GameMT E6 Plus UNHINGED Review: Brilliant Idea! What Went Wrong?

Summary

In this review, Mikey Sachs explores the E6 Plus handheld by Game Mt, a device reminiscent of the Steam Deck but with its own unique features and flaws. He praises the ergonomic design, weight, and LED lights, while criticizing hardware issues like a faulty L2 trigger and poor d-pad responsiveness. The device runs on a Linux-based Emulation Station and Android, offering dual boot capabilities but with limited Google Play Store functionality. Despite some enjoyable aspects, Sachs concludes that the E6 Plus feels like it was released too early, needing further refinement.

Takeaways

• 😀 The E6 Plus by Game Mt is a handheld device that resembles the Steam Deck but has some differences and is not fully developed.
• 📦 The unboxing experience includes a variety of items, including a cheese, a cassette, and a protective film for the device.
• 🎮 The device runs on a Linux-based operating system with an Emulation Station front end, and also has the option to dual boot into Android.
• 🕹 The ergonomics and build quality of the E6 Plus are praised, with comfortable grips and a premium feel, but there are hardware issues with the d-pad and joystick.
• 🔊 The speakers are located at the back and are considered to have good sound quality, and the device also has LED lights that can be flashy but are liked by the reviewer.
• 📱 The Android side of the device offers a better gaming experience with smoother performance and a responsive touchscreen.
• 🔄 The device has a dual boot feature, allowing users to switch between Linux and Android, but the Android side has some limitations due to device registration issues.
• 🎮 The gaming experience on the Linux side is hindered by hardware issues and software limitations, especially with Nintendo 64 emulation.
• 🛍️ The review unit was provided for free and the reviewer emphasizes that all opinions are their own, not influenced by the manufacturer.
• 🚫 There are significant dislikes mentioned, including the d-pad's poor input registration, the position of the joystick, and the noisy trigger buttons.
• 🔧 The reviewer suggests that the E6 Plus has potential but needs further refinement before it can be considered a fully functional and enjoyable handheld gaming device.

Q & A

What is the name of the device being reviewed in the script?

The device being reviewed is called the E6 Plus by Game Mt.

What are the two operating systems that the E6 Plus can dual boot into?

The E6 Plus can dual boot into Linux and Android operating systems.

What does the reviewer like about the ergonomics of the E6 Plus?

The reviewer likes the weight of the device, the grip and ergonomics, and the placement of the triggers and grips.

What issues does the reviewer have with the d-pad on the E6 Plus?

The reviewer finds the d-pad's input registration to be problematic and not satisfactory.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the analog stick's position on the E6 Plus?

The reviewer is not a fan of the analog stick's position, as it requires an offset thumb placement which they do not prefer.

What is the reviewer's experience with the ABXY buttons on the E6 Plus?

The reviewer does not like the ABXY connection because they all move as one unit when pressed, which results in a quiet sound but a loud trigger sound.

What feature does the E6 Plus have that the reviewer finds to be a gimmick but still likes?

The reviewer finds the bright LEDs on the E6 Plus to be a gimmick but still likes them as a cool feature.

What is the reviewer's opinion on the screen quality of the E6 Plus?

The reviewer appreciates the screen quality of the E6 Plus, considering it to be great.

What is the reviewer's experience with the Android side of the E6 Plus?

The reviewer finds the Android side to be more usable than the Linux side, with better touchscreen response and more potential for customization.

What issue does the reviewer encounter with the L2 trigger on the E6 Plus?

The reviewer experiences a hardware issue with the L2 trigger, which requires force to activate and makes an unpleasant sound.

What does the reviewer suggest about the potential of the E6 Plus?

The reviewer suggests that the E6 Plus could be a great handheld if it had been further refined before release.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Unboxing the E6 Plus Handheld by Game Mt

In this paragraph, the video script begins with an energetic introduction to the E6 Plus handheld device by Game Mt, which is being compared to the Steam Deck. The presenter, Retro Handheld, welcomes viewers and encourages new subscribers to check out a previous video on the RG Cube. The E6 Plus is noted as a review unit, and the presenter shares initial impressions, highlighting the device's ergonomic design, which reminds him of the RG 10 Max 2. The device is a Linux-based system with the ability to dual boot into Android, but there are hardware issues that are immediately apparent. The unboxing process reveals the device's accessories, including a protective film and a micro SD card, and the presenter expresses surprise and amusement at the inclusion of a cheese and a Power Ranger item, presumably from a previous package.

