Battle of the Clone Trio Titans! Retro-Bit Super Retro Trio 3+ Vs Hyperkin Retron 3 HD!

In this video, we compare the features & performance of the Hyperkin RetroN 3 HD to the Retro-Bit Super Retro Trio 3+.

Ford v Chevy. Yankees v Red Sox. Sega vs. Nintendo. We always love to compare similar things side by side, each f&om championing their cause. Video gamers are clearly no different, we've taken sides for decades. Two of the heavyweights in clone consoles, Retro-Bit & Hyperkin, both having three in one HDMI video game solutions, it was time for us to compare them side-by-side.

In this corner, we have the Retro-Bit Super Retro Trio 3+ (SRT3+). Released in 2018, this was one of the first 3-in-1 HDMI equipped clone systems. & in this corner, we have a newcomer, the Hyperkin RetroN 3 HD. Released in early 2020, newer hardware may give it a decided advantage. But will it? That's what we're here to test out.

One major advantage the RetroN 3 HD has is a 4:3 & 16:9 aspect ratio switch, which the SRT3+ completely lacks. That would be fine if the SRT3+ plus display natively in 4:3, but it displays natively in 16:9. If you have a television that can switch aspect ratios, this isn't much of a problem. But if you are streaming content or your TV lacks this functionality, you are locked into 16:9.

Another advantage that the RetroN 3 HD has is games compatibility. I have had several PAL games, most notably Yoshi's Island, not play on the SRT3+ but play just fine on the RetroN 3 HD. Also, the RetroN 3 HD will play Virtua Racing, which the SRT3+ will not. One gameplay advantage that the SRT 3 + has however is the fact that it can play Master System ROMs off of an Everdrive at the correct 60Hz, where the RetroN 3 HD requires you to put it in PAL mode, which is slower.

Both systems include two controllers, Retro-Bit includes their own OEM controller, while Hyperkin includes a Scouts & Squire controller. While I prefer the Hyperkin controllers, you cannot play NES games on the system out of the box with them. You will need to purchase a separate controller to play the NES titles. The Retro bit controllers are still nice, & you can play every system using them. That gives an advantage to the SRT3+.

When it comes to gameplay, the NES side has the biggest differences between both systems. I'm just not a fan of how Hyperkin treats the NES palette & sound. The palate is dark & muddy, & the reverse duty cycle audio issues are more pronounced. The audio is still incorrect on the Retro-Bit system, but I don't think it is nearly as bad. I also think the color palette is vastly superior. On the NES & Genesis side, performance is much closer. One thing I will say is while playing I thought the Hyperkin audio was softer, but in editing it was actually considerably louder on the raw capture.

Strengths:
Retro-Bit
- Superior color palette
- better audio quality for NES
- no need to buy separate controller to play all systems
- plays Master System ROMs at the proper speed

Hyperkin
- Superior games compatibility
- the included controllers are exceptional
- the look of the system is nicer
- 4:3/16:9 switch

Weaknesses
Retro-Bit
- no 4:3 option is a killer
- PAL switch doesn't actually seem to change the clock speed
- does not play all PAL games or Virtual Racing

Hyperkin
- need to buy separate controller to play NES games out of the box
- audio & color PALettes on the NES side needs improvement
- Genesis pins are still quite tight

The winner
For many, the lack of 4:3 disqualifies the SRT3+ right away, & I totally get it. If 4:3 is the most important thing to you, then your answer is simple, get the RetroN 3 HD. Same thing if being able to play Virtual Racing & certain PAL games are important to you, the Hyperkin is going to be the way to go. Based on the way I awarded points, the SRT3+ actually doubled how many categories it won for me. The color palette & audio on the NES side is a lot better in my opinion on the Retro-Bit over the Hyperkin. The fact that you can play NES games out of the box with the included controller on the Retro-Bit is a big factor as well. & the fact that it plays Master System ROMs at the correct clock speed gives it an advantage too.

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 & 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.
(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)