If these are a little too expensive for some of you, you should check out our latest video about the 5 Most Underrated Handhelds Of 2021, all of them are under $80 👉 ruclips.net/video/II0gF5gxuqI/видео.html
Retro Dodo. Can any of these save progress? I want to okay games like Pokémon and save my progress and come back later and play. I bought a handheld for retro gaming because it said you could save. But it doesn’t. I’m actually really upset with it. I need one that will save my progress. Does the one in the number one spot on your list allow you to do that?
Ordered the grey Anbernic RG351M earlier today, after spending some time looking around on RUclips for reviews on different consoles. Your review here and your separate review on RG351M, along with other reviews praising the console, made me going for the RG351M. Thanks for the great reviews.
Let's be honest: the top 5 on this list could be rearranged in several different orders. They are all amazing, so it would just depend on your preferences and needs. Great video!
The Retroid Pocket 2+ dropped today and tests have shown it has some serious performance boosts as well as now bosting a touch screen, vibrating motor for rumble supported games and new custom front end.
i recommend you buy rg351M because Rg351M is more user friendly you don't have to tinkering the controller settings you can just play it out of the box and Rg351M build quality pretty good than retroid pocket 2
I personally enjoy the rg351p more than the rg351m due to the weight difference. I don't need built in wifi either. Other than those two things, they are identical in every way. I was surprised to see them 3 spots apart on the list.
I hope the next generation of chips will handle PSP and all N64 games almost flawlessly. I've been really tempted to pick up one of these but I feel like it's just not quite there yet for what I want to play. I also hope they release an upgrade to the S30 because I really like that form factor but it sucks that it's one of the weakest ones.
The issue with the S30 is two fold -- one is the awful widescreen, it should be 4:3 for a system that weak AND they make it even worse by stretching the image with no way out of the box to turn that off. To me, that's return worthy had it been an Amazon purchase. But the other issue is that it's too small and not comfortable to hold. If they made it a bit bigger it would be dramatically more comfortable to hold. I don't know if anyone is even making bigger displays that are 4:3 or not, well outside of Apple with the iPad, but a 5" 4:3 version where they just scaled everything up would be awesome.
Yeah the only thing that puts me off with these handhelds is no 2nd analogue stick no L3 R3 triggers for analogue (a lot of PS1 games need them), poor ram and processors and majority of these handhelds can't play psp or higher games, using a phone (even a budget/midrange phone will outperform these handhelds) with a controller attachment is still a better choice and cheaper unless you just want to buy these for the retro 4:3 feel 🤔🤔
I just need a bigger screen and be able to play up to Dreamcast and Saturn and I am set. Hopefully whatever the next gen is for these handhelds will achieve that.
after lots of research and umming and ahhing about picking a retroid or a 351, i'm getting a clip mount for my controller and using my (far more powerful) tablet.
I was in the same boat, did the same thing and . . . I LOVE IT! I have the 8bitdo SN30 Pro 2 (make sure you get a controller with handles. It'll be top-heavy!) and clip that I use on my Samsung Galaxy S9. Granted it's FAR from "pocketable" but I love the performance. My hacked o3DS is my second fav. I bought a PiBoy DMG, but sold it because there was consistent digital noise on the audio and the fan was too loud.
I own a MI-Pad with a clip mount and played it a few times in the past, but I didn't really like the formfactor and the latency of the bt-connection. It's also a bit wonky, when u play lying in bed. So I got a V90 and a 351P a few days ago and like em alot, for stuff up to GBA / PS1, I prefer those devices. But for more powerful systems, a phone or tablet is a nice and cheap way to play those at full speed.
@@janwendtland8504 My BT connection with my phone was bad too, that's why I got 8Bitdo's pro 2 clip. It has an opening to access the port on the controller for a wired connection. That, coupled with a 3in. cable, works wonders for me (no lag).
@@chriswilliams8039 Yeah, a cable fixes the lag. Maybe I'll opt for that in the future for gamecube etc. But as of now, I have lots of games to play till that happens :)
I got the rg280v because of its size and build. I bring it with me everywhere in my pocket and it's half the size of my phone. The build quality is so good that I spend a lot of time just looking at it. Even as a girl it fits so well in women's pants and shorts. I don't have any fears of it falling out.
I personally hate mine. The D-Pad is absolutely awful, and it is way too under-powered to handle the version of Android it ships with. Admittedly its not bad if all you want to do with it is play PS1 or N64.
@@MrReddragongamingHD see I don't see any problems with the d pad, other than it being placed above an anolog, and shoulder buttons weirdly placed. I like how it's still stronger than a lot of the other models that came before and after it. You should get it if you plan to play Sega dreamcast and everything below it. Most emulator handheld can't do that.
I don’t understand how RG351M could be unbeaten in performance if there are several handhelds on the list that use the same chipset and there is an RPi-based device there too, that’s likely better at PS1/N64/Dreamcast
@@bigload6 Sure, but the RG351V and P, performance-wise, certainly match the RG351M exactly (the V even has the better screen) - plus the M's more expensive than those.
