Electrical tape dampens the noise better. I have done this mod a week ago and can confirm the electrical tape is better. Thank you Russ for your hard work!
@the5kyliner 2 layers on dpad. 3 on face buttons and 1 on shoulder buttons. I didn't use any on the select or start button. Nor the menu button since you don't use them all the time
@@michaelroth6975 I haven't had any issues that I'm aware of. Even if it did get gooey, you could clean it up with alcohol and try different tape. It won't damage your device.
I used this guide to mod mine with Kapton tape, with the same number of layers as you put in the description. Kapton is much thinner than masking tape but I took a sound recording before and after the mod and it's definitely quieter now, and easier to press the buttons in. Thanks for figuring this one out, retro handheld community!
Hey Russ, I did this right as I got mines with 2 layers of electrical tape and one way to fix with the back trigger rattling is by cutting a small piece of the included white cushion foam that came with the rg35xxsp packaging and wedging it in-between the back triggers, did this on my unit and it totally eliminated the annoying rattling.
I have a question, as my rg35sp is on my way to me now. Won't the heat affect those foam cushions? Or is the heat not enought to affect it? And also, what are the measurments of those homemade cushions? Cause ngl, that's a big-brained move
@eduardodejesusreyesvega9936 Well the cushion foam is that the very top edges of the console while the CPU and console battery are at the bottom middle to middle middle of the console, so the heat isn't too close to it. Also I just eyeballed it but if I have to say, it's around H ⅜" x W ⅜" in measurement. I did this awhile back on my clear blue RG35XXSP and it still looks to be holding up. And thank you 😁, I had just disassembled it and then thought what would be tight enough to hold the triggers in place while not putting too much pressure and damaging them. And that's when I thought about a foam cushion type material and then remembered that it came with a piece, I just cut a piece hoping for the best and to my surprise it was perfect.
Thanks for the guide. I didn't mind the clicky buttons but knew that whoever was next to me might not love my button mashing. I am amazed at how much quieter it is. I used blue painters tape.
Hi Russ, I just did the mod because of your video. I used electrical tape. Mine are miles more silent than yours. The face buttons especially, I don't hear them almost and because of this mod, they aren't loose anymore as well. My device does NOT rattle anymore by the way, I used electrical tape on one side of the R2 and L2 button. No clicky buttons, no loose buttons and no rattle anymore! This device just became perfect.
I followed this last night with a few changes and figured I'd give my results. I used the same type of masking tape you did. -One layer of masking tape is as much as you can do on START/SELECT. Another layer makes them not push down at all. (They'll still actuate if you press on them, but there's no tactility at all, kind of like pressing on a touch screen.) -Three layers on the shoulders works great, but trimming on the left and right is essential or the tape will drag on the case and make your buttons sticky. There's still a rattle but it really is much less perceptible even than with two. -Three layers works fine on both D-pad and buttons without really changing the highly tactile feel of either (but it's appreciably quieter). Been happy with this mod so far! Can't speak to the long-term viability but if I have to remove the tape at some point it wasnt exactly difficult to get into the thing. If it becomes necessary anytime soon I'd probably dissuade people from this mod; the plastic posts are brittle and the threading can at least slightly grind down over time even if you do everything the right way. I ended up making some screw posts on my Odroid Go Advance completely useless due to that.
I'm so glad I did this mod!!! Thank you so much for this helpful video. I used Kapton tape, 2 layers on the d-pad and 3 layers on ABXY. I absolutely love this device now, the buttons bothered me so much.
2 on the D-Pad, SELECT, START, MENU buttons, 3 on the face buttons, and 2 on the shoulders/triggers. Rattle is 99% gone, clickiness is fully gone, much much better like this, and kind of fun to do! Now to load up my roms - thanks again Russ!
Yeah, I'm holding out until they make one with comfortable buttons. Like 40 to 70 grams to press. My rg35xx-h takes about 130g, and it makes my thumbs hurt.
Thanks! BTW, for measuring the force, it helps to press the buttons as slowly as possible, just gradually increasing pressure for several seconds until the button activates. That gives the scale time to catch up and get a more accurate number.
my unit was one of the first for sale on amazon, its same version (silver) , but it always had problems from day one with pushing anyone of the buttons on the dpad and the xy ab buttons and getting a no contact push about every five pushes, I just used this video and procedure and it seems to have helped with that, ThankYou and Merry Xmas Sir!!!
