Retroid Pocket 5 owners report that their handhelds are cracking

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• Some Retroid Pocket 5 owners have reported a crack appearing on their handheld.
• The crack seems to appear near screw holes, suggesting over‑tightened screws are to blame.
• This follows earlier issues with the Pocket Flip 2’s cracked hinges.

Background

Retroid makes some fantastic Android handhelds, but the firm’s great Pocket Flip 2 was overshadowed by some units with cracked hinges. Now, it looks like the Retroid Pocket 5 has also been experiencing a similar issue.

Retroid Pocket 5 owners reported on the Retroid subreddit that their handhelds have cracked shells. A cursory check reveals that the first reports of this issue date back at least a year (example post), so this has been going on for a long time.

Reported cracks

The cracks aren’t limited to one spot. Images show a crack appearing:

• At the top of the handheld (to the right of the L1/L2 buttons)
• On the bottom next to the microSD card slot

The pictures also confirm that the problem isn’t restricted to a particular colour option.

Possible causes

Users suggest that the screws were simply over‑tightened at the factory. This is supported by the fact that the cracks are located near screw holes. A few users also mention battery swelling as a possible cause, but this seems unlikely given the device’s age and the lack of bulging.

What can owners do?

We’ve asked Retroid about the issue and possible recourse for affected users. We’ll update the article when the company responds. In the meantime, owners can try loosening the rear cover’s screws slightly (but not too much).

Overall impact

This hardware issue mars what’s otherwise one of the best Android handhelds on the market. The Pocket 5 offers a dated but capable Snapdragon 865 chipset, an OLED panel, and great battery life. It has since been succeeded by the more expensive Retroid Pocket 6.