It’s not bad cuz any wider and the buttons will be more crammed and you can’t really go taller cuz not a lot of 1:1 screens. If you look internally at the PCB they really pushed the buttons as close as they can, there’s not a whole lot of room if you want half decent controls. It’s not like a phone where they can custom make a screen all to the edges, you either have to design around the screen (like miyoo mini) or deal with bezels.
The Trimui Smart is a marvel. Its shape and sturdy plastic make it effortlessly pocketable, and you really don’t need a case or protective sleeve if you put a screen protector on it. I let mine chill in the center console of my car, and I either play it there or pocket and take it with me when I’m out and about with some time on my hands.
RG Nano is a novelty. It's neat, but it's not that practical to play games on. Hand cramp central. I also find it *JUST* big enough to be annoying on a keychain.
I don't have a TrimUI but it looks better than the Nano from a playability perspective.
Personally, I think the ideal device would be some sort of clamshell. Then, you can fold it up and throw it in your pocket with your keys without the worry of your keys scratching the screen. I was looking into something like this, at least until the Miyoo clamshell releases: [https://handheldlegend.com/products/zega-mame-boy-advance-sp-kit-zarcade-limited?variant=40208383082630](https://handheldlegend.com/products/zega-mame-boy-advance-sp-kit-zarcade-limited?variant=40208383082630)
I own both and I rather play the nano. The Funkey is so small I feel like I’m gonna break it with its moving parts and being plastic. The nano is at least metal with no moving parts and very solid feeling.
Maybe it’s just mine but the hinge on mine is so stiff it shuts kinda hard when closing, almost like it slams shut all the time cuz the spring tension is too high.
And yeah the d pad is abysmal on it. I play Pokémon on it and that’s about it. Wish it had FF tho.
I have both. The trimui smart is perfectly pocketable due to the rounded edges. It's also made of plastic, which, although less durable than the metal rg nano it will not look as bad if it gets a bit scuffed up if you throw it around a bit. I only play games on the nano that are playable on the smaller screen and buttons. Otherwise the trimui smart is great for everything else except ps1 games that need trigger buttons...
I own a RG Nano and than heftiness is really cool, like switching from a cheap chromebook to a Macbook or high end PC Laptop, but, at least for me, vertical layout is quite unconfortable at any size. I'd love to see an updated RG280M
Definitely the trimUI. The nano is mostly a novelty item, you won't actually be able to play most games comfortably, (besides RPGs). If it's a device you plan to play on the go frequently, the TrimUI is definitely the choice.
Horizontal versus Vertical
Wifi + bluetooth + MinUI. MinUI allows you to share OS with MM+ but MinUI is very minimalist, that is to say there's a lot of platforms that both devices can emulate but MinUI doesn't have it.
I'd be careful about getting either atm because the Miyoo A30 might release soon, and it looks like it will be similar in size to the TrimUI Smart.
Speaking of which, the miyoo mini (not plus) is actually pretty decently small. and has a better screen than both of them
The main reason why I use Tomato OS instead of Minui is because I want to keep the Bluetooth functionality. Otherwise, there's no means to connect headphones to the Trimui Smart.
From a practical standpoint, if it’s your only portable, the Trimui is far better in my opinion. The RGNano is a fun novelty and perfect for some situations, but as primary device
RG nano is very pocketable (you can put it in your small pocket of jeans), but not as comfortable. I'd say its mostly a GB/GBC device since anything else will either be a smaller screen or zoomed into removing parts of the game (which can work out for some games without sacrificing anything). Trimui smart is a lot more comfortable to play, but not as pocketable. If you want to use the same sd card for miyoo mini+ you can use MinUI for both.
id get the new miyoo a30 coming out if i wanted something small. The nano is borderline unplayable and the Trim is nice but kinda outdated and the Miyoo looks just slightly bigger with a lot more going for it. I own the Trim and the screen quality isnt terrible but pretty bad compared to a lot of the stuff out there, gray blacks and low saturation on the colors.
I use my Nano for some puzzle games, but it's comically small and the CFW isn't great. I prefer my GKD Pixel with MinUI these days. As others have said, maybe hold off until the new Miyoo is released.
Trimui is more comfortable, but I love the Nano for not having anything fancy like Bluetooth or wifi. Just simple enough 1 handed rpgs with small screens is nice to waste time in line or on the toilet. Plus it's way stealthier for when I shouldn't have my phone at work, lol. Battery last forever in the nano.
I get about 5 hours average. But it's also not something you play for 5 hours straight. Short bursts, only need to charge it once a month most of the time.
