Two points for your consideration: 1. Yes I tried all sorts of tricks to get the AV out to work, including plugging it in when the device was off, changing NTSC/PAL, etc. Nothing worked. 2. Wow, you all seem to really like the sound of cats dying
Is it only two RCA cables? In my experience, some TVs will misbehave if you're only using mono sound. Unless there are 3 cables plugged in they simply won't detect a signal.
@@MyNameIsBucket my CRT TV works fine with just one or two of the cables plugged in! It’s very common for cheap handhelds to ship with AV cables but that the video out doesn’t actually work, I’ve seen that more often than not. My guess is that is what’s happening here.
From my POV one of the most attractive features is the 18650 and I've been mind boggled that none of the retro consoles have gone this route because that is both cheap to implement, and a very user-friendly feature. No worries about battery life. Carry a spare or three. Charge one while you're playing. Never have to put the device down to charge, never have to use a cable while you play. Many people have 18650 chargers already for vape, flashlight, bike lights, and I wish there was legislation forcing manufacturers to use 18650 instead of proprietary batteries except where the device needs to be thinner.
ALL devices (phones, tablets, SteamDeck) should have easily replaceable batteries so you can swap them out on the go without having to wait for a charge.
At this point I dont really watch rgc to buy new devices (although he does make things very tempting) but more because the content itself is just fun to watch ;)
i'm the opposite, i have to stop myself from buying everything. even devices like this which clearly lead to disappointment and frustration once the novelty dies down, look so cool
i'm the exact same way, I've never bought one of these handheld emulators but the more I watch russ's content the more I'm interested in picking one up
I really like these devices under 30 dollars when they're competent enough, it's a limited experience but it has its use cases, great to gift to smaller children, and they're pretty popular here in Brazil since the conversion rates from Dollar to Real are so bad, lower wage people also like something to play on the bus! That "Sup" console sold so well here and it's just a famiclone. I'd like more videos like this one because my co-workers will sometimes ask for recommendations like this for their nieces, nephews, grandmas.
All these handhelds are trash, you can get used android phone and telescopic controller for cheaper that will be many times more powerful and better experience
@@Leon-bp6kb the retro handheld community buys retro handhelds because WE DON'T WANT A PHONE WITH A TELESCOPIC CONTROLLER. I'm sure you think you're clever but we've all heard it a thousand times.
Showing my son something like this and then letting him play just opens my eyes. Since he wouldn't even notice the stuff you mentioned. I wouldn't be able to not see it. Just reminds me of how I could happily play like him. Then as an adult, I go back and see the games I played and my jaw drops because how could I have played it?
I guess there's just a fascination we have with devices really pushing the lower limit of cheap. But when almost everything is a little wrong and half of it is really wrong, I can't find the same sort of enthusiasm some people have. I do think if they had a curated selection of games that actually worked on the device it'd at least fill that niche of being something you could buy for a kid.
There's a working custom firmware that works on this device as of now, with other widely used custom firmwares for these style of devices being worked on. Currently the custom firmware runs everything much better and with none of the same glaring issues. If you're just going to use it out the box then I agree with you. But with minimal effort you can make it better. Give it six months for the firmware to get to 1.0 and the others to support it and I'd say this will be more than worth it.
This. These devices are nothing new. Wish and other platforms have been selling them for about 10 years now and considering the price points of actual good handhelds (like most Anbernic models) are so low (sub $200) that there's no point being *this* cheap unless you're buying it for a child or incapable of saving up money for something actually worth buying.
@@Gravijahz That would come down to personal opinion but the $100 devices certainly meet a different standard. There may be drawbacks in the design and emulation for each of them but you're getting a device that will play a wide range of consoles/games at good quality out of the box.
Don't spread misinformation please. Only 2 tools to modify the stock firmware have been released, and the chip at the heart of this handheld does not make it easy to port a custom. It's not your common Linux AllWinner yknow.
Received mine two weeks ago (almost 2 1/2 months after this review). Everything functions correctly and they do have a favorites folder now. I got mine for $16 on Aliexpress and couldn't be happier with the purchase. Only issue is that some of the more advanced games freeze or are too slow to enjoy playing. Overall, I highly recommend this for someone new to retro handhelds or as a gift.
I love how we've come so far with gaming, miniaturization, and mass production that now, flaws aside, what amounts to a SNES controller can fit in your pocket and play thousands of games from multiple systems, all for just $25.
This isn't the case here sadly. This thing is awful the games don't run that well, most games are copies which comes with all retro systems 99% of all these handhelds aren't worth even $5. There's some amazing handhelds out there but they don't cost anything close to this crap 😂
@@CJ_725fr this guys sounds so spoiled like bro it’s 5 BUCKS what do you WANT!?? You can’t even buy a damn cheeseburger from most places for that price 😂
Hey, I'm all for easy compatibility and replacement, but having your device run on a beast like the 18650 implies a certain "thicc-ness" that many disdain. But it sure helps keep cost down. I'm not knocking it at all, I'm just trying to look at it from the perspective of 'kids these days' who like every mobile device to be so thin that you can shave with it.
@@Boogie_the_cat i dont care about thickness, and a device that uses 18650 means that you can buy like 3 of those batteries, charge them, now you have 3 times the battery life. Hot swappable batteries means there is no battery anxiety.
@@gorebish7950 The first Miyoo Mini version (literally the first model not the V2 model) as well as the V90 have replaceable battery options. I wish more products would embrace that too.
Hopefully more handhelds use 18650 batteries. 2-4 pcs of them in parallel can give really good battery capacity, not to mention they're cheap and easily available anywhere too.
Yes yes yes. I've been saying this for ages. 🙂 ALL devices (phones, tablets, SteamDeck) should have easily replaceable batteries so you can swap them out on the go without having to wait for a charge.
Like what? This thing doesn't even perform well playing 16 bit titles. You can spend 4-5 times as much (which is still undeniably cheap) and get something that actually works, can play up to 64 bit era titles without issue and will actually last. This is at best a gimmick gift for a child.
@@sunnygalli could* being the key word. But someone still needs to actually develop that, there's no guarantees. Not to mention these also use cheaper components in general so the lifespan of the device before something dies or breaks isn't likely to be long. So why bother? Save a little bit more and get something that actually works and will last.
You have to restart the SNES games sometimes to make them run full speed. Also the history section is good for locating the games you often like to play. The search section is invaluable to find the game your looking for.
One thing to note is that you cannot use your own SD card in this device because no CFW exists and you cannot clone the OEM card. I tried using a physical sector clone to another SD card and it fails to load on the device despite having passed verification tests. My guess is that there is some sort of copy protection involved.
YES YOU CAN! There is an open source project called 'hsk00' that is designed to let you add/remove/clone the sd for this device. If you see this it might be a good idea to edit your original comment so people know it's possible
It's still a PITA if you have to ressort to an external tool to add contents. I always avoided iPods or kindle devices because of such restrictions, here on a chinese retrohandeld, with linux or Android based alternatives on the market, it's nonsense to me. Of course if you don't intend to add your own games on such a device (or versions of the games in your own language), it doesn't matter much.
