TL;DR MANGMI has showcased modular magnetic buttons on the upcoming Pocket Max, with footage demonstrating the removable button modules.
Similar modular control ideas have appeared on Windows handhelds like the AYANEO 3, but this would be the first time the concept lands on Android.
The Pocket Max is shaping up to be a large, budget-friendly handheld, featuring a 7-inch 144Hz OLED display and a Snapdragon 865 processor.
MANGMI continues to drip-feed details about its upcoming Pocket Max, and the latest teaser hints at a feature we haven’t seen before on an Android gaming handheld: modular magnetic buttons.
What do you look for more than anything else in an Android gaming handheld? 162 votes The right aspect ratio 19 % A nice OLED screen 16 % A powerful processor 28 % Perfect ergonomics 10 % Long battery life 9 % Software and ease of use 17 % Other 2 %
In an X post shared a few days ago, the company describes the Pocket Max as “the first modular magnetic button Android handheld,” framing the idea around swappable controls that can be removed and reattached depending on preference. The teaser image shows the D-pad and ABXY islands removed, while a short video on MANGMI’s YouTube account shows a four-button module being lifted out of the device and snapped back into place. You can see that video at the top of this article.
The concept isn’t entirely new. Windows-based handhelds, such as the AYANEO 3, have already experimented with modular controls, allowing players to swap sticks, D-pads, and touchpads. But if MANGMI’s claims hold up, the Pocket Max would be the first Android handheld to offer this kind of physical button modularity.
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Alongside the modular tease, MANGMI has also been polling followers on its X account on button and D-pad color combinations, showing off white, black, and orange-accented styles. It’s unclear whether the vote will influence final production or simply gauge interest, but it reinforces the company’s focus on personalization as a core part of the Pocket Max’s identity.
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