05:00

🎮 First Impressions and Gameplay Experience with the E6 Plus

This paragraph delves into the first impressions of the E6 Plus, focusing on its ergonomics, button layout, and hardware features. The presenter discusses the device's grips, triggers, and the placement of the start and select buttons. He notes the difference between the hall stick and a non-hall stick, and the squishy feel of the buttons. The video shows the device's boot-up process, revealing an emulation station front end and the initial setup for gaming. The presenter tests the device's controls during gameplay, encountering issues with the d-pad and analog stick responsiveness. He also experiences stuttering and glitches while playing, which he attributes to the device's hardware limitations, particularly when attempting to play Nintendo 64 games on the Linux operating system.

10:00

🔧 Hardware Issues and Android Side Experience

The script moves on to address the hardware issues encountered during gameplay, such as a faulty L2 trigger and the unresponsiveness of the d-pad. The presenter also explores the Android side of the device, noting that while it's not officially protected for Google Play Store use, he was able to install apps like Mopin Plus FZ and RetroArch. He compares the Android experience to the Linux side, finding the touchscreen response and the ability to map buttons more to his liking on Android. Despite some slowdowns and audio issues, the Android side is deemed more playable, although the d-pad issues persist.

15:02

🏆 Conclusion and Final Thoughts on the E6 Plus Handheld

In the concluding paragraph, the presenter, Mikey Sachs, summarizes his thoughts on the E6 Plus handheld. He lists the aspects he appreciates, such as the device's weight, ergonomics, LED lights, screen quality, and the ability to dual boot into Android. However, he also emphasizes the significant dislikes, including the poor d-pad functionality, the position of the joystick, and the button layout on the Linux side. He suggests that the device shows potential but was not ready for release in its current state, hinting that a production model might offer improvements. The video ends with a reminder for viewers to take care of their handheld devices and themselves.

Keywords

💡RG Cube

The RG Cube is an Android-based handheld gaming device mentioned in the script. It is relevant to the video's theme as the host compares the device being reviewed, the E6 Plus, with the RG Cube. The host expresses a fondness for the RG Cube, setting a benchmark for the evaluation of the E6 Plus.

💡E6 Plus

The E6 Plus is the main subject of the video, a handheld gaming device by Game Mt. It is compared to the Steam Deck and the RG Cube, indicating its intended use and market positioning. The script discusses its features, ergonomics, and performance, which are central to the video's narrative.

💡Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming device from Valve Corporation, used as a point of comparison in the script. It is mentioned to highlight the E6 Plus's intended market segment and to set expectations for the viewer regarding the device's capabilities and design.

💡Linux

Linux is an open-source operating system that the E6 Plus can dual boot with Android. The script discusses the device's performance on Linux, including its emulation capabilities and the user interface, which is crucial for understanding the device's functionality and user experience.

💡Android

Android is another operating system that the E6 Plus can run, offering a different user experience and application ecosystem compared to Linux. The script evaluates the Android side of the device, noting the performance and usability, which is essential for assessing the device's versatility.

💡Ergonomics

Ergonomics refers to the design of the E6 Plus that is intended to be comfortable and efficient for the user. The script praises the device's ergonomic features, such as the grip and finger placement, which are important for long gaming sessions and overall user satisfaction.

💡D-Pad

The D-Pad is a directional input on the E6 Plus, and its performance is a significant aspect of the review. The script describes issues with the D-Pad's responsiveness and input registration, which affects the gaming experience and is a notable critique in the video.

💡Analog Stick

The analog stick is another input method on the E6 Plus, used for navigating games. The script mentions the difference between the hall stick and a non-hall stick, and the host's preference for using the analog stick over the D-Pad, illustrating the importance of input methods in handheld gaming devices.

💡Emulation Station

Emulation Station is a front-end application for managing emulators and games on the E6 Plus running Linux. The script discusses the user interface and settings, showing how it is used to access and play games, which is central to the device's gaming functionality.

💡Performance

Performance in the context of the E6 Plus refers to its ability to run games smoothly across different platforms like Nintendo 64 and PSP. The script evaluates the device's performance, noting stuttering and frame rates, which is critical for determining the device's capability and value.

