Handheld consoles / Compare

ModRetro Chromatic vs Panic Playdate

A

Product A: ModRetro

Chromatic

43 of 165 known

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B

Product B: Panic

Playdate

56 of 165 known

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All 165 fields

Every value links to where we found it.

Only differences

AModRetro Chromatic

BPanic Playdate

General

5 of 9 differ

Series

Not available

Not available

Model numbersiMaker identifiers for this exact model and its listed variants. Excludes sibling models and other generations.

CHROM-CLD-G, CHROM-CLD-S, CHROM-MID-G, CHROM-MID-S, CHROM-WAV-G, CHROM-WAV-S, CHROM-LEF-G, CHROM-LEF-S, CHROM-INF-G, CHROM-INF-S, CHROM-VLT-G, CHROM-VLT-S, CHROM-BBL-G, CHROM-BBL-S2Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundle.jsRead 15 October 2026Shop SKUs, which follow the CHROM-XXX-Y model pattern in ModRetro's EU declaration of conformity. XXX is the colour and Y is G for the Gorilla Glass display or S for the Sapphire display.6Maker spec sheet (PDF)cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0829/2034/1806/files/Declaration_of_Conformity_Chromatic.pdfRead 15 October 2026EU declaration of conformity No. 15451709, dated 11/3/2024, names the apparatus model CHROM-XXX-Y.

PDU-015Owner's manualhelp.play.date/hardware/manual/Playdate%20Manual%207-08-22.pdfRead 10 October 2026Regulatory page: Model PDU-01.

GTIN / EAN

850064323450, 850064323467, 850064323405, 850064323320, 850064323436, 850064323351, 850064323412, 850064323337, 850064323399, 850064323238, 850064323429, 850064323344, 850064323443, 8500643233682Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundle.jsRead 15 October 2026Barcodes of the 14 shop variants.

Not available

AnnouncediThe maker's first announcement of this model. This is separate from first retail availability.

June 20248Press articleretrohandhelds.gg/modretro-chromatic-a-new-fpga-game-boyRead 15 October 2026Article dated June 7, 2024 reports the reveal and pre-orders. heise.de dated June 4, 2024 and Wikipedia also give June 2024.

May 20196Spec databaseen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playdate_(console)Read 10 October 2026Announced in May 2019.

Status

Available1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Add to cart is live. Some colour and glass options show as sold out or unavailable at times.

Available1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker sells the console with a Shop Now link and a current price of $229.

PredecessoriThe model this one directly replaced, in the same line, tier and size, as the maker or a trusted review names it.

Not available

Not available

SuccessoriThe model that directly replaced this one, in the same line, tier and size. A revision such as a Slim or OLED model does not count when a next generation exists.

Not available

Not available

Launch price (US)iThe maker's US launch MSRP for the stated configuration, excluding tax. Current store prices and later discounts do not qualify.

$199.998Press articleretrohandhelds.gg/modretro-chromatic-a-new-fpga-game-boyRead 15 October 2026Pre-orders at $199 including Tetris for Chromatic. Press rounds to $199. Nintendo World Report says the original sapphire model sold for $199.99. The Gorilla Glass relaunch price is $199.99 on the maker page. USD, tax not included.

$1796Spec databaseen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playdate_(console)Read 10 October 2026Introductory price US$179. The maker price is now $229, which is a later price and is not stored. Retro Dodo also quotes $179. USD list price without sales tax.

Launch price (EU)iThe maker's euro launch price for the stated configuration, including VAT as published. Current store prices and later discounts do not qualify.

Not available

Not available

MarketsiISO country or region codes where this exact model or variant is sold. A source page's language does not establish availability.

AU, AT, BE, CA, CN, HR, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, JP, LU, NL, NO, PL, PT, SI, ES, SE, CH, GB, US1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026The shop's country selector lists the destinations the store sells to: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States.

Not available

ColoursiThe maker's own colour names

Cloud, Midnight, Wave, Leaf, Inferno, Volt, Bubblegum1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Color options Cloud, Midnight, Wave, Leaf, Inferno, Volt and Bubblegum. The first run had six colours. Cloud came with the July 2025 relaunch. Display Material options are Gorilla Glass and Sapphire.

