MagicX One 35 First Impressions

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

MagicX One 35 First Impressions

https://retrohandhelds.gg/magicx-one-35-first-impressions/

You ever stare at your Game Boy Advance and whisper, “What if this was vertical?” Well, MagicX just heard you—and built the One 35 to answer your weird, beautiful craving for TATE-mode nostalgia.

Priced at just $55 (yes, fifty-five), this tiny Android beast packs a Helio G85 chip, a crisp 3.5” 960×640 screen (same as the pricier AYANEO Pocket Micro), and enough juice to run PS2 games if you’re feeling bold. Performance? Surprisingly smooth. Benchmarks beat the RG DS and nearly match the Logitech G Cloud. For under $100, that’s a win.

The controls? Solid. Buttons feel tactile, the stick is responsive, and dual D-pads work flawlessly—except those shoulder buttons. They click like a rusty door hinge, and in TATE mode? Awkward. Your fingers will feel betrayed.

Software’s a bit janky—apps boot sideways, Wi-Fi drops mid-download—but it’s early days. And hey, for the price, you’re not buying luxury. You’re buying potential. A pocket-sized GBA shrine with PS2 dreams. If you’ve been waiting for a budget TATE handheld… this is it. Just bring your own grip. 🎮✨