This thing looks amazing for the price. I enjoy modding this kind of stuff, the fact it's mainly d pad and button issues makes it a really easy fix. The 18650 vape battery thing is a great bonus too.
It's NOT a great bonus. Those types of batteries are extremely volatile and prone to exploding. Yes, you read that correctly, I mean quite LITERALLY EXPLODING. How do I know? Because it actually happened to me and almost killed me. No wonder this piece of junk is so cheap. It's powered by a cheaply made ticking time bomb.
@@extract8058 The reason they explode is because those who vape push the envelope of the battery's discharge capability. Most people don't understand different 18650 cells discharge capability or they buy the cheapest of the cheap. Safest bet for something like this is to buy a protected 18650 battery that has over charging and discharging cut off.
6:00 It looks perfect. Back then when we're young the original controller fit perfectly in our small hands. Now we have additonal extra space for our grown larger hands, so we can still have a lot of fun with it. 😂
this deserves another look, gba fix, snes fix, custom themes, and it's all in an exe that makes it a few clicks to fun town... having a blast with this, and aliexpress 15 bucks no shipping... my god brah
People have already found what the CPU is so custom firmware will be in the future. I honestly think it's great for 25 dollary doos but should be capable of a lot more with tweaking.
@@bnister No one said it did lead to something just showing up. But knowing the cpu is a big step forward. Never underestimate the tenacity of gamers wanting cheap shit.
This device seems pretty underwhelming, but it has gotten me thinking about how cool it would be to have a retro form factor handheld for each big classic console, which is designed as a portable version of that console. In the way that this looks and feels like a portable SNES within that system's controller design, imagine a Genesis or NES or PS1 controller with a screen in the middle. With performance, aspect ratio, and controls finely tuned to fit just those systems, I feel like THAT would make for a cool collectible gift to give family and friends. Like my dad loved the Genesis we had when I was a kid, so I'd like to be able to give him a handheld Genesis that looks and feels familiar and intuitive.
I feel like it would be a good move for Nintendo in particular, thanks to their massive back catalog, to sell individual "Game & Watch" style systems like this packaged with a single game each. It would be a smart way to lower the cost of entry to becoming a fan of their games (no $200 console needed) and provide a legal alternative to emulating their oldest titles.
@@aidanandreasen2611 packaged with a single game? hell no. maybe game themes. Mario games, classic RPGs, beat-em-ups, arcade fighters. But i sure wouldnt spend what they would inevitably charge for just one classic game.
These "aliexpress consoles" brings back memories! Before aliexpress was a thing, you can occasionally see them in larger neighborhood market markets among awful LCD handhelds. They were the usually the cream of the whole toy collection (a couple hundred yuan vs 40 yuan for a bootleg transformer or an LCD handheld) I'd stand there staring at it every time I go for grocery with my mom. With no hope of ever getting a PSP (even if I can save up a few thousand somehow, my mom would never allow it), I'd drool in my sleep over them.
this deserves another look, i got one for 10 bucks and most of your dislikes are pretty much “fixed” now in the latest software update. plus there’s a new way to play multiple systems now that’s hijacked within the GBA core.
Screen tearing and SNES performance is fixed? By how much is the performance fixed? 100% would be great since it's basically supposed to be an SNES emulator
@@AE-bm4nodon't quote me on this but I think it runs all SNES games except the ones that use the FX & FX² chips. So no star Fox or mario world 2. I'm not sure what other games used those chips. Not many though.
Got mine since two weeks and completely agree to what you said in your video. There's quite some things i really like about it, f.e. that it takes 18650 batteries, btw button top AND flat top. But out of the box as it is, there's much i wish would work better. My guess is, IF we get some custom firmware focussing on better emulation performance, then this thing may become a real gem. And after some searching around with google i learned on reddit that there are quite some people working on that.
Prove me otherwise, but I don't know a single person working on the custom firmware for any of ALi Tech chips (or clones thereof as used in this handheld). It just gets too damn expensive (time is money) working from the grounds up, and the manufacturer only has a proprietary closed source SDK for this lineup. I've learned some internals via leaked sources, but that's not even remotely enough to go fully custom
😂 not only have you contributed to keeping a device in production that'll undoubtedly see most of its units become e-waste in 12 months but you think it has benefits for its price point. Oh my sweet summer child.
@@beowulf1417 have you even watched the video, or at least "likes and dislikes" and the "conclusion" ? Retro Game Corps can't and won't recommend this handheld, and that is what i completely agree to, not as it is. Additionally, i'm an early adopter and ordered one right after it came out, to take a look on it and come to an own opinion. Didn't write a single word about the price, and you obviously did not get what i think.
@@nopadelik9286 you bought it and you think custom firmware is a possibility for it. I don't need to put much stock in what you say or think let's just put it that way 😂
Most of your dislikes can be fixed or have already been fixed. Button mapping is completely changeable with the new software. Favorites function too. There are too many roms, but with Tadpole you can remove them. Screen brightness is definitely problematic. As for emulation, the new updates seem to fix a lot of the games that had poor performance. Even some more demanding titles run well enough to be playable. Only one I found that wouldn't run was Mario World 2. This review is very out of date. I've been using this for a week and it's brilliant.
@@janX9 Fair enough- however you might not have to update anything. Chances are if it came in a different box than the one in this video, it's a newer version and is running v1.6 or v1.71
If you place Master System roms in the ROMS folder it'll play those as well. I converted Game Gear roms to SMS & they play great. R button is Start, B is 1, & A is 2
Fixing the button mapping and customizing the ROM list goes a long way in improving the experience on this. But, I agree about avoiding faster paced games, because the screen tearing is distracting. Anyway, the design is charming enough and it plays a lot well enough that I do find myself picking it up and messing around for a while even though I have several other much better handhelds.
Amazing times we live in. Both the SF2000 for $16 and the R36S for $39 deserve to go down in history as forever industry-changing devices. I wouldn't mind buying both devices in bulk to hold onto, as I do believe they'll be remembered as the 2 devices that changed budget emulation handheld expectations permanently.
Reminds me of the pocketgo s30 which first introduced me to your channel. I went though all the steps of simple 30 on that thing and pushed it to the max. Then found thr retropie guy offering a preloaded sd card which I bought and boy did it make that thing just flawless to use and I still drag it out from time to time to play sum super nintendo and gba games
12:27 The "A" and "B" buttons being swapped is actually in line with XBox controllers which have the "A" button on the bottom and the "B" button on the right side. Given that a large portion of handheld/console gamers use XBox styled controllers the configuration of those buttons seem in line with that.
Maybe a custom firmware could help with the performance, screen and control issues. It is a shame. I was interested because of the looks of the handheld and the fact that it uses 18650 cells. You dont see that often. Maybe in the future they can offer a better emulation experience at the same price point and when that happens it will be an instabuy for me.
@@dilley_esq25 dollars still expensive i bought this in shoppee for about 15 bucks free shipping but i still dont recommend it the led red light is eyesore especially playing in the dark still slow emulation in gba
I'm amazed no other videos mentioned the worthless d-pad. That and the swapped buttons are the biggest deal breakers out of all the issues with the screen tearing right behind them. And so odd the light purple buttons aren't all made concave and vice versa as they got the rest of the look spot on.
