Miyoo Mini Plus Review — Still the Best Budget Handheld? (2026)

Last updated: March 2026

Quick Verdict

Miyoo Mini Plus Specs

Design and Build Quality

The Miyoo Mini Plus looks like a Game Boy that went to design school. It’s compact, genuinely pocketable, and feels solid in hand — which is impressive for something in this price range. The plastic shell isn’t premium, but it doesn’t creak or flex. It just works.

The d-pad is good. Not “custom mechanical keyboard” good, but responsive and accurate enough for platformers and fighting games. The face buttons have a satisfying click. The shoulder buttons (L/R only — no L2/R2) are functional but a bit mushy. You’ll notice that on PS1 games that use all four triggers, but for the bulk of what you’ll play on this thing, it’s a non-issue.

The form factor is the real selling point. This thing fits in a jacket pocket. You can toss it in a bag without a case and not worry about it. If portability matters to you more than screen size, the Miyoo Mini Plus nails it.

One gripe: the power button placement. It’s on the top edge, right next to the volume rocker, and it’s easy to hit by accident. Minor, but worth mentioning.

Screen Quality

The 3.5-inch IPS display runs at 640x480, and it punches well above its price. Colors are vibrant, viewing angles are wide, and the pixel density is high enough that GBA and SNES games look crisp and sharp. Integer scaling works well for most systems.

Brightness is adequate for indoor use and dim outdoor play. Direct sunlight? Not great — but that’s true of basically every handheld in this class that isn’t using a transflective display.

Compared to the 2.8-inch screen on the original Miyoo Mini, the Plus model is a significant upgrade. That extra screen real estate makes a real difference for text-heavy RPGs and anything with small UI elements. The original was too small for extended sessions. The Plus fixes that.

Performance by System

Here’s where the Miyoo Mini Plus earns its reputation. For a $60 device, the system coverage is impressive — as long as you set expectations correctly.

Runs Flawlessly

• Game Boy / Game Boy Color — Perfect. No issues.
• Game Boy Advance — Perfect. This is arguably the best GBA handheld at this price.
• NES / Famicom — Perfect.
• SNES / Super Famicom — Perfect, including most enhancement chip games (SuperFX runs fine with OnionOS optimizations).
• Sega Genesis / Mega Drive — Perfect.
• Sega Master System / Game Gear — Perfect.
• PS1 — 90–95% of the library runs full speed. Some 3D-heavy titles might drop frames, but the vast majority of PS1 games are smooth.
• Neo Geo (MVS/ACD) — Perfect.
• Arcade (FBNeo/MAME 2003) — Most CPS1, CPS2, and CPS3 games run great.

Playable With Caveats

• N64 — Technically possible, but don’t buy this for N64 emulation. Simple 2D-style games (Mario 64, some platformers) can be playable with frameskip. Anything demanding is a slideshow.
• PSP — Same story. A handful of 2D PSP games might work. 3D titles are out of the question.
• DS — Some games boot and are playable, but the single screen and lack of touchscreen make it impractical for most of the DS library.

Not Worth Trying

• Dreamcast — Too demanding for this hardware.
• Saturn — No.
• Anything 6th gen or above — Not happening.

Bottom line: If your target is everything from 8-bit through PS1, the Miyoo Mini Plus handles it. If you need N64 or PSP, look at the Anbernic RG35XX Plus/H or step up to a more powerful device.

Custom Firmware: OnionOS — The Real Reason to Buy It

Let’s be direct: you should not run the Miyoo Mini Plus on stock firmware. The stock OS is functional but clunky, with sluggish menus and limited customization.

OnionOS transforms this device. It’s a community-built firmware specifically designed for the Miyoo Mini and Mini Plus, and it’s the single biggest reason this handheld stays relevant in 2026.

Here’s what OnionOS gives you:

• Fast, clean interface — Boot times drop dramatically. Menus are snappy and intuitive.
• RetroArch integration — Pre-configured cores with per-system defaults that actually make sense.
• Game Switcher — Resume any game instantly. Swap between titles without navigating back to the menu.
• Activity tracker — See how long you’ve played each game. (More useful than you’d think.)
• Theme support — Tons of community themes. Make it look however you want.
• Wi-Fi features — Sync saves, transfer ROMs wirelessly, even basic multiplayer on some setups.
• Battery optimizations — OnionOS squeezes more life out of the 3,000 mAh battery than stock ever could.

Installation is straightforward: flash OnionOS to a fresh MicroSD card (seriously, replace the included card — they’re notoriously unreliable), drop your ROMs and BIOS files on, and you’re done. The OnionOS wiki covers everything step by step.

