UPDATE: The community has discovered this is an rk3326 disguised by MagicX's supplier to look like an rk3562. They have a new supplier for their follow-up device, and are offering a $15 discount if you bought an M (you could also request a full refund for the M). This makes sense now why the performance lacked compared to a 3566, it's not just inefficient software, we had our ol' sneaky 3326 all along. I do like that we can get some 3326 CFW booting now, but still, MagicX will need to get their ducks in a row before trying to sell a follow-up device.
@@premrockonI would like to get that one as well but I'm not sure about that chipset discussion since I did not understand it completely what's going on with this one, since my English isn't perfect. (I'm from Germany as well)
I'm a month into my A30, and its been such a charm for on the go. I've actually fo8nd myself playing it more than my Odin 2 here lately. Great vid brotha, keep em coming!
This thing is fantastic! Wow. Being able to put it into "kids mode" is huge. My nephew managed to change the language on my 35XX somehow one time and I had to take it over to my Swedish neighbor to get it back to english haha. It's only missing Wifi. It even has vibration. Not that I really care that much but it would be nice for potential multiplayer stuff I guess. I never really use the wifi on the RG35XXH but I'm a weirdo because I'm still running the stock OS. I need to switch to muOS at some point. The mini m is actually mini. It's something you can realistically toss in your pocket. I carry the 35XXH in my pocket without a case. That's the whole point of a handheld that size and putting it in a bulky zip up case defeats that entirely. I haven't had an issue at all with the 35XXH being loosely carried in my pocket.
I hope we get more fire cfws. PlumOS already has portmaster support! I love this scene! I hope they will ship to Germany soon. I really need that device. Also wanted to be a first adaptor for the first time and that should tell you a lot. Still disappointed that there is no 2,8 inch device with WiFi and Bluetooth but i also have a rg35xxh for playing on a tv with others. Really enjoyed the WiFi upgrade from my r36s which has a better Dreamcast performance btw. I'm sure with a good cfw the performance will be way better than the 700h soc.
@@premrockon I’ve heard that they will comes with a new version of the magicx xu mini with Wi-Fi and an Allwinner SoC, because of the problems with the fw developer had with the RK SoC. It’s an downgrade in my eyes and who knows if the CFW will supported with a small user base that own the Rockchip Version of the XU Mini😕
Hall sticks, concave sticks, stereo speakers, confortable ergonomics, decent buttons, decent d-pad, decent specs, decent screen, decent price, they achieved what Anbernic and others can't seem to achieve or don't want to, but is missing wifi. WHY ??? It was so close to being perfect. All it is missing is wifi! Why do all retro handhelds seem to miss something important? God, this hobby surely is frustrating.
@@LuisPerez-5 no, I’ll grant that WiFi is useful for retroachievements and it makes scraping images and descriptions for your ROMs a lot simpler. Also, it makes ad-hoc multiplayer possible for a lot of systems, which is a nice plus if you have irl friends you are shopping for devices for also. But yeah… it’s very much an optional feature, and not a dealbreaker, imo. Just like having hall sticks instead of regular ones, it’s a plus, but not a requirement.
@@LuisPerez-5 retroachievements, art scraping, OTA updates, bluetooth controllers, portmaster, extra content like themes, bezels, shaders download and update, multiplayer, etc etc Its a game changer
I have an A30, my starter handheld. Picked it up for very good price. I like a lot, feels like a fidget toy with its satisfying squishy buttons. I like the rumble feature, nice suprise.
Great review! I have less than 0% desire for a mini handheld, but I like the length and thoroughness of your review. I’m also not very good at Celeste. 😅
Keep in mind for a few more hours I am seeing the A30 HEAVILY discounted which puts it around $30 for me which is crazy. Even as the weakest entry here, when you put the cost at $30 you have an excellent device.
I believe someone said that a representitve from Ampown/MagicX has acknowledged the request to support portmaster to fully utilized the dual sticks... Source? Direct from Reddit.. Validity? Unsure.
@@ampersand...Yes but it's an early build don't expect too much. I'm guessing a lot of games won't work yet but I'm pretty sure, that we will get fire cfws But I'm really looking forward to playing stardew valley on it
I wonder how many nits and how it compares to what seems to be the brightest screen in these budget handhelds - the OG 35XX. I care a lot about pocket-ability and brightness as these are intended to be played outdoors, in the park, on the beach, etc. Thanks for the review, subscribed and awaiting more custom firmware for this one!
