RetroTINK retro upscalers are something of a gold standard, but they come with a heavy price barrier. Yes, I am a classic console setup connoisseur, but even I could only dream of spending $750 on the lavish FPGA-powered 4K Pro model. Even the 4K-CE version with scaled-back specs comes with too heavy a toll, so when even cheaper 6X CE rolled into town with QHD abilities, I was instilled with hope.

I’m still not convinced I can personally afford the RetroTINK-6X CE at $239 / £225. However, the lower MSRP and impressive specs for the money mean I’ve been sneakily crunching numbers. In a reveal posted to X, the retro console gadget maker’s founder, Mike Chi, unveils the 1440p upscaler alongside some headline abilities, including “true HDR10 CRT Simulation”, alongside VGA, SCART, YPbPr (component), S-video, and composite for hooking up virtually everything.

Getting deeper into the accompanying blog, RetroTINK claims the 6X CE “redefines what’s possible in an entry-level retro gaming video processor.” I’m not sure I’d call it “entry-level” at $239, but the key there is that this isn’t really just a traditional upscaler, as it uses FPGA tech to accurately translate old resolutions into a native QHD image with ridiculous color accuracy and zero visual nonsense.

One of the biggies here is that the RetroTINK 6X CE actually uses the same “end to end RGB pipeline with internal 12-bit precision.” That allows for minimal quantization errors during more complex resolution upscaling jobs, all while paving the way for detailed effects.

Just like the Analogue 3D, the RetroTINK 6X CE can simulate the look of a CRT TV. While the 4K N64 has this baked in, the latter upscaler adds detailed shadow masks and mimics the look of Sony’s old tube-set Aperture Grille tech. That’s all achieved by waving in retro scanlines alongside specific mask shapes and faux electron beam modulation to hit the same glow you’d get from old displays.

If you’re specifically exploring how to play PS2 games using original hardware, the 6X-CE will also solve the console’s jittery visuals. Like the much cheaper GBS-C, RetroTINK’s new QHD upscaler boasts motion-adaptive de-interlacing, but it’s admittedly on a different level. Both will steady the shaky effects produced by stitching odd and even scanlines together, but the 6X CE and its siblings will do it using an FPGA to completely avoid artifacting or any other visual degradation symptoms.

If you have a massive retro console collection, picking up a pricey upscaler makes sense. The RetroTINK 6X CE takes almost everything the lavish 4K version supplies, including profiles for specific systems and advanced image processing tricks, and shoves them into a new, cheaper QHD package.

$239 is still what I’d consider steep, especially since line doublers like the OSSC and the aforementioned GBS-C upscaler do provide nice results for half the price. That said, you’ll end up having to let your TV or gaming monitor deal with a 1080p signal, which then can add softness compared to a RetroTINK with higher resolution capabilities. Plus, most of those RGB options can’t deal with composite or S-Video out of the box, which is a pain for systems that are stuck with both.

If I can find a way to afford the RetroTINK 6X CE, I’ll certainly put it through its paces with almost every retro console out there. I’m extremely keen to see how both really compare to sub-$100 options like the GBS-C or the slightly pricier OSSC, as I’ve certainly got casual players in my life who will argue there’s no meaningful difference.

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• Retro consoles at Amazon

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