Anbernic RG35XX Pro Retro Handheld Game Console

Love it ;)

Great deal, nice and portable and plays psp games like a breeze :)

Top pick for vertical retro game handheld

UPDATE:

My husband loves it! He didn’t even know such handhelds existed. I let him choose between the MM+ and RG35XX Pro. He chose the Anbernic, and I don’t blame him. Makes a great gift!

Tip: Download Knulli OS for a more enjoyable gaming experience. It’s fairly easy to do, and it really improves the overall usability of the handheld. Check out Retro Game Corps for the -XX series starter guide.

Additional info:

This comes with a blue KIOXIA micro SD instead of one of those generic, black cards. Meaning, you don’t necessarily need to replace it right away; it’s fairly reliable. The KIOXIA cards are made in Taiwan by a Toshiba-owned company.

Also, although I really like the size and functionality of the MM+ I have experienced some QA issues with different units, and the quality seems a bit unreliable. Therefore, I highly suggest considering an Anbernic XX series handheld, or even a TrimUI Brick device, if the size, OS, and price are not absolute dealbreakers for you.

ORIGINAL:

Recently purchased a Miyoo Mini Plus as a Christmas gift, but I bought this to compare before committing. With tax I paid about $57 for the MM+ and $70 for the RG35XX Pro. Me oh my. The difference is pretty much night and day at first glance. This unit is larger, more closely resembling the original Game Boy Color if that’s the vibe you’re going for. It also has two analog sticks, which are definitely beneficial for some games. It has WiFi, BT, and HDMI capabilities; the MM+ only has WiFi, no BT or HDMI, no analog sticks, and is on the smaller side, making it a more pocketable device for on-the-go gaming, but it may not be as comfortable for longer play. Both devices function well enough up to PS1. The RG35XX Pro’s screen appears more crisp, with a slightly more modern-looking UI, but you can adjust the MM+ screen and theme to your liking. I think the MM+ may be the only vertical handheld under $100 which has this feature, but don’t quote me on that. The buttons and overall refined look and feel of the RG35XX Pro make it seem like the obvious choice, but I’m intrigued by the MM+’s OnionOS, pocketable size, and dedicated support/community. I’ve done quite a bit of research on vertical retro handhelds. The MM+ is one of the most recommended retro handhelds under $100 by many online, but the RG35XX Pro is kinda stealing the show imo. This is going to be a tough decision. I will probably gift the RG35XX Pro since it looks and feels like a better-quality handheld, but I can’t bring myself to return the MM+ considering how highly recommended it is and knowing how much potential it has. It appears to be a tried and true option. Maybe I’ll just keep it for myself. Darn. 😎

Side note: At $57, the MM+ came with a case. This device does not. A case would have been nice. With that said, I think the RG35XX Pro is certainly still worth the extra $13 for its additional capabilities. Don’t hesitate. You can always buy a case separately if you wish. I have attached a photo of the RG35XX Pro and Miyoo Mini Plus for comparison.

Customer

October 11, 2025

Good solid choice, but not the best

CPU:

The Anbernic RG35XX has an RK3326 CPU which will emulate anything up to PS1 with ease, but struggles heavily beyond that.

Physical layout:

Putting it next to an original Gameboy DMG-01, it's is quite a bit smaller, though the screen is noticeably larger.

On the top there's a Type-C port for charging and OTG, mini HDMI for video out, and a 3.5mm jack for audio.

I really wish the 3.5mm was on the bottom where it would be out of the way. As it is like this, the cable just ends up getting tangled in your hands.

On the bottom where it looks like a hole with nothing in it, it's actually a hidden mono speaker.

On the right side there's a secondary microSD slot for extra storage, along with the power switch and reset switch.

On the left side is the primary microSD for storing the OS files and games, as well as the volume buttons.

The included storage card is an unbranded 64GB microSD preloaded with a ton of content out of the box already.

Now, the volume buttons I really don't like because it depends on software control of the volume.

If you press them quickly to lower volume, they lag, and every press only adjusts the volume by 1%, so to go from 0% to 100% requires 100 presses of the volume button. If you press and hold it, it lags a lot and will keep going long after you let go of the button, shooting past your desired volume. Also because of the software volume control, when you wake the system from sleep with the power button, you get blasted by the volume at 100% for 1/2 a second before the software remembers you had the volume set at a lower setting.

The original DMG had this figured out 35 years ago with a simple analog dial that is far faster and more accurate than these crappy digital controls.

Buttons:

And lastly, on the back are the curved shoulder buttons.

