3 Weeks with the Ultimate Micro Handheld: Miyoo A30 Review!

[@Tetrastructural]

I’m happy the stick was added. I use it all the time for arcade games retro games that do not require precision. It’s just much more comfortable to use for longer play sessions.

[@darkdagon6]

What I find impressive in This guy's review, is the fact that he can not appreciate an extra feature like the joystick, and he even called it a thing that ruins the experience, this opinion makes me doubt that he even play games, a joystick is so convenient. Better have it than don't.

[@dustyr112]

Happy to see this little guy getting some love, and eager to see what the future holds for it!

[@KeiRetroGaming]

The community is starting to get some nice firmware options for it now and Spruce got an update right after I finished filming. I'm excited to see where the A30 goes too. Amazing little handheld!

[@8bit_8ball]

Great review Kei. I honestly love the A30. I'm impressed with the joycon. It has some additional resistance to that of other joycon style analog sticks which I find quite refreshing. I see people have started modding their A30s to remove the analog stick.

[@KeiRetroGaming]

Happy to hear you like your A30 so far! I have to admit I've thought about removing it too but part of me knows it won't look as OEM with the joystick missing.

[@SlakOffs]

I don't really understand the joystick hate- I'm glad it's there. It pretty recessed and doesn't get in my way, and some games like mario 64 actually run pretty well. It's also better than the joysticks on anbernic devices- it seems to have less cardinal snapping. My only complaint is the joystick 'L3' button doesn't register which seems like a waste. Could've been useful for mappings.

[@darkdagon6]

​​@@SlakOffs I tell u why, they don't play games at all, and they can not see the advantages of a joystick, even they want to amputate it, so shame, for ordinary people is ok, but coming this opinion for a retro KZbinr is just shameless, it doesn't inspire confidence at all.

[@vhsretrogamer1664]

While Miyoo kinda screwed, they still did one thing right: their buttons are silent. There is no other handheld besides the original and plus, that offers such great buttons. It is also very comfortable to play in any position for longer time (as long as battery allows). The screen while dim, is much more vibrant than that on 28xx and is not rotated. There is a lot to love here, especially for the price.

[@gaborojasjalil]

I love mine, better than what the reviews led me to believe. It's been also a lot of fun to get a random game and discover oldies you had never even heard of. Like the thumbstick and it has rumble, great plus

[@Autotrope]

Great review! All the best with your channel

[@E.Cristian7]

Cavenoire is amazing game by Konami, I played it when I was 11. I've just finished it on one of my Miyoo Mini Plus (with hack translation to english). Currently playing Castlevania: Circle of the Moon on my A30.

[@KeiRetroGaming]

Awesome to see another Cave Noire fan!

[@wertnog6379]

For your issue with the elsatic band inside of the case: just put the device in on top of the band. You won't have any issue with the device being too hard to get out..

[@RaymondwLin]

Did the banner cause my the glass as a result of the glass being faulty or was the glass causing some pressure into the screen? I don't understand how glass cause banding? I am asking because i dislike matt screen...like my phone or iPad is glass, my home OLED tv is glass, my iMac and MBP is glass (don't have the latest and frankly....I wouldn't pay for the upgrade).

[@Evergreen085]

at 13:50 you show the matte display filter. How do you set that feature and adjust it? My device came with Spruce 1.4 installed but it all seems very similar. Anyways I'm new to this device and curious how to set those filters and overlays as I like the look and want to try them out. Thank you very much for the video

[@derelictfields]

I like the analog stick for certain games (beat 'em ups and shmups, mostly). I don't think the d-pad is nearly as good as the one on the Miyoo Mini but overall with Spruce OS I really like this system.

[@lilluckypit]

How do we get Pico 8 to work on this device. Thanks,

[@WillC1020]

I enjoy my A30. It is light, portable and easy to use with Spruce. Wished it had a better chipset and heat ventilation as it gets warm. It does play some N64 games, but I notice while playing Mario 64, it gets so hot that it turns off the device after playing for quite some time. Overall for around $25-30 it’s not too bad. I would not use this for PSP. Maybe some Dreamcast and N64 for a limited time use. Everything else below that is fine.