ChaossX7...i was surprised Russ didn't criticize it much...other reviews and a forum have pointed out this Dpad issue...the method to improve it is fit one from a real SFC/SNES controller...i guess i'll be trying that when mine arrives end of the month...i also grabbed from the forum a link to what the community claim is backup firmware...its the ripped firmware i assume...in case you get corrupted...it'll have to do as there's not gonna be CFW anytime soon...the chip numbers are sanded off...that'll be a challenge to the community...we'll see if the genius hackers ever get past this hurdle...i won't hold my breath
So glad to see a video on this! (I know it's weird) There is just something really great about a device that comes in at such a low price. Even if I never touch it again it's actually a great little design that I hope pushes chinese low end devices to do better.
Compared to what we had back in the 70s, this is amazing for the money! (now £15 in the UK) I hope it has Zelda in some form or another. Good review, thanks
I’ve seen other people say that if you close and open the SNES games a few times, they run much much smother. Overall, thanks for the video. Always hitting the technical and higher details. Hopefully there will e some custom firmware hitting this guy soon! Would be a great gift for kids.
You may not see this but I just want to thank you. Because of your review i will be buying this item as my first cheap emulator. Im not a hardcore gamer but i get a nostagia bug and from what ive seen i think its worth the $33 that i found it for. Thank you for the review without it i may have passed up emulators.
i like seeing you mod the buttons, thats a very common thing to do on some controllers, add a piece of plastic or card. you should try it on the center of the dpad.
Costed me 10 bucks! I am in love! Why? Not sure i got so many handhelds but i found myself tweaking this one to see if this “crap” can work correctly, I found mine has “favorites” and I improved the battery , updated the firmware and install a new OS card with purple/multicore and it works decent… with better games selection and correct aspect ratios and colors for GB, i bought it for my little daughter and she already throw it like 3 times to the ground making it stop and the on / off led turned yellow and screen black but switch it off and on, and it works!! seems to be as hard as a Nokia 3200 series, and I dont see my Miyoo Mini V2 resisting my little lovely gremlin. Screen tearing is not as bad as with the initial stock but is still there.
I saw the buzz, picked up one for my kids to go with their rg300. This one seemed to hit the sweet spot, cheap, able to add your own roms, and up to gba for pokemon. I was able to start Pokemon unbound which was kinda cool, seeing how the rg300 wouldn't even open the rom on stock firmware. There was some audio distortion but they can live with it till they can buy their own. ;)
For the price it really is impressive, but at the same time you're so much better off to pay more for an RG35XX or Miyoo Mini. It would be pretty cool if it gets hacked and tweaked into being more stable, though
It's such a piece of trash. I got it a week ago. It's literally awful and miserable to use. But it's also only $25. I feel like this pushes the limit of how low the experience can be. How miserable it can get. I got a headache and eye strain playing this. It was awful.
My experience with Nintendo style cross d-pads in general is that the diagonals are hard to input. It's why I prefer the circle and Plus d-pad like you see on Sega consoles. That little extra plastic gives you something to press on.
It's mind blowing to me that the Sega Saturn/Genesis six button D-pad isn't copied for everything. It's not just the shape of the pad itself but the way it functions underneath.
The community wouldn't even with the chip in the clear, it only runs closed source software. Sanding off is a penchant of theirs to ward off potential Chinese knockoffs. There's also a software protection, it won't boot the firmware even if cloned 1:1.
Just received mine a couple of weeks ago and there is now the option to map buttons and a folder to dave your favorites to. I messed around with the frogtool as well and was able to tweak the 4 games that appear for each system and add my own scraped artwork. Cheers, J
Landfill. One thing none of these channels have questioned (that i've seen) is the batteries in these super cheap products and what's going to happen with them over the next 1-5 to 10 years. Just more cheapo toxic battery mess being generated over and over
As a fighting game ethusiast, the mushy d-pad would be a dealbreaker for me. But I just have to replace the membrane, like I already did with my SNES mini controller (they got worn out), it's the same construction. Seems easy, I will buy it!
Edit: seems to have to much emulation issues and no native button mapping option. Together with the bad button quality/feeling, it's just not worth to mess around with all those flaws. I regret buying it, not even for the cheap price.
I just bought one of these pretty good for the money, I swapped out the D pad for one from a broken retroflag SNES controller and that eliminated the pivot problems.
I've had mine for a few days,the good is the build quality,button placement, replaceable battery,and the analog stick is awesome for a device this cheap,it's as smooth as a device that costs $100 or more so the d pad not being able to point at a 45 degree angle really isn't a deal breaker.The bad is not only do some of the SNES run bad(which is almost certain for something that costs $30 or less)but on this device a lot of the GBA games are affected too, every other emulator and all it's games including all the MAME games I've played run just fine as far as I can tell.Ive got 2 other devices that cost me less than $30 one being a variation the X9 handheld and both seem to run all GBA games just fine.
USB type C? Common user serviceable battery? Firmware stored on SD card instead of soldered chip? Community driven improvements? I don't buy the e-waste angle, sorry
The 18650 Battery is EXTREMELY common in devices like these. One advantage here is that it is removable, meaning that you can buy extras and a charger (A couple of 18650s and a charger for them will run about $20) and have spare batteries. This is also usually healthier for these batteries.
Hello sir. Super late to the party, but I just purchased one recently. For the price of a couple fancy cheeseburgers, I couldn't resist! 😅 I found that some issues you found have been corrected on mine (favorites, button mapping, etc..). Not sure if there's a way to update your firmware, but I've found mine worth more than the asking price. Thanks
Honestly, the screen tearing doesn't seem to be much of a problem for me. Yes, it's apparent, but only if you are actually looking for it. They are mostly playable.
I can guess two things from this video with a fair amount of certainty: a) Russ has training in Neuro-linguistic programming, using language to influence and make impressions on his viewers on a subconscious level. From this we can deduce that he doesn't feel guilt about leveraging his understanding of human psychology in order to control or manipulate his viewers into engaging in or refraining from certain behaviors- for example, spending money on an Anbernic device with the same chipset as another device they already have. b) he takes money from certain manufacturers to give more favorable reviews, and manufacturers who don't pay up don't get the benefit of the doubt. And, judging by the way he uses language in this video, I can confidently say that DataFrog didn't pay the sponsorship fee.
I don't know that I'd prefer it over my current LeapFrog tablet. Mine teaches me the different sounds that various animals make, and it plays a tube when I match up the animal with the correct noise it makes. My LeapFrog tablet makes me feel like a big man who is smart and strong. It's hard to imagine any other handheld device that can do that. On a serious (ish) note, there needs to be some easy way to describe the difficulty hitting diagonals that some d pads have. It should be a number to keeps things simple, where 1 is hard and 10 is easy. I nominate "hadouken scale" for a name. Yuk yuk yuk.
Just echoing other comments, but I'd love to see more of these super cheap handhelds! They'd be a great jumping in point for new buyers, gifts for others, or those (like me) who love seeing the most competent cheap choices.
It's currently on sale for 10-13$ on Ali so I'm really tempted to buy it and just wait for Custom Firmware (which is in early stages of development). Lack of PC Engine library is a dealbreaker for me, but for that price I can just wait while playing my MM+
@@CenturionKZ for the record, 10-13$ prices are on com and us Ali versions. russian counterpart shows the price as 10 570 ₸ from the same sellers so maybe you out of luck with this offer if ru site is primary in Kazakhstan.