OnionOS is actively maintained and has a strong community behind it. This matters. When a firmware project dies, the device effectively dies with it. OnionOS shows no signs of slowing down.

Battery Life

Miyoo advertises a 3,000 mAh battery in the Plus. Real-world results on OnionOS:

• GBA/SNES/Genesis: 6–8 hours
• PS1: 4–6 hours
• Standby (sleep mode via OnionOS): Several days

That’s solid for a device this size. You’ll get through a long flight or a full day of on-and-off play without stress. Charging is via USB-C, and a full charge takes roughly 2–2.5 hours.

The stock firmware is noticeably worse on battery life, which is another reason to switch to OnionOS immediately.

Pros and Cons

Who Should Buy the Miyoo Mini Plus

Buy it if:

• You want a reliable, pocketable retro handheld under $70
• Your target systems are 8-bit through PS1
• You’re willing to install OnionOS (it takes 15 minutes)
• You value portability over screen size
• You’re building a collection of budget handhelds and want the best “grab and go” option

Don’t buy it if:

• You need N64, PSP, or Dreamcast emulation — get something with a stronger SoC
• You want analog sticks for PS1 3D games — look at the Anbernic RG35XX Plus or RG406 series
• You want a big screen — consider the Anbernic RG35XX H or Miyoo Flip
• You already own the Miyoo Flip and don’t need a second device in the same performance class

Miyoo Mini Plus vs Miyoo Flip vs Anbernic RG35XX

Quick comparison for the three most common handhelds people cross-shop in this price range (as of March 2026):

The verdict: The Miyoo Mini Plus wins on overall polish and OnionOS maturity. The Anbernic RG35XX (especially the Plus or H variants) wins on raw performance thanks to the H700 chip. The Miyoo Flip wins if you want the clamshell form factor for screen protection. You genuinely can’t go wrong with any of these — they’re all excellent for the price.

Where to Buy

The Miyoo Mini Plus is available from:

• AliExpress — Usually the cheapest ($55–60). Shipping takes 2–4 weeks depending on your location. Look for the official Miyoo store.
• Amazon — Slightly more expensive ($60–70) but faster shipping and easier returns. Check seller ratings carefully — counterfeit/rebranded units exist.
• KeepRetro / RetroGame Corps store — Reliable specialty retailers. Sometimes bundled with pre-flashed OnionOS cards.

Tip: Whichever source you choose, buy a quality MicroSD card separately (Samsung EVO Select 128GB or SanDisk Ultra, 64 GB or 128 GB). The included card will fail. It’s not a matter of if — it’s when.

FAQ

Is the Miyoo Mini Plus still worth buying in 2026?

Yes. It hasn’t been surpassed in its specific niche: an ultra-portable, well-built retro handheld with excellent firmware support at under $70. Newer devices offer more power, but the Miyoo Mini Plus remains the best-polished budget option for 8-bit through PS1 emulation.

What’s the difference between the Miyoo Mini and the Miyoo Mini Plus?

The Plus has a larger 3.5-inch screen (vs. 2.8 inches on the original), a bigger 3,000 mAh battery, Wi-Fi, and a more comfortable form factor. The original Miyoo Mini is harder to find now and not worth buying over the Plus unless you specifically want the smaller size.

Does the Miyoo Mini Plus play N64 games?

Technically, some N64 games boot and are playable with frameskip. But the hardware isn’t powerful enough for a good experience with most of the N64 library. If N64 is a priority, look at devices with the Allwinner H700 or RK3566 chipset.

Is OnionOS hard to install?

No. It’s one of the easiest custom firmware installs in the handheld scene. Download the image, flash it to a MicroSD card with Balena Etcher or Rufus, copy your ROMs and BIOS files over, and insert the card. The whole process takes 15–20 minutes, including ROM transfer.

Can I play multiplayer on the Miyoo Mini Plus?

Limited multiplayer is possible via Wi-Fi (RetroArch netplay), but it’s not the device’s strength. For local multiplayer, some users connect to a TV via a DIY setup, but there’s no built-in video output. Multiplayer on budget handhelds is still a “nice in theory, messy in practice” situation.

Should I buy the Miyoo Mini Plus or wait for the next Miyoo device?

If you need a handheld now, buy it now. The Miyoo Mini Plus is a known quantity with mature firmware. Waiting for unannounced hardware is a losing game in this market — devices release constantly, and the Mini Plus will still be a solid device regardless of what comes next.

This article is part of our retro handheld review series. We test every device with OnionOS/GarlicOS/muOS and real-world game libraries — no synthetic benchmarks, no sponsored fluff. Just honest takes on what’s worth your money for game preservation.

Last verified: March 2026