After a successful KickStarter campaign, Hidizs has released its AP30 Music Boy, a Digital Audio Player that looks like a squished Game Boy. As someone who backed the initial KickStarter campaign, I was excited to get this in my hands. With high-fidelity audio and a compact, nostalgic form factor, is this one worth getting?
Look, writing about a DAP is a little out of my element. There are people with more knowledge about audio devices and sources that can explain some of these details much better than myself. But come on, it looks like a tiny Game Boy; how could I not take a look!
Hidiz AP30 Music Boy Specs
The spec sheet for the AP30 Music Boy is a long one, so I’ll summarize some of the more important bits below:
- 2.6-inch, 296×240 IPS display
- Volume scroll wheel that doubles as the power button
- CS43198 DAC and RT6863 amplifier stage
- DSD256 and native 24-bit/192kHz decoding
- Dual 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs
- 1,200mAh battery
- Bluetooth 5.3
- MicroSD card sot
- Snap-on Case with MagSafe ring and lanyard
- Basic e-reader for text files
- Functioning A and B buttons, Start, Select, and D-Pad
- Small collection of simple games (Tetris, Brick Break, Sudoku, Minesweeper, and others)
- Plastic shell (White, Clear Black, or Clear Blue) or aluminum shell (Purple, Black)
- 56 grams for plastic, 80 grams for aluminum
- $119 for plastic or $129 for aluminum (currently $92 and $99 during the pre-order period)
The MagSafe ring in the clip-on case is one of the things that drew me the most to the AP30 Music Boy, besides the obvious novelty of the form factor. This, coupled with a lanyard (the one they provide is a little too cute), gives the device an additional level of portability and attachment that I appreciate.
The use-case and functionality of the case, lanyard, and MagSafe rings also lend themselves to the design of the AP30 Music Boy; the company wants this to be carried around and played with, and the accessories reflect this.
Build Quality and Controls
Whether some see it as endearing or tacky, the AP30 Music Boy has to be one of the most distinctive DAPs in the market right now. Modeling itself after the Game Boy is certainly a choice, and one that drew me to the device in the first place. The plastic model that I own is light and feels solid, and coupled with the included screen protector, it makes me feel less concerned about chucking this one into a bag or clipping it to a backpack. I chose it over the metal model for that exact reason, as I was worried about scratches to the aluminum body of the device.
Navigation is done with the D-pad, selection with A, and backing out with B. The buttons here feel stiff, with a pretty loud clack to them. There is good tactile feedback to them, but it doesn’t feel entirely fluid. For instance, while the volume wheel doubling as a power button is a fun novelty, I’ve turned the volume up or down multiple times trying to power the device on and off.
Music Functionality and Software
Music on the AP30 Music Boy falls into the ‘neutral’ range for me, with a sound that isn’t overwhelming on the bass, clear on the mids, and a tad bright on the treble. As someone who enjoys instrumental arrangements with denser elements, the soundstage on the AP30 can feel a bit shallow, leading to some songs sounding slightly compressed. The AP30 Music Boy has a USB-C port that both charges the device and can function as a USB DAC, and the Bluetooth is notably for transmit-only, which works for my primary use-case of transmitting to my truck stereo.
Where the AP30 Music Boy falters is in the UI navigation in the proprietary Linux-based HidizsOS operating system. Navigation and operation of the device can feel a bit sluggish, especially with those buttons, and I’ve noticed songs taking a few seconds to load before actually playing. Lots of options, like Bluetooth and gain settings, have to be navigated to through several nested screens, which is exacerbated by the stiff buttons. This, coupled with some quick-button functions that work differently within different menu options, makes the software feel a bit immature.
Gaming Functionality
Yes, this looks like a tiny Game Boy, but don’t expect to be able to load any ROMs on here to play retro games (although, it’s a Linux-based OS, so I’m sure somebody could figure out how to make that happen pretty easily…). This is much more of a nostalgic novelty than an actual functioning retro handheld. As mentioned previously, the buttons are stiff and clicky, and anything more than the simple games that come on the device would likely be a frustration to actually play.
However, the smattering of games that come pre-loaded on the device are easy enough to pick up, play, and quickly exit at a moment’s notice with the press of the Select button. The games also don’t interrupt any music currently playing, so you can both play games and listen to music on the same device (which isn’t crazy on an emulation handheld, but not something you think about with a DAP). With such nondescript titles as Retro Block Puzzle, Block Shooter, and Tank Battle, you’re guaranteed hours of fun!
Recommendation
For a fairly competent DAP that sits pretty squarely in the mid-tier bracket, you could certainly do worse than the AP30 Music Boy. The nostalgic Game Boy-inspired look is what drew me to the device in the first place, along with its diminutive size and carry-along capabilities. However, especially for the price, there are other DAPs in this tier that offer better controls and more mature software.
Still, the AP30 Music Boy provides a lot of function in a really fun design. If you’re here for the form factor, like I am, you’ll likely enjoy using the AP30 Music Boy. If you’re looking for something beyond the novelty, then I would recommend going with something like the FiiO Snowsky ECHO or Fosi Audio DAP Neo, both of which can be had for about $80.