That's a big problem with a lot of handhelds. I can barely play the Vita outside (even the slim LCD version doesn't get bright enough for realistic outdoor use) and the steamdeck can be iffy at times too. The 35xxh gets pretty bright at least.
Thanks for the Trimui. It looks great in the video, the sticks on this one looks nice but i'll probably wait for a later batch so they make the buttons a little better 😂
I have the Ayn Odin 2. And i bought this for only 3rd and 4th gen + GBA. So NES/SNES/Master system/Genesis/GB/GBC/GBA . And I'm more than happy using it for just those few systems. And if I enjoyed them sure it could play MAME/CPS 1-3/Neo GEO/PC Engine/Atari ect just fine. I just dont personally enjoy anything older or more obscure than 3rd gen mainline consoles. But for a device that can be had for $50 I got mine through AliExpress deal for like $35 being able to have such a great DPI 4x3 screen and such a small form factor for these games where it just works I prefer them here to the Odin II just for the size it just is feels better to play some of these precise control NES games on this controller compared to the Odin with its more weight and your hand spread further apart and the button placement all of it just makes it less comfortable than this
Nice overview! Shame that the curse of loud clicky shoulder buttons strikes again 🙄. I have so many devices that are unusable around other people because of that. And yet quiet versions exist, like the TrimUI smart pro, and Miyoo Mini Plus. There’s even membrane shoulders like the RG353P and RG-Arc, which are perfect! I wish more care and attention was paid to the actual usability of these devices, instead of just copying each other with the cheapest parts to make a quick buck.
Thanks for sharing the review, two things: first these micro handhelds get too hot. Is there anyway to help with heat ventilation such as drill small holes onto the back shell? My A30 overheats after playing Mario 64 for awhile to a point it shuts off. Secondly, I like the design of the device, however I plan to hold off since it is a new chipset and has yet to be unlocked, I would like to see what CFW options would be available, because I think with CFW you can achieve better performance.
Why is nobody reviewing the new 8bitdo ultimate 2c yet??? Im thirsty for reviews they added bluetooth, hall sticks, and l4 + r4 buttons without increasing the price for $30 it seems like an insane deal
Been going back thru the GBA Duke Nukem games since they were released for the Evercade XP. Can only play GBA FPS games a few mins at a time cause nausea. Next cart I'm getting is the Tomb Raider Trilogy...gotta have my Lara
As cool as this device is, it gets completely ruined by the fact you can’t change resolutions, aspect ratios, or shaders. When will these company’s learn to stop locking the setting down like this?
Wow if the stick is good that is really nice might replace my 35xx h with this if some better cfw comes out definitely promising for n64 and dreamfast platformers if sticks are good
Surprised you don’t think there should be Dreamcast slowdown on this chipset, since you do on 3326 and it seems there’s virtually no difference between the two.
That's not Celeste that is 100% a port or Knytt! I'd recognize that little sprite anywhere. Not a handheld game it's best for PC but highly recommend so good!
@@STR82DVD i am not denying that from what i've seen the stock os is quite bad but it can be fast and bad at the same time. i'm also waiting for a solid stable cfw
A30 for me. Latest fw fixes wifi so Retroachievements and Pico-8 splore work reliably. Install spruce, and it's really great. Dpad and buttons are excellent and super quiet, including the shoulders and triggers.
I'm not in love with this one Stubbs lad. And I think primarily because of the stock experience as it's highly unoptimized and it was shipped that way.
I like the xu devices but this is too expensive to be competitive. For example you can buy a rg35xxh for 40 bucks, and although not as small I prefer the 3.5” and the rg35xxh is still perfectly comfortable and pocketable . How much is this again? 60 bucks?
RG35XX.H is a different market.. The XU Mini is challenging for Micro handhelds, which are the Trimui Smart (Not.Pro), Miyoo A30, Anbernic 28XX, and the Miyoo Mini. It's like your saying you want to race with a Rally Car on an F1 competition. XU Mini is around 40-50 bucks as well, where did you get the 60?
@@iSa_Ach when I looked a couple of days ago this was just under 60 bucks shipped to where I live. Now they’re 52-53 bucks. For me personally anything smaller than 3.5” isn’t a good playing experience. That’s why I was comparing the nearest device I could play comfortably while still being pocketable. Even a 3.5” screen is quite small for me. But anything larger i wouldn’t call pocketable. Everyone has their own preferences and type of use. I really like it but unless it was under 40 bucks I’ll stick with something else
35xxh has been down to 45, but is currently 51-53 on sale. Calling it $40 isn't really accurate and it didn't launch at that price. Also, checked the link, this is ~$43 , so cheaper, right now.
