The MagicX Mini Dream finally has a price, because MagicX has confirmed on its Discord that the Android version of its compact OLED handheld, the Mini Dream AP, will cost $179 at launch with a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chip inside, and it’s shared a fresh set of final design renders to go with it.
That’s a very spicy number in a retro handheld market that gets more crowded by the week, but is it actually a good deal or just a pretty face? Let’s find out!
What’s Actually Inside the MagicX Mini Dream AP?
Between Retro Handhelds and Notebookcheck, we now have a pretty complete spec sheet, and it’s a tidy little package for the money:
- Chip: MediaTek Dimensity 7300
- Memory: 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, plus a microSD (TF) card slot
- Screen: 3.3-inch 4:3 OLED at 1024 x 768
- Battery: 3,500mAh, down from the 3,800mAh originally planned after the body was shrunk
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4
- Controls: Switch-style button layout, cross D-pad, RGB thumbsticks and quiet Japanese dome switches
- Extras: active cooling fan, dual speakers and a headphone jack
- Price: $179 at launch
That 4:3 OLED is the real star for me, because loads of retro systems were designed for that shape, so you get far fewer of those chunky black bars down the sides that make widescreen handhelds feel a bit wasteful when you’re playing PS1 or DS-era stuff. Who doesn’t love a screen that actually fits the games?
Quick NoteThe reports don’t quite agree on how many versions are coming, with Retro Handhelds saying four configurations and Notebookcheck mentioning two Android variants, and MagicX has talked about a Linux version in the past too, so expect the full line-up to shift a bit before launch.
Is the Dimensity 7300 Actually Good Enough for Emulation?
This is where I’d hold off on getting too excited, because the Dimensity 7300 is a modern mid-range phone chip, and there’s no proper emulation testing on this device yet, so anyone telling you exactly how well it handles GameCube or PS2 right now is basically guessing.
The obvious rival is the Retroid Pocket 5, which Notebookcheck notes now sits at the very same $179 after a permanent price cut, and that one runs a Snapdragon 865 with a long, well-documented track record. The only other Dimensity 7300 handheld, the KT-R2, starts at $199 for its plastic 6GB model according to Retro Handhelds, so on price alone MagicX is undercutting its closest chip twin by $20.
Should You Wait for the MagicX Mini Dream?
There’s no release date yet, MagicX has only said more news is coming soon, so if you need a handheld right now the Retroid Pocket 5 is the proven, safer buy at the same price, and nobody will judge you for that.
If you’re more of a compact-OLED-or-bust person though, the Mini Dream looks genuinely promising, and I’d wait for real reviews and battery tests before throwing money at it, because a smaller battery and a fan crammed into a tiny shell are exactly the kind of things that sound fine on paper and get loud in practice. [ADD PERSONAL NOTE: your current go-to retro handheld and how the Mini Dream compares on paper]
And once you’ve got your shiny new handheld, you’ll need something to play on it, so my list of underrated GBA games should keep that little OLED very busy, assuming you “legally” source them, of course!
FAQ
How much is the MagicX Mini Dream?
The MagicX Mini Dream AP, the Android version with a Dimensity 7300 chip, costs $179 at launch, according to MagicX.
When is the MagicX Mini Dream release date?
MagicX hasn’t announced a release date for the Mini Dream yet, only that more details are coming soon.
What screen does the MagicX Mini Dream have?
The MagicX Mini Dream uses a 3.3-inch 4:3 OLED screen with a 1024 x 768 resolution.
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