I Love Anbernic, But, please wait a second before releasing anything else. If ya wait a year, better tech and chips come out, then make a huge leap, rather than baby steps all the time. 😂😂
Nobody ever said that every reviewer had to touch every device. These things are just coin collections for millennials. The emphasis is on buying and customizing firmware on these things - feels like nobody is playing them. This is especially evident when reviewers miss huge QOL issues that come from spending more than 10 hours on one. Review the good ones, stop this handheld-acquisition syndrome everyone has, and incentivize these companies to innovate. Anbernic wouldn't be making these if they didn't sell - it isn't fair to be mad at them.
These guys buy every single console for making content and get views, the most famous of them don't even buy them and got them for free, so nobody are forcing them to buy every console. I don't even think anbernic sells that well to launch a handheld every month, most of people I know doesn't even know this stuff exist, and I know a lot of nerds...
@@korryramone oh my, poor company building a crapton handhelds with the exact same SoC for the past 5 years without bothering to at least improve on UI/UX! 🙄
it’s so funny how much the handhelds are not about playing games as much as they are about consuming the newest piece of tech. game playing is a total afterthought lol
@@RetroDodo I don't understand buying a handheld for 3D games tbh, I know their SP can play a lot of them but I literally only use it for gba games. Before I bought it I was a daily driver of the GBA SP. If I wanted to play games that require a lot of paying attention to I'll probably just play my series x, switch or PC. Never understood buying a handheld for anything besides simple games you can put 20 minutes in at a time.
It's not oversaturation. If you're a reviewer trying to cover literally everything then yeah, it'll be tedious doing the same thing over and over with little to no substantive difference between them, it's probably no fun. You do what's right by you if it'll help you enjoy making videos. But as a buyer? It's amazing having so much choice. Having more granularity, not having to compromise so much on what machine is just right for you. You get to choose form factor, screen size, aspect ratio, price point, operating system, etc. And it's a sign of a healthy market, that there's room for so many. For me, the 40XX-H is just about perfect, it even has digital triggers. If that gets an upgraded version that can comfortably do GameCube/PS2 levels of emulation and a dock for Switch-like functionality, that would pretty much be an endgame system for me. But lots of people prefer the nostalgia of the 35XX's clamshell, or the pocketability of the Miyoo A30, or having a widescreen system, or the Sega-centric controls of the Arc-D/S, or even those funky square-screen systems. And of course people have different budgets and use cases. Having more options for more people to get what they want with fewer compromises is a damn good thing. We're spoiled for choice, and it's awesome.
how long have you been into the retro handheld scene? Cause I used to get excited and get that amazing feeling but a lot of his points resonated. There are so many in my opinion too many for 1 reason for the companies to make us want to buy them and I've bought a handful and yeah each one are basically the same. Maybe if there were 10 new handhelds a year but there must be close to 100 that come out every year with minor improvements. FYI to Retro Dodo i feel you man I subscribed to your channel after watching this. This was my first video I've seen of yours. Do you don't get bullied by these companies. They sadly really don't care about you as a person they see you as a gateway to use and abuse to showcase the "new new" which is basically the "same same" but different. What are we in Thailand. Geez
@@douglasdelorey3045Since 2015 with the GPD XD. Had a lot of retro emulation setups over the years since then, from Android phones and tablets with controller attachments, to portable PCs, and of course dedicated retro handhelds running both Android and Linux. The landscape has changed a lot, not just the systems. I saw excitement for systems that came out years after the XD despite being less powerful, like the RG350 and the Bittboy. Companies added things like affordability and better controls to the scene, and there weren't as many coming out back then. Nowadays there are more companies making these things, and they've got most of the basics pretty much figured out, so we wound up with lots more product releasing. But it's not like there's nothing new and exciting happening. The last two years moved a hell of a lot faster for the industry than the previous eight, I can tell you that. More big improvements, more noteworthy products, more innovation. It's way better now than it's ever been. Reviewers just feel the tedium more because back then there would have been radio silence between new systems. Having a lot of iterative product launches in between the bigger, more interesting ones now is, as I said, a sign of a healthy market that also improves consumer choice. It's filler, sure, but there's no real downside to it. The key here is that most of us aren't buying up every single one of these things. I've had what I consider to be a lot of different setups over the last decade, as I outlined in the beginning of this reply, more than most people would wind up with over that time. But nothing close to what I'm sure these UA-cam channels wind up with. Most are probably going to buy one of these systems and stick with it for 3-4 years before replacing it, at least for a given use case. Maybe they buy a Miyoo Mini Plus for a pocket system and later get an Odin 2 for high-end emulation or something, but probably not much more than something like that, and they'll be happy with what they have for a long time. So if someone's going to be looking at getting a retro handheld that they're going to be using for a few years, they're a lot better now. Instead of having 4 or 5 viable choices, there's a few dozen out there, so they can narrow things down by price and performance, form factor, operating system, etc, and still wind up with half a dozen models that are all very similar on the surface, but then they can dig into the reviews and compare the smaller details - best d-pad, best analog sticks, best stock or aftermarket operating system, aesthetics, ergonomics, HDMI output, etc and find a better match for themselves than they might have done with fewer options. Any truly healthy and thriving industry with a higher output volume will have its share of garbage - a look at the shovelware quotient in the PS2 or Wii game libraries will readily demonstrate this - but most of these filler systems being released are really good, quality options at reasonable prices that people wind up happy with. There's no downside for consumers, as long as you're not compulsively buying up every single one you can get your hands on. They're just boring for reviewers. But reviewers have the same option too, and Brandon is exercising that option here: don't bother doing every single one, just stick to the ones that pique your interest.
I have an Odin 2 Pro and it's all I need to play anything from PS2/Gamecube and below flawlessly. I would've been satisfied with a Steam Deck as well (mostly to play my Steam library natively on the go instead of streaming them elsewhere) but not only does it have way less battery but it's too bulky to hold. Not to mention that Android is already getting Cemu (Wii U emulator) in the near future. It may only be a matter of time before Xenia and RPCS3 start development on Android as well. Until the Steam Deck somehow turns into the size of a GPD Win 4 for a reasonable price, I'm most likely never getting one.
Love my steamdeck. It’s an emulation monster. With the OLED , 6 hours of playtime on PS2 and below, and huge hard drive I feel it’s is hands down the best option at this time for emulation
I actually like it that Anbernic is releasing a load of versions of each series. The xx range uses one and the same chipset for example, but people prefer different form factors. Clamshell, vertical, horizontal, large screen, micro device, dual sticks one stick etc etc. It's not necessarily a bad thing. But that doesn't mean every retro channel is obliged to review every single one. If you want to focus on the more unique devices that is entirely your prerogative. Still think it's worthwhile reviewing Anbernic devices when they have a step change between series. Eg what processor will replace the one in the XX series when it inevitably gets upgraded.
Honestly the oversaturation is what kept my from buying an emulation handheld and stayed on my psp and original hardware gameboy advances and ds/3ds with flash carts/micro sd cards.
