I'm sorry, wat. The PS1 did not have many games that required the dual shock. And to say they won't play that well when they ran fine on the original RG35xx which was weaker in every way, is ehhhhh... Straight up wrong. You'll be able to play like 99% of the PS1 library on this system.
I cannot wait for my Anbernic SP to arrive. I missed out on the SP growing up and I didn't have a lot of GB and GBA games to play. This will quench my thirst for owning an actual Nintendo Gameboy Advance SP, and it's a lot cheaper too
@@Fillentr I genuinely enjoy this handheld. I got the silver model. Looks great. Definitely feels a bit different from the OG SP (I tried out my cousin's og SP like 1 month ago for a little bit). Being able to play GB, GBC and GBA has been great on this as well as playing many other systems. I genuinely like the clicky buttons, I don't have a problem with how loud the button presses are, just don't play this in the same room while your kids or partner or family is sleeping. The rattling of the shoulder buttons when shaking the device doesn't bother me, not really loud anyway. I've never used this kind of DPAD much before so it took me a little bit of time to get used to but I love it. I don't have a problem with how much force I have to use to press the DPAD and buttons down. I am currently using muOS and the stock firmware. Stock has been solid, muOS has been good for me. The screen is much better than what the stock Gameboy SPs had back in the day. Overall, probably my favorite retro emulation handheld out of the several I own which includes the Miyoo Mini Plus & the RG353P
Nice to see someone else who isn't comfortable in Retroarch, it's very convoluted and not even remotely user friendly. I avoid it always if at all possible. Great review, I ordered one (and it's now on it's way to me), I like click-y buttons so I'm sure I'll be fine with this one. You got a new sub here, I like your style!
Thank you for showing the stock OS. Most reviews dive right into "I didn't like the stock OSI installed this one" and it's incredibly frustrating because not everyone likes to tinker with their retro devices. Great review overall and I think I'm going to be getting one to be my go to ultra portable device. I currently have the 280v which is great and tiny, but I've always wanted a clamshell as I find it great to be able to take it on the go without the need of taking a carrying case.
Always nice to see you talk about retro handhelds, some advice on the buttons put 2 layes of masking or painters tape on the dpad dome switches and 3 over the button dome swicthes. it makes a huge diference on the button feel and noise, they still feel very tactile but they easier to press by around 25% and have less travel, its a really easy mod that really improves the experience. RA games is just a front end for retroarch, try scrolling up and down on the systems instead of left to right to navigate, it took me way to long to realized that lol, Games room is using standalone emulators and is suppose to be more plug and play but the performance is pretty bad other then on ppsspp.
@NerdNest it decreases the gap between the button and the pad so it becomes easier to press (if you use the right material) due to the shorter length of travel required to operate the buttons.
@@NerdNest it shortens the travel distance for the press, I did Russ scale pressure test on them and the force needed to press them dropped by around 40 grams, it also makes it easier to roll in fighting games. In my review I talked about the issues with the dpad and I had pretty much the same ones you do, this makes a very noticeable difference and only takes a few mins to do.
Is it possible that you can make some sort of a tutorial or show how you did it to yours? Actually a newbie when it comes to this so i would apreciate a lot @aishtalkstech
Iv got the Ally and that’s what really appeals to me. Being able to just casually carry this in a pocket without a case is so convenient. Especially for some quick gaming on the go
Because of the generation of the games that are on the Anbernic were some of the best of its time and imho are better than current gen games you can run on a steam deck.
On something like a flight or train ride I think the Steam Deck is much better. For shorter situations like bus rides/subway rides this is a better device imo
@@ApolyonTheSoulRender good point. I also think it’s a little overkill to play GBA Pokémon games on something as large as the Ally or Steam deck. Also, I like the nostalgia of the SP but that’s more a personal preference.
Interesting thing: I've heard from multiple reviews that RG35XXSP doesn't recognize most chargers and USB-C cables which didn't surprise me. But when my device arrived and I pluged it into my 65W Anker charger with my good USB-C to USB-C cable, the RG35XXSP did recognize it. And now I just charge it like any other proper USB-C device I own.
Shining Force (the original on Genesis) is my favourite game ever. I've played the GBA remake more times than I can count off the top of my head. You using that game to showcase the RG35XXSP got you a follow from me.
I barely even use my analogue pocket. I was thinking of selling mine and getting one of these for the gameboy feel. The pocket is nice but it isn’t perfect. And it’s a little on the expensive side.
@@siskavard sounds like we are on the same page. I was a hems boy addict as a kid lol. And when I got the pocket the nostalgia hit hard. I bought some everdrives for it. And loved it. Games look great for it. Then I tried the same games on my Odin 2 and realized there is basically no difference that I can perceive. Maybe the pocket gives you the original hardware experience. But really unless you are really particular about it being exact it doesn’t matter at all. Plus you lose out on emulation specific benefits like cheats and fast forward. I’d love to shove it in my pocket but it’s way too expensive to want to do that. I could sell this. Get an sp that does more and probably have enough leftover to cover most of a switch 2 or something.
Well I am honestly a big fan of FPGA, Im a little worried about software emulation accuracy, but like you mentioned, I don't think it will be noticeable. Hopefully not, I guess we'll see once this thing arrives 😅@@dylangirard4670
Just sold mine yesterday. It just sat there and collected dust. Not having fast forward of sleep on most of the systems was a deal breaker. To get fast forward on gbc you lose the access to sleep. All in all cool device, it just not worth it imo.
