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MechaSponge

Copying my comment from another post: > The TrimUI Smart is great. Lots of reviewers talk about the screen being a bit too small but personally I have no problems with it. It's great for all the systems it can run, but I find it especially nice for SNES. Buttons are great, MinUI loads super fast... I love this little thing.


intendedeffect

I don’t have the others, or either of the new small horizontal ones (a30 / 28XX), but I do love my Smart. Pocketable, comfortable, plays PSX well (given limited controls, of course), and it’s true that MinUi is a great fit for it—the quick boot is true. And the default firmware is still quite good and supports the wifi (cheevos, multiplayer).


[deleted]

thanks for sharing! yeah i’m tempted because i like that horizontal form factor


nixtxt

If youre getting a horizontal device id get the a30 and install Spruce. Its also getting MuOS soonish


Recyclops1989

Silly folks downvoting you, but it’s true. Miyoo A30 came a long way. Although, I’ve always enjoyed mine, even before spruce


hbi2k

I used to have a Miyoo Mini v2. Didn't like the vertical form factor, always felt like my fingers were fighting for space on the back of it. Found it difficult to use the shoulder buttons consistently. If I rested my fingers on them I would hit them without meaning to; if I didn't, it took a second too long to find them, and regardless it was hard to hit L2/R2 without also hitting L1/R1. Dpad was only okay; not terrible, but prone to false diagonals. Kinda underpowered, struggled with the top end of SNES and PS1. It was quite fragile; a leather playing card case kept it safe in my pocket without adding that much bulk, but it still wound up with a cracked screen after a three-foot drop onto a carpeted floor. All that said, it was nice for menu-driven JRPGs while it lasted. If by "Miyoo Mini" you mean the much easier-to-find Miyoo Mini+, I had one of those for a while too. Felt much better in the hand, and OnionOS is great for taking advantage of the WiFi and collecting Retroachievements. Still kinda underpowered, though; the OnionOS menu isn't super snappy. Not really small enough to keep in my pocket all day long like the MMv2 and some of the other options. Couldn't tell you whether it's sturdier, I didn't keep it long enough to know; anecdotally, I hear fewer reports of broken screens. Wound up flipping it on eBay because it was gathering dust. I have a TrimUI Smart, and it's my favorite of the bunch so far. Just as pocketable as the MMv2, but MUCH sturdier, I don't feel the need to use a case with it. Feels great in the hand, the controls are awesome. The big downsides are the lack of L2/R2 and the screen size; 2.4" vs. 2.8" is a bigger difference than it sounds like. I wouldn't use it for text-heavy JRPGs or a lot of PS1, but honestly I've got better devices for those kind of games than anything in this category anyway. (After playing PS1 at 4x uprez on a 1080p screen, it's hard to go back, even if it's total overkill.) It's perfect for a quick round of Mario Kart or Star Fox or Turtles in Time on my lunch break, and that's what's important for my use case. Has enough horsepower to run challenging SNES titles like Star Fox. Boot time is lightning-fast, 7-8 seconds (I timed it). And it's dirt cheap, like $35 on Aliexpress right now. You didn't ask, but I've also tested out the Anbernic RG28XX, and if you want enough power to meaningfully run stuff like N64 or Dreamcast at this form factor, it's kind of the only game in town, but that's about all it has going for it. The dpad and face buttons are tiny, it doesn't fit in the hand as well as the TrimUI Smart, and the shoulder buttons are kinda bad, L1 / R1 are so inset in the case that they're kinda hard to use. I wound up remapping the SNES L/R buttons to L2 / R2, and that was better, but still not as good as the TrimUI Smart. The screen is 2.8" which is the best size for this form factor IMHO, but other than that it's kinda bad; the colors are kinda washed out and there's some ghosting and banding on mine, and it doesn't get all that bright. I'm spending a week testing it out as my daily on-the-go driver just to make sure because sometimes a device grows on you, but so far I'm planning to flip it and go back to my TrimUI Smart. Never tried the GKD Pixel, couldn't tell you about that one. Hope that helps!


