The TRIMUI Brick Pro is one of the most interesting retro handhelds to come out lately. Typically these companies beef up the processors and specs for a ‘sequel’, but TRIMUI kept the same insides and just built a bigger body with thumbsticks.
They’ve got this one I reviewed, the TRIMUI Brick Pro, but they also have a far more powerful (and far more expensive) Android model made from metal coming out soon also. Anyway, this is the Linux/plastic version I’ve reviewed.
I just reviewed whether the unchanged Allwinner A133P holds it back, how the larger display and Hall effect thumbsticks change the experience, and whether this could ever become a compelling Linux handheld to buy for custom firmware fans.
I also spoke with my friend Frysee from NextUI and long-time TRIMUI community member Kyle to get perspectives from both the developers building for the platform and the fans who love it, just for something different in this review.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Is refinement enough? Or do you think “Pro” should more power?
As ever, if you don’t want to read through a far-too-long review, you can just ask me whatever you’d like here and I’ll be happy to answer. Though it is nighttime here and I’m about to go to bed, so if I don’t reply for 7 or 8 hours, it is because I’m asleep!
As always I love reading your reviews and articles and just writing in general. Loved the clip of the trigger clacks, they may perhaps be too loud for stealth and convenience but they have a very pleasing sound. But then I love clicky mechanical keyboards.
Unfortunately I feel like I give the same comment every time (well, every time I remember to actually comment): “this device is so cool and I want it because it looks like such a desirable and pleasing object, but I can’t possibly justify buying it when I barely play any retro games of the era this runs well”.
Maybe I’m still waiting for the moment when (if?) portable retro handhelds like this get just a few steps further more powerful. Well actually, I guess that’s just the Steam Deck, eh? Though even that is probably not quite powerful enough. I’d love the PS2/Original Xbox (even X360) era games on my lap…
I think the trigger sound is so funny. For some it is the literal devil (me), for others they enjoy the sound of it working (you), the nice thing I’ve found is two layers of kapton tape in there make it what I prefer. So there are options!
PS2 and some original Xbox games are doable! Take the Retroid Pocket 5 or 6 for example. My 6 I reviewed played at the screen’s limit without breaking a sweat (5x upscale), and the Odin 3 Max I reviewed managed upscaling to 4K on the Elite chip. Original Xbox games are a mixed bag though, emulation development for that platform is very far behind PS2 or GCN. Sadly :(
(and thank you, as always for reading along! I appreicate it so much!)
X360 too, although bizarrely I think Xemu is sometimes worse performing than Xenia? Is it just that there aren’t enough enticing exclusives that lead to these emulators being behind? I’m not really tapped into the scene.