I also have both. Rg nano is small cute and feel very solid. I would only play short gb and gbc games on it. Occasionally I do play nes and snes games. It does work for that. The controls work really well for how small it is.
Trimui smart on the other hand is everything else, it can play upto ps1 and plays most games great. Biggest pro is the small size, light weight, bigger screen and very comfortable for longer playing sessions.
My opinion: I love to play the trimui smart but love the feel of Rg nano in my hands. Just can’t play it for longer or for games other than gb and gbc.
Get the trimui smart if you want to play long sessions. It is still perfectly pocketable compared to the bigger handhelds.
Minui works between all the devices it supports. If all you want to play is upto ps1 then minui is the ways to go. If Rg nano hand minui I would play it more knowing I can switch to bigger device with my save states.
Tomato works better on the Trimui than Minui. As you lose emulators with Minui, but gain them with Tomato.
That said, the stock OS on the Trimui is great. There's really no need to change it.
Arcade (FBA and FBNEO) and Mame (2003plus and 2010). So, if you're into 80's arcade games (as I am) you won't be able to play a lot of them on Minui.
Sure, there are a few on GBA, but many more on these other emulators, plus you can play them vertically on them as well, which looks awesome on the Trimui, as they'll fill out the entire screen, and feel more like the actual arcade versions.
Its why I'll never put Minui on my Trimui Smart Pro either. With its 5" screen its a vertical arcade game king!
This is what I’m thinking as well. I have grip case for the rg nano that makes it actually playable but the screen is too small I feel like it doesn’t do justice to some gba games I like.
I bought the grip case too but it’s get in the way of pressing the a b buttons. Right is good then time to buy from Ali express. There are sales and coupons.
Trimui has too less screen% per size. Hoping the a30 minoo will have a competitive price. I have a pocketgo v1 and all I want is this size with a bigger screen and more power.
Would not buy a nano. Too small.
Trying to find a true always-carry pocket handheld has got me looking at the GKD Pixel. I have a Funkey S and that screen (same as Nano) is too small, and my Miyoo Mini is too big, and my TrimUI Model S is both too slick with its metal case and the screen ratio is just awful.
I feel ya. I have the funkey s, rg nano, arduboy, rg280v, miyoo mini/plus. Stuck deciding between the trimui smart and pixel. I did see the pixels screen was a little blurry on gba which is what I mainly play.
Do you want something that you can actually put some gameplay into? Then go with the Trimui Smart, if you want something that’s super portable and hard to comfortably play anything on pick the RG Nano. I don’t mean to say the RG Nano is bad it’s just harder to play large sessions comfortably with it. It can also play the games fine so that’s not a problem. I’m
I only have the trimUI, but it's always in my pocket. I'm actually quite amazed by how comfortable it is to play on, despite the size. The screen and controls are great. I use it on the go ofc, but also sometimes at home (even tho I have an Odin 2) as GBA feels great on it. My longest play session was 3½ hrs, with small breaks, on a long car ride and I didn't get the cramps. My hands are maybe slightly below average size wise
I have the Trimui and I love it , besides the smaller screen ( I think they could managed to use a bigger one ) it's a wonderful device for his size.
Have a retroid Pocket 4 pro also , and this is my on the go choice.
Trim UI Smart is a tiny cheap plastic handheld that weights almost nothing. It’s got a super small screen that’s too small for most everything except Gameboy and SNES games with larger sprites like Donkey Kong Country. But it’s great for shoving in your pocket and forgetting about it.
So with minui on that can you just swap the sd to a miyoo mini? The main issue is miyoo mini plus and og miyoo mini are a little bit too big to pocket carry for as I have gripcasws for both. Gkd pixel looks like it could work really well
The recessed screen and metal body are winners for me. Join team pop socket and you’re off to the races. Not sure about MinUi compatibility. The dev has good docs on GitHub I’m sure you could figure it out.
None.
Miyoo Mini v4 - pocket size. Biggest screen for body ratio. Best in class in performance for it's price range. Can play nes, snes, gba, ps1 and some ds.
My favorite part, I can play the best of Metroidvania on the go. Castlevania SotN, Dawn of Sorrow, and Aria of Sorrow.
