TrimUI reveals pricing and availability details for its new vertical handhelds

When TrimUI announced the Brick Pro and Brick Hammer Pro U, it didn't disclose their prices. Now, the prices for the handhelds have been revealed, and while it should be straightforward, it is sort of a mess.

The TrimUI Brick Pro has a presale price of $99.99 according to the info on the TrimUI website. This price applies to all three colors — Black, Grey, and White — but doesn't include a microSD card. As at the time of writing, there's a $10 discount that brings the price down to $89.99, and if you have a coupon, you should be able to get it for even less.

On the TrimUI Store website which is different from the TrimUI website, the pre-order price for the Brick Pro is $89.99 without a microSD card. It goes up to $99.99 when you add a 64GB microSD card, rises to $114.99 with a 128GB card, and maxes out at $134.99 with a 256GB card. The TrimUI Store website also states that pre-orders are limited and that the TrimUI Brick Pro will be shipped after June 30.

On the other hand, the Android-powered TrimUI Brick Hammer Pro U is priced at $199.99 on the TrimUI website but is listed as out of stock/sold out. Surprisingly, the TrimUI Store website has the handheld available for pre-order with a starting price of $284.99 without a microSD card. A 64GB card takes it up to $294.99, a 128GB card increases the price to $324.99, and a 256GB card takes the price up to $344.99.

However, the website says there's an automatic 15% discount when you add the item to your cart, so instead of $284.99, you get to pay $242.25 for the version without a microSD card. The 64GB mciroSD card version drops to $250.75, the 128GB microSD card version falls to $276.25, and the version with a 256GB card costs $293.25 instead of $344.99. Available items for pre-order are said to be limited and orders will begin to ship after July 30.

If you think the price for the TrimUI Brick Hammer Pro U is outrageous, then it actually is. According to Retro Handhelds, the device was originally expected to cost about $150. Some buyers already even pre-ordered via third party retailers at $135.99 while others paid $159.99. However, some early bird buyers have reportedly received emails from retailers asking them to pay a balance and get accessories worth $25 as compensation; settle for the less-expensive TrimUI Brick Pro; or get a full refund.

Another retailer also sent an email which explained that the initial pre-order price was based on internal pricing from when the handheld hadn't entered mass production. Now that the device has entered mass production and the cost is higher, TrimUI had no choice other than to increase the price. It has also mandated official retailers to do the same.

The price of the TrimUI Brick Hammer Pro is sure high, but based on its specs and features, the only other vertical handheld with dual thumbsticks that can challenge it is the Anbernic RG 477V, which costs $249.99 but sells for $289.99 on Amazon.