@that one gamer yeah, but it's not as portable and all in one. Phone requires separate controllers which creates bulk and you would have to use your phone for other things while playing games, like if someone called or if you needed to search something but have to pause the game enter browser, search then jump back into game and it'll be a hassle, plus the phone will be overheating hardcore.
@that one gamer Because if I want to play games on my phone, I play games on my phone. If I want that retro-feeling, I want it to feel like I was holding an old GameBoy or GameBoy Advance or similar. The phone with some quirky control-substitute just never feels right. At all.
Yo dude have you bought any of these? You sound indian so I thought I'd ask you, I live in India but can't buy these things cuz AliExpress stopped shipping to india, if you've bought one, how have you done it?
@@Overhaul4721 hey Joshua, very true i am from orange city and yes even i am facing rhe similar issue since government has banned chinese shopping sites. My pick is retroid pocket 2 and i guess the mentioned site is shipping from the states. So i guess that's our last resort.
@@PratikDeshmukh1 I'd once asked anbernic on their website if they delivered to india and they said yes, while retroid said there's no channel available to ship to India
@@Overhaul4721 yes I just realised that, above mentioned site and it's warehouse is based out of HK and now I am bit skeptical about their shipping policy. Btw, what consoles fancy you. I want to play mainly SNES, Gensis and PS1 games.
I enjoyed the video, however, I would have liked to see the software interfaces more : how does it look like when you choose an emulator, then a game. Also, what exactly is preloaded, how many games, etc. Perhaps it’s the topic for another video.
I actually want dodo boxer to unbox the One X player 11th gen Intel core, it is very critical somebody out there give their honest opinion on the stuff for folks to be sure. I believe one X player may be afraid for their portable emulator to be tested by him
I've held off of buying any retro handhelds, because I really want N64 at a very decent level, but I don't want to play on a tv anymore since the Switch (the Wii U and the fact that I grew up without tv and with Game Boys may have something to do with it as well, as well as the fact that I live in a forest and rather spend my days outside). Today I bought a Retroid Pocket 2, because I'm sure I'll get around with the "tinkering", I've soft-modded some consoles before and have used several flash cards in Nintendo handhelds, and there's always good guides somewhere on the internet when needed.
I feel it should've at least been on the 10th spot, its def better than some spots on this list xD (but makes sense since the size is not proper for everyone)
@@tgran2242 I took advantage of the Android aspect. In my opinion it runs smoother. Yeah its really not ideal for beginners but its not a steep learning curve. Also. I wanted a handheld to run my psp games. The RP2 with the with the setting I have runs psp games better than my RG.
@@sayuu8586 Interesting to hear. I like Android so think I could navigate through the settings as well. Quick question on PSP: What settings do you use on PPSSPP that make it better than the RG351? I have an RG351P and get pretty good performance using the PPSSPP-standalone-go on ArkOS. Interested if you've tried that one and how it compares to RP2.
I disagree. RG351V is really worth it. WiFI, much faster than P/M version: better emulation performance (Nintendo DS/ N64 /PSP/Dreamcast). Since Linux inside - possible to extend: RUclips, mp3 / movie player... Login via ssh and remote configuration ( you can mount games from server etc...) - This is overkill
@@SieIaQ I did not know it was more powerful than the P&M versions. Thought they had the same chipset so emulation was the same. I could be wrong though.
If you grew up loving the original Gameboy then you will think the PiBoy DMG is #1 like I do! I always loved that thick clunky game and the PiBoy is by far my favorite, I take it with me everywhere.
I think the best way to play retrogames on the go, is a Psvita or 3ds with Cfw. Retroarch does a brilliant job and Rom Injection on the 3ds, feels like a native port of our favourite games (even Snes or GBA) 😉
One thing about the firmware for the RG351M/V. I think you should download other firmwares as 351elec or arkOS. With these you can vastly improve n64 and Dreamcast.
I'm becoming addicted to these handhelds I recently picked up the Pocket Go 1 and Original RG350 my 351P will be here tomorrow and I'm thinking which ones I will get next someone send help lol another good video love this channel keep it up.
Just a little update I am over the moon about my RG351P I haven't had very long but it's amazing I think I'm good for my retro gaming fix but I might get that 351V for the nostalgia lol I love these devices.
The 351p is my current daily driver. Its pretty comfortable and easy to use. I hope they make 5.5in model with the same build quality and that gba purple blue shell color and a better chipset soon.
Hey lad. Great critique! I would have subjectively switched the RP2 with the RG351M but I do understand your personal fondness for the metal iteration. Keep it up young lad. 👍
Why is the rg351m the first place? It's riddled with d pad issues, the screen is lower resolution than the rg351v and it is really heavy not to mention both 351 emuelec and arkos creators said they would stop development for them.
It's really a preference thing with the RG351 series. Most prefer the dual analog and landscape form factor. Personally, I think the Rg351V is the best that's out there.
