Device comparison

QRD Vortex F5 vs. MagicX XU Mini M

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

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QRD Vortex F5
XU Mini M

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

Quick verdict

Best value
XU Mini M
More portable
XU Mini M
Newer model
QRD Vortex F5

Main differences

  • QRD Vortex F5 has stronger listed emulation coverage.
  • MagicX XU Mini M is about $40 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • MagicX XU Mini M is roughly 64% smaller and 64% lighter.
  • QRD Vortex F5 is highlighted for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA; MagicX XU Mini M is highlighted for PS1, Genesis, GBA, SNES.

QRD

QRD Vortex F5

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

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Specs

BetterWorse

SpecQRD Vortex F5XU Mini M
Price$90$50
Screen5.5 inch2.8 inch
Aspect ratio16:94:3
Resolution1280 x 720640 x 480
ChipsetRockChip RK3566RockChip RK3326
CPUCortex-A55Cortex-A35
GPUMali-G52 2EEMali-G31 MP2
RAM1 GB LPDDR4X1 GB DDR4
StorageInternal 8 GB eMMC, External MicroSDDual External MicroSD
Battery5000 mAh2600 mAh
Weight330 grams120 grams
Dimensions223 mm x 103 mm x 35 mm129 mm x 64 mm x 19 mm
Video outYesNo
BluetoothYesNo
Analog triggersYesNo

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemQRD Vortex F5XU Mini M
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

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

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the QRD Vortex F5 and the MagicX XU Mini M?
QRD Vortex F5 has stronger listed emulation coverage. MagicX XU Mini M is about $40 cheaper based on catalog pricing. MagicX XU Mini M is roughly 64% smaller and 64% lighter. QRD Vortex F5 is highlighted for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA; MagicX XU Mini M is highlighted for PS1, Genesis, GBA, SNES.
Which is cheaper, the QRD Vortex F5 or the MagicX XU Mini M?
The MagicX XU Mini M is the cheaper of the two at around $50, roughly $40 less than the QRD Vortex F5 based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the QRD Vortex F5 or the MagicX XU Mini M?
The QRD Vortex F5 is the newer model, released in 2025.

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