I don’t have an rg sp, but I do have an rg28xx and after watching this decided to open it up and add some tape to the shoulder buttons and the volume rocker. I did 3 layers to each button and the rattle is MUCH better. Also the volume is easier to press. Thanks for the idea, Russ!
I did this mod with Kapton tape. You can even find the perfect sized piece to cover all the buttons with one piece. Making this mod even easier & safer for the overall longevity of the device.
@@nintendion8440 Yea pretty much. I used 2 pieces on the dpad, and only 2 pieces on the buttons. But I think if I ever open it up again, I will add a 3rd piece to the buttons to see if there is a difference.
I recommend foam tape for the shoulder buttons. I put one piece between each of the switches and buttons, then another piece between the shoulder buttons themselves for added tension. (6 pieces total) The tape retains the buttons in place perfectly, no more shaking. Make sure you use a foam that is sufficiently dense to avoid it compressing or disintegrating over time.
Thanks for this video, I did 3 layers of blue painters tape on the d-pad and face buttons and 2 on the shoulders and everything else and I have a 90% reduction in rattle
One thing i find has frequently been a hugely useful tool in this is keyboard lube - gpl 205. A lot of buttons rub on the shell and a tiny tiny coat painted around the edges of the face buttons not only smoothes them out, but on rattly buttons, it acts as a tiny sound damper. I did this on the shoulder buttons of the r20sx. Including the button hinges from the inside and the face buttons are smoother and no longer rattle, and the shoulder buttons are almost completely rattle free too. Hitting the pivots of the shoulders on the SP would likely solve their rattle Same goes for metal chassis handhelds. The 405m buttons rubbed so badly before and after one lube coat have been smooth and silent for months and months It would also remove that rattly snap noise from the face buttons when you take your thumb off of one button after pressing.
Yeah it gives it more of a retro vibe when I'm playing plus the button response is so satisfying knowing I pressed a button rather then hoping I did. Also with me having a taxia in my left hand it makes button confirmation easier.
i actually dont mind the clickiness, but it's the force it takes to press the buttons that gets me. putting tape on the buttons does make them much easier to press. i recommend kapton tape, since it's designed for use on PCBs
Waited for your video before doing this mod. Clicked immediately and followed your guide. Now i have a much less clicky sp that is can play without disturbing my sleeping partner👍👍
I’m a bit late to this but I came from keyboard modding world and putting Krytox 205G Keyboard Lube on the buttons (not the switches) and parts of inner shell remove ALL the rattling entirely. Definitely recommend trying it out. I also added an O-Ring to the reset button to make it a bit harder to press… definitely accidentally hit that instead of the sleep button more than once before 😂
Hey Russ, I did the mod with medical tape, 3 layer Facebuttons, 2 on the Dpad and 2 on Shoulders and Triggers. Very nice sound now and the only rattle is the battery in the shell which I will fix an other day.
AMAZING VIDEO, AMAZING CONSOLE! Glad that I purchased it and is such a nostalgic ride. I did a film of ptm7950 and copper plate on the cpu and also added some heatshield tape to the battery to improve thermals and loving it
For rattle reduction, R2 and L2 are the worst offenders, so i like to put a tiny strip of tape each on the left and right side of each button, wich completly stops the rattleing without changing the feel of the button.
Not sure if you'll see this, but I just did this exact mod using two layers of 3M friction tape on each button and it works incredibly well. It's a fabric material and much more sound deadening. Honestly makes it sound like an OEM SP.
I'm glad that this fix exists for people who want it, but I love my clicky buttons, so this would be a downgrade for me ^^ But it's good to get a bit of a look inside, always a fan of easy repairability in my devices. The controls - much more than the formfactor - are the main reason why the SP has become my go to device. Best DPad I have felt in years and really good and precise buttons .
Thanks for the video Russ. Nice dedication tshirt for Chicken. Working for Sherwin-Williams and knowing masking tapes, the adhesive on the white masking tape will become sticky and eventually crusty, over time, with the heat and all. I will attempt this mod with kapton tape.
