Retroid Pocket has added a third model to its handheld lineup, announcing the Duo Lite Plus for preorder only days after opening orders for the Duo and Duo Lite earlier this month. The surprise release affects customers who already bought the Duo Lite, the cheaper and less powerful of the two original devices. Those buyers now have a middle option that matches the Lite's size while carrying the stronger hardware of the more expensive Duo.
The Duo Lite Plus combines the slim body of the Duo Lite with the Qualcomm Dragonwing Q-7790 processor used in the pricier Duo. Retroid Pocket is taking preorders at $219, and an early bird discount code brings the price down to $199. Shipments are expected to begin in mid-November.
Retroid Pocket said customer feedback led to the later addition of the Duo Lite Plus. Many customers who had already ordered the Duo Lite without knowing a better-fitting model was coming reacted with frustration, according to the company's account of the response.
In an email to those customers, Retroid Pocket said it would pause Duo Lite shipments for a few days so buyers could compare the devices. The company said it wanted existing Duo Lite customers to have the chance to choose what works best for them after the Duo Lite Plus announcement.
Buyers who already committed to the Duo Lite can keep their original order or exchange it for a Duo Lite Plus. Retroid Pocket said it will cover shipping costs and exchanges completely for customers who make the switch.
The Duo Lite Plus sits between the two earlier models in both price and capability. The Duo Lite offers the slimmer dimensions, while the standard Duo carries the more powerful Qualcomm Dragonwing Q-7790 and the higher price. Retroid Pocket has positioned the new variant as the answer for buyers who found the Duo too large and the Duo Lite not powerful enough.
The lineup is a remake of the Nintendo DS, a format the company has targeted with the Duo family. The abrupt expansion of the Duo line leaves existing Duo Lite buyers deciding whether to stay with their original purchase or pay the difference for the new model, with the company absorbing the cost of switching.
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