Yellow1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker calls Playdate the little yellow game system.

Device classiA streaming handheld only plays remote or cloud games

Retro handheld1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Cartridge console that plays Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on FPGA hardware.

Dedicated console1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Dedicated game system with its own games and Catalog.

Form factor

Vertical3Owner's manualsupport.modretro.com/en_us/welcome-to-chromatic-know-your-chromatic-SJS5feAZgRead 15 October 2026Manual front and back diagrams show a portrait body with the screen above the controls, as on the original Game Boy.

Vertical8Reviewretrohandhelds.gg/playdate-review-the-cheese-wedge-with-a-crankRead 10 October 2026Review calls it a tiny vertical console.

Platform and software

5 of 7 differ

OS family

Not available

Other4Maker product pagesdk.play.date/inside-playdateRead 10 October 2026SDK documents Playdate OS and its own game runtime. It is a maker OS and fits no other OS option.

OS at launch

Not available

Not available

Latest OS

Not available

Playdate OS 3.1.210Maker product pagesdk.play.date/changelogRead 10 October 2026Maker SDK changelog lists 3.1.2 dated September 16, 2026 as the newest release. Panic ships the OS and the SDK under one version number. Read 2026-10-10.

Built-in game stores

Not available

Playdate Catalog8Reviewretrohandhelds.gg/playdate-review-the-cheese-wedge-with-a-crankRead 10 October 2026Review describes Catalog as a shop built into the Playdate.

Physical games

Game card1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color game cartridges and Chromatic game cartridges.

None4Maker product pagesdk.play.date/inside-playdateRead 10 October 2026Maker says Playdate needs Wi-Fi for setup and game downloads, and games can also be sideloaded. No cartridge or disc exists.

Backward compatibility

Game Boy, Game Boy Color and ModRetro Chromatic cartridges1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Plays Original Cartridges. Fully compatible with original Game Boy, Game Boy Color and ModRetro Chromatic Cartridges. It does not play Game Boy Advance cartridges.

Not available

Upscaling and frame generationiSupport at system or driver level

Not available

Not available

Processor and graphics

4 of 16 differ

Chip

FPGA-based system (part not published)1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Data: FPGA-based architecture. ModRetro does not name the FPGA part and no teardown names it.

STM32F7466Spec databaseen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playdate_(console)Read 10 October 2026Playdate runs an STM32F746 with an Arm Cortex-M7F at 168 MHz.

Chip brand

Other1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026The FPGA vendor is not named, so the chip brand is other.

Other6Spec databaseen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playdate_(console)Read 10 October 2026STM32 is a STMicroelectronics chip. The chip brand enum has no STMicroelectronics option, so other is used.

Core configurationiPhysical CPU cores, including cores reserved by the operating system. P/E labels describe the maker architecture. Source notes identify clocks used only in specific operating modes.

AModRetro Chromatic

Not available

BPanic Playdate

Physical core count	Core	Max clock (GHz)
1	Cortex-M7	0.168

Source1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker lists a 168 MHz Cortex M7. Stored as 0.168 GHz.

CPU cores

Not available

1=CalculatedFrom Core configuration

Max CPU clock

Not available

0.168GHz=CalculatedFrom Core configuration

Process

Not available

Not available

GPU

Not available

Not available

GPU architecture

Not available

Not available

GPU compute unitsiAMD compute units, NVIDIA streaming multiprocessors or Intel Xe-cores. These counts use different architectures and are not directly comparable. The source note names the unit.

Not available

Not available

GPU max clockiHighest documented GPU operating clock for this device. Source notes say when a value applies only in docked or mains-powered mode.

Not available

Not available

GPU compute (claimed)iMaker-rated FP32 throughput. Mode is named in the source note. Not a game performance benchmark.

Not available

Not available

Power modesiDocumented device APU power limits or per-mode clocks. A continuous range may be represented by its two endpoints, identified in source notes. Transient boost power is not substituted for sustained TDP.