Yeah the price makes things more forgiving for sure. I found it super easy to do fireballs and dragon punches with the dpad, maybe I was just lucky. These cheap devices are always fun😂
This is definitely a part of the market I would be interested in. Honestly all I want is a NES/SNES/gb/gbc/gba device that can do multiplayer including link cable so I can give one to my daughter and keep one for myself and play 2 player games with her (preferably including pokemon).
Spend more than 5 minutes researching handhelds and you'll find exactly what you need for between $50-100 from better brands that don't just pump out garbage e-waste like this.
I like that this device is pushing the lower limits of handheld emulation devices. Similar to how the Steam Deck, ROG Ally and others are pushing the higher limits of said devices I think it's important that we progress in both directions because, let's face it, there are PLENTY of people who either can't or don't want to drop 500+ dollars on a handheld gaming device. For me, I think this shows that $25 is REALLY pushing the lower limit. They may have even found the floor(for now). I think the device looks cool and the construction seems solid, but all the problems with the devices main function(playing games) makes it a hard pass for me. Awesome to anyone who can enjoy it though. Great review!
About the AV cable... Ok I know this is really obvius, but did you try switching what plug goes into what socket. Some AV cables are wired differently internally for some reason.
for the price to performance ratio is it unmatch, i got one around US 15 !!! u can play arcade, GB, GBC, master system, megadrive/gensis at enjoyable rate. yes for GBA, SNES games hit and miss. but i try them and some games are playable, SNES super mario seem okay. Aerofighter is also good. for this dirt cheap price. this is really really good value. need people to work on the custom OS to improve GBA, SNES and also add PC engine to the emulator.
I feel like for the small amount more, that clamshell from powkiddy, the model name escapes me, but I think it's v90, offers so much more for the dollar.
I finally realized that your music changed a year back and I have to say that I love the new music. Not necessarily because it's better music but because it's much less loud when I binge watch at night and it doesn't bother my wife as much.
I've got this device, it has got a button mapping option and a favourites list. When on the user roms & settings screen just scroll to the left or right and it's there. As for the other issues 🤗,
I love the form factor and the battery situation. The analog stick is weirdly close to the screen, but, meh. The menus look inspired and the search function are fine. I don't actually think the lack of a Favorites folder would hurt that much. The price is low. However; I have no real coding ability and while I can follow instructions to install other peoples' code, there's no guarantee that anything that'll fix all of its issues will ever be made. I can forgive the screen tearing as long as the colors are bright and punchy; but as you've shown, it doesn't run anything correctly. I respect the SNES; but I have zero nostalgia for it other than for those games that were ported to the GBA. And this doesn't run those well either. The idea of spending $25 on a SNES controller shaped thing to put on a shelf, a thing that only can run most ancient games mediocre-ly isn't a good idea to me.
Two points for your consideration:
1. Yes I tried all sorts of tricks to get the AV out to work, including plugging it in when the device was off, changing NTSC/PAL, etc. Nothing worked.
2. Wow, you all seem to really like the sound of cats dying
but did you try to plug it in backwards? many times the cables they send are reversed.
@@RetroTamGames yes, did that too 😎
Is it only two RCA cables? In my experience, some TVs will misbehave if you're only using mono sound. Unless there are 3 cables plugged in they simply won't detect a signal.
Did you try rubbing your tummy while patting your head..?
@@MyNameIsBucket my CRT TV works fine with just one or two of the cables plugged in! It’s very common for cheap handhelds to ship with AV cables but that the video out doesn’t actually work, I’ve seen that more often than not. My guess is that is what’s happening here.
From my POV one of the most attractive features is the 18650 and I've been mind boggled that none of the retro consoles have gone this route because that is both cheap to implement, and a very user-friendly feature. No worries about battery life. Carry a spare or three. Charge one while you're playing. Never have to put the device down to charge, never have to use a cable while you play. Many people have 18650 chargers already for vape, flashlight, bike lights, and I wish there was legislation forcing manufacturers to use 18650 instead of proprietary batteries except where the device needs to be thinner.
And you can already more than double the capacity with a replacement since the stock one is 1500 mAh.
ALL devices (phones, tablets, SteamDeck) should have easily replaceable batteries so you can swap them out on the go without having to wait for a charge.
Especially since a lot of proprietary batteries (especially laptops) are 18650's with a bit of circuitry and a fancy main "shell"
The same red(and option also black) Game Boy looking one with 6000 games has also 18650 battery.
At this point I dont really watch rgc to buy new devices (although he does make things very tempting) but more because the content itself is just fun to watch ;)
i'm the opposite, i have to stop myself from buying everything.
even devices like this which clearly lead to disappointment and frustration once the novelty dies down, look so cool
@@nefariou5 same, i dont need it but i want it
When I say I watch this channel daily I'm not exaggerating. Russ is a great content creator so much so I'd watch any type of content from him really.
i'm the exact same way, I've never bought one of these handheld emulators but the more I watch russ's content the more I'm interested in picking one up
No one could make this tempting unless you're looking for a cheap kid's toy 😂
Best RGC opening! 😂
Absolutely true Bro. Best intro ever 🎉
Can agree. 😂
@@mvanalst2003 🐈 cats dying singing FF3 theme 😂😂😂
More attitude in H2 2023!! HA!
Totally agree 😂😂
I really like these devices under 30 dollars when they're competent enough, it's a limited experience but it has its use cases, great to gift to smaller children, and they're pretty popular here in Brazil since the conversion rates from Dollar to Real are so bad, lower wage people also like something to play on the bus! That "Sup" console sold so well here and it's just a famiclone. I'd like more videos like this one because my co-workers will sometimes ask for recommendations like this for their nieces, nephews, grandmas.
All these handhelds are trash, you can get used android phone and telescopic controller for cheaper that will be many times more powerful and better experience
@@Leon-bp6kb the retro handheld community buys retro handhelds because WE DON'T WANT A PHONE WITH A TELESCOPIC CONTROLLER. I'm sure you think you're clever but we've all heard it a thousand times.
@@Leon-bp6kb also the trash handhelds are cheaper than a telescopic controller lmao
In Indonesia these Sup handheld is also popular 😂. Great for kids.
They are barely competent and are an eyesore. They really aren't a great gift.
Showing my son something like this and then letting him play just opens my eyes. Since he wouldn't even notice the stuff you mentioned. I wouldn't be able to not see it. Just reminds me of how I could happily play like him. Then as an adult, I go back and see the games I played and my jaw drops because how could I have played it?
I guess there's just a fascination we have with devices really pushing the lower limit of cheap. But when almost everything is a little wrong and half of it is really wrong, I can't find the same sort of enthusiasm some people have. I do think if they had a curated selection of games that actually worked on the device it'd at least fill that niche of being something you could buy for a kid.
There's a working custom firmware that works on this device as of now, with other widely used custom firmwares for these style of devices being worked on. Currently the custom firmware runs everything much better and with none of the same glaring issues. If you're just going to use it out the box then I agree with you. But with minimal effort you can make it better.
