I just got mine a couple of days ago and I love how portable it is for the type of games it is able to play. I’m more of an action/fighter/shooter gamer so I’m in a different genre than the majority of people who play handheld. I like how I’m able to just put it in my pocket when I’m done, feels just like a phone. I’m glad it can play some PS2 and GameCube games, and if I get an itch to play PS2, I try to find a similar game in the PSP library. If I REALLY wanted to play ps2 games, then I pack my steam deck in my bag and take that with me. It just takes up too much space. 😅 I’ll probably stick with the 405m until somebody out there eventually can make a system that can handle PS2 and GameCube games almost natively in the same size
This is my first retro console device, I'm really impressed. You can expand the psp to full screen. the 4:3 is perfect for retro games as you don't have those borders to play it perfectly. The android games like symphony of the night fit perfect without black bars and other older console titles ported. Sadly the screen has popped on the right side and I have reached out to ambernic amd hopefully get it sorted soon.
Seen the exact same thing with 5 different people on Reddit. Has me worried. Tho mine just shipped today 10 days after I ordered it >:( so hopefully that's a good sign that they fixed this in quality control.
Before I place my order, I thought I’d ask if MAME is compatible on here. There are a lot of Toaplan, Cave and Capcom shooters I love to play, so that would be a big selling point. Great video and thanks for all the info!
You talk about higher resolution but most retro games you play on this are close integers of 640x480. Dreamcast is exactly 640x480 so it is perfect 1:1 pixel map. Others like NeoGeo and arcade, Genesis (Genesis is very slightly less than 240 but integer scale will be clean with very small screen size loss), PS1 are very close to if not exactly 320x240 so they easily double to an even 640x480 without distorted pixels or blurry bilinear filtering. The only thing higher res will really make a difference with is Android games and stuff like Switch.
Great review! I love playing SNES on my Retroid 3+. Which can display larger text in 4:3 on the RG405M and Retroid3+? I have presbyopia and would like to display larger text.
Why do you need a higher resolution? With 640*480 you get pixel perfec DC and GC, and even scaling of 320x240 games, which is also "pixel perfect". The 4:3 screen is the whole point of this device (and I'm waiting for mine atm). Did you try GC Resident Evil games on this?
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds afterthought. Desire to have higher resolutions and higher ppi display is legit, since we all have that higher ppi displays in our smartphones, and used to them. But reasonable hi-ppi resolution for 4-4.5 screen will be 1280x960. Nobody makes such displays, they need to be custom ordered from factory, which rises the cost. But to render DC and GC in that resolution you will need more powerful SoC, which also rises the cost. I think to about 400$. Such thing should be crowdfunded.
What’s the best (preferably vertical) handheld for purely retro games? Nintendo NES/SNES/64, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis/Game Gear, Gameboy? Can this one be it or would it be overkill? Not really interested in PSx/Wii, etc.
Does upscaling do anything since the screen can only output 480? Not a dealbreaker for me just curious if I misinterpreted the total resolution of the device.
You know, turns out I had it wrong. I initially thought it wasn't, with it rendering at a higher resolution to sharpen the image, but seems it is limited to the device resolution. Appreciate you pointing it out, TIL I was wrong
I think this device comes with pre installed games. However, first thing you should do anyway, is getting rid of the prepackaged SD card, buy a good quality one (Samsung, SanDisk or other reputable brand) and build your own game library. The included SD cards are of very bad quality and break quickly. Also, the included games library is ... a mess to say the least. Best to get the games you want to play manually.
Hey I've got one of these. On their front end when I play ps1 the game opens with retroarch even though duckstation is installed - is there anyway to set it to open with duckstation? Just so I can up resolution etc
Try following my setup video, should get you setup properly. Don't skip through, cause I go through setting right player as well. If still issues after, let me know, but most of the time it's wrong configuration.
Hey, unless Retroid sends one out to me for review, then most likely not. It's unfortunately not a device I'm interested in otherwise, clamshell isn't for me.
