I love this perspective from a collector. I think these little emulation machines provide great nostalgia through ease of access to those wanting to simply play those old games they loved while on a budget, but if you have the money, I think you're right in that there's also a great thrill in busting open a physical copy of an old game and booting it up like you used to. Love this video
HOLY hell I got to give you props on the cinematography (and I do sadly use that term lightly with a tech review). The gentle film grain, the angles, the crisp resolution. I have this lil baby arriving tomorrow and Im just filling my gullet with RG35XX content. Great stuff.
Honestly thought I was alone in my lack of passion for the sleekness of many current handhelds...that feeling of missing something and preferring to go back to my clunky OG hardware collection. So wonderful to watch this and echo what you’re saying. Great vid, thanks!
Save syncing is the exact reason I got the Miyoo Mini Plus over the RG35XX. It has Wi-Fi so you can sync automatically to your MiSTer or whatever else you want.
Have to say, for someone with 1,4k subs, your production quality is amazing. Great lighting, very well balanced mic. This video made me buy this device and i cannot be happier with it :D
The dpad and speaker issue will be resolved in the device revision called RG35XX Plus which will also include wifi, better L&R buttons, and cosmetic upgrades. It'll come out soon so hopefully you do a review on that when it does. I like the editing and cinematography of your videos.
The cinematography in this video is absolutely beautiful. Some amazingly well lit and setup shots. Love your thoughts on the handheld, mine arrives in 2 days, and I'm beyond hyped
I bought one of these earlier this year and have been playing it as it came, but your video has definitely inspired me to mod my Anbernic with Garlic OS. Great content man!
That's been me this year I think. I'm turning 38 next year and I just bought this too plus a sinden gun plus vr this year. Oh and I have 2 little kids.
i love my rg35xx. i bought it impulsively from the tiktok shop. after seeing a lot of video ads of the handheld i was sold. i got a new sd card from a reputable brand (the stock cards tend to fail) and loaded it up with garlic os and a lot of games. its great to carry in your pocket or bag in case you get a few free minutes. the size is perfect. small enough to be very pocketable, but not too small to play comfortably. the screen is also lovely. colors look bright and the games look good. im used to playing emulators on a phone or pc, so having a physical dpad and buttons is really nice. i dont think i could ever go back to emulating without a physical controller.
I just picked one up myself, in total just over $80 for a spectacular library, a nice textured finish that's reminiscent of an original DMG, a beautiful screen, and responsive buttons. Not only that, but flashed with GarlicOS and using RetroArch to further customize (I specifically like being able to fix the aspect ratio so that games don't display stretched-out), this little guy is a powerhouse. My current favorite way to play the era of games I grew up with.
I highly respect your method of building your library! It's a fantastic thing to be able to back up our owned carts n give them a rest❤️ I just grabbed Karnov and Rush n Attack from ebay and I'm going to back them up n pop em on my devices. Great review!❤️💥👾
Gratz from Ph 🇵🇭 this is causing a stir here in the Philippines and I have already placed my order. I am excited to relive my favorite childhood memories by playing PS1 games on it. New subscriber here, great review, it's a masterpiece
The best thing about these anbernic emulators, save states!! Old school games like Sonic that were so hard, you just save before a hard part and can try that part again way faster. Way less frustrating
Glad I scrolled to this - subscribed in the first 23 seconds. Captivating and curated for all listeners. Most impressive and I am absolutely picking up 2 of those devices. One for on the go and one for the office 💪 appreciate the human connection - much love
I can totally understand the disconnect from games. I seriously have that problem right now on PC. Everything is so accessible! But with you saying that made we want to take this approach, only getting into games i know i will commit to! Love this review! Subscribed brother! Keep it up!
@@matt_HM Waiting on my Miyoo Mini Plus. I'm thinking of getting my hands on a RG35xx as well as my project emulator. Do some mods. Play with interface. This helped me solidify my decision to pick one up! haha
Patiently waiting for mine, ordered a week ago. Recently discovered my GBC during a move and started down this rabbit hole of handheld gaming devices lol
Amazing little device. Picked one up a couple of weeks ago and played tons. I use Garlic Os cause I really think its great and the guy creating it has really put in tons of work. There is one other system aswell that is interesting, Batocera but its still in Beta.
That was very well put together Matt. I never had a PlayStation, but I was very heavily into PC gaming slightly before the PS1 release. The PlayStation ended up releasing some of my all time favorite PC games from the 90's. Diablo, Dune, Red Alert, Warcraft 2, Time Commando, Destruction Derby, Wing Commander 3 were all favs. I ended up waiting for an 11/11 sale on Aliexpress and my credit card company just happened to have a point system set up for that year, with the site. I got an Ambernic 351 for 99 USD. It also has a terrible speaker. But other than that, it is my all time favorite way to carry PS1 games in my pocket. Sure, it also acts as a hand warmer in winter, but It's just so purdy.
@@matt_HM They have a newer sleeker model now, with a faster chip and WIFI - The RG353M. It's pricey, but its premium. Actually if you are a middle aged gamer with disposable income to burn, and you just want a beautiful piece of art in the form of a metal handheld nostalgia machine - the current top dog is the Ambernic 405M. Slightly bigger 4 inch screen, and fast enough for very solid Gamecube performance. But you probably know all this already. I never had a Gamecube, but I loved my original Xbox. A lot of my favorite Xbox games released on Gamecube. Having the Splinter Cell franchise in your pocket is also very satisfying.
@@pillowgood1318 heya! Actually to be honest I’m not super familiar with all the great emulation handhelds out there so I appreciate the advice! I’d love to find a solid option for Dreamcast and PS2! Sounds like the 405m might be worth checking out? Thanks again!