Give it six months for the firmware to get to 1.0 and the others to support it and I'd say this will be more than worth it.
isn't that most handhelds in a nutshell? especially when you can get smartphones with faster chips for cheaper.
This. These devices are nothing new. Wish and other platforms have been selling them for about 10 years now and considering the price points of actual good handhelds (like most Anbernic models) are so low (sub $200) that there's no point being *this* cheap unless you're buying it for a child or incapable of saving up money for something actually worth buying.
@@Gravijahz That would come down to personal opinion but the $100 devices certainly meet a different standard. There may be drawbacks in the design and emulation for each of them but you're getting a device that will play a wide range of consoles/games at good quality out of the box.
Don't spread misinformation please. Only 2 tools to modify the stock firmware have been released, and the chip at the heart of this handheld does not make it easy to port a custom. It's not your common Linux AllWinner yknow.
Received mine two weeks ago (almost 2 1/2 months after this review). Everything functions correctly and they do have a favorites folder now. I got mine for $16 on Aliexpress and couldn't be happier with the purchase. Only issue is that some of the more advanced games freeze or are too slow to enjoy playing. Overall, I highly recommend this for someone new to retro handhelds or as a gift.
I love how we've come so far with gaming, miniaturization, and mass production that now, flaws aside, what amounts to a SNES controller can fit in your pocket and play thousands of games from multiple systems, all for just $25.
This isn't the case here sadly. This thing is awful the games don't run that well, most games are copies which comes with all retro systems 99% of all these handhelds aren't worth even $5. There's some amazing handhelds out there but they don't cost anything close to this crap 😂
@@2LEGION2 "they arent even worth 5 dollars" ok then, build a handheld emulator/console with less then 5$
@@2LEGION2 Ah damn, but here I am playing Golden Axe and Earthworm Jim flawlessly on my 15 dollars retro handheld.
@@CJ_725fr this guys sounds so spoiled like bro it’s 5 BUCKS what do you WANT!?? You can’t even buy a damn cheeseburger from most places for that price 😂
@@ZombieMan44 15 dollar not 15 dollars
The fact that it takes an 18650 is genuinely amazing, all of these devices could learn a thing or two from datafrog, apparently
Hey, I'm all for easy compatibility and replacement, but having your device run on a beast like the 18650 implies a certain "thicc-ness" that many disdain. But it sure helps keep cost down. I'm not knocking it at all, I'm just trying to look at it from the perspective of 'kids these days' who like every mobile device to be so thin that you can shave with it.
@@Boogie_the_cat i dont care about thickness, and a device that uses 18650 means that you can buy like 3 of those batteries, charge them, now you have 3 times the battery life. Hot swappable batteries means there is no battery anxiety.
@@gorebish7950 just remember to travel with a screwdriver lol
@@gorebish7950 The first Miyoo Mini version (literally the first model not the V2 model) as well as the V90 have replaceable battery options. I wish more products would embrace that too.
@@JS2123-m9x at 25 bucks I would just install a thumb screw at that point who cares lol, its kind of a mad max console anyway!
These have recently went under the $15 price so for that you cant go wrong, they also released a firmware update that smooths out snes and GBA.
smooth gba for 15$ sounds heavenly
There are some folks that have been able to run 3D games with it too, the community is strong with this small cheap handheld
It seems so much better now. This review is certainly outdated.
where do you get the firmware?
@@CoastlinesCollide Search of tadpole sf2000. It can update your firmware.
Hopefully more handhelds use 18650 batteries. 2-4 pcs of them in parallel can give really good battery capacity, not to mention they're cheap and easily available anywhere too.
Yes yes yes. I've been saying this for ages. 🙂 ALL devices (phones, tablets, SteamDeck) should have easily replaceable batteries so you can swap them out on the go without having to wait for a charge.
They are for sure way better than those BL-5C batteries. But personally i'd prefer standard AAA or AA batteries....
The most impressive part of this $25 device is the fact that it has USB-C
We truly livin in da future
your videos helped me to finally get a portable emulator. Amongst so many options your reviews are clear, objective and very informative. Thank you!
what'd you end up going with?
And are you happy with it?
What did you end up buying? :)
I hope you didn't end up with this one.
^
The four types of people on the internet
Very indepth and informative review. Even after being aware of the flaws, I think you have sold me on this. Definitely picking it up.
There's actually a lot to like about this thing. I wonder if anyone will be able to develop custom firmware.
@@grundian I think if the firmware experience improves, getting a big 3500 18650 would be worth it and it would likely run for 8-10 hours+
Like what? This thing doesn't even perform well playing 16 bit titles. You can spend 4-5 times as much (which is still undeniably cheap) and get something that actually works, can play up to 64 bit era titles without issue and will actually last. This is at best a gimmick gift for a child.
@@beowulf1417 custom firmware could fix most of the performance issues. It really only need to play GBA and SNES titles well to be good enough IMO.
The chip in this one doesn't lend to a custom firmware development, unfortunately
@@sunnygalli could* being the key word. But someone still needs to actually develop that, there's no guarantees. Not to mention these also use cheaper components in general so the lifespan of the device before something dies or breaks isn't likely to be long. So why bother? Save a little bit more and get something that actually works and will last.
You have to restart the SNES games sometimes to make them run full speed. Also the history section is good for locating the games you often like to play. The search section is invaluable to find the game your looking for.
Been hoping you'd do a video on this! That "Alright, fine" at the beginning was so funny
One thing to note is that you cannot use your own SD card in this device because no CFW exists and you cannot clone the OEM card. I tried using a physical sector clone to another SD card and it fails to load on the device despite having passed verification tests. My guess is that there is some sort of copy protection involved.
Can you take the roms off of the ss card?
@@dlroto yes. However, they use a directory so the game titles remain but you can't launch them.
This here is a massive deal breaker even for 25 bucks
YES YOU CAN!
There is an open source project called 'hsk00' that is designed to let you add/remove/clone the sd for this device. If you see this it might be a good idea to edit your original comment so people know it's possible
It's still a PITA if you have to ressort to an external tool to add contents. I always avoided iPods or kindle devices because of such restrictions, here on a chinese retrohandeld, with linux or Android based alternatives on the market, it's nonsense to me. Of course if you don't intend to add your own games on such a device (or versions of the games in your own language), it doesn't matter much.
This thing looks amazing for the price. I enjoy modding this kind of stuff, the fact it's mainly d pad and button issues makes it a really easy fix. The 18650 vape battery thing is a great bonus too.
It's NOT a great bonus. Those types of batteries are extremely volatile and prone to exploding. Yes, you read that correctly, I mean quite LITERALLY EXPLODING. How do I know? Because it actually happened to me and almost killed me. No wonder this piece of junk is so cheap. It's powered by a cheaply made ticking time bomb.
@@extract8058 The reason they explode is because those who vape push the envelope of the battery's discharge capability. Most people don't understand different 18650 cells discharge capability or they buy the cheapest of the cheap. Safest bet for something like this is to buy a protected 18650 battery that has over charging and discharging cut off.
@@extract8058 notebooks, battery banks and tons of other gadgets use 18650 type batteries lol your personal experience accounts to absolutely nothing
6:00
It looks perfect. Back then when we're young the original controller fit perfectly in our small hands.