You may have read a lot online about how much quieter these shoulder buttons are compared to all the other retro handhelds on the market, but the reality is they're still substantially louder than buttons found on original game consoles by Nintendo and Sony.

These shoulder buttons are much louder than the ones on the DS Lite, which are much louder than the ones on the Vita, which are much louder than the ones on the 3DS XL (those are near silent).

But at the very least, they're not as loud as the really cheap retro handhelds out there.

The front face buttons are also quite stiff and uncomfortable. Again, much better than other retro handhelds on the market, but still a far cry from the likes of Nintendo and Sony.

When playing simple side scrolling games, the D-pad can get very tiring to use and wearing on your thumb when holding down the button in one direction.

Another method I use for testing D-pads is how well it can pull off a shoryuken in SF games, and this one fails quite miserably at it. It was completely impossible to pull off even after dozens of attempts.

Its saving grace is the Switch-style analog sticks which work very well and were able to do shoryukens quite easily.

It would've been so easy to just use less stiff rubber for the face buttons, so it's disappointing they're so stiff.

Same with the shoulder buttons that could be using better quieter switches.

Neither would've made any price difference for the manufacturer.

Wifi:

The system has wifi built in which is pretty much mandatory considering it has only one USB port which is needed for charging. Other ones by Anbernic without wifi need a dongle and since there's only a single USB port, you can't charge those and use wifi at the same time, and wifi just happens to be a huge drain on battery life.

Considering a complete Realtek wifi module costs less than a value fries at fast food places, it could've easily been included and the price passed on to customers without any complaints, and would've reduced a ton of hassle trying to find a compatible wifi adapter.

Connectivity:

USB ports also cost mere pennies, so it's pretty disappointing a second one wasn't included for use of a 3rd party controller while charging with video out to use this like a full console.

Battery life:

Battery life is decent but not amazing. Was able to get in a few hours of Leaf Green before it crapped out. Unfortunately that's much much less than what I'm able to get on my phone with PizzaBoy.

The battery is also internal and sealed inside. Would've preferred an easily user changeable 18650 battery compartment so I could easily replace the junk battery with some quality Sanyo or Panasonic INR / ICR 18650s. The system is even fastened with hex screws which make for even more annoying servicing, and the screw holes are deeply recessed and require special long hex tips to remove the screws.

One potential fix for the battery issue is you could open up the device and solder in leads to a battery bank which you can just affix to the back of the unit. Then you would be able to charge the battery directly through the battery bank's charge port and leave the USB port open for other things. This will be extremely ugly looking though.

Closing thoughts:

Overall it's not a bad device for its price, but could be much better, and will require quite a bit of effort on the user to get it to a good stable state. Could be improved if they included Pan4Elec or ArkOS out of the box. Unfortunately, the 100% volume bug seems to be a hardware sleep issue and exists no matter which OS you use. Again, an analog volume dial or slider would've been superior.

TL;DR:

-1 star for stiff loud uncomfortable buttons, volume issues, only 1 USB port, and battery issues.

Unfortunately the hardware can't really be easily fixed except maybe the face buttons if you can find appropriately sized replacement membranes.

Luis Ferrer

September 29, 2025

Love it

Love it. But I had to change the OS and spend some time setting this thing. But it's really a good system. It's comfortable but a little thick. For the price is very good. I only play retro games on it. DS is still manageable, but 64 and beyond it starts struggling a little bit. I usually use it for GBA, SNES, NES and PS1 so far very good. It's comfortable and the screen is better than expected. I bought this to replace my boring phone games and it worked. This form factor is so good.

Retro Gaming Heaven in Your Pocket

This RG35XX Pro handheld is great for retro gaming fans like myself! Right out of the box, it comes preloaded with over 4,300 classic games and supports 30+ emulators, covering everything from NES and SNES to PS1 and more. The transparent teal shell looks awesome and sleek, and the build quality feels sturdy yet lightweight. The screen is bright and clear, controls are super responsive, and features like WiFi, Bluetooth, and HD output take this handheld to the next level. Battery life is also relatively standard. It is perfect for gaming on the go or plugging into the TV for a nostalgic arcade night. An incredible value and a total blast to play!

Customer

August 26, 2025

Fun Idea, Frustrating in Practice

I was excited about this handheld retro console since it comes preloaded with thousands of games and supports a ton of emulators, but it’s been more frustrating than fun. The biggest issue is that it freezes a lot—sometimes in the middle of a game, other times just trying to navigate menus. It really kills the experience when you have to keep restarting.

Charging is another headache. Even though it’s supposed to use USB-C, it doesn’t work with all chargers. I had to test a few before finding one that actually charged it properly, which makes it less convenient for travel.