Same! I'd rather grab a GBA and pop in a game than wade through menus for a (possibly) inaccurate experience. Not everyone will agree, but I think it's worth mentioning the special feel of original hardware with all their quirks. It just hits different
You are just afraid of it, thinking you will need a new one released after you buy yours. I got into emulation with psp and I can say it sucks for emulation for today standards, we got better things now so it's not necessary to get stuck with a 2005 system...
Problem for these companies is there's no post-sale income (like the steam deck will do for valve with steam game sales), so they have to keep churning out more and more in an attempt to keep the money coming in...
@@tog2842 Neither of those examples really work because people will always get sick or get cancer and people will never stop committing at least some crime. It can go down but it will never reach zero in a large society
Absolutely fair, a lot of retro gaming channels are constantly posting about them & it's a bit boring from a viewer's perspective unless I'm seeking out info on a system specifically
Just from the ones I follow, Taki Udon jumped off a while ago and Bob from Wulff Den also said that he's not covering anything else he doesn't find interesting anymore. Hopefully soon more will follow, and let's see if Anbernic still keeps releasing a new device every few weeks, because I have the gut feeling that this whole marketing is being kept afloat by content creators advertising these and a handful of people just buying everything they see.
When did having options become a bad thing? No one told you that you had to buy every new shiny thing that gets released. If you're experiencing handheld fatigue, that's entirely of your own doing
It's not that the handheld market got worse. It got better but as the choice increases, reviewer struggle to make video for all of them. It only is a problem for you, not the consumer
The problem isn't the gaming companies releasing the handhelds (releasing different handhelds is their purpose). It's the gamers trying to purchase every single handheld release. Only purchase the handhelds that interest you!
@@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude I have not purchased a handheld in quite a while. Didn't get the 40XXV, the RGCube or the Trimui Pro. I just ordered the Trimui Brick moments ago. Been waiting for the release of the Brick for about 2 years.
To be honest, a lot of the handhelds that released this year, so far haven't really interested me that much. Heck, the only emulation portable I own currently is a Retroid 2+ that I barely play.
Okay, but as some other dude has said here in te comments, that's the exact reason of the video game crash back in the second generation. So many devices with no relevant improvement between them. Like, what's the practical difference between a plastic and a metal device from Anbernic?
I stopped trying to keep up and when I review it .. will release it sometimes month later. Invasion of handhelds I love that we live in a time like this onlly it's over the TOP. Only problem indeed is repeating yourself because it's more of the same for us. Good Video ... totally feel with you ! By the way ... 2:00 Love your doggy ! 💖
I don't get that tbh. I think it's brilliant that they keep the general spec similar across a bunch of devices but the form factor is often what changes. The Anbernic design team don't rest and I think that's great!
Good on you for openly disclosing the commission rate. Its rarely talked about but the financial incentive potentially lends itself to the possibility of reviews being more positive. I appreciate the transparency.
Great video & relatable 💥 I spend longer setting them up than playing them! I only have a few of them - Miyoo Mini & another micro one plus a RG351V. I mainly play my old school handhelds/consoles, so many games I haven't played, large catalogue for each system so I'm covered for a while, plus I have a PS5 for anything new.
I know how it feels when a company owes you lots of money but when it’s time to pay they can’t. There’s a company that also owes me $5K in affiliate sales but when you reach out to them, they completely ignore you 😭🤦🏽♂️
Clearly this guy is bashing anbernic, this guy says he loves the aya neo micro which is the most unnecessary and expensive device. Or insinuating the unicorn is better than the cube...
For Anbernic product, if it the same series like "XX" series just focus on the design and special features, since it using same CPU, same amount of RAM, the performance itself will not be different, for performance, no need to redone testing.
I absolutely understand that point of view. I've lost my passion for these handhelds over time as well, way earlier than you did, especially since I had no time left to play retro games, which is why I liked them in the first place. Best of luck brandon.
Fascinating that he got fed up on one that actuallyl finally brings the big newthings like higher res (after all these times being stuck on 640:480) and first time proper sticks at anbernic .... weird one to lash on after the barage og XX devices
I really appreciate this decision! I'll be hapoy to read your reviews and see the video on those devices you truly appreciated, among the beautiful contents you share 😊
I can see how that is time consuming and annoying for you. As a consumer though, I love it. The selection and options have been wide and cover most interest and niches. It will probably slow down a bit after awhile, but it's good to see that no matter your budget or need their is likely a retro handheld that has you covered. For instance the RGB10X from Powkiddy that just released was exactly what I needed. However, some people may want WiFi or other features, so they can get something from Ambernic that is more expensive. I just wanted something cheap and more portable than a steam deck or Retroid 4/5. I didn't want to spend alot for something my devices can already do, but the 10x fit perfectly into my use case.
I wish people would actually play with those devices. I often see on reddit people buying every device they see but donot really play with them. I still have my pocket go from 2019 and it works fine. I sometimes think of getting a larger one but thereare just to many options.
Particularly with the anbernic "family" devices there isn't a whole lot to say beyond "it's the same thing in a different shape" they just need the one review that gets referred back to until they actually do something different.
I completely understand. I got the 353m when it launched and I haven't seen Anbernic put out anything that was a worthwhile upgrade imo. If I had to give advice to anyone looking to pick up handhelds, I'd say you're better off going with official hardware (like 3DS, Vita, Switch, maybe a handheld PC) and one retro HH that specifically suits your needs.
I got sick of the tiniest iterations in these handhelds a long time ago. Other than the GBAXXSP, Miyoo Mini and Retroid, I'm good. They each fill a niche for me and I don't want or need anything else.
Brilliant video! As a viewer, i was feeling what you were going through. Many other people im subbed to did these repetitive vodeos, and frankly, i'm sick of it. This honesty was a breath of fresh air. This makes me have a massive increase of repsect for your content.
Importing these things in bulk and selling them has been the greatest cure for me to not want any of these for myself anymore. Seriously getting to get my hands on basically all the releases gives one the sense that this is an old thing in a new package. They are literally all the same, play the same systems, play the same games ect so on and so forth. The only one as of recently that I think is pretty cool and fairly unique is the trimUI smart pro. People are nuts for these little handhelds though, when I'm fully stocked I will without any doubt sell between 10-20 of these retro consoles a week.
In my opinion the more handhelds we have the better because more options, We have the SP/Cube for Compact portable gaming or the 556 for great screen, and the H devices for 4:3 etc
I only have the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, Miyoo Mini, RG35XXSP, my Galaxy S24+ with Gamesir G8+, Aya Neo Air Plus 6800U. If getting too many devices with the same chipset sent to you is stressing you out, I know it's a rough problem to have, give them away.
The consumer habit has basically caused us to forget that these devices are not tied to game publishing deals or DRMs or stuff. They should be there to empower us, to help us combat consumerism with a device that works for purposes of our choosing - look at the growing custom OS scene. But some of us seem more enslaved by these things than anything else. Really, if other talks regarding these devices seem too complicated and cynical, then remember this: **Newcomers, don't buy anything at launch.** Let the hype settle, and let more experienced users find the quirks and faults and come up with ideas to help you with a more enjoyable experience with a handheld you *eventually buy*, not *instantly buy*. There are patient gamers, and we should also try to be patient gadgeters.