@@mheyman Hi. Sorry for the delay. The 405m ($199) can do most Gamecube and some PS2. If you want more power and a bigger screen consider the AYN Odin pro. However, the Odin II will be much more powerful and launch on Indiegogo at the end of this year. They are tight lipped on the processor, but I suspect it will be an overclocked Snapdragon 888. This is similar to the Razor Edge ($400) that was just released. That has power to run PS2 and they FINALLY got a workaround for button mapping. However, if you really want bleeding edge, captain-big-nuts power, consider switching out your phone for the RedMagic 8 Pro Matte Black edition ($649) or get the bundle deal with the official usb-c controller (no Bluetooth lag) for $724. This has the power to Emulate even into light Switch game territory, and should offer solid PS2 performance. If that is too pricey the Nubia Z50 5G 12GB 256GB is the cheapest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in existence at this time ($490). Slap a $30 magnetic cooler on the back and pair with with a $50 phone controller. You'll get similar performance for $570, but you miss out on the built in pressure shoulder triggers in the 8 Pro, plus you have to deal with looking at a hole punch camera. The 8 Pro can output to monitor just with usb c cable. Z50 can also output, but needs to be run through a seperate dongle. I would just wait for the Odin II to release more details. I have an Odin Lite and love it for Gamecube.
Came for the review, stayed for the insanely sexy b-roll. Bro your camera work, colour grading and just overall video quality is incredible! Worthy of Netflix/TV! Love it! Thanks for the content!
Thanks so much!!! Hope I earned your sub and be sure to check out the other videos! Working on some more to hopefully release soon! Takes a while to get those shots haha
I did the exact same thing with my huge PS2 collection and did my handful of PS1 games at the same time. It took me a lot longer to get my memory card saved using a PS3 but it worked.
Ooo, yeah I really want to backup my PS2 and Dreamcast games as well. I just need to find something that can comfortably emulate those two systems. I used to use the PS3 USB memory card adapter but found the Memcard Pro to be much easier!
Making your own backups from the games in your own collection is not only rewarding but pivotal in feeling that connection to the game you're playing. In my opinion it makes the hobby that much more enjoyable.
It's also a good excuse to keep collecting. I picked up an old copy of Beyblade because it was a game I once played as a kid. Never *really* felt that attached to it, I barely understood how to play it, but it was cheap and I could play it on my RG35XX+. Also nice to finally make use of the ROMs I created of my collected Omega Boost, Eternal Eyes, Chrono Cross, etc. I bought those back when I was in high school because I used to have them as a kid but lost my copies (likely due to my parents selling them behind my back or tossing them in "storage" to get destroyed or lost to time) and wanted to be able to play them whenever I wanted. I backed them up over six years ago when I started getting more into emulation but haven't played them as much as I'd have liked to. No excuse now with a nice handheld... just need to wait for Garlic OS 2.0 to update and make full use of the hardware.
M17 Handheld is my portable PlayStation. RG35XX is my Gameboy and 8 & 16 bit handheld systems player. Trimui Smart Pro is my PSP, N64 end of the spectrum handheld
Great video. I've found myself playing more and more of my old consoles than my new ones. I primarily use emulation because #1 paying $150+ for a PS1 game is starting to get expensive, and on top of that I like emulation so that I'm not damaging the disc (I found out the hard way about my PS2 slim having a tendency for the ribbon to rise up *just* enough to scratch the discs). I've got a ton of emulators running on my PS Vita and a PS Classic, and that's now the main console on my tv. All of that said, I know what you're talking about with the disconnect. I've found myself dying on a game and immediately going "well, that's that, let's see what else I'm in the mood for" and I'm now forcing myself to stick with just a couple games at a time and it's helped. Like the convenience of emulation is a blessing and a curse at the same time. I'm checking out this handheld right now though and if I pick it up it'll be through your affiliate portal. Again, great job.
Thanks for the kind words! I too get worried about damaging discs and disc rot 😬! Something about it being portable has also been pretty nice, find myself picking it up all the time!
I learned about the RG35XX when I was looking *specifically* for a good PS1 handheld. Originally, I was looking for a horizontal handheld with sticks akin to my PSP or a Vita or something, but when I saw the Game Boy DMG design, especially the grey coloration that is meant to emulate the visuals of that system, I have to admit I got *really* excited by the prospect of owning one. I saw a video from Retro Game Corps comparing it and the Miyoo Mini Plus right after. Despite the Miyoo Mini Plus having wifi, I pretty much immediately latched onto the RG35XX. It had issues like the d-pad being a little loose and unreliable and the way the shoulder buttons were laid out, I didn't think was a very good design (too flat), but shortly after that, I looked up the system a little more and tried to see if there were good alternatives. And et voila, the RG35XX+ came up. Still relatively new, so even right now there isn't a good custom OS as Garlic OS 2.0 is very much in its infancy, but otherwise... I really like this system. I got it for Christmas this year and it has everything I need. The only reason I'm not playing it a ton is because I want the best performance for PS1 games and the GPU isn't being utilized in this build of Garlic OS and I want to enable RetroAchievements for all the games I can as a way to mark my progress going forward. A lot of the ROMs I have on my handheld now aren't from my own games, because let's be real, there are just too many games that are extremely expensive, obscure or just out of my personal budget in general to go out and get them all. *But* I do have a few classics from my childhood that I bought copies for and I've had those ROMs backed up for _a while_ and now I can finally use them on a nice handheld system I'd actually want to play them on (no offense to my PC, but it's not as fun emulating there; it's just not). Some day, I would really like to get another handheld like this that is capable of more powerful emulation. The RG35XX+ can handle some Dreamcast, N64 and PSP titles, but it's not built for them, they're just (as many RUclipsrs have put it) a "bonus" to the system. On top of that, one day I really want something capable of portable GameCube emulation and, most importantly, a competent PS2 emulation machine. PS2 games are a real pain in the butt to get working, let's be real. The emulation for them requires so much fiddling with to get certain games to work, but when they *do* work, you can get some really nice visual improvements and crisp performance. Removing that annoying blur from Digital Devil Saga was a _must_ for me to play it. I just can't stand that greasy-camera footage in games. I turn off Depth of Field and Motion Blur in _every_ game that offers the option (and even those that don't if I can get into the config files). But for an affordable system, this was one hell of an option, and wasn't too much of an ask considering the Plus model is really only the price of a brand new modern video game (not that I approve of $70 USD video games being a thing in this economy). Though it is important to factor in other necessary purchases for both of these devices. Yes, they're both about $50 and $70 respectively, but they come with unbranded microSD cards with high failure rates and you're going to need *two* in order to store both the OS and your games (although you *can* use just one microSD card with stock OS, I believe). That'll run you about $10-14 each if you go with reliable Sandisk MicroSD cards. A smaller one for the OS and then a larger, slightly more expensive one for holding all of your games (128 GB works for most people, but I like to have a ton of overhead, so I'm aiming for a 256 GB microSD card). The difference between them is barely a couple dollars regardless at that price range, though, so you don't have to worry about that too much... but it is going to cost you somewhere from $10 to $24. On top of that, you'll want some sort of a case to protect it which might run another $15 or so. It comes with a screen protect, albeit a somewhat smaller one than the screen it's protecting, but suitable enough for everyday use if you don't want to spend more. So all-in-all, assuming you're fine with the pack-in stuff, it's like $50-70, but if you're smart you'll get a case and microSD card replacements which will drive each up to about $75-89 and $94-109 respectively. Other devices rarely come with any of the necessary stuff you need, either, so it's important not to freak out and think "well I could get a better system for that price!" because they're usually larger, so less portable, and need their own case and microSD cards to work, as they're not coming with decent-quality microSD cards even if you pay more for that version (which you emphatically should *not* do, you're paying $10 extra for a microSD card you will have to replace eventually when it dies on you because it's a cheap piece of unbranded crap). I highly recommend it, though. I can't recommend the Plus model right now, because as sure as I am that Garlic OS 2.0 is going to be *great* on the system at some point, right now it doesn't utilize wifi or the GPU and I'm pretty sure it doesn't even have functioning bluetooth, not that I've looked for that as of yet. It's not smart to buy things on "potential" but when I mentioned this as a potential gift idea, I was fine with waiting and trusting that we would be getting so much more in the future. I am still waiting, but I'm also very excited and check for updates every day just in case black-seraph has a spark of inspiration and releases another build before New Year's.
I think that collecting physical media and playing retro games are essentially two different hobbies. There is obviously a lot of overlap, but there are some people who collect but don't really play the games, and people who play the games in rom form, but don't collect the vintage media. I fall mostly into the latter category, but I do have a collection of consoles for display. Collecting the physical games is not something I'm interested in really. I do very much admire other people's collections, but it's just not something I feel compelled to take part in myself.
This is a great observation and one that I think is very true! Whatever brings someone happiness, whether that’s playing or collecting or both, they are doing the right thing.
Great video and I like how you articulated your view points. Yes, I picked this up earlier this year after buying my son the RG280V, and it's a really tight system. Brings me back to the 90's.
Man, for a total of 4 videos, the quality is insane. I’ve enjoyed the few videos you’ve made immensely. This video actually makes me lean towards purchasing the XX instead of the Miyoo Mini Plus. Keep up the good work!
I really appreciate the feedback! Just wish it didn't take me so long to get these videos out haha! I think the choice between the XX and the Mini+ is a tough one to be honest. The more time I spend with both the more I come to enjoy each of them more and more. The important thing is that you can't really go wrong with either. The biggest difference for me is the size. Figuring out which one is more comfortable to use for you is probably going to be the deciding factor. But that Mini+ wifi is pretty cool too :D
@@matt_HM yeah I’ve been on the fence for about a month now. Do I want Wi-Fi with net play and easy updates, and more widely available mods? Or do I want a slightly bigger, slightly comfier device with a less robust OS and modding capabilities? Ah I’m still on the fence. What’s your favorite device under $100?
I have the 351v for a quite some time now and I love the comfort but can't dig the asymmetrical look of the analog stick, never used tho. Really want to switch for this 35XX because of the perfect style/size, some comfort concern but this looks so perfect to me, and well priced.
Right now I've only really tried the default and sometimes I turn on scanlines. Anything else I tried resulted in a bit of slowdown. And tbh the screen is a bit too small for scanlines.. in my opinion!
The stock OS does save states just fine. I loaded onion on my Miyoo Mini and it's fine as well, but I just went with the original OS on this one because it works great.
I fell in love with the purple one at first glance but the transparent ones shows the imperfections. Like you can see the lcd tape creases and light bleeding in the edges. I also noticed some flaking happening in the buttons plastic tabs. Dont know if it'll last long but ive logged hundreds of hours in this tiny thing already
These devices would benefit from a timed lock rotation. Have hundred of games on there, but their access is curated and controlled. Maybe the game changes weekly, after a set amount of hours, or after completion of certain retro achievements. Voluntary imposed limitations empower growth.
Thank you for the review. I was torn between this and MM+ and decided to pick latter, because it has smoother controls (according to comparisons), Onion OS and Wifi (which was the second main reason to pick it due to Retroachievements).Looks like they also solved their stock issues with Plus, although price is still higher.
Agreed, WiFi and dpad sealed the deal for me on the MM+. Should be here in the next day or two!. Honestly it was about the same price with ambernic’s $12 shipping.
Great job man. I commend you for ripping your own games. I've done that with all my hard disk games. Just haven't tried with my cartridge games, outside of Switch games, just due to all that goes into it.
Im real excited i just got this console for 28 bucks coming next week, i had a n64 growing up and missed the Playstation 1 era, so i get to experience all those great games for the first time
These new emulation devices are excellent. But I think the FPGA-based devices have a certain element of 'getting it right' at the CPU level that the emulators probably don't. I'm glad to have both options.
i honestly surprised that you found speaker so bad, i found it pretty good actually. but again im only playing Sega Mega Drive and SNES on the thing, not PS1
Your videos are so damn good! I hope you get the internets attention you deserved :D Is the speaker and the screen upgradable or would that be a waste of time?
So far I’ve only found speaker upgrades for the Miyoo Mini and Mini + :(. I think if one does exist, it would definitely be worth it. Also, thanks! Hope I earned your sub!
Much appreciated! Btw I’ve followed you on Instagram on my personal account for a long time! It was people like you and bb retro that inspired me to push for visual quality! Thanks for checking out my videos!
