Anbernic RG35XXSP Review

This isn’t the first Anbernic device I’ve used, and I doubt it’ll be the last. They do a great job of producing these little handhelds of decent quality. This is one of a few iterations on the RG35XX I reviewed last year but in a clamshell design that harks back to the Gameboy Advance SP, one of my favourite consoles ever.

First Impressions

The device comes with a beautiful LED display, two SD Card slots, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a mini HDMI port to run out to an external display, a USB-C port for charging, and connectivity via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. I did find Bluetooth a little inconsistent with headphones but fine with controllers, and the Wi-Fi did a great job allowing me to run files back and forth from a Mac to the device without having to mess around with cables, cards and adapters. 

My immediate impression was that it looks like old familiar, but it definitely feels odd. The body of the device is a fair amount thicker, which I can get over considering how much extra tech it’s packing. I have a black clear version which feels very slick and cool, and I was stunned by how good the display is. I think a lot of this is probably experiential. Pokémon and Mario World never looked this good on the old displays, and they really pop on these modern ones. 

Hardware

The plastic shell is nice to the touch, and despite the thickness, the device feels great and super pocketable. There’s a sturdiness to it that gives me confidence, whereas a lot of these devices can feel plastic and cheap, this little clamshell feels like a decent bit of kit to me. 

The buttons feel solid and clicky, which I like, but they’re loud enough to potentially irritate those around you, so that’s something to be aware of. One thing that is baffling to me is that this device is advertised as being able to play N64 and Dreamcast games. Anbernic ain’t lying; there’s definitely enough power here to boot and play games on those consoles, but players should note that the original hardware had analogue sticks. The RG35XXSP does not. Just because it can boot and run these games, it doesn’t mean they’re playable, and so I’d advise steering clear of those systems. 

It also gets really loud, much louder than I expected. Again, nice to have, particularly considering some of the issues I had with Bluetooth headphones, but maybe a little overkill. The audio gets to the point where it’s unpleasantly loud, and the little speaker inside can barely handle it. 

Software

This is the sticking point for me when it comes to these devices. The software is hot trash. It’s improved since I first booted an Anbernic device, but it still ain’t great. It’s just not nice, clear, or easy to use. Anbernic actually ships these devices with a lot of games, which raises questions in and of itself, but it’s not as smooth or as simple as it should be to navigate to them. The RG35XXSP does have retro arch there and ready to use, which is helpful, especially if you’re familiar with it. I don’t think I want to go near the stock OS beyond that. 

The clamshell design has posed a problem for me. Back in the day and even as recent as the Nintendo 3DS range, expectations are that when you close the lid, the device sleeps. It’s expected that you steadily lose a little bit of power in sleep mode, but I found that I was losing a lot. Several times I’ve closed the lid, popped it into a pocket, and then found the device dead as a dodo when I re-opened it. Not only that, but if I forget to quick save, then I lose progress too. This wasn’t a problem when I got into the habit of saving and powering off the device between play sessions, but it did mean that I had to go through a relatively slow boot-up time in between uses. In the age of smarter devices and quick resume it’s an irritating little habit to re-learn.

There are a slew of alternative OS options available. I eventually installed one called Knulli, which offers a far better experience, and I was actually reticent to mention it in this review. In truth, I think a product should be reviewed as is, and while tinkerers could get this handheld to a great place, I don’t really want to review it on hypotheticals. The stock OS is awful. Others are available. Just do your homework first. 

Games

So…I don’t know how they keep getting away with it, but Anbermic ships these devices with a few alternate storage options. I mentioned earlier that the devices have two slots, and that’s largely to accommodate one SD card for the OS and one for a library of games. I don’t think they’re legally allowed to be shipping devices with all these copyrighted games…I don’t know how they get away with it. But they do. 

I’d advise potential buyers consider the fact that they won’t know exactly what games are available when they buy these devices. That’s never made totally clear when you buy them. If you’re looking for your classics like Mario, Zelda, or Pokémon then be aware that they weren’t installed when it arrived. This is likely to avoid the strong gloved fist of the aforementioned plumber and his parent company. There were still a load of games available to play out of the box though. 

The performance of this machine has really impressed me. All the games that were Available out of the box ran super smooth with no noticeable slow down or frame drops. I’ve had a great time playing all the way up to PS1 games. The gameplay experience on this device is great. 

In Conclusion

These little devices are a bunch of fun. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. If 10-year-old me saw one of these things, his mind would be blown. To be frank…33-year-old me often feels the same way. The software leaves a lot to be desired and the game selection misses some heavy hitters out of the box but if you’re happy tinkering or content playing a library of games that lack a couple of classic then you’ll have a great time with the Anbernic RG35XXSP

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