Not available

Not available

Lowest TDP

Not available

Not available

Highest TDP

Not available

Not available

Highest TDP on battery

Not available

Not available

Custom TDPiYou can set a TDP value, not only presets

Not available

Not available

Memory and storage

3 of 12 differ

RAM

Not available

Not available

RAM type

Not available

SRAM9Reviewifixit.com/Teardown/Playdate+Teardown/143811Read 10 October 2026Teardown step 9: 128 Mb of Winbond W967D6HBG low-power SRAM (16 MB).

RAM speediEffective memory transfer rate, not a clock stated in MHz. Source notes identify mode or platform speed limits.

Not available

Not available

Memory bandwidthiPublished memory bandwidth in decimal GB/s. Source notes identify handheld or docked mode. Do not calculate from rounded speed and bus-width claims.

Not available

Not available

StorageiAdvertised internal storage tiers in decimal GB. Convert a published 1 TB or 2 TB tier to 1000 or 2000 GB. Keep a literal published GB number as given. Do not infer usable formatted capacity.

Not available

4GB1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker lists 4 GB flash and 16 MB RAM. RAM is below 1 GB, so the RAM field is left out.

Storage typeiType of the built-in storage. eMCP is a package that holds eMMC flash and RAM, so it is eMMC.

Not available

eMMC6Spec databaseen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playdate_(console)Read 10 October 2026Wikipedia lists 4 GB eMMC. The maker only says flash.

Installed drive PCIe generationiPCIe generation of the installed storage module, not the maximum supported by the connector.

Not available

Not available

Storage slotsiInternal physical storage sockets, including occupied sockets. Interface describes compatible storage. Source notes distinguish the installed drive from slot capability.

Not available

Not available

M.2 slots

Not available

Not available

Memory card

None3Owner's manualsupport.modretro.com/en_us/welcome-to-chromatic-know-your-chromatic-SJS5feAZgRead 15 October 2026The 15-part list has no card slot.

None3Maker product pagehelp.play.date/hardware/supported-inputsRead 10 October 2026The maker ports article lists only the audio jack and the USB-C port. No card slot is named anywhere in the maker specifications.

Card speed class

Not available

Not available

Max card sizeiLargest card capacity explicitly supported for games. Decimal storage units: 1 TB is 1000 GB. Support for screenshots only does not establish game-storage support.

Not available

Not available

Display

9 of 17 differ

Screen size

2.56in(6.5 cm)1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Display: 160X144 pixel 2.56 inch IPS backlit LCD. Gorilla glass or sapphire front.

2.7in(6.9 cm)6Spec databaseen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playdate_(console)Read 10 October 2026Wikipedia lists a 2.7 inch 400x240 1-bit display.

Native resolution

160 × 144px1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026160X144 pixel display.

400 × 240px1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker lists 400 x 240 1-bit.

Pixel density

84.1ppi=CalculatedFrom Screen size and Native resolution

172.8ppi=CalculatedFrom Screen size and Native resolution

Aspect ratio

10:91Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026No page prints the ratio. 160 x 144 pixels reduces exactly to 10:9, so the value is the exact reduction of the maker's resolution and not an estimate.

Not available

Panel typeiUse the panel type explicitly stated by the source. IPS-level is a maker comparison term. LCD means the maker does not name the LCD subtype.

IPS1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026IPS backlit LCD.

Other7Reviewretrododo.com/playdate-reviewRead 10 October 2026Review describes a 2.7 inch, non-backlit, 1-bit super reflective screen. Wikipedia says it is a Sharp Memory LCD. The enum has no Memory LCD option, so other is used.

Native panel orientationiPortrait panels break some games

Landscape3Owner's manualsupport.modretro.com/en_us/welcome-to-chromatic-know-your-chromatic-SJS5feAZgRead 15 October 2026160 pixels wide by 144 tall, a landscape panel in a portrait body.

Not available

Screen surfaceiSurface finish or treatment stated by the maker or reviewer. Etched anti-glare glass is not automatically classified as matte.

Not available

Not available

Touchscreen

Not available

No7Reviewretrododo.com/playdate-reviewRead 10 October 2026The maker input list has the D-pad, A and B, Sleep and Menu, the accelerometer and the crank. It lists no touch input.

