If there were ever handhelds that could be considered the gateway drug to the handheld emulation hobby, it would likely be either the Miyoo Mini+ or the Anbernic RG35XX. These small form-factor Game Boy clones have remained popular since their releases in the early part of 2023 — which might as well be a lifetime in this hobby.
Little Nemo shines on the Brick screen
Offering a cheap cost of entry, combined with a familiar form factor, to make a charming piece of value entertainment. But now, a new challenger from a familiar brand has emerged to take a shot at the entry-level kings. Enter the Trim UI Brick.
TrimUI Brick Specs
- CPU: Allwinner A133P, 1.8GHz
- GPU: Imagination PowerVR GE8300, 660MHz
- RAM: 1GB LPDDR3
- Storage: 8GB eMMC, TF card up to 1TB
- Display: 3.2″, 4:3, 1024×768 IPS
- Wireless: Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR/4.2
- Audio: Front-firing stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack, mono mic
- Battery: 3000mAh – Approximately 5-6 hours of life
- Ports: USB-C (charging, data, USB host), TF card slot
- Other: Vibration motor, RGB lighting, FN keys
- OS: TrimUI Stock Linux OS, MinUI available
- Dimensions: 73.2 x 109.9 x 19.9/11.79 mm
- Weight: 159g
Build & Design
Brick and MM+ side by side
When folks talk about the ‘pocketability’ of a device, the Brick is usually the kind of form factor that jumps into my mind first. A simple, compact design made to be played on the go. The Brick’s predecessors certainly had that portion down, but TrimUI seems like they’re aiming a little higher with this release.
Now, I have never used an Analogue Pocket, or any Analogue device for that matter. I don’t doubt that their excellent reputation is deserved, but there is a cost associated with that premium feel in your hands. I think the Brick aims to replicate that experience as best as it can, without the need to go sell plasma at the clinic to afford the device in the first place.
The Brick’s body is a standard ABS plastic but manages to find a solid feel in the hands. In fact, solid is the first word that comes to mind when I pick up the aptly named Brick. It feels more robust than just the sum of its interconnected pieces. The plastic itself does an admirable job of avoiding oil buildups and fingerprints from use.
The upper-rear panel is metal
Pressing my thumb to the shell didn’t leave behind much of a paw print. As was mentioned in Ban’s Hands-on article, the upper rear plate behind the screen is actually solid metal. The alloy addition certainly adds to the device’s sturdy feel and has me thinking about trying out the laser engraver at my local library.
The LED buttons and rear light bar on the Brick offer just a flash of color in what are otherwise some very solid body color designs. The black unit that I ordered, along with the red and purple variants, keeps the same color scheme across the device, save for a blue Function button and aforementioned LEDs.
Only the white variant differs, with gray inputs appearing over the all-white shell. In a world where manufacturers are often trying to be more outlandish in designs and colors to stand out from the crowd, it’s refreshing to see a company with a clean and simple design scheme. If the LED lights aren’t for you, they can be switched off entirely.
The Screen
Mega Man is at his crispest
When I first unboxed the Miyoo Mini+ in 2023 and loaded up Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, I was blown away at how much the screen elevated the experience I’d had almost 20 years earlier on a CRT. It lit the fire that made me want to explore everything in the hobby and see what else could be done.
The screen was vibrant and sharp and perfect for small form factor entertainment on the go. The Brick takes what I loved about that experience and elevates it to the next level.
You have to try Bonk on the Brick
The Brick’s screen comes in at 3.2 inches, which is .3 inches smaller than the screen on the Miyoo, but this smaller size packs in a much higher pixel density than its predecessor. At a resolution of 1024×768, the Brick offers a 405 PPI pixel density.
Sat side by side, the Miyoo screen still looks great, but the Brick offers a sharpness that makes it feel like an elevated premium experience and a worthy successor to those that came before. Older games and systems look so good on this screen that I’m not sure there’s much room to keep improving beyond what’s being offered here.
Controls
Close-up on the Brick controls
The Brick is all about simplicity being executed at a high level, and the controls on the Brick are no exception. If you are looking for something with hall sticks and analog triggers, you’re obviously going to be barking up the wrong tree, but if you need a Game Boy clone, this should provide the perfect experience for the games that came before the era of analog.