Now we have additonal extra space for our grown larger hands, so we can still have a lot of fun with it. 😂
The looks are there. Sadly the performance isn't. What's the point of having a SNES controller that can't play SNES games.
this deserves another look, gba fix, snes fix, custom themes, and it's all in an exe that makes it a few clicks to fun town... having a blast with this, and aliexpress 15 bucks no shipping... my god brah
People have already found what the CPU is so custom firmware will be in the future.
I honestly think it's great for 25 dollary doos but should be capable of a lot more with tweaking.
Knowing what a CPU is doesn't lend to a free SDK automagically appearing. This one's closed source, period.
what cpu is it?
@@mutexS4 HCSEMI (海奇半导体) B210
@@bnister No one said it did lead to something just showing up. But knowing the cpu is a big step forward. Never underestimate the tenacity of gamers wanting cheap shit.
This device seems pretty underwhelming, but it has gotten me thinking about how cool it would be to have a retro form factor handheld for each big classic console, which is designed as a portable version of that console. In the way that this looks and feels like a portable SNES within that system's controller design, imagine a Genesis or NES or PS1 controller with a screen in the middle. With performance, aspect ratio, and controls finely tuned to fit just those systems, I feel like THAT would make for a cool collectible gift to give family and friends. Like my dad loved the Genesis we had when I was a kid, so I'd like to be able to give him a handheld Genesis that looks and feels familiar and intuitive.
I feel like it would be a good move for Nintendo in particular, thanks to their massive back catalog, to sell individual "Game & Watch" style systems like this packaged with a single game each. It would be a smart way to lower the cost of entry to becoming a fan of their games (no $200 console needed) and provide a legal alternative to emulating their oldest titles.
@@aidanandreasen2611 Agreed! If they made an N64 controller that could play the games, that would be a lot of fun.
good luck trying to put a screen in the middle of a genesis controller :D
@@aidanandreasen2611 packaged with a single game? hell no. maybe game themes. Mario games, classic RPGs, beat-em-ups, arcade fighters. But i sure wouldnt spend what they would inevitably charge for just one classic game.
These "aliexpress consoles" brings back memories! Before aliexpress was a thing, you can occasionally see them in larger neighborhood market markets among awful LCD handhelds. They were the usually the cream of the whole toy collection (a couple hundred yuan vs 40 yuan for a bootleg transformer or an LCD handheld) I'd stand there staring at it every time I go for grocery with my mom. With no hope of ever getting a PSP (even if I can save up a few thousand somehow, my mom would never allow it), I'd drool in my sleep over them.
this deserves another look, i got one for 10 bucks and most of your dislikes are pretty much “fixed” now in the latest software update. plus there’s a new way to play multiple systems now that’s hijacked within the GBA core.
Screen tearing and SNES performance is fixed? By how much is the performance fixed? 100% would be great since it's basically supposed to be an SNES emulator
@@AE-bm4nodon't quote me on this but I think it runs all SNES games except the ones that use the FX & FX² chips. So no star Fox or mario world 2. I'm not sure what other games used those chips. Not many though.
TLDW: Gameboy, NES, Master System, Genesis work. That's it
Boo
@@ashishgup Yes, I have the same experience. The Snes and GBA play slow
Hey, just one note. They updated the OS apparently. Because in settings, now there is an option to map the keys.
Got mine since two weeks and completely agree to what you said in your video. There's quite some things i really like about it, f.e. that it takes 18650 batteries, btw button top AND flat top. But out of the box as it is, there's much i wish would work better. My guess is, IF we get some custom firmware focussing on better emulation performance, then this thing may become a real gem. And after some searching around with google i learned on reddit that there are quite some people working on that.
Prove me otherwise, but I don't know a single person working on the custom firmware for any of ALi Tech chips (or clones thereof as used in this handheld). It just gets too damn expensive (time is money) working from the grounds up, and the manufacturer only has a proprietary closed source SDK for this lineup. I've learned some internals via leaked sources, but that's not even remotely enough to go fully custom
😂 not only have you contributed to keeping a device in production that'll undoubtedly see most of its units become e-waste in 12 months but you think it has benefits for its price point. Oh my sweet summer child.
@@beowulf1417 have you even watched the video, or at least "likes and dislikes" and the "conclusion" ? Retro Game Corps can't and won't recommend this handheld, and that is what i completely agree to, not as it is. Additionally, i'm an early adopter and ordered one right after it came out, to take a look on it and come to an own opinion. Didn't write a single word about the price, and you obviously did not get what i think.
@@nopadelik9286 you bought it and you think custom firmware is a possibility for it. I don't need to put much stock in what you say or think let's just put it that way 😂
I have been eyeing this up for ages, but I am waiting for you to update us to say that custom firmware is out and it's great.
My guess is that data frog will release another version with all these sales.
Whahaha... That beginning .. LOL !
You should do this more often 🤣
This is PERFECT for my little cousins! I was looking for some used DS systems, but this is great for them to be introduced to gaming. Thanks!
Most of your dislikes can be fixed or have already been fixed. Button mapping is completely changeable with the new software. Favorites function too. There are too many roms, but with Tadpole you can remove them. Screen brightness is definitely problematic. As for emulation, the new updates seem to fix a lot of the games that had poor performance. Even some more demanding titles run well enough to be playable. Only one I found that wouldn't run was Mario World 2. This review is very out of date. I've been using this for a week and it's brilliant.
Thanks for your post. Yes, after watching 'Tech Dweeb's review, I got the impression that the software update fixed it really well.
@@janX9 Exactly- I watched his review too. I got the handheld and my expirience aligned better with his.
@@Everything-Wii just got mine 2 days ago. Been too busy to update it though. Can't wait for the improvements.
@@janX9 Fair enough- however you might not have to update anything. Chances are if it came in a different box than the one in this video, it's a newer version and is running v1.6 or v1.71
If you place Master System roms in the ROMS folder it'll play those as well. I converted Game Gear roms to SMS & they play great. R button is Start, B is 1, & A is 2
Fixing the button mapping and customizing the ROM list goes a long way in improving the experience on this. But, I agree about avoiding faster paced games, because the screen tearing is distracting. Anyway, the design is charming enough and it plays a lot well enough that I do find myself picking it up and messing around for a while even though I have several other much better handhelds.
Amazing times we live in. Both the SF2000 for $16 and the R36S for $39 deserve to go down in history as forever industry-changing devices. I wouldn't mind buying both devices in bulk to hold onto, as I do believe they'll be remembered as the 2 devices that changed budget emulation handheld expectations permanently.
Reminds me of the pocketgo s30 which first introduced me to your channel. I went though all the steps of simple 30 on that thing and pushed it to the max. Then found thr retropie guy offering a preloaded sd card which I bought and boy did it make that thing just flawless to use and I still drag it out from time to time to play sum super nintendo and gba games
12:27 The "A" and "B" buttons being swapped is actually in line with XBox controllers which have the "A" button on the bottom and the "B" button on the right side. Given that a large portion of handheld/console gamers use XBox styled controllers the configuration of those buttons seem in line with that.