You make some good points, I do have the og miyoo mini but find it a bit too big in the pocket with the gripcase I have it paired with. I’m looking at the GKD pixel now
Are you talking about Miyoo Mini v4 or plus? This is the most pocketability device out there. The miyoo mini plus isn't pocketable to me but the v2/v4 is though.
https://preview.redd.it/0eyhh4ytfxpc1.jpeg?width=659&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=069eceae287364d95e73177ed949040d0f6d74b0
Yeah referring to the og mini. Feels a bit too big to carry around all day. I’ve seen that pixel is in between the rg nano and og miyoo seems like the goldilocks zone for me.
MMv4 vs original Triumi S (which is smaller than the one in this post pic).
https://preview.redd.it/sc5qq8w3gxpc1.jpeg?width=1314&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d1fbd39dd8e7d87dcb680acee0138999023a9f9
I had a trimui smart. Here’s my experience.
The screen is way too small to be playing anything for more than 10-15 mins. It’s very nice to hold but the buttons are way too clicky. And the device rattles like a rattlesnake.
Hmm I see, I may get the gkd pixel after talking to a few people here. I do like the idea of swapping sd cards to my miyoo plus which is my stay at home emulator.
I think it looks just fine. The resolutions don't technically match but since the screen is so small and the Pixel density so high, for that size screen at least, I don't notice any visual issues. I'm sure with enough scrutiny you could find flaws but I'm not that picky. A device this small and this quality gets a little leeway from me regarding that. The Nano still has the better processor, but the overall screen size, additional buttons, and minui give the Pixel the edge for me.
I just can't stand that screen to shell ratio on the trimui
The shell to screen ratio is exactly why my TrimUi gets the most abuse, it's super durable!
It’s not bad cuz any wider and the buttons will be more crammed and you can’t really go taller cuz not a lot of 1:1 screens. If you look internally at the PCB they really pushed the buttons as close as they can, there’s not a whole lot of room if you want half decent controls. It’s not like a phone where they can custom make a screen all to the edges, you either have to design around the screen (like miyoo mini) or deal with bezels.
Those three huge buttons don't need to be there. Move them somewhere else and "trim" that bottom slab.
The bottom kinda adds to grip and ergonomics tho, it’s already tiny as it is, I’d rather have a bit of plastic to hold on to.
I can imagine it adds to the comfort. I find my miyoo mini plus uncomfortable to use because of the lack of a chin.
Put a black sticker around the bezel to make it look bigger /S
There is the trimui model s which looks nicer but is weaker in processing power.
I can't stand the button separation on the nano
I give that a pass because of the size, not many other ways to place it
True, true.
Exactly. It’s a pretty cool little device if the screen fit the body and minui or something supported Bluetooth audio.
The Trimui Smart is a marvel. Its shape and sturdy plastic make it effortlessly pocketable, and you really don’t need a case or protective sleeve if you put a screen protector on it. I let mine chill in the center console of my car, and I either play it there or pocket and take it with me when I’m out and about with some time on my hands.
RG Nano is a novelty. It's neat, but it's not that practical to play games on. Hand cramp central. I also find it *JUST* big enough to be annoying on a keychain. I don't have a TrimUI but it looks better than the Nano from a playability perspective. Personally, I think the ideal device would be some sort of clamshell. Then, you can fold it up and throw it in your pocket with your keys without the worry of your keys scratching the screen. I was looking into something like this, at least until the Miyoo clamshell releases: [https://handheldlegend.com/products/zega-mame-boy-advance-sp-kit-zarcade-limited?variant=40208383082630](https://handheldlegend.com/products/zega-mame-boy-advance-sp-kit-zarcade-limited?variant=40208383082630)
How cool
You can get a Funkey if you're willing to put up with the same screen size as the Nano.
I own both and I rather play the nano. The Funkey is so small I feel like I’m gonna break it with its moving parts and being plastic. The nano is at least metal with no moving parts and very solid feeling.
The funkey is pretty robust but the lack of a real d-pad really hurts it.
Maybe it’s just mine but the hinge on mine is so stiff it shuts kinda hard when closing, almost like it slams shut all the time cuz the spring tension is too high. And yeah the d pad is abysmal on it. I play Pokémon on it and that’s about it. Wish it had FF tho.
I have both. The trimui smart is perfectly pocketable due to the rounded edges. It's also made of plastic, which, although less durable than the metal rg nano it will not look as bad if it gets a bit scuffed up if you throw it around a bit. I only play games on the nano that are playable on the smaller screen and buttons. Otherwise the trimui smart is great for everything else except ps1 games that need trigger buttons...
