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The M18 is a 4.3 inch 16:9 Linux handheld that plays everything up to Dreamcast well, made by SJGAM. It came out in January 2024 at $76. Inside is the RockChip RK3566 with 768 MB of RAM.
Who it's for
Buy it if
- You want to play everything up to Dreamcast, plus some PSP.
- You want a 4.3 inch screen and carry it in a bag or a jacket.
Skip it if
- You want PSP games: it scores 70 out of 100, so many games struggle.
- You want Wi-Fi for updates and cloud saves.
What it plays
Plays up to: Dreamcast. Chip: RockChip RK3566.
Scores out of 100. 100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues on this device. 80 or more plays well (green), 50 to 79 plays partly (yellow).
What the specs mean
16:9 screen
PSP and Switch games fill it. 4:3 home consoles show bars at the sides, and Game Boy games look small.
Based on: Display math: native screen shapes of each system
PSP at exactly 1x
480 x 272 times 1 is the screen's own 480 x 272, so PSP pixels stay perfectly even with no filter and no bars.
Based on: Display math: native resolution x whole-number scale = screen resolution
Same chip as 26 other handhelds
The RockChip RK3566 also powers the GAMEMT E6 Plus, GKD Bubble, GKD Mini Plus, GKD Mini Plus Classic and more. The same chip means similar speed, though memory and cooling can differ.
Based on: Our handheld database (chip field)
Big battery for its class
Only 16 of 117 Linux and other handhelds in our database have a bigger battery than this 4,000 mAh (the middle one has 3,000 mAh).
Based on: Our handheld database: battery of 117 Linux and other handhelds
Shoulder buttons in a row
L1 and L2 sit side by side along the top edge instead of stacked. PS2 games that need L1 and L2 together mean sliding one finger between them.
Based on: Layout data (shoulder button layout)
DS without touch
There is no touch screen, so DS games that need the stylus use a pointer moved by a stick.
Based on: Layout data: no touch screen
Rating
How we score: what it plays 30%, how many players own and recommend it 20%, screen 15%, price compared with handhelds that play as much 10%, controls 10%, size and weight 10%, battery size for its chip 5%.
Good
- Plays everything up to Dreamcast well
- Low price
Not so good
- Not built for PS2 games
- Heavy at 450 g
- No Wi-Fi
- No video out
Screen fit
Screen: 4.3 inch, IPS, 16:9, 480 x 272.
| System | Original | Sharpest scale | Screen filled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Boy | 160 x 144 | 1x (160 x 144) | 18% |
| GBA | 240 x 160 | 1x (240 x 160) | 29% |
| NES and SNES | 256 x 224 | 1x (256 x 224) | 44% |
| Genesis | 320 x 224 | 1x (320 x 224) | 55% |
| PS1 and N64 | 320 x 240 | 1x (320 x 240) | 59% |
| DS, one screen | 256 x 192 | 1x (256 x 192) | 38% |
| PSP | 480 x 272 | 1x (480 x 272) | 100% |
Whole-number scales keep every pixel the same size. Bold rows fill the screen with a perfect fit. Screen 480 x 272.
Size
100 x 145 x 35 mm, 450 g. Too big for a jeans pocket
- M18 (100 x 145 mm)
- iPhone 15 (71.6 x 147.6 mm)
True scale, front view. Jeans pocket = front no bigger than an iPhone 15 Pro Max in a case (160 x 82 mm).
Specs
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Chip | RockChip RK3566 |
| CPU | Cortex-A55 |
| Cores | 4 |
| Clock speed | 1.8 GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EE |
| RAM | 768 MB DDR3 |
| Cooling | No |
| Screen | |
| Size | 4.3" |
| Type | IPS |
| Resolution | 480 x 272 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
| Pixel density | 128 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| Dual screen | No |
| Controls | |
| D-pad | Cross, Lower placement |
| Analog sticks | Yes |
| Stick layout | Double, asymetrical |
| Shoulder buttons | Side By Side |
| Rumble | No |
| Gyroscope | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Storage | 4 GB eMMC |
| SD card | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| USB-C | Yes |
| Video out | No |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Build | |
| Form factor | Vertical |
| Dimensions | 100 x 145 x 35 mm |
| Weight | 450 g |
| Battery | 4000 mAh |
| Shell | Plastic |
| Speakers | Front |
| Software | |
| Operating system | Linux |
Questions
Can the M18 play PS2 games?
Not well. PS2 scores 10 out of 100. It plays everything up to Dreamcast well.
Can it play GameCube games?
Partly. GameCube scores 20 out of 100.
Is the M18 good for GBA?
GBA runs at full speed. At 1x it fills 29% of the screen with even pixels.
Does it have a headphone jack?
Yes.
How big is the battery?
4,000 mAh. The middle Linux and other handheld in our database has 3,000 mAh.
Can it connect to a TV?
No, it has no video out.
How much does the M18 cost?
It launched at about $76 in Jan 2024. Prices on the used market change, so check current listings.
Price and newer models
$76 at launch $60 to $120
The newest in its line in our database, out since Jan 2024.
Similar handhelds
Specs and emulation scores from the retrocatalog.com handheld database. The score out of 10 is our own.