r/SBCGaming • u/king_of_ulkilism GotM Club • 1d ago
Discussion TrimUI Brick vs Konkr Pocket Block
Not too long ago I got my Brick Hammer. It's great but playing on my MM+ today I realized how the controls feel better. It just misses the additional power and high res screen which makes the games look so much better, aswell as amazing speakers. The Block seems to be aimed to be just that in a way. The fact it plays some PS2 and GC is also quite appealing. I wonder if it's about PAM level of performance.
Having just watched TechDweebs review of it, I am wondering if I should give it a try, compare both and keep the Block. Anyone else in the same boat?
Btw I don't think the purple looks too nice. I'd maybe go for the white one.
(Photo is not mine, and I don't own the Block yet)
7
u/DeathBehemoth 1d ago
It’s the same processor as the MagicX one35 so you can see YouTube videos on the one35 and gauge the Pocket Block performance.
2
u/king_of_ulkilism GotM Club 1d ago edited 1d ago
I checked Russ' review of it and was underwhelmed how Windwaker ran on it there. I started playing it on my PAM and it started off great but got choppy on a fortress area. Need to tweak the settings perhaps. But on this G85, it even struggles at the island. While you can't play WW on the Block anyways, playing FE PoR on it might be impossible unfortunately. Android ports might run a bit better. Of course GC is a bonus here but I hoped it would perform equal to the PAM chipset, as this device was priced exactly like the Block iirc. It's great that stuff like THPS3 runs at least, and surely Mario Power Tennis GC etc. The RPC chip is stronger I think, would have prefered that one here.
3
u/1daytogether 20h ago
Well there's a direct port of WW now for android which runs smooth on something as measly as the R36S. So maybe someone will port FE PoR for you.
But yeah got a one 35 myself and indeed even with the latest dolphin and all speed hacks turned on gamecube is just not ideal. Not to mention chugs through the battery making the thing hot even for games that do run well.
12
u/drewthebrave OLED Only 1d ago
If I didn't already have a RP Classic and a Brick, I would be all over the Block. I love the power & versatility of the Classic, but I love the pocketability of the Brick. The Block seems like the perfect blend of the best aspects of both of these.
I could never get used to the low buttons on the face of the Miyoo Mini+, and they kept causing cramps in my thumbs. The Brick was much more ergonomic for me, and I like the short-travel quiet-clicky buttons.
How are the buttons on the Block?
7
u/post_scripted 1d ago
Unfortunately they seem to be similarly low, like the miyoo mini plus. Reportedly they are of good quality though. I had the same problem with the classic, I keep eyeing it again, but recall the ergonomics being very poor.
2
u/LetsBeTheBest 1d ago
I have the classic 6 and really find its ergonomics enjoyable. I don't likr its hollow feeling, but that's nothing to do with ergonomics
1
u/post_scripted 1d ago
I found it okay if I was just using the face buttons -- not ideal because it is top heavy with no chin. Trying to use the trigger buttons was an effort in futility and pain. I remember racing a track on GC Mario Kart and wincing afterwards 🤣. If you don't need to hit the triggers and face buttons at the same time I guess it could be passable.
5
u/Eremitt-thats-hermit 1:1 Freak 23h ago
I think I would’ve gone for the Konkr Pocket Block if it released before the RP Classic sale. The Classic is just a tad too big to be an EDC. I love everything else though. It’s an amazing device and love the screen. For the price I don’t think you’ll get a complete package like that anywhere else.
3
u/king_of_ulkilism GotM Club 1d ago edited 1d ago
According to TechDweeb, the buttons feel amazing. He seems be head over heals with the Block.
Edit: face buttons appear a bit small though.
14
u/LetsBeTheBest 1d ago
I like techdweeb, I enjoy his humor. But he really is a marketing guy for these devices. Most youtubers are. I'm sure he'll be praising the next device that gets sent to him as well. Buy only what you need and what you actually use.
9
u/sirahreyals 1d ago
Hes head over heels with almost everything tho
2
u/king_of_ulkilism GotM Club 1d ago edited 1d ago
True, he makes jokes about this aswell. I believe him though. And I think his love for the MM/+ is truthful so if this is like a premium more powerful upgrade, I believe this is actually amazing.
5
u/thrn 1d ago
I was so close to ordering either the brick or the rg rotate because i wanted a small edc. I wanted the form of the brick but android. I think the block hits everything I was looking for! I ordered the white one too.
1
u/king_of_ulkilism GotM Club 1d ago
I think you can't go wrong with it, no deal breakers it seems. I'd pick this over the Rotate aswell.
8
u/kblk_klsk GotM Club 1d ago
I just love Androids sleep mode and all the frontends, so I ordered it as my EDC.
25
u/OrangeSherberts 1d ago
I can’t see this one being a hit, no matter what the specs. To me it’s just unbelievably ugly, especially next to the brick.
7
u/DurianDiscriminat3r 17h ago
Subjective. I like the look. Looks true retro to me and some people like that.
1
9
u/flacogarcons Team Horizontal 1d ago
Not a fan of the purple/retro gray. The white one looks cute though.