I love my RG35XX-H because of it's form factor and joysticks. It surprised me how many N64 and DreamCast games are playable on it. Rayman 2 (both console versions) is just awesome on it. It's still pocketable wich is the reason why I bought the H. OHH... And the Dpad is awesome for fighting games, I learned to play Street Fighter Alpha 3 on it and I love it.
I think I will continue to use my Miyoo Mini instead of this. I have been REALLY looking forward to a great emulation clam shell device. But I feel like we should be able to make better designs than what Nintendo made in 2003. I know Anbernic is trying to tap into GBASP nostalgia, but I would reather see a near bezel-less 4" laminated display with a outer rubber rim + metallic housing. I would even go crazy with the design, having the SoC-board in the top part utilizing the case and screen as a heatsink, while leaving the power, battery, I/O and speakers in the bottom. It would make the device cool and comfortable even while playing demanding systems, while still having headroom for a more powerful SoC at the top. Removing the heat from the bottom would also allow either a bigger battery or slim down the design to be as thin as a GBA SP. (right now there's a lip to make the create a slight distance between the SoC and battery)
I ordered one for my buddies 30th birthday and it just arrived today. I opened it to make sure it worked and was easy to use. Now I wish I had got myself one too :( Especially since the price went up $20 CDN since I ordered his lol
I have an RG405M (with GammaOS), but for some reason, the RG35XXSP is really calling to me. Maybe because it's Linux-based and not Android-based? Maybe because the clamshell would look really nice on my desk next to my custom red/black New 3DS XL? Can't say, but I'm ordering one, but I'm stuck between the Silver and Transparent Black colorways. I had the OG GBA back in the day (still do), so I never got to experience the SP. So maybe my desire for this is a stand-in for that. Regardless, I think I might put my RG405M, as wonderful of a device as it is, on a shelf and switch to the RG35XXSP full-time as my retro handheld. Like you said, my Steam Deck can do everything and more, but I want a pocketable companion device.
what makes this handheld perfect for people like me is the mini hdmi output, this is a super cheap alternative then getting a real gameboy SP with a capture card (cant even find one online) and all the games, so for pokemon players this is the device to get for shinyhunting on GBC/GBA/DS and maybe play some pokemon stadium on the n64 if it runs well
Oh heck yeah thanks for reminding me of Shining Force. I really enjoyed that on my Gameboy Advance SP and can't wait to enjoy it again with the Anbernic!
This item came at such a strange time to me, I have not bought one yet though. I have an old Gameboy Advance Sp I was planning to mod up that was gifted to me sometime ago. Now I am not sure if I want to do that or just buy one of these. Those extra buttons are a nice addition to have! I probably still will modify my Sp as it seems like a fun project and I can make it look however I want to. I only planned to use it for gba games where this is more compatible, not sure what to do, maybe just both.
The poor battery life of the RG35XX+'s sleep function was solved by muOS, so the RG35XXSP will hopefully be supported in the next muOS update! That said, you can also us the Menu + L2 save state hotkey to save before shutting the device off, which works really well as a solution given muOS's fast boot time, and ability to start up into the last game you played. I love my RG35XX+, and I'm glad I got it before this was announced. I think the buttons are much better than the clicky dome switch buttons that this got. That's unfortunate because I absolutely love the GBA SP, and wanted a retro handheld that nailed the aesthetic, but at least I'm not tempted enough to buy another device that plays the same games as the one I already have!
Hey @flightless, if memory serves me correct, muOS was still lacking some of the features that stock had (i.e. hdmi/bluetooth/standalones). Am I wrong in that?
@@march15th I don't use hdmi or bluetooth, but I believe I heard that hdmi is working in the latest version- not sure about bluetooth. Worst case scenario, have an sd card with the anbernic os for "docked" play, and another sd card with muOS if you want better efficient sleep, portmaster games, etc. ...at least for a little while until muOS or GarlicOS covers all the bases
The buttons are an interesting one, I bought the first batch of the Retroid Pocket 3 devices a year or so ago and loved the relatively soft dome buttons, reminded me a lot of the original SNES controller feel. Then I got the RP3+ and the 4 Pro as they came out and noticed the buttons were way clickier because they switched to rubber conductive pads. Kinda preferred the softness of the dome buttons to be honest, felt a lot better when trying to hold sprint and also press the jump button in platformer games. Guess the anbernic SP is using rubber pads? side note: just learnt a lot of the retro controllers like the NES and SNES used rubber pads which is odd, remember them being quite smooth to use. Guess the height and travel of the buttons make a difference on the RP4 Pro. SNES buttons had quite a low profile from memory.
I got the RG35XX - H as my system to run Sega stuff. They had early pricing on this one and I had to have it! It is probably on a boat or a plane to me as we speak. I think I'm just going to use that for GBA only. Anbernic is printing money at this point lol.
Mine is in the US and through customs, so next week hopefully. A lot of people were bumbed it didn't have a analog stick but I personally don't think I'll ever want to play anything that uses one. I have the RGB30 and NEVER use those sticks, only to open the quick menu. If I want to play something I need sticks for I have my steam deck. I think this will be the first handheld that goes everywhere with me. The only other handheld that I had that was like that was my GBA SP. With my other chinese handhelds, they're small, but I tend to leave the cases places so when I go to go out I'm like 'where did I put the case!?!' This I will just shut the lid and stick it in my pocket. I did not like the V90, at all. It felt cheap and no matter what OS I used it was janky. I have the Ark, the Anbernic Sega handheld, and really like the OS on it, I assume this will have the same OS.
