TrimUI Brick Hammer vs Brick Pro is not a question of better or worse — it's a question of shape. These two handhelds come from the same maker, run the same open-source Linux firmware and cover the same era of games. What separates them is how they sit in your hand and whether they fit in your pocket. We stock both, so here's the honest breakdown.
TrimUI Brick Hammer vs Brick Pro: the short answer
Buy the Brick Hammer if you want a device that genuinely lives in your pocket and you mostly play vertical-friendly systems — Game Boy, Game Boy Color, puzzle and arcade titles. Buy the Brick Pro if you want dual analog sticks for PS1-era 3D, a bigger screen for text-heavy games, and you're happy to carry it in a bag rather than a jacket pocket.
Side by side
| Brick Hammer | Brick Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $235.95 AUD | $165.95 AUD |
| Orientation | Vertical (Game Boy style) | Horizontal |
| Display | 3.25" IPS, 720×960 | 3.95" IPS |
| Analog sticks | Not the focus of this layout | Dual Hall-effect |
| Wi-Fi | — | Built in |
| Battery | Full-day cell | 5000 mAh |
| Colours | 5 (Black, Silver, Grey, Green, Pink) | 3 (White, Black, Grey) |
| Pocketable | Yes, genuinely | Bag or large pocket |
| System | Linux, open source — both run community firmware and PortMaster | |
The screen: sharper vs bigger
This is the most misunderstood part of the TrimUI Brick Hammer vs Brick Pro comparison. The Hammer's panel is smaller at 3.25" but runs 720×960 — an unusually high pixel density for this class. Retro pixel art looks engraved rather than displayed, with none of the softness cheaper panels produce. The Pro's 3.95" screen is physically larger, which matters more for RPG text, PS1-era menus and anything with a busy HUD.
Put simply: the Hammer gives you a sharper picture, the Pro gives you a roomier one. Neither is a compromise — they're answers to different complaints.
The shape decides the games
Vertical handhelds excel at the systems that were designed vertically. Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles fill the Hammer's screen the way they were meant to, and vertical arcade shooters (the classic "tate" orientation) get an aspect ratio no horizontal device can match without letterboxing.
Horizontal handhelds win the moment a game expects two analog sticks. PS1-era 3D, twin-stick shooters and most PortMaster ports assume that layout. The Brick Pro's dual Hall-effect sticks also mean no drift over time, since they sense position magnetically rather than through wearing contacts — a real long-term advantage if you've retired a handheld to stick drift before.
Price: the counterintuitive part
Most people assume the smaller device is the cheaper one. In the TrimUI Brick Hammer vs Brick Pro matchup it's the opposite — the Hammer starts at $235.95 while the Pro starts at $165.95. The Hammer's premium comes from that high-density panel and the compact engineering, not from being the more capable machine.
So if budget is your main constraint, the decision is easy: the Brick Pro gives you more device for less money. The Hammer is what you buy when pocketability and screen sharpness are worth paying extra for.
Which should you buy?
Choose the Brick Hammer if: you want true everyday carry · you play Game Boy, Game Boy Color and vertical arcade · screen sharpness matters more than screen size · you like the classic vertical silhouette · you want colour choice (five versus three).
Choose the Brick Pro if: you play PS1-era 3D or anything needing dual sticks · you want built-in Wi-Fi for PortMaster and updates · you want the larger screen for text · you want to spend less.
Neither is the entry point, though. If you're new to retro handhelds entirely, start with the R36S at $79 and see how much you actually use it — our TrimUI Brick Pro vs R36S comparison covers that decision properly, and the Australian buying guide maps the whole range.
What they share
Both are Linux handhelds with open-source firmware, both charge over USB-C, and both expand via microSD. Both are supported by the PortMaster project, which brings a large catalogue of free and open-source game ports — though the Pro's horizontal layout and stick setup suit more of those ports out of the box. Neither ships with copyrighted games; see our games guide for the legal ways to fill either device. Both are stocked in Australia and ship free.
TrimUI Brick Hammer vs Brick Pro — quick questions
Why is the smaller Hammer more expensive?
Its 3.25" panel runs 720×960, an unusually high pixel density, and compact engineering costs more
than it looks. You're paying for sharpness and size, not raw capability.
Can the Brick Hammer play PS1 games?
It handles the era, but without a horizontal dual-stick layout the experience suits 2D titles far
better. For PS1-era 3D, the Brick Pro is the right shape.
Does the Brick Hammer have Wi-Fi?
The Brick Pro has Wi-Fi built in. If online PortMaster installs matter to you, that's a point for
the Pro.
Which is better for a commute?
The Hammer — it genuinely fits a jacket pocket, which is the whole reason the vertical format
exists.
Do both ship free in Australia?
Yes, both ship free Australia-wide with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Why buy from R36S AU: ✅ Free shipping Australia-wide & worldwide · ✅ 30-day money-back guarantee · 🕹️ Ready to play out of the box.
R36S AU is an independent retailer and is not affiliated with third-party console, game, or software publishers. Our handhelds are sold as gaming hardware for use with legally obtained files, public-domain software, homebrew and other content you have the right to use.