The Miyoo Mini Plus is the handheld that taught a generation of newcomers that “small and cheap” didn’t have to mean “bad.” Years later, with the R38S and a dozen competitors crowding the shelf, does the little one still hold up?
The case for it
Pocketability. Nothing else this capable disappears into a jacket pocket so completely. The screen punches far above the price, the OnionOS community firmware is a joy, and for 2D libraries — NES, SNES, GBA, Genesis — it remains close to ideal.
Where time has caught up
No analog sticks means no comfortable N64, PSP, or PS1 3D. The R38S and its dual Hall-effect sticks simply do more. The Mini Plus is a specialist now, not the all-rounder it once felt like.
OnionOS is still the magic
Half of this device’s reputation is software. OnionOS is polished, friendly, and packed with quality-of-life touches that make the hardware feel more expensive than it is.
The verdict
- Buy it as a dedicated 2D pocket machine, or as a gift to someone dipping a toe into the hobby.
- Choose the R38S instead if you want 3D systems and don’t mind a slightly larger device.
The Mini Plus didn’t get worse. The hobby just grew up around it.
It’s a classic for a reason, and at its price it’s still very easy to love — just go in knowing exactly what it is and isn’t.