A new budget champion
The MANGMI AIR X is the company's first handheld, but it's an impressive first showing. Unlike most handhelds that have launched recently, it's also incredibly affordable.
MANGMI AIR X quick specs:
- Screen: 5.5-inch FHD IPS
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Chipset: Snapdragon 662
- RAM: 4GB LPDDR4X
- Storage: 64GB eMMC
- Battery: 5,000mAh with 15W charging
- Weight: 286g
- Price: $79.99 early bird, $89.99 retail
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Who is this device for?
This is an entry-level handheld, so it’s ideal for anyone on a tight budget. It also comes pre-configured (minus the ROMs), so you can skip hours of setup and start playing right out of the box.
It’s a jack of all trades, but a master of none, so I wouldn’t recommend this if you already have a small collection of Android handhelds.
However, it is a great gift for a young gamer or a less tech-savvy friend.
Why should I care about it?
This is now one of the cheapest Android gaming handhelds on the market. It’s a decent upgrade from cheaper Linux-based devices like the TrimUI Smart Pro, and a good gateway into the Android handheld ecosystem.
Most importantly, I think it indicates a shift in the gaming handheld market. Linux devices used to dominate the low-end, but now sub-$100 Android handhelds offer more power without installing a third-party OS to make the most of the device.
What’s in the box?
Inside the box, you’ll find the MANGMI AIR X console, a screen protector, a USB A to USB C cable, and a single sheet of instructions and specifications.
Early pre-orders also include a free case, which is surprisingly nice.
How is the build quality?
The build quality is very impressive, considering the price. The plastic feels sturdy, with no rattling sounds found in many cheap devices. There’s a subtle grip on the back that adds to the ergonomics. It has a nice weight to it, although it’s still pretty light at 286g.
Overall, it’s a comfortable handheld to use, and it doesn’t feel fragile at all.
How are the inputs (sticks, d-pad, buttons, triggers, etc.)?
The MANGMI AIR X features a symmetrical joystick layout that prioritizes retro games. The D-pad has a strange, glossy texture, but the inputs are solid, and it has a nice pivot. The Hall effect sticks have a great range of motion, with RGB lights, if you’re into that.
The buttons are nice and quiet, and I think the smaller size suits the device. The shoulder buttons are microtriggers, with stacked analog triggers.
Is it pocketable?
No. The 5.5-inch screen is pretty large, and the sticks are too prominent to comfortably pocket this device.
Again, there is a nice case for it though, so I’d recommend using it if you want to take it with you.
How powerful is it?
The Snapdragon 662 is relatively weak, which is to be expected. The 8-core processor is significantly more powerful than chipsets found on budget Linux devices, like the Allwinner A133 Plus or RK3566, but less powerful than budget Android chipsets like the Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 found in the Retroid Pocket Classic or the T820 found in countless ANBERNIC handhelds.
Both of those chipsets will run you nearly double the price though, so it’s hard to complain too much.
It's also worth noting that the AIR X can run some simple shaders to make retro games pop.
What can it play?
After testing a few games, I’d say the MANGMI AIR X tops off at Dreamcast, PSP, and N64. GameCube was very hit-or-miss, and PS2 games struggled to get more than 15-30fps.
For older systems, you will need to deal with black bars on the side or use widescreen hacks to fill the screen. It's not as authentic, but the games still look great on this FHD panel.
Lightweight Android games will also run, although some may not support this chipset. For example, I couldn’t load up Balatro, which would be great on this machine.
The 16:9 screen also makes it a solid candidate for game streaming. It comes with Moonlight pre-installed for local streaming, and since it’s Android-based, other options like Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce Now are easy to download and set up. The Wi-Fi 5 connection matches other expensive streaming handhelds like the Logitech G Cloud or Abxylute One Pro, although the screen is obviously much smaller.
Ultimately though, PSP offers the best experience. The 16:9 aspect ratio is perfect, and the chipset can handle 3x upscaling without a hitch.
How is the software?
The MANGMI AIR X comes with several pre-installed emulators (some of which are paid versions, unfortunately). There aren’t any ROMs, but the emulators themselves are pre-configured, so all you need to do is pop in an SD card and add the games to the MANGMI frontend, which is called Game Launcher.
Game Launcher is much more barebones than ES DE or Beacon, but it launches directly into RetroArch, Flycast, PPSSPP, etc. My only complaint is that there doesn’t appear to be a way to choose different cores or download box art.
Apart from that, it’s basic Android 14. There are a few extra handheld-focused options in settings, as well as a simple sidebar that you can open via the notification shade. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but at this price, it’s definitely more fully-featured than I expected.
I will say, however, that there was an OTA firmware update to install when I first booted it up, and it took forever. Like, four or five hours. Hopefully the final retail version comes with this update already installed.
How is battery life? Charging speeds?
The 5,000mAh battery lasted 4-8 hours, depending on the games I was playing. It has 15W charging, which took just under 2 hours to charge from 10% to full.
As an Android-based device, it also has great standby battery life. It only ate through 1-2% overnight, and there are options in the settings to automatically shut off the device if it’s left idle for anywhere from 2 to 7 days.
Any other considerations?
Here are a few more points:
- Headphone jack on the bottom
- Decent bottom-firing stereo speakers
- No video out
- Active cooling, but temps are manageable
- The fan isn't too loud
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