4
u/king_of_ulkilism GotM Club 1d ago
It reminds be of the MM+ clone that was available in white with white buttons (R33S or something). The one that had a reset Button instead of a home button lol.
1
u/Weimark 1d ago
Oh, yeah the melted down Wiimote. I loved that look, never found it on AliExpress.
3
u/king_of_ulkilism GotM Club 1d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/SBCGaming/comments/1cain9i/the_r33s_is_here/
3 years ago. Time flies
I didn't bother as the reset button was a huge deal breaker.
2
5
3
u/Puzzleheaded-Coat-31 1d ago
"I can't see this one being a hit because I don't like the way it looks."
Damn, Ayaneo should've known better.
3
u/Sconathon 1d ago
I'm in very similar shoes. I am an Odin 3 fan but it's honestly too big to bring on the subway every time. Bought a trim ui brick a couple months back and LOVED it. Beat Ys 1&2 for the first time and working on Super Metroid, all basically entirely on the subway. That being said the sleep wake has been a real annoyance for me on MuOS, and busy rooms in Super Metroid can drop frames every now and then so I ordered a Konkr Pocket Block.
The twist is I then ordered a retroid pocket Nova while drunk a few days later and it arrived first. it's honestly smaller in the hand than I imagined and for my needs just as pocketable as the Brick.
Thinking I'm gonna cancel my Konkr order and sell the bricks and just keep this for everything retro on the subway.
4
u/king_of_ulkilism GotM Club 1d ago edited 1d ago
Try NextUI on the Brick though, it makes it a better combo than Miyoo with OnionOS imo. The sleep/wake is glorious with NextUI, one of the best features of it. It stays in standby for weeks. I once sold my Brick and regret it shortly after so I got the Hammer.
I havent tried Super Metroid on the Brick but I am surprised there are frame drops. Maybe NextUI handles it better.
1
2
2
2
u/VolitionalOrozco 17h ago
I can’t get past the soldered battery on the Konkr. That’s egregious.
1
u/Puzzleheaded-Coat-31 10h ago
What do you do if you break the screen or USB port? or any other soldered part? Also what are you doing to that battery that you need to replace it frequently? I hope your smartphones aren't being subjected to the same abuse. XD
1
u/VolitionalOrozco 9h ago
I’m not replacing the battery that frequently but I shouldn’t have to desolder it to replace it. That just seems unnecessary.
1
u/Puzzleheaded-Coat-31 9h ago
They have local tech places that will replace it in an hour. Not a bad amount of time after 5 years of use imo.
3
3
u/detached_facination Team Vertical 1d ago
For me, I'd rather have my EDC be encased in metal over plastic. I'm also just not into the aesthetics of the Block, at all. I also don't have need for the additional power the Block has, it would be a waste when lesser hardware already does more than enough for what I need the device for. Finally, I don't like Android on my retro handhelds and prefer Linux. Just my opinion though based on personal preference, I've never held one in my hands to afford it a chance to win me over.
3
2
u/Agreeable-Guava-9009 Clamshell Clan 1d ago
The Block is Android so...
3
1
u/Sphynx87 11h ago
im kinda interested because of the size and android and i guess the power but man its ugly af and some small nitpicks. ive been using the rotate a ton esp for GB/GBC. I'm sure the controls on this are way better but the square screen and the compact size i really like on the rotate. I also have a brick (both regular and hammer) and they are great but I've used them less and less as I've picked up other stuff. I dont think android and the extra power is enough to sell me on the block. Maybe if it looked like the Hammer I would idk lol. I wish it was a small clamshell actually, then i'd definitely hop in.
1
u/king_of_ulkilism GotM Club 11h ago
We certainly miss a powerful 4:3 clamshell for sure. Preferably with Sticks and flawless GC/PS2.
2
u/Sphynx87 11h ago
honestly ive just wanted a brick clamshell for like over a year now. a brick hammer clamshell would be amazing too, dont think we have gotten an aluminum clamshell (aluminum rotate is sorta close i guess), it would go great with the brick's great standby life. instead we got the brick pro which is bleh to me
1
u/Puzzleheaded-Coat-31 10h ago
A mini Nintendo SP clone with stick would be pretty cool. And I don't mean the one that has sticks below the Dpad. Those are always useless.
1
u/morterox2 1h ago
The thing for me is that the Trimui Brick has those perfect extra buttons, like the dedicated mute button. That is glorious.
0
u/Lanagant Deal chaser 22h ago
You probably wont have light beed on the brick screen but ayaneo will likely have them. I don’t trust ayaneo’s lcd screen at all.
2
u/king_of_ulkilism GotM Club 18h ago
Lol my two Brick (regular and Hammer) both came with light bleed. I could remove it on the regular, but my Hammer still has some. Have not heard of light bleed on the KPB. My PAM has some which I could reduce greatly though.
27
u/IGotDibsYo Retroid 1d ago
My pocket block order hasn’t moved in a few weeks. Looking forward to comparing it to the brick myself. I’m pretty sure i’ll keep the block but mostly because of android - easier to keep saves in sync when everything’s on the same platform