XU Mini M Review: Best/Worst Micro Handheld

The new MagicX XU Mini M just came out of nowhere and is giving the bigger manufacturers a real challenge. In fact, it is the BEST micro handheld in some important categories -- but it's also the WORST in other ways. Let's take a look at everything, plus its competition, to see if it's worth your consideration.

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Timestamps:
00:00 introduction
00:57 specs and pricing
02:38 unboxing and impressions
04:08 controls
10:18 size and ergonomics
13:27 amazing screen!
14:01 stock software
16:45 PlumOS
18:53 game testing
25:44 summary (likes and dislikes)
29:13 comparison with others
35:09 conclusion

Theme song written by Jim Gray of Our Ghosts:

^^ use code "RGC10" for 10% off your order

This video is for entertainment and educational purposes only.

#retrohandheld #retrogaming #emulation #anbernic #miyoo #trimui

[wooordwooord]

Youtube be like "heres a new handheld review, wanna watch it?" - Yea man I wanna do it

[ordinaryalan]

After all these years of seeing you review scores of these mini handhelds, I'm still repping my PS Vita OLED model for all my retro handheld gaming. Nothing can compare to it, IMO. But I'm glad you're still showing me new things. Keep up the good work.

[NickTaylor-Phantom-Works]

I STILL haven't pulled the trigger on one of these retro hand-helds (I'm using a Galaxy S20FE with an Orzly mount and series x controller), but I just love all these videos about them - it's somehow oddly very relaxing.

[FYZSG]

This has been an ideal device for me as a retro FPS lover. Currently playing Marathon but I've got a ton of stuff loaded on it. Classic Doom content, Quake 1 & 2, Duke Nukem 3D and other Build Engine games, Half-Life, Powerslave (PS1), Disruptor (PS1), Return to Castle Wolfenstein, and more!

I agree that the controls are a mixed bag, if the D-Pad was better this would probably become my all-in-one device. I've heard there's a lot of variance with that so I'm curious if that's also the case with the shoulder buttons. I LOVE the shoulder buttons on this thing, the layout is pretty much a perfect solution for inline shoulder buttons and better in almost every way compared to the 28XX's awful little shoulder buttons. They do require a little bit too much pressure but it hasn't caused the kind of hand fatigue that the 35XXSP's face buttons did, for example, even when I'm playing something that makes heavy use of them like a twin-stick FPS. The ergonomics a

Software-wise PlumOS is definitely in it's infancy but being an EmulationStation frontend makes it feel pretty mature out of the gate. They're already working on uncapping the developers' CPU limits which should help bring the performance in line with the 28XX, and the N64 performance is already great bc this SoC has a better GPU, which is uniquely important for N64 emulation.

Overall, I think this is a device I can heartily recommend for people who are looking for a stick-focused 2.8" device, especially if you're the kind of person who likes playing D-Pad based games with a stick, but between the mediocre D-Pad, the lack of user friendly CFW, and the in-development nature of the whole thing, it's definitely not something I can recommend as a first device or even really a primary device for most people.

[typingcat]

I love Retro Game Corps! For lots of reasons. But one of the best things about this channel are the charts and visualizations that Russ comes up with. He always knows what information we're looking for and how to represent it the best, most "common sense" way.

[Guitario]

After looking at your chart.. its clear that every device listed has something terribly wrong in at least 1 category.
I think its better to wait until a refresh to see if the negatives are fixed

[Radalku]

I just ordered my RG35xx sp today. I want to try this little Champion. Actually I play most with the XU10. This little violett one is still cool. Frontspeaker and a userfriendly Button Layout. Perfect to the ps1.
Wish you all the best from germany and have a nice week!
Happy gaming!

[PinkDan]

Why must I fall in love with every new little hh

[gotanks]

I've got to say the plastic on my transparent black is pretty nice and not slippery at all.
This is a "Yeah man" I wanna get the Crystal Version when it drops. For sure the most comfortable micro handheld at least for me.
Thank you for the review Russ!

[lookingforwookiecopilot]

Let me know if the next model plays GameCube, otherwise I already have my 28xx for N64, and my Trimui Pro for dual sticks, so I don't need another device that caps out at PSP.

, ...and Magicx, if you read the comments, make the next one a solid dark grey, and get rid of the skittles buttons.

[robingoodfellow]

Regarding the comparison chart, the newer batches of the a30 are much better than the first ones. Have both the rg28xx and a newly bought a30, both have good screens, brightness is similar, but a30 has better contrast and fuller colors. Dpad of a30 is now similar to miyoo mini, much better than initial release. Besides that great review.

[PigPenSnaps]

I actually LOVE that they’ve taken all the extra configuration out of it. I want to give devices to friends and family but I don’t have the time to be tech support so this is fantastic!

[HypocritesExposd]

29:32 Thank you for the comparison chart! That is the kind of visual I love to see.

[arthurdurham]

With the lack of optimization and an announcement on an improved version coming soon, I see no reason to get this now when you have the A30 with Spruce 2.0.

[Supramedical]

7:30 The caps are interchangeable with the Retroid Pocket 2S.

[AGuerrero-cyyr]

I saw Russ uploaded a video and I said yeah I wanna do it then went to grab a snack.

[awyeagames]

I have a peculiar question: does it fit inside the recess on the back of a steamdeck case? If it does, it could be the perfect companion device to a steamdeck.

[tantoonie]

Sometimes, I have zero interest in the handheld being shown. I just want Russ to get the clicks and watch time …

[carwynvan]

That stock firmware web address in the case is essential. Got mine and the card was DOA... Giving everyone the heads up that I takes ages to download the firmware at some points I was in the single digit bytes/sec...

[fellowninja]

I was pretty upset by the build quality. It's vastly behind Anbernic, and even Miyoo. The shoulder buttons require too much force to actuate, and it forces me to hold the device in a weird way that makes it want to fly free from my grip. It makes the shoulders almost impossible to use if I want it to be comfortable, and that ruins the device since it's intended for PlayStation, SNES, and GBA. It's definitely made for smaller hands, and I think the wrist strap is absolutely necessary to avoid dropping the darn thing.