[@KeiRetroGaming]

Great to hear you like it mostly so far. Yeah it's definitely aimed more at older retro stuff.

[@WillC1020]

@@KeiRetroGaming Yeah this made me pull out my Miyoo Mini device which is a great device, but for something as small as a 2.8 inch screen, I appreciate more the ergonomics of the A30 horizontal form factor and the joystick. The mini is great but it does cramp my hands after awhile.

[@JD96893]

​@@WillC1020yeah, you need a decent grip for these small handhelds if you plan on playing any longer than 10 minutes. My thumbs get really cramped with my 35XX, unless I use the 3d printed grip. So it's fine around the house, but on the go it's too bulky. I think horizontal is best for on the go retro gaming.

[@E.Cristian7]

I have both colors of the video! Unfortunately I had to return to the previous version, spruce 1.3.5. (Which is marvelous great so far). Thanks a lot Tenlevels! (I've tested it on my two A30 units). The most annoying thing is the brightness control that sometimes changes by itself at the lowest level. Version 1.4 is pretty good overall, but I think it's slower to boot the OS and to shutdown, I don't know... And it seems games boot time went slower too (maybe the navigation in general too?). The new function of holding down select for 2 seconds to save and turn off is amazing but still takes a long time altough very welcome. Of course I use a high quality micro sd card configured by using Rufus. Spruce 1.3.5 is blazing fast. I still think that if you save your state or simple leave the game (which Retroarch will save it's last position too), and go to settings then simply shutdown by pressing A, is much faster. But we all know Spruce is being worked on and will improve a lot more, thanks to Tenlevels with his amazing job, the community is grateful for this awesome CFW.

[@leje5999]

I got mine Sunday but had to go on a trip so I couldn’t set it up yet mine didn’t come with sd card so I hope I can just install spruce on it and get my dump games on it

[@E.Cristian7]

So I received a glass screen protector... Should I use it or not? The screen might break?

[@KeiRetroGaming]

It has wavy lines on your screen if you use it. At least mine did, so I wouldn't recommend applying it. Absolute nightmare to get off.

[@E.Cristian7]

@@KeiRetroGaming I bought a glass screen protector "Glass PRO" from an Aliexpress seller (my A30 didn't come with screen protector). This thing is very good. It is very rigid and high quality, with excellent visibility. However, some air bubbles get trapped and are difficult to remove but I removed 99% of them. Overall it is a great product, but I found it a little expensive for a screen of only 2.8 inches. I didn't get any sort of lines or wavy lines on the screen but if you look closely it seems to be some kind of "effect" from the console screen itself. No need to worries pal, it's fine

[@schtoltheimreinbach]

How is psp emulation on spruce

[@ffn4s08]

do you had any issue with overheating?

[@KeiRetroGaming]

I haven't with any of the systems I've been playing on both my A30s. Is this a common issue?

[@ffn4s08]

@@KeiRetroGaming i thought it was common "cons" of this device? Maybe the cfw has improved it. Did you play PSP alot?

[@toycoma98]

Are the dpads and face buttons the same as MM+ since there are many 3d printed parts available for the miyoo?

[@ricky865]

What ever happened to the Miyoo mini flip?

[@KeiRetroGaming]

I think it's been delayed but I haven't heard anything else.

[@cappnplanetcappnplanet3237]

Can you remap start and select in the firmware so you dont confuse start and select overall? I know you can change hotkeys in retroarch, but curious is the settings>keymap feature can do it.

[@KeiRetroGaming]

Just double checked and unfortunately it's only to remap the face buttons and triggers.