The D-pad on the Brick, like the screen, comes in a hair smaller than that on the Miyoo Mini+, but at no detriment to the gaming feel. There is an 8-way axis, with each input firmly feeling in its own place. I never had issues with false inputs while gaming and the pad is precise enough to handle fireballs and even the most precise of platformers.
When people mention the ‘clickiness’ of button inputs, this is pretty much what I imagine them describing. The face buttons have very little travel when pressed and provide a satisfying micro-click of input acknowledgment. The low profile adds to the clean overall aesthetic of the handheld, without making any real sacrifices in playability.
A look at the default set of rear triggers
The shoulder buttons may prove a little more challenging for those with specific likes. I found the stock units that came installed with the device to be more than sufficient for my needs. If you’re looking for something slightly different, though, TrimUI has made an effort to appease.
My Brick came with three different sets of shoulder buttons. The device came pre-installed with a more rectangular design, along with a rounded pair, and set with textured lines running through them for grip. For the eras being emulated and the size of the handheld, I think they’ve done the best job they could at answering community wants and still keeping things compact in design.
Software and Performance
The stock OS experience
The Brick is rocking the same internals as the horizontal TrimUI Smart Pro, so we know what to expect when it comes to capabilities. The handheld has the power to play up to PS1 without issue and can handle portions of the N64 and PSP library as a nice little added bonus. This wouldn’t be my first choice to emulate either of those systems, but it is nice to be able to tinker around for fun.
With the smaller form factor of the Brick vs the Pro, so too comes a smaller battery. The Brick is sporting a 3,000mAh battery to the Pro’s 5,000. I lack the dedication and setup for true battery testing, but from the three charges I’ve had on the device so far, I’d say the 5 hours of advertised life is right in the pocket.
Testing the Brick had me constantly jumping between different experiences, playing with different things as I plodded along. This is to say that the device was being used for about 30-90-minute stretches at a time over the course of a day. The standby feature seems to work great out of the box, and battery drain while sleeping proved to be minimal.
The TrimUI stock OS is entirely functional, but flawed when compared to the CFW options that are already available for the Smart Pro. As it stands at the time of writing, only MinUI has made an official release for the console.
Given the enthusiasm surrounding the Brick’s release, and the fact that the PCB is already tried and true, we should hopefully see CFW options continue to be ported over. Early reports suggest that while options like CrossMix will work out of the gate, there are still some minor glitches and annoyances to be ironed out.
Experience
I’ve had the TrimUI Brick for about a week now, and I feel comfortable saying that I’ve received the full package on offer. To put it quite simply, if you’ve been comfortable with a device of this style and size in the past, like the MM+, then the Brick should not prove any different. I am a larger guy with big hands and for the games that I want to play on a device like the Brick, it’s great. I tend to just rest my index fingers across the shoulders and I’m quite comfy for a decent-length session.
When the screen and tight controls combine, they really make the Brick feel like a special and premium device. The only thing slightly holding the Brick back is the stock firmware it ships with. Once the community gets its hands on it, users will be able to tailor the experience down to every detail.
Conclusions
Showing off
If you’re looking to purchase your first emu-device in this style, look no further. Now, if you already have a Miyoo or Anbernic in this form, the decision is going to be more up to the user whether the upgrade is worth the expense. I bought my unit from AliExpress during the 11:11 sale, and it came out to about $55. With the competition sitting at as much as $20 cheaper than that, and what we know the Smart Pro already goes for regularly, I think that price will continue to drop as time moves on.
I can emphatically say that, for me, this is now the device in this form factor. I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for the Miyoo Mini+, but the competition is now left to play catch up with what TrimUI has offered. The screen improvements, mixed with the overall design package, make the Brick a notable entry in a very crowded market.
There will always be a segment of the hobby that demands the very best there is in tech and flair (eg: The Analogue Pocket or Ayaneo Pocket DMG) and is willing to pay for it. For the rest of us, though, TrimUI just stole a whole lot of the high-end shine from those devices and made it available for a fraction of the cost.
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