Built-in display refresh modesiMaximum built-in display refresh rate for each documented resolution and mode. External displays and dock output have separate fields. Do not copy supported input timings as proven maxima.

AModRetro Chromatic

Not available

BPanic Playdate

Width (px)	Height (px)	Max (Hz)
400	240	50

Source4Maker product pagesdk.play.date/inside-playdateRead 10 October 2026SDK lists a monochrome 1-bit memory LCD at 400 x 240, refreshed at 30 fps by default and 50 fps at most.

Max refresh rate

Not available

50Hz=CalculatedFrom Built-in display refresh modes

Adaptive sync

Not available

Not available

VRR lower limit

Not available

Not available

Brightness (SDR, claimed)

Not available

Not available

Peak brightness (HDR, claimed)

Not available

Not available

DCI-P3 coverage (claimed)iPercentage of the DCI-P3 colour space covered, from 0 to 100. Gamut volume, Display P3 and unspecified P3 are different measurements.

Not available

Not available

HDR formats

Not available

Not available

Second display

Not available

Not available

Controls

3 of 15 differ

Stick sensoriHow the stick measures its position. Capacitive is only for a stick that senses its position by capacitance. Maker wording such as capacitive sticks often means the sticks sense a resting thumb, which is Touch-sensitive sticks.

Not available

Not available

Stick layout

Not available

Not available

Touch-sensitive sticksiThe sticks sense a resting thumb. It says nothing about how the stick measures its position, which is Stick sensor.

Not available

Not available

Replaceable stick modules

Not available

Not available

Trigger sensor

Not available

Not available

Trigger stops

Not available

Not available

D-pad

Cross3Owner's manualsupport.modretro.com/en_us/welcome-to-chromatic-know-your-chromatic-SJS5feAZgRead 15 October 2026Maker product photos show a single cross-shaped D-pad.

Cross4Maker product pagesdk.play.date/inside-playdateRead 10 October 2026SDK lists an eight-way directional control (D-pad). The maker product images show a cross-shaped D-pad.

Face button labels

Other3Owner's manualsupport.modretro.com/en_us/welcome-to-chromatic-know-your-chromatic-SJS5feAZgRead 15 October 2026Two operation buttons, A and B, as on the Game Boy, shown on the maker product photos. No X or Y button, so none of the four-button label sets fits. Stored as other.

Not available

Extra rear and grip buttonsiExtra rear or grip buttons and paddles. Excludes shoulder bumpers and triggers (L1/R1/L2/R2), Joy-Con rail SL/SR and system/menu controls.

03Owner's manualsupport.modretro.com/en_us/welcome-to-chromatic-know-your-chromatic-SJS5feAZgRead 15 October 2026The full part list shows only front controls, the menu button and the volume wheel. No rear buttons.

Not available

Trackpads

Not available

Not available

System-level remappingiRemap buttons without support in the game

Not available

Not available

System buttons

Power switch, Menu, Volume wheel, Start, Select3Owner's manualsupport.modretro.com/en_us/welcome-to-chromatic-know-your-chromatic-SJS5feAZgRead 15 October 2026Manual part list: Power Switch, Menu Button, Volume Control wheel. Start and Select appear in the hotkeys page.

Menu, Lock1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker lists Sleep and Menu. The SDK names them the Lock button and the Menu button. The D-pad and A and B buttons are excluded.

Detached controller connectioniWireless connection used after the controllers are detached. Does not describe the attached controller contacts.

Not available

Not available

Controller mouse sensoriA controller works as a mouse on a desk

Not available

Not available

Fingerprint

Not available

Not available

Motion and feedback

1 of 3 differ

Gyroscope

Not available

No9Reviewifixit.com/Teardown/Playdate+Teardown/143811Read 10 October 2026The teardown component list names only an STMicroelectronics LIS3DH 3-axis accelerometer and no gyroscope. The maker lists a 3-axis accelerometer.

RumbleiUse the maker feedback wording. Generic haptic feedback is not automatically labelled HD haptics. Trigger rumble is separate from adaptive trigger resistance.

