Device comparison

MagicX Mini Zero 28 vs. QRD Vortex F5

Compare specs, emulation support, community reviews, ownership, and play history.

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With

Mini Zero 28
QRD Vortex F5

Shown to scale from each device’s real-world dimensions.

Quick verdict

Best value
Mini Zero 28
More portable
Mini Zero 28
Newer model
QRD Vortex F5

Main differences

  • QRD Vortex F5 has similar emulation coverage to MagicX Mini Zero 28.
  • MagicX Mini Zero 28 is about $31 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • MagicX Mini Zero 28 is roughly 63% smaller and 64% lighter.
  • QRD Vortex F5 runs Linux; MagicX Mini Zero 28 runs Android 10.

MagicX

Mini Zero 28

Details
Price
$59
OS
Android 10
Released
Jan 2025
Up to
Dreamcast
Screen
2.8 inch IPS
Weight
120 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

QRD

QRD Vortex F5

Details
Price
$90
OS
Linux
Released
Feb 2025
Up to
Dreamcast
Screen
5.5 inch IPS
Weight
330 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecMini Zero 28QRD Vortex F5
Price$59$90
OSAndroid 10Linux
Screen2.8 inch5.5 inch
Aspect ratio4:316:9
Resolution640 x 4801280 x 720
ChipsetAllwinner A133 PlusRockChip RK3566
CPUCortex-A53Cortex-A55
GPUPowerVR GE8300Mali-G52 2EE
RAM2 GB DDR41 GB LPDDR4X
StorageDual External MicroSDInternal 8 GB eMMC, External MicroSD
Battery2900 mAh5000 mAh
Weight120 grams330 grams
Dimensions130.5 mm x 65.1 mm x 19 mm223 mm x 103 mm x 35 mm
Video outNoYes
BluetoothNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemMini Zero 28QRD Vortex F5
Classic systems
Game Boy
NES
Genesis
GBA
SNES
PS1
Mid-generation systems
DS
N64
Dreamcast
PSP
Saturn
Sixth-generation systems
GameCube
Wii
PS2
Modern systems
3DS
Switch
Wii U
PS3

Emulation source notes

  • Mini Zero 28 DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip This device does not have a touchscreen, so you won't be able to play DS games that rely heavily on the touchscreen
  • QRD Vortex F5 DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip This device does not have a touchscreen, so you won't be able to play DS games that rely heavily on the touchscreen
  • Mini Zero 28 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable 3DS will only work on Android, not Linux
  • Mini Zero 28 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Mini Zero 28 N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • Mini Zero 28 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Mini Zero 28 PS1: Sony Playstation: All games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Mini Zero 28 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable PS2 will only work on Android, not Linux
  • Mini Zero 28 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Mini Zero 28 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • Mini Zero 28 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Mini Zero 28 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Mini Zero 28 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Mini Zero 28 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • QRD Vortex F5 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Mini Zero 28 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Mini Zero 28 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Mini Zero 28 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Mini Zero 28 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • QRD Vortex F5 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • Mini Zero 28 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the MagicX Mini Zero 28 and the QRD Vortex F5?
QRD Vortex F5 has similar emulation coverage to MagicX Mini Zero 28. MagicX Mini Zero 28 is about $31 cheaper based on catalog pricing. MagicX Mini Zero 28 is roughly 63% smaller and 64% lighter. QRD Vortex F5 runs Linux; MagicX Mini Zero 28 runs Android 10.
Which is cheaper, the MagicX Mini Zero 28 or the QRD Vortex F5?
The MagicX Mini Zero 28 is the cheaper of the two at around $59, roughly $31 less than the QRD Vortex F5 based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the MagicX Mini Zero 28 or the QRD Vortex F5?
The QRD Vortex F5 is the newer model, released in 2025.

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