It's out of control these days. Friends ask what handheld to buy, and honestly it's hard to answer....we went from custom-made devices to literary 100s of mass-produced ones in a small space of time. Some are really, really good, but I don't understand the constant release schedule with subtle changes, small tweaks etc. Would be so much better if they focussed on the actual emulation levels we're after and tailored their devices more to this. The 'middle of the road' options are saturated beyond belief.
I bought a Nintendo switchlite, a steam deck, and a Lenovo Legion go over the last year. I have zero interest in any of these android based handhelds. The only one I purchased was the Ambenic 405M. I ended up getting rid of it because the screen is just too small and there’s no video output.
Honestly, good on you. Personally, I'm sick of SEEING these things. It's like they put out a new one of these things every few MINUTES now, with little to no differences between them!
You don't have to buy all of them. I am glad i waited, because the RG40XX V is exactly what i wanted (for my retro gaming needs). I probably won't need to buy another handheld for a couple of years, unless something game changing comes out.
I bought one a few years ago for GBA games and they pretty much all i needed. I was tempted to buy updated versions with bigger screens, but after thinking about it i just didn't bother.
Company puts out many products to provide choice, reviewer has breakdown. Tale as old as time. Counterpoint: I got in the handheld market for the first time in two years, saw that the RG40XXV looks perfect for my needs, bought it, happy with it.
Right on! Give us your take on what floats to the top, what interests you, what is innovative, what is worth our time and money - watching reviews of 'the same handheld in another color or with blinking analogs' is also getting old.
bro that is for real. I've been following this retro handheld scene from like the very down of it. people seems to forgot a deep content, sharing experience, and a revisit of old history is what makes this hobby charming. not a review race. looking out for your new series 🙌
I used to buy these Chinese handhelds left and right, but have refrained big time this year when I too just got tired of the same chipset but in a different form factor. The only devices I bought this year so far is the RG35XX H and the RG Nano. My favorite combo to play retro games consist of my hacked New 3DS XL, hacked PS Vita, a Steam Deck, and my phone. If I was on a deserted island with just those 4 items I would be in retro gaming bliss.
Thank you for being so honest, you’re one of my favorite youtubers. Please keep it up! I love your channel and I’m excited to see the direction you turn it in :^)
As much I love the Retro Emulation Gaming Market I do agree that they are being WAAAY Oversaturated on the Design and Specs. To me it’s Best to Buy a Handheld you would Enjoy and play for a Longtime. But you’ll never know you Jinx of getting an Inferior Handheld this experiencing FOMO.
I can understand your position and the challenges that come with reviewing on multiple platforms and dealing with the companies that send you review units. I won't disclose my other channel where I'm a tech reviewer out of my privacy reasons. However, I will say I have gotten screwed over by off brand computer and laptop manufacturers not communicating, blacklisting me and not finishing their end of the deal. It's very frustrating at times, but I continue out of the love of my passion for it. I'm still having fun collecting these new handhelds, but I pick and choose which ones I really care about and actually see using for more than a week. There is too much oversaturation in this market. Anbernic, Powkiddy, and all these other brands should slow down and release very well designed and well thought out products with signicant features and hardware/software changes that would warrant the consumer or give real incentivization to make a worthy purchase.
It has been pretty insane seeing 1 or more devices announced each week. I can't even fathom trying to make an in-depth video on each and every one. Good on ya for even trying. Keep up the great work!
THANK YOU! There's so many YT'rs these days that review these like maybe in less than weeks interval and "it's great handheld" even though they're virtually all exactly same sh*t in slightly altered box. I've unsubscribed from multiple channels that focus excessively to these.
It’s not THAT many devices. It’s a portrait and landscape version of a Linux based budget handheld, and an Android based higher end handheld. I would review the portrait and landscape variants in the same video.
Theres a lot of interesting retro accessories/interfaces that would be cool to see reviews of. Rom dumpers, gameboy camera mods, controllers, etc. would love to see more of that stuff. These are products I actually want to see how they work before I buy them
I just bought a telescoping controller for my phone. No clue why I'd want one of these since doing that. Better screen, better CPU, more RAM, newer Android, etc., Seems silly to buy another device that won't last as long or be as capable. These handhelds are kids toys in my mind now, it's just that they're not priced appropriately.
This month as a result of being tired with so many models and specs and features, I gave in and ordered the Odin 2 and now no longer need to look at these things... I can just enjoy a handheld that can play games amazingly well, and sell the rest of my devices like the RG35XX-H and RG556 to pay for most of it. Done, now to actually play games! Which now that even Wii U is on Android, the Odin 2 is loving all of these platform options...
Doing written review is a great compromise in my opinion so you can review stuff you’re actually excited about and enjoy making the videos while keeping us informed on all the other stuff cause some of those do fit certain niches for people
Saying this is understandable would be the understatement of the year. There's just too much being shoved down everyone's throats with minimal improvements with every release. I basically skipped the whole XX series by Anbernic cause while yes they have lots of options when it comes to form factors, they just kept pumping them out non-stop every few weeks. Before I got the RG Cube by Anbernic the last device I got from them was the 35XX "H" and I wasn't happy at all about the fact that they announced it basically the same week as the 35XX +. And I haven't looked at another XX handheld again since then.
I was collecting them right and left never did reviews on them was collecting Ambernic Powkiddy and anything else that was high-quality handhelds but even in the last year I've only bought one thing and it was actually a Pandora's box that had a screen that came with it and that was better than any of these handhelds I've bought. I haven't collected one of these highmarket handhelds in over a year because every time I see them I'm thinking I've already got that and it looks different but it plays the same. So I definitely get what Brandon is talking about here.
I got the miyoo mini, then the rg35xx h, then the rg28xx. Each one has a hook that got me interested, and I dont regret buying them, but at this point I will not pull the trigger on buying another unless it has EVERYTHING I want. No more little incremental upgrades.
Well done Brandon for getting this off your chest, I totally agree with you 100%, the amount of machines Anbernic are churning out is ridiculous, I have two, the RG35XX SP and the RG40 XXV, one running muOS and the other running Knulli and I love them both, but will NOT be buying any more devices from Anbernic until they show some imagination, creativity and innovation in their devices, asking a lot I know! The main reason I bought the 35XX SP was because it was their first clamshell device (am a sucker for a clamshell device!) and it was something different! I look forward to more varied, diverse and interesting content from you, will be great!
As a consumer of these devices I'm suffering from too many devices that are essentially the same just from different companies. As a result I've stopped buying until something significantly different and better comes along. I can only imagine how much worse it must be for content creators such as yourself who are constantly being innudated by devices being sent to you for evaluation?
I want to see a factory tour of the places that make these handhelds. Send this guy to Shenzhen, China! Factories are white-label producing products for contract. Then other companies are reselling the items as a branded in house product. Someone needs to get to the bottom of this mystery. 🎮
The first system I purchased was the Retroid Pocket 3 and I ended up playing a lot of PS1 and GBC games on it. Upgraded to the Retroid Pocket 4+ and honestly haven't used it that much. About the only thing I would upgrade for at this point is if a dual screen system came out that you could easily play 3DS titles on.