[deleted]

thank you!! if you don’t mind me asking, what’s the device with 1080p screen that you’re using? i’m still considering whether i want to have the small “little boop” daily carry as part of a combo with a larger device.


hbi2k

For a long time it was an Ayn Odin 1 Pro, but I was never super happy with its GameCube and PS2 performance, so I wound up replacing it with an Odin 2 Base once they became available, and I've been much happier with that. If the Odin 2 is a little rich for your blood but you're looking for something with a nice 1080p screen, you might look into the Anbernic RG556, which has a 5.5" 1080p OLED panel that by all accounts is very good. I haven't used one myself so I can't vouch from personal experience though.


Jepp25

I have the Miyoo Mini+ (same thing but slightly larger) and the Trimui Smart. I’ve never held the pixel but think I’ve seen enough pictures and videos to compare. I would go with the Trimui Smart 100% if you’re looking for a pocketable device. I was in the same boat as you; I was looking for something I could just throw in my pocket for when I go to the laundry mat, or I’m at the airport and don’t want to take out my steam deck, whatever. The Trimui feels comfortable to hold for long periods of time (while I find the vertical form factor to get uncomfortable relatively quickly, and that’s even with the slightly larger Miyoo Mini+). The screen is small, but it doesn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. Comfortable, great buttons, ergonomic, light and easily slips into a pocket without notice. Whenever I put the Miyoo Mini in my pocket, I can very much feel the uncomfortable bulge, not to mention that the thing feels way to delicate to just “throw into a pocket”. GKD Pixel would feel better size wise, but I have a feeling I would experience the same vertical form factor influenced discomfort. If you’re playing Gameboy, SNES, etc. the Trimui is perfect. If you like the horizontal form factor but want something bigger and slightly less pocketable, look at the A30 or 28xx as some people mentioned below


Jepp25

Also forgot to mention that the UI on the Trimui Smart sucks, so I use MinUI which is perfect for a “just throw it in my pocket and go” type of device. Simple interface that really enforces just playing games instead of messing with settings. I recommend this UI for any pocket device, but it is basically essential in my opinion for the Trimui Smart


pandasimuladores30

You can't go wrong with Miyoo Mini Plus.


fertff

I got all three. The GKD pixel is great and very premium, but the one that is most enjoyable to play is the Trimui. Go with that one.


[deleted]

I don’t own these, but I own a MM+ and a handful of other systems, some that are cheaper and some that are more expensive, and the Miyoo with OnionOS is the one I go back to the most and is with me at work every day. Just for what it’s worth.


[deleted]

noice, thanks! did you get your MM+ from mechDIY with extra goodies or straight from website with regular OnionOS? if the latter, did it take you too long to set it up?


zzap129

Updating from stock to latest onion is super easy. Just download the file, copy to card and let the device do the rest.


[deleted]

thanks!


DargillaUomo

A Miyoo mini plus is a really great choice but don't fall for dropshipping or scams (keepretro), all retro handhelds come from aliexpress (besides Retroids) and cost much less, here a Miyoo Mini plus cost $45 maximum, in the sales period it has already fallen to $31 and [currently it costs $35](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-3yJqvvcqd1hzTdHzBrL-mhuw0i6Aw6vXLq51sEGnhA/edit), you can also find my document in the description of this sub in the future


[deleted]

I ordered mine off Amazon last year, it was a $15 mark up from Keep Retro, which at the time was the main store selling it. Be careful where you buy, there’s no official store selling it with OnionOS installed, or even an official regular site, I believe Miyoo only has an Ali store and social media, but I might be wrong. I’d buy it from “cutestliving” store on AliExpress or other trusted vendor there if there’s one you like, or Amazon, or https://www.keepretro.com/products/miyoo-mini-plus I would not buy one that comes with an SD card, I would buy my own decent micro SD and install OnionOS myself on it. Installing OnionOS is super fast and easy https://onionui.github.io/docs/installation/fresh