💡Hardware Issues

Hardware issues pertain to the physical components of the E6 Plus, such as the faulty L2 trigger mentioned in the script. These issues impact the overall quality and reliability of the device, and the host's discussion of them provides insight into potential concerns for prospective buyers.

💡Touchscreen

The touchscreen is a feature of the E6 Plus on the Android side, allowing for touch-based navigation and gameplay. The script comments on the responsiveness of the touchscreen, which is an important aspect of the user interface and overall user experience.

💡Speakers

Speakers are the audio output components on the E6 Plus. The script includes an audio test to evaluate the quality of the sound produced by the device, which is an essential aspect of the gaming experience, especially for a handheld device.

Highlights

Introduction of the E6 Plus handheld by Game Mt, which is being compared to the Steam Deck.

The E6 Plus is a review unit provided for free, ensuring unbiased opinions.

The device's ergonomics are praised, drawing comparisons to the RG Cube and the RGB 10 Max 2.

Hardware issues are noted, suggesting the E6 Plus may not be ready for the market.

Unboxing reveals a race stripe design and the device's specifications.

The device's color wave is highlighted, along with its fingerprint-prone nature.

Speaker placement and ergonomic grips are discussed, with a preference for the analog triggers over the d-pad.

The d-pad's functionality is criticized for its poor input registration.

The device's Linux operating system and its emulation capabilities are tested.

Performance issues with the d-pad and joystick are experienced during gameplay.

The Android side of the device is explored, noting the lack of Google Play Store functionality.

The device's audio quality is tested, with the back-placed speakers receiving positive feedback.

The touchscreen's responsiveness on the Android side is praised.

The device's shell material and finish are discussed, with a preference for a less transparent option to hide light bleed.

The dislike for the ABXY button connection and the menu button functionality on the Linux side is expressed.

Final thoughts suggest the E6 Plus has potential but needs further refinement before being a viable product.

The review concludes with a reminder to take care of handhelds and oneself.

Transcripts

look look look this is going on right

now that just happened I'm not pressing

a dang thing here's a piece of bacon

here's a

pistachio H buffalo chicken dip from

Costco steamed de clone more like the

steamy ass

[Music]

clone hey everyone welcome to Retro

handheld if you're new to the channel

make sure you hit like and you subscribe

if you missed it before I just did a one

Monon ownership reaction to the RG Cube

go ahead and check that out right over

here now as much as I love the RG Cube

and that was an Android device today's a

little bit different today we're looking

at a new device called the E6 plus by

game Mt game Mt more like game Mt

promises

and this is kind of being like a steam

deck clone it's very far from the steam

deck but there are some things that I

really like about this device and there

are some things that I don't really like

I'd also like to let you know that this

is a review unit I paid 0 for it and all

opinions and thoughts are my own now to

look at this device there are a couple

of ergonomic things that I'm going to

probably really praise about it and this

actually reminds me more like the RGB 10

Max 2 big word to say I say that because

it's about the same size and has similar

ergonomics to it as well this is only a

Linux device this can dual boot into

Linux and Android but unfortunately

there are just some hardware issues on

this thing that I just can't get past if

you're going to get this as brand new

I'm your host your guide to navigating

this very interesting handheld the E6

plus by game Mt hope you enjoy it

what's the deal with game it's time

for a package from

Portland watch out Aiden this is coming

from Mr stubs and let's just destroy the

tape here we go I'm keeping I'm keeping

this what is

this what uh uh this is interesting what

what did you put in here stubs

there's a cheese there's a

cheese the blue Power

Ranger oh

shoot yo my kidneys are going to be so

happy right now and I think it was the

pancreas it's it's not the kidneys let's

see do they fit on something let's see

here let's see I'm detoxifying as we

speak it says RH on it well you know

we're just I'm just gonna I'm GNA figure

this out later okay thank you stubs next

up is a Peter art vidson album

more oh a

[Applause]