I did a similar mod last week but used cut up pieces of paper and card stock and I only did it for the shoulder, power, and other side buttons. You can get more quiet shoulder buttons if you add pressure(paper) to the sides of the button and not between the switch and the button. (the main rattle is side to side and not up and down). As in you wedge a small piece of paper or card on the sides of the button against the shell. Also that cheap adhesive on masking and electric tape will get super gross after about a year or two, it will melt and move around the board. I personally would advise against it unless you use higher quality tape/adhesive
If your familiar with keyboard bandaid mods you could try that instead. Essentially you use the sticky tan part of a bandaid in place of the masking tap you used here, probably less layers as it's thicker. I think anbernic will sell alot of these which means one thing... There will be future iterations in this form factor and they'll be improved each time. Maybe even a metal version. I have an Rg353m so going to skip this time but I'll be keeping an eye out on future releases.
Building on the keyboard modding, You can also lubricate the buttons and the surfaces they touch. That removes all the rattle and changes the feel of the buttons (imo it’s better).
I doubt it. Unless Ambernic changes the tolerances they work with which would raise prices. Ambernic is known for button rattle especially. But besides button rattle and stock FW not being great they always make really good handhelds in my experience.
Thanks for this, i just ordered mine through your affiliate link and your deal on amazon. I hope the clickiness is fine with me, but at least i know i can mod it like this and be ok
I Completely solved the rattle on mine doing something slightly different, I used a bandaid and cut out the sticky part not with the foam, you are going to place it directly on the sides of the shoulder buttons (r2, l2) where the plastic makes contact with the shell and therefore makes a rattling sound when shaking it, doing this was super simple and completely got rid of rattle and you don’t have to do anything on r1 and l1
You could put a little tape as wedge on the side wall of the button or the case itself to make it rattle less. For the button, to make it less noisy (or clicky) just dampen the sound with a stuffed sponge in the button itself. For example I did this mod with my spacebar keycap itself since it's hollow, and it reduce the rattle sound by a lot cause by the spring, it's more softer feeling, and not springy or twangy or whatever is called. xd
One thing - I feel like the shoulder button rattle really varies device to device. I can shake mine pretty vigorously, and I barely get any rattle at all, and certainly no more than an original GBA SP. Definitely something to keep in mind when doing this mod, your mileage may vary.
The proper bit is actually a hex bit, not torx. The iFixit kit has these as well in 1.5, 2.5, 3 and 4mm. The correct one for my 28XX is 1.5mm hex bit. I would assume it's the same for the SP.
Interesting and usefull video. Btw Russ, thanks to you I've bought a RG ARC S for my 8/16bit Sega needs. Already have a Retroid Pocket 3+, but the retro itch is getting worse and worse. I like it! Keep up the good work.
Video idea: budget and midrange phone emulation performance. It becomes weary, seeing all these devices with high end chips inside. Plus, gaming on our phones saves us from having to carry around an entirely extra device, just for the few minutes we may be able to game here and there. Love the vids. Keep up the fantastic work. 🤘
Great video! I’ve been contemplating getting one to complete the RGxx saga but the clicky buttons don’t convince me. If I find a good deal I would try this mod. However, I wish Anbernic made a revision. I know some people like clicky buttons, but a lot of times I’m commuting or at some doctors office. I like small handhelds that I can carry around and not be conspicuous pressing buttons. Lol. Bought a second XXH and I just find it perfect. But again I would give the SP a try if a score a good deal later.
Am I the only only that actually likes how the buttons are by default? Anyway, loved the video, I'm not gonna do that but in the eventuality that I need to, is always nice to have those for reference.
I suppose my question is, will the tape eventually wear down from the constant contact? Once it starts to slightly breach that first layer of tape, wouldn't the button become sticky?
If using electrical tape, I did 1 layer on dpad and 2 layers on face buttons. And 1 layer for select,start, menu buttons. And it is very quiet. I did not try the triggers, may do that next. Just some helpful info for folks
Hi Russ, I think I found a solution for the rattle! I ended up using some sort of thin foam tape cause i couldn't find any masking tape around the house and only had to apply one layer of tape on every button including the shoulder buttons and it was thick enough to stop rattling all together. For the shoulder buttons though, I had to cut out space on the tape so that the actual button is making contact with the switch on the board cause the foam stopped it from clicking. Hope this helps!!!
Might be a good thing to use Kapton tape to resist any heat melting the adhesive or becoming like “goo” for longevity. Should hold up better to constant abrasion from button clicks compared to masking tape. While also not building up a static charge of using something like scotch tape.
I was scared hearing a lot of reviewers saying the buttons were too high and clicky, but when I received it I instantly loved it, then I handed it to my brother and he immediately said the buttons were too high and noisy lol so it's not that they are bad, just a matter of preference
My A Button is recessed now after playing a while. Not sure if it's any idea buying new ones if they will get worn out so fast, still works fine and feels okay to use
I put felt tape on my RP3+ R2 and L2 dome switch buttons to reduce travel significantly and noise. I'll try it on the sp when i get mine instead of tape.