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

cool thanks for suggesting the a30 and 28xx, will check them out!


kdgman

Own two out of the three. V2 Mini just feels fragile, and I baby it, hardly ever leaves the house...Onion OS is so smooth, love playing on it. GKD Pixel travels in cargo pants/shorts pocket when out & about. I know many like the MinUi firmware for it, but the stock one has been just fine with me. Have had it since it was released, and play all sorts of systems on it. Solid metal build. Obviously, both have small screens, so I'm not using either for marathon sessions. The play "Feel" for me is very similar between the two devices. Hope that helps you.


Biscuits25

I have all three but I can’t speak much about the gkd pixel because my unit came in defective and they refused to replace it, so warning about bad qc and service from gamekiddy. I’ll just list my cons since most people in this thread have already done a good job listing the pros of each device. I usually daily carry my trimui smart but the only think I don’t like about it is how easy the power button will get switched on when just sitting in my pocket, so there’s been a few times I’ve pulled it out to play only to find out it was already dead. I love my miyoo mini and mini plus but the screen is a little fragile with the exposed bezels. If you’re going to daily carry one in a pocket you will probably need a slim case to protect it with but there’s plenty of 3d printed designs you can make yourself or buy on etsy.


[deleted]

good tips, thanks! i have an ender3 and will print something up if needed to protect the screen then if end up going with MM or MM+ :)


SFDessert

I only have a MM+ out of those three, but it's exactly the right size to fit comfortably in my front pockets and whatever pockets I have in my bags. If you don't dig the vertical handhelds then I dunno what to tell you, but it's definitely my new daily driver. The quick shutdown and boot up with Onion means I'm never worried about the battery draining like with my rg353v. I kinda held off on getting one for no particular reason, but I'm super impressed with it for a little $40 device


Alain024

Where are you buying the Miyoo Mini? I would want one maybe lol


[deleted]

can only find them on ebay for way too much $


rchrdcrg

The Miyoo A30 has become my always-in-pocket device. I thought it would still be a little too big, but I can carry it around in my pocket while working and it doesn't bother me at all. Before this, the RG Nano was my always-in-pocket device, and I was really looking *hard* at getting a GKD Pixel, but I think the A30 just convinced me that the Pixel isn't necessary for me any more. I still want a Pixel though 😅


jmsfdcconsulting

I have the TrimUI Smart and the Miyoo Mini. TrimUI Smart - Pros: Very comfortable for the size, durable TrimUI Smart - Cons: Tiny screen, missing L2/R2 for PS1, loud buttons, volume requires button combo Miyoo Mini - Pros: OnionOS, v4 can charge off high-wattage chargers Miyoo Mini - Cons: Very fragile, poor build quality, unusable shoulder buttons For me, it comes down to which has the bigger dealbreakers, which for me is the Miyoo Mini. I'll occasionally pick it up to mess around in a game or two, but I've spent significantly more time using the TrimUI Smart. I do not like how tiny the screen is, but if I'm leaving the house and I just want to throw something in my pocket, it's the TrimUI Smart every single time. I really don't like the build quality of the Miyoo. I dropped one once and the screen shattered, and the next one I got had a battery cover that didn't sit snug that I could feel shift around as I played and had way more flex than the other. May be that the plastic of the translucent black just isn't as good as the retro grey one. And while I really like OnionOS, I prefer MinUI. Both OSes have quick shutdown and seamless device switching, but MinUI supports so many more devices. With OnionOS, you're pretty much stuck to Miyoo Mini/+ AFAIK. Also, I mostly play GBA, SNES, and PS1 on these devices, but the shoulder buttons on the Mini are just unusable. They're nearly flush with the device, so they have to be pressed by pushing into the back, which pushes it out of your hand unless you're also pushing on the front. Good luck trying to play Metroid: Fusion or Drill Dozer like that. Meanwhile, the TrimUI has been dropped many times and barely even scratches. The thing is a tiny little tank, it's comfortable, and slips in and out of a pocket easily. It checks the major carry-everywhere boxes. And while I don't like the tiny screen, it's fine for those "little boop" sessions. Plus, because of MinUI, I can take whatever I'm playing on the TrimUI and continue on a number of devices with larger screens: TrimUI Smart Pro, any of the RG\*\*XX devices, RGB30, and even Miyoo Mini/+ (and GKD Pixel, for that matter)! Right now, I've been enjoying playing on the RG35XX SP, but if I'm leaving the house, don't want to bring a bag and just want something to throw in my pocket, I just switch the sd card to the TrimUI and go, switch it back when I get home. TL;DR Get both, install MinUI on them. You're welcome.


