TrimUI Brick Hammer – The Metal Makeover Retro Fans Deserve

Hey fam! 👋

You all know I’ve got a soft spot for little devices that punch way above their weight, and the TrimUI Brick was already one of the smallest, coolest handhelds in its class. But today, we’re looking at the upgraded version that just dropped: the TrimUI Brick Hammer. Same fun-size form factor, same vibrant screen, but now in a gorgeous CNC-machined metal body. Let’s break it all down, P’Nick-style!

🧱 What’s New with the Brick Hammer?

This isn’t just a color refresh or small bump in performance. The TrimUI Brick Hammer is a refined version of the original Brick, and the most obvious upgrade is the premium CNC-machined aluminum alloy shell. That means it’s been precisely carved out of a single block of metal, giving it a much sturdier feel in the hand.

If the original Brick felt like a fun toy, the Brick Hammer feels like a serious collector’s piece. The finish is smooth but grippy, it resists fingerprints better than plastic, and most importantly, it’s durable and cool to the touch, which helps with heat dissipation too.

✨ Mood Lighting and Custom Style

Around the back and shoulders, you’ll now find adjustable RGB lighting — subtle enough to not distract, but just bright enough to make your Brick Hammer feel a little more alive, especially during late-night gaming sessions.

Want to go one step further? You can even engrave the removable CNC backplate, making this handheld feel like your own custom creation.

🖥 A Surprisingly Sharp Screen in a Small Package

Let’s talk about that 3.2-inch fully laminated IPS display. At 1024x768 pixels, this is an unusually high resolution for such a tiny screen — and it’s one of the Brick Hammer’s standout features.

Why does that matter?

Well, it means sharp, vibrant visuals even when you're playing old-school retro games. And more importantly for handheld geeks like us, it opens up some really clean integer scaling possibilities:

Console	Native Resolution	Integer Scaling on 1024x768
NES	256x240	3x3 clean scaling (768 / 240 = 3.2)
SNES	256x224	3x3 (same deal)
GBA	240x160	4x4 clean scaling with black borders
PS1	320x240	3x3 (beautiful and crisp)
Arcade	Variable	Plenty of headroom for perfect fits

Basically, most retro consoles that ran at low native resolutions will look great here with minimal stretching or blurring. That’s a huge win for purists who care about pixel-perfect scaling.

🧠 Hardware Under the Hood

Let’s break down the specs in plain English:

• CPU: Allwinner A133P (quad-core, 1.8GHz)

• GPU: PowerVR GE8300 – capable of smooth emulation up to PS1 and light N64

• RAM: 1GB LPDDR3 – enough for retro gaming

• Storage: 8GB built-in + TF card slot (up to 1TB supported)

This is the same processor family we’ve seen in other efficient Linux handhelds. It’s not going to run GameCube or Dreamcast, but it eats up 8-bit and 16-bit consoles for breakfast, handles GBA, Neo Geo, PS1, and some light N64 pretty well.

And since it’s running TrimUI’s own lightweight Linux-based UI, everything feels snappy and efficient. Boot-up times are fast, and you get some nice quality-of-life features like:

• Save and load states

• Recently played list

• Favorite games bookmarking

• Wi-Fi multiplayer support for head-to-head retro battles

Just a heads-up though: there’s no HDMI or AV out, so this is a handheld-only experience. No docking or big screen play.

🎮 Controls and Feel in the Hand

TrimUI’s control layout remains the same, with directional pad, ABXY buttons, and shoulder buttons all in their usual spots. The face buttons are clicky, and the D-pad is surprisingly good for such a tiny device. There are also customizable FN shortcuts and RGB indicators to make things feel a little more high-end.

The shoulder buttons are removable, which not only helps for maintenance but also lets you tweak the aesthetics. Combine that with the LED mood lighting, and you’ve got a compact handheld that’s both functional and flashy.

🔋 Battery and Connectivity

• 3000mAh battery = Around 5 hours of playtime

• USB-C port for charging and OTG file transfers

• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support

• 3.5mm headphone jack for wired audio

• Built-in mic if you're feeling chatty

It charges while powered off, and the LED indicators help let you know what’s going on with power and charging. Pretty thoughtful little touches here.

📦 What’s in the Box?

You’ll want to double-check when buying — the base unit does not come with a memory card. That means if you’re not comfortable adding your own ROMs or setting things up, consider grabbing a bundle that includes a branded TF card with everything ready to go.

🎨 Color Options

There are three eye-catching choices:

• Gunmetal Gray – Classic and stealthy

• Rose Gold – Bold and stylish

• Fluorescent Green – Bright and nostalgic, perfect for that Game Boy Pocket vibe

🎯 Who Is It For?

If you loved the idea of the TrimUI Brick but wished it felt more high-end, the Brick Hammer is the answer. It’s great for:

• Retro lovers who want ultra-clean pixels

• Players who game in short sessions and love portability

• Fans of customizable RGB lights and premium builds

• Collectors who appreciate CNC machining and engravings

It’s not ideal if you want HDMI output or plan to emulate 3D consoles like PSP or Dreamcast — this is more of a refined nostalgia machine, not a powerhouse.

💬 What Do You Think?

I want to hear from you!

👉 Leave a comment below and tell me what you think of the Brick Hammer.

👉 Or join our growing retro fam and post your thoughts in the forum here: สุ่มศูนย์ของ Handheld Hodgepodge

Let’s chat about builds, scaling, and which color you’re going for!

🛒 Where to Buy

• 🟢 Support the blog and channel with this affiliate link

• ⚪ Or grab it from the TrimUI Store directly with this non-affiliate link

Thanks for hanging out!

Until next time! 👋

P’Nick ✨