Specs

It goes without saying, the RG35XX Plus isn't going to rival the likes of the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro anytime soon, and that's fine. This is a $64 device after all. Lower-specced tech is always going to be what powers these types of devices. In fact🎃, it was only a few years ago that every other handheld that came out was lumped with the aging  RK3326 chipset, and to Anbernic's credit, the company hasn't gone with generic tech to power the RG35XX Plus, nor has it copied Miyoo's internals. 

The Miyoo Mini Plus makes use of an ARM Cortex A7 dual-core processor that caps out fairly easily. In the RG35XX Plus, 𒀰Anbernic switched things up and brought in the more powerful H700 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53. Doubling the core count🌃 at a higher clock speed - 1.2Ghz vs the RG35XX's 1.5Ghz - is a minor change that's instantly noticeable for emulation and allows the RG35XX Plus to emulate systems that aren't possible on the Mini Plus.

RAM comes in at 1GB of LPDDR4, and for the systems it's designed to play, is just about enough. If the RG35XX Plus were using Android as the operating system instead of Linux, sure, that wouldn't be eno🧔ugh. But for a fairly barebones version of Linux, it does the job and helps to keep everything feeling snappy.

The 3.5-inch IPS display comes in at a resolution of 640 x 480. It's also OCA laminated to heꦅlp reduce light bleed. That resolution does mean systems that run in 16:9 will be shrunk down to fit the 4:3 ratio, but that's a worthwhile trade-off. Too many companies who plan to sell devices on 4:3 systems (think SNES, Genesis, et al) use a 16:9 ratio screen and fill the void with black bars. It's ugly as sin and thankfully isn't an issue here. Older games fit the screen effortlessly and the brightness beams just enough to hig💞hlight color accurately. 

Design

Retro handhelds ra𒅌rely redesign the wheel. If something works, you can almost guarantee it'll be the standard moving forward and the RG35XX Plus isn't any different. The device takes the Game Boy's vertical design and adds extra buttons in intuitive places for the most part. 

Four face buttons sit on the right side of the front backed up by a d-pad to the left while start and select sit underneath near the base of 🎃the handheld. It's the same layout as the Miyoo Mini Plus, although the Anbernic device opts for thicker buttons that don't lay flat with the console. Start, select, and the menu buttons are all more pronounced, resulting in easier presses. 

On the right side of the console you'll find two SD card slots - one for the main operating system and a second for any extra games - along with a reset and power buttons on the upper section. Flip the device over and the bottom houses the USB-C charging port and 3.5mm headphone jack. Spin it one final time and you'll spot an HDMI out smack bang in the ꦫmiddle of the top.

On the back of the RG35XX Plus is where you'll find the frankly woeful triggers. I'll admit no company has an answer for how to implement triggers on a vertical handheld (put them on the front!), but thanks to the rattly nature of Anbernic's attempt, they feel awkward to press and make too much noise. The problem arises from trying to synthesize triggers into a design they weren't originally created for, and the end result is index fingers that hit two butto🐼ns at once. 

It's a shame as the overall design is solid and despite the smaꦫller form factor, the device feels comfortable to play on. It just means you may need to spend some time remapping triggers to buttons if you're in dire need of t𓃲hem. 

Features

Anbernic always keeps its operating systems as simple as simple can be. Press power, wait a few seconds, and you'll be welcomed by a handful of options including emulators, RetroArch, and settings. Compare it with the stylish Pimax Portal OS and Anbernic's looks drab by comparison. But then we are dealing with Linux on what is a low-spec machine, so keeping it simple - and more importantly, fast - makes sense. And ther𓆏e's likely the option of installing BlackSeraph's GarlicOS down the line if you do want to jazz things up. 

While we're on the subject of replacing the operating system, I need to talk about the sheer pain that is updating the device. The RG35XX Plus does have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, but any updates need to be side-loaded. How does it work? Strap📖 in. First, you'll need to download a specific image that corresponds to your card. I should also note if you're downloading the🎀 64GB image, that includes all the games, which is all kinds of illegal, so it's best to just use your own collection of ROMs.

After that you'll need to install 7Zip, then you'll need to rename all the file parts, then extract them in 7ไZip because WinRAR doesn't work so they form a proper image, and you'll need to f🍰lash the image to the SD card, which loses all your settings and saves and takes an hour to complete. If that sounds like a lot to just install an update, it is. It also doesn't help that there aren't any instructions, so you're flying blind. 

I would say to a🤡void updating the system given the palaver involved, but the latest image increases performance and adds a much-n🍒eeded feature whereby pressing the power button in certain games switches the d-pad into a virtual analog stick. In Dreamcast and PSP games, this saving grace avoids the need to manually remap and unmap the d-pad in certain games. It's a must as far as I'm concerned. If only it wasn't a pain to install, though, eh?

Performance

The RG35XX Plus manages magic other handhelds in this price bracket simply aren💯't capable of. Anbernic touts PSP as being playable, and while that's true, it's not the full picture. Even after updating the system, games like God of War: Ghosts of Sparta only manage a sub-30 frames per second framerate. The fact it boots at all is impressive, but it's not anywhere near playable.

What I found wi🐼th PSP emulation is it all depends on the types of games. 2D games run at near full speed without any issues, but the moment you bring highly detailed 3D worlds into the equation, problems arise. S⛎till, I was able to play Loco Roco, Tekken 5, and Marvel Ultimate Alliance to a degree I was happy with.

For Nintendo DS and Dreamcast, a lot of titles work and work well. Dreamcast especially stuns on the 4:3 screen,⭕ and the ability to use the power button to switch to different modes on DS really helps make navigating two screens and touchscreen on a touchless screen all the easier. 

Everything around or below Dreamcast, bar Saturn which isn't compatible, also works well. Although at this point, I'd be more sꦿhocked if a handheld couldn't play SNES and Genesis games to a suitable standard.&nb🐽sp;

Should you buy the Anbernic RG35XX Plus?

Want a Game Boy-like device that's capable of playing old-school retro games and newer stuff like Dreamcast and some PSP? That'ꦐs the hook of the RG35XX P🐭lus. It's a device aimed at older retro gamers who want something small enough to shove in a pocket for when they're out or to play during an ad break. 

For as little as $64, Anbernic has created the gold standard of budget handhelds. It's imperfect, and the sound of the shaky triggers may haunt your dreams for weeks to come, but it gets right what matters: High power, low cost. It may not be strong enough to run the full PSP library, nor can it upscale resolutions. But if you're after something that lets you play retro games on a Game Boy, with a solid screen and su🌜perb emulation selection, the RG35XX Plus is a must for collectors and newcomers alike.