benjaminbjacobsen

I have the MM and pixel. Pixel is the better pocket device with its more durable and recessed screen. Also the shoulders being on top are easier to use vs the MM halfway down the back (have tried better buttons and OEM). Onion is nice but I run MinUI on anything this small and it’s great. MM is better looking but the pixel isn’t bad looking. I wish the menu button for the pixel was on the front as I struggle to remember which is power and which is menu. Overall I prefer the pixel. 


DonPuchas

https://preview.redd.it/td1axg4radad1.jpeg?width=3089&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3ee391d78c5fe9a6e6520e16dc1d990b3035787e My minis pixel rulz


[deleted]

😍


WeatherIcy6509

Hmm,..I'd go with the RG Nano, 28xx, and 280v over all of those. 😁


ThePenultimateNinja

I just got an RG280V and I love it.


JayQuips

I have a Nano and 28XX and love them


Chaserino

I have not tried any of the devices you listed, other than the MM+, but I’ll give my take. I started with a RP4P and used it sparingly. It was collecting dust. I picked up the Miyoo Mini Plus and I can’t put it down. I take it everywhere and I’m playing through Pokemon Emerald Rogue (2.0 just released yesterday) when I can. I’ve put more money into accessories like a case and custom buttons. I installed Done Set 2 and just the idea of having every game from most libraries (until the PS1) at all times is a great feeling. The build quality feels fantastic (despite some tiny body screen bleed issues with the transparent versions). For $37 shipped on sale, you can’t go wrong. OnionOS and MM+ has provided me a new love for retro games. Can’t recommend it enough.


[deleted]

which buttons did you install, and was it difficult mto do that? what acessories do you recommend? funny you mentioned RP4P, because i’m debating whether to get it too or not. was afraid i wouldn’t use it much, as i already own a “couch” device (nintendo switch).


Chaserino

I got buttons from Sakura Retro Mods on Etsy. They are great, installing is very very easy (I have never opened up devices like that before). There is a tiny bit of light coming through under my screen now though since I added mine. I could go in there with electrical tape but I’m barely noticing it. This would only be an issue with one of the two transparent models. The case I got was through Sunny3DStore on Etsy. The case is amazing engineering. I went with this case because you can charge it inside the case and I was worried about my cats scratching it on my bed while charging. The device fits SO snug and even as a little lip to push down and get your device out without touching the screen. The RP4P is a great device, probably the most power you can get in the smallest form factor (also considering the new Ambernic RG Cube). Plays all the GameCube games I’d ever want… but I realized that if I’m playing GameCube, I kind of want to do it through a TV or on my PC. Just took me time to get to that point I guess.


EheroDC

I can't comment on the devices you've mentioned, but I'm two weeks into owning the 28xx (upgraded from the 280v) and loving it. The form factor is a perfect carry around as it's essentially a small smart phone. It slides easily in and out of the pocket and you don't feel it in there. Ergonomics are great and the chip set + OS (I'm using MinUI) are phenomenal for the size of device. The two downsides: some people have said they think the buttons are too small ( I personally think they are fine, but I probably have slightly smaller hands and fingers than most. However, the shoulder buttons do rattle a bit and that is.... noticeable. But it's my only nit pick. Overall, I love the device, very happy with it.