I just picked one up the device is awesome. Im also impressed with the ps1 emulation . I've been playing through Dino Crisis. Its runs great. 👍For the video
I’ve got the exact same thing with mine. I’m ripping my own GBA carts, and then using an adapter I’ll transfer any saves over. I just want my library on one system, without moving around lots of carts.
I've bought a PlayStation Mini and it just warms my belly. Of course I've already moded it and added a bunch of games that are very significant to me. It's without a doubt my favorite gaming system ever!
Production quality of this video is off the scale - great job
Glad you liked it! Hope I earned your sub!
@@matt_HM It's true and yes you all earned it off course.
I love this perspective from a collector. I think these little emulation machines provide great nostalgia through ease of access to those wanting to simply play those old games they loved while on a budget, but if you have the money, I think you're right in that there's also a great thrill in busting open a physical copy of an old game and booting it up like you used to. Love this video
Thanks man!! Really glad it resonated with you!
A masterpiece of a video. You deserve more recognition! And also really loved what you did with PS1 emulation.
Thanks! Hope I earned your sub!
@@matt_HM No doubt!
HOLY hell I got to give you props on the cinematography (and I do sadly use that term lightly with a tech review). The gentle film grain, the angles, the crisp resolution. I have this lil baby arriving tomorrow and Im just filling my gullet with RG35XX content. Great stuff.
Glad you liked it! You’re gonna love it! Hope you check out more videos!
Wait wtf only 550 subs? You deserve more for being straight to the point and understanding its price point.
Haha thanks! Hope I earned your sub!
Honestly thought I was alone in my lack of passion for the sleekness of many current handhelds...that feeling of missing something and preferring to go back to my clunky OG hardware collection. So wonderful to watch this and echo what you’re saying. Great vid, thanks!
Thanks!! Glad the video resonated with you!
Save syncing is the exact reason I got the Miyoo Mini Plus over the RG35XX. It has Wi-Fi so you can sync automatically to your MiSTer or whatever else you want.
Yeah that’s a game changer! I’m excited to dive into the Miyoo more!
Wow, the production of this video, the way you explained your philosophy here, the overall experience of watching your video- I'm really impressed.
Thanks a bunch!! Hope you’ll check out my next videos too!!
Have to say, for someone with 1,4k subs, your production quality is amazing. Great lighting, very well balanced mic. This video made me buy this device and i cannot be happier with it :D
Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the kind words!! I think you’re going to love it!
Hope I earned your sub!
The dpad and speaker issue will be resolved in the device revision called RG35XX Plus which will also include wifi, better L&R buttons, and cosmetic upgrades. It'll come out soon so hopefully you do a review on that when it does. I like the editing and cinematography of your videos.
Oh wow! Has this been confirmed somewhere? I will absolutely review that!
If only they could add analog sticks to the new version, that would be even better....
Any updates on a release date?
@@faforever952 They have a vertical system with analog sticks called the RG351V
I hope they don't mess up with the GarlicOS, like that weird ghost input on new models
You vídeo looks incredibly clean!
Thanks!! I really appreciate it! Hope to keep getting better!
The cinematography in this video is absolutely beautiful. Some amazingly well lit and setup shots. Love your thoughts on the handheld, mine arrives in 2 days, and I'm beyond hyped
You’re gonna love it! Thanks for watching!
I love the wide format support which fills the whole screen of my phone. Kudos to this high quality video 👍🎉
Glad you liked it!!
I bought one of these earlier this year and have been playing it as it came, but your video has definitely inspired me to mod my Anbernic with Garlic OS. Great content man!
Thanks! It’s great either way! Definitely pick up a new sd card and try it out!
@@matt_HM For sure. Do you know if it has had any trouble emulating certain PS1 titles? I wanna try out Vagrant Story
Honestly found this video by accident, amazing quality, great settings, perfect vibe. I was chilling out and enjoying the information.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Hope I earned your sub!
is this what a mild mannered midlife crisis looks like?
If not, we are getting close to that!
That's been me this year I think. I'm turning 38 next year and I just bought this too plus a sinden gun plus vr this year. Oh and I have 2 little kids.
Turning 35 and going to get one 😅
@@GaragebuiltOriginal
J
I feel attached 😅
i love my rg35xx. i bought it impulsively from the tiktok shop. after seeing a lot of video ads of the handheld i was sold. i got a new sd card from a reputable brand (the stock cards tend to fail) and loaded it up with garlic os and a lot of games. its great to carry in your pocket or bag in case you get a few free minutes. the size is perfect. small enough to be very pocketable, but not too small to play comfortably. the screen is also lovely. colors look bright and the games look good. im used to playing emulators on a phone or pc, so having a physical dpad and buttons is really nice. i dont think i could ever go back to emulating without a physical controller.
The production quality for this channel FAR exceeds the subscriber count. You're about to blow up in subs, excellent video.
Thanks!! I wish that was true lol
Wow I just bought one this past week. Got it all set up and going to play Parasite Eve as my first game!
Hope you enjoy it!
Wow man!! Maybe next you can go outside and get some sunlight!!!
@@jamesdelgado3885 🤡
@@jamesdelgado3885loser
I know someone already said this but this production quality is amazing.
Hey, thanks! Glad you liked it!
cool console and all, as a photographer, damn dude great video, the lighting, pan and the editing are amazing.
Thanks! I really appreciate the feedback!
This is the first time I hit subscribe just because of the mastery of the use of lights and the atmosphere created. Man this is top quality! Congrats!
Thanks for subbing! Hope you check out some other videos too!
Already have the RG353P and love it. But just ordered the RG35XX as well for my handheld collection. Thanks for the video, it looks great!
It’s a great addition to your collection!
I just picked one up myself, in total just over $80 for a spectacular library, a nice textured finish that's reminiscent of an original DMG, a beautiful screen, and responsive buttons. Not only that, but flashed with GarlicOS and using RetroArch to further customize (I specifically like being able to fix the aspect ratio so that games don't display stretched-out), this little guy is a powerhouse. My current favorite way to play the era of games I grew up with.
