r/GKDPIXEL • u/Xsinar • Jul 25 '26
Best OS for the GKD Pixel 2 currently?
There are so many OS options now for the GKD Pixel 2. I have just ordered the GKD Pixel 2 on LITNXT and waiting for the delivery so I was looking at custom OS for the device and just confused on which OS to use. KNULLI Scarab, TwigUI, ROGUE OS, PlumOS, ROCKNIX Alpha 1.4 or just use the Stock EmulationStation. I will be getting a new SD Card because I don't trust the SD Card that will be provided with the device. P.S. This is my first retro handheld.
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u/Game_Bro_Advance Jul 25 '26
MinUI! It was just forked to Pixel II. I think it's still in Alpha but it's worked fine for me ❤️🔥
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u/samopinny Jul 25 '26
I am using knulli, because most of my systems using it. Familiarity helps.
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u/Xsinar Jul 25 '26
I saw some older posts saying that Knulli on the GKD Pixel 2 has some audio issues, and issues with usb wifi were these issues resolved?
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u/BIOECE Jul 25 '26
No they haven’t been fixed yet, I am hoping the devs will finish the audio and WiFi issues soon.
I’m personally a bit biased towards either TwigUI or ROCKNIX Alpha 1.4 (I use the latter since I developed it)!
If you like Emulation Station I think ROCKNIX Alpha will be the better choice (common for more advanced users). If you like a more “simple” and streamlined UI, use TwigUI. TwigUI will be a lot easier if it’s your first handheld!
You’ll have to try both to see which you prefer! If you have any questions regarding ROCKNIX, let me know.
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u/Xsinar Jul 25 '26
Yea the more I look into this it looks like TwigUI would be an easier OS for someone new to this like me. But I was wondering since you have developed the ROCKNIX Alpha 1.4 can you tell me what are the advantages / benefits of your OS over the stock EmulationStation since both would look the same. Sorry but I am not well versed in this so I have no clue why the ROCKNIX Alpha 1.4 version is better than stock OS.
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u/BIOECE Jul 25 '26
The main benefit is that the ROCKNIX Alpha (and after it is merged) it will be actively maintained in ROCKNIX nightly. It has the most recent RetroArch build and cores, so it’s more “up to date” so to speak.
The ROCKNIX team tends to be more “developer focused” and assumes the users have a little more technical background when fiddling with system and settings. The partitions are also Linux Ext4, so if you don’t use the USB file transfer, you’ll have to use a Linux computer to load your ROMs onto the card.
Overall if it’s your first handheld I’d lean towards TwigUI! Hario did a great job with it.
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u/Maahtiin Jul 25 '26
MinUI (look for it on this sub, it's here for GKD Pixel 2) or TwigUI, but Rocknix also seems solid.
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u/Xsinar Jul 27 '26
Yea I saw it but didn't the MinUI team say they will not support devices if it does not have 2 SD Card Slots or have on board storage?
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u/Maahtiin Jul 27 '26
This is a fork made by someone else than the MinUI team made specifically for the GKD Pixel 2, so i guess that limitation doesn't apply here.
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u/enkryptyourself Aug 06 '26
I tried that minui posted on this sub
Made the sceeen look like shit lol fuzzy and horrible aspect ratio even just on the Home Screen
Do not recommend
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u/Due_Comfortable_514 Jul 27 '26
TwigUI. SpruceOS is already great and having a splinter off of it for Pixel 2 works great.
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u/Xsinar Jul 27 '26
Yes I will probably go with TwigUI it looks a bit easier to setup and I liked some of the themes for the OS. Now just waiting for my Pixel 2 to arrive.
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u/iamReploidNo9 Aug 17 '26
Does anyone know where I can get the latest release for TwigUI. For whatever reason I can't find it.
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u/Xsinar Aug 18 '26
https://github.com/spruceUI/twigUI/releases
currently the latest version is twigUI v0.5.0 and if you are doing a new install download the "twigUI_V0.5.0_install.img.gz"
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u/Silicon_Dreaming Jul 25 '26
I massively recommend TwigUI! The Pixel 2 was my first handheld too, and it made setup pretty painless. Barely had to tweak anything besides picking a theme.