Everything about the new MOONDROP MIAD 01 5G smartphone is retro. In an age when smartphone makers seem determined to get rid of every port, jack, and cutout, the MIAD 01 is built for the exact opposite purpose.

The MIAD 01, featured on Liliputing, is an interesting phone made for audiophiles. This $399 device is now available worldwide after being launched in China this week.

For one thing, this sound-focused phone has not one but two headphone jacks: a 4.4mm fully balanced jack and a more "standard" 3.5mm unbalanced headphone jack. The 4.4mm jack outputs 4 VRM and the 3.5mm outputs 2 VRM. Basically this means that one can use both studio-quality cans and regular headphones with this device.

In addition, the handset features a Cirrus Logic master HiFi DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and six layers of gold-sync audio circuitry with independent LDO power supplies. According to Moondrop, the handset offers a dynamic range of up to 132 dB and a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 117 dB.

Founded in 2015, Moondrop is a Chinese company focused on HiFi audio products, including amplifiers for headphones, earphones, and headphones used with computers. [MIAD 01 is the company's first smartphone and occupies an odd space beyond audiophile features. The $399 list price is cheaper than mid-range smartphones like the Google Pixel 7a and Samsung Galaxy A54. Features other than the audio component are a mix of high-end and inexpensive.

Design-wise, the phone looks like it fits nicely next to the original Game Boy, with its textured surfaces, orange buttons and Nostromo-esque logo, it feels like something blown from the past.

The phone features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. The processor is a MediaTek Dimensity 7050; MediaTek's chips have mixed reviews, so they are hit or miss, but they are used in many smartphones for China.

As for storage, the device has 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory. The battery is 5,000 mAh and seems pretty decent. By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has 5,000 mAh and has been used in the last two Ultra phones.

However, there are reductions to achieve the $399 price point. The device has a 64 MP main camera and a 32 MP front-facing camera. The company seems to know that the camera is not top of the line, but the phone is built around audio capabilities.

Another reduction is the operating system: the MIAD 01 comes with Android 13, which is at least two years old at this point and it is unclear if it will be supported in the future.

At the same time, it does not have Google Mobile Services. This means that the Google Play Store, Gmail, Google Maps, and Chrome are not included. While this may be a selling point for some, for others it requires sideloading these apps.