MANGMI AIR X review: is this budget Android handheld worth buying?

What is the MANGMI AIR X?

The MANGMI AIR X is a budget Android gaming handheld with a 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, built-in controls, Android 14 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 hardware. It is designed for portable Android games, cloud gaming, game streaming and retro emulation in a compact handheld form.

This MANGMI AIR X review looks at whether a lower-cost Android handheld can still deliver a strong day-to-day gaming experience. The AIR X sits in the budget end of the Android gaming handheld market, so the main question is not whether it beats premium devices, but whether it gives enough performance, battery life and comfort for the price.

Testing conditions

• Device: MANGMI AIR X
• Operating system: Android 14
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SM6115
• GPU: Adreno 610
• Memory and storage: 4GB LPDDR4x RAM and 64GB eMMC storage
• Display: 5.5-inch IPS touchscreen, 1920×1080, 60Hz, 400 nits, 100% sRGB
• Items tested: AnTuTu, Geekbench 5, Geekbench 6, 3DMark, Android games, NetherSX2, Azahar and Vita3K
• Battery test: AnTuTu loop, full brightness, max fan, performance profile
• Cooling test: Quiet, balanced and extreme fan profiles

MANGMI AIR X Review Video

MANGMI AIR X overview

The MANGMI AIR X measures around 8.01 x 3.4 x 0.66 inches (203.47 x 87.39 x 16.80 mm). It weighs around 286g (0.6 lbs), and is available in White, Black and Retro GB case colours. The size is one of the key strengths in this MANGMI AIR X review. It is not too bulky, it feels comfortable in the hands, and it is light enough to carry in a bag or jacket pocket.

The 5.5-inch IPS touchscreen display has a 1920×1080 resolution at a 60Hz refresh rate, with 400 nits brightness and 100% sRGB coverage. On a screen this size, full HD looks sharp, text is clear, colours are strong, and the panel is well suited to both Android games and retro emulation.

The touchscreen is also useful outside of games. Navigating Android 14, changing settings, installing apps and using launcher menus feels natural for an Android gaming device.

On either side of the display you have a D-Pad, LED-lit analogue sticks and standard gaming buttons. Towards the lower areas are two sets of smaller buttons for Back and Home, plus Select and Start.

On the bottom are a covered Micro SD card slot, a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB-C port for charging and external storage. On the top are left and right shoulder buttons and Hall effect triggers, while the right side has the volume buttons and power button.

The back of the handheld has a fan grille and contoured areas to provide extra grip. For a budget gaming Android handheld, the physical layout is practical and easy to understand.

The overall size of the Air X is good, not too bulky and is comfortable to hold in your hands. It's also very light and easy to carry in a bag or jacket pocket.

MANGMI AIR X technical specifications

The MANGMI AIR X features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, also known as the SM6115. It has four cores running up to 2.1GHz, paired with the Adreno 610 GPU running up to 1050MHz.

There is 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. You can expand the storage with a Micro SD card, which is important if you plan to keep larger Android games, media or emulation libraries on the device.

For wireless communication there is Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0. That gives the AIR X enough connectivity for downloads, Bluetooth controllers, headphones and game streaming.

Battery life tests

Powering the AIR X is a 5,000mAh battery with support for up to 15W charging. In our battery test, running AnTuTu on a loop with full screen brightness, max fan and the performance profile, we got around 4 hours and 30 minutes of battery life.

That is a strong result for this class of Android gaming console. Average usage should be higher, with around 9 hours possible depending on brightness, game demand, fan mode and wireless use.

Fan noise and temperature tests

In our fan noise tests, we measured around 40dB on the quiet fan setting and around 50dB on the extreme setting. The balanced fan setting is fine for most usage, giving a good mix of cooling and noise control.

Temperatures were also good. We saw a high of around 51°C on the display and a lower average of around 45°C elsewhere, which is very cool for a small active-cooled Android gaming device.

Key Technical Specifications

Feature	MANGMI AIR X
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SM6115
GPU	Adreno 610, up to 1050MHz
RAM	4GB LPDDR4x
Storage	64GB eMMC
Expandable storage	Micro SD card support
Display	5.5-inch IPS touchscreen
Resolution	1920×1080
Refresh rate	60Hz
Brightness	400 nits
Colour coverage	100% sRGB
Operating system	Android 14
Battery	5,000mAh
Charging	Up to 15W
Wireless	Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
Weight	Around 286g

System benchmarks

For this MANGMI AIR X review, we compared the handheld with similar specification devices and the more powerful MANGMI Pocket MAX. The AIR X is not trying to be the fastest Android handheld in the category, but the results show where it fits.

