There aren’t very many handhelds that I genuinely look forward to seeing released, but whenever something new from TrimUI gets teased or announced, it usually gets my full attention. This has been the case ever since we first learned about the TrimUI Brick Pro and Brick Pro U, two devices poised to take TrimUI to the next level.
Although the TrimUI Smart Pro S arrived earlier this year, it still didn’t manage to capture the same level of excitement that the Brick and Brick Hammer have. Those latter devices remain some of the best retro handhelds that money can buy, especially whenever the latest AliExpress sale drops the prices even lower.
The arrival of the TrimUI Brick Pro marks a potential turning point for the company, offering the much of the same experience as the smaller models, with a few key changes. I’ve only spent a few hours with the Brick Pro, so stay tuned for our full review, but here are my first impressions with TrimUI’s latest retro handheld.
Disclosure:
The device reviewed was provided as a review sample by TrimUI Store. This had no bearing on the conclusion of the review, nor did TrimUI Store have the opportunity to make edits or changes to the review before publishing.
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TrimUI Brick Pro Specs
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Hardware | |
| CPU | Allwinner A133 Plus |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8300 |
| RAM | 1GB |
| Display | |
| Screen Size | 3.95-inch |
| Resolution | 1024 x 768 |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| PPI | 324 |
| Storage | |
| Internal Storage | 8GB eMMC |
| External Storage | microSD |
| Battery | |
| Battery Capacity | 5000mAh |
| Est. Battery Life | 5-10 Hours |
| Charging Speed | 5V/2A |
| Connectivity | |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Ports | 3.5mm Audio Jack, microSD, USB-C |
| Additional Details | EDR2.1, Type-C DP-alt mode |
| Video Out | Yes |
| Controls | |
| Sticks | Hall Effect |
| Triggers | Digital |
| Shoulder Layout | Shelf |
| D-Pad | Top Left |
| Audio | |
| Speakers | Stereo |
| Speaker Location | Front-facing |
| Headphone Jack | Yes |
| Audio Notes | Single-channel vibration motor |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 109.9 x 73.2 x 11.8mm |
| Weight | 159g |
| Form Factor | Vertical |
| Software | |
| Operating System | Linux (ARM) |
| Custom Firmware | KNULLI |
What I Like
Although I’ve applied the “TrimUI shill” label to myself, I like to think it’s for a good reason. The Brick and Brick Hammer are excellent handhelds, and while some might view the Smart Pro S as a disappointment, I think it’s just misunderstood as opposed to being “bad.”
On the flip side, I must admit that while the Brick Hammer has been my go-to EDC handheld for months, my time actually using it has been waning. It’s fine playing games for a few minutes here and there, but whenever I find myself wanting to sink some time in failing to complete GotX, I usually reach for something a bit larger.
With the TrimUI Brick Pro, I don’t foresee that being much of an issue at all, as it’s just a larger handheld all-around. The almost 4-inch display has been an absolute delight so far, even if it’s not quite as “crisp” as the smaller Brick. It still gets bright enough that I was able to play a quick Pokémon Pinball session when taking my dog out and the sun was trying to ruin everything, over my shoulders.
When I switched over to Blast Corps for N64, I didn’t really run into many issues when actually playing each level. However, the audio was a stuttering mess, and there were still some graphics missing when navigating the various menus. Par for the course, I guess, but at least I was able to actually knock out a few levels without trying to tinker with the settings.
On the software front, it’s the same TrimUI-flavored Linux that we’ve been seeing, which gets the job and gets a lot of the basics right. There’s really not much to write home about here, which I suppose is a good thing, so kudos to TrimUI?
More importantly, seeing as the Brick Pro shares the same internals as the Brick and Brick Hammer, it should make custom firmware adoption much easier. With dev units beginning to arrive along with reviewer units, there’s already a fresh KNULLI Alpha available to download for the Brick Pro. Needless to say, I’ve already flashed it onto a microSD card and have been switching back and forth between it and the stock firmware.
I suspect it won’t be long before other custom firmware solutions jump in on the fun and bring support for the Brick Pro.
What I Don’t
Earlier, I said that I’ve enjoyed the larger design of the Brick Pro, because it offers better ergonomics than the Brick. Unfortunately, I do think that the Brick Pro might be a tad too large for me to really replace the Brick as my EDC handheld. I mean, sure, it’s definitely doable even with the low-profile joysticks that TrimUI is using here.
But I definitely would be a bit concerned with either one of the joystick caps flying off or something happening to the screen when I need to try and pick up my two-year-old in the middle of one of his tantrums. Maybe if I can find a super-slim front shell cover to use, those concerns might be eased a bit; however, I’m still planning to try and see if it can become my new EDC.
There is one other gripe about my experience so far that just left me feeling kind of gross. I’m not sure if this is something that will happen for everyone who orders a microSD card, or if it was just one a one-off. However, while the included microSD card had a bunch of ROMs and curated lists, sans any major Nintendo titles, mine also had a few Ports.
Specifically, the list included the following:
- 2048 (Free)
- Balatro
- Classic Celeste (Free)
- Celeste
- Sonic Mania
- Stardew Valley
- TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge
- Grand Theft Auto III
- The Legend of Sword and Fairy
I can appreciate a company or retailer wanting to show off that a device is capable of playing ports, whether they are from PortMaster or self-compiled. However, including those ports out of the box without explicit consent from the developer is not acceptable. We’ve seen companies do this time and time again, and it’s a practice that should be retired for good.
Offering the option to purchase a microSD card that includes a few publicly accessible and legal games is one thing. But to include titles that require additional purchases in order to run is not, and should not be celebrated or ignored.
Should You Buy One?
I have very little doubt that the TrimUI Brick Pro is about to get lost at sea with the droves of upcoming handhelds. Not only is the Brick Pro U on the way, but we also have the Retroid Pocket Nova, Anbernic RG 55G1, along with MANGMI’s Air Y and Air Y Pro.
That being said, I still think there’s space for the Brick Pro to shine, even if it’s around the same price as the Brick Hammer. It’s been quite a while since we’ve had a Linux-first vertical handheld of this size. Not to mention the dual joysticks, and we expect the custom firmware community to adopt it much sooner than other handhelds.
To answer the question posed, if you like the TrimUI Brick but want a larger screen and joysticks, then the Brick Pro is probably perfect for you. However, if you want something with a bit more oomph, I’d suggest waiting a bit longer to see what the Brick Pro U or MANGMI’s upcoming verticals have to offer.
