Embarking on a Retro Adventure
The Miyoo Flip Unveiled

1. The Miyoo Mini Plus has garnered acclaim as one of the finest retro handhelds to reach Western consumers from China. Its debut coincided with a period when similar retro emulation handhelds were lacking in robust operating systems, and Miyoo's stock firmware provided a commendable experience. However, the landscape shifted dramatically with the introduction of Onion OS for the Miyoo Mini. Handheld review channels worldwide began advocating for the installation of Onion OS, transforming the Miyoo Mini into the ultimate budget handheld. With its lower price point, the Miyoo Mini swiftly captured the majority of the market share in the budget handheld sector, gaining popularity not only in Western nations but also across Asia. Despite subsequent releases like Anbernic's RG35xx series, the Miyoo Mini continues to hold a special place in the hearts of many enthusiasts.

2. Anticipation for the Miyoo Mini Flip reached a fever pitch following its announcement a year ago. Rendered images circulating on Reddit pages fueled excitement, with enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the flip variant of the beloved Miyoo Mini Plus. Recent developments suggest that the launch of the Miyoo Mini Flip is imminent, as a video showcasing its design and internal OS surfaced online.

3. Taking clear inspiration from the iconic Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP, the Miyoo Mini Flip features a clamshell form factor for added protection and portability. Compact and sleek, the device measures approximately 108mm x 78.5mm x 22.3mm when closed. However, ensuring a robust hinge will be crucial, given the fragility experienced with previous Miyoo devices and the notorious issues encountered with the Retroid Flip's hinges.

4. The top half of the Miyoo Mini Flip houses a 3.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 640x480, ideal for retro gaming. The bottom half includes a d-pad, four action buttons, ABXY buttons, start/select buttons, and dual analog sticks—a notable addition compared to previous Miyoo models. Shoulder buttons or triggers, a function button, USB-C port, headphone jack, and possibly a mini HDMI port are also featured.

^{_{5. While official specifications are pending, leaks suggest the Miyoo Mini Flip will be powered by an RK 3566 chip, offering improved performance compared to its predecessors. Emulation capabilities are expected to include systems up to PlayStation 1, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, and PSP, although performance may vary. Wi-Fi connectivity, 128MB of RAM, and a 3000mAh battery are also rumored features.}}

^{_{6. Details about the operating system and user interface remain scarce, but speculation abounds regarding partnerships with third-party developers like Onion OS or Goos. Pricing is expected to be under $100, making it an attractive option for retro gaming enthusiasts. Various color options, reminiscent of the Game Boy Advance SP's iconic variants, add to the appeal.}}

Exciting news has emerged about Miyoo's latest release!

The team has teased several designs for the upcoming launch of the Miyoo Mini Flip, with one featuring a Pikachu theme. However, they caution that this design is currently just a concept, and there may be copyright issues to address. Three designs were showcased: the classic theme in gray, a black version with bright green decals, and the Pokémon-themed offering.

Initially slated for release in December or January of 2024, there might be a slight delay given that only finished concepts of the shells are now being revealed. With the design direction now clear, let's delve into what we can expect from the device's performance. The Miyoo Mini Flip is expected to be similar in size to the Game Boy Advance SP and the PowKiddy V90, making it compact and portable. However, some users have raised concerns about the user-friendliness of the compact analog sticks during gameplay. Nonetheless, the central aspect of the Mini Flip's performance lies in the RK3566 processor. Powered by a quad-core 64-bit Cortex A55 processor clocked up to 1.8 GHz, the RK3566 is a popular choice among portable gaming devices. It has been proven to offer robust emulation capabilities, as seen in devices like the PowKiddy RGB30 and the Arcade 2024. With this processor, the Mini Flip should handle N64 and Sega Saturn game emulation smoothly, as indicated by users on platforms like Reddit. While the device is well-equipped for Dreamcast and N64 games, emulating PS2 and PSP titles could pose more significant challenges. Overall, the performance expectations for the Miyoo Mini Flip are promising, particularly for fans of retro gaming.

Updated on October 11: Miyoo Flip's final colors have been confirmed: Yellow, White, Black and Grey

What are your thoughts on this upcoming release from the Miyoo team? Are you considering picking one up, or do you have other retro handheld devices in mind? Share your thoughts below.

Thanks for reading! See you next time!