I would easily recommend getting a RG351P/M/V over a Retroid Pocket 2 any day. Not to say there is anything wrong with the RP2 in principle, but mine arrived with Android 6 installed, which made a very bad first impression. It's a sluggish and awful UI. Upgrading it to Android 8 was not hard, but it certainly wasn't easy, and sent my laptop into BSOD each time I tried and in one instance, I thought I had bricked my RP2 (I hadn't). I got there in the end though. If you're someone lacking IT understanding, that could be painful. Once you have Android 8 on there, yes it's a vast improvement, but still, just not a pleasant experience of bouncing between mouse, pointer and stick controls to do everything. And then you simply have the fact, that the RG devices feel so much nicer and more premium than the RP2. 351 Elect is also, just a much nicer front end to use, with Retro Arch, then using Android, with Retro Arch and downloaded apps.
@NostalgiaNgames I would agree Android has so much potential, and more freedom, which is what attracted me to the RP2. But the experience I had was such a mixed bag, and mostly negative. Flashing it to version 8, then testing out Lineage OS (during which I had then had memory card issues), and then returning to Android 8. Experiencing a BSOD each time I flashed the internal memory. The device is now up and going, and with a mix of DIG and RetroArch, it works fine, but I find myself defaulting to my RG351P with 351 Elect, each time. I am tempted by the PocketGO S30 because I'm a fan of 8BITDO, but trying to hold off.
I guess I'm the odd duck of the bunch as I have the rg351v and have tried arkos and 351elec. I kept going back and have now been exclusively using the stock anbernic firmware. I have had no negative issues and wondering why others say the firmware is broken. I also didn't experience any better gameplay from the other firmware as others have claimed. I know my way around RetroArch, so I may have set it up correctly to perform well. I would like to load redream to see if it helps with dc performance.
@Peter Griffin Shame they put the analogue joystick above the D-pad. After selling my original Anbernic RG350 for the RG350M because the placement felt awkward, I can't go back.
Your intros are getting better and better with each video 🔥🔥 The GameForce comes clean, interesting. The PG S30 is great value even with its floors. I want that PiBoy, All those USB ports got me hooked😍. That 351V is my Jam, I'm still loving this device. Thanks for such another great video👍
Love the kenny powers hands fly in the beginning. I been buying handhelds since the OG game boy and buy about 4 of these per year. I am still waiting for one that can play virtua 🎾 tennis on Dreamcast flawlessly. Please please please let us know as soon as you find one as I feel the new chips in the next 2 years will provide us the processing power. Thanks for all the great content and reviews
Can you do a video on some of your favorite DIY handheld kits? Been looking for a fun weekend project that I can take with me and take pride in when I'm done.
Which of the anbernic consoles would you say are good for emulating games like silent hill etc? I’m after a handheld where I can play retro classics like sonic, Mario, Super Metroid but will also play games from the pS1 era such as crash, Spyro and silent hill etc? Would the RG351P be a recommendation? I don’t want a handheld that’s over small
My RG351M has a wifi interference problem. You can hear a humming that gets louder as I press more buttons/do more actions. Also, it can crash if you have wifi on and it hits 35% battery. I got it for the wifi, but I don't think I like the trade off. It gets nice and cold though, which actually feels great for the 120 seconds it stays that way.
I bit the bullet and splurged on a PiBoy DMG and put a Pi4 8gb model in there with the hdmi extender so I can plug it into a screen and play multi player with external controllers, or plug in a wireless keyboard and mouse with raspbian installed on another sd card and I have a mini pc. Yeah it's expensive but I like to tinker, customise and overclock things.
I am completely new to this world. What is the difference between RG351M and RG351MP? If a person is interested in something that comes with quite a few games already loaded and can be played out of the box without much (if any) setup, is RG351M still the best choice today?
I own the RG351P, V, and M, and I have to agree that they are all fantastic, high-quality devices. I don't own a PiBoy DMG (yet) but I do own a Raspberry Pi 4 so I'd give that one a higher ranking than it received. The Raspberry Pi 4 is a pretty powerful device as it is, but the ability to make it into a portable form factor where you can take it with you or bring it to a friend's house and hook it up to their tv for some 2-player retro gaming fun is just brilliant. The Pi 4 supports HDMI out, has built-in BlueTooth and WiFi, and you can easily pair 2 controllers to it or more.
Yeah Droix have their own customer service. AliExpress is hit and miss so we chose to partner with someone who can actually help you with the handheld instead of leaving you in the dust.
I hope they fixed the flimsy power button on the 351M. I own the 350M and the power button just broke off. I opened it up but it would require soldering the whole part back. So now I just have it for parts.
@@RetroDodo Love the idea, would buy one if it was half their asking price. High school me would have bought one no matter the price but as an adult with bills...sigh
So I’m looking for one of these and I’m willing to buy the number one in the list however I need one that has save capability. I want to be able to play old gameboy games like Pokémon and save my progress. But really save my progress on any of the games or else to me the handheld is useless. Do any of these have a save capability?