I've been having an issue with the d-pad on mine that I wonder if this would fix (or exacerbate): I can press the whole thing down in the center and hit all four directions at once. It makes shmups more difficult to play since you tend to ride the pivot on those a lot, and this just... doesn't have a proper pivot as far as I can tell. Am I the only one with this issue? The GBA SP pad this is modeled after doesn't have the same problem, the pivot is deep enough there to prevent simultaneous opposing directions.
Addendum to this: since I was annoyed by the pivot but WASN'T annoyed by the sound of the buttons (I find 'em about as loud as Joycon buttons, which I can deal with), I decided to follow this guide but added a couple layers of tape below the pivot of the dpad instead, and this fixed the issue perfectly. No more opposite directions being pressed.
Would suggest using blue painters tape. The problem with regular masking tape is the adhesive will degenerate over time and eventually leave a sticky mess in place should you ever decide to open it up in the future/replace the tape/etc.
@@user-yk1cw8im4h not really I also make videos for the retro handhelds channel 😁 Aish Talks Tech is just my personal channel that I started not too long ago, but was it necessary to make such a negative comment ?
I don’t mind the clickiness. The exploding battery though… that its something I would mod it for (if only for the convenience of using a usb-c to usb-c cable).
Im not sure if im right but you could test the pressing forced better if you go to settings and see the controls, theres an option for looking if all the controls are good so you could see at what time the button is on
That was the stupidest thing to do on this device. People are already saying the battery is the heatsink even with the 2mm air gap and the dude actually made the damn thing a real heatsink lmao
@@InuGamiac the video is already deleted. He added a thin strip of copper in between the CPU and the battery, effectively ensuring that the CPU heat will get transferred to the battery. And faster.
I modded mine too but just the D-Pad and the face buttons with the same layers you put for both. I didn't do the Menu, Start and Select buttons because those feel fine anyway. I was thinking of doing the shoulders down the line.
6:00 I put a drop of T-700 glue on the tip of shoulder botton of my rg35xxh and it muffled the clickyness and the rattling of the should botton T-700 is a rubber like glue it's flexible and easy to remove if needed to it is also used in phone screen repair
You can't improve perfection! The only actually loud buttons are start and select but I don't press them enough to mind much. The stock RG35XXSP d-pad and face buttons are wonderful.
Electrical tape dampens the noise better. I have done this mod a week ago and can confirm the electrical tape is better. Thank you Russ for your hard work!
How many layers of electrical tape did you use?
@the5kyliner 2 layers on dpad. 3 on face buttons and 1 on shoulder buttons. I didn't use any on the select or start button. Nor the menu button since you don't use them all the time
Gaffers tape works too, doesn't leave any sticky residue like electrical tape. It also dampens noise better.
If it gets hot in your pocket or heated up in gameplay, could it get gooy and mess with the internals?
@@michaelroth6975 I haven't had any issues that I'm aware of. Even if it did get gooey, you could clean it up with alcohol and try different tape. It won't damage your device.
I used this guide to mod mine with Kapton tape, with the same number of layers as you put in the description. Kapton is much thinner than masking tape but I took a sound recording before and after the mod and it's definitely quieter now, and easier to press the buttons in. Thanks for figuring this one out, retro handheld community!
Hey Russ, I did this right as I got mines with 2 layers of electrical tape and one way to fix with the back trigger rattling is by cutting a small piece of the included white cushion foam that came with the rg35xxsp packaging and wedging it in-between the back triggers, did this on my unit and it totally eliminated the annoying rattling.
I have a question, as my rg35sp is on my way to me now. Won't the heat affect those foam cushions? Or is the heat not enought to affect it? And also, what are the measurments of those homemade cushions? Cause ngl, that's a big-brained move
@eduardodejesusreyesvega9936 Well the cushion foam is that the very top edges of the console while the CPU and console battery are at the bottom middle to middle middle of the console, so the heat isn't too close to it. Also I just eyeballed it but if I have to say, it's around H ⅜" x W ⅜" in measurement. I did this awhile back on my clear blue RG35XXSP and it still looks to be holding up. And thank you 😁, I had just disassembled it and then thought what would be tight enough to hold the triggers in place while not putting too much pressure and damaging them. And that's when I thought about a foam cushion type material and then remembered that it came with a piece, I just cut a piece hoping for the best and to my surprise it was perfect.
