Accessory maker Datel has had two attempts at making the ultimate Pokémon GO companion device: the Go-tcha and the Go-tcha Ranger. Both mimic the functionality of the Pokémon GO Plus (and the later Pokéball Plus) but with one massive advantage – they automate functions such as swiping nearby Pokéstops and catching 'mon, so you don't have to interact with the device at all; it does all of the busy work for you.
We really like both of the previous Go-tcha devices, but with one huge caveat – both of our review units completely failed after a few months (we actually had two of the original Go-tcha units die on us). Reliability is clearly a big problem with these devices, which makes reviewing the Go-tcha Evolve a little tricky; as much as we like it (and believe us, we do), we can't be entirely sure it will still be ticking over in six months. But for the time being, let's approach this latest accessory with a fairly open mind.
Go-tcha Evolve Review: Design And Functions
Like the original Go-tcha, the Go-tcha Evolve resembles a fitness tracker. It's a much larger unit than the original, but its design is arguably less obnoxious, so you don't need to feel self-conscious about wearing it in public (it's certainly a lot less obvious than the Pokémon GO Plus with its flashing multicolour LED). The strap is available in four colours – Dynamic Grey, Trailblazer Blue, Globetrotter Green and Daredevil Red – and is pretty comfortable. The main unit has a reasonably bright colour screen which displays information and cute little animations, and can be interacted with via a single touch-sensitive button.
Charging is handled by a full-size USB port which is accessed by removing the upper part of the strap. This is quite a tough process (so much so that the unit comes with an instruction sheet focused purely on how to charge the device) and it often feels like you're going to break something; Datel recommends that you remove it by pulling it at a 45-degree angle. This connection also means that the Go-tcha Evolve isn't water-resistant, so you'll want to make sure you remember to take it off before having a bath or shower. The unit takes about 1 and-a-half hours to fully charge, and a charge lasts a fair few days, depending on how much you use the device. For example, after a week of fairly casual use, our unit still has a single bar of battery remaining.
Tapping the single button on the front of the unit wakes it from sleep, and subsequent taps move you through the menu system one option at a time. You can choose to toggle things like auto-catching (of both known and unknown monsters – you can choose to ignore ones you already have in your Pokédex) and auto-swiping of Pokéstops, as well as vibration alerts. The unit will also show if your Go-tcha Evolve is currently connected to your phone, and you can choose to have it display the time and date when it wakes from sleep, instead of the standard startup animation. You can choose to turn off the automatic processes if you so wish, and manually tap the device to execute a catch or Pokéstop swipe.
But that's not all! There's a pedometer that tracks how many steps you've taken, and it's pretty accurate from what we can ascertain – it kept pace with our Apple Watch, at least. You can also choose to totally silence the device so no alerts come through, which is handy when you're in a quiet environment and don't want it constantly flashing and vibrating. Speaking of the latter, the motor inside the Go-tcha Evolve is a little bit feeble and unless you're standing totally still, you often can't feel when it's vibrating.
The Go-tcha Evolve is listed as being compatible with the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR devices with iOS 10.0 or later installed. We'd also assume that the latest iPhone 11 models are supported. On the Android side of things, the requirement is a device with 2 GB RAM or more, Bluetooth Smart (Bluetooth Ver. 4.0 or higher) capability, and Android 5.0 or higher. There's a dedicated app available for both iOS and Android which allows you to toggle various settings more easily, as well as download firmware updates for the device itself. To connect the Go-tcha Evolve to the app, you'll need to make sure it's not currently connected to Pokémon GO itself.
As you might expect, the Go-tcha Evolve behaves very much like a Pokémon GO Plus, albeit with the ability to automate functions. Pokémon GO sees the device as a Pokémon GO Plus, so there's no way that Niantic can 'disable' it from the app (it's worth stressing that this product is 100% unofficial and not sanctioned by Nintendo, The Pokémon Company or Niantic). However, it also means that the Go-tcha Evolve is subject to the same limitations as the Pokémon GO – namely, it won't stay connected forever and often disconnects at seemingly random times. We assume this has much to do with how your phone handles RAM management (we were using an iPhone XR, which has a rather pathetic 3GB of memory), but it's hardly a deal-breaker; when it happens, you just open the app, tap the Pokémon GO Plus icon, wake the Go-tcha Evolve and the connection is re-established.
Go-tcha Evolve Review: The Verdict
Right now, we can't fault the Go-tcha Evolve. It improves on the original model and the full-colour screen is a real bonus. It's slightly larger, but it's not what we'd call an ugly product – so there's no real shame in being seen wearing it when you're out and about. Battery life is good, and the fact that it tracks your steps as well as helps your monster hunting makes it even more appealing (especially as the process of playing Pokémon GO is sure to boost your daily step count).
The real question is: how long will this thing last? Datel's track record in this regard leaves something to be desired, and while we can't say for sure that the Go-tcha Evolve will suffer the same fate as its flaky predecessors, we can only offer a cautious recommendation at present. We'll update this review if the situation changes over the next few months, but for the time being, this appears to be the dream device for dedicated Pokémon GO players.
