Last year we were graced with the Droid X360, a Chinese-made clone of the PS Vita which runs Google's Android operating system. This year, we've got another copycat device which shares more than a few similarities with the Wii U GamePad - it even has the same name.
The JXD S7300 GamePad 2 has a 7-inch capacitive screen, a dual-core processor and runs Android 4.1. It's basically a 7-inch tablet with gaming controls bolted onto the side, with the biggest shock being that the D-pad, buttons and analogue sliders are actually pretty decent.
Something which won't come as a shock to those who are familiar with Android-powered devices from the Far East will be inclusion of retro emulators which allow you to play ROMs. N64 and SNES emulation is included as standard, but performance is pretty ropey.
You have to wonder what Nintendo's hard-working designers make of this particular product. Imitation is one thing, but when placed side-by-side with the Wii U controller, it's blatantly obvious that the GamePad 2 is a shameless copy.
[source jxd.hk]
Comments 44
It looks better quality than the Gamepad though!
Looks very cheap!
Why give these emulation devices free publicity?
@Defuso What does "cheap" look like again?
The GamePad still looks better. lol
@TreesenHauser Actually, compared to that, the gamepad looks clunky and disgusting.
Can't quite place it. Those slider analog nubs look familiar, though. I wish the 3DS had something like that.
Whoa, that looks pretty fun! Maybe I'll get one XD
@L-Lawliet: A cheap product looks cheap, obviously.
Don't try it!
I will get one. I've wanted a handheld N64 for a long time.
It certainly looks nice, but I bet when you get hold of one, the build quality is atrocious! Stay away at all costs...
Actually reviews of previous JXD devices (a lot of them copied the PSP look) usually praise their build quality... except shoulder buttons, which can be quite fragile, but this was perhaps fixed with this release.
I'm interested! May look into getting one, depending on performance, battery life and WiFi reception (which was abysmal in some of their previous models)
@Lan - My thoughts exactly. The best course of action is to not let people know about these devices. Don't give them the publicity they want.
@Geonjaha We've reported on this because it's a blatant clone of the Wii U GamePad, which we thought Nintendo fans might be interested to know about.
Merely giving this product publicity doesn't force anyone to actually buy it. You're in control of what you do with your own money, surely?
@Damo while I completely agree with you the lobby bashing videogame violence might - if they followed the same logic as with videogames - disagree because for those people certainly it is enough to be exposed to whatever to trigger a reaction, regardless of free will, education and personality... but that's an whole other story.
So does Nintendo have no say on these emulators then this could destroy the Wii U VC
@PinkSpider Do not worry, game emulation devices like this have been around for years. The VC will be affected much more when/if the 3DS or Wii U gets hacked.There are products like the Sega Mega Drive Arcade Ultimate Portable that are built to emulate the Mega Drive. Not only are they endorsed by Sega, with 20+ games built in, it also has a sd card slot so you can add what ever roms you like. Anyone thinking of buying a emulation device should look up the GCW Zero.
@Damo - I'm not going to buy it myself whatever the circumstance, but when 25% of the comments above my first one expressed an interest in now buying this device, despite any 'emulation is a no' undertone, then you cant really argue that you're not helping this product.
One could easily argue that people would have found out about it regardless and bought it, but it's just a little hypocritical to say 'Don't ever mention emulation on this site - that stuff's illegal!' and then 'Oh by the way there's this new gaming device for emulating old Nintendo games, it's actually pretty good'.
Pretty good looking...for a Vita clone.
It's like I've seen this device somewhere before...
Crap like this really doesn't need advertising.
@Geonjaha, well said.
@L-Lawliet Low quality? Prone to breaking? An ersatz knock-off?
This imitation device looks ALOT thinner.... but its probably no more powerful than a iPhone 3gs.
A really crappy copy at that.
(I hope the following joke hasn't been done already)
Oh yeah, a controller with touch-based input, two analog sticks, four buttons and a d-pad... it reminds me of the PS4 controller OH WAIT--
It actually looks pretty good.