[@cappnplanetcappnplanet3237]

@@KeiRetroGaming I've been messing with spruce all day after your video. It's been amazing and I bought one for my nephew so I can customize everything for him. The hold select feature to quick save is awesome. I really enjoyed the RG280V for the longest time, but the retroachievements and ergonomics are making me happy. I'm dabbling with n64 as a bonus and it's cool to see where the stick might be useful.

[@Evergreen085]

I wish the A30 had bluetooth. Other than that it looks like an amazing handheld. I will be picking one up asap.

[@drewbo9074]

Was the screen protector issue caused due to the fact that the provided screen protector was of a poor quality? I have A30 glass screen protectors from Mr. Shield (which are usually of a high quality) but am hesitant to install now.

[@KeiRetroGaming]

I think it could've been from the wavy design on the screen itself. I personally wouldn't install it... But if you do lemme know how they fare in comparison to the one I installed.

[@turnbasedtoddy7664]

What is the “audio fix” actually fixing?

[@Grimlo9ic]

10:13 As far as I can tell, Spruce already has the necessary overclocks set per system, so yeah no need to change this setting at all.

[@KeiRetroGaming]

Ah good to know. Another reason to use it over the stock OS I guess.

[@cho-v4n]

Great review, thanks kei

[@KeiRetroGaming]

Thanks Chocho! What do you think about the A30?

[@cho-v4n]

@@KeiRetroGaming I don't actually have one, I'm not really into the design or tiny devices like this but it seems like a nice option for someone who is.

[@arey256]

I want it only for Pokémon Zelda and Mario games so for me it has to come with those

[@Saitamacz34]

Is the latest version still metal case?

[@KeiRetroGaming]

Yeah, both of mine have a metal front plate on them. To my understanding this is the latest batch. It's stuck down very well though and the lettering seems to be on there good.

[@mathewsenn]

anecdotely, my screen protector went on just fine

[@zach_attakk]

Everything my PocketGo had but better 😊

[@Marlevlyn]

Ultimate? That one out of the 3 current options is the worse. The Plus this the ultimate so far

[@chrispember172]

def shud have got the game and watch color way

[@jeffreypeters5578]

I mean for 25 to 30$ its ok o mean its cheap but you can afford another one if breaks surely

[@chrispember172]

mans is really reviewing the zipper

[@humming4742]

Too much joystick hate man :0

[@mitchthepreacher1512]

Just grabbed this for not much more than the S2000. $27

[@KeiRetroGaming]

Wow that's one heck of a deal!

[@MrCcfly]

so finally miyoo pay to make positive review for this crap

[@Mixer001]

It's not for everyone

[@2ragsoy]

speak louder pls, the 1 and 2 same? 5:28 1hundred not 2hundred 🤣

[@ajcics]

It’s still bad. I have one. Worst dpad of all my devices and the triggers activate if you even think about pressing them

[@Sung_Jam]

this handheld is really not worth it

[@Vonderboy]

What's it worth? I paid $25 for mine, and that seems fair to me. Super portable, premium feel device and build quality, and impressive performance. Nothing else comes close.

[@georgewilkie4246]

The letters and the pin stripe rub right off. I was disappointed, honestly

[@Vonderboy]

@georgewilkie4246 ok funny enough, I noticed this today. It really does stink now cheap the printing is on the metal. Besides that, it's such a well constructed device. What a shame

[@turnbasedtoddy7664]

Man it’s like $30. You can’t beat that

[@SomeOne-wr1wr]

I think its worth for the price

[@citruesilver]

Ultimate? Well, the rg280xx is way better but far from perfect. This video sucks...

[@varzainbeci]

It has more power, but still not enough to play systems above PS1 without issues... but it comes with worse(tiny) controls and it sounds like a box of tic-tacs(fixable tho with a bit of diy). Both handhels are good for the price, it's just a matter of preference.

[@chrispember172]

those are dogshit. i had one for like 45 mins and it fully died

[@loboahriman7680]

No. Those buttons are too small and unusable. A30 might be less powerful but it's much more of a joy to play.