Just wish they were a little more powerful, looking for PS2 and even maybe Wii on a portable (Wii motion controls built in would be awesome).... with 5-5.5" display. Most N64 for does not do it for me, all N64 would impress me. Nice list... nice units, My Vita and NEW 3DS XL wil hold out for a little longer till we get more powerful and affordable chips... Thanks for video...
@@cultofsucc5807 don't get me wrong some do play flawless. I beat banjo kazooie and castlevania 64 so far bcuz they run excellent. Mario kart and Mario 64 work amazing as well.
Yeah, it's really annoying how (with the exact same chip) he gives different ratings for how these systems perform, strictly based on how much he likes the company making the (internally identical) product. Love the channel but it's frustrating at best and misleading at worst for those not in the know.
Hey guys! So I have a 1st gen PS vita. The one with a OLED display. Is there any reason to move over to something like this? Or should I just rock my jailbroken vita?
If these are a little too expensive for some of you, you should check out our latest video about the 5 Most Underrated Handhelds Of 2021, all of them are under $80 👉 ruclips.net/video/II0gF5gxuqI/видео.html
What is smallest that can play psp
Retro Dodo. Can any of these save progress? I want to okay games like Pokémon and save my progress and come back later and play. I bought a handheld for retro gaming because it said you could save. But it doesn’t. I’m actually really upset with it. I need one that will save my progress. Does the one in the number one spot on your list allow you to do that?
Do any retro handhelds play skate or die???
So, how does the 351m compare to the 280m?
Upright retroid looks amazing
Ordered the grey Anbernic RG351M earlier today, after spending some time looking around on RUclips for reviews on different consoles. Your review here and your separate review on RG351M, along with other reviews praising the console, made me going for the RG351M. Thanks for the great reviews.
Let's be honest: the top 5 on this list could be rearranged in several different orders. They are all amazing, so it would just depend on your preferences and needs.
Great video!
I agree, but the first three places in my opinion because I have these consoles would be:
3 - RP2
2 - RG351M
1 - RG351V
All great choices. :)
Yeah this should be the top 3 for me as well ✌️😆
The Retroid Pocket 2+ dropped today and tests have shown it has some serious performance boosts as well as now bosting a touch screen, vibrating motor for rumble supported games and new custom front end.
i swear everytime u show footage of yourself playing mariokart, it's the first level and you always get hit with that green shell
Hahaha
It's probably the same footage 😂
He may not be the greatest gamer, but he has one of the biggest loves for games.
@Actual_Spirit What?
@@pieceofschmidtgamer When?
after watching this video i buyed RG351M and retroid pocket 2
love both console good
thanks for your honest review brandon have a nice day :)
which one would you say to get if i only want one of them
i recommend you buy rg351M because Rg351M is more user friendly you don't have to tinkering the controller settings you can just play it out of the box and Rg351M build quality pretty good than retroid pocket 2
I personally enjoy the rg351p more than the rg351m due to the weight difference. I don't need built in wifi either. Other than those two things, they are identical in every way. I was surprised to see them 3 spots apart on the list.
I like a very light system… should I not go for the aluminum model even though aluminum is a very light metal??
@@dexgray4581 If you like it light, then yes go for the RG351P.
@@RetroDodo thank you! I’m coming from a GCW ZERO and that thing is feather light! :-)
@@dexgray4581 I would say the M isn’t heavy. Feel solid and button presses against a metal shell can’t be beat
@@dexgray4581 That's a name I haven't heard in a very long time lol
Have tried many other handheld consoles but I always come back to my loyal PSP Go for the last 10 years
I hope the next generation of chips will handle PSP and all N64 games almost flawlessly. I've been really tempted to pick up one of these but I feel like it's just not quite there yet for what I want to play. I also hope they release an upgrade to the S30 because I really like that form factor but it sucks that it's one of the weakest ones.
The issue with the S30 is two fold -- one is the awful widescreen, it should be 4:3 for a system that weak AND they make it even worse by stretching the image with no way out of the box to turn that off. To me, that's return worthy had it been an Amazon purchase. But the other issue is that it's too small and not comfortable to hold. If they made it a bit bigger it would be dramatically more comfortable to hold. I don't know if anyone is even making bigger displays that are 4:3 or not, well outside of Apple with the iPad, but a 5" 4:3 version where they just scaled everything up would be awesome.
Yeah the only thing that puts me off with these handhelds is no 2nd analogue stick no L3 R3 triggers for analogue (a lot of PS1 games need them), poor ram and processors and majority of these handhelds can't play psp or higher games, using a phone (even a budget/midrange phone will outperform these handhelds) with a controller attachment is still a better choice and cheaper unless you just want to buy these for the retro 4:3 feel 🤔🤔
I just need a bigger screen and be able to play up to Dreamcast and Saturn and I am set. Hopefully whatever the next gen is for these handhelds will achieve that.