I noticed you had an 8BitDo M30 controller in the thumbnail. Although I've connected mine to the console without a problem, I can't seem to reconfigure the controller's buttons on the console for playing fighting games. I get so far in the remapping process and it asks for analogue input, but the M30 doesn't have them, so I'm stuck and can't move any further. I don't suppose you have a solution for this?
Great video! But I'm still struggling to find how to access dip switch configuration in neo geo games and other arcades. To add blood in metal slug and change arcade games difficulty!
Will you be discussing the Modretro Chromatic? They've started taking pre-orders. It plays GB and GB Color games via FPGA. Seems like a Pocket competitor, but without GBA functionality. They are also making Chromatic carts with Tetris included free and currently seven games that can be bought separately.
I got two MAJOR complaints with this that are preventing me from finding it an appealing buy. 1 - The lack of separation between the battery and the heated up CPU and RAM. 2 - You can't use a Type C to C cable to charge it. Unfortunately, both of these are hardware related and there hasn't been any solution to them so far.
Lol yeah the physical buttons are a bit clicks but unless that's something that really bothers you, it's not too bad. I just got mine in and at first it was a little bothersome but once I started playing, I kind of tuned out the clicks button noises so it's not too bad. It honestly sounded louder in videos than in person I noticed.
16:05 I recently tried this on my rg35xx plus to beat dampe and get the last heart piece in oot and only had to change port 2 to port 1. I don't think it's required to change port 1 to port 2, having both controllers set as port 1 only makes them able to be used interchangeably.
If only it could do GBA interger-scaled better, it would be perfect for me too. And it had softer buttons. And it didn't use the battery as a heatsink.
I’m excited for my order of the Blue Transparent 35SP to arrive to play GBA and Pico 8 games mostly, plus some SNES, GB, GBC and probably some PS1 games, too. But, ETA Prime’s battery bomb vid has already been privated because it was not a good idea to nix the air gap between the CPU and battery. 🙃
Yeah, I didn't pay much attention to it because it only gets warm with PSP, N64, and DS. All those either need a thumb stick or touch screen so it didn't apply to me as I have other handhelds for those systems.
When I integer scale GBA games on the Rg35xx plus, 2x looks a bit small and 3x is too wide and cuts of the sides. If the SP has the same size screen and resolution, does it have the same problem?
@@RETR0_P0CKET I own no handheld that is the size of a PS5, however, if you've not held a steam deck, it's a very comfortable carry despite it's size and weight. But yeah I do have a few ARM-based retro handhelds that are gathering dust since I just use my Steam Deck for all my handheld gaming now. I will say I would pay $$ for a small low powered x86 handheld that would allow me to play my less demanding steam games.
@@Patrick-bn5rp depends on where I'm going. I got a tech backpack for my small laptop and steam deck for long trips, for short trips if I plan on playing on the go, I just bring the case it came with.
@@Daxiongmao87 Gotcha. Yeah, with my use case, I generally have to have something that'll fit in a pocket. Which is why I barely play my switch in portable mode, since it's not small enough.
Well-spoken and nice presentation. You did more to talk me out of buying one, TBH. But that’s what happens with reviews sometimes. Also: I reviewed Shining Force GBA back in the day. But I probably wasn’t as appreciative of it that I should have been.
Hard disagree about fighting games. I really enjoy playing against the cpu. Some of those cpus are so cheap that it's a real challenge and achievement to beat!
Hey, great video. Very informative and I like your input. I have a question that I haven't found answered in any video and hope you can help. Can you hook up multiple controllers to the device when it's connected to a TV? Say, if I want to play a 2 player SNES game on the TV, can I hook up 2 bluetooth controllers and do that?
I've asked others this question and seems like the answer is you can, but that the Bluetooth input delay isn't great. They say a better solution is to use a USB hub to connect two controllers wired. That said I'll try wireless first and see how bad it is!
@@hexwavemusic Ah sweet, so I'd just connect a USB hub to the USB-C port on the device? And lemme know how the wireless controllers work out for ya if ya can
@@dusky193 As far as I know! If you have a long enough HDMI you can just use the SP as the first controller as well and just connect one more. Mine is probably coming within a week but who knows with Ali Express 😂
Im trying to sell my RG351v so I can get this one. I've always loved the form factor of the GBA SP, so this seems like the most obvious purchase for me.
I do like mine a lot. I would love it more if I could figure out how to get my 8 bit do Bluetooth controllers to work with it. They work fine with the stock software and RetroArch menu but when I go into a game they stop working completely. I have tried to follow a you tube video on how to connect controllers but all I wound up doing as screwing mine up and I can’t figure out how to fix it. If anyone is willing to help or maybe do a tutorial video, I would be forever in their debt.
Anbernic’s RG35XX line now has all 3 form factor of the classic handheld; vertical, horizontal and clamshell. It was a pretty nice lineup, ngl. Edit: they also have a micro handheld, so that’s all 4 form factors covered.
Other reviews say the Retro Ark emulators are better, and has the cool SP border. Under the other emulators PPSSPP is either the only PSP emulator or better than what Retro Ark uses.
Love that form factor, I'll get one in the future if ever Anbernic updates the SP with a 3DS control stick. Right now I'm contented with my on the go setup of Switch+Retroflag and RG35XX for retro games.