Antutu

MODEL	SCORE
Anbernic ARC-D	113,718
AYANEO Pocket Micro	412,213
AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic	412,198
MANGMI AIR X	256,886
MANGMI Pocket Max	1,049,921

In AnTuTu, the MANGMI AIR X scores 256,886, placing it above the Anbernic ARC-D by around 126%. It sits behind the AYANEO Pocket Micro models, which are about 60% faster, while the MANGMI Pocket MAX remains in a much higher performance class.

Geekbench 5

Model	Geekbench 5 Single Core	Geekbench 5 Multi Core
Anbernic ARC-D	154	461
AYANEO Pocket Micro	543	1,784
AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic	545	1,787
MANGMI AIR X	315	1,236

In Geekbench 5, the MANGMI AIR X scores 315 single-core and 1,236 multi-core. That puts it well ahead of the Anbernic ARC-D, especially in multi-core, while sitting around 42% behind the AYANEO Pocket Micro models in single-core and about 31% behind in multi-core.

Geekbench 6

Model	Geekbench 6 Single Core	Geekbench 6 Multi Core
AYANEO Pocket Micro	721	2,017
AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic	724	2,031
MANGMI AIR X	340	1,119
MANGMI Pocket Max	1,205	3,388

In Geekbench 6, the MANGMI AIR X scores 340 single-core and 1,119 multi-core. It trails the AYANEO Pocket Micro models by around 53% in single-core and 45% in multi-core, while the MANGMI Pocket MAX sits far ahead as the higher-performance option.

3DMARK

Model	Sling Shot	Wild Life Extreme
Anbernic ARC-D	865	0
AYANEO Pocket Micro	3,574	347
AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic	3,601	347
MANGMI AIR X	1,980	115
MANGMI Pocket Max	9,999	1,225

In 3DMark, the MANGMI AIR X scores 1,980 in Slingshot and 115 in Wild Life Extreme. That is over double the Anbernic ARC-D in Slingshot, but it sits around 45% behind the AYANEO Pocket Micro models, with a larger gap in the more demanding Wild Life Extreme test.

The benchmark section of this MANGMI AIR X review shows a clear pattern. The AIR X is a decent budget Android gaming device, but it is not aimed at buyers who need premium performance for demanding 3D Android games or high-end emulation.

MANGMI AIR X software overview

The MANGMI AIR X runs Android 14, which is good to see on a budget Android handheld. By default, it uses a standard Android home screen with extra pages if you have many apps installed.

You also have the option of MANGMI’s own game launcher. As we mentioned in our MANGMI Pocket MAX review, it is functional, but there are still some issues with games not being recognised or ending up in the wrong category. MANGMI is working on the launcher and providing software updates. For now, it is usable, but some users may still prefer a different Android frontend depending on how they organise their games.

In the settings, there is a handheld settings menu where you can configure joystick settings, LED settings, power saving, system updates and software updates. This gives the AIR X a more console-like feel than a standard Android phone.

Holding the Home button for a second or two brings up the overlay. From here, you can quickly access the performance overlay, performance modes, fan speed, controller settings, screenshots, screen recording and more.

For a budget gaming Android handheld, this extra overlay is useful. It means you can make quick changes without leaving the game or digging through Android menus.

Android gaming performance

Android gaming performance is best suited to light and mid-range games. In this MANGMI AIR X review, we had no issues with our usual mid-performance games such as Metal Slug, and lighter titles run well.

More demanding Android games can show slowdowns, which is expected from the Snapdragon 662. Anything up to less demanding first-person shooters should generally be fine, but heavier titles will need realistic expectations.

The built-in screen mapping software works well enough, although it is basic compared with some rival systems. Profiles can be downloaded online if they have been shared, and mapping virtual buttons to the physical controls is quick.

That makes the AIR X useful as an Android gaming console for games that do not support physical controls natively. It also helps the device feel more flexible than a phone with a separate controller attached. As an Android gaming device, the AIR X is strongest when paired with games that match the hardware. It is best for 2D games, retro-inspired Android titles, cloud gaming, streaming and lighter 3D games.