You are literally my favorite UA-camr. Always quality content. And I’ve been watching UA-cam for years!
And I wouldn't be able to eat snacks until watching Russ. 😂
Yay my tape fix went prime time 😂 im liking the new set up.
Thanks for the guide. I didn't mind the clicky buttons but knew that whoever was next to me might not love my button mashing. I am amazed at how much quieter it is. I used blue painters tape.
Hi Russ, I just did the mod because of your video. I used electrical tape. Mine are miles more silent than yours. The face buttons especially, I don't hear them almost and because of this mod, they aren't loose anymore as well. My device does NOT rattle anymore by the way, I used electrical tape on one side of the R2 and L2 button. No clicky buttons, no loose buttons and no rattle anymore! This device just became perfect.
I followed this last night with a few changes and figured I'd give my results. I used the same type of masking tape you did.
-One layer of masking tape is as much as you can do on START/SELECT. Another layer makes them not push down at all. (They'll still actuate if you press on them, but there's no tactility at all, kind of like pressing on a touch screen.)
-Three layers on the shoulders works great, but trimming on the left and right is essential or the tape will drag on the case and make your buttons sticky. There's still a rattle but it really is much less perceptible even than with two.
-Three layers works fine on both D-pad and buttons without really changing the highly tactile feel of either (but it's appreciably quieter).
Been happy with this mod so far! Can't speak to the long-term viability but if I have to remove the tape at some point it wasnt exactly difficult to get into the thing. If it becomes necessary anytime soon I'd probably dissuade people from this mod; the plastic posts are brittle and the threading can at least slightly grind down over time even if you do everything the right way. I ended up making some screw posts on my Odroid Go Advance completely useless due to that.
I'm so glad I did this mod!!! Thank you so much for this helpful video. I used Kapton tape, 2 layers on the d-pad and 3 layers on ABXY. I absolutely love this device now, the buttons bothered me so much.
2 on the D-Pad, SELECT, START, MENU buttons, 3 on the face buttons, and 2 on the shoulders/triggers. Rattle is 99% gone, clickiness is fully gone, much much better like this, and kind of fun to do! Now to load up my roms - thanks again Russ!
Would like to see anbernic release a revised version with all the little fixes.
Yeah that would be ideal but def DIY if it bothers you, it's so easy
Yeah, I'm holding out until they make one with comfortable buttons. Like 40 to 70 grams to press. My rg35xx-h takes about 130g, and it makes my thumbs hurt.
I’m sure they will, it makes too much sense…
Doubt if the masking tape will.stand up to extended use. Its only paper after all
You just want to see the RG35XX SP2!
Thanks! BTW, for measuring the force, it helps to press the buttons as slowly as possible, just gradually increasing pressure for several seconds until the button activates. That gives the scale time to catch up and get a more accurate number.
"F IT...WE'RE DOING IT, LIVE!"
my unit was one of the first for sale on amazon, its same version (silver) , but it always had problems from day one with pushing anyone of the buttons on the dpad and the xy ab buttons and getting a no contact push about every five pushes, I just used this video and procedure and it seems to have helped with that, ThankYou and Merry Xmas Sir!!!
I would recommend against using standard tape inside electronics as they can store a static charge and some adhesives can cause damage over time.
Kapton tape is the best to use. Will try using it in my SP later today
Surprised he didn't use foam tape.
@@SebbzAgreed. I always have Kapton tape around for any pcb work I might have to do. It’s worked well for me on several d-pad mods.
@@neojeets Just did the mod myself now. Silent buttons are so much better :)
@@Sebbz That’s awesome! I’m glad it worked out for you.
Hey Russ, thanks a lot. I bought the SP because of your review(s) and after the mod it just feels so much better. You're the best.
Crazy to see Russ's growth, been watching since he had like 10k subs!
Anbernic: “Thanks Russ, we will not change the device then. The buyer can mod themselves!”
I think they will just release a V2 or 2025 model with the buttons being fixed. So they can make more money.
:(
for now they are gonna include some piece of tape
@@bart2865the pre-cut tape with the two drivers you need lol
Why would they change it? It has the sp buttons. Like an sp. On the sp model
I don’t have an rg sp, but I do have an rg28xx and after watching this decided to open it up and add some tape to the shoulder buttons and the volume rocker. I did 3 layers to each button and the rattle is MUCH better. Also the volume is easier to press. Thanks for the idea, Russ!