How are you gonna play 3ds on that tiny screen . Get the retroid pocket flip it has sliders like the 3ds and wider screen so you can put the second screen up in the corner of the screen
Will this be going to the classroom when you're back to school? May need to get a muffler for the button presses so your students don't realise what you're doing while you get them to read the next chapter in their text books ;-)
too bad the screen are 1:1 and they needed to black bar the gameboy advance game when play it, it should be another way of black bar the OG game boy game and set the screen as rectangular instead. this is the deal breaker for me
@NerdNest I want to get one for my nephew, so I'll get it and fiddle with several different sizes. I've got a few spare 1tb and 512gb sd cards that I was using for the Steam Deck. The idea of a 1tb seems like overkill but it should hold just about every game that's worth anything that this thing can run.
Mine should be here tomorrow My current collection so far RG35XX (trans white) Miyoo Mini Plus (Trans purple) Mini Mini V4 (trans blue, also had a v2 v3 but i kicked it off the bed by mistake and broke it and losers on reddit wouldn't help me fix it) Rretroid Pocket 3 Plus (trans Blue) Ayn Odin Pro (trans White) Nintendo Switch V2 (Trans red Nitro Deck Grip )
I own a steam deck but ordered the SP for playing DS games and probably some GBA games. I also have a Miyoo Mini Plus which I use for GBA and PS1 already. DS and GBA games are more comfortable on a smaller device
Do NOT do the ETA prime heat sink mod. You’ll basically turn your device into a hand warmer, then a fire-starter.
TWISTED FIRESTARTER!
I'm sorry, wat. The PS1 did not have many games that required the dual shock. And to say they won't play that well when they ran fine on the original RG35xx which was weaker in every way, is ehhhhh... Straight up wrong.
You'll be able to play like 99% of the PS1 library on this system.
You know what. You’re right. I could have phrased that better. I was lumping in the n64 and ps1 because of resolutions and went off script for a bit.
Love the humbleness @@NerdNest
@@PANCHO15108 it’s refreshing when creators can take one on the chin like this
@@Beanman-24 Agreed. Bill is a real one.
Snarky much?
I cannot wait for my Anbernic SP to arrive. I missed out on the SP growing up and I didn't have a lot of GB and GBA games to play. This will quench my thirst for owning an actual Nintendo Gameboy Advance SP, and it's a lot cheaper too
How has it been!?
@@Fillentr I genuinely enjoy this handheld. I got the silver model. Looks great. Definitely feels a bit different from the OG SP (I tried out my cousin's og SP like 1 month ago for a little bit). Being able to play GB, GBC and GBA has been great on this as well as playing many other systems. I genuinely like the clicky buttons, I don't have a problem with how loud the button presses are, just don't play this in the same room while your kids or partner or family is sleeping. The rattling of the shoulder buttons when shaking the device doesn't bother me, not really loud anyway. I've never used this kind of DPAD much before so it took me a little bit of time to get used to but I love it. I don't have a problem with how much force I have to use to press the DPAD and buttons down. I am currently using muOS and the stock firmware. Stock has been solid, muOS has been good for me. The screen is much better than what the stock Gameboy SPs had back in the day. Overall, probably my favorite retro emulation handheld out of the several I own which includes the Miyoo Mini Plus & the RG353P
Nice to see someone else who isn't comfortable in Retroarch, it's very convoluted and not even remotely user friendly. I avoid it always if at all possible. Great review, I ordered one (and it's now on it's way to me), I like click-y buttons so I'm sure I'll be fine with this one. You got a new sub here, I like your style!
It's not too bad but it has a steep learning curve, but it's INCREDIBLY powerful once you get familiar with it.
AGREED!! I hate fiddling with retroarch. I visualize the nerds from the Simpsons everytime I think of the guys that made that UI.
Thank you for showing the stock OS. Most reviews dive right into "I didn't like the stock OSI installed this one" and it's incredibly frustrating because not everyone likes to tinker with their retro devices. Great review overall and I think I'm going to be getting one to be my go to ultra portable device. I currently have the 280v which is great and tiny, but I've always wanted a clamshell as I find it great to be able to take it on the go without the need of taking a carrying case.
Always nice to see you talk about retro handhelds, some advice on the buttons put 2 layes of masking or painters tape on the dpad dome switches and 3 over the button dome swicthes.
it makes a huge diference on the button feel and noise, they still feel very tactile but they easier to press by around 25% and have less travel, its a really easy mod that really improves the experience.
RA games is just a front end for retroarch, try scrolling up and down on the systems instead of left to right to navigate, it took me way to long to realized that lol, Games room is using standalone emulators and is suppose to be more plug and play but the performance is pretty bad other then on ppsspp.
Why wouldn't putting tape over them make them harder to press?
@NerdNest it decreases the gap between the button and the pad so it becomes easier to press (if you use the right material) due to the shorter length of travel required to operate the buttons.
@@NerdNest it shortens the travel distance for the press, I did Russ scale pressure test on them and the force needed to press them dropped by around 40 grams, it also makes it easier to roll in fighting games.
In my review I talked about the issues with the dpad and I had pretty much the same ones you do, this makes a very noticeable difference and only takes a few mins to do.
Is it possible that you can make some sort of a tutorial or show how you did it to yours? Actually a newbie when it comes to this so i would apreciate a lot @aishtalkstech
@@max0699 yeah I probably should, seems like the buttons are the most commonly problem.