Sounds like a perfect setup!
I highly respect your method of building your library! It's a fantastic thing to be able to back up our owned carts n give them a rest❤️ I just grabbed Karnov and Rush n Attack from ebay and I'm going to back them up n pop em on my devices. Great review!❤️💥👾
Nice!! Thanks for watching! Hope you check out more videos!
@@matt_HM I sub'd 😎
Much appreciated!
Gratz from Ph 🇵🇭 this is causing a stir here in the Philippines and I have already placed my order. I am excited to relive my favorite childhood memories by playing PS1 games on it. New subscriber here, great review, it's a masterpiece
Hey!! Thanks for the support! You’re gonna love it!
This video was spectacular, keep up the good work you'll be huge.
Thanks dude! Hope that’s true and hope I earned your sub!
The best thing about these anbernic emulators, save states!! Old school games like Sonic that were so hard, you just save before a hard part and can try that part again way faster. Way less frustrating
Yeah! Emulation definitely has benefits that you won't find with the original consoles/games.
Normally not a big commenter, but wow. Really great and well made video, keep it up! Never knew I needed a portable retro emulation device so badly.
Glad you liked it!
Glad I scrolled to this - subscribed in the first 23 seconds. Captivating and curated for all listeners. Most impressive and I am absolutely picking up 2 of those devices. One for on the go and one for the office 💪 appreciate the human connection - much love
Glad you enjoyed it! And you'll definitely enjoy the RG35XX!
i subbed right away when i saw u only have 500 subs like man u deserve 100k subs atleast.. great job sir !!! 👏
Thanks a lot!! Glad I earned your sub!
I can totally understand the disconnect from games. I seriously have that problem right now on PC. Everything is so accessible! But with you saying that made we want to take this approach, only getting into games i know i will commit to! Love this review! Subscribed brother! Keep it up!
Thanks dude! I'm glad that it resonated with people!
@@matt_HM Waiting on my Miyoo Mini Plus. I'm thinking of getting my hands on a RG35xx as well as my project emulator. Do some mods. Play with interface. This helped me solidify my decision to pick one up! haha
Nice! I don't think you can go wrong with either, they're pretty great!
@@matt_HM Also looking at the analogue pocket. which im actually watching your video on now. haha but i gotta crawl before i can walk.
Patiently waiting for mine, ordered a week ago. Recently discovered my GBC during a move and started down this rabbit hole of handheld gaming devices lol
Gameboy stuff plays great! You’re gonna have a good time!
Amazing little device. Picked one up a couple of weeks ago and played tons. I use Garlic Os cause I really think its great and the guy creating it has really put in tons of work. There is one other system aswell that is interesting, Batocera but its still in Beta.
Yeah I’ve tried checking out Koriki which I think is based on Batocera, but had no luck with it yet.
That was very well put together Matt. I never had a PlayStation, but I was very heavily into PC gaming slightly before the PS1 release. The PlayStation ended up releasing some of my all time favorite PC games from the 90's. Diablo, Dune, Red Alert, Warcraft 2, Time Commando, Destruction Derby, Wing Commander 3 were all favs. I ended up waiting for an 11/11 sale on Aliexpress and my credit card company just happened to have a point system set up for that year, with the site. I got an Ambernic 351 for 99 USD. It also has a terrible speaker. But other than that, it is my all time favorite way to carry PS1 games in my pocket. Sure, it also acts as a hand warmer in winter, but It's just so purdy.
Thanks! And yeah the PS1 was awesome for pc ports! I'll have to check out the 351 too.
@@matt_HM They have a newer sleeker model now, with a faster chip and WIFI - The RG353M. It's pricey, but its premium.
Actually if you are a middle aged gamer with disposable income to burn, and you just want a beautiful piece of art in the form of a metal handheld nostalgia machine - the current top dog is the Ambernic 405M. Slightly bigger 4 inch screen, and fast enough for very solid Gamecube performance. But you probably know all this already.
I never had a Gamecube, but I loved my original Xbox. A lot of my favorite Xbox games released on Gamecube. Having the Splinter Cell franchise in your pocket is also very satisfying.
@@pillowgood1318 heya! Actually to be honest I’m not super familiar with all the great emulation handhelds out there so I appreciate the advice! I’d love to find a solid option for Dreamcast and PS2!
Sounds like the 405m might be worth checking out?
Thanks again!
@@mheyman Hi. Sorry for the delay. The 405m ($199) can do most Gamecube and some PS2. If you want more power and a bigger screen consider the AYN Odin pro.
However, the Odin II will be much more powerful and launch on Indiegogo at the end of this year. They are tight lipped on the processor, but I suspect it will be an overclocked Snapdragon 888.
This is similar to the Razor Edge ($400) that was just released. That has power to run PS2 and they FINALLY got a workaround for button mapping.
However, if you really want bleeding edge, captain-big-nuts power, consider switching out your phone for the RedMagic 8 Pro Matte Black edition ($649) or get the bundle deal with the official usb-c controller (no Bluetooth lag) for $724. This has the power to Emulate even into light Switch game territory, and should offer solid PS2 performance.
If that is too pricey the Nubia Z50 5G 12GB 256GB is the cheapest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in existence at this time ($490). Slap a $30 magnetic cooler on the back and pair with with a $50 phone controller. You'll get similar performance for $570, but you miss out on the built in pressure shoulder triggers in the 8 Pro, plus you have to deal with looking at a hole punch camera.
The 8 Pro can output to monitor just with usb c cable. Z50 can also output, but needs to be run through a seperate dongle.
I would just wait for the Odin II to release more details. I have an Odin Lite and love it for Gamecube.
Great review Matt, Can't wait to receive my RG35XX. Will be a nice step up from my old OdroidGo Classic.
Hope you enjoy it!
@@matt_HM Got it last week! It exceeded my expectations. So cool. 😎
underrated channel! new sub here :)
Thanks for checking out the channel! Just dropped a new video since you commented haha. Hope you check it out!