I did this mod with Kapton tape. You can even find the perfect sized piece to cover all the buttons with one piece. Making this mod even easier & safer for the overall longevity of the device.
Did you use the same amount of tape-layers as mentioned in the video, since the tape-thickness might deviate from maskingtape?
@@nintendion8440 Yea pretty much. I used 2 pieces on the dpad, and only 2 pieces on the buttons. But I think if I ever open it up again, I will add a 3rd piece to the buttons to see if there is a difference.
Thanks for your reply, I'll try this too
Yea I would highly recommend using kapton tape over anything else.
@@Genguts Did you use Kapton Tape on the should buttons as well, or did you just use it on the buttons and the dpad?
I actually like the clicky-ness of buttons it gives me confirmation that the button is being pressed lol
I'm a fan as well. 😅
My wife hates the confirmation tho
The clickiness is fine. I have a GBA SP and I like it on that. But they're light, unlike the RG35XXSP
The feeling under the finger is great but the sound being higher than my game volume would drive me crazy 😂
My initial thought was that the scale was for his flowers 😊
Love seeing you rep mewithoutYou again! Very solid mods, cant wait to do this to my 35xxsp
13:13 budget Dreamcast Maracas controller experience
Happy days are here again. 😊🙏
"I GET KNOCKED DOWN... I GET PICKED UP AGAIN..." your SP likely after playing Samba De Amigo
I recommend foam tape for the shoulder buttons. I put one piece between each of the switches and buttons, then another piece between the shoulder buttons themselves for added tension. (6 pieces total) The tape retains the buttons in place perfectly, no more shaking. Make sure you use a foam that is sufficiently dense to avoid it compressing or disintegrating over time.
i tried black electrical tape, buttons were hard to press. Tried masking tape same results.
Used scotch tape and that worked like a charm for me.
how many layers?
Two layers of black electrical tape worked fine for me. Maybe there are different kinds.
Thanks for this video, I did 3 layers of blue painters tape on the d-pad and face buttons and 2 on the shoulders and everything else and I have a 90% reduction in rattle
One thing i find has frequently been a hugely useful tool in this is keyboard lube - gpl 205. A lot of buttons rub on the shell and a tiny tiny coat painted around the edges of the face buttons not only smoothes them out, but on rattly buttons, it acts as a tiny sound damper. I did this on the shoulder buttons of the r20sx. Including the button hinges from the inside and the face buttons are smoother and no longer rattle, and the shoulder buttons are almost completely rattle free too. Hitting the pivots of the shoulders on the SP would likely solve their rattle
Same goes for metal chassis handhelds. The 405m buttons rubbed so badly before and after one lube coat have been smooth and silent for months and months
It would also remove that rattly snap noise from the face buttons when you take your thumb off of one button after pressing.
Whoa! MewithoutYou shirt!
Also, thanks for all the helpful videos and guides. I've been using them a ton for a number of devices the past month or so.
Yeah it gives it more of a retro vibe when I'm playing plus the button response is so satisfying knowing I pressed a button rather then hoping I did. Also with me having a taxia in my left hand it makes button confirmation easier.
i actually dont mind the clickiness, but it's the force it takes to press the buttons that gets me. putting tape on the buttons does make them much easier to press. i recommend kapton tape, since it's designed for use on PCBs
how's the longevity of kapton tape in terms of it wearing out?
Thanks Russ, me and my clambernic were waiting for this, I've ordered some maskingtape and I'll give this a shot in a few days ♡
hehe clambernic. i like it.
And that's why this is the best handhelds channel. With my other account I'm with you from day one I think. Still doing a great job Russell
Waited for your video before doing this mod. Clicked immediately and followed your guide. Now i have a much less clicky sp that is can play without disturbing my sleeping partner👍👍
I’m a bit late to this but I came from keyboard modding world and putting Krytox 205G Keyboard Lube on the buttons (not the switches) and parts of inner shell remove ALL the rattling entirely. Definitely recommend trying it out.
I also added an O-Ring to the reset button to make it a bit harder to press… definitely accidentally hit that instead of the sleep button more than once before 😂
2:18 it's not a T6 torque screw but a 1.5 mm allen key (hex screw) on mine
I’ve found this video highly entertaining
this was super helpful, thank you!!! Just completed for my SP
Hey Russ, I did the mod with medical tape, 3 layer Facebuttons, 2 on the Dpad and 2 on Shoulders and Triggers. Very nice sound now and the only rattle is the battery in the shell which I will fix an other day.