Thanks for posting this Brandon, and very glad that you were able to stop the hamster wheel in this way. Too often we are doing things we don’t love simply because it’s the normal thing to do, or what we feel is expected of us. When we’re not aligned with it, it brings stress and that significantly contributes to burnout. Thanks for your candour Brandon! By the way, got the AHH 88-95 and TCC - loving them both as much as the first AHH! Thanks for making this awesome content!
Agreed. I'd say it's all you need but I ended up buying a cheaper beater device to take places where I'd otherwise be nervous about something happening to my Pocket. I was a day one pre-order and one of the first to get a Pocket, so that made since then. Now that they've increased production and can more easily be replaced, I don't use the beater much anymore.
I have a Nintendo Switch, PSP and PS Vita. I have been playing my Vita a lot, especially when it's jailbroken, it's honestly one of the best handheld consoles ever made.
Definitely understand why you want to take a step back from video reviews of practically the same device. I also don't get why they (especially Anbernic) don't release different control styles with the same system - out of their new releases, why not have one with N64 style controls? Nobody else is doing it and at least it makes it somewhat different
You were much better when you reviewed smaller business/mods/shops etc. Feels more authentic and Retro Dodo is for the people. Retro dodo is a big platform, with the ability to promote the smaller guys. Keep up the good work :)
The reason why Anbernic is releasing so much similar devices is to give more choices to customers. Keeping reviewers entertained shouldn’t be a consideration. These are not mediocre devices, they’re quite good for the price. Not everyone will buy $200 devices that are fun to review.
suprisingly the lack of difference (spec wise) is kind of a good thing because we can optimise for them more easily. For me these are great products but my goal is to play on them, i don't review them and i get that there are basicly 3 levels of these things : - amazing up to psx with a bit of dreamcast and n64 (linux) - amazing up to psp and mostly competent at gamecube and ps2 (android) - steam deck and above. If you know your games and budget just pick one that fits.
This is going on, maybe to a lesser degree, in the handheld PC market. Identical hardware, being released in multiple form factors, with each device having slight tweaks or input choices, but none of them having basically any innovation at all. Thanks for the honest video. Make content YOU want to make, and more importantly, content you'd actually want to watch.
Exactly: Android Gaming Handheld Remixed / or / Reconfigured RaZeR Edge Tablet only + BsP D8 Bluetooth controller (Sky Black or Star White Edition) Or GameSir X-4 Aileron Bluetooth Controller 🤔🧐
I get it. I prefer your left-field content anyway. Be the best Dad you can be - most important, then show us the positive passion that helped point me at retro gaming years ago.
Similarly, I no longer own a computer. Years ago I gave it up and can't afford one now,. I never learned about adding games to a handheld. So that being said, I have to rely on plug and play. Now I have several that play up to psp , but want one to play beyond this like PS2 for example. I've tried to buy cards ,but so far they don't work and I am skeptical about being able to get my money back and am on a tight budget to begin with. So unless a company comes out with say ps2 games that I actually like and actually play decently at a modest price, I am forced to all but give up the hobby and no I don't know any one who can help me to get the cards to work. Looks like I'm stuck. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you
Also a shame that these companies aren’t consistent with their themes. Like Retroid killed the atomic purple case after RP3+…only thing that’s been holding me back from buying a 4 Pro (or the new 5).
My last Anbernic device was the RG35XXH, and I haven't touched the others after it because of their similarity. The R36S handheld is the device I use the most, which is unfortunate.
I feel your pain,there is too much happening too fast,can't even have the joy of playing them. it's taking away something that should be refreshing and fun. It's all time sensitive,we have families and jobs,it's just crazy. I feel a reviewers podcast rolling in 😅 My friend just got the 405v and the 406v drops😂😂 Unfortunately the market dictates what is to be seen, Lets bring back content on why we love and what we love. Awesome and truthful video bro🔥🔥
While I love these products, buy one you have them all, as little between them and basically are made from e waste and old chipsets that are discarded, so getting them next to nothing
100% agree. Up to about 20 handhelds, spent more hours loading and tuning them than using them. I got jaded around the Retroid Flip and I stopped around the 35XXsp. The RG35XXsp got rave reviews and I just don't get it, its not bad but it highlighted that EVERY handheld (expensive or cheap) was lacking in several departments every single time. Honestly as a (near) 40 year old guy I find the larger screens and ergonomics of my PC handhelds [Steamdeck, Legion GO, MSI Claw] preferable as I can see them easily and my hands don't cramp up. The two that have done the most traveling is my GPD Pocket Win 2 and Win Mini mostly because they are very capable and pocketable. I'm waffling on but bottom line is the 'affordable' Chinese handhelds have been a money pit of FOMO and chasing a product no better than what I have. Don't buy into it unless it genuinely excites you. In regards to producing content, follow the passion as it shines through and genuine interest will always trump churn content. Keep up the great videos!
I wouldn't be surprised if Anbernic just released a new handheld while I was watching this video 😂
you're close. they just announced new colours for the sp.
😂
Only 1?
@@X91X-km7hp It sold well so more colors :o
I Love Anbernic, But, please wait a second before releasing anything else.
If ya wait a year, better tech and chips come out, then make a huge leap, rather than baby steps all the time. 😂😂
Nobody ever said that every reviewer had to touch every device. These things are just coin collections for millennials. The emphasis is on buying and customizing firmware on these things - feels like nobody is playing them. This is especially evident when reviewers miss huge QOL issues that come from spending more than 10 hours on one. Review the good ones, stop this handheld-acquisition syndrome everyone has, and incentivize these companies to innovate. Anbernic wouldn't be making these if they didn't sell - it isn't fair to be mad at them.
Bingo.
I dunno dude. Gwarsancho Tinni, or no?
These guys buy every single console for making content and get views, the most famous of them don't even buy them and got them for free, so nobody are forcing them to buy every console.
I don't even think anbernic sells that well to launch a handheld every month, most of people I know doesn't even know this stuff exist, and I know a lot of nerds...
@@korryramone oh my, poor company building a crapton handhelds with the exact same SoC for the past 5 years without bothering to at least improve on UI/UX! 🙄
@@Myakomore like, oh my, poor spoiled UA-camr who gets free devices to play with for a living. His job must be so unbearable
it’s so funny how much the handhelds are not about playing games as much as they are about consuming the newest piece of tech. game playing is a total afterthought lol
That Ambernic SP video you made got me to buy one and I use it on the toilet every single day, I appreciate you
That's one of the good handhelds to be fair.
@@RetroDodo I don't understand buying a handheld for 3D games tbh, I know their SP can play a lot of them but I literally only use it for gba games. Before I bought it I was a daily driver of the GBA SP. If I wanted to play games that require a lot of paying attention to I'll probably just play my series x, switch or PC. Never understood buying a handheld for anything besides simple games you can put 20 minutes in at a time.
@@randydrew66what, it only takes you 20 minutes to use the toilet? 😮
@@PaulTaylor1 when I'm gaming it does lol
@@randydrew66 The PSP came out in 2005 and is very angry at you
It's not oversaturation. If you're a reviewer trying to cover literally everything then yeah, it'll be tedious doing the same thing over and over with little to no substantive difference between them, it's probably no fun. You do what's right by you if it'll help you enjoy making videos.