Great video, you can feel how much passion you have for this project. Keep up the good work and keep growing your subscriber base.
Thanks dude!
Came for the review, stayed for the insanely sexy b-roll. Bro your camera work, colour grading and just overall video quality is incredible! Worthy of Netflix/TV! Love it! Thanks for the content!
Thanks so much!!! Hope I earned your sub and be sure to check out the other videos! Working on some more to hopefully release soon! Takes a while to get those shots haha
wow the production on this is insane. props man, great job!
Thanks dude! Tried to make it look good!
I read your subs and thought it said 1.48 million.
Great video and videography!
lol thanks! That’s the dream!
I did the exact same thing with my huge PS2 collection and did my handful of PS1 games at the same time. It took me a lot longer to get my memory card saved using a PS3 but it worked.
Ooo, yeah I really want to backup my PS2 and Dreamcast games as well. I just need to find something that can comfortably emulate those two systems. I used to use the PS3 USB memory card adapter but found the Memcard Pro to be much easier!
I didn't have a memory card pro so I made do with that I had unfortunately. It took me an extra hour or two.
Totally worth it no matter how long it takes!
Was looking at the pocket for a while until i found a few of these videos about the anbernic. It has changed my mind and I can save my money.
Both are great devices! Can’t go wrong with the RG35XX!
Making your own backups from the games in your own collection is not only rewarding but pivotal in feeling that connection to the game you're playing. In my opinion it makes the hobby that much more enjoyable.
It’s oddly satisfying!
It's also a good excuse to keep collecting. I picked up an old copy of Beyblade because it was a game I once played as a kid. Never *really* felt that attached to it, I barely understood how to play it, but it was cheap and I could play it on my RG35XX+. Also nice to finally make use of the ROMs I created of my collected Omega Boost, Eternal Eyes, Chrono Cross, etc. I bought those back when I was in high school because I used to have them as a kid but lost my copies (likely due to my parents selling them behind my back or tossing them in "storage" to get destroyed or lost to time) and wanted to be able to play them whenever I wanted. I backed them up over six years ago when I started getting more into emulation but haven't played them as much as I'd have liked to. No excuse now with a nice handheld... just need to wait for Garlic OS 2.0 to update and make full use of the hardware.
Thanks for this review!
Thanks for watching!
@@matt_HM You're welcome!
M17 Handheld is my portable PlayStation. RG35XX is my Gameboy and 8 & 16 bit handheld systems player. Trimui Smart Pro is my PSP, N64 end of the spectrum handheld
Amazing production quality!! How do you not have more subs?!? I'm in the Miyoo Plus camp, but I still loved watching your review
Thanks! Hope I earned your sub! Hoping I can figure out a way to make some better videos and hopefully get more subs!
Just bought mine today transparent purple... still waiting for it to be delivered... Hope it comes with alot of games to play 🤗
Nice! It's going to be a lot of fun!
Your B Roll/cinematography got you a sub from me. I also enjoy playing old retro games. Great video!
Thanks!! I was hoping, if nothing else, people would enjoy the visuals of the video haha!
going to join everyone else in saying that I love the production quality and b-roll for this video
Thanks! I hope you check out some more!
Great video. I've found myself playing more and more of my old consoles than my new ones. I primarily use emulation because #1 paying $150+ for a PS1 game is starting to get expensive, and on top of that I like emulation so that I'm not damaging the disc (I found out the hard way about my PS2 slim having a tendency for the ribbon to rise up *just* enough to scratch the discs). I've got a ton of emulators running on my PS Vita and a PS Classic, and that's now the main console on my tv.
All of that said, I know what you're talking about with the disconnect. I've found myself dying on a game and immediately going "well, that's that, let's see what else I'm in the mood for" and I'm now forcing myself to stick with just a couple games at a time and it's helped. Like the convenience of emulation is a blessing and a curse at the same time. I'm checking out this handheld right now though and if I pick it up it'll be through your affiliate portal. Again, great job.
Thanks for the kind words! I too get worried about damaging discs and disc rot 😬! Something about it being portable has also been pretty nice, find myself picking it up all the time!
@@matt_HM yeah, I was pretty horrified when I saw the circular scratches on my Brave Fencer Musashi disc and was like "okay, emulation it is then!" 🤣
I learned about the RG35XX when I was looking *specifically* for a good PS1 handheld. Originally, I was looking for a horizontal handheld with sticks akin to my PSP or a Vita or something, but when I saw the Game Boy DMG design, especially the grey coloration that is meant to emulate the visuals of that system, I have to admit I got *really* excited by the prospect of owning one. I saw a video from Retro Game Corps comparing it and the Miyoo Mini Plus right after. Despite the Miyoo Mini Plus having wifi, I pretty much immediately latched onto the RG35XX. It had issues like the d-pad being a little loose and unreliable and the way the shoulder buttons were laid out, I didn't think was a very good design (too flat), but shortly after that, I looked up the system a little more and tried to see if there were good alternatives.
And et voila, the RG35XX+ came up. Still relatively new, so even right now there isn't a good custom OS as Garlic OS 2.0 is very much in its infancy, but otherwise... I really like this system. I got it for Christmas this year and it has everything I need. The only reason I'm not playing it a ton is because I want the best performance for PS1 games and the GPU isn't being utilized in this build of Garlic OS and I want to enable RetroAchievements for all the games I can as a way to mark my progress going forward.
A lot of the ROMs I have on my handheld now aren't from my own games, because let's be real, there are just too many games that are extremely expensive, obscure or just out of my personal budget in general to go out and get them all. *But* I do have a few classics from my childhood that I bought copies for and I've had those ROMs backed up for _a while_ and now I can finally use them on a nice handheld system I'd actually want to play them on (no offense to my PC, but it's not as fun emulating there; it's just not).