If you haven't played it yet I really have to recommend Shantae for the game boy color.
That game would be amazing on this little handheld!
I watch all these video's , don't know why because I have a steam deck OLED . It's a great handheld to just chuck in your pocket though
Iv got the Ally and that’s what really appeals to me. Being able to just casually carry this in a pocket without a case is so convenient. Especially for some quick gaming on the go
Because of the generation of the games that are on the Anbernic were some of the best of its time and imho are better than current gen games you can run on a steam deck.
On something like a flight or train ride I think the Steam Deck is much better. For shorter situations like bus rides/subway rides this is a better device imo
@@ApolyonTheSoulRender good point. I also think it’s a little overkill to play GBA Pokémon games on something as large as the Ally or Steam deck. Also, I like the nostalgia of the SP but that’s more a personal preference.
Me too
For the snes not being centered, try switching off integer scaling.
Interesting thing: I've heard from multiple reviews that RG35XXSP doesn't recognize most chargers and USB-C cables which didn't surprise me. But when my device arrived and I pluged it into my 65W Anker charger with my good USB-C to USB-C cable, the RG35XXSP did recognize it. And now I just charge it like any other proper USB-C device I own.
@@CitizenEldar be careful with USB c to USB c and fast chargers. Can cause fires
@SMac89 So far, so good. The handheld isn't even getting that hot while charging. Anbernic might have finally gotten their shit together
Great video! Mine arrived yesterday and I can't wait to try it out.
Dude your videos rock
Shining Force (the original on Genesis) is my favourite game ever. I've played the GBA remake more times than I can count off the top of my head. You using that game to showcase the RG35XXSP got you a follow from me.
BTW in case you want to do some EASY grinding, item use now gives EXP. ;)
Actually just ordered one of these after I sent my Analogue Pocket off for repair.
I barely even use my analogue pocket. I was thinking of selling mine and getting one of these for the gameboy feel. The pocket is nice but it isn’t perfect. And it’s a little on the expensive side.
@@dylangirard4670 Yes that's exactly what I'm gonna do, sell it. It feels too fragile & I don't really use physical carts anyway.
@@siskavard sounds like we are on the same page. I was a hems boy addict as a kid lol. And when I got the pocket the nostalgia hit hard. I bought some everdrives for it. And loved it. Games look great for it. Then I tried the same games on my Odin 2 and realized there is basically no difference that I can perceive. Maybe the pocket gives you the original hardware experience. But really unless you are really particular about it being exact it doesn’t matter at all. Plus you lose out on emulation specific benefits like cheats and fast forward. I’d love to shove it in my pocket but it’s way too expensive to want to do that. I could sell this. Get an sp that does more and probably have enough leftover to cover most of a switch 2 or something.
Well I am honestly a big fan of FPGA, Im a little worried about software emulation accuracy, but like you mentioned, I don't think it will be noticeable. Hopefully not, I guess we'll see once this thing arrives 😅@@dylangirard4670
Just sold mine yesterday. It just sat there and collected dust. Not having fast forward of sleep on most of the systems was a deal breaker. To get fast forward on gbc you lose the access to sleep. All in all cool device, it just not worth it imo.
I already ordered mine. Very excited, also excited to see you cover this. I think emulation handhelds have a lot of crossover with steam deck fans
Yeah that venn diagram is just a circle
I love my RG35XX-H because of it's form factor and joysticks. It surprised me how many N64 and DreamCast games are playable on it. Rayman 2 (both console versions) is just awesome on it. It's still pocketable wich is the reason why I bought the H.
OHH... And the Dpad is awesome for fighting games, I learned to play Street Fighter Alpha 3 on it and I love it.
I think I will continue to use my Miyoo Mini instead of this. I have been REALLY looking forward to a great emulation clam shell device. But I feel like we should be able to make better designs than what Nintendo made in 2003. I know Anbernic is trying to tap into GBASP nostalgia, but I would reather see a near bezel-less 4" laminated display with a outer rubber rim + metallic housing. I would even go crazy with the design, having the SoC-board in the top part utilizing the case and screen as a heatsink, while leaving the power, battery, I/O and speakers in the bottom. It would make the device cool and comfortable even while playing demanding systems, while still having headroom for a more powerful SoC at the top. Removing the heat from the bottom would also allow either a bigger battery or slim down the design to be as thin as a GBA SP. (right now there's a lip to make the create a slight distance between the SoC and battery)
You’re asking for the retro pocket 4
Great shirt, once again!
I ordered one for my buddies 30th birthday and it just arrived today. I opened it to make sure it worked and was easy to use.
Now I wish I had got myself one too :( Especially since the price went up $20 CDN since I ordered his lol
where did you order from? I ordered from the main website but not received yet.
@@toycoma98 Aliexpress. I live in Canada just outside of Toronto.
Dude, your shirt is super nice! Nice video. I got this GBA in that exact color.
I have an RG405M (with GammaOS), but for some reason, the RG35XXSP is really calling to me. Maybe because it's Linux-based and not Android-based? Maybe because the clamshell would look really nice on my desk next to my custom red/black New 3DS XL? Can't say, but I'm ordering one, but I'm stuck between the Silver and Transparent Black colorways.
