In a world of increasingly powerful and expensive retro handhelds, MagicX is making a bold move in the opposite direction. The MagicX Zero 40 is an Android handheld priced at just $75, aiming to be the ideal budget device for DS emulation and shmups. Stubbs recently gave his first impressions of the device, and it might just be the hidden gem of 2025’s handheld scene.
What Is the MagicX Zero 40?
The MagicX Zero 40 is a device heavily inspired by the Nintendo 2DS. The handheld sports a large touchscreen in a Tate-friendly orientation, making it great for Nintendo DS titles and vertical shooters.
The Zero 40 is only available in all-white or all-black (seen above), but there is a rumor of a transparent blue option coming at a later date.
Hardware Impressions
According to Stubbs, the design of the MagicX Zero 40 is surprisingly solid for the price. Here are some key highlights:
- Quiet buttons: The buttons are rather quiet, making it a great handheld to play in bed.
- Compact: It’s smaller than the 3DS XL, fitting easily in a pocket or bag.
- Large IPS touch screen: Great form factor to play DS and shmups.
- Hall joystick: There’s only one stick, but it’s a hall stick, and you won’t need dual sticks for the games you’ll play
- D-pad: D-pad is comparable to the last version 2 of the Zero and is pretty good
Performance & Emulation
Stubbs tested a bunch of different systems on the MagicX Zero 40, but none of them make much sense besides the DS and vertical arcade games. The Android games are doable, but just awkward. You can rotate the device to its side, though, to have them in widescreen.
The device’s hardware isn’t strong enough for 3DS, but maybe in the future we can get a device in the form factor that has the ability. It would also be nice if the device could stretch for arcade games, so you wouldn’t have a chunk of bezel at the bottom of the screen.
Best Use Cases
This is not a jack-of-all-trades device, but that’s by design. Here’s where the MagicX Zero 40 shines:
- Nintendo DS emulation: Thanks to its screen configuration and touch screen.
- Vertical shmups: The form factor makes it ideal for vertical arcade titles.
- On-the-go retro play: It’s portable, easy to pocket, and budget-friendly enough to take anywhere without worry.
Price vs. Value
At $75, the MagicX Zero 40 is far cheaper than other options of a similar form factor. Stubbs states that the Microsoft Duo is another option for DS, but that is expensive, plus you need another controller to use with it. Battery life isn’t great on the Duo either, but it does have OLED.
Verdict: Who Is This For?
The MagicX Zero 40 won’t replace your main Android gaming phone or premium handheld, but it doesn’t have to. This is a device specializing in DS and arcade shmups. It’s a love letter to DS fans and shmup enthusiasts who want an affordable, portable machine dedicated to what they love most; then the MagicX Zero 40 is a must-consider in 2025.
This is an exciting and new device that maybe the community can help make even better. Stubbs mentions how it would be to have a third-party stylus that would work with this, and I agree!
Where to Buy
The MagicX Zero40 is available now directly from MagicX, and for anyone serious about DS emulation on the go, it’s one of the most practical and purpose-built options available today.
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Thank you
why not just buy a ds for half the price
Which version of Android does it run?
honestly, I don’t see the point in using this over a ds lite with a flash cart
Because the vertical shumps can be ran from any other Android emulation apps through Battocera or Mame
Because buying used ds lites are kind of a lottery; ive owned 7 DS consoles (none of which are brand new) and 3 of them had issues. Sure they’re cheap but when you dont really know what you’ll be getting especially with the age of those consoles and how mostly kids played with them so most of them have underlying issues, devices like this will eventually pave the way to continue playing DS games when the hardware starts drying up.
Looks like Android 10 …
The deal breaker is that it can’t run 3ds/2ds games…. that would’ve totally had me sold on it!
I still may consider a unit though to play all those old Japan only vert-shumps!!!!! I’d probably use it for that and FX3 Pinball too!!! I still have my DSi so I’m covered there!!!
It’s a scam and I highly suggest not to trust it
I dont see the added value
a ds lite is way cheaper
or buy a 2nd hand 3ds, to run all (3)ds games and install nes, snes emulators on it as well
Rgb30 is better installed with android. Basic yes but covers everything in retroarch inc dolphin cave and naomi for shmups /arcade
Can you install android in rgb30 you meant?
I agree with others: do yourself a favor and buy a used DS on eBay instead.
Yea and deal with possible issues like broken buttons or non working touch screens, etc. whether anyone wants to admit it or not, the DS is an aging system thats over a decade old, and eventually, stock will run dry and prices WILL increase. Maybe not today, but someday it will. And this is where devices like this will come in handy. Its true use case cant be seen now since DS consoles are still cheap but there will come a time where using this over a broken, overpriced DS in the future will be a much better choice.