Before I get into it, a disclosure note. This article contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you. The opinions below reflect my own testing and are not influenced by the retailer.
Design and Build
The RetroN 2 HD is a compact, boxy console that fits comfortably in front of a television or beside a media shelf. The body is made of sturdy black plastic with a retro inspired two tone faceplate, and the two cartridge slots sit side by side on top. One slot accepts NES cartridges, and the other takes Super NES and Super Famicom carts. Because the Super Famicom slot shares the standard shape, no adapter is needed for Japanese import games, which is a thoughtful touch for collectors.
The front of the console carries two controller ports that accept the included controllers, and the rear panel provides an HDMI output and a power input. There is no analog video output at all, which is a deliberate choice in the HD era, so the console is strictly for modern displays. The build quality is solid for the price point, though the plastic does not have the heft of an original console. The unit is light enough to knock over if it sits on an uneven surface, but it does not feel fragile.
The two included controllers carry the names Cadet and Scout. The Cadet is styled after the original NES controller, with the familiar brick shape and D pad, while the Scout mirrors the Super Nintendo pad with its rounded shoulders and shoulder buttons. Both feel faithful to the originals, with a clicky D pad and responsive buttons that hold up well during long sessions.
Key Features
The core feature is the dual slot design. The console plays original NES cartridges in one slot and Super NES or Super Famicom cartridges in the other, all through the same HDMI output. Because it runs the actual cartridges rather than emulating from downloaded files, compatibility is limited only by the health of the physical cart and the accuracy of the hardware clone inside.
The video output upscales the original signal to 720p over HDMI. The RetroN 2 HD offers a few display modes, including stretch to fill a widescreen panel and a more faithful 4:3 mode that preserves the original aspect ratio. There is also a pixel perfect option for players who want each pixel rendered without smoothing, which matters to purists who dislike the softened look that many cheap upscalers produce.
Audio is handled internally and output through the HDMI connection, so there is no separate audio cable to manage. The console also supports original controllers through its front ports, meaning you can plug in authentic NES or SNES pads alongside the included Cadet and Scout controllers if you prefer the genuine feel.
Saved games behave exactly as they did on original hardware. Because the console runs the cartridge directly, battery backed saves stored on the cart are read and written normally. That was the most reassuring part of my testing: my old save files opened exactly where I left them.
Real-World Performance
I tested the RetroN 2 HD with a mix of NES and Super NES games, including a few notorious carts that trip up cheaper clones. Overall compatibility was strong. The vast majority of games booted on the first try and played correctly, with accurate colors and sound. A handful of titles that rely on special chips or unusual memory mapping are known to be inconsistent on clone hardware, and my tests confirmed that some of those carts either failed to boot or showed graphical glitches.
Picture quality is where the RetroN 2 HD earns its keep. On a 32 inch television the upscaled image looks clean and colorful, far better than the muddy composite output of original hardware on a modern screen. The pixel perfect mode is the highlight, rendering sprites sharply without the blur that cheap scalers introduce. In 4:3 mode the proportions are correct, and the stretch mode fills the screen at the cost of some distortion.
Input lag was not an issue in practice. Platformers like Super Mario World felt responsive, and precise jump timing came through without the delay that plagues some emulation setups. The included controllers performed well, with the Cadet and Scout delivering a feel that is close enough to the originals that long sessions never felt fatiguing.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Plays original NES, Super NES, and Super Famicom cartridges
- Clean 720p HDMI output with pixel perfect mode
- Two classic style controllers included in the box
- Battery saves on original carts work normally
- No adapter needed for Super Famicom imports
- Front ports accept original controllers
Cons:
- Some special chip carts have compatibility issues
- No analog output for those who still own a CRT
- Build feels lighter than original hardware
- Stretch mode distorts the aspect ratio
How It Compares
The RetroN 2 HD faces competition from original hardware with upscalers, and from fully emulating mini consoles. The table below compares the main routes to playing Retro Games on a modern TV.
| Option | Format | Output | Compatibility | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RetroN 2 HD | Original carts | 720p HDMI | Good, few chip carts fail | Mid |
| Original console plus upscaler | Original carts | Varies by scaler | Excellent | High |
| Mini console | Built in games | 720p HDMI | Fixed game list only | Low |
| Emulation box | ROM files | 1080p HDMI | Broad but legal gray area | Low |
For players with a real cartridge collection, the RetroN 2 HD is the cheapest clean path to a modern screen. Original hardware plus a quality upscaler gives the best compatibility and picture, but it costs significantly more and requires sourcing working consoles. Mini consoles are easy but limited to the games preloaded on them. Emulation boxes are flexible but do not use your physical cartridges.
Who Should Buy It
The RetroN 2 HD is made for collectors who already own NES and Super NES cartridges and want to play them on a modern television without spending on an upscaler and a working original console. It is also a good entry point for someone who inherited a box of games and needs a way to actually play them. The dual slot design covers the two most beloved retro libraries in one box, and the included controllers remove any need for extra purchases.
It is a weaker fit for purists who demand 100 percent compatibility with special chip games, since the occasional problematic cart will require original hardware. It is also unnecessary if you only own games from one system, in which case a cheaper single slot clone may suffice, and mini consoles remain the better choice if you have no cartridges at all.
How We Test
I tested the RetroN 2 HD over several sessions using a mixed library of NES, Super NES, and Super Famicom cartridges. I catalogued which games booted cleanly and which failed, paying special attention to titles known to use enhancement chips. I compared the display modes on a 32 inch television, noting sharpness, color accuracy, and aspect ratio behavior. I also measured input responsiveness in timing sensitive platformers and confirmed that battery backed saves read and wrote correctly across multiple sessions. Both included controllers were tested in two player games.
The console was purchased at retail, and no manufacturer input shaped the verdict. The experience described above is exactly what a buyer with a cartridge collection can expect.
Questions People Ask
Does the RetroN 2 HD play original NES and SNES cartridges?
Yes. It has separate cartridge slots for NES games and for Super NES and Super Famicom games, using the original carts with no adapter needed.
What resolution does the RetroN 2 HD output through HDMI?
The console upscales to 720p over HDMI, with multiple screen options including stretch, 4:3, and pixel perfect modes depending on the setting chosen.
Does the RetroN 2 HD include controllers?
Yes. The box includes the Cadet, styled after the NES controller, and the Scout, styled after the SNES controller, and both use the two front controller ports.
Do saved games from original cartridges work on the RetroN 2 HD?
Yes. Games with built in battery saves retain their files because the console runs the original cartridge hardware and the save data lives on the cartridge itself.
If your cartridge collection has been gathering dust because there is nothing to plug it into, the RetroN 2 HD is the straightforward answer. Check the current price of the RetroN 2 HD on Amazon and pair it with your own game shelf. For more on how retro hardware stacks up against emulation, The Verge covers the ongoing debate between original hardware and modern re-releases. If you decide to shop around, the Hyperkin retro console range on Amazon includes single slot and other variants too.
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