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The Miyoo Mini is a 2.8 inch 4:3 Linux handheld that plays everything up to DS (no touchscreen) well. It came out in December 2021 at $52. Inside is the SigmaStar SSD202D with 128 MB of RAM.
Who it's for
Buy it if
- You want to play everything up to DS.
- You want it in a jeans pocket: the front is 65 x 93.5 mm.
Skip it if
- You want N64 games: it does not run them.
- You want Wi-Fi for updates and cloud saves.
Miyoo Mini videos
What it plays
Plays up to: DS (no touchscreen). Chip: SigmaStar SSD202D.
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 owners say
“I love my miyoo mini for onion definitely, but I also love it for the button feel/size etc.”
“I love my Miyoo Mini but it gets really uncomfortable to use after a short period of time.”
“I have a Miyoo Mini and I am scared to take it out due to how fragile it seems without its case.”
What the specs mean
4:3 screen
NES to PS2 era home consoles were 4:3, so they fill it. GBA and PSP games show bars above and below.
Based on: Display math: native screen shapes of each system
PS1 and N64 at exactly 2x
320 x 240 times 2 is the screen's own 640 x 480, so PS1 and N64 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 2 other handhelds
The SigmaStar SSD202D also powers the Miyoo Mini Flip, Miyoo Mini Plus. The same chip means similar speed, though memory and cooling can differ.
Based on: Our handheld database (chip field)
Small battery for its class
Only 29 of 117 Linux and other handhelds in our database have a smaller battery than this 2,000 mAh (the middle one has 3,000 mAh). The heavier the system you run, the sooner it runs out.
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)
No analog sticks
N64 games and later PS1 games were made for a stick. Here they run on the d-pad, which works for some and ruins others.
Based on: Layout data; N64 and PS1 DualShock games use analog control
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 DS (no touchscreen) well
- Low price
Not so good
- No analog sticks
- N64 games can struggle
- No Wi-Fi
- No video out
Screen fit
Screen: 2.8 inch, IPS, 4:3, 640 x 480.
| System | Original | Sharpest scale | Screen filled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Boy | 160 x 144 | 3x (480 x 432) | 68% |
| GBA | 240 x 160 | 2x (480 x 320) | 50% |
| NES and SNES | 256 x 224 | 2x (512 x 448) | 75% |
| Genesis | 320 x 224 | 2x (640 x 448) | 93% |
| PS1 and N64 | 320 x 240 | 2x (640 x 480) | 100% |
| DS, one screen | 256 x 192 | 2x (512 x 384) | 64% |
Whole-number scales keep every pixel the same size. Bold rows fill the screen with a perfect fit. Screen 640 x 480.
Size
65 x 93.5 x 18 mm, 106 g. Fits a jeans pocket
- Miyoo Mini (65 x 93.5 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 | SigmaStar SSD202D |
| CPU | Cortex-A7 |
| Cores | 2 |
| Clock speed | 1.2 GHz |
| RAM | 128 MB DDR3 |
| Cooling | No |
| Screen | |
| Size | 2.8" |
| Type | IPS |
| Resolution | 640 x 480 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
| Pixel density | 285 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 |
| Dual screen | No |
| Controls | |
| D-pad | Cross, Lower placement |
| Analog sticks | No |
| Stick layout | No Thumbsticks |
| Shoulder buttons | Side By Side |
| Rumble | Yes |
| Gyroscope | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Storage | External MicroSD |
| SD card | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| USB-C | Yes |
| Video out | No |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Build | |
| Form factor | Vertical |
| Dimensions | 65 x 93.5 x 18 mm |
| Weight | 106 g |
| Battery | 2000 mAh |
| Shell | Plastic |
| Speakers | Front |
| Software | |
| Operating system | Linux |
| Custom firmware | OnionOS, SpruceOS, MinUI, Koriki, Allium |
Questions
Can the Miyoo Mini play PS2 games?
Not well. PS2 scores 0 out of 100. It plays everything up to DS (no touchscreen) well.
Is the Miyoo Mini good for GBA?
GBA runs at full speed. At 2x it fills 50% of the screen with even pixels.
Does it have a headphone jack?
Yes.
How big is the battery?
2,000 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 Miyoo Mini cost?
It launched at about $52 in Dec 2021. Prices on the used market change, so check current listings.
Price and newer models
$52 at launch Under $60
Newer in the same line: the Miyoo Mini Plus (Mar 2023). Compare before you buy this one new.
Compared with
Similar handhelds
Specs and emulation scores from the retrocatalog.com handheld database. The score out of 10 is our own.