Some day, I would really like to get another handheld like this that is capable of more powerful emulation. The RG35XX+ can handle some Dreamcast, N64 and PSP titles, but it's not built for them, they're just (as many RUclipsrs have put it) a "bonus" to the system. On top of that, one day I really want something capable of portable GameCube emulation and, most importantly, a competent PS2 emulation machine. PS2 games are a real pain in the butt to get working, let's be real. The emulation for them requires so much fiddling with to get certain games to work, but when they *do* work, you can get some really nice visual improvements and crisp performance. Removing that annoying blur from Digital Devil Saga was a _must_ for me to play it. I just can't stand that greasy-camera footage in games. I turn off Depth of Field and Motion Blur in _every_ game that offers the option (and even those that don't if I can get into the config files).
But for an affordable system, this was one hell of an option, and wasn't too much of an ask considering the Plus model is really only the price of a brand new modern video game (not that I approve of $70 USD video games being a thing in this economy). Though it is important to factor in other necessary purchases for both of these devices. Yes, they're both about $50 and $70 respectively, but they come with unbranded microSD cards with high failure rates and you're going to need *two* in order to store both the OS and your games (although you *can* use just one microSD card with stock OS, I believe). That'll run you about $10-14 each if you go with reliable Sandisk MicroSD cards. A smaller one for the OS and then a larger, slightly more expensive one for holding all of your games (128 GB works for most people, but I like to have a ton of overhead, so I'm aiming for a 256 GB microSD card). The difference between them is barely a couple dollars regardless at that price range, though, so you don't have to worry about that too much... but it is going to cost you somewhere from $10 to $24. On top of that, you'll want some sort of a case to protect it which might run another $15 or so. It comes with a screen protect, albeit a somewhat smaller one than the screen it's protecting, but suitable enough for everyday use if you don't want to spend more.
So all-in-all, assuming you're fine with the pack-in stuff, it's like $50-70, but if you're smart you'll get a case and microSD card replacements which will drive each up to about $75-89 and $94-109 respectively. Other devices rarely come with any of the necessary stuff you need, either, so it's important not to freak out and think "well I could get a better system for that price!" because they're usually larger, so less portable, and need their own case and microSD cards to work, as they're not coming with decent-quality microSD cards even if you pay more for that version (which you emphatically should *not* do, you're paying $10 extra for a microSD card you will have to replace eventually when it dies on you because it's a cheap piece of unbranded crap).
I highly recommend it, though. I can't recommend the Plus model right now, because as sure as I am that Garlic OS 2.0 is going to be *great* on the system at some point, right now it doesn't utilize wifi or the GPU and I'm pretty sure it doesn't even have functioning bluetooth, not that I've looked for that as of yet. It's not smart to buy things on "potential" but when I mentioned this as a potential gift idea, I was fine with waiting and trusting that we would be getting so much more in the future. I am still waiting, but I'm also very excited and check for updates every day just in case black-seraph has a spark of inspiration and releases another build before New Year's.
Also wanted to say I appreciate the wide screen format!
Cool! Only sad part is that the widescreen format doesn’t support end screens so I can like recommend a next video. Oh well!
I think that collecting physical media and playing retro games are essentially two different hobbies.
There is obviously a lot of overlap, but there are some people who collect but don't really play the games, and people who play the games in rom form, but don't collect the vintage media.
I fall mostly into the latter category, but I do have a collection of consoles for display.
Collecting the physical games is not something I'm interested in really. I do very much admire other people's collections, but it's just not something I feel compelled to take part in myself.
This is a great observation and one that I think is very true! Whatever brings someone happiness, whether that’s playing or collecting or both, they are doing the right thing.
Completely agree with having hundreds of emulated games at your finger tips loosing something with the connection. Great tip linking to games you own
7:50 is where i Liked this video. Authentic story about feeling connected despite it all being data! ❤
Thanks a lot!! Hope I earned your sub!
Love your "friction" concept
Give it a try! It's worth it!
Your video quality is insane ! Well made , loved it
Thanks dude! Glad you liked it!
The B roll in this is 🔥
Thanks man!
Great video and I like how you articulated your view points. Yes, I picked this up earlier this year after buying my son the RG280V, and it's a really tight system. Brings me back to the 90's.
Thanks! Glad you liked it!!
Just ordered one of these and I'm just here to hear my purchase be justified 😎
Confirmation bias is the best!
Man, for a total of 4 videos, the quality is insane. I’ve enjoyed the few videos you’ve made immensely. This video actually makes me lean towards purchasing the XX instead of the Miyoo Mini Plus. Keep up the good work!
I really appreciate the feedback! Just wish it didn't take me so long to get these videos out haha! I think the choice between the XX and the Mini+ is a tough one to be honest. The more time I spend with both the more I come to enjoy each of them more and more.
The important thing is that you can't really go wrong with either. The biggest difference for me is the size. Figuring out which one is more comfortable to use for you is probably going to be the deciding factor. But that Mini+ wifi is pretty cool too :D
@@matt_HM yeah I’ve been on the fence for about a month now. Do I want Wi-Fi with net play and easy updates, and more widely available mods? Or do I want a slightly bigger, slightly comfier device with a less robust OS and modding capabilities? Ah I’m still on the fence. What’s your favorite device under $100?
I have the 351v for a quite some time now and I love the comfort but can't dig the asymmetrical look of the analog stick, never used tho. Really want to switch for this 35XX because of the perfect style/size, some comfort concern but this looks so perfect to me, and well priced.
I can't recommend it enough!
@@matt_HM What Filter/Shader do you use for ps1?
Right now I've only really tried the default and sometimes I turn on scanlines. Anything else I tried resulted in a bit of slowdown.
And tbh the screen is a bit too small for scanlines.. in my opinion!
holy shit nice video bro subscribed in the first minute, thats awesome
Thanks! New one hopefully dropping today or tomorrow!
Future Cop LAPD 😍
Thanks you for the review! Great video!
Thanks again! It’s a classic game!
The stock OS does save states just fine. I loaded onion on my Miyoo Mini and it's fine as well, but I just went with the original OS on this one because it works great.
Yeah I didn’t have really any issues with it either!
I did not realize you could transfer your saves to your actual PSX. That is a GAME CHANGER!
Yeah! This was basically a necessity for me!
I fell in love with the purple one at first glance but the transparent ones shows the imperfections.