Never happen in a century lol 🤣 but yes agree with everything plus a proper button layout also
@@HUYI1 steam deck lol
Can’t wait to see what comes down the pipeline latter in 2021.
Yeah, lets hope for a new processor!
A new strain of Indian C0vid is coming down the pipeline...
@@dududu5189 yeah in lockdown here now because of it
after lots of research and umming and ahhing about picking a retroid or a 351, i'm getting a clip mount for my controller and using my (far more powerful) tablet.
I was in the same boat, did the same thing and . . . I LOVE IT! I have the 8bitdo SN30 Pro 2 (make sure you get a controller with handles. It'll be top-heavy!) and clip that I use on my Samsung Galaxy S9. Granted it's FAR from "pocketable" but I love the performance. My hacked o3DS is my second fav. I bought a PiBoy DMG, but sold it because there was consistent digital noise on the audio and the fan was too loud.
I own a MI-Pad with a clip mount and played it a few times in the past, but I didn't really like the formfactor and the latency of the bt-connection. It's also a bit wonky, when u play lying in bed. So I got a V90 and a 351P a few days ago and like em alot, for stuff up to GBA / PS1, I prefer those devices. But for more powerful systems, a phone or tablet is a nice and cheap way to play those at full speed.
@@janwendtland8504 My BT connection with my phone was bad too, that's why I got 8Bitdo's pro 2 clip. It has an opening to access the port on the controller for a wired connection. That, coupled with a 3in. cable, works wonders for me (no lag).
@@chriswilliams8039 Yeah, a cable fixes the lag. Maybe I'll opt for that in the future for gamecube etc. But as of now, I have lots of games to play till that happens :)
Yea well, I have an ever cheaper solution...
...I just play snake on my old Nokia 3310!
I got the rg280v because of its size and build. I bring it with me everywhere in my pocket and it's half the size of my phone. The build quality is so good that I spend a lot of time just looking at it.
Even as a girl it fits so well in women's pants and shorts. I don't have any fears of it falling out.
I have the retroid pocket 2, no regrets, best investment I've made in years! By far.
I personally hate mine. The D-Pad is absolutely awful, and it is way too under-powered to handle the version of Android it ships with. Admittedly its not bad if all you want to do with it is play PS1 or N64.
@@MrReddragongamingHD see I don't see any problems with the d pad, other than it being placed above an anolog, and shoulder buttons weirdly placed. I like how it's still stronger than a lot of the other models that came before and after it. You should get it if you plan to play Sega dreamcast and everything below it. Most emulator handheld can't do that.
I don’t understand how RG351M could be unbeaten in performance if there are several handhelds on the list that use the same chipset and there is an RPi-based device there too, that’s likely better at PS1/N64/Dreamcast
Think the RPi one wasn't top of the list due to the huge price!
@@bigload6 Sure, but the RG351V and P, performance-wise, certainly match the RG351M exactly (the V even has the better screen) - plus the M's more expensive than those.
Maybe it was based off of core presets or something
@that one gamer yeah, but it's not as portable and all in one. Phone requires separate controllers which creates bulk and you would have to use your phone for other things while playing games, like if someone called or if you needed to search something but have to pause the game enter browser, search then jump back into game and it'll be a hassle, plus the phone will be overheating hardcore.
@that one gamer Because if I want to play games on my phone, I play games on my phone. If I want that retro-feeling, I want it to feel like I was holding an old GameBoy or GameBoy Advance or similar. The phone with some quirky control-substitute just never feels right. At all.
Oh yes, I have been waiting for this one....
Yo dude have you bought any of these?
You sound indian so I thought I'd ask you, I live in India but can't buy these things cuz AliExpress stopped shipping to india, if you've bought one, how have you done it?
@@Overhaul4721 hey Joshua, very true i am from orange city and yes even i am facing rhe similar issue since government has banned chinese shopping sites. My pick is retroid pocket 2 and i guess the mentioned site is shipping from the states. So i guess that's our last resort.
@@PratikDeshmukh1 I'd once asked anbernic on their website if they delivered to india and they said yes, while retroid said there's no channel available to ship to India
@@PratikDeshmukh1 I wanted a powkiddy q90 but that's only available on AliEx, no official website
@@Overhaul4721 yes I just realised that, above mentioned site and it's warehouse is based out of HK and now I am bit skeptical about their shipping policy. Btw, what consoles fancy you. I want to play mainly SNES, Gensis and PS1 games.
Project Valhalla is the only one I'm looking forward to.
Is that the same as the 199?
@@OzymandiasWasRight yes.
@Robert Elander true that.
That does look good yes, but we're always skeptical before seeing official launch prices/specs.
100 dollars aint affordable
I enjoyed the video, however, I would have liked to see the software interfaces more : how does it look like when you choose an emulator, then a game. Also, what exactly is preloaded, how many games, etc. Perhaps it’s the topic for another video.
