Hands-On With the TRIMUI Brick Pro: A Better Handheld, but Not a Faster One

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https://gardinerbryant.com/hands-on-with-the-trimui-brick-pro-a-better-handheld-not-a-faster-one/

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!

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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…

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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!

I’d love the PS2/Original Xbox (even X360) era games on my lap…

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!)

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Original Xbox games are a mixed bag though, emulation development for that platform is very far behind PS2 or GCN. Sadly :(

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.

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Colin Mcrae Rally 2 mentioned!

Great article, I was looking at some reviews for it earlier too. I’m not a vertical handheld type of person, but this one looks great if you wanted a bigger handheld. I can’t help but feel like the Brick Hammer is way better though. That one has the same specs, a much more premium looking metal body, and is small enough to fit in your pocket. I guess the only downside is that it doesn’t have sticks.

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I use my Brick Hammer almost daily! I love that handheld so much, to me it might be the perfect premium feeling device.

https://gardinerbryant.com/hands-on-with-the-trimui-brick-hammer-metal-perfection/

I reviewed that one some months back!

Of the two, if you are happy without sticks and a smaller screen (you need good eyes!), then the Brick Hammer is the better of the two.

That said the Brick Hammer Pro U will be on its way to me to review soon, so I’ll see how they did with the metal body and twin sticks with their very first Android effort soon enough :)

Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

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Adding sticks is simply a downgrade for me. The best thing about the Brick is its pocketability.

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Comments in RetroGaming@lemmy.world

Small correction: you mentioned playing F-Zero X on the N64, but then refer to is as F-Zero GX, which was a separate game for the GameCube.

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Thank you so much, you’re right! I appreciate it, edit has been made :)

(and sorry, weird thing to get wrong!)

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No worries, I enjoyed the write-up!

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he/him

Excellent write-up! SBCGaming is one of the communities I miss most and I love your breakdown.

As for the ‘Pro’ part, TRIMUI probably doesn’t see the need; the brick sells like hotcakes and the extra power would have been a nightmare to source right now. It’s a device for playing retro games and if my cute Lil BatleXP G350 can keep up without upgrades, the brick is probably fine as well.

Should ‘Pro’ denote an upgrade? Probably; but things are really hinky in the electronic parts department, and a more comfortable playing experience is likely worth it to some.

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"Excellent write-up! SBCGaming is one of the communities I miss most and I love your breakdown."

Thank you! Sorry you’ve had to give up some communities, but it is nice that you’ve stayed strong and landed here in stead. I do share each retro handheld review I do on here, so you’ll see them over time as a (terrible) consolation prize! I have the TRIMUI Brick Hammer Pro U, the Retroid Pocket Nova, Anbernic’s RG 55G1 and…one more I forget still coming to review, too :)

"Should ‘Pro’ denote an upgrade? Probably; but things are really hinky in the electronic parts department, and a more comfortable playing experience is likely worth it to some."

I think that is the finnicky part. No one really finds this a ‘Pro’ upgrade, but for what it does (especially PSX on this for me), it is a beautiful and fun time :)

Thanks for reading through and enjoying it. I appreciate it!

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