But as a buyer? It's amazing having so much choice. Having more granularity, not having to compromise so much on what machine is just right for you. You get to choose form factor, screen size, aspect ratio, price point, operating system, etc. And it's a sign of a healthy market, that there's room for so many. For me, the 40XX-H is just about perfect, it even has digital triggers. If that gets an upgraded version that can comfortably do GameCube/PS2 levels of emulation and a dock for Switch-like functionality, that would pretty much be an endgame system for me. But lots of people prefer the nostalgia of the 35XX's clamshell, or the pocketability of the Miyoo A30, or having a widescreen system, or the Sega-centric controls of the Arc-D/S, or even those funky square-screen systems. And of course people have different budgets and use cases. Having more options for more people to get what they want with fewer compromises is a damn good thing. We're spoiled for choice, and it's awesome.
how long have you been into the retro handheld scene? Cause I used to get excited and get that amazing feeling but a lot of his points resonated. There are so many in my opinion too many for 1 reason for the companies to make us want to buy them and I've bought a handful and yeah each one are basically the same. Maybe if there were 10 new handhelds a year but there must be close to 100 that come out every year with minor improvements. FYI to Retro Dodo i feel you man I subscribed to your channel after watching this. This was my first video I've seen of yours. Do you don't get bullied by these companies. They sadly really don't care about you as a person they see you as a gateway to use and abuse to showcase the "new new" which is basically the "same same" but different. What are we in Thailand. Geez
@@douglasdelorey3045Since 2015 with the GPD XD. Had a lot of retro emulation setups over the years since then, from Android phones and tablets with controller attachments, to portable PCs, and of course dedicated retro handhelds running both Android and Linux. The landscape has changed a lot, not just the systems. I saw excitement for systems that came out years after the XD despite being less powerful, like the RG350 and the Bittboy. Companies added things like affordability and better controls to the scene, and there weren't as many coming out back then.
Nowadays there are more companies making these things, and they've got most of the basics pretty much figured out, so we wound up with lots more product releasing. But it's not like there's nothing new and exciting happening. The last two years moved a hell of a lot faster for the industry than the previous eight, I can tell you that. More big improvements, more noteworthy products, more innovation. It's way better now than it's ever been. Reviewers just feel the tedium more because back then there would have been radio silence between new systems. Having a lot of iterative product launches in between the bigger, more interesting ones now is, as I said, a sign of a healthy market that also improves consumer choice. It's filler, sure, but there's no real downside to it.
The key here is that most of us aren't buying up every single one of these things. I've had what I consider to be a lot of different setups over the last decade, as I outlined in the beginning of this reply, more than most people would wind up with over that time. But nothing close to what I'm sure these UA-cam channels wind up with. Most are probably going to buy one of these systems and stick with it for 3-4 years before replacing it, at least for a given use case. Maybe they buy a Miyoo Mini Plus for a pocket system and later get an Odin 2 for high-end emulation or something, but probably not much more than something like that, and they'll be happy with what they have for a long time.
So if someone's going to be looking at getting a retro handheld that they're going to be using for a few years, they're a lot better now. Instead of having 4 or 5 viable choices, there's a few dozen out there, so they can narrow things down by price and performance, form factor, operating system, etc, and still wind up with half a dozen models that are all very similar on the surface, but then they can dig into the reviews and compare the smaller details - best d-pad, best analog sticks, best stock or aftermarket operating system, aesthetics, ergonomics, HDMI output, etc and find a better match for themselves than they might have done with fewer options.
Any truly healthy and thriving industry with a higher output volume will have its share of garbage - a look at the shovelware quotient in the PS2 or Wii game libraries will readily demonstrate this - but most of these filler systems being released are really good, quality options at reasonable prices that people wind up happy with. There's no downside for consumers, as long as you're not compulsively buying up every single one you can get your hands on. They're just boring for reviewers. But reviewers have the same option too, and Brandon is exercising that option here: don't bother doing every single one, just stick to the ones that pique your interest.
I got a steam deck and called it a day with these, it can pretty much emulate PS2 and Xbox games
A Steam Deck and Analogue Pocket is the ideal two car garage.
its running xbox360 and ps3 games as well, some are running very fine
I have an Odin 2 Pro and it's all I need to play anything from PS2/Gamecube and below flawlessly. I would've been satisfied with a Steam Deck as well (mostly to play my Steam library natively on the go instead of streaming them elsewhere) but not only does it have way less battery but it's too bulky to hold. Not to mention that Android is already getting Cemu (Wii U emulator) in the near future. It may only be a matter of time before Xenia and RPCS3 start development on Android as well. Until the Steam Deck somehow turns into the size of a GPD Win 4 for a reasonable price, I'm most likely never getting one.
Love my steamdeck. It’s an emulation monster. With the OLED , 6 hours of playtime on PS2 and below, and huge hard drive I feel it’s is hands down the best option at this time for emulation
Fits in your pocket really well.
I feel like you can just make shorts for handhelds that don't give much of an upgrade compared to the other version.
I actually like it that Anbernic is releasing a load of versions of each series. The xx range uses one and the same chipset for example, but people prefer different form factors. Clamshell, vertical, horizontal, large screen, micro device, dual sticks one stick etc etc.
It's not necessarily a bad thing.
But that doesn't mean every retro channel is obliged to review every single one. If you want to focus on the more unique devices that is entirely your prerogative.
Still think it's worthwhile reviewing Anbernic devices when they have a step change between series. Eg what processor will replace the one in the XX series when it inevitably gets upgraded.
it should be released together though. The way they are releasing it is tiring
Honestly the oversaturation is what kept my from buying an emulation handheld and stayed on my psp and original hardware gameboy advances and ds/3ds with flash carts/micro sd cards.
Hacked 3ds is critically underrated.
Same! I'd rather grab a GBA and pop in a game than wade through menus for a (possibly) inaccurate experience. Not everyone will agree, but I think it's worth mentioning the special feel of original hardware with all their quirks. It just hits different
@@Pixelman546 original hardware hits different, but you'll never catch me booting up Pokémon emerald without a speed up function now.
@@korryramoneit's not...
You are just afraid of it, thinking you will need a new one released after you buy yours. I got into emulation with psp and I can say it sucks for emulation for today standards, we got better things now so it's not necessary to get stuck with a 2005 system...
Problem for these companies is there's no post-sale income (like the steam deck will do for valve with steam game sales), so they have to keep churning out more and more in an attempt to keep the money coming in...
Yup, they have an incentive to not make a perfect device.
@RetroDodo Just like cancer research will never cure cancer or the Police will never solve all crimes. Self preservation is a strong motivator.
@@tog2842The police example doesn't make sense. There's not a limited amount of crime to be solved. People are always gonna commit new crimes.
@@tog2842 Neither of those examples really work because people will always get sick or get cancer and people will never stop committing at least some crime. It can go down but it will never reach zero in a large society
Absolutely fair, a lot of retro gaming channels are constantly posting about them & it's a bit boring from a viewer's perspective unless I'm seeking out info on a system specifically
FINALLY somebody said something. the emu handheld market is insane rn and I hope the bubble bursts soon
Everyone has been saying this for a couple years now. Remember the rg351 devices?
