Looking to rid itself of the e-waste reputation of its own creation, SZDiiER rebranded itself to Diium in late 2024. They’ve released some so-so handhelds in the time since, but when Stubbs offered me the D-40MAX for review, I’d hoped that perhaps this would be their coming-out party. Something of a new era for the company, which looked to make a (new) name for itself. Sadly, that was not the case.
Diium D-40MAX Specs
There’s nothing particularly new inside the D-40MAX. The choice to run everything via Android 10 seems to be the device’s boldest swing. That’s not to say the hardware is necessarily bad (depending on your intended use), just that it’s a known entity at this point.
| Diium D-40MAX Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Hardware | |
| CPU | Allwinner A133P |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | |
| Internal | 16GB |
| External | microSD |
| Display | |
| Screen Size | 3.95-inch IPS |
| Resolution | 720 x 720 |
| Connectivity | |
| WiFi | 2.4GHz, 802.11 b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | 2.1 |
| AUX | Standard 3.5mm Headphone Jack |
| USB | Single USB-C DC/OTG Port |
| Battery | |
| Capacity | 5000mAh |
| Input | 5V/2A |
| Software | |
| OS | Android 10 |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 165 x 94 x 33mm |
| Weight | 248g (per my postal scale) |
Diium D-40MAX Controls
Buttons and Sticks
Face buttons on the D-40MAX are the sort of large dome style. They have a satisfying press and a decent feel under the thumb.
The analog sticks are your standard Switch-style that we all know well at this point. While nothing new, the placement of the sticks feels solid, and they don’t appear to be off-kilter in any way, as seen on some other budget devices. RGB is a fun addition there for those who want it, but don’t go in expecting Hall-stick-level quality.
D-Pad
This is a pad that will likely come down to user preference. It’s an entirely functional piece of kit, but its oversized design could be a turn-off for some. If you’ve used a Diium (or SZDiier before them) handheld, chances are you’re already familiar with this design.
While it isn’t my preferred style of D-pad, it has a good playfeel, and the inputs register successfully as I’d like them to. The oversized design actually served me and my larger thumbs fairly well during an extended Mega Man 2 run. It’s not the best, but it’s certainly functional.
Shoulders/Triggers
The shoulder buttons on the D-40MAX (L1/R1) are fine. A little on the loud and clicky side of things, but fine. The L2/R2 trigger experience is another story entirely.
The triggers on the D-40MAX are horrific. I’ll go on record here as saying these are the top 5 worst triggers I’ve ever had on an emulation handheld. Where do I even begin? The L2/R2 triggers on the D-40MAX are…
- Not Analog
- Catch when pressed from the wrong angle
- Catch when released (doesn’t return to the original position after inputs)
- Feel broken, almost by design
- Loud clicks when pressed, but also extremely SQUEAKY
When there are devices out there in a similar price category, like the AISLPC RG52 Mini, including hall sensor triggers. Even the Anbernic CubeXX, which also ditches analog triggers to save money, does so with buttons that are an absolute pleasure to use when held up against the D-40MAX.
The triggers may not be a total device killer, depending on your use cases, but for me, it takes systems like Dreamcast completely off the table. There are just too many superior alternatives out there at the same, or even better, price points.
To call these triggers a design afterthought would be giving Diium too much of a pass. These are the cheapest possible solutions and a symptom of why Diium has the poor quality reputation that they do in the community. Changing your company name is meaningless if you continue to produce subpar products.
Ergonomics
The D-40MAX has a good feel in your hands. I don’t find it to be as naturally comfortable as a handheld like the CubeXX, but it feels good. Diium has opted to include a pair of rear rubber hand grips that give your hands a nice place to rest during play sessions. It’s a thoughtful conclusion in an otherwise unremarkable package.
Sound
The D-40MAX features a single rear-firing speaker block. The design is a little different compared to the penny-pods often seen in budget retro handhelds. The result is underwhelming.
The speaker echoes out the back of the shell and creates something of a tinny and hollow effect at lower volumes. The experience is a little better when you turn things up in-game, but it’s not great. If you were going to make this your handheld, do yourself and everyone in your home a favor – get some headphones.
On the plus side, the included AUX port worked very well, and I couldn’t pick up any nasty electrical interference when I plugged my ears in.
Software
The Diium D-40MAX ships running Android 10. An OS that is now 7 years old. Why the company wanted to make this an Android device, I’m not entirely sure. The touchscreen does an admirable enough job of navigating the menus, but the OS just feels dated at this point, and compatibility errors in the future may be likely.
My handheld arrived in a state that suggests the unit I’ve received wasn’t actually intended for the North American market. Everything on the included SD card, including the ROM collection, was entirely in Mandarin. The included instructions provide the steps to change the menus to English in case you’re stuck, but you’re never going to know what games you’re launching ahead of time if you can’t read Chinese text.
Included Android apps that ship stock with the system are a similar story. While it’s not uncommon to see a Chinese Android app on an emulation handheld, this one seems to be catering directly to the Chinese market first. A specific ROM for western markets with usable apps would be appreciated, but it’s unlikely to ever happen with a maker like Diium.
Holding down the menu button on the D-40MAX transports you directly to Diium’s in-house launcher. It’s a no-frills experience that’s clearly catering to those who might be overwhelmed with the full tilt Android offering. It seems functional enough, but I did have to reroute some games to a new version of RetroArch that was set up properly to not crash on launch. Daijisho was a much more elegant overall solution for the needed quality of life tweaks.
Gameplay
The D-40MAX’s A133P core is a known entity in the emulation space at this point. You aren’t going to be hitting new levels of budget capability by picking up the D-40MAX. This is your classic “up to PSX is perfect, with some bonus Dreamcast (not that you’d want to with the terrible triggers), N64, and PSP functionality thrown in for good measure.”
There’s not a whole lot to say in this regard. Will this device play games from the PSX back competently? Yes. Is it my preferred way to do so? Not even close.
TL/DR
There’s no reason for anyone to purchase the Diium D-40MAX in 2026. If you think there is, please let me know in the comments below, but I can’t come up with one. This is a device that is both underpowered and teetering on the dreaded e-waste category when it comes to hardware quality.
There are too many other competent 1:1 devices to be able to recommend the D-40MAX. I’d much rather pick up my Powkiddy RGB30 from a few years ago than the latest Diium. Despite its age, the RGB30 still feels like a much more well-thought-out and complete package when sat next to the D-40MAX. When you consider devices like the Anbernic CubeXX, the D-40MAX’s shortcomings are all the more apparent.
If you were considering the D-40MAX as a new 1:1 budget contender, then just stop now. This is a passable experience, but nothing more. There’s no reason to buy this device in the current handheld landscape. There are just too many other companies producing superior products. I’d take a budget offering like the XF40H 10/10 times over the D-40MAX. It’s just a better 1:1 device.
If Diium wants to break out of their e-waste reputation, they’re going to have to step it up a lot more than the D-40MAX.