For me, its not very powerful, and doesnt have many extra features, BUT its 40 bucks, 50 with shipping is. 50 Bucks to be able to play literally thousands of retro console games. And we aint talking Walmart trash thousands of games. You can play Ocarina Of Time for free, bb. So if you aint got a handheld, get one.
UPDATE: The community has discovered this is an rk3326 disguised by MagicX's supplier to look like an rk3562. They have a new supplier for their follow-up device, and are offering a $15 discount if you bought an M (you could also request a full refund for the M). This makes sense now why the performance lacked compared to a 3566, it's not just inefficient software, we had our ol' sneaky 3326 all along. I do like that we can get some 3326 CFW booting now, but still, MagicX will need to get their ducks in a row before trying to sell a follow-up device.
Does it have Portmaster Support!? 🤩
Ooooo good call!
It now has portmaster support! I will buy this asap they will ship to Germany. Pretty sure it will also get some sort of ArkOS
@@premrockonI would like to get that one as well but I'm not sure about that chipset discussion since I did not understand it completely what's going on with this one, since my English isn't perfect. (I'm from Germany as well)
I'm a month into my A30, and its been such a charm for on the go. I've actually fo8nd myself playing it more than my Odin 2 here lately. Great vid brotha, keep em coming!
This thing is fantastic! Wow. Being able to put it into "kids mode" is huge. My nephew managed to change the language on my 35XX somehow one time and I had to take it over to my Swedish neighbor to get it back to english haha. It's only missing Wifi. It even has vibration. Not that I really care that much but it would be nice for potential multiplayer stuff I guess. I never really use the wifi on the RG35XXH but I'm a weirdo because I'm still running the stock OS. I need to switch to muOS at some point.
The mini m is actually mini. It's something you can realistically toss in your pocket. I carry the 35XXH in my pocket without a case. That's the whole point of a handheld that size and putting it in a bulky zip up case defeats that entirely. I haven't had an issue at all with the 35XXH being loosely carried in my pocket.
I hope we get more fire cfws. PlumOS already has portmaster support! I love this scene! I hope they will ship to Germany soon. I really need that device. Also wanted to be a first adaptor for the first time and that should tell you a lot. Still disappointed that there is no 2,8 inch device with WiFi and Bluetooth but i also have a rg35xxh for playing on a tv with others. Really enjoyed the WiFi upgrade from my r36s which has a better Dreamcast performance btw. I'm sure with a good cfw the performance will be way better than the 700h soc.
YES!!! 😤
@@premrockon I’ve heard that they will comes with a new version of the magicx xu mini with Wi-Fi and an Allwinner SoC, because of the problems with the fw developer had with the RK SoC. It’s an downgrade in my eyes and who knows if the CFW will supported with a small user base that own the Rockchip Version of the XU Mini😕
Hall sticks, concave sticks, stereo speakers, confortable ergonomics, decent buttons, decent d-pad, decent specs, decent screen, decent price, they achieved what Anbernic and others can't seem to achieve or don't want to, but is missing wifi. WHY ??? It was so close to being perfect. All it is missing is wifi! Why do all retro handhelds seem to miss something important? God, this hobby surely is frustrating.
This one is excuseable at least, because they crammed in so much into such a tiny package.
@@dansmith7009Still a massive L and makes me pick something else with wifi over this.
You don't need wifi for retro gaming though. How is it important?
@@LuisPerez-5 no, I’ll grant that WiFi is useful for retroachievements and it makes scraping images and descriptions for your ROMs a lot simpler.
Also, it makes ad-hoc multiplayer possible for a lot of systems, which is a nice plus if you have irl friends you are shopping for devices for also.
But yeah… it’s very much an optional feature, and not a dealbreaker, imo.
Just like having hall sticks instead of regular ones, it’s a plus, but not a requirement.
@@LuisPerez-5 retroachievements, art scraping, OTA updates, bluetooth controllers, portmaster, extra content like themes, bezels, shaders download and update, multiplayer, etc etc
Its a game changer
I have an A30, my starter handheld. Picked it up for very good price. I like a lot, feels like a fidget toy with its satisfying squishy buttons. I like the rumble feature, nice suprise.
Great review! I have less than 0% desire for a mini handheld, but I like the length and thoroughness of your review.
I’m also not very good at Celeste. 😅
Keep in mind for a few more hours I am seeing the A30 HEAVILY discounted which puts it around $30 for me which is crazy. Even as the weakest entry here, when you put the cost at $30 you have an excellent device.