Not available

Not available

RGB lighting

Not available

Not available

Measured

1 of 30 differ

Brightness (measured)iCentre, full white, SDR. Measured by a reviewer

Not available

Not available

HDR peak brightness (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Contrast ratio (measured)i1000 means 1000:1. Measured by a reviewer

Not available

Not available

DCI-P3 coverage (measured)iMeasured DCI-P3 area coverage, from 0 to 100. Do not substitute gamut volume, Display P3 or unspecified P3. Test method belongs in source notes.

Not available

Not available

Colour accuracy (measured Delta E)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

PWM frequency (measured)iOnly when the reviewer found PWM flicker

Not available

Not available

3DMark Time Spy graphics (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

3DMark Steel Nomad Light (measured)iRuns on Windows, Android and Arm. Measured by a reviewer

Not available

Not available

3DMark Wild Life Extreme (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Cinebench 2024 single-core (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Cinebench 2024 multi-core (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

AnTuTu (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Game frame rates (measured)iReviewer measurements only. Each row preserves resolution, preset and power settings when stated. In-game and driver frame generation are identified in source notes.

Not available

Not available

SSD sequential read (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Memory card read (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Battery runtime per test (measured)iReviewer runtime tests only. Exact time conversions are allowed. Source notes identify brightness, game, power mode and settings. Missing conditions are not inferred.

Not available

Not available

Shortest gaming test runtime (measured)iShortest runtime among the stored gaming tests. This does not identify the globally heaviest game or worst possible use.

Not available

Not available

Longest gaming test runtime (measured)iLongest runtime among the stored gaming tests. This does not identify the globally lightest game or best possible use.

Not available

Not available

Video runtime (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Full charge time (measured)iMeasured 0 to 100% charge time. Source notes identify the charger, device operating state and test conditions.

Not available

Not available

Power draw gaming (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Fan noise per mode (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Max fan noise (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Fan noise while gaming (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Back surface under load (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Grips under load (measured)iWhere the hands rest. Measured by a reviewer

Not available

Not available

Chip temperature while gaming (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

Not available

Not available

Stick tests (measured)iReviewer tests of the built-in sticks. Method, firmware, calibration and transport settings belong in source notes.

Not available

Not available

Speaker loudness (measured)iAt max volume. Measured by a reviewer

Not available

Not available

Weight (measured)iMeasured by a reviewer, not claimed by the maker

252g(8.9 oz)12Reviewtheshortcut.com/p/modretro-chromatic-transparent-reviewRead 15 October 2026The review lists the magnesium Chromatic at 252 g with three AA batteries inside. It lists the transparent model at 219 g. Retro Dodo's review of the transparent model gives about 250 g with batteries for the magnesium one.

Not available

Audio

3 of 5 differ

SpeakersiBuilt-in speaker drivers on the handheld, with its controllers attached. Excludes speakers in a separate dock or headset.

11Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Audio: Custom ultra-loud speaker module. The manual lists one built-in speaker.

11Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker lists a built-in mono speaker.

Speaker direction

Bottom-firing10Reviewnintendoworldreport.com/review/69118/chromatic-hardware-reviewRead 15 October 2026Review: the speaker is located on the bottom alongside the power-level LED and the USB-C port.16Reviewtimeextension.com/reviews/modretro-chromatic-is-so-close-to-the-real-thing-youd-think-nintendo-made-itRead 21 October 2026Review: the bottom edge has a single speaker, a 3.5mm headphone jack and the USB-C connection.

Front-facing8Reviewretrohandhelds.gg/playdate-review-the-cheese-wedge-with-a-crankRead 10 October 2026The maker product images show the speaker slot on the front face, right of the screen.

Audio features

Not available

Condenser microphone, TRRS headset microphone input1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker lists a condenser mic and a TRRS mic input.

MicrophonesiPhysical built-in microphones on the handheld. Mono audio or an array name alone does not prove a capsule count.

Not available

11Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker lists a condenser mic and a TRRS mic input. One built-in microphone.

3.5 mm jack

Yes1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Audio: 3.5mm headphone output.

Yes1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026

Ports and dock

2 of 10 differ

PortsiPhysical connectors on the handheld and its attached controllers. Controller charging-only ports count. Separate dock connectors belong in dock_ports.