I actually want dodo boxer to unbox the One X player 11th gen Intel core, it is very critical somebody out there give their honest opinion on the stuff for folks to be sure. I believe one X player may be afraid for their portable emulator to be tested by him
What a great review, well done honestly I'm so impressed by how you guys got better and better Every time
Love your work, Retro Dodo! You're a great guru guide in the chaotic console crisis. Alliteration for the win.
I've held off of buying any retro handhelds, because I really want N64 at a very decent level, but I don't want to play on a tv anymore since the Switch (the Wii U and the fact that I grew up without tv and with Game Boys may have something to do with it as well, as well as the fact that I live in a forest and rather spend my days outside). Today I bought a Retroid Pocket 2, because I'm sure I'll get around with the "tinkering", I've soft-modded some consoles before and have used several flash cards in Nintendo handhelds, and there's always good guides somewhere on the internet when needed.
Been waiting for this video
I wish the Funkey S ended up on this list but I understand why it didn't. The battery life and size are way too small for regular play.
I feel it should've at least been on the 10th spot, its def better than some spots on this list xD (but makes sense since the size is not proper for everyone)
We love the Funkey S so much but it just can't compete with others on this list. It's like it should be in its own "mini" list. :)
I'm surprised you didn't mention the RK2020 or any of the Odroid Go consoles, they're great.
I'm very happy RG351M owner. It did not disappointed me. It's a bit pricier but absolutely recommended.
0:10 - OMFG, best B-Roll shot I've ever seen!
I was looking forward to this video !!
I would easily recommend getting a Retroid Pocket 2 over a RG351P/M/V any day.
Why?
@@tgran2242 I took advantage of the Android aspect. In my opinion it runs smoother. Yeah its really not ideal for beginners but its not a steep learning curve. Also. I wanted a handheld to run my psp games. The RP2 with the with the setting I have runs psp games better than my RG.
@@sayuu8586 Interesting to hear. I like Android so think I could navigate through the settings as well. Quick question on PSP: What settings do you use on PPSSPP that make it better than the RG351? I have an RG351P and get pretty good performance using the PPSSPP-standalone-go on ArkOS. Interested if you've tried that one and how it compares to RP2.
I disagree. RG351V is really worth it. WiFI, much faster than P/M version: better emulation performance (Nintendo DS/ N64 /PSP/Dreamcast). Since Linux inside - possible to extend: RUclips, mp3 / movie player...
Login via ssh and remote configuration ( you can mount games from server etc...) - This is overkill
@@SieIaQ I did not know it was more powerful than the P&M versions. Thought they had the same chipset so emulation was the same. I could be wrong though.
Dang 2021!!! Im just now seeing these around in 2022!!! Guess I should get out more!
I nearly bought the rg351m based on this video but thankfully suffered buyers remorse before I clicked the purchase button.
which do you suggest for psp emulation?
The RG351M is a miss in my eyes due to Anbernic not putting a higher resolution display in it.
Yes I agree, I much prefer the RG351V from Anbernic
If you grew up loving the original Gameboy then you will think the PiBoy DMG is #1 like I do! I always loved that thick clunky game and the PiBoy is by far my favorite, I take it with me everywhere.
Looks like I'll just keep on waiting...good to see the CPU's getting some better use, tho!
I think the best way to play retrogames on the go, is a Psvita or 3ds with Cfw. Retroarch does a brilliant job and Rom Injection on the 3ds, feels like a native port of our favourite games (even Snes or GBA) 😉
Vita is incredible. Native PSP and PS1 support, ok n64 emulation, excellent 8 and 16 bit emulation
PSP with Custom Firmware could be the best way also.
I have the rg351p and its one of the best handhelds ive ever seen !!
One thing about the firmware for the RG351M/V. I think you should download other firmwares as 351elec or arkOS. With these you can vastly improve n64 and Dreamcast.
Could you make a video about most affordable handhelds?
What do you class as affordable?
@@RetroDodo another idea is the opposite. What devices are around the 200-400$ mark? I cant find anything on those but they probably exsist
@@thenintendogamer1542 Moqui i7s
@Nafis Hussain - The RG300 is probably the best you can get.
@@thenintendogamer1542 within you budget, u can get both Ps vita + new nintendo 3ds xl. Mod them and easy play all retrogames.
I'm becoming addicted to these handhelds I recently picked up the Pocket Go 1 and Original RG350 my 351P will be here tomorrow and I'm thinking which ones I will get next someone send help lol another good video love this channel keep it up.
Thanks! :)
Just a little update I am over the moon about my RG351P I haven't had very long but it's amazing I think I'm good for my retro gaming fix but I might get that 351V for the nostalgia lol I love these devices.
Awesome video. Brings back memories of old tv shows reviewing video games
I went with the smoke grey rg351v, thank you for the list 😊!
Nice! Actually just ordered the RG351M and get it tomorrow.
The 351p is my current daily driver. Its pretty comfortable and easy to use. I hope they make 5.5in model with the same build quality and that gba purple blue shell color and a better chipset soon.
