CRT Shader Gallery & GPU Impact Benchmark
Raw nearest-neighbor pixels can look harsh and clinical on high-resolution modern screens. Experience authentic arcade and Trinitron CRT aesthetics with our interactive in-browser Canvas CRT filter simulator, and check real-world GPU compute overhead across popular handheld SoCs.
Locked 60 FPS on budget Allwinner & Rockchip handhelds with zero audio stutter.
Authentic tube curvature, dot mask, and beam width scaling for mid-range chipsets.
12-pass physics-accurate Trinitron phosphor simulation on Snapdragon 865/Gen 2.
Interactive In-Browser CRT Shader Simulator
Adjust scanline density, phosphor mask, and tube curvature in real-time on our live HTML5 canvas renderer.
CRT Shader GPU Compute Benchmark
Sustained 60 FPS performance tested across mobile ARM and Qualcomm GPUs in RetroArch.
| Shader Preset | Pass Count | Mali-G31 (H700) | Adreno 650 (RP5) | Recommended Devices | GPU Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| zfast-crt / crt-easymode | 1 Pass (Ultra Lightweight) | 60 FPS (Locked) | 60 FPS (1% GPU Load) | RG35XX series, Miyoo Mini, Powkiddy V10 | Tier S (Zero Overhead) |
| crt-geom | 2 Passes (Balanced Classic) | 45-52 FPS (Struggles) | 60 FPS (Locked, 6% GPU Load) | Retroid Pocket 2S, RG556, TrimUI Smart Pro | Tier S (Gold Standard) |
| crt-hyllian | 2 Passes (Vibrant RGB Glow) | 40-48 FPS (Audio Crackle) | 60 FPS (Locked, 8% GPU Load) | Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, RG406H, RG Cube | Tier A+ (Vibrant Colors) |
| crt-royale (Kurozumi Edition) | 12 Passes (Extreme Compute) | 8-14 FPS (Completely Unplayable) | 60 FPS (Locked, 24% GPU Load) | Retroid Pocket 5, AYN Odin 2, Steam Deck | Tier S+ (Heavyweight Masterpiece) |
| Mega Bezel Reflection Shader (HSM) | 16+ Passes (Bezel + Screen Glow) | Unsupported | 55-60 FPS (Needs High Fan) | AYN Odin 2, Steam Deck OLED (PC Grade) | Tier A (PC Enthusiast) |
How to Load CRT Shaders in RetroArch (Quick Guide)
Hotkey Combo
While playing any game, press your hotkey menu combination (usually Home + X or Select + X) to open the RetroArch Quick Menu.
Select .slangp or .glslp
Navigate down to Shaders > Video Shaders (ON) > Load Preset > shaders_slang > crt. Select crt-geom.slangp or zfast-crt.slangp.
Automate for System
Click Save > Save Core Preset. Now every game on that console (e.g. SNES or PS1) will automatically launch with your beautiful CRT filter!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which CRT shader runs at 60 FPS on budget handhelds like the Anbernic RG35XX or Miyoo Mini?
For low-powered ARM Mali-G31/G52 chipsets (Allwinner H700, RK3566, SigmaStar), 'zfast-crt' and 'crt-easymode' are the best options. They use simplified single-pass math with lookup tables, consuming less than 4% GPU load and maintaining locked 60 FPS without audio crackle.
Why does CRT-Royale cause audio crackle and slow motion on retro handhelds?
CRT-Royale is an extremely heavy multi-pass shader that computes electron beam dynamics, phosphor dot pitch, bloom halation, and 3D screen curvature in floating-point precision. On mobile GPUs weaker than an Adreno 650 (Snapdragon 865), it overloads the GPU compute pipe, causing frame times to exceed 16.6ms, resulting in dropped frames and audio buffer underruns.
What is the difference between Aperture Grille and Shadow Mask CRT phosphors?
Aperture Grille (used in Sony Trinitron CRTs) uses vertical phosphor stripes separated by tension wires, producing bright, vibrant colors and sharp horizontal scanlines. Shadow Mask (used in standard consumer CRTs and arcade monitors) uses a triangular triad dot matrix, providing softer blending and classic arcade diffusion.
Should you use GLSL or Slang shaders in RetroArch?
Slang (.slangp) is the modern standard for RetroArch when running Vulkan, Direct3D 11/12, or Metal video drivers. GLSL (.glslp) is the legacy format used exclusively for OpenGL video drivers. For modern Android consoles (Retroid Pocket 5, Odin 2) running Vulkan, always choose Slang shaders for lowest input lag.
Need to Calibrate Your Screen Colors or Ghosting?
Launch our Display Calibration & UFO Motion Blur Suite to test dead pixels, black level clipping, and IPS response times.