Retro handheld news has been a little slow this year, likely due to the increase in memory prices slowing down production, but I hope this news is the start of unique and innovative retro handhelds this year.
GAMEMT are a lesser-known brand in the handheld emulation scene, typically releasing lower-end devices with hit or miss reviews, but they do take risks, and their devices go against the grain slightly when it comes to design.
Their latest reveal is the E5 MODX, which is a heavily modified version of the original E5 that was released in 2024. It's a wide device, but sticks to its vertical roots with a very wide body.
This new MODX version showcases a removable and modular display that can be swapped out for a MagSafe connector that supports modern smartphones to connect to the controller part of the retro handheld via Bluetooth.
It's the first time we've seen something like this, and it obviously takes a lot of inspiration from the MCON controller that was very popular last year in the USA (I still can't buy one here in the UK).
"Its main unit and controller module can be freely separated and combined: when held alone, it is a lightweight and portable handheld game console; by magnetically attaching the controller module to a mobile phone, it instantly transforms into a professional-grade Bluetooth game controller", states Royibeila, the source that revealed this handheld.
In terms of performance, the GAMEMT E5 MODX handheld is equipped with an MTK6771 Helio P60 chipset. The only handheld I can remember using this chipset was the TRDR Pocket released by SouljaBoy, which turned out to be one of the worst devices we have ever reviewed.
This chipset is not often used by handheld manufacturers due to its inconsistencies, and was typically used by smartphones around 2018, so although marketing will say it has "high performance", I would recommend waiting to see official reviews before believing that.
It's likely to emulate games up to PS1, but hopefully I am wrong here, and it comes out swinging with Dreamcast/N64/PS2 and GameCube emulation, but that won't matter much if you have a high-end Android smartphone that you pair with the MagSafe add-on.
They've paired that chipset and 3GB RAM with a 5" or 5.5" display that has a resolution of 1024 x 768. This display is attached via magnets, allowing it to slide on and off with a release mechanism to attach other accessories. It's not known whether this gives it a physical connection between the display and controller of its paired device exclusively via Bluetooth.
Currently, the first 3D prototype of the GAMMT E5 Modx has been printed, and product renderings have been officially released, but that is all that we have to go by right now.
This is an exciting time for GAMEMT. This will certainly get them a lot of attention, but it needs to be executed well. I believe this year will see a lot of innovation in the retro handheld scene, as mentioned in our original article earlier in the year regarding my thoughts on the future of retro handhelds.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!