I wish they had a 16:10 version, since it scales to 4:3 and 16:9 better than either do to each other. Moreover, Gameboy advance is 3:2 which also stretches on 4:3 while 16:10 would give enough room for a cool border instead of basic black borders on a tiny(er) image or stretched GBA to 4:3. 16:10 is also what old PAL consoles use (720 × 480P for things like Dreamcast, GameCube and Xbox) so it'd really be rad to have one.
@Joey's Retro Handhelds I really want to play this. I already have a ps2 , GameCube, wii and 3ds. When I want to play when I'm out or chilling in my living room. I can play this when the cold weather comes again. Illinois brings the cold and heat.
why does everyone that does a review on the rg405 never mention the rg505 which came out before and also has the same chipset as the retroid pocket 3 plus also even, the people that did a review on the 505 first never bring it up on the 405 review like they are trying to pretend the 505 didnt exist
I just got mine a couple of days ago and I love how portable it is for the type of games it is able to play. I’m more of an action/fighter/shooter gamer so I’m in a different genre than the majority of people who play handheld. I like how I’m able to just put it in my pocket when I’m done, feels just like a phone.
I’m glad it can play some PS2 and GameCube games, and if I get an itch to play PS2, I try to find a similar game in the PSP library.
If I REALLY wanted to play ps2 games, then I pack my steam deck in my bag and take that with me. It just takes up too much space. 😅
I’ll probably stick with the 405m until somebody out there eventually can make a system that can handle PS2 and GameCube games almost natively in the same size
This is my first retro console device, I'm really impressed.
You can expand the psp to full screen. the 4:3 is perfect for retro games as you don't have those borders to play it perfectly.
The android games like symphony of the night fit perfect without black bars and other older console titles ported.
Sadly the screen has popped on the right side and I have reached out to ambernic amd hopefully get it sorted soon.
Seen the exact same thing with 5 different people on Reddit. Has me worried. Tho mine just shipped today 10 days after I ordered it >:( so hopefully that's a good sign that they fixed this in quality control.
I was about to order but saw your message and found out about the screen issue.... That sucks... Better keep my money then 😢
@@thenative602 so far mines been good. Had it for a while.
You deserve way more Subs. You do a phenomenal job in explaining things. 😊
Before I place my order, I thought I’d ask if MAME is compatible on here. There are a lot of Toaplan, Cave and Capcom shooters I love to play, so that would be a big selling point. Great video and thanks for all the info!
Should be! I play arcade games via finalburn neo.
You talk about higher resolution but most retro games you play on this are close integers of 640x480. Dreamcast is exactly 640x480 so it is perfect 1:1 pixel map. Others like NeoGeo and arcade, Genesis (Genesis is very slightly less than 240 but integer scale will be clean with very small screen size loss), PS1 are very close to if not exactly 320x240 so they easily double to an even 640x480 without distorted pixels or blurry bilinear filtering. The only thing higher res will really make a difference with is Android games and stuff like Switch.
Yep, it was a mistake on my part noticed in another comment, but good call out!
Great review!
I love playing SNES on my Retroid 3+.
Which can display larger text in 4:3 on the RG405M and Retroid3+?
I have presbyopia and would like to display larger text.
Why do you need a higher resolution? With 640*480 you get pixel perfec DC and GC, and even scaling of 320x240 games, which is also "pixel perfect". The 4:3 screen is the whole point of this device (and I'm waiting for mine atm). Did you try GC Resident Evil games on this?
It was a mistake, corrected in another comment. I have not tried RE GC games yet, but my next video is a GC showcase.
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds that's nice, will wait for it
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds afterthought. Desire to have higher resolutions and higher ppi display is legit, since we all have that higher ppi displays in our smartphones, and used to them. But reasonable hi-ppi resolution for 4-4.5 screen will be 1280x960. Nobody makes such displays, they need to be custom ordered from factory, which rises the cost. But to render DC and GC in that resolution you will need more powerful SoC, which also rises the cost. I think to about 400$. Such thing should be crowdfunded.
Great review. Are you Henchman 21 from Venture Bros? You sound just like him.
LOL! No I'm not :)
Thank you for showcasing Tetris! Did you notice any false diagonals that were particularly detrimental in any games you played?
Weirdly enough, sometimes Pokemon. Moving upwards, sends me left or right. But not often or a concern.