AModRetro Chromatic

Type	Version	Count	Side
USB-C	Not available	1	Bottom
3.5 mm audio	Not available	1	Bottom
Other	Link cable port	1	Left
Other	Cartridge slot	1	Not available

Source3Owner's manualsupport.modretro.com/en_us/welcome-to-chromatic-know-your-chromatic-SJS5feAZgRead 15 October 2026Manual part list: link cable port, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port, game slot for GB, GBC and Chromatic cartridges. The IR port is an infrared window and is not a connector.9Reviewcgmagonline.com/review/modretro-chromatic-reviewRead 21 October 2026Review: USB-C is on the bottom next to the 3.5mm headphone jack.10Reviewnintendoworldreport.com/review/69118/chromatic-hardware-reviewRead 15 October 2026Review dated November 18, 2024: the link cable port is on the left-hand side. The speaker, power-level LED and USB-C port are on the bottom.

BPanic Playdate

Type	Count	Side
USB-C	1	Bottom
3.5 mm audio	1	Bottom

Source3Maker product pagehelp.play.date/hardware/supported-inputsRead 10 October 2026Maker help says the bottom has a condenser microphone, a 3.5 mm audio jack in the centre and a USB Type-C port on the right. The USB version is not stated.

USB-C ports

1=CalculatedFrom Ports

1=CalculatedFrom Ports

USB4 or Thunderbolt

Not available

Not available

USB-C charging

Not available

Not available

Video outiVideo output available at a device connector with a direct cable or adapter. A console that requires its proprietary dock is documented through dock_output_max.

Yes1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Product details: USB-C lagless video out to PC, Mac, or Oculus Quest. The features list calls it native video streaming to a Mac or PC via USB-C. CGMagazine says it is used to capture gameplay in OBS, so this is a stream to a computer and not a signal for a TV or monitor. No output resolution is published, so display_output_max is left out.9Reviewcgmagonline.com/review/modretro-chromatic-reviewRead 21 October 2026Review: the USB-C port lets you capture gameplay footage via OBS capture software without extra hardware.16Reviewtimeextension.com/reviews/modretro-chromatic-is-so-close-to-the-real-thing-youd-think-nintendo-made-itRead 21 October 2026Review: the USB-C port acts as a video-out port as well as a power socket. It gives no resolution.

Not available

Max external displayiHighest documented external resolution and its maximum refresh rate. Do not combine a resolution and refresh rate taken from different modes.

Not available

Not available

External GPU

Not available

Not available

Dock

Not available

Not available

Max output through dock

Not available

Not available

Dock ports

Not available

Not available

Wireless

2 of 6 differ

Wi-Fi

Not available

Not available

Wi-Fi bands

Not available

2.4 GHz1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker lists 802.11bgn 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi standard field has no Wi-Fi 4 option, so it is left out.

Bluetooth

Not available

4.26Spec databaseen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playdate_(console)Read 10 October 2026Infobox connectivity lists Bluetooth 4.2.9Reviewifixit.com/Teardown/Playdate+Teardown/143811Read 10 October 2026Teardown step 1 lists Bluetooth 4.2 and step 9 names an Espressif ESP32-D0WDQ6 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth SoC. The maker help page says Playdate does not currently support Bluetooth audio, so this is the hardware version and not a working feature.

NFC

Not available

Not available

Cellular

Not available

Not available

Network

Not available

Not available

Battery and charging

5 of 12 differ

Battery energyiEnergy rating of the handheld battery. Excludes batteries in detachable controllers and docks. Source notes name hardware revisions.

Not available

2.74Wh9Reviewifixit.com/Teardown/Playdate+Teardown/143811Read 10 October 2026Teardown step 7: 2.74 Wh (740 mAh @ 3.7V).

Battery capacityiCharge rating of the handheld battery. Excludes batteries in detachable controllers and docks. Different battery voltages are not directly comparable.

Not available

740mAh9Reviewifixit.com/Teardown/Playdate+Teardown/143811Read 10 October 2026Teardown step 7: battery clocks in at 2.74 Wh (740 mAh @ 3.7V). This replaces the 650 mAh figure from a review, which does not fit the 2.74 Wh pack.

