MagicX has confirmed it is ending production of the Mini Zero28, a handheld gaming device first launched in January 2025 and given a mid-cycle refresh in May of the same year. The company informed its community via Discord that the model will not be manufactured again once current inventory is depleted.
Rising Component Costs Force a Halt
The decision to discontinue the Mini Zero28 was driven by volatile memory pricing. MagicX explained that the cost of DDR4 RAM has surged more than sixfold since the device entered production, making continued manufacturing economically unviable. The remaining stock will be the last units available.
A Successor Takes Shape on Paper
Almost immediately after the discontinuation notice, MagicX offered a glimpse of a planned “spiritual successor” named the MagicX Mini40. Crucially, development has not yet commenced; the company is gathering community input through an active poll and says the project will only move forward if there is sufficient interest.
The proposed specifications position the Mini40 as a compact, budget-conscious device. It will feature a 4-inch display with an 800 x 480 resolution and run on a Rockchip RK3566 processor paired with 1 GB of DDR3 RAM. Internal storage capacity has not been stated, suggesting that, like the Mini Zero28, the handheld will rely on a microSD card to boot its operating system.
MagicX plans to ship the Mini40 with the Debian-based dArkOS instead of Android, which powered its predecessor. The physical design will echo the Mini Zero28 but incorporates several ergonomic and functional changes, including a redesigned, larger D-pad and larger ABXY buttons, alongside dual Hall-Effect joysticks. The shoulder button layout will be carried over. Additional features include a lanyard mount, dual speakers, dual SD card slots, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, a vibration motor, and HDMI output capability. The device is expected to launch in as many as five color options, with a DIY-friendly construction that supports custom buttons and shells.
Early Community Feedback and Pricing
MagicX has set a pre-order price target of $49, excluding shipping. As voting on the proposal nears its conclusion with two days remaining and 140 responses tallied, 57 percent of participants indicated they might purchase the handheld depending on its final design, while 18 percent committed to a pre-order. Another 22 percent stated flatly that they do not intend to buy the Mini40.
Sources: discord.com, discord.com