Retroid Pocket unexpectedly adds a Duo Lite Plus to its handheld lineup
Handheld maker Retroid Pocket has opened preorders for a new Duo Lite Plus device that blends features of its two existing models. Customers who already ordered the Duo Lite are being offered a free exchange.
Handheld gaming device maker Retroid Pocket has surprised customers by announcing a new model, the Duo Lite Plus, now available for preorder more than a week after preorders opened for its Duo and Duo Lite devices.
The new model sits between the two existing devices in the lineup, which reimagines the Nintendo DS form factor. While the original Duo was seen as too bulky and the Duo Lite as underpowered for some buyers, the Duo Lite Plus combines the slimmer body of the Duo Lite with the more powerful Qualcomm Dragonwing Q-7790 chip previously found only in the pricier Duo.
Retroid Pocket said the addition came in response to customer feedback. However, many customers who had already placed orders for the Duo Lite without knowing a more suitable option was coming have expressed frustration.
Pricing and shipping
The Duo Lite Plus is priced at $219 for preorder, though an early bird discount code brings the price down to $199. Shipments are expected to begin in mid-November.
Exchange option for existing buyers
To address the concerns of customers caught off guard, Retroid Pocket sent an email announcing it would pause Duo Lite shipments for a few days, giving buyers time to compare the two devices. The company said that following the Duo Lite Plus announcement, it wanted existing Duo Lite customers to have the chance to choose the option that best suits them.
Customers who already committed to a Duo Lite order can either keep it as is or exchange it for a Duo Lite Plus, with Retroid Pocket covering all shipping costs and exchange expenses.
