Onion (OnionUI) is a feature-rich OS overhaul for Miyoo Mini and Miyoo Mini+; MinUI is a focused launcher and libretro frontend that deliberately removes themes, boxart, and settings noise. Pick Onion when you want GameSwitcher, themes, ports, search, and activity tracking. Pick MinUI when you want the shortest path from power-on to a game and automatic resume. Neither is “official Miyoo,” and neither wins every job.
We do not reproduce flash recipes here. Use each project’s own install docs after you confirm device and firmware prerequisites.
Source: Pexels
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Conclusion
Match the firmware to how you actually play, then follow only the official install paths in Sources. Onion maximizes what a Miyoo Mini / Mini+ can feel like as a customizable OS. MinUI maximizes getting into a game and returning to it.
Good fit
Onion — good fit
- You want documented extras: GameSwitcher, Ports Collection, themes, RetroArch custom build, activity tracker, global search (Onion home).
- You can meet firmware floors: Miyoo Mini generally needs firmware ≥
20220419****for Onion v3.10+; Miyoo Mini+ needs ≥20230505****, and Onion v4.2+ for Mini+ hardware (Installation).
MinUI — good fit
- You want “no settings or configuration,” no boxart/themes, and auto-resume after sleep/power-off (MinUI README).
- Your device is listed: Miyoo Mini and Miyoo Mini Plus appear on MinUI’s supported-device table (MinUI README).
Poor fit
Onion — poor fit
- You refuse any frontend complexity (themes, package manager, multiple folders on the card).
- Your Mini+ firmware is older than
20230505****and you are not willing to follow Onion’s firmware upgrade path first (Installation).
MinUI — poor fit
- You need Onion-style Ports Collection, theme marketplace, or built-in activity tracking (those are Onion product features, not MinUI’s stated design).
- You require an “Active” device track for Miyoo Mini / Mini+: MinUI currently labels both Legacy (will be retired in a future update) (MinUI README).
What each project is
Onion
Onion describes itself as an “OS overhaul for Miyoo Mini and Mini+,” highlighting GameSwitcher, Ports Collection, themes, a custom RetroArch build, activity tracker, and search (onionui.github.io).
Onion’s install docs draw a clear line: device firmware lives on the handheld; Onion is a frontend that lives on the SD card (Installation). That split matters when readers confuse “update Onion” with “update Miyoo firmware.”
MinUI
MinUI calls itself “a focused, custom launcher and libretro frontend for a variety of retro handhelds,” with explicit features: simple launcher and SD layout; no settings/configuration; no boxart/themes; sleep/auto power-off; auto-resume if powered off in-game; resume last save state from the launcher with X instead of A (MinUI README).
MinUI’s packaged README (BASE) also documents Miyoo Mini vs Mini+ install folders (miyoo vs miyoo354) and quicksave/auto-resume behavior (BASE README.txt).
Evidence
| Topic | Onion (docs) | MinUI (docs) |
|---|---|---|
| Target devices (this article) | Miyoo Mini and Mini+ (home, install) | Miyoo Mini and Miyoo Mini Plus listed (README devices) |
| Stated product pitch | Feature overhaul: GameSwitcher, ports, themes, search, tracker (home) | Focused launcher; no settings/boxart/themes; auto-resume (README) |
| Firmware prerequisite | MM: ≥ 20220419**** (v3.10+); MMP: ≥ 20230505****; MMP needs Onion v4.2+ (install) | Follow release package README for the device (releases, BASE README) |
| SD / filesystem notes | Fresh install: format FAT32 not exFAT; warns included Miyoo card is slow—prefer reputable brands (fresh install) | Emphasizes simple SD card; one card can serve multiple supported devices (README) |
| Update / migrate warnings | Upgrade can keep roms/saves/configs; some save states may break—create in-game saves first; MMP can OTA Update (update) | Auto quicksave on power-off/sleep; next boot resumes (README, BASE README) |
| Support status signal | Active project site + versioned releases (home) | Miyoo Mini / Mini Plus marked Legacy on the device table (README) |
How to choose
Handheld Notes opinion: if you enjoy customizing the device as a hobby, Onion’s documented feature set matches that hobby. If you treat the handheld like a book you open mid-page, MinUI’s resume-first design matches that habit.
Handheld Notes opinion: Mini vs Mini+ mainly changes which Onion firmware floor and Onion version you must meet (install). For MinUI, both Mini and Mini+ are listed devices with different folder names in the package README (miyoo vs miyoo354) (BASE README).
Source: Pexels
Risks
- Firmware first (Onion) — Installing Onion without the required Miyoo firmware version is a documented failure mode. Onion publishes version tables and a brick-risk note for firmware upgrades (Installation).
- Bad SD cards — Onion’s fresh-install guide states the included Miyoo card is known to be slow and can ruin experience/data; it recommends reputable brands and FAT32 (fresh install).
- Save-state breakage on Onion upgrades — Onion’s upgrade page warns that for some systems, save states won’t always work after upgrading; create in-game saves first (update).
- Legacy track (MinUI) — Choosing MinUI on Miyoo Mini / Mini+ today means accepting a Legacy status label in the project’s own table (README). Handheld Notes opinion: that is not “abandonware today,” but it is a signal to read release notes before expecting Mini-specific improvements forever.
- Wrong mental model — Onion is not “just a theme,” and MinUI is not “Onion with themes removed.” They publish different scopes (Onion home vs MinUI README).
Bottom line
Onion maximizes what a Miyoo Mini / Mini+ can feel like as a customizable OS. MinUI maximizes getting into a game and returning to it. Match the firmware to how you actually play—then follow only the official install paths linked below.
Sources
- Onion — Home / feature overview
- Onion — Installation (firmware floors, MMP ≥ 20230505****, Onion v4.2+ for Mini+)
- Onion — Fresh install (FAT32, SD quality warning)
- Onion — Upgrading (save-state warning, MMP OTA)
- MinUI — README (features, supported devices, Legacy status)
- MinUI — BASE README.txt (Miyoo folders, quicksave/auto-resume)
- MinUI — Releases