Understanding the TrimUI Brick Series
The Brick series is TrimUI’s line of vertical handhelds. The first iteration of the device, simply called the TrimUI Brick, was well received by fans back in late 2024 as a budget friendly yet premium feeling device. Since then TrimUI has released three more models in the Brick series: The TrimUI Brick Hammer, the TrimUI Brick Pro, and the TrimUI Brick Hammer Pro U.
These are all excellent devices, but each iteration with its intuitive naming scheme seems to just make the whole lineup evermore confusing.
A quick guide to what each suffix means, incase you want to make sense of how TrimUI names thing:
- Brick: Denotes a vertical, Game Boy, style form factor.
- Hammer: Denotes a unibody CNC-machined metal housing rather than a plastic shell.
- Pro: Indicates a larger device with two thumbsticks and a bigger screen, moving from a 3.2-inch panel to a larger 3.95-inch screen.
- U: What the letter stands for is anyone’s guess, but thus far it signifies a high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC running an Android operating environment.
Quick overview of the TrimUI Brick Models
- TrimUI Brick $74.99 $89.99: The compact, budget-friendly plastic baseline featuring a sharp 3.2-inch screen for pocketable 2D retro gaming.
- TrimUI Brick Hammer $90.99 $94.99: The premium CNC aluminum revision of the classic Brick, retaining identical internal hardware in a durable metal shell.
- TrimUI Brick Pro $94.99 $99.99: The scaled-up 3.95-inch model adding dual Hall Effect analog sticks and an enlarged battery for extended comfort.
- TrimUI Brick Hammer Pro U $293.99: The high-performance Snapdragon flagship in a metal shell, allowing for emulation of far more powerful systems.
The TrimUI Brick Lineup
TrimUI Brick (Standard)
$74.99 $89.99 View Deal →
The cheapest and lightest of the bunch
The first device in the series. The original TrimUI Brick gained praise for its pocketable size, sharp screen, and good value. Its Allwinner A133P will handle everything up to PS1 with ease and still have a bit of headroom left for Portmaster games and a little bit of lighter Dreamcast and PSP.
Compared to similar handhelds its screen is one of the big standout features. With the TrimUI Brick sporting a screen far sharper, brighter and more vivid than what’s often seen in this price range.
TrimUI Brick Hammer
$90.99 $94.99 View Deal →
Premium feeling metal upgrade
The first refresh of the Brick line-up was the TrimUI Brick Hammer. In most respects the Brick Hammer is identical to its predecessor, sporting the same internals and screen, however in an all new aluminum casing. Making the device more durable and very premium feeling in the hand. The metal case also doubles as a passive cooler, leading heat from the CPU out into the case.
This does not however mean the original TrimUI Brick is suddenly obsolete, because for most intents and purposes it’s still the same device in a new premium casing. But for just $15 extra it’s an upgrade that could be worth paying for.
TrimUI Brick Pro
$94.99 $99.99 View Deal →
Same internals but new form factor
The TrimUI Brick Pro is yet another revision with the same Allwinner A133P CPU. This time the changes are more than just cosmetic. As the lack of the “Hammer” suffix in its name suggests its shell is plastic rather than metal, and the “Pro” refers to a far larger form factor than the earlier TrimUI Brick handhelds. The screen size has also grown from 3.2 inches to 3.95. And perhaps the most visible change is the addition of two hall effect joysticks.
These changes make the Pro versions of the Brick less portable and pocketable, but the bigger screen and better ergonomics makes it overall more comfortable to play on. The addition of analogue sticks are also useful for N64, PS1, and PSP titles as well as ports on Portmaster.
TrimUI Brick Hammer Pro U
Pro form factor, metal build, and far more powerful internals
Out of all devices in TrimUI’s brick line-up the TrimUI Brick Hammer Pro U is the one that differs the most from its predecessors. It runs on an entirely different CPU, the Snapdragon G2 Gen 1, which is far more powerful than the A133P. With the new processor also comes a new operating system, namely Android. The extra performance makes GameCube, PS2 and even a handful of lighter Switch and PC titles.
It does come at the cost of a far higher price than the other devices in the series, and it doesn’t have a touchscreen which makes navigating the OS clunkier than the other Bricks that run on Linux.
Differences between TrimUI Brick devices
The standard TrimUI Brick, Brick Hammer, and Brick Pro share the same Allwinner A133P CPU. In essence they are the same core handheld offered across different physical formats: ABS plastic vs. CNC metal unibody vs. an enlarged Pro case.
In contrast, the Brick Hammer Pro U represents a complete divergence. While it utilizes a similar physical scale to the Pro, it replaces the low-power Linux system with a Snapdragon G2 Gen 1 platform running Android.
This architectural split creates distinct operational trade-offs:
- Linux-based Models (Brick, Hammer, Pro): Prioritize pick-up-and-play simplicity, rapid boot times, instant save states, and straightforward menu navigation tailored for 2D and light 3D gaming.
- Android-based Model (Pro U): Delivers significantly higher compute performance for demanding systems like GameCube and PS2, but requires navigating Android system setups, standalone app configurations, and emulator controls.
Which TrimUI Brick to choose?
Choosing the right model depends on specific priorities regarding scale, build material, target emulation era, and interface requirements:
- Prioritize Portability? Select the standard Brick or Brick Hammer. Their 3.2-inch display and compact body fit easily into pockets for short transit sessions.
- Prioritize ergonomics and screen size? Choose the Brick Pro. The 3.95-inch screen and larger grip reduce hand cramping, while the 5000 mAh battery extends operational runtime.
- Targeting GameCube or PS2? The Brick Hammer Pro U is the only model in the series with the compute capability to run 6th-generation 3D console libraries smoothly.
Summary
The TrimUI Brick ecosystem provides a progression across price tiers, build materials, and processing power. The standard Brick, Brick Hammer, and Brick Pro offer accessible, Linux-based retro gaming focused primarily on 2D and early 3D systems, allowing users to choose strictly based on screen size, ergonomics, and material preference. Meanwhile, the Brick Hammer Pro U serves as a high-performance Android flagship, delivering 6th-generation 3D console emulation within a premium metal vertical case.