The manufacturer, MINILOONG, is a rising brand in the handheld gaming market. The 'Pocket 1' marks their debut product. It has a refined design and texture that is unexpected for a first product from a new manufacturer. The front panel is magnetically detachable for customization and has a nostalgic appearance reminiscent of 90s gadgets.
The 4-inch LCD display has a resolution of 960x720 (aspect ratio 4:3), making it very suitable for integer scaling of retro games. The buttons are also of high quality, particularly the crystal ABXY buttons and the quiet, comfortable stack-type shoulder buttons, which stand out in this price range. It features one hall sensor analog stick and supports RGB lighting.
Specifications:
SoC: Rockchip RK3566
RAM: 1GB LPDDR4
Storage: 8GB (built-in for OS) + dual MicroSD card slots
Display: 4-inch IPS LCD (960x720)
Battery: 4,000mAh (approximately 6 hours of operation)
I/O: Mini HDMI, USB-C (one for charging and one for peripherals), 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2
OS: Custom Linux-based
- ＋ Excellent display: The 4-inch, 960x720 resolution is ideal for beautifully displaying retro games prior to the PS1.
- ＋ High-quality controls: The response of the crystal buttons is good, and the quiet design of the shoulder buttons is very high quality.
- ＋ Charging flexibility: Uncommon for inexpensive devices, it can be charged with many cables, including USB-C PD chargers and fast chargers.
- ＋ High build quality: The rounded ergonomic design and good plastic texture provide a premium feel beyond its price.
- − Software immaturity: The screen refresh rate is fixed at 61.5Hz, causing slight discrepancies in audio and speed. Additionally, some emulators exhibit rendering bugs.
- − Speaker placement: The mono speaker is located on the back, making it easy to cover with your hand during play, which can muffle the sound.
- − Single analog stick: With only one stick, there are limitations in playing games that require a second stick, such as some PS1 titles and FPS games.
- Many reviewers highly praise the hardware potential. While some say, 'The hardware is top-class for a device under $100,' there are notable mentions of instability in the OS and lack of optimization detracting from its appeal. The general consensus is to either accept it as 'a device to enjoy games up to the PS1 on a beautiful screen' or wait for future community support for custom firmware (like Rocknix or ArkOS).
| Platform | Rating |
|---|---|
Family Computer / NES
|
Playable |
Game Boy
|
Playable |
Super Famicom / SNES
|
Playable |
PC Engine
|
Playable |
Mega Drive / Sega Genesis
|
Playable |
Game Gear
|
Playable |
Game Boy Advance
|
Playable |
PlayStation
|
Playable |
Nintendo 64
|
Playable |
PlayStation Portable
|
Playable |
Dreamcast
|
Playable |
Nintendo DS
|
Playable |
Sega Saturn
|
Runs |
Nintendo GameCube
|
Not Playable |
Wii
|
Not Playable |
Nintendo 3DS
|
Not Playable |
PlayStation 2
|
Not Playable |