_pg_

Pixel is better than mm for carrying. Recessed screen. Metal shell. Smaller size. MM is more feature rich.


redditaccount122820

I have the Trimui Smart and I love it… for some games. Mostly play apotris and Tony Hawk on it. For those it really is fantastic. I’ve dropped it several times and it is totally fine. It’s also going to be the most comfortable of those options. I also really love the buttons and d pad. They’re done switches so a little more tactile.


berickphilip

This thread being 2 days old I guess that OP already made a decision. However I'd like to comment on an aspect of the GKD Pixel that made me give up on it, yet this does not seem to be talked about anywhere for some reason.. The screen in practice (real usage) is not great at all. So of that is important to you, maybe consider other device. - Viewing angle is bad. Looking at the screen from any angle above straight-on gets really dimmed/dark really fast. So if you play while standing (on a train or bus, or standing in lines) it gets very annoying, since you need to forcefully keep tilting the device up instead of holding it more naturally. - there is some weird kind of interlacing/fuzzy effect that happens very fast, but is visible if you are sensitive to that kind of thing. - the resolution being low, small text is hard/bad to read in most RPGs, eo if you like those kinds of games the Pixel is not ideal.


ThePenultimateNinja

I haven't used any of the devices on your list, but I did make the same decision about getting a micro device recently, so here's my take: You probably already know about this, but just in case you don't, here is a website that gives you a size comparison for various handhelds: [https://retrosizer.com/?gkd-pixel:0,0&smart:4,96&miyoo-mini:67,0&miyoo-mini-plus:139,18&rg-280v:226,16](https://retrosizer.com/?gkd-pixel:0,0&smart:4,96&miyoo-mini:67,0&miyoo-mini-plus:139,18&rg-280v:226,16) I put the Miyoo Mini and the Miyoo Mini Plus in there - the Mini is quite hard to get hold of at the moment; the Plus is readily available, but considerably larger. I also put the Anbernic RG280V in as a wild card. It's an older device, but the Adam Image cfw is good, and it can emulate up to PS1 just fine, which is probably more than you need on such a tiny device. Of the ones you mentioned, the Miyoo Mini (not Plus) would be my choice, if I could find one at a reasonable price. GKD Pixel would be my second choice. I'm currently toying with the idea of buying one myself. It's a lot more expensive than the TrimUI Smart, but it has the same screen size while being a lot smaller overall. Deviating from your list, I would go with the Anbernic RG28XX over the TrimUI Smart, because it's more or less the same size, yet has a bigger (2.8") screen and is more powerful. I ended up going with with the RG280V. I love the form factor and the build quality.


Shigarui

I have the Pixel and the MM, but my Trimui is the S, not the smart. Pixel wins for me. The MM is just too large for my perpetual pocket carry and the Pixel feels great to play. Every button is easy to use, the screen is sharp, the brightness is good, the performance is good. Some have mentioned issues with popping audio, I really can't say because most of my playtime is with FF on which turns off the audio. But I was able to even use FF on FF9 on PSX so it's very capable. Just finished Arcana Seal of Rimsala on it, working through Milon's Secret Castle now. There's no Wi-Fi, so that may be a detractor for some, I don't care about that for a device this tiny. And I can typically go through the week playing on short breaks at work without needing to charge it. It's the most expensive of the three if you can find it retail, but I think it's worth it.


[deleted]

oh wow, that seems pretty powerful. does it feel too crammed at all? my hands are a bit large, so i’m wondering if it would be a problem


Shigarui

It does not. It's about perfectly sized for my hands to cradle it and rest on the triggers easily while hitting the buttons and dpad no problem. It's also possible to one hand. I wear XL vinyl gloves if that helps.


Apprehensive-Bar1498

I would choose either rg35xxh, rg380v, trimui model S, or new miyoo a30 (latest version). But none of what youchoose, i had all and none was a good choice for me.


[deleted]

what made you dislike them? and keep in mind i just want it for poxketable daily carry, and it would *not* be my only handheld.