I had the OG GBA back in the day (still do), so I never got to experience the SP. So maybe my desire for this is a stand-in for that. Regardless, I think I might put my RG405M, as wonderful of a device as it is, on a shelf and switch to the RG35XXSP full-time as my retro handheld. Like you said, my Steam Deck can do everything and more, but I want a pocketable companion device.
what makes this handheld perfect for people like me is the mini hdmi output, this is a super cheap alternative then getting a real gameboy SP with a capture card (cant even find one online) and all the games, so for pokemon players this is the device to get for shinyhunting on GBC/GBA/DS and maybe play some pokemon stadium on the n64 if it runs well
Good video mate, cool shirt❤ I picked up the blue transparent last night 🎉
I really like the idea of this… but the more I hear about it, I don’t think I’ll be trading up my Miyoo Mini+ any time soon.
I can't wait till mine shows up to replace my Miyoo Mini + and RGB30
Ordered the silver one, looking forward to comparing it to my GBA SP.
Oh heck yeah thanks for reminding me of Shining Force. I really enjoyed that on my Gameboy Advance SP and can't wait to enjoy it again with the Anbernic!
Didnt know tom segura was into retro gaming
See you at my show in Topeka
Amazing tech for the money. Will thoroughly test mine when i get it next week
This item came at such a strange time to me, I have not bought one yet though. I have an old Gameboy Advance Sp I was planning to mod up that was gifted to me sometime ago. Now I am not sure if I want to do that or just buy one of these. Those extra buttons are a nice addition to have! I probably still will modify my Sp as it seems like a fun project and I can make it look however I want to. I only planned to use it for gba games where this is more compatible, not sure what to do, maybe just both.
I am so tempted by one of these 35xx devices and the SP is looking like the best option to accompany my Steam Deck.
The poor battery life of the RG35XX+'s sleep function was solved by muOS, so the RG35XXSP will hopefully be supported in the next muOS update! That said, you can also us the Menu + L2 save state hotkey to save before shutting the device off, which works really well as a solution given muOS's fast boot time, and ability to start up into the last game you played.
I love my RG35XX+, and I'm glad I got it before this was announced. I think the buttons are much better than the clicky dome switch buttons that this got. That's unfortunate because I absolutely love the GBA SP, and wanted a retro handheld that nailed the aesthetic, but at least I'm not tempted enough to buy another device that plays the same games as the one I already have!
Hey @flightless, if memory serves me correct, muOS was still lacking some of the features that stock had (i.e. hdmi/bluetooth/standalones). Am I wrong in that?
@@march15th I don't use hdmi or bluetooth, but I believe I heard that hdmi is working in the latest version- not sure about bluetooth.
Worst case scenario, have an sd card with the anbernic os for "docked" play, and another sd card with muOS if you want better efficient sleep, portmaster games, etc.
...at least for a little while until muOS or GarlicOS covers all the bases
I have the horizontal one and it's just... I gaffaw over it
The portability is nice when conpared to the chonky deck but the ergononics of these advance sp devices dont work for me unfortunately.
The buttons are an interesting one, I bought the first batch of the Retroid Pocket 3 devices a year or so ago and loved the relatively soft dome buttons, reminded me a lot of the original SNES controller feel. Then I got the RP3+ and the 4 Pro as they came out and noticed the buttons were way clickier because they switched to rubber conductive pads. Kinda preferred the softness of the dome buttons to be honest, felt a lot better when trying to hold sprint and also press the jump button in platformer games. Guess the anbernic SP is using rubber pads?
side note: just learnt a lot of the retro controllers like the NES and SNES used rubber pads which is odd, remember them being quite smooth to use. Guess the height and travel of the buttons make a difference on the RP4 Pro. SNES buttons had quite a low profile from memory.
I just wish it had joysticks. Im sure you could fit small ones under the dpad and probably the buttons. Even just 1 stick would be fine
I got the RG35XX - H as my system to run Sega stuff. They had early pricing on this one and I had to have it! It is probably on a boat or a plane to me as we speak. I think I'm just going to use that for GBA only. Anbernic is printing money at this point lol.
For me my preference is Fighting game on Mame or Arcade games ,so my favorite handheld is Anbernic Arc
Mine is in the US and through customs, so next week hopefully. A lot of people were bumbed it didn't have a analog stick but I personally don't think I'll ever want to play anything that uses one. I have the RGB30 and NEVER use those sticks, only to open the quick menu. If I want to play something I need sticks for I have my steam deck. I think this will be the first handheld that goes everywhere with me. The only other handheld that I had that was like that was my GBA SP. With my other chinese handhelds, they're small, but I tend to leave the cases places so when I go to go out I'm like 'where did I put the case!?!' This I will just shut the lid and stick it in my pocket. I did not like the V90, at all. It felt cheap and no matter what OS I used it was janky. I have the Ark, the Anbernic Sega handheld, and really like the OS on it, I assume this will have the same OS.
Can a bluetooth control be connected to it 🤔 because their is some small arcade sticks that would be great for this
Great video. Device looks really cool. Almost as cool as that shirt....(think I need one)
Thanks for the tips learned several things from this one
Have you try the online play feature yet? I been trying figure it out if you really can play online with friends and not have to next to each other.
Hi Bill, great videos keep it going bro and I’m looking forward to my blue one. It’s on its way.👍🏼
I noticed you had an 8BitDo M30 controller in the thumbnail. Although I've connected mine to the console without a problem, I can't seem to reconfigure the controller's buttons on the console for playing fighting games. I get so far in the remapping process and it asks for analogue input, but the M30 doesn't have them, so I'm stuck and can't move any further. I don't suppose you have a solution for this?
