By Super Asurada 77 | Retro Joy Lab
Hello everyone, this is Super Asurada 77.
Let me introduce the Trimui Smart Pro,
a 4.96-inch horizontal retro handheld priced under ₩100,000 (≈ $70–80 USD).
It’s a great alternative for anyone who finds 3.5-inch screens too small —
but keep in mind, that extra size comes with extra weight.
At over 200 grams, this handheld feels noticeably heavier during long sessions —
you’ll start to feel it in your wrists after a while.
According to my digital scale, it weighs 259 grams,
likely due to its large-capacity battery.
Build quality is solid — even a bit premium-looking.
The D-pad placement at the top is perfect for retro titles,
and the button feel is responsive and pleasant.
However, the analog sticks are basic — functional, but nothing special.
There’s no R3/L3 support, but that’s fine since most retro games don’t use them anyway.
The stereo speakers sound surprisingly good for this price range.
It runs on the manufacturer’s own custom OS.
The interface is simple and intuitive —
press the menu button to return to the game list,
browse through system folders, and launch games quickly.
However, you can’t select emulator cores per game,
which is a bit disappointing.
Also, while USB-C earphones technically work,
I wouldn’t recommend them — the experience is inconsistent.
One major flaw:
Even if you lower the BGM or system volume,
the speaker still plays loud audio.
The hardware volume buttons don’t properly control the sound level —
so it’s better to just use 3.5mm earphones.
Thankfully, both 3-pole and 4-pole earphones work fine —
even those with microphones produce clean stereo output.
It runs NDS games beautifully.
Unlike the RG35XX H, which lacks 3D rendering options,
the Trimui Smart Pro displays NDS visuals as intended.
If you enable “3D High Resolution = Yes”,
you’ll get sharper graphics —
though on weaker devices, that can cause lag.
The Trimui Smart Pro (and RK2023) handle this without slowdown,
thanks to slightly stronger CPUs.
By default, High-Resolution 3D is set to Yes,
so you’ll enjoy crisp, detailed visuals right out of the box.
For PSP games, use the PPSSPP emulator —
it’s much smoother and faster than the stock PSP app,
which loads and saves painfully slow.
Ridge Racer on PSP can reach 60 FPS
after tweaking a few options (disabling visual effects).
The only tradeoff: when boosting,
the screen effect that normally gives a “speed of light” feel
becomes less intense — but gameplay stays fluid.
Super Robot Wars A Portable runs great at 2× resolution —
a real treat for tactical RPG fans.
Some Dreamcast games have minor graphical glitches depending on the core used…
…but gameplay remains smooth and enjoyable overall.
Inside the “Fukey Setting” menu:
Enable CPU Performance Mode
for a small speed boost.
After enabling it, slide the FN switch to the right while gaming —
you’ll notice slightly better performance.
Just be warned: the device gets warm after long sessions.
For charging, use a 5V 2A charger.
The manual doesn’t clearly specify this,
but based on testing, it’s the safest option.
⚠️ Do not use 9V, 12V, or hybrid 5V/9V fast chargers —
they can permanently damage the board.
Final Verdict
If you can handle the 259g weight,
the 4.96-inch screen offers a bright, comfortable view
and handles PS1 and NDS titles effortlessly.
PSP games are playable with some settings tweaks,
though the console does get warm during long sessions.
For gamers seeking a large-screen handheld under $80,
the Trimui Smart Pro is a fantastic value —
as long as you don’t mind a bit of heft.
Enjoy your retro gaming life!
🎮 — Super Asurada 77
Original article in Korean: [link]
