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Brandon Saltalamacchia profile image Brandon Saltalamacchia

MagicX's Next Handheld Will Focus On Nintendo 64

MagicX's Next Handheld Will Focus On Nintendo 64

A couple of months ago, MagicX teased some close-up images of their next handheld design, and although it showed off some of the buttons, it didn't reveal a larger view of the device... until now.

MagicX is asking its community for feedback via Discord on the following images of the upcoming handheld, officially called the Retro45.

And if my eyes don't deceive me, it's clear that they have taken button inspiration from the Nintendo 64, featuring the 6-button layout, an octagon-focused analogue stick and colour-combinations which also suggest Nintendo 64 love.

Image credit: MagicX

MagicX Retro45 Specifications (So Far)

  • MediaTek Helio G85 CPU
  • 4.5" Display - 1440 x 1080
  • 4GB RAM
  • 64GB Internal Storage
  • WiFi & Bluetooth
  • Retail Price at launch: $95

What really caught my attention on the spec sheet is the price. Not so much that MagicX has always targeted budget-friendly retro gamers, but the fact that this is a slightly larger device in comparison to their portfolio.

It will also emulate Nintendo 64 games incredibly well if they stick to the mentioned chipset and RAM, with the ability to upscale this to take full advantage of the larger 4.5 screen.

Image credit: MagicX

It's a bigger body, and likely a bigger battery life too, in comparison to their recently released Zero 40 device, which focused on Nintendo DS emulation.

A closer look at the back of the device shows a unique trigger layout. RT/LT seems to sit a lot further back than the top bumpers, and lower down too, which is something we don't really see.

I am very interested in seeing the development of this device. Nintendo 64 is certainly getting a lot of love this year with ModRetro's M64 console coming soon, and Analogue (hopefully) releasing the 3D, so is it the right time, or is it the wrong time?

Only time will tell, but I always respect companies like MagicX trying to do something different in this oversaturated market, even if everyone reading this likely has a handheld emulator that can already emulate Nintendo 64 games well.

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Brandon Saltalamacchia profile image Brandon Saltalamacchia
Brandon is the founder of Retro Dodo and has loved gaming ever since his mother bought him Pokemon Yellow for the Game Boy in the late 90's. Now he writes about his passions for gaming and collecting.