Great video!
But I'm still struggling to find how to access dip switch configuration in neo geo games and other arcades. To add blood in metal slug and change arcade games difficulty!
Will you be discussing the Modretro Chromatic? They've started taking pre-orders. It plays GB and GB Color games via FPGA. Seems like a Pocket competitor, but without GBA functionality. They are also making Chromatic carts with Tetris included free and currently seven games that can be bought separately.
I ordered one, if its good I'll make a video about it.
I got two MAJOR complaints with this that are preventing me from finding it an appealing buy.
1 - The lack of separation between the battery and the heated up CPU and RAM.
2 - You can't use a Type C to C cable to charge it.
Unfortunately, both of these are hardware related and there hasn't been any solution to them so far.
Why can you use a type c to charge ? It surely can
*Turns off button press sound*
Physical buttons: !CLICK! !CLICK! !CLICK!
Lol yeah the physical buttons are a bit clicks but unless that's something that really bothers you, it's not too bad. I just got mine in and at first it was a little bothersome but once I started playing, I kind of tuned out the clicks button noises so it's not too bad. It honestly sounded louder in videos than in person I noticed.
16:05 I recently tried this on my rg35xx plus to beat dampe and get the last heart piece in oot and only had to change port 2 to port 1. I don't think it's required to change port 1 to port 2, having both controllers set as port 1 only makes them able to be used interchangeably.
that looks like that one screenshot of a gamecube model.
Love your interpretation and presentation, instant subscribe sir👍
If only it could do GBA interger-scaled better, it would be perfect for me too. And it had softer buttons. And it didn't use the battery as a heatsink.
I’m excited for my order of the Blue Transparent 35SP to arrive to play GBA and Pico 8 games mostly, plus some SNES, GB, GBC and probably some PS1 games, too.
But, ETA Prime’s battery bomb vid has already been privated because it was not a good idea to nix the air gap between the CPU and battery. 🙃
Yeah, I went to link to it and couldn't find it. I know jack about thermals, so /shrug
@@NerdNest I'm no expert neither, but it seemed a bit concerning to me, and most other people who saw that. 🙃
Yeah, I didn't pay much attention to it because it only gets warm with PSP, N64, and DS. All those either need a thumb stick or touch screen so it didn't apply to me as I have other handhelds for those systems.
If Bill likes it, I'm getting it. So far I'm 99% aligned with his recommendations
When I integer scale GBA games on the Rg35xx plus, 2x looks a bit small and 3x is too wide and cuts of the sides. If the SP has the same size screen and resolution, does it have the same problem?
Marvel Super Heros, Wild Guns, Star Wars demo work fine on my Anbernic 35XXX GBA
Rg405m is my go to but I'm gonna pick this up
The shirt is legendary
Did you use one of those mist filters?
Yeah
After x86 handhelds it's hard for me to go back.
Seriously? You would prefer to hold something the size of a PS5 to play retro games?
@@RETR0_P0CKET I own no handheld that is the size of a PS5, however, if you've not held a steam deck, it's a very comfortable carry despite it's size and weight.
But yeah I do have a few ARM-based retro handhelds that are gathering dust since I just use my Steam Deck for all my handheld gaming now.
I will say I would pay $$ for a small low powered x86 handheld that would allow me to play my less demanding steam games.
@@Daxiongmao87 How do you lug the deck around? Do you typically carry like a backpack or something?
@@Patrick-bn5rp depends on where I'm going. I got a tech backpack for my small laptop and steam deck for long trips, for short trips if I plan on playing on the go, I just bring the case it came with.
@@Daxiongmao87 Gotcha. Yeah, with my use case, I generally have to have something that'll fit in a pocket.
Which is why I barely play my switch in portable mode, since it's not small enough.
that shirt is giving peak dad energy 👌
It should. I have the kids and a grandson
Well-spoken and nice presentation.
You did more to talk me out of buying one, TBH. But that’s what happens with reviews sometimes.
Also: I reviewed Shining Force GBA back in the day. But I probably wasn’t as appreciative of it that I should have been.
Appreciate the Shining Force recognition in this vid
One of my favorites.
Hard disagree about fighting games. I really enjoy playing against the cpu. Some of those cpus are so cheap that it's a real challenge and achievement to beat!
I was watching your video on normal speed, but felt it was a bit too slow for me. So I tried 1.5x speed and it's great.
I speak slowly from 20 years of teaching science to 14 year olds.
HAHA I feel exactly the same way about Retroarch's menus.
@NerdNest, I like your Rocko's Modern Life shirt you have on.
Hey, great video. Very informative and I like your input. I have a question that I haven't found answered in any video and hope you can help. Can you hook up multiple controllers to the device when it's connected to a TV? Say, if I want to play a 2 player SNES game on the TV, can I hook up 2 bluetooth controllers and do that?
I've asked others this question and seems like the answer is you can, but that the Bluetooth input delay isn't great. They say a better solution is to use a USB hub to connect two controllers wired. That said I'll try wireless first and see how bad it is!
@@hexwavemusic Ah sweet, so I'd just connect a USB hub to the USB-C port on the device? And lemme know how the wireless controllers work out for ya if ya can
@@dusky193 As far as I know! If you have a long enough HDMI you can just use the SP as the first controller as well and just connect one more. Mine is probably coming within a week but who knows with Ali Express 😂
Im trying to sell my RG351v so I can get this one. I've always loved the form factor of the GBA SP, so this seems like the most obvious purchase for me.
