BOYHOM M17 Portable Video Game Console Handheld retro emulator with a 4.3" IPS display
Overview
I have a soft spot for handheld consoles that run older, classic games, so when the BOYHOM M17 came across my radar, it immediately caught my attention.
It is priced right in the middle: not exactly cheap, but nowhere near expensive either, which made me curious whether it could actually deliver something worthwhile at that price point.
I recently reviewed the X6, another budget handheld that looked attractive on paper but ended up feeling a bit too plasticky and cheap in hand. That experience left me wondering whether the M17 might offer something a little more solid and better built, so I decided to find out for myself.
Product details
The BOYHOM M17 is a portable handheld console. This appears to be a generic product sold under a variety of brand names, so the same hardware may turn up listed under other labels as well.
The console features a 4.3" IPS display with a resolution of 480x272. It runs on a quad-core Cortex-A7 processor clocked up to 1.2GHz, backed by 2GB of system memory, which according to the manufacturer helps avoid frame drops during gameplay.
According to the listing, it comes preloaded with around 19,000 games, with marketing materials citing "over 20,000." It supports multiple emulators, up to 25 kinds according to specifications, covering systems such as GBA, PSP, PS1, N64, and SFC. Built-in storage sits at 64GB, with support for a TF card of up to 128GB for further expansion.
Power comes from a built-in rechargeable battery rated at 1,500mAh, which the manufacturer lists as providing around 3 hours of continuous gaming on a roughly 1-hour charge, drawn through a 5V/2A power supply. The unit runs on LINUX / EmuELEC 4.3 and includes a microphone port, a headphone jack, a TF card slot, and two built-in speakers.
Specifications
Display & Performance
| Screen & Processor | |
| Display Size | 4.3" |
| Screen Resolution | 480x272 |
| Display Type | IPS |
| CPU | Quad-Core Cortex-A7 Up to 1.2GHz |
Memory & Storage
| RAM & Game Library | |
| System Memory | 2GB |
| Storage Capacity | 64GB |
| Storage Expansion | Maximum support 128GB Excluding the TF card |
| Games Included | 19,000 |
| Emulators | Support up to 25 kinds of classic simulators GBA / PSP / PS1 / N64 / SFC and more |
Battery & Power
| Charging & Runtime | |
| Battery Type | Built-in rechargeable battery Unclear if Li-ion or Li-Po |
| Battery Capacity | 1,500mAh |
| Power Supply | 5V / 2A |
| Charging Time | 1 hour |
| Battery Life | 3 hours |
System & Connectivity
| Software & Ports | |
| Operating System | LINUX / EmuELEC 4.3 |
| Languages | English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and 30 Other Languages |
| Ports, Connections & Interfaces | Microphone Port x1 Headphone Jack x1, TF Card Slot x1, Speakers x2 |
Hardware & Packaging
| Weight & Dimensions | |
| Weight | 320g 11.8 ounces / 0.74 pounds |
| Dimensions | 17 x 8 x 3cm 7"L x 0.6"W x 3.2"H |
Inside the box
Pros
Solid Build Quality Feels noticeably more solid than simpler consoles I have reviewed before, such as the X6.Still not on the level of a PSP, Game Boy, or Game Gear, but far from bad.
Decent Screen The display holds up well, both in terms of size and overall quality.
Clean Menu Interface The game menu itself is easy to navigate and well organized.This comes from the EmuELEC software rather than the hardware, so like the game library, it may differ between sellers or be updated over time.
Strong Game Selection Comes with games I have not seen included on other handhelds I have ordered so far, including Street Fighter 3 (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Impact).This is tied to the SD card and software bundle rather than the device itself, so it may vary between sellers or change over time.
Cons
Basic Speakers The built-in speakers are decent, not bad, but fairly basic. For better sound quality, it is worth connecting headphones through the included headphone jack, or routing audio out another way.
Struggles With Certain Games Some games are difficult to load or run smoothly, for example a tanks title originally made for the 3DO. It is unclear whether this comes down to the game itself being demanding by the device's standards, or an issue with the emulator.
Short Battery Life Rated for around 3 hours of continuous play, which is on the low side. It has not been an issue for shorter sessions, but it is worth keeping in mind for longer gaming stretches.
No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth There is no wireless connectivity of any kind, so there is no way to mirror or output gameplay to a bigger screen wirelessly.
Overall Verdict
I'm looking at this device from the perspective of someone who wants something that just works from the moment they turn it on, and on that front the M17 does a good job, it's a pretty solid device overall. The build quality is good, and it feels fairly comfortable to hold and use. Not perfect, but comfortable.
The game selection and the menu are things I liked, but here I want to be upfront that they are subjective and depend heavily on which seller and version you end up buying. My assumption is that most casual buyers don't want to deal with sorting through that themselves, they just want something that works well out of the box. If you know your way around these devices, you can obviously work around a weaker bundle or interface, but not everyone wants to.
On the objective side, the battery only lasts around 3 hours, and there's no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so there's no way to stream or output gameplay wirelessly. Together, these push the M17 toward shorter play sessions rather than settling in for hours at a time. If you're looking at it for quick sessions here and there, it delivers on that in my experience.
Where it gets trickier is the price. At full price, it sits in a range that's noticeably more expensive than the simpler consoles out there, while creeping close to the territory of handhelds around the $100 mark that may well be more impressive overall. That gap is the real reason to wait for a sale here, not just a generic "always buy on sale" rule, at full price you're competing with better options, at a discount you're not.
A likable handheld with a strong game selection, solid build, and a clean menu, best suited for shorter play sessions rather than marathon gaming, and worth grabbing on sale rather than at full price.
Where to buy
Below are the links to purchase the BOYHOM M17 Portable Video Game Console:
Photos
User Manual
BOYHOM M17 Portable Video Game Console User Manual
User manual (PDF)
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