Maybe a custom firmware could help with the performance, screen and control issues. It is a shame. I was interested because of the looks of the handheld and the fact that it uses 18650 cells. You dont see that often. Maybe in the future they can offer a better emulation experience at the same price point and when that happens it will be an instabuy for me.
The 18650 battery completely sold me. Its probably the most common lithium battery size.
It seems hard to complain for the asking price.
Until it stops working. Then you have a paperweight for $25. True story. Looking for options to revamp this device now.
Agreed, I heard it has new firmware. I might check it out for my daughter.
@@dilley_esq25 dollars still expensive i bought this in shoppee for about 15 bucks free shipping but i still dont recommend it the led red light is eyesore especially playing in the dark still slow emulation in gba
I'm amazed no other videos mentioned the worthless d-pad. That and the swapped buttons are the biggest deal breakers out of all the issues with the screen tearing right behind them. And so odd the light purple buttons aren't all made concave and vice versa as they got the rest of the look spot on.
ChaossX7...i was surprised Russ didn't criticize it much...other reviews and a forum have pointed out this Dpad issue...the method to improve it is fit one from a real SFC/SNES controller...i guess i'll be trying that when mine arrives end of the month...i also grabbed from the forum a link to what the community claim is backup firmware...its the ripped firmware i assume...in case you get corrupted...it'll have to do as there's not gonna be CFW anytime soon...the chip numbers are sanded off...that'll be a challenge to the community...we'll see if the genius hackers ever get past this hurdle...i won't hold my breath
So glad to see a video on this! (I know it's weird) There is just something really great about a device that comes in at such a low price. Even if I never touch it again it's actually a great little design that I hope pushes chinese low end devices to do better.
Compared to what we had back in the 70s, this is amazing for the money! (now £15 in the UK) I hope it has Zelda in some form or another. Good review, thanks
I’ve seen other people say that if you close and open the SNES games a few times, they run much much smother.
Overall, thanks for the video. Always hitting the technical and higher details. Hopefully there will e some custom firmware hitting this guy soon! Would be a great gift for kids.
Smoother, but still pretty badly.
@@TheInternetIsDeadToMe yea, I figured. It's a shame, but maybe custom firmware can help
You may not see this but I just want to thank you. Because of your review i will be buying this item as my first cheap emulator. Im not a hardcore gamer but i get a nostagia bug and from what ive seen i think its worth the $33 that i found it for. Thank you for the review without it i may have passed up emulators.
i like seeing you mod the buttons, thats a very common thing to do on some controllers, add a piece of plastic or card. you should try it on the center of the dpad.
Costed me 10 bucks! I am in love! Why? Not sure i got so many handhelds but i found myself tweaking this one to see if this “crap” can work correctly, I found mine has “favorites” and I improved the battery , updated the firmware and install a new OS card with purple/multicore and it works decent… with better games selection and correct aspect ratios and colors for GB, i bought it for my little daughter and she already throw it like 3 times to the ground making it stop and the on / off led turned yellow and screen black but switch it off and on, and it works!! seems to be as hard as a Nokia 3200 series, and I dont see my Miyoo Mini V2 resisting my little lovely gremlin.
Screen tearing is not as bad as with the initial stock but is still there.
I saw the buzz, picked up one for my kids to go with their rg300. This one seemed to hit the sweet spot, cheap, able to add your own roms, and up to gba for pokemon. I was able to start Pokemon unbound which was kinda cool, seeing how the rg300 wouldn't even open the rom on stock firmware. There was some audio distortion but they can live with it till they can buy their own. ;)
The 18650 battery is quite nice. I have many of those lying around and it is easy to savage them from old batteries.
For the price it really is impressive, but at the same time you're so much better off to pay more for an RG35XX or Miyoo Mini. It would be pretty cool if it gets hacked and tweaked into being more stable, though
It is now
In order to have the video working on the TV, you need to push the 2.5mm jack all the way in until you feel a click.
It's such a piece of trash. I got it a week ago. It's literally awful and miserable to use. But it's also only $25. I feel like this pushes the limit of how low the experience can be. How miserable it can get. I got a headache and eye strain playing this. It was awful.
Real question do I need this if I already have the Retroid Pocket 3,RG503 and RG552 and RG505? 😅
This reminds me of the SN30, which I loved.
GBA sounds slow?
Yeah I wouldn’t buy it
I might get one to use the abxy buttons for my switch mod
My experience with Nintendo style cross d-pads in general is that the diagonals are hard to input. It's why I prefer the circle and Plus d-pad like you see on Sega consoles. That little extra plastic gives you something to press on.
It's mind blowing to me that the Sega Saturn/Genesis six button D-pad isn't copied for everything. It's not just the shape of the pad itself but the way it functions underneath.
If they didnt sand out the name of the chip the comunity would made a custom firmware to improve emulation and it gonna be more sales for the company
The community wouldn't even with the chip in the clear, it only runs closed source software. Sanding off is a penchant of theirs to ward off potential Chinese knockoffs. There's also a software protection, it won't boot the firmware even if cloned 1:1.
@@bnister aaahhhh man I didnt know that, well I learn something new today
I have been watching RGC for awhile now and I am so used to the very polite intros that the absolute sass in the first 5 seconds had me cracking up.
Feels like a so close yet so far situstion. This feels like exactly what I wanted but just a little too on the cheap side quality-wise.
Just received mine a couple of weeks ago and there is now the option to map buttons and a folder to dave your favorites to. I messed around with the frogtool as well and was able to tweak the 4 games that appear for each system and add my own scraped artwork.
Cheers,
J
Alright fine, let's watch the review.
Got this for my niece, she plays gameboy and gameboy color games on it and loves it.
Hilarious change of pace. Honestly hope to see you review more terrible products like this in the future.
I love this little thing after the tweaks
It's good as a toy to your 5 year old son
Good review, but the performance issues seem to be resolved after an update according to another channel’s review. Maybe look into that!
Gotta be a word for these super cheap devices that seem like bad value.
E waste?
Landfill. One thing none of these channels have questioned (that i've seen) is the batteries in these super cheap products and what's going to happen with them over the next 1-5 to 10 years. Just more cheapo toxic battery mess being generated over and over
As a fighting game ethusiast, the mushy d-pad would be a dealbreaker for me. But I just have to replace the membrane, like I already did with my SNES mini controller (they got worn out), it's the same construction. Seems easy, I will buy it!
Edit: seems to have to much emulation issues and no native button mapping option. Together with the bad button quality/feeling, it's just not worth to mess around with all those flaws. I regret buying it, not even for the cheap price.
Dang "for a device that is essentially e waste".... burn.
I just bought one of these pretty good for the money, I swapped out the D pad for one from a broken retroflag SNES controller and that eliminated the pivot problems.
So, your opinion is, not worth it even for $25...
I've had mine for a few days,the good is the build quality,button placement, replaceable battery,and the analog stick is awesome for a device this cheap,it's as smooth as a device that costs $100 or more so the d pad not being able to point at a 45 degree angle really isn't a deal breaker.The bad is not only do some of the SNES run bad(which is almost certain for something that costs $30 or less)but on this device a lot of the GBA games are affected too, every other emulator and all it's games including all the MAME games I've played run just fine as far as I can tell.Ive got 2 other devices that cost me less than $30 one being a variation the X9 handheld and both seem to run all GBA games just fine.
