A new contender has entered the budget retro handheld market, and I’ve already ordered a test unit for review, which will hopefully be here by the beginning of December. This time, it’s the MagicX One 35, which is as of now pretty much the only Android-based emulation device which you can get for under $100. Let me show you everything we know about this quite interesting new handheld before I get to my full hands-on review.
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The Official Specification Sheet
MagicX One 35
Compact budget Android handheld with a 3.5" 960×640 IPS touchscreen, Helio G85 chipset, and dual D-pads designed for TATE and retro gaming up to PS2/Vita.
| SoC: | MediaTek Helio G85 |
| CPU: | 2× Cortex-A75 @ 2.0 GHz + 6× Cortex-A55 @ 1.8 GHz |
| GPU: | ARM Mali G52-MC2 @ 1000 MHz |
| RAM: | 3/4 GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage: | 32/64 GB eMMC 5.1 + up to 512 GB TF card |
| Display: | 3.5” 960×640 IPS touchscreen, 500 nits |
| Wireless: | Wi-Fi 5 + Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports: | USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack, TF slot |
| OS: | Android 12 w/ Play Store + Dawn Launcher |
| Battery: | 4300 mAh — approx. 5–7 hours |
| Charging: | USB-C, 5V/2A, 10W |
| Controls: | Hall stick, dual D-pads, TATE shoulders, vibration motor |
| Size: | 153 × 70 × 19 mm |
| Weight: | 189 g |
The MagicX One 35 is built around the MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, a capable chipset also found in some older Android handhelds like the Retroid Pocket 2S, paired with the ARM Mali G52 MC2 GPU. It comes with either 3 or 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM depending on the version, which should be enough for most tasks this CPU will be able to support on this device. It features a 3.5-inch 960×640 IPS multi-touch display, and 32 or 64 GB of eMMC memory, with the possibility to extend the memory via the microSD card slot.
When it comes to connectivity, we get WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5, alongside a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The battery is a 4300 mAh li-po cell, which is supposed to last for about 5 to 7 hours of use depending on the task at hand.
The Android Version & Promised Performance
The handheld runs on Android 12, which is quite curious, as it means that it’s a couple of versions behind in relation to the last two Android OS releases. This however, in general is not a major issue for a dedicated gaming device where emulator performance is the main focus, and the system overlay/custom Dawn Launcher updates are provided by the manufacturer.
MagicX has been refreshingly transparent here, releasing two video demos of the device’s performance. You can expect flawless emulation for consoles up to the Dreamcast and Nintendo 64, with PSP and two select PS Vita (!) games also running pretty well here. More demanding systems like the GameCube and PlayStation 2 will see mixed results; some lighter titles are playable, but you should anticipate slowdowns and dropped frames in most more graphically advanced games.
As this is an Android Handheld, and we’ve already seen a glimpse of the on-screen button mapping utility in the official MagicX One 35 demo, I’m also very curious to test how well it handles some classic Android games, like Jetpack Joyride or Asphalt 8.
While the device has only one hall-effect analog stick on board, looking at the promised performance, it won’t be an issue for most titles you will be able to play using it.
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The TATE Mode – For Vertical Arcade Games (And More?)
Definitely the most distinct feature of the MagicX One 35 is its clever control layout, designed for both horizontal and vertical (“TATE mode”) gameplay. One of the things that are noticeable right away is the really unique implementation of dual D-pads on this handheld made for compatibility with vertical gameplay.
The device also features shoulder buttons on both the top and bottom, though I do wonder about the quality and feel of the secondary “TATE” shoulders and how they’ll hold up during intense gaming sessions – something I’ll be sure to test thoroughly. All this gives the MagicX One 35 potential for being perfect for classic arcade shoot ’em ups like Ikaruga, Raiden, or 1942. I also can’t help but wonder how well will this work for some vertical Android games that can make use of a connected controller.
Pricing, Availability & More Things You Should Know
The MagicX One 35 is positioned with an early bird price of $79 for the more expensive variant without a microSD card (before Nov 25th), after which this price will increase to $85. This is the data taken from the official MagicX store sales page.
While slightly more expensive than some other popular entry-level Linux devices like the R36S or Miyoo Mini Plus, the One 35 is promised to offer a significant performance jump, Android versatility, and a really unique feature set when it comes to its TATE mode capabilities. All this can make it really stand out in amongst the other horizontal retro handhelds available on the market, making it a very strong contender for anyone looking for one of the top 12 budget retro handhelds under $100.
To learn more and engage with the designers of this device, you can join the official MagicX Discord server. I really look forward to putting this device through some practical tests in my full hands-on review, which is coming soon (first batch ships November 26th).
The One 35 comes from a team that is quickly gaining a reputation in the community for being innovators who actually listen to their customers. They previously released the unique vertical TATE handheld, the MagicX Zero 40, which was already an interesting take on the traditional vertical retro handheld design format. There is a lot of interesting information coming both form the MagicX Discord server and their official website, detailing a lot of different handheld designs, some rumored to see the light of day in the next year.