@@greenprotag can’t go past the A30, it’s great and looks so much nicer than the 28XX. That one looks like a cheap toy
I was waiting on a review for this.. something i usually dont do. Not that ive seen these first reviews.. im grabbing one before they are gone.
Ah nice! What color?
Thanks! I'm looking forward to it!
Give this Portmaster Support and I'll be all over this.
I believe someone said that a representitve from Ampown/MagicX has acknowledged the request to support portmaster to fully utilized the dual sticks... Source? Direct from Reddit.. Validity? Unsure.
Someone got Portmaster on this device so we're likely to have it soon 🔥🔥🔥
Edit: It is released under the CFW PlumOS
@@ampersand...Yes but it's an early build don't expect too much. I'm guessing a lot of games won't work yet but I'm pretty sure, that we will get fire cfws
But I'm really looking forward to playing stardew valley on it
Time is doing you well ❤ looking younger man!
Victor!!! Time to have you on the show again my friend 🧡
This is my favorite screen size and this thing sounds brilliant in most ways
I'm really enjoying it, almost in the way I enjoyed the Retroid Pocket 2 for the first time, there's flaws, but I can tell there was love put into it.
I wonder how many nits and how it compares to what seems to be the brightest screen in these budget handhelds - the OG 35XX. I care a lot about pocket-ability and brightness as these are intended to be played outdoors, in the park, on the beach, etc.
Thanks for the review, subscribed and awaiting more custom firmware for this one!
That's a big problem with a lot of handhelds. I can barely play the Vita outside (even the slim LCD version doesn't get bright enough for realistic outdoor use) and the steamdeck can be iffy at times too. The 35xxh gets pretty bright at least.
Thanks for the Trimui. It looks great in the video, the sticks on this one looks nice but i'll probably wait for a later batch so they make the buttons a little better 😂
Absolutely! 🫡
Looks very nice with the skittles. Buttons. Thanks Stubbs 🙂
Well, I've got a 35XX H, and I think that's small enough for me. Neat to see this one have two analog sticks though!
I have the Ayn Odin 2. And i bought this for only 3rd and 4th gen + GBA.
So NES/SNES/Master system/Genesis/GB/GBC/GBA .
And I'm more than happy using it for just those few systems.
And if I enjoyed them sure it could play
MAME/CPS 1-3/Neo GEO/PC Engine/Atari ect just fine. I just dont personally enjoy anything older or more obscure than 3rd gen mainline consoles.
But for a device that can be had for $50 I got mine through AliExpress deal for like $35 being able to have such a great DPI 4x3 screen and such a small form factor for these games where it just works I prefer them here to the Odin II just for the size it just is feels better to play some of these precise control NES games on this controller compared to the Odin with its more weight and your hand spread further apart and the button placement all of it just makes it less comfortable than this
Nice overview! Shame that the curse of loud clicky shoulder buttons strikes again 🙄. I have so many devices that are unusable around other people because of that. And yet quiet versions exist, like the TrimUI smart pro, and Miyoo Mini Plus. There’s even membrane shoulders like the RG353P and RG-Arc, which are perfect! I wish more care and attention was paid to the actual usability of these devices, instead of just copying each other with the cheapest parts to make a quick buck.
Clicky triggers/shoulder buttons kill this device for me
Shots fired at Zu!! You need him on the next podcast to defend his honour.
🤣 don't worry his video is out after mine, so he'll get the last word
Thanks for sharing the review, two things: first these micro handhelds get too hot. Is there anyway to help with heat ventilation such as drill small holes onto the back shell? My A30 overheats after playing Mario 64 for awhile to a point it shuts off. Secondly, I like the design of the device, however I plan to hold off since it is a new chipset and has yet to be unlocked, I would like to see what CFW options would be available, because I think with CFW you can achieve better performance.
Why is nobody reviewing the new 8bitdo ultimate 2c yet??? Im thirsty for reviews they added bluetooth, hall sticks, and l4 + r4 buttons without increasing the price for $30 it seems like an insane deal
Been going back thru the GBA Duke Nukem games since they were released for the Evercade XP. Can only play GBA FPS games a few mins at a time cause nausea. Next cart I'm getting is the Tomb Raider Trilogy...gotta have my Lara
As cool as this device is, it gets completely ruined by the fact you can’t change resolutions, aspect ratios, or shaders. When will these company’s learn to stop locking the setting down like this?
PlumOS fixes this issue.
the r36s i got for 35$ still the best deal to me
Love the background music, sounds like the chorus to retro game corps intro
It has 2600mAh battery as the Miyoo A30. But since the chip is newer although more powerful, the average playtime must be similar.
