The Anbernic RG35XX is a pocket-sized powerhouse that punches well above its $55 price tag. It's become the go-to recommendation for anyone entering the world of handheld emulation without breaking the bank.
✓ Pros
- • Exceptional build quality for the price
- • Crisp 3.5" IPS display with great color accuracy
- • Runs GBA, SNES, NES, and PS1 flawlessly
- • Comfortable vertical form factor
- • Long battery life (6-8 hours typical use)
✗ Cons
- • N64 and Dreamcast emulation is hit-or-miss
- • Stock OS (Linux) feels barebones
- • No analog sticks — D-pad only
- • MicroSD card slot is slightly recessed
Design and Build Quality
The RG35XX feels remarkably premium in hand. The matte plastic shell has a subtle texture that prevents fingerprints and improves grip. At 155g, it sits comfortably in one hand for extended sessions.
The buttons have a satisfying click, reminiscent of the original Game Boy Color. The D-pad is particularly impressive — eight-directional inputs register cleanly with no mushing. This matters enormously for fighting games and platformers.
Display
The 3.5" IPS panel delivers 640×480 resolution — the native resolution of the Game Boy Advance screen, which means GBA games render pixel-perfectly without any scaling artifacts. Colors are vivid, contrast is punchy, and there's minimal backlight bleed even at the screen edges.
Technical Specifications
| Screen | 3.5" IPS, 640×480 resolution |
| Processor | Allwinner H700 (quad-core, 1.5GHz) |
| RAM | 256MB DDR3 |
| Storage | MicroSD (user-supplied) |
| Battery | 2,600mAh — ~6-8 hours |
| OS | Linux (Garlic OS or Stock) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, 3.5mm audio, HDMI out |
| Dimensions | 82 × 140 × 17mm |
| Weight | 155g |
Emulation Performance
This is where the RG35XX earns its reputation. Here's a breakdown by system:
- NES / Game Boy / GBC — Flawless. Every game runs at full speed.
- SNES / GBA — Near-perfect. A handful of demanding SNES titles (Super Mario RPG, Star Ocean) have minor slowdowns with default settings, easily fixed by enabling frameskip.
- PS1 / Genesis / Neo Geo — Excellent. Crash Bandicoot, Castlevania: SOTN, Metal Gear Solid all run perfectly.
- N64 — Inconsistent. Simple titles (Mario 64, OoT) run well; more complex games (Conker, Majora's Mask) struggle.
Final Verdict
For $55, the Anbernic RG35XX is genuinely one of the best pieces of consumer electronics ever made at this price point. Its build quality, screen, and performance for 8/16-bit and PS1 emulation is simply unmatched. The only real limitation is its ceiling — if you want N64, PSP, or Dreamcast, you'll need to spend more.