In case you missed it, the Miyoo Mini is a pretty neat little handheld. Generally costing around $60-70, it’s capable of handling a variety of 2D games you throw at it, including SNES and GBA emulation, thanks to its ARM Cortex A7 CPU.
Now, a 3rd-party, RetroCN is selling a Metal Shell for the Miyoo Mini V2/3/4 handhelds. What’s perhaps the biggest surprise here, though, is that the metal shell costs more than the console itself!
The Metal Shell by itself will set you back $95. However, you can also buy it bundled with the handheld for $160. But that doesn’t include shipping. The shipping cost to the US (including tax) is $40. This means that buying the Metal Shell by itself will cost you $135 if you live in the US, and with the console, it would cost over $200.
To top it off, RetroCN refuses any refunds or returns of the product due to its “DIY” nature, I’m not sure what that has to do with refusing returns, however, and does call into question the quality of the product. Such a practice in the UK, for example, is illegal, and shops must offer a refund if a product is faulty, regardless of whether it was handmade.
I’m all for metallic versions of handhelds, it gives you that premium feel to the device and looks fantastic, but charging more than the price of the Miyoo Mini handheld for a metal shell seems excessive. I can’t help but feel that RetroCN would have been better off choosing a more expensive handheld to make metal shells for, making the price far more palatable.
You’d probably be better off buying the Metal Edition of the Retroid Pocket 2S, which is only slightly more expensive than the Metal Shell alone, or a Metal variant of an Anbernic handheld. Or, if you do own a Miyoo Mini, remember that it’s a $60 handheld, and that’s what makes it great!
What do you think? Does charging $135 for a shell for a $70 device seem like a good idea? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of the content on HandheldHQ! We have a wide variety of reviews and news that are sure to help your gaming experience. Whether you’re looking for news and handheld reviews, or just want to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, we’ve got your back.