I have the retroid pocket 2, it's awesome I deff recommend it, they failed to mention that it has hdmi out as well.
Hey lad. Great critique! I would have subjectively switched the RP2 with the RG351M but I do understand your personal fondness for the metal iteration. Keep it up young lad. 👍
Why is the rg351m the first place? It's riddled with d pad issues, the screen is lower resolution than the rg351v and it is really heavy not to mention both 351 emuelec and arkos creators said they would stop development for them.
It's really a preference thing with the RG351 series. Most prefer the dual analog and landscape form factor. Personally, I think the Rg351V is the best that's out there.
We've experienced no d-pad issues in any of the RG351M's we've tested. It all comes down to personal preference. :)
I would easily recommend getting a RG351P/M/V over a Retroid Pocket 2 any day.
Not to say there is anything wrong with the RP2 in principle, but mine arrived with Android 6 installed, which made a very bad first impression. It's a sluggish and awful UI. Upgrading it to Android 8 was not hard, but it certainly wasn't easy, and sent my laptop into BSOD each time I tried and in one instance, I thought I had bricked my RP2 (I hadn't). I got there in the end though.
If you're someone lacking IT understanding, that could be painful.
Once you have Android 8 on there, yes it's a vast improvement, but still, just not a pleasant experience of bouncing between mouse, pointer and stick controls to do everything.
And then you simply have the fact, that the RG devices feel so much nicer and more premium than the RP2. 351 Elect is also, just a much nicer front end to use, with Retro Arch, then using Android, with Retro Arch and downloaded apps.
@NostalgiaNgames I would agree Android has so much potential, and more freedom, which is what attracted me to the RP2. But the experience I had was such a mixed bag, and mostly negative. Flashing it to version 8, then testing out Lineage OS (during which I had then had memory card issues), and then returning to Android 8. Experiencing a BSOD each time I flashed the internal memory. The device is now up and going, and with a mix of DIG and RetroArch, it works fine, but I find myself defaulting to my RG351P with 351 Elect, each time. I am tempted by the PocketGO S30 because I'm a fan of 8BITDO, but trying to hold off.
I guess I'm the odd duck of the bunch as I have the rg351v and have tried arkos and 351elec. I kept going back and have now been exclusively using the stock anbernic firmware. I have had no negative issues and wondering why others say the firmware is broken. I also didn't experience any better gameplay from the other firmware as others have claimed. I know my way around RetroArch, so I may have set it up correctly to perform well. I would like to load redream to see if it helps with dc performance.
Great video!
I love this video because you get right to the point! Thank you so much!
On the PiBoy....can I use an image I already have on an SD card on my pi3b unit or will I need to create a new one? Thanks
Great job, love these videos!!
Thanks for a great video! After I bought Retroid Pocket 2 last year I have not followed the handheld market. Nice catching up :)
Great video. Thank you 🙏
The shoulder buttons on the Retroid beat all others out of the park
@Peter Griffin
Shame they put the analogue joystick above the D-pad.
After selling my original Anbernic RG350 for the RG350M because the placement felt awkward, I can't go back.
Your intros are getting better and better with each video 🔥🔥 The GameForce comes clean, interesting. The PG S30 is great value even with its floors. I want that PiBoy, All those USB ports got me hooked😍. That 351V is my Jam, I'm still loving this device. Thanks for such another great video👍
Do these all come preloaded with games?? If not can u do a best of preloaded with games
Love the kenny powers hands fly in the beginning. I been buying handhelds since the OG game boy and buy about 4 of these per year. I am still waiting for one that can play virtua 🎾 tennis on Dreamcast flawlessly. Please please please let us know as soon as you find one as I feel the new chips in the next 2 years will provide us the processing power. Thanks for all the great content and reviews
Will do! Thanks for the kind words!
Great video Brandon.
i loved the butterfly hands across the tech shot. i lol’d
great list, Brandon, solid video. thank you for ur efforts.
Nice review, thnks
Nice list👍
Ordered a RG351P today!! I mostly care about the durability.
Yeah, the RG351M is a great handheld gaming device.
I will continue to use it until the next generation comes out.
The top 10 best. Just of this year? When do we start talking about Market oversaturation?
That's another video in itself. 😅
Can you do a video on some of your favorite DIY handheld kits? Been looking for a fun weekend project that I can take with me and take pride in when I'm done.
ooo super good!
Which of the anbernic consoles would you say are good for emulating games like silent hill etc? I’m after a handheld where I can play retro classics like sonic, Mario, Super Metroid but will also play games from the pS1 era such as crash, Spyro and silent hill etc?
Would the RG351P be a recommendation? I don’t want a handheld that’s over small
I remember few years back they're were only a few companies doing these and they were way more pricey. At that point I got a gpd
Anbernic, I LOOOOOVE mine. I use it for trips, and anything with a bit of down time
I wish the portables had qi wireless charging for the batteries
Lets get it, Dodo.