cassette this is going to go over here

now reason why we're all here is for an

unboxing and we got a little race stripe

we've got these specs right over

here wow that was

easy

who oh wow I love the color wave I just

put a bunch of fingerprints on it that's

okay something to put in my cable drawer

we've got some sort of inar Bud we got a

protective film and we've got a TP man

we abbreviating things man you all man

you all I'm so sorry I got that wrong it

looks like this is in English it could

also be in Chinese I would love to learn

Chinese when don't we put Billy over

here hey Billy Billy and the cheese

Billy it looks just like the steam deck

let's turn this

around it has our speakers in the back

and the ergonomic grips they do vary a

bit but the fact that they're here is a

big deal for me you're not going to get

analog

triggers we got our clickies let's hear

these clickies real

quick so we've got two sticks this one

is a hall stick this one is not they may

have done that to try and save money I

don't know if it's going to make a huge

difference I don't even know if I'm

going to play this thing enough to even

feel any stick s drift I do feel a

difference for sure we got our

buttons they feel squishy you may be

able to see that it's also moving the

other buttons our start is on the right

select is on the left you've got a mode

button you've got this dish style d-pad

and first feeling I thought this was

going to be way worse now on the top

we've got our triggers that fit really

nice in the hand it's like the perfect

little finger saddle that's right finger

saddle we've got our volume up and down

headphone jack HDMI out DC charging OTG

micro SD cards then we've got a power

button and on the sides we've got

nothing on this side we got nothing

color wave is that of the stars now

let's turn this puppy on hey there we go

we got these lights I mean I love lights

whoa it thing is like doing like a

little thing it's doing little light

switch Rave right

now the system is down that's a ton of

light

bleed and here we are we're rocking an

emulation station front end U elect more

like emuel me a better operating

[Music]