Just from the ones I follow, Taki Udon jumped off a while ago and Bob from Wulff Den also said that he's not covering anything else he doesn't find interesting anymore. Hopefully soon more will follow, and let's see if Anbernic still keeps releasing a new device every few weeks, because I have the gut feeling that this whole marketing is being kept afloat by content creators advertising these and a handful of people just buying everything they see.
When did having options become a bad thing? No one told you that you had to buy every new shiny thing that gets released. If you're experiencing handheld fatigue, that's entirely of your own doing
It's not that the handheld market got worse. It got better but as the choice increases, reviewer struggle to make video for all of them. It only is a problem for you, not the consumer
thank you for explaining why every other handheld review i ever watched were just ads pretending to be opinions as i suspected
I find ironic that there's FOMO in the retro world... 🤔
It's almost like many aren't in the hobby for the love of gaming, but to fill the hole in their soul with consumerism.
I feel your pain bro ❤😢
There's too much to cover, there's only two of us on the team, with a website to run also, it's exhausting man.
The problem isn't the gaming companies releasing the handhelds (releasing different handhelds is their purpose). It's the gamers trying to purchase every single handheld release. Only purchase the handhelds that interest you!
shh... dont say that people want to live in an illution and dont wanan hear the hard truth
@@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude
I have not purchased a handheld in quite a while. Didn't get the 40XXV, the RGCube or the Trimui Pro. I just ordered the Trimui Brick moments ago. Been waiting for the release of the Brick for about 2 years.
To be honest, a lot of the handhelds that released this year, so far haven't really interested me that much.
Heck, the only emulation portable I own currently is a Retroid 2+ that I barely play.
@@nsgames24 That's totally fine! You didn't waste your money purchasing handhelds just to be purchasing them.
Okay, but as some other dude has said here in te comments, that's the exact reason of the video game crash back in the second generation. So many devices with no relevant improvement between them. Like, what's the practical difference between a plastic and a metal device from Anbernic?
I stopped trying to keep up and when I review it .. will release it sometimes month later.
Invasion of handhelds I love that we live in a time like this onlly it's over the TOP.
Only problem indeed is repeating yourself because it's more of the same for us.
Good Video ... totally feel with you !
By the way ... 2:00 Love your doggy ! 💖
Hi wicked, good to see you here!
Valve should release a mini Steam Deck now.
That would be my dream device. I love my steam deck. It’s just too dang big for travel
That would make a great companion to the Steam Deck. It wouldn't even matter if it's less powerful.
Agreed, some of us hate X86 Handhelds because of how comically big they are. A Steam Deck Mini would remedy this.
I've given up on Anbernic myself because of the reason you said, buy 1 device & next week another one's out.
I don't get that tbh. I think it's brilliant that they keep the general spec similar across a bunch of devices but the form factor is often what changes. The Anbernic design team don't rest and I think that's great!
Good on you for openly disclosing the commission rate. Its rarely talked about but the financial incentive potentially lends itself to the possibility of reviews being more positive. I appreciate the transparency.
Great video & relatable 💥 I spend longer setting them up than playing them! I only have a few of them - Miyoo Mini & another micro one plus a RG351V. I mainly play my old school handhelds/consoles, so many games I haven't played, large catalogue for each system so I'm covered for a while, plus I have a PS5 for anything new.
I know how it feels when a company owes you lots of money but when it’s time to pay they can’t. There’s a company that also owes me $5K in affiliate sales but when you reach out to them, they completely ignore you 😭🤦🏽♂️
ouch.
Clearly this guy is bashing anbernic, this guy says he loves the aya neo micro which is the most unnecessary and expensive device. Or insinuating the unicorn is better than the cube...
For Anbernic product, if it the same series like "XX" series just focus on the design and special features, since it using same CPU, same amount of RAM, the performance itself will not be different, for performance, no need to redone testing.
I absolutely understand that point of view. I've lost my passion for these handhelds over time as well, way earlier than you did, especially since I had no time left to play retro games, which is why I liked them in the first place.
Best of luck brandon.
Fascinating that he got fed up on one that actuallyl finally brings the big newthings like higher res (after all these times being stuck on 640:480) and first time proper sticks at anbernic .... weird one to lash on after the barage og XX devices
Coal miners are sharing your pain.
I really appreciate this decision! I'll be hapoy to read your reviews and see the video on those devices you truly appreciated, among the beautiful contents you share 😊
I can see how that is time consuming and annoying for you. As a consumer though, I love it. The selection and options have been wide and cover most interest and niches. It will probably slow down a bit after awhile, but it's good to see that no matter your budget or need their is likely a retro handheld that has you covered.
For instance the RGB10X from Powkiddy that just released was exactly what I needed. However, some people may want WiFi or other features, so they can get something from Ambernic that is more expensive. I just wanted something cheap and more portable than a steam deck or Retroid 4/5. I didn't want to spend alot for something my devices can already do, but the 10x fit perfectly into my use case.
I wish people would actually play with those devices. I often see on reddit people buying every device they see but donot really play with them. I still have my pocket go from 2019 and it works fine. I sometimes think of getting a larger one but thereare just to many options.
Particularly with the anbernic "family" devices there isn't a whole lot to say beyond "it's the same thing in a different shape" they just need the one review that gets referred back to until they actually do something different.
I completely understand. I got the 353m when it launched and I haven't seen Anbernic put out anything that was a worthwhile upgrade imo.
If I had to give advice to anyone looking to pick up handhelds, I'd say you're better off going with official hardware (like 3DS, Vita, Switch, maybe a handheld PC) and one retro HH that specifically suits your needs.
I got sick of the tiniest iterations in these handhelds a long time ago. Other than the GBAXXSP, Miyoo Mini and Retroid, I'm good. They each fill a niche for me and I don't want or need anything else.
Its why I just bought the mm+ plays a lot of what I want and is very portable
Brilliant video! As a viewer, i was feeling what you were going through. Many other people im subbed to did these repetitive vodeos, and frankly, i'm sick of it. This honesty was a breath of fresh air. This makes me have a massive increase of repsect for your content.
Anbernic is taking the piss releasing a new handheld every week, the exact same spec in a different shell, my SP didn't even work 😡 great video 👍
I wish there was an ergo shop where we can hold the device in our hands with an accurately depiction of the display and included software.
Importing these things in bulk and selling them has been the greatest cure for me to not want any of these for myself anymore. Seriously getting to get my hands on basically all the releases gives one the sense that this is an old thing in a new package. They are literally all the same, play the same systems, play the same games ect so on and so forth. The only one as of recently that I think is pretty cool and fairly unique is the trimUI smart pro. People are nuts for these little handhelds though, when I'm fully stocked I will without any doubt sell between 10-20 of these retro consoles a week.
I have been saying the same thing... What we long wished for has now become tired.
Mad and massive respect for this move and I wish you absolutely nothing but the best for your future man! Great decision ❤
In my opinion the more handhelds we have the better because more options, We have the SP/Cube for Compact portable gaming or the 556 for great screen, and the H devices for 4:3 etc
I agree.
Side question, love the cardigan where did you get it from?
I only have the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, Miyoo Mini, RG35XXSP, my Galaxy S24+ with Gamesir G8+, Aya Neo Air Plus 6800U. If getting too many devices with the same chipset sent to you is stressing you out, I know it's a rough problem to have, give them away.