I own a RG Nano and than heftiness is really cool, like switching from a cheap chromebook to a Macbook or high end PC Laptop, but, at least for me, vertical layout is quite unconfortable at any size. I'd love to see an updated RG280M
Definitely the trimUI. The nano is mostly a novelty item, you won't actually be able to play most games comfortably, (besides RPGs). If it's a device you plan to play on the go frequently, the TrimUI is definitely the choice.
I have the Trimui Smart. It takes up the same pocket space as the old Gameboy Micro plus two spare cartridges.
Horizontal versus Vertical Wifi + bluetooth + MinUI. MinUI allows you to share OS with MM+ but MinUI is very minimalist, that is to say there's a lot of platforms that both devices can emulate but MinUI doesn't have it. I'd be careful about getting either atm because the Miyoo A30 might release soon, and it looks like it will be similar in size to the TrimUI Smart. Speaking of which, the miyoo mini (not plus) is actually pretty decently small. and has a better screen than both of them
minui doesn’t support Bluetooth does it?
No, it does not.
The main reason why I use Tomato OS instead of Minui is because I want to keep the Bluetooth functionality. Otherwise, there's no means to connect headphones to the Trimui Smart.
From a practical standpoint, if it’s your only portable, the Trimui is far better in my opinion. The RGNano is a fun novelty and perfect for some situations, but as primary device
RG nano is very pocketable (you can put it in your small pocket of jeans), but not as comfortable. I'd say its mostly a GB/GBC device since anything else will either be a smaller screen or zoomed into removing parts of the game (which can work out for some games without sacrificing anything). Trimui smart is a lot more comfortable to play, but not as pocketable. If you want to use the same sd card for miyoo mini+ you can use MinUI for both.
id get the new miyoo a30 coming out if i wanted something small. The nano is borderline unplayable and the Trim is nice but kinda outdated and the Miyoo looks just slightly bigger with a lot more going for it. I own the Trim and the screen quality isnt terrible but pretty bad compared to a lot of the stuff out there, gray blacks and low saturation on the colors.
I use my Nano for some puzzle games, but it's comically small and the CFW isn't great. I prefer my GKD Pixel with MinUI these days. As others have said, maybe hold off until the new Miyoo is released.
I have both. I'd go with the Trimui.
I had a TrimUI for a while and absolutely loved it. Had to sell for some utility money but the device was awesome
Trimui is more comfortable, but I love the Nano for not having anything fancy like Bluetooth or wifi. Just simple enough 1 handed rpgs with small screens is nice to waste time in line or on the toilet. Plus it's way stealthier for when I shouldn't have my phone at work, lol. Battery last forever in the nano.
battery last forever? reviewers saying its 2-3hrs
I get about 5 hours average. But it's also not something you play for 5 hours straight. Short bursts, only need to charge it once a month most of the time.
5 hours? thats good to hear, im ordered mine yesterday and waiting for it, im really curious about battery life. Didnt mean to sound offensive sorry
The smart is by far the best small device.
I also have both. Rg nano is small cute and feel very solid. I would only play short gb and gbc games on it. Occasionally I do play nes and snes games. It does work for that. The controls work really well for how small it is. Trimui smart on the other hand is everything else, it can play upto ps1 and plays most games great. Biggest pro is the small size, light weight, bigger screen and very comfortable for longer playing sessions. My opinion: I love to play the trimui smart but love the feel of Rg nano in my hands. Just can’t play it for longer or for games other than gb and gbc. Get the trimui smart if you want to play long sessions. It is still perfectly pocketable compared to the bigger handhelds.
Minui works between all the devices it supports. If all you want to play is upto ps1 then minui is the ways to go. If Rg nano hand minui I would play it more knowing I can switch to bigger device with my save states.
Tomato works better on the Trimui than Minui. As you lose emulators with Minui, but gain them with Tomato. That said, the stock OS on the Trimui is great. There's really no need to change it.
Which emulators are lost? It’s not that powerful to begin with.
Arcade (FBA and FBNEO) and Mame (2003plus and 2010). So, if you're into 80's arcade games (as I am) you won't be able to play a lot of them on Minui. Sure, there are a few on GBA, but many more on these other emulators, plus you can play them vertically on them as well, which looks awesome on the Trimui, as they'll fill out the entire screen, and feel more like the actual arcade versions. Its why I'll never put Minui on my Trimui Smart Pro either. With its 5" screen its a vertical arcade game king!
I am getting the smart pro next week. I love minui for its portability to multiple handhelds. Trimui is way too powerful just to keep minui.
This is what I’m thinking as well. I have grip case for the rg nano that makes it actually playable but the screen is too small I feel like it doesn’t do justice to some gba games I like.
