Lenovo G02 is the Retro Handheld You Probably Never Knew Just Launched

Lenovo quietly launched the G02 into online marketplaces a few weeks ago, and it has already piqued the interest of retro gaming fans. Aside from being lightweight (around half a pound), you can get it in black, white, or, if you’re feeling daring, a bright red and black combination. The packing is entirely Lenovo, and when you boot it up, the splash screen matches.

On board, there is a single analog stick as well as a full complement of buttons, including a directional pad with some clever subtle illumination. This tiny guy has shoulder triggers on the top edge, as well as volume and power controls on the side. There are two USB-C connections for charging and data transfer, a headphone socket for music playback, and a microSD slot that can accept a 1 terabyte card, providing peace of mind for those with extensive game collections. As an aside, the charger that comes with it is very slow, so you may find yourself searching for a faster charger from another device.

The 4.5-inch IPS screen has a typical 4:3 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1024 x 768. It does a good job of highlighting the colors, while some early users have noticed a minor wash in bright settings. Brightness is only changeable in the menu; I can’t find a quick toggle, however it remains readable in most indoor lighting.

A Rockchip RK3326 CPU and 1GB of RAM power a lightweight Linux installation with an EmulationStation interface. The device comes pre-loaded with tens of thousands of titles from a variety of classic platforms. Users can easily replace out the included generic storage card for a better one and load up their own collections.

The battery life is decent, lasting 3-6 hours depending on what you’re playing and how bright the screen is. Given the lightweight OS, it manages to go a little further than some of the bulkier Android or Windows handhelds with comparable technology. You can get your hands on this for roughly $60 on big import sites (AliExpress), but prices drop considerably lower if you buy in volume.

There are still unanswered questions about whether Lenovo actually created this device. They have not published a public comment, and there is no product page on the main websites. It’s possible that some customers simply purchased the Lenovo branding on the side, given the box and emblem appear to be legitimate, while others believe it was a third-party operation that slapped the Lenovo label on the thing.
[Source]