The consumer habit has basically caused us to forget that these devices are not tied to game publishing deals or DRMs or stuff. They should be there to empower us, to help us combat consumerism with a device that works for purposes of our choosing - look at the growing custom OS scene. But some of us seem more enslaved by these things than anything else.
Really, if other talks regarding these devices seem too complicated and cynical, then remember this:
**Newcomers, don't buy anything at launch.**
Let the hype settle, and let more experienced users find the quirks and faults and come up with ideas to help you with a more enjoyable experience with a handheld you *eventually buy*, not *instantly buy*. There are patient gamers, and we should also try to be patient gadgeters.
It's out of control these days. Friends ask what handheld to buy, and honestly it's hard to answer....we went from custom-made devices to literary 100s of mass-produced ones in a small space of time. Some are really, really good, but I don't understand the constant release schedule with subtle changes, small tweaks etc. Would be so much better if they focussed on the actual emulation levels we're after and tailored their devices more to this. The 'middle of the road' options are saturated beyond belief.
Buy an attachable smart phone controller -> attach phone -> no need for handhelds.
I bought a Nintendo switchlite, a steam deck, and a Lenovo Legion go over the last year. I have zero interest in any of these android based handhelds. The only one I purchased was the Ambenic 405M. I ended up getting rid of it because the screen is just too small and there’s no video output.
Honestly, good on you. Personally, I'm sick of SEEING these things. It's like they put out a new one of these things every few MINUTES now, with little to no differences between them!
It's all very confusing for the first time buyer, for sure.
You don't have to buy all of them. I am glad i waited, because the RG40XX V is exactly what i wanted (for my retro gaming needs). I probably won't need to buy another handheld for a couple of years, unless something game changing comes out.
All you have to do is wait for the one you watch then buy it. You don't have to buy every Handheld.
@@shadowside8433 I spent about 2 days watching reviews and reading up on this before buying one. Option paralysis is annoying.
So you just… know which one you want? I’m fascinated how you think this works.
I bought one a few years ago for GBA games and they pretty much all i needed. I was tempted to buy updated versions with bigger screens, but after thinking about it i just didn't bother.
Company puts out many products to provide choice, reviewer has breakdown. Tale as old as time. Counterpoint: I got in the handheld market for the first time in two years, saw that the RG40XXV looks perfect for my needs, bought it, happy with it.
Right on! Give us your take on what floats to the top, what interests you, what is innovative, what is worth our time and money - watching reviews of 'the same handheld in another color or with blinking analogs' is also getting old.
bro that is for real. I've been following this retro handheld scene from like the very down of it. people seems to forgot a deep content, sharing experience, and a revisit of old history is what makes this hobby charming. not a review race.
looking out for your new series 🙌
Good of you to be so honest and candid with this video. Whilst you’re waiting for some decent handhelds to be released, tell Rob I miss him.
I used to buy these Chinese handhelds left and right, but have refrained big time this year when I too just got tired of the same chipset but in a different form factor. The only devices I bought this year so far is the RG35XX H and the RG Nano.
My favorite combo to play retro games consist of my hacked New 3DS XL, hacked PS Vita, a Steam Deck, and my phone. If I was on a deserted island with just those 4 items I would be in retro gaming bliss.
Very understandable! - Is the Retro Show on this channel? - can't find a link here.
Thank you for being so honest, you’re one of my favorite youtubers. Please keep it up! I love your channel and I’m excited to see the direction you turn it in :^)
As much I love the Retro Emulation Gaming Market I do agree that they are being WAAAY Oversaturated on the Design and Specs.
To me it’s Best to Buy a Handheld you would Enjoy and play for a Longtime. But you’ll never know you Jinx of getting an Inferior Handheld this experiencing FOMO.
I can understand your position and the challenges that come with reviewing on multiple platforms and dealing with the companies that send you review units.
I won't disclose my other channel where I'm a tech reviewer out of my privacy reasons. However, I will say I have gotten screwed over by off brand computer and laptop manufacturers not communicating, blacklisting me and not finishing their end of the deal. It's very frustrating at times, but I continue out of the love of my passion for it.
I'm still having fun collecting these new handhelds, but I pick and choose which ones I really care about and actually see using for more than a week.
There is too much oversaturation in this market. Anbernic, Powkiddy, and all these other brands should slow down and release very well designed and well thought out products with signicant features and hardware/software changes that would warrant the consumer or give real incentivization to make a worthy purchase.
It has been pretty insane seeing 1 or more devices announced each week. I can't even fathom trying to make an in-depth video on each and every one. Good on ya for even trying. Keep up the great work!
THANK YOU! There's so many YT'rs these days that review these like maybe in less than weeks interval and "it's great handheld" even though they're virtually all exactly same sh*t in slightly altered box. I've unsubscribed from multiple channels that focus excessively to these.
It’s not THAT many devices. It’s a portrait and landscape version of a Linux based budget handheld, and an Android based higher end handheld. I would review the portrait and landscape variants in the same video.
Theres a lot of interesting retro accessories/interfaces that would be cool to see reviews of. Rom dumpers, gameboy camera mods, controllers, etc. would love to see more of that stuff. These are products I actually want to see how they work before I buy them
I just bought a telescoping controller for my phone. No clue why I'd want one of these since doing that. Better screen, better CPU, more RAM, newer Android, etc., Seems silly to buy another device that won't last as long or be as capable. These handhelds are kids toys in my mind now, it's just that they're not priced appropriately.
This month as a result of being tired with so many models and specs and features, I gave in and ordered the Odin 2 and now no longer need to look at these things... I can just enjoy a handheld that can play games amazingly well, and sell the rest of my devices like the RG35XX-H and RG556 to pay for most of it. Done, now to actually play games! Which now that even Wii U is on Android, the Odin 2 is loving all of these platform options...
Doing written review is a great compromise in my opinion so you can review stuff you’re actually excited about and enjoy making the videos while keeping us informed on all the other stuff cause some of those do fit certain niches for people
Saying this is understandable would be the understatement of the year. There's just too much being shoved down everyone's throats with minimal improvements with every release. I basically skipped the whole XX series by Anbernic cause while yes they have lots of options when it comes to form factors, they just kept pumping them out non-stop every few weeks. Before I got the RG Cube by Anbernic the last device I got from them was the 35XX "H" and I wasn't happy at all about the fact that they announced it basically the same week as the 35XX +. And I haven't looked at another XX handheld again since then.
I was collecting them right and left never did reviews on them was collecting Ambernic Powkiddy and anything else that was high-quality handhelds but even in the last year I've only bought one thing and it was actually a Pandora's box that had a screen that came with it and that was better than any of these handhelds I've bought. I haven't collected one of these highmarket handhelds in over a year because every time I see them I'm thinking I've already got that and it looks different but it plays the same. So I definitely get what Brandon is talking about here.
I got the miyoo mini, then the rg35xx h, then the rg28xx. Each one has a hook that got me interested, and I dont regret buying them, but at this point I will not pull the trigger on buying another unless it has EVERYTHING I want. No more little incremental upgrades.
