Head-to-Head
TRIMUI Smart Brick vs TRIMUI Smart Pro
TRIMUI Smart Brick vs Smart Pro: two budget Linux handhelds on the same chip, compared on screen, ergonomics, battery, and which one matches your library.
| Spec | TRIMUI Smart Brick | TRIMUI Smart Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | TRIMUI | TRIMUI |
| Form Factor | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Operating System | Linux (Tina) | Linux (Tina) |
| Chipset | Allwinner A133 Plus | Allwinner A133 Plus |
| RAM | 1 GB LPDDR3 | 1 GB LPDDR4 |
| Screen | 3.2 inch | 4.96 inch |
| Resolution | 1024 x 768 | 1280 x 720 |
| Battery | 3000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Price | $80 (Plastic) $95 (Metal) | 80.0 |
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The TRIMUI Smart Brick and TRIMUI Smart Pro are two of the most tempting budget Linux handhelds of recent years, and they share the same brain. The decision between them is really a question of shape and screen, not raw power, and that makes them a good pair to weigh side by side.
Performance and emulation ceiling
Both use the same Allwinner A133 Plus chipset with 1 GB of RAM. On our performance scale, both score a 5.25. That means they behave identically when it comes to emulation: Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, Game Boy Advance, Super Nintendo, and PlayStation 1 all run at A-level, with Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and PSP sitting in the B range (mostly playable but not always full speed), and Sega Saturn at C. Neither will push GameCube or Wii, so if those systems matter you are shopping in the wrong bracket entirely.
Because the hardware ceiling is identical, the choice comes down to how each device presents those games.
Screen and ergonomics
This is the real fork in the road. The Smart Brick is a vertical handheld with a 3.2 inch 1024 x 768 IPS panel — a very dense 400 PPI, which is unusually sharp for a budget device. It has no analog sticks at all, just a cross D-pad, four face buttons, and shoulder buttons.
The Smart Pro is a horizontal device with a much larger 4.96 inch 1280 x 720 IPS display at 296 PPI. It adds dual analog sticks below the D-pad and face buttons, which opens the door to more comfortable PSP and N64 play despite the shared ceiling. The Brick's sharper small screen is superb for pixel art from Game Boy through PlayStation 1; the Pro's bigger widescreen is better for games that map to 16:9 or benefit from a thumbstick.
Battery and price
The Smart Brick carries a 3000 mAh battery, while the Smart Pro packs a 5000 mAh unit that should last noticeably longer between charges. On price, the Smart Brick sits around $80 (plastic) to $95 (metal), while the Smart Pro is around $80.
Which should you buy?
Choose the Smart Brick if you want a pocketable vertical with the sharpest display in its class and you plan to stick to Game Boy through PlayStation 1. Choose the Smart Pro if you want a bigger widescreen, dual sticks, and better battery for the same money. The best handheld is the one that makes the games you actually play feel natural.