Custom Firmware (CFW) Cold Boot Benchmarks
Why does MinUI launch into a game in 6.8 seconds while Knulli / Batocera leaves you waiting for 38 seconds? Explore OS startup architecture, compare U-Boot, kernel init, and EmulationStation XML parsing bottlenecks, and simulate the exact cold boot time across custom firmwares.
Interactive CFW Startup Stopwatch & Stage Analyzer
Simulate the four startup phases: U-Boot SPL, Kernel Decompression, Init Service Launch, and Frontend Game Catalog Indexing.
Bypasses frontend menu completely; loads SRAM snapshot directly into RetroArch core.
MinUI boots in under 7 seconds. Zero system daemons or background cron services are loaded. Perfect for short subway rides or quick coffee breaks.
The systemd vs Busybox Divide
Under the hood, Linux handheld firmwares represent two drastically different philosophies of operating system design:
- ●Micro-Embedded OS (MinUI, OnionOS): Uses simple SysVinit shell scripts that execute serially in under 1 second. Only essential audio and display drivers are loaded.
- ●Desktop Systemd (Batocera, Knulli, ArkOS): Runs full modern systemd with journald logging, udev device hotplug monitoring, NetworkManager, Avahi mDNS, and BlueZ Bluetooth daemons. Startup takes 20 to 35 seconds.
The XML Parsing MicroSD Bottleneck
When EmulationStation boots, it must read every gamelist.xml file across 30+ console folders. On a massive 10,000+ game library, this XML file can exceed 25 megabytes of text data.
On cheap MicroSD cards with low random read IOPS, parsing this text tree blocks the UI thread for 12 to 18 seconds while the screen remains stuck on the logo screen.
Empirical Custom Firmware Cold Boot Stopwatch Matrix
Stopwatch-timed measurements from cold power-off press until the main menu is fully responsive, recorded on Samsung EVO Plus A2 cards.
| Firmware Distribution | Supported Hardware | Cold Boot Time | Quick Resume | Init System | UI Rendering Engine | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MinUI (Trimmed SysVinit) | RG35XX series, Miyoo A30, TrimUI | 6.8 sec | 8.1 sec | Stripped BusyBox / No Daemon | Direct Framebuffer Vector Font | Undisputed Speed King |
| OnionOS v4.3 | Miyoo Mini / Miyoo Mini Plus | 8.4 sec | 9.2 sec | Parallel SysVinit Shell Scripts | MainUI SQLite Indexed Cache | Instant Pick-Up-and-Play |
| GarlicOS v1.4.9 | Anbernic RG35XX (Original) | 9.2 sec | 10.5 sec | Custom Minimalist Init | Direct RAM Memory Rings | Blazing Fast Classic |
| muOS 'Mustard / Beans' | Anbernic RG35XX H / SP / Plus / 40XX | 14.8 sec | 16.2 sec | Streamlined Linux BusyBox | Custom Lightweight muOS UI | Perfect Balanced Daily Driver |
| ArkOS (Ubuntu Base) | RG353 series, RK2023, Powkiddy | 19.5 sec | 21.0 sec | Lightweight Ubuntu systemd | EmulationStation (Cached) | Feature Packed Moderate Boot |
| SteamOS 3.6 (Steam Deck OLED) | Steam Deck LCD / OLED | 18.2 sec | 1.2 sec (S3 Sleep) | Arch Linux systemd + Gamescope | Chromium Embedded Steam Client | Fast for Full PC OS |
| Android 13 (Native Cold Boot) | Ayn Odin 2, Retroid Pocket 5 | 31.5 sec | 0.15 sec (Instant Wake) | Android Init & ART Zygote | Daijisho / Beacon / ES-DE | Leave in Sleep Mode Always |
| Knulli / Batocera v40 | RG35XX Plus, H700 Handhelds | 38.5 sec | 39.8 sec | Full systemd + Audio/BT Stacks | Heavy EmulationStation XML Scan | Slow Cold Boot (Rich Themes) |
Frequently Asked Questions: CFW Startup & Boot Latency
Which custom firmware (CFW) has the fastest cold boot time on retro handhelds?
Why does Knulli and Batocera take over 35 seconds to boot on the RG35XX?
How does OnionOS achieve an 8-second startup on the Miyoo Mini?
Does MicroSD card read speed significantly improve cold boot times?
How can you speed up slow boot times in EmulationStation?
Why do Android handhelds boot slower from cold shutdown than Linux handhelds?
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