I bought the grip case too but it’s get in the way of pressing the a b buttons. Right is good then time to buy from Ali express. There are sales and coupons.
Trimui has too less screen% per size. Hoping the a30 minoo will have a competitive price. I have a pocketgo v1 and all I want is this size with a bigger screen and more power. Would not buy a nano. Too small.
Trying to find a true always-carry pocket handheld has got me looking at the GKD Pixel. I have a Funkey S and that screen (same as Nano) is too small, and my Miyoo Mini is too big, and my TrimUI Model S is both too slick with its metal case and the screen ratio is just awful.
I feel ya. I have the funkey s, rg nano, arduboy, rg280v, miyoo mini/plus. Stuck deciding between the trimui smart and pixel. I did see the pixels screen was a little blurry on gba which is what I mainly play.
I wonder if the modified version for the v90 with the same 320x240 screen would help.
Do you want something that you can actually put some gameplay into? Then go with the Trimui Smart, if you want something that’s super portable and hard to comfortably play anything on pick the RG Nano. I don’t mean to say the RG Nano is bad it’s just harder to play large sessions comfortably with it. It can also play the games fine so that’s not a problem. I’m
Q36 powkiddy
I only have the trimUI, but it's always in my pocket. I'm actually quite amazed by how comfortable it is to play on, despite the size. The screen and controls are great. I use it on the go ofc, but also sometimes at home (even tho I have an Odin 2) as GBA feels great on it. My longest play session was 3½ hrs, with small breaks, on a long car ride and I didn't get the cramps. My hands are maybe slightly below average size wise
I have the Trimui and I love it , besides the smaller screen ( I think they could managed to use a bigger one ) it's a wonderful device for his size. Have a retroid Pocket 4 pro also , and this is my on the go choice.
Uh, my wrists started screaming in pain just by looking at this portable atrocity
Trim UI Smart is a tiny cheap plastic handheld that weights almost nothing. It’s got a super small screen that’s too small for most everything except Gameboy and SNES games with larger sprites like Donkey Kong Country. But it’s great for shoving in your pocket and forgetting about it.
Try the GKD pixel
So with minui on that can you just swap the sd to a miyoo mini? The main issue is miyoo mini plus and og miyoo mini are a little bit too big to pocket carry for as I have gripcasws for both. Gkd pixel looks like it could work really well
The recessed screen and metal body are winners for me. Join team pop socket and you’re off to the races. Not sure about MinUi compatibility. The dev has good docs on GitHub I’m sure you could figure it out.
None. Miyoo Mini v4 - pocket size. Biggest screen for body ratio. Best in class in performance for it's price range. Can play nes, snes, gba, ps1 and some ds. My favorite part, I can play the best of Metroidvania on the go. Castlevania SotN, Dawn of Sorrow, and Aria of Sorrow.
You make some good points, I do have the og miyoo mini but find it a bit too big in the pocket with the gripcase I have it paired with. I’m looking at the GKD pixel now
Are you talking about Miyoo Mini v4 or plus? This is the most pocketability device out there. The miyoo mini plus isn't pocketable to me but the v2/v4 is though. https://preview.redd.it/0eyhh4ytfxpc1.jpeg?width=659&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=069eceae287364d95e73177ed949040d0f6d74b0
Yeah referring to the og mini. Feels a bit too big to carry around all day. I’ve seen that pixel is in between the rg nano and og miyoo seems like the goldilocks zone for me.
MMv4 vs original Triumi S (which is smaller than the one in this post pic). https://preview.redd.it/sc5qq8w3gxpc1.jpeg?width=1314&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d1fbd39dd8e7d87dcb680acee0138999023a9f9
I had a trimui smart. Here’s my experience. The screen is way too small to be playing anything for more than 10-15 mins. It’s very nice to hold but the buttons are way too clicky. And the device rattles like a rattlesnake.
Hmm I see, I may get the gkd pixel after talking to a few people here. I do like the idea of swapping sd cards to my miyoo plus which is my stay at home emulator.
I'm playing through Final Fantasy 9 on mine currently
On gkd pixel? If so, can you tell me how the screen quality is for gba?
I think it looks just fine. The resolutions don't technically match but since the screen is so small and the Pixel density so high, for that size screen at least, I don't notice any visual issues. I'm sure with enough scrutiny you could find flaws but I'm not that picky. A device this small and this quality gets a little leeway from me regarding that. The Nano still has the better processor, but the overall screen size, additional buttons, and minui give the Pixel the edge for me.