The handheld gaming community is buzzing with excitement over the prospect of a new clamshell design from Miyoo – the Miyoo Mini Flip. Recent leaks of design images on Discord have fuelled speculation about Miyoo’s upcoming addition to their product lineup. While it’s wise to temper our expectations given Miyoo’s historical challenges with production and timely delivery, it’s still exciting to envision the possibilities offered by the Miyoo Mini Flip.
Miyoo Mini Flip Leak
The leaked design images, discovered by Lei on Retro Handhelds Discord, showcase a compact clamshell handheld console known as the Miyoo Mini Flip or Miyoo 355. The name suggests a 3.5-inch display, a size that aligns perfectly with our expectations for a retro gaming device. Miyoo’s most recent offering, the Mini +, also features this screen size and has been well-received.
Miyoo Mini Flip Emulation
While official specifications are not yet available, the leaked design images offer some valuable insights into Miyoo’s intentions with this new clamshell design. The console is equipped with a D-pad, four action buttons, four triggers, and surprisingly, two analog sticks. The inclusion of analog sticks suggests that the gaming capabilities of the Miyoo Mini Flip will surpass those of its predecessors, the Mini and Mini+. While the previous models were capable of playing PlayStation games, their button configuration limited them to 8-32 bit era games. With the addition of two analog sticks, the Miyoo Mini Flip opens up the possibility of playing 64-bit games from platforms such as Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and PSP.
Notably, the size of the analog sticks appears to be relatively normal, fitting comfortably within the clamshell design. This design choice promises a more enjoyable gaming experience compared to the sliders used in the new Retroid Pocket Flip.
The aesthetic design of the Miyoo Mini Flip draws heavy inspiration from the Game Boy Advance SP, reminiscent of other successful emulators like the Funkey S and Powkiddy V90. Given that the console features a single screen, this design influence seems more fitting than referencing the Nintendo 2DS and 3DS line, which had dual screens.
Miyoo Mini Flip Design
One observant user on the Retro Handhelds Discord, Powkiddy Fanboi III, pointed out the presence of two USB-C ports and a mini HDMI port in the design render. If accurate, these ports suggest that the Miyoo Mini Flip will utilize a different chipset than the Mini, potentially the powerful rk3566 chipset seen in the 353VS model. This implies enhanced performance and additional options, including HDMI output, which is certainly an appealing prospect.
While the leaked design draft showcases intriguing colors, it’s important to note that these colors may not reflect the final product. The use of various colors in the design draft was likely intended for differentiation rather than as an indication of the console’s actual color options. Production costs and complexities associated with multiple colors could pose challenges for Miyoo, a company already grappling with production issues.
Clamshell Consoles
Early impressions of leaked designs should be approached with some reservation until further evidence emerges. However, considering Miyoo’s design sensibilities, there are indications that the Miyoo Mini Flip could be a genuine project. It is worth questioning why Miyoo would embark on a new product if they are struggling to meet the demand for their existing Mini and Mini+ handhelds. Production capabilities may pose a hurdle for Miyoo in meeting increased demand.
Nevertheless, Miyoo appears to be capitalizing on the current clamshell handheld trend, exemplified by successful releases from FunkeyS, Powkiddy, and GoRetroid. It wouldn’t be surprising to see other competitors, such as Anbernic, join the fray, eager to offer their take on clamshell designs.