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Comments 18
So is kind of a Bot for playing pokemon go?
What's the "fun" of a game if you automate the very basics of it? I don't really play Pokemon Go, so maybe Im not getting its appeal.
What's next? A driving wheel accesory that automatically wins races for you on Mario Kart Tour?
Using unofficial hardware is against the rules and if you do this, I hope you get banned
@Zequio haha exactly! Imagine booting up a new Zelda for the first time and the title screen says its already completed by a bot! Hehe
@Zequio I guess in the same way RPGs these days have an "Auto-battle" mode of some sort.
When a core mechanic gets too tedious, but you still want to enjoy other aspects, this can be seen as a QoL improvement.
But if anything like the Go Plus and Pokeball Plus, catches arent guaranteed, so you risk losing out by leaving it to a "bot" 100% of the time.
First... what is the point of auto-Pokemon?
Second... isn't this way too late to the party?
@ALinkttPresent been using mines for years and no ban. niantic can't tell it's a go-tcha. it can only tell that it's a pokemon go plus
@datamonkey @Zequio The Got-cha isn't a bot and doesn't have any AI. It just throws one pokéball & if that doesn't catch it, the pokémon runs away forever no matter how rare it may be.
The only thing that really helps with is farming stardust a little faster - a resource designed to make you waste (and buy) pokeballs.
A more accurate Zelda analogy would be like opening a game & finding you'd died 100 times but made 5 rupees.
EDIT: In fairness, I had one but only used the stop spinning function as it was freezing walking into work where I lived & it save me getting frost burn.
Niantic won't ban gotcha, because the same thing can be done with Go Plus and Pokeball Plus, you just need something to hold down the button.
But it's false to think Niantic couldn't see if you are using gotcha or not, they definitely can but just don't care.
@Zequio
There's a lot more to the game than catching and spinning Pokestops. This is just a handy way to automate the "grindier" aspects of the game. I know quite a few players in our local community who've used the predecessors. It can be handy to snap up a bunch of Pokemon at once during Community Day, for example.
To the comment of it failing after a few months, could it be updates on Niantic's end that are breaking certain models? Heck, one of their recent ones broke support for official PokeBall Plus last month.
Aren't these kinds of devices against terms of use? I've had my account since launch, I am not getting banned because I am too lazy to actually play the game.
I find it hard to justify if the life expectancy of the product is under a year.
@SmaMan The previous two units had no means of updating firmware (just like the original Plus). It was a hardware failure in my case (batteries dying).
I'll stick with my Pokeball Plus for now. Using it for almost a year and it still works like a charm.
I'll wait for the follow up review. I been burnt by Datel twice (3 if I count exchange) with their go-tcha to the point I hear it as gotcha (tricking someone)
@ALinkttPresent
you do realize that Pokemon go has official automatic catchers, there is nothing against products of this nature
Just picked one up myself to help with the grind on lockdown - means I can do all my catching and spinning on my commute to/from work (which I couldn't do before, not without committing a traffic violation!).
Initial impressions are good. Totally agree with the comment about the internal motor, it's pathetic! Otherwise the screen appears decent quality, the built in USB charger is a nice touch, and it paired with the Gotcha App and downloaded a firmware update without a hitch.
I have the original Go Plus and the Poke Ball Plus. The Poke Ball Plus superseded the Go Plus thanks to the auto Poke Stop spinning function. I have a feeling this Gotcha Evolve will supersede the ball very quickly too.
The pokemon gotcha works for people like me who are disabled, and have an electric wheelchair, it helps when out with friends who can catch mon, and spin stops as they are walking. as where i would have to stop at every single mon or stop to spin or catch. Because my right hand controls the chair.. so it is perfect for someone like me! People do not think of people like me who can't walk but still like to play. so that is one reason some use it. Its not a waste or a cheat for me its a means to actually play and not slow down my group.Ty gotcha you made it possible!
@Zequio The pokemon gotcha works for people like me who are disabled, and have an electric wheelchair, it helps when out with friends who can catch mon, and spin stops as they are walking. as where i would have to stop at every single mon or stop to spin or catch. Because my right hand controls the chair.. so it is perfect for someone like me! People do not think of people like me who can't walk but still like to play. so that is one reason some use it. Its not a waste or a cheat for me its a means to actually play and not slow down my group.Ty gotcha you made it possible!
@holygeez03 The pokemon gotcha works for people like me who are disabled, and have an electric wheelchair, it helps when out with friends who can catch mon, and spin stops as they are walking. as where i would have to stop at every single mon or stop to spin or catch. Because my right hand controls the chair.. so it is perfect for someone like me! People do not think of people like me who can't walk but still like to play. so that is one reason some use it. Its not a waste or a cheat for me its a means to actually play and not slow down my group.Ty gotcha you made it possible!
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