That is a e-waste in my opinion
USB type C?
Common user serviceable battery?
Firmware stored on SD card instead of soldered chip?
Community driven improvements?
I don't buy the e-waste angle, sorry
@@burnzy3210 absolute trash chip? Everything else is moot. We have a well-designed paperweight.
@@zgillet What is the chip?
@@burnzy3210 20:06
@@zgillet well it's a $20 system, it plays 8bit systems just fine and _some_ higher systems
The 18650 Battery is EXTREMELY common in devices like these. One advantage here is that it is removable, meaning that you can buy extras and a charger (A couple of 18650s and a charger for them will run about $20) and have spare batteries. This is also usually healthier for these batteries.
This console is just a reshell of the same board they allways sell, its trash.
I just got this for $15, and you can favorite games now. It also plays Snes games. I haven't done updates. I guess they fixed it.
Hello sir. Super late to the party, but I just purchased one recently. For the price of a couple fancy cheeseburgers, I couldn't resist! 😅 I found that some issues you found have been corrected on mine (favorites, button mapping, etc..). Not sure if there's a way to update your firmware, but I've found mine worth more than the asking price. Thanks
can you run gba well now or nah
@@epicnessbrian5295 I'll try some roms and follow up.
ty@@Destro615
Thank you for all these very solid reviews. Just like you I cannot stand tearing or remanence so these crash tests are super useful !
this thing is a beast with the community os
Cool. What's it called? I just ordered one.
Honestly, the screen tearing doesn't seem to be much of a problem for me. Yes, it's apparent, but only if you are actually looking for it. They are mostly playable.
I can guess two things from this video with a fair amount of certainty:
a) Russ has training in Neuro-linguistic programming, using language to influence and make impressions on his viewers on a subconscious level. From this we can deduce that he doesn't feel guilt about leveraging his understanding of human psychology in order to control or manipulate his viewers into engaging in or refraining from certain behaviors- for example, spending money on an Anbernic device with the same chipset as another device they already have.
b) he takes money from certain manufacturers to give more favorable reviews, and manufacturers who don't pay up don't get the benefit of the doubt. And, judging by the way he uses language in this video, I can confidently say that DataFrog didn't pay the sponsorship fee.
haha
18650s in retro handhelds is actually based and i would love to see that more in the future.
I don't know that I'd prefer it over my current LeapFrog tablet. Mine teaches me the different sounds that various animals make, and it plays a tube when I match up the animal with the correct noise it makes.
My LeapFrog tablet makes me feel like a big man who is smart and strong. It's hard to imagine any other handheld device that can do that.
On a serious (ish) note, there needs to be some easy way to describe the difficulty hitting diagonals that some d pads have. It should be a number to keeps things simple, where 1 is hard and 10 is easy. I nominate "hadouken scale" for a name. Yuk yuk yuk.
You *are* a big man who is smart and strong.
Enjoy your tablet king.
Handhelds like this make me thankful I have a hacked PS Vita and a hacked Nintendo 3DS with a crap ton of games on each!!!
Do not understand how the level of issues with SNES here are "unplyable"
But the same level of issues on N64/Saturn on an RP3+ are "acceptable."
Just echoing other comments, but I'd love to see more of these super cheap handhelds!
They'd be a great jumping in point for new buyers, gifts for others, or those (like me) who love seeing the most competent cheap choices.
You get a like for the intro alone.
It's currently on sale for 10-13$ on Ali so I'm really tempted to buy it and just wait for Custom Firmware (which is in early stages of development). Lack of PC Engine library is a dealbreaker for me, but for that price I can just wait while playing my MM+
Please, provide some links where they sell it for $10-13 ?
@@CenturionKZ for the record, 10-13$ prices are on com and us Ali versions. russian counterpart shows the price as 10 570 ₸ from the same sellers so maybe you out of luck with this offer if ru site is primary in Kazakhstan.
Yeah the price makes things more forgiving for sure.
I found it super easy to do fireballs and dragon punches with the dpad, maybe I was just lucky. These cheap devices are always fun😂
This is definitely a part of the market I would be interested in. Honestly all I want is a NES/SNES/gb/gbc/gba device that can do multiplayer including link cable so I can give one to my daughter and keep one for myself and play 2 player games with her (preferably including pokemon).
Spend more than 5 minutes researching handhelds and you'll find exactly what you need for between $50-100 from better brands that don't just pump out garbage e-waste like this.
I like that this device is pushing the lower limits of handheld emulation devices. Similar to how the Steam Deck, ROG Ally and others are pushing the higher limits of said devices I think it's important that we progress in both directions because, let's face it, there are PLENTY of people who either can't or don't want to drop 500+ dollars on a handheld gaming device.
For me, I think this shows that $25 is REALLY pushing the lower limit. They may have even found the floor(for now). I think the device looks cool and the construction seems solid, but all the problems with the devices main function(playing games) makes it a hard pass for me. Awesome to anyone who can enjoy it though. Great review!
It's not pushing anything. The sub $50 range for handhelds has been like this for the better part of a decade.
About the AV cable... Ok I know this is really obvius, but did you try switching what plug goes into what socket. Some AV cables are wired differently internally for some reason.
for the price to performance ratio
is it unmatch, i got one around US 15 !!!
u can play arcade, GB, GBC, master system, megadrive/gensis at enjoyable rate.
yes for GBA, SNES games hit and miss. but i try them and some games are playable, SNES super mario seem okay. Aerofighter is also good. for this dirt cheap price. this is really really good value. need people to work on the custom OS to improve GBA, SNES and also add PC engine to the emulator.
I feel like for the small amount more, that clamshell from powkiddy, the model name escapes me, but I think it's v90, offers so much more for the dollar.
I didn't have any issues getting it to work on my TVs composite input.
If nothing else, these cheaper devices are a great way to kickstart a ROM library
I finally realized that your music changed a year back and I have to say that I love the new music. Not necessarily because it's better music but because it's much less loud when I binge watch at night and it doesn't bother my wife as much.
this guy ain't pregnant but he delivers
I find this great for a console that you don't have to worry a lot about losing or damaging it.
I've got this device, it has got a button mapping option and a favourites list.
When on the user roms & settings screen just scroll to the left or right and it's there.
As for the other issues 🤗,
I checked out as soon as you told me the Dpad sucks for 2D fighting games. That right there is a deal breaker for me.
I love the form factor and the battery situation. The analog stick is weirdly close to the screen, but, meh. The menus look inspired and the search function are fine. I don't actually think the lack of a Favorites folder would hurt that much. The price is low. However; I have no real coding ability and while I can follow instructions to install other peoples' code, there's no guarantee that anything that'll fix all of its issues will ever be made. I can forgive the screen tearing as long as the colors are bright and punchy; but as you've shown, it doesn't run anything correctly.
I respect the SNES; but I have zero nostalgia for it other than for those games that were ported to the GBA. And this doesn't run those well either. The idea of spending $25 on a SNES controller shaped thing to put on a shelf, a thing that only can run most ancient games mediocre-ly isn't a good idea to me.