Claimed battery lifeiA range like 2 to 6.5 hours is one row with both values

AModRetro Chromatic

Not available

BPanic Playdate

Use	Hours (h)
Gaming	8
Idle	336

Source1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker lists 8 hours active and 14 days standby clock. Stored as 8 h gaming and 336 h idle (14 days). The standby clock keeps the always-on screen running.

Battery life (claimed, min)

Not available

Not available

Battery life (claimed, max)

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336h=CalculatedFrom Claimed battery life

Wired chargingiMaximum supported charging input explicitly stated for the device. It is not automatically the wattage printed on the included adapter.

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Charging standards

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Charge 0 to 100 % (claimed)

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Charge limitiStops charging early to protect the battery

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Bypass chargingiRuns from the charger without cycling the battery

Yes4Owner's manualsupport.modretro.com/en_us/welcome-to-chromatic-power-options-ryhxbg_RxRead 15 October 2026Manual: while connected via USB-C, the device operates on external power without depleting the battery.

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Charger in box

No1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026The packing list has no charger or cable.

No5Owner's manualhelp.play.date/hardware/manual/Playdate%20Manual%207-08-22.pdfRead 10 October 2026Manual says an AC adapter for charging is not included. Panic recommends an adapter rated no higher than 5V / 2A.

Included chargeriRated output power of the supplied adapter. This may exceed the handheld charging limit. Store per sold configuration when bundles differ.

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Cooling

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Fans

015Spec databaseheldgames.com/devices/modretro-chromaticRead 15 October 2026Page lists the fan as none and the cooling as passive.

09Reviewifixit.com/Teardown/Playdate+Teardown/143811Read 10 October 2026The teardown X-ray and full disassembly show a battery, speaker, crank and boards and no fan.

Vapor chamber

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Custom fan curveiUser can set fan speed against temperature. A fixed preset or manual fan-speed slider alone does not qualify.

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Build

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Built-in kickstand

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Dust and water rating

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User-replaceable parts

AA batteries, D-pad, A and B buttons, Start and Select buttons, Menu button, IR window, On/Off switch, D-pad and button membranes7Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/mod-kitRead 15 October 2026Mod Kit, sold separately, lists D-Pad, A and B buttons, Start and Select buttons, Menu button, IR window, On/Off switch and membranes as swappable parts with no soldering. AA batteries sit behind a user-removable battery cover.13Reviewifixit.com/Guide/Disassembling+ModRetro+Chromatic+(Released+Mid-2025)/192722Read 15 October 2026iFixit disassembly guide for units from mid-2025 shows the battery cover opening by a lock for user access and parts held by tri-wing screws.

Battery, Headphone jack9Reviewifixit.com/Teardown/Playdate+Teardown/143811Read 10 October 2026Final thoughts: the battery is immediately accessible and lightly adhered, and the headphone jack is completely modular. The maker does not sell parts and a warranty sticker covers the battery.

Dimensions and weight

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DimensionsiExternal dimensions with supplied controllers attached. Width is left to right, height is top to bottom in handheld use and depth is the maximum front-to-back extent, including fixed protruding controls. Leave depth missing when only unqualified chassis thickness is published. A clamshell is measured closed, as makers publish it. Width is left to right, height is front to back of the closed device and depth is the closed thickness.

Width76.2Height132.08mm(3 × 5.2 in)1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Specs: Console 5.2x3x1.2 inches. Width 3 in is 76.2 mm and height 5.2 in is 132.08 mm, exact conversions. The 1.2 in thickness has no stated maximum, so depth is left out.

Depth9mm1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker lists size 76 x 74 x 9 mm without naming the axes. Only the 9 mm thickness is stored, because the last value is the thickness in every order. Early 2019 coverage wrote 74 x 76 x 9 mm, so the order of the first two values is not safe to read as width and height.2Maker product pagehelp.play.date/hardware/the-specsRead 10 October 2026Maker help specs list Size 76 x 74 x 9 mm without axes. Only the 9 mm thickness is stored.6Spec databaseen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playdate_(console)Read 10 October 2026Infobox lists 76x74x9 mm without axes, the same as the maker.