Well done Brandon for getting this off your chest, I totally agree with you 100%, the amount of machines Anbernic are churning out is ridiculous, I have two, the RG35XX SP and the RG40 XXV, one running muOS and the other running Knulli and I love them both, but will NOT be buying any more devices from Anbernic until they show some imagination, creativity and innovation in their devices, asking a lot I know! The main reason I bought the 35XX SP was because it was their first clamshell device (am a sucker for a clamshell device!) and it was something different! I look forward to more varied, diverse and interesting content from you, will be great!
Exactly one of the reasons I am slowing down all my videos. Losing a lot interests in these things.
As a consumer of these devices I'm suffering from too many devices that are essentially the same just from different companies. As a result I've stopped buying until something significantly different and better comes along. I can only imagine how much worse it must be for content creators such as yourself who are constantly being innudated by devices being sent to you for evaluation?
I want to see a factory tour of the places that make these handhelds.
Send this guy to Shenzhen, China!
Factories are white-label producing products for contract. Then other companies are reselling the items as a branded in house product.
Someone needs to get to the bottom of this mystery. 🎮
As a minimalist, I only require one device until it dies.
The first system I purchased was the Retroid Pocket 3 and I ended up playing a lot of PS1 and GBC games on it. Upgraded to the Retroid Pocket 4+ and honestly haven't used it that much. About the only thing I would upgrade for at this point is if a dual screen system came out that you could easily play 3DS titles on.
Thanks for posting this Brandon, and very glad that you were able to stop the hamster wheel in this way. Too often we are doing things we don’t love simply because it’s the normal thing to do, or what we feel is expected of us. When we’re not aligned with it, it brings stress and that significantly contributes to burnout. Thanks for your candour Brandon!
By the way, got the AHH 88-95 and TCC - loving them both as much as the first AHH! Thanks for making this awesome content!
Same here. I honesty believe the RG 40XXV would be the perfect handheld if it played, DC, PS2, Saturn, and GC perfectly.
I've never had any interest in these after getting my Analogue Pocket lol.
Agreed. I'd say it's all you need but I ended up buying a cheaper beater device to take places where I'd otherwise be nervous about something happening to my Pocket.
I was a day one pre-order and one of the first to get a Pocket, so that made since then. Now that they've increased production and can more easily be replaced, I don't use the beater much anymore.
I always thought the same thing about these handhelds. They are basically the same. Very very minimal updates. Negligible actually.
I have a Nintendo Switch, PSP and PS Vita. I have been playing my Vita a lot, especially when it's jailbroken, it's honestly one of the best handheld consoles ever made.
Sounds like you describing the iPhone 😂(0:51)
Definitely understand why you want to take a step back from video reviews of practically the same device.
I also don't get why they (especially Anbernic) don't release different control styles with the same system - out of their new releases, why not have one with N64 style controls? Nobody else is doing it and at least it makes it somewhat different
You were much better when you reviewed smaller business/mods/shops etc. Feels more authentic and Retro Dodo is for the people. Retro dodo is a big platform, with the ability to promote the smaller guys. Keep up the good work :)
Analogue Pockets, Mini consoles and an Evercade collection is all I need!
Great combo to be fair!
The reason why Anbernic is releasing so much similar devices is to give more choices to customers. Keeping reviewers entertained shouldn’t be a consideration. These are not mediocre devices, they’re quite good for the price. Not everyone will buy $200 devices that are fun to review.
suprisingly the lack of difference (spec wise) is kind of a good thing because we can optimise for them more easily. For me these are great products but my goal is to play on them, i don't review them and i get that there are basicly 3 levels of these things :
- amazing up to psx with a bit of dreamcast and n64 (linux)
- amazing up to psp and mostly competent at gamecube and ps2 (android)
- steam deck and above.
If you know your games and budget just pick one that fits.
This is going on, maybe to a lesser degree, in the handheld PC market. Identical hardware, being released in multiple form factors, with each device having slight tweaks or input choices, but none of them having basically any innovation at all. Thanks for the honest video. Make content YOU want to make, and more importantly, content you'd actually want to watch.
Thank you.
@@RetroDodo Anytime brother. Keep being awesome 🍻
Exactly:
Android Gaming Handheld Remixed / or / Reconfigured
RaZeR Edge Tablet only
+
BsP D8 Bluetooth controller (Sky Black or Star White Edition)
Or
GameSir X-4 Aileron Bluetooth Controller
🤔🧐
I get it. I prefer your left-field content anyway. Be the best Dad you can be - most important, then show us the positive passion that helped point me at retro gaming years ago.
Appreciated.
I bought the Odin Pro 2 and theres no return for me for this handhelds anymore. Odin is just perfect. Portability, quality, power
Similarly, I no longer own a computer. Years ago I gave it up and can't afford one now,. I never learned about adding games to a handheld. So that being said, I have to rely on plug and play. Now I have several that play up to psp , but want one to play beyond this like PS2 for example. I've tried to buy cards ,but so far they don't work and I am skeptical about being able to get my money back and am on a tight budget to begin with. So unless a company comes out with say ps2 games that I actually like and actually play decently at a modest price, I am forced to all but give up the hobby and no I don't know any one who can help me to get the cards to work. Looks like I'm stuck. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you
Appreciate the honesty
Also a shame that these companies aren’t consistent with their themes. Like Retroid killed the atomic purple case after RP3+…only thing that’s been holding me back from buying a 4 Pro (or the new 5).
My last Anbernic device was the RG35XXH, and I haven't touched the others after it because of their similarity. The R36S handheld is the device I use the most, which is unfortunate.
I feel the same when shopping for a new handheld.
I feel your pain,there is too much happening too fast,can't even have the joy of playing them. it's taking away something that should be refreshing and fun.
It's all time sensitive,we have families and jobs,it's just crazy. I feel a reviewers podcast rolling in 😅
My friend just got the 405v and the 406v drops😂😂
Unfortunately the market dictates what is to be seen, Lets bring back content on why we love and what we love.
Awesome and truthful video bro🔥🔥
While I love these products, buy one you have them all, as little between them and basically are made from e waste and old chipsets that are discarded, so getting them next to nothing
100% agree. Up to about 20 handhelds, spent more hours loading and tuning them than using them. I got jaded around the Retroid Flip and I stopped around the 35XXsp. The RG35XXsp got rave reviews and I just don't get it, its not bad but it highlighted that EVERY handheld (expensive or cheap) was lacking in several departments every single time. Honestly as a (near) 40 year old guy I find the larger screens and ergonomics of my PC handhelds [Steamdeck, Legion GO, MSI Claw] preferable as I can see them easily and my hands don't cramp up. The two that have done the most traveling is my GPD Pocket Win 2 and Win Mini mostly because they are very capable and pocketable. I'm waffling on but bottom line is the 'affordable' Chinese handhelds have been a money pit of FOMO and chasing a product no better than what I have. Don't buy into it unless it genuinely excites you. In regards to producing content, follow the passion as it shines through and genuine interest will always trump churn content. Keep up the great videos!
The past year feels like Anbernic has 100 releases of different shaped versions of the same handheld.
Wherever you go, we go together brother 🙏🏽🙇♂️
WHAT YOU SAID MADE ME LOVE YOUR CHANNEL. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.