Amlogic S922X delivering over double the CPU and GPU performance of the Rockchip RK3326 found in earlier models. The main downside should be the shorter battery life, but I suppose six hours is still plenty of time for most people.
The ODROID-Go Ultra portable game console can be purchased for $111 on Hardkernel’s store with either a dim gray or clear white (translucid) enclosure. You may find additional details and/or ask questions in the announcement in odroid forums.
Thanks to Tim for the tip.
Update: Initially published on August 25, 2022 when Hardkernel unveiled the game console/devkit, the article was updated on October 7, 2022 with the availability of the ODROID-Go Ultra.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Display out on the USB-C port?
I understand the USB-C port is only for data and power.
They missed a trick.
They should of done the board with option for 2GB, 4GB and ability to drive a high rez 10″-7″ display with access for keyboard / mouse. Then the board could of also of been dropped, in a laptop shell.
I can’t imagine it is much more power efficient versus the N2+ so you could simply use it instead.
It has faster memory. Which should help?
The price/performance is going to be amazing in this market segment. In that range you usually have RK3566 devices going for $120–$140, then a large chasm in price & performance until you get to SD845 devices for ~$240.
I only wish they’d bumped the price slightly and added another 2GB of RAM and HDMI out so you could also use it as a low-end Linux desktop.
If it’s successful Chinese AliExpress sellers will start making copies to sell.
Is there a good reason to not have (Micro) HDMI output?
No!
Quality of the connector?
The Odroid C1 used micro HDMI and it is an awful connector.
That’s it, those small HDMI connectors are worse than nothing. better spend an extra buck on usbc alternate mode
Early versions did have HDMI output. The reason it is not include on the final was not due to HardKernel. All I can say is, yes there is a good reason.
More insights on this in an earlier comment of yours:
https://www.cnx-software.com/2020/12/26/ktr1-high-performance-amlogic-s922x-portable-gaming-console/#comment-579442
It’s like an Imagination GPU, sometimes nothing is better than something.
I don’t get it, mipi dsi display on a soc that doesn’t have mipi dsi…
The SoC S922X has a native 4-lane MIPI-DSI port.
Look at the datasheet.
https://dn.odroid.com/S922X/ODROID-N2/Datasheet/S922X_Public_Datasheet_V0.2.pdf
What I want to know is, how are they going to cool this thing? The S922X puts out some heat. The Odroid N2 had a huge passive heatsink. The N2+ has a large heatsink and large fan. I would guess that the whole back is going to be aluminum, but it looks like most of the back is blocked off for the battery.
The handheld gaming market is becoming very saturated and this is 18 month – 2 years too late to the party considering how old the SOC now is.
I expect the early optimism to be quickly replaced by obscurity.
I 100% agree with this. The only advantage to having the s922x is that the software side will be mature from the N2+ being out for a while. The Odion Lite is around the $200 mark, but the D900 processor is far more powerful than the S922X. So even if the software side isn’t there, the raw power will still make it a better-performing handheld. It will be nice to see RK3588 handhelds coming out, but the Rockpi5b still hasn’t shipped, which was announced in January. I see a lot of RK3588 boards popping up, but the reality is they… Read more »
The one that should be really interesting if mainline support does mature is the RK3588s as that would seem almost destined to make a great console.
You write in the article:
… found in the company’s ODROID-N2+ SBC. … and increases the RAM capacity to 2GB.
The odroid N2+ is available in 2GB and 4GB. If you take for the new product 2GB, then its not an increase when the other version of the N2+ is the already existing 4GB.
That was compared to the previous generation ODROID-Go Super console with just 1GB RAM, although I reckon it’s not obvious from the article.
Sooo…just a worse ps vita?…
Unlike the Vita it can emulate Dreamcast at full speed, some stuttering GameCube games, and native Linux (and via Box86 and Wine some older Windows) programs.
Overall, though, yeah. If you already have a PS Vita then this entire range of sub-150 $ handhelds is superfluous, arguably a downgrade.
This is oranges to apples all over again. Why do you compare a commercial videogame platform with a “general purpose” emulator device?
Vita will be always better if you want to play Vita games, and this device will be better if you want to play multiple emulators with it.
In 10 years, this device will be worth 0 but Vita will be worth double, this is how market is. Grab whatever is more suitable for you, but comparisons are just a no-no.
I was looking at ‘display’ to see if it’s oled or ips.
TFT in 2022? Ok LOL
Has anyone tried running Kodi (formerly XBMC) media player with its RetroPlayer emulator gaming capabilities on this yet? https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=357351