WeightiWhole handheld with the supplied controllers attached, without a dock or carrying case. A detachable battery pack that ships with the handheld is attached. Approximate maker figures are identified in source notes.

175.77g(6.2 oz)1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Specs: 6.2 oz, converted exactly to 175.77 g. iFixit's device page says console only. Reviewers measure about 250 g with three AA batteries inside, which is about 70 g more.

86g(3 oz)6Spec databaseen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playdate_(console)Read 10 October 2026Infobox lists 86 g (3 oz). The community Playdate wiki lists 86 grams too. Reviewers weighed single units at 84 g and 85 g. The maker publishes no weight.

Weight without controllersiHandheld body only, without detachable controllers, dock or carrying case.

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Certifications

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Game compatibility programme

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FCC ID

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2AR29-PDU015Owner's manualhelp.play.date/hardware/manual/Playdate%20Manual%207-08-22.pdfRead 10 October 2026Regulatory page: FCC ID 2AR29-PDU01 and IC 260061-PDU01.

Other certifications

CE: Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU, EMC Directive 2014/30/EU and RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU, FCC Part 15 Class B, ISED license-exempt RSS5Owner's manualsupport.modretro.com/en_us/chromatic-compliance-fcc-SknfoCi0lRead 15 October 2026FCC page states Class B under Part 15. The ISED page states license-exempt RSS compliance. The CE page names the LVD, EMC and RoHS directives. The device contains an ESP32-MINI-1 radio module (FCC ID 2BMRH-ESP32MINI1), which is the module's ID. The console's own FCC ID is not published.

FCC, IC, CE, UKCA, Japan R 018-2001405Owner's manualhelp.play.date/hardware/manual/Playdate%20Manual%207-08-22.pdfRead 10 October 2026Regulatory page shows the FC, UKCA, CE and Japan R 018-200140 marks.

In the box

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In the box

Chromatic, Chromatic Tetris cartridge, 3x AA ModRetro batteries1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026What's Included: Chromatic, Chromatic Tetris Cartridge, 3x AA ModRetro Batteries. What's in the box repeats the same three items.

Playdate, USB-C to A Cable, User Guide1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026Maker lists Playdate, USB-C to A Cable and User Guide.

Carrying case

None1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026The packing list has no case. The Chromatic Case is a separate accessory.

None1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026No case is listed in the box.

Links

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Product page

modretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundle1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026

play.date1Maker product pageplay.dateRead 10 October 2026

Spec sheet

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help.play.date/hardware/the-specs2Maker product pagehelp.play.date/hardware/the-specsRead 10 October 2026Maker help page repeats the specifications from the product page and lists a 40 inch USB-C to A cable.

Manual

support.modretro.com/en_us/chromatic-manual-S1cy8e_0Zx3Owner's manualsupport.modretro.com/en_us/welcome-to-chromatic-know-your-chromatic-SJS5feAZgRead 15 October 2026Chromatic Manual index with the part list, power, hotkeys, settings and compliance pages.

help.play.date/hardware/manual/Playdate%20Manual%207-08-22.pdf5Owner's manualhelp.play.date/hardware/manual/Playdate%20Manual%207-08-22.pdfRead 10 October 2026Manual PDF is image-only, so its content was read from page renders.

EPREL registration numberiId in the EU energy label database. Each size or model of a series has its own id, so it is per variant.

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Warranty

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Manufacturer warranty (source market)iThe maker's warranty period for the exact SKU or configuration and market named in the source note. It applies only to that stated market, not every regional variant. Statutory consumer rights are excluded. The base term is stored. An extension that needs registration goes in the source note.

1year1Maker product pagemodretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundleRead 21 October 2026Page header: 1-YEAR WARRANTY. The shop is the US store in USD.

1year11Maker product pagehelp.play.date/service/warrantyRead 10 October 2026Maker warranty page: twelve months from shipment to the original purchaser. EU, New Zealand and Australia buyers keep their statutory rights.

Both are also in the API. Back to all handheld consoles.