The design itself is compact and the screen looks decent when it works. It also has WiFi, Bluetooth, and HD output, which sound great on paper, but the overall reliability just isn’t there.

✅ Huge library of preloaded games

✅ Compact, portable design

✅ Nice screen with decent clarity

❌ Freezes often, makes gameplay frustrating

❌ Doesn’t charge with all USB-C chargers

❌ Reliability feels inconsistent

Overall, the idea is awesome, but the execution makes it hard to recommend. If it were more stable and charged reliably, it would be a fantastic retro handheld.

Authentic Anbernic gear

I've been using the Anbernic RG35XX Pro for retro gaming, and it's an impressive handheld for the price point. The All-Winner H700 chipset handles PS1 games beautifully, and even manages some N64 and Dreamcast titles surprisingly well. The 3.5-inch 4:3 screen is perfect for classic games, and adding dual analog sticks really opens up gameplay possibilities compared to the basic RG35XX models. The 3200mAh battery delivers solid 6-hour gaming sessions, and having Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and HDMI out adds modern connectivity. The custom firmware options like Newly and Mu OS really transform the experience, fixing issues and adding features like Portmaster for PC game ports.

Pros:

• Excellent gaming performance for PS1 and below with decent N64/Dreamcast capability at an unbeatable $40-50 price point

• Dual analog sticks and comfortable angled shoulder buttons provide superior control compared to basic XX series models

• Strong modding community with custom firmware options that significantly improve functionality and add new system support

Cons:

• Charging compatibility issues with fast charging cables create unnecessary frustration and limit charging options

• Down-firing speaker placement results in muffled audio quality that's easily blocked during handheld play

• Protruding analog sticks reduce pocketability and could be vulnerable to damage during transport in tight spaces

Shelli

July 10, 2025

Good for any age & has something for everyone.

We have several of these hand held retro game devices and this one is a favorite! It has tons of cool games on it that we all like to play. There is literally something for everyone. Even mom! (Me). A lot of it is self explanatory and a lot of the games tell you which buttons do what making this really easy to navigate unlike some other similar devices.

It is easy to hold, very lightweight and the screen is a great size. The sound is clear and the graphics are good.

This one would make a great gift for anyone who likes video games. It would be a great gift for kids, teens, adults or even an older person who like video games. My kids, grandkids and my husband love this device.

I couldn’t find anywhere where it gave a list of games that are on it so I tried my best to make a video showing some of the games on it. There are too many games to show so I showed as much as I could in the short amount of time that I had. Hopefully it helps someone.

Anyhow compared to other devices like this, this one is the one that I would get to give as a gift. My family loves it and I would totally recommend it.

3:05

Gaming Nostalgia in One Device

If you loved the games back from the 80s to the 90s, then you'd love this device. I didn't know when I first ordered this gaming device that it came preloaded with over a hundred of ACTUAL games from the 80s and 90s. When booting up, you can select games from a category based on consoles such as PSP, Altari, NES, etc. Some games like Resident Evil, California Games, Bubble Bobble, JoJo Bizarre Adventure, and Ninja Turtles are going to be my most played. Although I will probably only play about 5% of the preloaded games, there are ways to download games from other sources (so I've read).

As for the device itself, it is a really good quality. It has that Gameboy Color aesthetic to it. The screen is clear and feels thick. The buttons are responsive, although, I wish the sticks were bigger. Running games and loading times are a bit slow compared to today's standard; but still faster than having to load games back then. Battery life is pretty good. I was able to run Resident Evil for a good hour or so without having to recharge. Unfortunately there's no way to play mulitplayer, so it's only good for the solo player. For the price, this is a really good buy, especially for those who appreciate the old-school classics. I highly recommend!

smeltn

July 7, 2025

Fantastic handheld

Absolutely love this handheld. Great improvement to the original RG35xx. Plays games all the way up to DC and PSP easily! Love the included analog sticks now to give you more options. Also the triggers on the back are angled now for more ergonomics and feels so good in the hands! Excellent battery life and easy to install custom firmware on.

Brian M. Gray

July 2, 2025

Very solid beginner device

This is a very solid beginner device. If you've never used a retro gaming handheld before this is a great place to start or to give as a gift. This company makes consistent good quality products. This can play all kinds of retro games up through N64 Nintendo DS and even a bit of Dreamcast. It comes in three nice different colors that I went for the teal color which looks awesome. It has a great build quality and feels great to hold with great buttons and Hardware. This is seriously the best handheld to get for beginners or starters. Yes there are others out there with bigger screens and in different form factors but this is the one you should begin with