Someone should make a device just like this that also acts as a fully functioning tablet for stylus based input on your PC and that also mirrors your PC desktop view on the device.
Now that would be cool and very useful for people like me who'd really like to be able to draw graphics in programs like Photoshop directly using a proper table/pen and one that has the actual screen on the tablet, at an affordable price, and that also isn't just solely a drawing tablet only.
i bought one JXD device for my nephew and can testify: they are garbage. the screen had a pre-installed wallpaper with icons of games that were just pictures of non-existing games. I had a hard time explaning to my nephew to never mind the non-working on-screen icons and use the terribly clunky and barely functional file manager instead. now, after just one month of using it, the hardware buttons are not working either, and memory card not reading, the battery not charging.
NEVER BUY ANYTHING MADE BY JXD! they are just shameless producers of pure poop that is made to look like something you know very well.
Oh, China...
How much of your economy is built on copying other people's stuff?
Looks like it would break with a couple of falls, the reason the wii U gamepad is kind of chunky is because it was designed to withstand multiple falls without breaking, they've already tested the wii U gamepad against falls and it passed the tests (gizmoslip). I agree it's a "shameless copy".
@Rect_Pola
It's true that they do copy stuff, though I don't see why ppl see that as a problem considering the same stuff they copy were made by them. Sure Japanese and American manufactured the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U but those consoles were actually built and made by China before they got manufactured. Also the fact that China banned console gaming since the N64 also explain a few things too. The poor Chinese ppl never got to ever experience the joy of GameCube, GBA, PS2, Dreamcast, Xbox, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, 3DS, PSP, Vita, and Wii U and they live to create these but never had to chance to play them. Some of us who live in this country already got some of these consoles and yet we're still as pissed even when we do get to play them. In other words we should respect the Chinese ppl for their dedication. Remember the quality of our product were good cuz the Chinese ppl were forced to work day and night to make them good.
With these gaming tablets, it's just better to buy a Vita since it's already pretty much more of a specialized gaming tablet with exclusives (capacitive screen and tweaked version of iPad 3's GPU) than it is direct competition to 3DS. If you want to do Android gaming, just stick with your phone (if you have one) and buy a universal mobile controller (avoid MOGA, it's garbage).
I hope Nintendo sues the heck out of them.
The only interesting thing about it to me, is the fact it plays N64 games apparently, and the Wii U (old school speaking) can only play Ballon Fight and F-Zero so far, and it's been out since November now. That being said, I'm definitely not getting one though. I'd feel like I would be stealing from Nintendo getting this system to play ROM's on.
Now if only there was a cheap handheld device to play N64 games with - you know, just to ease the wait for the 3DS Super Smash Bros game, mind you. Did I mention that I can't friggin' wait for the first portable SSB game ever anymore?!?
Wouldn't this be a copyright infringement?
Where is the start button on that thing? Is that why it just shows the start screens on those games in the screen shots?
atleast the emulation looks a Trillion times better on the Chinise gamepad ! Haha WIi U Lol
i sense a lawsuit comin on... better get out my phoenix wright costume...
Ive seen this earlier so I'm not really surprised. I still think its a clone of the Wii U Gamepad though.
If they ship that tablet to the Americas, Android should make a Wii U app for that.
Nintendo owns the rights to the D-Pad, don't they? They could sue just for that, especially since it's near identical.
NINTENDO used LAWSUIT!
vita blows I would rather play this unit. I bought the Subor BD39 and love it. 5000 games on it. All NES,SNES,Mega Drive, Gameboy Advance and Gameboy color. Full movies and music videos. Way to max out the 4gb system and a 16 gb micro sd card. All for 40 dollars. 31 dollars on ebay and the 16 gb card I picked up at big lots for 10 dollars on sale. How much did your vita cost with 5,000 games????
It's a pity this isn't really that good because the actual unit itself is really slick.
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