My RG351M has a wifi interference problem. You can hear a humming that gets louder as I press more buttons/do more actions. Also, it can crash if you have wifi on and it hits 35% battery. I got it for the wifi, but I don't think I like the trade off. It gets nice and cold though, which actually feels great for the 120 seconds it stays that way.
You can still desolder the anthena, is easy and If you can't I doubt someone ask you money for that job
I own an Anbernic RG351P, and just ordered a 351V, and a Retroid Pocket 2, to mess around with.
Great list!
I'm surprised the odroid super go isn't somewhere on the list. It's become my daily driver. Loved the RG351 though.
thank you brother good video
Which website do you think i should buy the RG351M off of? I’m from Ireland and not sure if it’ll definitely deliver if the website is a uk website
Go for Droix.
I bit the bullet and splurged on a PiBoy DMG and put a Pi4 8gb model in there with the hdmi extender so I can plug it into a screen and play multi player with external controllers, or plug in a wireless keyboard and mouse with raspbian installed on another sd card and I have a mini pc. Yeah it's expensive but I like to tinker, customise and overclock things.
I got the RG351M yesterday and the dpad is horrendous. Can't press up or down without left or right being triggered too. Woeful.
can you do a head to head comparison between your number 1 and number 2 on this list?.. I am unsure on which one to go for ..
I'm surprised LCL piboy cm4 isn't mentioned.
I am completely new to this world. What is the difference between RG351M and RG351MP? If a person is interested in something that comes with quite a few games already loaded and can be played out of the box without much (if any) setup, is RG351M still the best choice today?
I own the RG351P, V, and M, and I have to agree that they are all fantastic, high-quality devices. I don't own a PiBoy DMG (yet) but I do own a Raspberry Pi 4 so I'd give that one a higher ranking than it received. The Raspberry Pi 4 is a pretty powerful device as it is, but the ability to make it into a portable form factor where you can take it with you or bring it to a friend's house and hook it up to their tv for some 2-player retro gaming fun is just brilliant. The Pi 4 supports HDMI out, has built-in BlueTooth and WiFi, and you can easily pair 2 controllers to it or more.
Pi 4 sucks lmao
Are those the best places to get the RG351M and retroid pocket 2 from ? are there any stores on amazon uk etc?
Yeah Droix have their own customer service. AliExpress is hit and miss so we chose to partner with someone who can actually help you with the handheld instead of leaving you in the dust.
@@RetroDodo i see well i will check the links out again but thanks
I hope they fixed the flimsy power button on the 351M. I own the 350M and the power button just broke off. I opened it up but it would require soldering the whole part back. So now I just have it for parts.
What would be the best if I only want to play GB/GBC/GBA ? screen size and good shoulder buttons would be most important to me.
I’ve had the Funkey S for about a week now and have been pretty impressed with its performance
It's cool right? :)
@@RetroDodo Love the idea, would buy one if it was half their asking price. High school me would have bought one no matter the price but as an adult with bills...sigh
On the RG351M can you play paper Mario for n64?
Do you think there will be capability for GameCube soon?
So I’m looking for one of these and I’m willing to buy the number one in the list however I need one that has save capability. I want to be able to play old gameboy games like Pokémon and save my progress. But really save my progress on any of the games or else to me the handheld is useless. Do any of these have a save capability?
Where can I pick up the PocketGo S30?
Does the retroid pocket 2 come with games already installed on it or do I have to install them with a computer?
Which retro handheld is pre-loaded/can play Castlevania Symphony of the Night well?
Just wish they were a little more powerful, looking for PS2 and even maybe Wii on a portable (Wii motion controls built in would be awesome).... with 5-5.5" display. Most N64 for does not do it for me, all N64 would impress me.
Nice list... nice units, My Vita and NEW 3DS XL wil hold out for a little longer till we get more powerful and affordable chips...
Thanks for video...
I have rg351m. I m proud of u
OOOHHHHHHHHH. I get it. V, vertical; P, plastic; M, metal; RGB, retro game boy.
280, 2.8''
350, 3.5" I get it now guys!
🤯
12:35 "can play n64 games flawlessly"...
Not true at all. SMH
thank you i was skeptical watching the video
@@cultofsucc5807 don't get me wrong some do play flawless. I beat banjo kazooie and castlevania 64 so far bcuz they run excellent. Mario kart and Mario 64 work amazing as well.
Yeah, it's really annoying how (with the exact same chip) he gives different ratings for how these systems perform, strictly based on how much he likes the company making the (internally identical) product. Love the channel but it's frustrating at best and misleading at worst for those not in the know.
@@jrb363 seriously! If tha chip don't upgrade then it's tha same shit over and over again. Glad someone else realizes
So interesting how there's never been a good handheld yet that can emulate the N64 yet
Hey guys! So I have a 1st gen PS vita. The one with a OLED display. Is there any reason to move over to something like this? Or should I just rock my jailbroken vita?
I'd say just rock your jailbroken vita. It more than likely outperform these Chinese consoles by a mile