system let's see if I can if I can even

play this thing with the

d-pad hey made it into first place

that's pretty good I'm just trying to

swerve around and see if I can get get a

feel for this thing all right let's see

let's get out of

here did the mode just pause and then

also want to get me out look look look

look look look look I'm trying to go

this way and it's stuck it's stuck oh

there we go oh nice thank you I'm trying

to go this way look look look look look

I'm all the way to the left and he's

still going forward that's ridiculous

just using this this joystick is so much

more pleasurable I want to like the

d-pad it might be able to be something

that you can mod and fix but there's

other things that you can buy that's not

going to need modding like this the

screen is nice for DS check for false

diagonals here and I'm getting quite a

bit oh the analog stick is not

mapped which means I'm stuck with this

poopy d-pad oh it is so poop oh there

you are okay can I kill you here I go

now oh I got some health oh it didn't

help me now and I did it

let's try some PSP they only gave me one

PSP game if you have suggestions of PSP

games that I should excuse me should

really try please let me know in the

comments ooh I'm getting some stuttering

already oop stutter

again that was great thanks look look

look look this is going on right now

that just happened I'm not pressing a

dang thing what is going on with this

thing is there a ghost is this the ghost

of game Mt I don't think this is going

to be an ideal Nintendo 64 experience

Linux operating systems has never been

ideal for Nintendo 64 I I I just going

to try our best this is really

chugging ha I'll do my best and won't

have his way with me no response no

response how rude what about that's the

spirit Fox man I could really use your

father right about now but he's he's

he's

dead got some glitching not the worst I

don't seem to have a z

button and oh there we go oh whoa whoa

whoa whoa whoa my L2 is faulty it's not

good I have to push it down with Force

so that's a big Hardware

issue all right I guess I'm playing Tomb

Raider oh it looks like there's already

a save slot in here oh there's a save

slot and it comes right in glitching now

I've adjusted these settings to be at

best performance and I did one run ahead

frame and it made no difference and now

we're going to look at the Android side

and man this build leaves a lot to be

desired if you do click the Google Play

Store you get this device isn't

protected so you can't do much with the

Google Play Store I was able to download

mopin plus FZ and I was able to get the

nightly build of retro Arch on here I

tried the stable build the stable build

wouldn't register my a button for

whatever reason so we tried the nightly

build and that fixed it you really get

like the Bare Bones basic Android app

I've been actually really enjoying

navigating this touchcreen the Android

is going to work a lot better than the

Linux side no the d-pad is still not

perfect I'm enjoying this a lot better

again I like to usually play this on

fast forward and I set my menu button as

the hotkey enable which has been a lot

better than what the Linux side has been

doing so now we can do Fast Forward no

problem we can destroy this Pidgey I'm

pressing all the way to the left and

he's not even budging if I kind of

wiggle it a little bit I can think of

one thing that this d-pad could probably

do here's a piece of

bacon here's a

pistachio buffalo chicken dip from

Costco see if we can just oh we could

probably get those in there nice

yeah there you go all right that's

good so here we have Dreamcast as you

can see we've got 12 FPS but this isn't

playable but are you discouraged yes you

should be let's take a look at Nintendo

64 so here you have Nintendo 64 got big

black bars on the side because this is a

4x3 native aspect

ratio but everything seems to be working

pretty

well little stuttering right there and

so so I always like to come over here to

check to see if this thing's going to

glitch out and it does glitch out but

it's actually not as bad as I've seen it

on other devices the best thing about

Nintendo 64 is that most games don't use

the d-pad and this d-pad is

awful I am really interested to see if

this thing is going to run on the

Android side and it's already yeah it's

starting and we were doing so good let's

give it a little while to see if these

shaders will load I can just tell by the

music and the tempo is way too

slow it is smooth slow

though I mean it should

be and right now we've

got this isn't a good luck I'd like to

see if fzx works on this

thing trudging already trudging well

game play is good the menus are bad but

this is playing pretty well this is

passable at

least I am experiencing some

slowdown but it is pretty

playable the more I play this the more

the L2 is like just sounding like

crap now for our audio test the speakers

are in the back I actually tend to think

that this these speakers sound pretty

good

[Applause]

[Music]

well that sure was a ride now wasn't it

let's conclude this video now there are

a couple of things that I really do like

about this handheld there's a couple of

things that I really can do without

number one I enjoy the weight of this

device it feels like a premium product

if you had no idea what a premium

product was the grip and the ergonomics

are great I love the way that my fingers

can rest on this little cranny over here

between the triggers and the grips the

LEDs believe it or not as bright as they

are I think that they're just like an

extra cool little gimmick that I

actually kind of really like um if I was

a child and I own this thing I would

think it was the coolest thing on the

planet it is very bright but I'd much

rather have it and be able to turn it on

to show all my friends that kind of like

show it off and then when I'm in the

privacy of my home own home just turn

them off the screen quality is pretty

great that's one of the perks I also

think that the touchscreen response on

the Android side is pretty good as well

I like the emulation station build on

here it's a very clean look there's a

lot of possibilities that you can do to

tweak the settings I love the fact that

you can dual boot into Android with this

baby but there's a lot of other things

that you can probably do with this on

the Android s again this is a review

unit and it is locked and it's not

registered at the current moment of this

review that may change in the future the

shell on this it's pretty cool there's

not going to be any fingerprints on this

and nothing is really going to show and

I've had quite a bit of gameplay on this

I don't think the plastic is the

greatest quality but to touch it at

first glance there is a very nice matte

finish to it and I kind of like it I

would have made the shell not as

transparent so that way that light bleed

on those LEDs wouldn't show as much

though I don't really necessarily love

the triggers I love the finger placement

I also like the fact that the triggers

are stacked it's not a very pocketable

device that usually comes with stacked

shoulder buttons now I'm going to talk

about the dislikes and these are Big

dislikes you saw what was going on with

the d-pads and that's just not cool

though I like the actual stiffness of

the d-pad itself the way that it is

registering the input is not cool I'm

also not a big fan of this joystick

being in this position over here you're

going to have to offset your thumb a

little bit and I'm not really into that

I'm not a big fan of this menu button on

the Linux side what I liked about it on

Android is that you can map this as your

hotkey enable button but for the Linux

side I don't love that this is also

doubling as a pause button and your quit

game button quit game button I don't

like the abxy connection you can see

that as you're pushing these buttons all

of them kind of move that's because

they're all one unit so how is this that

they able to get this to sound very

quiet but the trigger sound like

this final conclusions are that this

could be a really great handheld if it

was just cooked a little bit longer I

don't think this thing was ready to be

released this is a review unit so

chances are the production model is

going to be a lot better than what I've

got right over here I thought it was

nice that they included the Google Play

store but the fact that they didn't

register the actual device to be used on

it I think that's a huge lose I am so

happy that you came back to watch my

review whoo and with that having been

said my name is Mikey Sachs and I'm here

to remind you

to take care of them handhelds and

yourself and your hands

[Music]

a