Device comparison

QRD Vortex F5 vs. MagicX Zero 40

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

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With

QRD Vortex F5
Zero 40

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

Quick verdict

Best value
Zero 40
More portable
Zero 40
Newer model
Zero 40

Main differences

  • MagicX Zero 40 has similar emulation coverage to QRD Vortex F5.
  • MagicX Zero 40 is about $15 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • MagicX Zero 40 is roughly 38% smaller and 45% lighter.
  • MagicX Zero 40 runs Android 10; QRD Vortex F5 runs Linux.

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

MagicX

Zero 40

Details
Price
$75
OS
Android 10
Released
Jun 2025
Up to
Dreamcast
Screen
4.0 inch IPS
Weight
182 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecQRD Vortex F5Zero 40
Price$90$75
OSLinuxAndroid 10
Screen5.5 inch4.0 inch
Aspect ratio16:93:5
Resolution1280 x 720480 x 800
ChipsetRockChip RK3566Allwinner A133 Plus
CPUCortex-A55Cortex-A53
GPUMali-G52 2EEPowerVR GE8300
RAM1 GB LPDDR4X2 GB DDR4
StorageInternal 8 GB eMMC, External MicroSDDual External MicroSD
Battery5000 mAh4300 mAh
Weight330 grams182 grams
Dimensions223 mm x 103 mm x 35 mm136 mm x 105 mm x 17 mm
Video outYesNo
Touch screenNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemQRD Vortex F5Zero 40
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
  • Zero 40 DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip The aspect ratio of the Touch Zero screen's is ideal for DS, with each screen being 2.6"
  • QRD Vortex F5 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable 3DS will only work on Android, not Linux
  • Zero 40 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
  • Zero 40 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
  • Zero 40 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 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Zero 40 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
  • Zero 40 PS1: Sony Playstation: 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
  • Zero 40 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
  • Zero 40 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
  • Zero 40 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 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Zero 40 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
  • Zero 40 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
  • Zero 40 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
  • Zero 40 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • QRD Vortex F5 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Zero 40 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
  • Zero 40 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
  • Zero 40 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
  • Zero 40 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • 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
  • Zero 40 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 QRD Vortex F5 and the MagicX Zero 40?
MagicX Zero 40 has similar emulation coverage to QRD Vortex F5. MagicX Zero 40 is about $15 cheaper based on catalog pricing. MagicX Zero 40 is roughly 38% smaller and 45% lighter. MagicX Zero 40 runs Android 10; QRD Vortex F5 runs Linux.
Which is cheaper, the QRD Vortex F5 or the MagicX Zero 40?
The MagicX Zero 40 is the cheaper of the two at around $75, roughly $15 less than the QRD Vortex F5 based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the QRD Vortex F5 or the MagicX Zero 40?
The MagicX Zero 40 is the newer model, released in 2025.

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