Emulation performance

While the MANGMI AIR X is not the fastest Android emulator handheld, it is still useful for retro gaming. In this MANGMI AIR X review, we were able to run everything up to the PlayStation 1 era with no issues at all.

That makes it a solid choice for users who mainly want classic home console, arcade and early 3D gaming. For a compact Android gaming console, that level of emulation performance is a good match for the price point. Lets see where we stand with more demanding emulators.

NetherSX2

We got very mixed results with PS2 emulation. It depends on the emulator version, GPU drivers and settings used. With NetherSX2, Gran Turismo ran below 60 FPS in our test. Some lighter PS2 games may be playable with settings changes, but PS2 is not the main strength of this gaming Android handheld.

Azahar

The 3D dual-screen emulator Azahar performed better. Many games ran at good speeds, though more demanding titles can slow down during shader caching on first play. After shaders have cached, performance can improve. Overall, Azahar runs well enough to be a useful extra on the MANGMI AIR X, provided you accept that not every game will be perfect.

Vita3K

Vita3K performance was mixed. Lower-demanding games reached full frame rates, while more demanding games could show shader caching issues and may not reach full speed even after first play. Lowering the resolution and adjusting settings can help. Still, Vita emulation should be treated as a bonus rather than a guaranteed reason to buy the AIR X.

Overall, the emulation section of this MANGMI AIR X review is simple. You can expect strong results up to the PlayStation 1 era, while newer systems vary by title and settings.

Our verdict - is the MANGMI AIR X worth buying?

Short answer: The MANGMI AIR X is worth considering if you want a budget Android handheld for retro emulation, light to medium Android games, cloud gaming and portable everyday play.

Best for: Buyers who want a compact and affordable Android gaming console with a sharp screen, Android 14, built-in controls and solid PS1-era emulation.

Not ideal for: Users who want high-end Android gaming, consistent PS2 emulation, demanding Vita emulation or premium benchmark performance.

Current status: Budget Android gaming handheld with good portability, modern Android software and realistic entry-level performance.

Rating: 8/10 - based on supplied DROIX hands-on testing and benchmark results.

Final thoughts

The MANGMI AIR X is a decent budget-range Android handheld that offers a good mix of portability, display quality, battery life and everyday gaming performance. It is not designed to challenge the fastest Android handhelds, but it does not need to.

For buyers looking for a lower-cost Android gaming device, the AIR X covers the basics well. It handles lighter Android games, supports key mapping, offers a sharp 1080p display and provides reliable emulation up to the PlayStation 1 era.

This MANGMI AIR X review also shows where the limits are. More demanding Android games and newer emulators can vary, so this is best for users who understand the budget positioning. Alternatively, check out the MANGMI Pocket MAX if you want a more powerful handheld.

If you want a compact gaming Android handheld for retro titles, casual Android gaming and travel-friendly play, the AIR X is worth a look. You can learn more about handhelds in the Android Gaming Handheld category, and buy the MANGMI AIR X from DROIX.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the MANGMI AIR X good for Android gaming?

The MANGMI AIR X is good for lighter and mid-range Android gaming, but it is not aimed at the most demanding Android titles. In our testing, games such as Metal Slug ran well, while heavier games could show slowdown.

Is the MANGMI AIR X good for emulation?

The MANGMI AIR X is good for emulation up to the PlayStation 1 era, with newer systems giving mixed results. PS2, 3DS and Vita performance depends heavily on the game, emulator, drivers and settings.

Does the MANGMI AIR X have a good screen?

The MANGMI AIR X has a sharp 5.5-inch IPS touchscreen with a 1920×1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, 400 nits brightness and 100% sRGB coverage. It is one of the stronger features of the device.

Is the MANGMI AIR X portable?

The MANGMI AIR X is very portable thanks to its compact body and roughly 286g weight. It is light enough to carry in a bag or jacket pocket, making it useful for travel and commuting.

Should I buy the MANGMI AIR X or a more powerful Android handheld?

You should buy the MANGMI AIR X if you want a lower-cost Android gaming handheld for retro gaming, lighter Android games and portability. If you want stronger PS2, Vita or demanding 3D Android performance, a more powerful handheld like the MANGMI Pocket MAX will be a better fit.