If I have two of these can I play two player in mario kart and other games, like the 3ds can? I imagine I can't. Thanks
Ill probably wait until there are more competitors like the miyoo, those buttons are a damn shame.
I do like mine a lot. I would love it more if I could figure out how to get my 8 bit do Bluetooth controllers to work with it. They work fine with the stock software and RetroArch menu but when I go into a game they stop working completely. I have tried to follow a you tube video on how to connect controllers but all I wound up doing as screwing mine up and I can’t figure out how to fix it. If anyone is willing to help or maybe do a tutorial video, I would be forever in their debt.
Anbernic’s RG35XX line now has all 3 form factor of the classic handheld; vertical, horizontal and clamshell. It was a pretty nice lineup, ngl.
Edit: they also have a micro handheld, so that’s all 4 form factors covered.
Don't forget the 28xx, it's the same chip. So they've got a micro too.
@@cirmothe9 ah, you’re right, they are 4 form factors right now, I forgot about the micro.
Dual screen for NDS emulation would be nice to see.
You mentioned the ETA Prime heatsink video being in the description but you didn't link it
That’s because he removed the video video after I recorded my video
Love the shirt!
Imagine the gaming in 2040 😮😮😮😮
Is there a way to make the OS shut down after 5 minutes instead of immediately? Would be nice when I want to move to another room
Yeah
@@NerdNest I wasn’t clear-I meant when the lid was closed. Great review!
I now have the miyoo mini plus, so i doubt switching to the rg35xx H or the rg35xx SP, can anybody help me with the decision?
Other reviews say the Retro Ark emulators are better, and has the cool SP border. Under the other emulators PPSSPP is either the only PSP emulator or better than what Retro Ark uses.
PSP would be much better on a wide screen device. In my opinion
😅I'll stick to my RG35XX H for everything up to PS1. Retroid Pocket 4 Pro for all 3D gaming of pS1, PS2, N64, Dreamcast, 3DS, GameCube and Wii.
PS the description is not below the like button
Love that form factor, I'll get one in the future if ever Anbernic updates the SP with a 3DS control stick. Right now I'm contented with my on the go setup of Switch+Retroflag and RG35XX for retro games.
How are you gonna play 3ds on that tiny screen . Get the retroid pocket flip it has sliders like the 3ds and wider screen so you can put the second screen up in the corner of the screen
Will this be going to the classroom when you're back to school? May need to get a muffler for the button presses so your students don't realise what you're doing while you get them to read the next chapter in their text books ;-)
Hah. No. I don’t game at work. Too much work to do.
The mod you mention by Eta prime is dangerous for the handheld, and he's deleted that video for obvious reasons.
tom segura of retro handhelds
Maybe he’s the Bill Fairchild of comedy
Is this better or a 3ds for retro gaming
this has alot more power, 3ds is for the modding swag.
too bad the screen are 1:1 and they needed to black bar the gameboy advance game when play it, it should be another way of black bar the OG game boy game and set the screen as rectangular instead. this is the deal breaker for me
Out of curiosity since i dont think i heard it, what is the maximum storage capacity of the sd card? Could i pop a 1tb in there?
Whatever the limit of Fat 32 is I guess.
@NerdNest I want to get one for my nephew, so I'll get it and fiddle with several different sizes. I've got a few spare 1tb and 512gb sd cards that I was using for the Steam Deck. The idea of a 1tb seems like overkill but it should hold just about every game that's worth anything that this thing can run.
Honestly, you don’t need anywhere near that much storage for this most of these games that run on fifth General and earlier consoles are tiny.
@@NerdNest Fair. Iirc most gba games are in the 10's of mb.
Can the battery be user replaced if they fail?
Yes
While I appreciate the disclaimer, we all know you would have bought one anyway.
It doesnt get hot to the hands because the battery absorbs all the heat 😂
Great stuff
I need blue color like my original blue gba sp but they don’t have that color😢 i dont like transparent blue
Sorry for my english
Mine should be here tomorrow
My current collection so far
RG35XX (trans white)
Miyoo Mini Plus (Trans purple)
Mini Mini V4 (trans blue, also had a v2 v3 but i kicked it off the bed by mistake and broke it and losers on reddit wouldn't help me fix it)
Rretroid Pocket 3 Plus (trans Blue)
Ayn Odin Pro (trans White)
Nintendo Switch V2 (Trans red Nitro Deck Grip )
love the shirt👍
Does it have Pokémon radical red?
great video as always! The console looks awesome and stuff but I NEED THAT SHIRT, where did you get it? :)
Somewhere in the internet. I don’t remember.
looks very very cool... but my steam deck is just toooooo good.
I own a steam deck but ordered the SP for playing DS games and probably some GBA games. I also have a Miyoo Mini Plus which I use for GBA and PS1 already. DS and GBA games are more comfortable on a smaller device
thumb sticks?
Those buttons are 100% a dealbreaker............what a damn shame.....
You lumped in ps1 with n64, but I would say ps1 is way easier to run on this, also most ps1 games don't require an analogue stick.
Yeah. I went off script because I was talking and holding it in my hand at the same time. Didn’t notice in the edit.
Clack clack, clackity clack. Im clacking in Jacksonville....
Way too noisy.