What games would you recommend playing with the twin analog sticks on it?
holding out hope for rocknix on this bad boy since its chip is so similar to the rk3566 🙏
Wow if the stick is good that is really nice might replace my 35xx h with this if some better cfw comes out definitely promising for n64 and dreamfast platformers if sticks are good
My hands cramped watching you play this
Will the CPU be able to be unlocked via a firmware update? If so, has the manufacturer said anything about that?
I'm a lanyard guy. Not because I think they're cool, i just drop stuff.
This one looks really nice for me, but it needs better software before I jump in. 💚
Surprised you don’t think there should be Dreamcast slowdown on this chipset, since you do on 3326 and it seems there’s virtually no difference between the two.
This should be performing closer to the 3566
Did you get the 64GB or 128 GB? I scoured the video a couple times and did not hear if you did.
I got 64gb 🫡
Where to get the more powerful one
That's not Celeste that is 100% a port or Knytt! I'd recognize that little sprite anywhere. Not a handheld game it's best for PC but highly recommend so good!
Oh woah!! Thanks for the info and recommend
Man! I can't wait to load a CFW, set up RetroArch, and let it collect dust! lol 😂
I received mine last week and absolutely love it! Feels good, tons of games, love that it came with a case and the OS is really fluid.
In terms of the operating system, you just saw the review we all just did as well, right?
@@STR82DVD an os can be bad and fast/fluid at the same time
@@deannend I'll wait for the CFW. Thanks.
@@STR82DVD i am not denying that from what i've seen the stock os is quite bad but it can be fast and bad at the same time. i'm also waiting for a solid stable cfw
@@deannend That's the only thing holding me back from buying this unit.
Waiting for my unit😊
A30 for me. Latest fw fixes wifi so Retroachievements and Pico-8 splore work reliably. Install spruce, and it's really great. Dpad and buttons are excellent and super quiet, including the shoulders and triggers.
Agreed 100% on all points
Does it have vibration?
Hi Stubbs ❤❤❤
Hi there! ❤️
@@retrohandhelds awww 🥰
I got this device played for a few and charged it and tried playing it again now it won’t load games anymore. Can someone help me?
I'm not in love with this one Stubbs lad. And I think primarily because of the stock experience as it's highly unoptimized and it was shipped that way.
Haha very fair, I'm going to try PlumOS now that it's out and unlock the goodness 🫡
Oh come on! Why no wifi? Need wifi for Retro Achievements.
❤❤❤
Where'd you get the Snorlax lol
Ah a little shop in Taipei! Random find lol
Cute little guy 👌
Miyoo A30 price 30USD
RK3326....
I like the xu devices but this is too expensive to be competitive. For example you can buy a rg35xxh for 40 bucks, and although not as small I prefer the 3.5” and the rg35xxh is still perfectly comfortable and pocketable . How much is this again? 60 bucks?
RG35XX.H is a different market..
The XU Mini is challenging for Micro handhelds, which are the Trimui Smart (Not.Pro), Miyoo A30, Anbernic 28XX, and the Miyoo Mini.
It's like your saying you want to race with a Rally Car on an F1 competition.
XU Mini is around 40-50 bucks as well, where did you get the 60?
@@iSa_Ach when I looked a couple of days ago this was just under 60 bucks shipped to where I live. Now they’re 52-53 bucks. For me personally anything smaller than 3.5” isn’t a good playing experience. That’s why I was comparing the nearest device I could play comfortably while still being pocketable. Even a 3.5” screen is quite small for me. But anything larger i wouldn’t call pocketable. Everyone has their own preferences and type of use. I really like it but unless it was under 40 bucks I’ll stick with something else
35xxh has been down to 45, but is currently 51-53 on sale. Calling it $40 isn't really accurate and it didn't launch at that price.
Also, checked the link, this is ~$43 , so cheaper, right now.
I'm hoping for a boost in performance with the latest CFW to play N64 and PSP flawlessly. Great video Stubbs! 🫡
No wifi is no ports smh
Nah, just have to set them up manually which isn't that hard. I've done it on my RG28XX which doesn't have wifi either
For me, its not very powerful, and doesnt have many extra features, BUT its 40 bucks, 50 with shipping is. 50 Bucks to be able to play literally thousands of retro console games. And we aint talking Walmart trash thousands of games. You can play Ocarina Of Time for free, bb. So if you aint got a handheld, get one.
Exactly.
Very much 🎉
Screen and color quality is garbage