What’s the best (preferably vertical) handheld for purely retro games? Nintendo NES/SNES/64, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis/Game Gear, Gameboy?
Can this one be it or would it be overkill? Not really interested in PSx/Wii, etc.
RG353V fits that.
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds anything that’s horizontal and pocketable that fits that? Sorry I mistyped in my op.
405M is super pocketable and I'd highly recommend it. Otherwise, RG353M is a good one as well.
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds looked at the RG353M as well, I like that it has hdmi output. Tough decision between the two. Which would you pick?
The 405M is better in every way unless you want Linux or HDMI out. So it'll depend on how important that is to you.
What tweaks did you do for Simpsons Hit and Run PS2?
Does upscaling do anything since the screen can only output 480? Not a dealbreaker for me just curious if I misinterpreted the total resolution of the device.
You know, turns out I had it wrong. I initially thought it wasn't, with it rendering at a higher resolution to sharpen the image, but seems it is limited to the device resolution. Appreciate you pointing it out, TIL I was wrong
Liked and Subbed Thanks
I just ordered this. Can u tell me if it comes with final fantasy tactics? Thanks
I think this device comes with pre installed games.
However, first thing you should do anyway, is getting rid of the prepackaged SD card, buy a good quality one (Samsung, SanDisk or other reputable brand) and build your own game library.
The included SD cards are of very bad quality and break quickly. Also, the included games library is ... a mess to say the least. Best to get the games you want to play manually.
awesome video! Did I hear right that you can download stuff directly to the device? ( legal stuff only of course.)
Sure can! It's Android, no limits. I'm frequently using it to download things directly to it with the Firefox browser.
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds thanks again! Appreciate it!!!!
Hey I've got one of these. On their front end when I play ps1 the game opens with retroarch even though duckstation is installed - is there anyway to set it to open with duckstation? Just so I can up resolution etc
Hey, sorry not sure, I don't use their front end. Try digging around their settings and see if it's possible.
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds I installed daijsho but when I hit import it said java error 😟
Try following my setup video, should get you setup properly. Don't skip through, cause I go through setting right player as well. If still issues after, let me know, but most of the time it's wrong configuration.
Are you gonna review the retroid flip?
Hey, unless Retroid sends one out to me for review, then most likely not. It's unfortunately not a device I'm interested in otherwise, clamshell isn't for me.
I wish they had a 16:10 version, since it scales to 4:3 and 16:9 better than either do to each other.
Moreover, Gameboy advance is 3:2 which also stretches on 4:3 while 16:10 would give enough room for a cool border instead of basic black borders on a tiny(er) image or stretched GBA to 4:3.
16:10 is also what old PAL consoles use (720 × 480P for things like Dreamcast, GameCube and Xbox) so it'd really be rad to have one.
Not to mention, PSP is 16:9 which looks atrocious on 4:3 but scales beautifully to 16:10.
Hi, where u order ur console and how long u wait?
Hey, here's a link: bit.ly/40GVxVZ. It was under two weeks to Canada with regular shipping.
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds from china yes?
Yep, it's direct from Anbernic which is in China. Amazon might have it at a markup, not sure, I prefer to order straight.
@Joey's Retro Handhelds I'm going to order this soon. I hope delivery to America 🇺🇸 doesn't take too long.
@Joey's Retro Handhelds I really want to play this. I already have a ps2 , GameCube, wii and 3ds. When I want to play when I'm out or chilling in my living room. I can play this when the cold weather comes again. Illinois brings the cold and heat.
why does everyone that does a review on the rg405 never mention the rg505 which came out before and also has the same chipset as the retroid pocket 3 plus also even, the people that did a review on the 505 first never bring it up on the 405 review like they are trying to pretend the 505 didnt exist
cause it's BUTT UGLY
Everybody is doing reviews, but no videos on how to install emulators & roms!
Check my other video :)
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds RG405M ultimate setup?
That's the one!
Make a tuto for switch please
how to setting gameboy games with colour 😱 ?
In game, RetroArch settings, core options, GB Colorization to Auto.
I just purchased this debit and I have no damn super Mario games smh
Promo*SM