Like you can see the lcd tape creases and light bleeding in the edges.
I also noticed some flaking happening in the buttons plastic tabs.
Dont know if it'll last long but ive logged hundreds of hours in this tiny thing already
Yeah they all look great but have been gravitating towards the opaque one because of the light bleed
Getting anything other than Gameboy grey is just criminal imo XD
Perfect video for this anbernic 602nd here ❤❤❤
Welcome to the team!! Thanks for the sub!!
These devices would benefit from a timed lock rotation. Have hundred of games on there, but their access is curated and controlled. Maybe the game changes weekly, after a set amount of hours, or after completion of certain retro achievements. Voluntary imposed limitations empower growth.
I agree! I try to limit how many games I put on the card so that I don’t get tempted to jump around.
Thank you for the review. I was torn between this and MM+ and decided to pick latter, because it has smoother controls (according to comparisons), Onion OS and Wifi (which was the second main reason to pick it due to Retroachievements).Looks like they also solved their stock issues with Plus, although price is still higher.
I'm excited to spend more time with the MM+! I plan on reviewing it more extensively too!
Agreed, WiFi and dpad sealed the deal for me on the MM+. Should be here in the next day or two!. Honestly it was about the same price with ambernic’s $12 shipping.
@@idxman01 i had one but my screen was loose so i decided to return it just cause my bad ocd but I love the mm+ but now just bought the anbernic
Awesome production!
Much appreciated!
Your videos are a work of art. Thanks.
No, thank you! You’re too kind!
idk how you only have 585 subs. you make amazing stuff.
Haha, thanks! Hope I earned your sub! Feel free to share the video with any friends you think might enjoy it!
@@matt_HM of course! Been subscribed since your first video!
Great job man. I commend you for ripping your own games. I've done that with all my hard disk games. Just haven't tried with my cartridge games, outside of Switch games, just due to all that goes into it.
I got a purple one from Amazon, it should arrive tomorrow, so excited :)
It's gonna be a lot of fun!
@@matt_HM Woo :) I can give an update if you like :)
Lemme know what you end up playing!
Hey heads-up, keep all the packaging. I'm just finding out the hard way their mainboards have terrible QC issues and will just die out of the blue.
@@matt_HM Update: something went wrong with my Amazon, now I have to ask my mum if she can get one for me, that will take a while.
If the light behind the TV was yellow your scene would look much more intense.
Intense good or intense bad lol? Should we try it?
Can't believe you only have this few subs... your videos are extremely well done! Subbed!
Thanks! It's been slow and steady so far!
This is the most Hipster emulation review I have seen. Excellent work, keep it up.
Thanks!!! I think lol
Exactly. The freedom to have access to averything is boring ❤
great narration!
great video!
Glad you liked it!
Im real excited i just got this console for 28 bucks coming next week, i had a n64 growing up and missed the Playstation 1 era, so i get to experience all those great games for the first time
I think you’re going to have a lot of fun!!
why they dont sell it in stores all over the world for the people who can't buy from the internet?
This was an excellent video. I am going to pick this device up, thanks for the review.
Awesome! Hope you enjoy it and I hope I earned your sub!
These new emulation devices are excellent. But I think the FPGA-based devices have a certain element of 'getting it right' at the CPU level that the emulators probably don't. I'm glad to have both options.
Me too! I still love my Analogue Pocket and other Analogue products. I need to dip my toes into Mister stuff as well.
love the music!
Thanks! Took a while to find the right songs!
Beautiful video, Matt. You're the best there is.
I love the early fighting games MK , Street Fighter, and others. Had the original Gameboy
FYI, you deserve way more subscribers. Subbing to you brother.
Thanks dude! Glad I earned your sub! And yeah I gotta find a way to rip all my cartridges!!
Not Syphon Filter and burning someone to death with the taser 😂
It’s classic!!
i honestly surprised that you found speaker so bad, i found it pretty good actually. but again im only playing Sega Mega Drive and SNES on the thing, not PS1
It’s not so bad that it ruins the device but I’ve heard better!
Vibration mode is actually insane. Unnecessary but hey it has it and I bet it does improve the experience if you like that.
I was pretty surprised when I first noticed it lol
@@matt_HM loved your video, definitely haloed me decide on a buy
Would bu nice if you make a video about your settings on this cute beast. :D
Check out the guides by Retro Game Corps! Thats what i follow for setting up every device!
Your videos are so damn good! I hope you get the internets attention you deserved :D
Is the speaker and the screen upgradable or would that be a waste of time?
So far I’ve only found speaker upgrades for the Miyoo Mini and Mini + :(. I think if one does exist, it would definitely be worth it.
Also, thanks! Hope I earned your sub!
Love your content, man!
Much appreciated! Btw I’ve followed you on Instagram on my personal account for a long time! It was people like you and bb retro that inspired me to push for visual quality!
Thanks for checking out my videos!
@@matt_HM No friggin way! I hope I follow you... If not, I will. I appreciate that!
I don’t really have an IG setup related to this channel yet! Still working on that lol. Social media is tough lol
You’ll definitely hit 10k subs before 2025, keep going mate 👊
Thanks dude! Maybe even before then if I can get more videos up lol!
For sure, especially if you can keep the video quality up. Are you going to stick to reviewing retro consoles for now or branch out to something else?
I eventually want to talk about much more than just retro emulation consoles. Trying to find a way to attract a wider audience… RUclips is hard.
I just picked one up the device is awesome. Im also impressed with the ps1 emulation . I've been playing through Dino Crisis. Its runs great. 👍For the video
I’ve got the exact same thing with mine. I’m ripping my own GBA carts, and then using an adapter I’ll transfer any saves over.
I just want my library on one system, without moving around lots of carts.
That's the way to do it!
I’m currently having that disconnect feeling where it’s just so easy to drop a game and move on. Trying to get around that rn. Loved the video ❤
Glad you liked it!
I've bought a PlayStation Mini and it just warms my belly. Of course I've already moded it and added a bunch of games that are very significant to me. It's without a doubt my favorite gaming system ever!