What the Brick Pro and Hammer Pro U Are
TrimUI’s Brick Pro and Hammer Pro U are compact dual stick handhelds with 3.95-inch IPS displays, modern hall-effect analog sticks, and a focus on retro gaming device performance and feel in a vertical form factor, giving players sharper visuals and more precise controls than earlier TrimUI systems. After months of teasers and leaked packaging, TrimUI has confirmed it is launching not one but two related devices aimed at different retro audiences. The Brick Pro is a plastic, Linux-based upgrade to the original Brick line, while the Hammer Pro U is a fully CNC-machined metal handheld powered by Android and a far stronger chipset. Both keep the classic D-pad-at-the-top layout and ABXY ALPS switches, but split into separate price and power tiers that target everything from 16-bit and PS1 up to demanding 3D console emulation.
Shared Design: Dual Sticks, 3.95-inch Display, Modern Controls
Despite targeting different users, the TrimUI Brick Pro and Hammer Pro U handhelds share a common design language. Each uses a 3.95-inch IPS display with a 1024 x 768 resolution, 4:3 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, and roughly 324 PPI, a sharp panel for retro content that was often designed for CRTs. Both devices include dual hall-effect sticks, which reduce drift and help with precise analog input in 3D games, and ALPS action buttons for a more premium click. The D-pad stays in the top-left, with in-line shoulder buttons and digital triggers, reinforcing their heritage as retro gaming devices first. USB-C video output and wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, including EDR 2.1) give them flexibility for controllers and external displays. According to RetroDodo, both models also add a 6-axis gyroscope and replaceable shoulder buttons, bringing unexpected modern features to small vertical handhelds.
Linux vs Android: Two Operating System Paths
The clearest philosophical split in TrimUI’s new lineup is software: Brick Pro runs TrimUI’s Linux, while Hammer Pro U moves to Android. For enthusiasts, Linux means a focused interface, strong community firmware potential, and efficient emulation tuned for classic systems. TrimUI’s custom Linux on the Brick Pro keeps the experience close to earlier devices, with simple menus and SD-based game libraries. Android on the Hammer Pro U, by contrast, opens access to a wide range of emulators, front-ends, and native apps, plus easier cloud gaming or streaming if users choose. RetroDodo notes that the Hammer Pro U is TrimUI’s most powerful Android handheld yet, making that OS choice logical for higher-end emulation. This split gives buyers a clear decision: pick the streamlined, lower-cost Linux retro box or step up to Android flexibility and heavier workloads.
Power and Performance: From PS1 to Possible PS2
Under the shell, the two dual stick handhelds are very different. The TrimUI Brick Pro uses an Allwinner A133 Plus (often listed as A133P) CPU, a PowerVR GE8300 GPU, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. RetroDodo points out that this spec is essentially the same as the older Brick Hammer, capable of emulating up to PlayStation 1, Nintendo 64, and Dreamcast. That makes the Brick Pro an affordable workhorse for classic 2D and early 3D systems. The Hammer Pro U handheld steps up to a 2.4GHz Snapdragon G2 Gen 1 CPU, Adreno A21 GPU, 6GB RAM, and 128GB internal storage, also microSD-expandable. With Android and this chipset, it should reach well into PSP and GameCube territory and, as RetroDodo suggests, is “likely able to emulate some PS2 games,” pushing TrimUI into a higher performance tier.
Where These Dual-Stick Handhelds Fit in the Retro Market
TrimUI’s move to dual stick handhelds with 3.95-inch displays responds to a long-standing gap in retro devices: proper analog input for 3D-era titles. Many vertical handhelds focus on D-pad gaming and smaller screens, leaving players with awkward controls for games built around dual sticks. By bringing hall-effect analogs, a sharp 4:3 panel, and, in the case of Hammer Pro U, a metal body and Android, TrimUI is targeting both collectors and players who want PS1-to-PS2-era experiences in a pocketable device. RetroHandhelds notes that, unless these systems are “exorbitantly priced,” TrimUI may struggle to keep them in stock, especially in a quiet market recently dominated by R36S-style clones. With no release date or price yet, the big questions are timing and cost—but on paper, these two devices give TrimUI a clearer, more modern lineup than it has had in years.
