Affiliate disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Mangmi Air Y and Air Y Pro: Vertical Handhelds Aimed at the Brick Pro
2026-07-18 · News and launch coverage
Affiliate disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Mangmi is back, and it is going vertical. In mid July 2026 the company announced the Air Y and Air Y Pro, its first vertical Android handhelds, in the Game Boy style silhouette that the TrimUI Brick Pro currently owns. Mangmi impressed us with the Pocket Max, so a vertical follow-up with Android muscle is worth paying attention to.
Here is everything announced so far.
The Announced Specs
Both models share the headline component: a 4.2 inch IPS touchscreen in 4:3, at 1280 by 960, rated at 500 nits with 110 percent sRGB coverage. That is a big, sharp, bright panel for a vertical device, and 4:3 is the right shape for the retro libraries these devices live on.
Where the two models split:
- Air Y: Snapdragon 662, the chip from Mangmi's own Air X, with a single analog stick.
- Air Y Pro: Snapdragon 865, with dual analog sticks.
Shared touches include a front firing speaker, a breathing light logo, a metallic side wheel, curved shoulder buttons, a microSD slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and USB-C. Pricing, battery, RAM, and the launch date are still unannounced, with pre-orders reportedly targeted for late July.
What the Chips Mean in Practice
The two chips tell you exactly who each model is for.
The Snapdragon 662 in the base Air Y is a modest chip. Expect everything through PS1, GBA, and DS to run great, with PSP and Dreamcast mostly solid and anything heavier off the menu. For a vertical device that lives on 8-bit and 16-bit libraries, that is honestly fine.
The Snapdragon 865 in the Air Y Pro is the interesting one. It is the same chip class as the Retroid Pocket Flip 2, and our Snapdragon 865 emulation guide covers exactly what it runs: full speed through Dreamcast and PSP, strong GameCube, and a good slice of PS2 with tuning. In a vertical body with dual sticks and a 4:3 touchscreen, that is a legitimately new combination.
The Vertical Race Just Got Crowded
Vertical handhelds had a quiet renaissance this year, led by the TrimUI Brick Pro and its dual stick redesign of the beloved Brick. The Air Y Pro reads like a direct answer: same silhouette, more chip, and Android instead of Linux, which brings Daijishō, streaming apps, and the standalone emulator ecosystem.
The trade-offs will come down to price, battery, and feel in the hand, none of which are announced yet. Mangmi's Pocket Max showed the company can deliver value, so the pricing reveal is the moment to watch.
Should You Care?
If you love the vertical form factor and wished a Brick had Android and more power, yes. If you already own a Brick Pro and mostly play 16-bit libraries, nothing here obsoletes it. We will publish a full preview once the remaining specs and prices land, and reviews when hardware ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Mangmi Air Y and Air Y Pro?
Mangmi's first vertical Android handhelds, announced in July 2026, both with a 4.2 inch 4:3 IPS touchscreen at 1280 by 960.
What is the difference between the Air Y and Air Y Pro?
The Air Y uses a Snapdragon 662 and a single analog stick. The Air Y Pro uses a Snapdragon 865 and dual sticks.
How much will they cost?
Unannounced. Mangmi has said remaining specs, pricing, and the launch schedule are coming, with pre-orders reportedly targeted for late July 2026.
How do they compare to the TrimUI Brick Pro?
Same vertical silhouette, but Android instead of Linux and, on the Pro, a much stronger chip. Price and battery will decide the matchup.
Related Reading
Related reading
GuideGuideGuide