AMAZING VIDEO, AMAZING CONSOLE! Glad that I purchased it and is such a nostalgic ride.
I did a film of ptm7950 and copper plate on the cpu and also added some heatshield tape to the battery to improve thermals and loving it
For rattle reduction, R2 and L2 are the worst offenders, so i like to put a tiny strip of tape each on the left and right side of each button, wich completly stops the rattleing without changing the feel of the button.
Nice shirt! I saw them in Austin during the farewell tour, it was an amazing show!
Not sure if you'll see this, but I just did this exact mod using two layers of 3M friction tape on each button and it works incredibly well. It's a fabric material and much more sound deadening. Honestly makes it sound like an OEM SP.
Loving the off-the-cuff stuff
I'm glad that this fix exists for people who want it, but I love my clicky buttons, so this would be a downgrade for me ^^ But it's good to get a bit of a look inside, always a fan of easy repairability in my devices.
The controls - much more than the formfactor - are the main reason why the SP has become my go to device. Best DPad I have felt in years and really good and precise buttons .
Thanks for the video Russ. Nice dedication tshirt for Chicken.
Working for Sherwin-Williams and knowing masking tapes, the adhesive on the white masking tape will become sticky and eventually crusty, over time, with the heat and all.
I will attempt this mod with kapton tape.
I did a similar mod last week but used cut up pieces of paper and card stock and I only did it for the shoulder, power, and other side buttons. You can get more quiet shoulder buttons if you add pressure(paper) to the sides of the button and not between the switch and the button. (the main rattle is side to side and not up and down). As in you wedge a small piece of paper or card on the sides of the button against the shell.
Also that cheap adhesive on masking and electric tape will get super gross after about a year or two, it will melt and move around the board. I personally would advise against it unless you use higher quality tape/adhesive
If your familiar with keyboard bandaid mods you could try that instead.
Essentially you use the sticky tan part of a bandaid in place of the masking tap you used here, probably less layers as it's thicker.
I think anbernic will sell alot of these which means one thing... There will be future iterations in this form factor and they'll be improved each time. Maybe even a metal version.
I have an Rg353m so going to skip this time but I'll be keeping an eye out on future releases.
Building on the keyboard modding,
You can also lubricate the buttons and the surfaces they touch. That removes all the rattle and changes the feel of the buttons (imo it’s better).
@@jumplify could you please elaborate a bit further? This sounds pretty interesting so I might try it.
That's exactly what I'm doing, waiting for the next release. Kinda hard to do, though, it's a really cool system.
Rg353m is fantastic!
I doubt it. Unless Ambernic changes the tolerances they work with which would raise prices. Ambernic is known for button rattle especially. But besides button rattle and stock FW not being great they always make really good handhelds in my experience.
Thanks for this, i just ordered mine through your affiliate link and your deal on amazon. I hope the clickiness is fine with me, but at least i know i can mod it like this and be ok
I Completely solved the rattle on mine doing something slightly different, I used a bandaid and cut out the sticky part not with the foam, you are going to place it directly on the sides of the shoulder buttons (r2, l2) where the plastic makes contact with the shell and therefore makes a rattling sound when shaking it, doing this was super simple and completely got rid of rattle and you don’t have to do anything on r1 and l1
this helped me a lot!!! not regarding bout the buttons though. helped me dissamble and fix the black screen problem!
You could put a little tape as wedge on the side wall of the button or the case itself to make it rattle less.
For the button, to make it less noisy (or clicky) just dampen the sound with a stuffed sponge in the button itself.
For example I did this mod with my spacebar keycap itself since it's hollow, and it reduce the rattle sound by a lot cause by the spring, it's more softer feeling, and not springy or twangy or whatever is called. xd
One thing - I feel like the shoulder button rattle really varies device to device. I can shake mine pretty vigorously, and I barely get any rattle at all, and certainly no more than an original GBA SP. Definitely something to keep in mind when doing this mod, your mileage may vary.
The proper bit is actually a hex bit, not torx. The iFixit kit has these as well in 1.5, 2.5, 3 and 4mm. The correct one for my 28XX is 1.5mm hex bit. I would assume it's the same for the SP.
I did the tape mod and it made me hate my SP.
It also started doing weird diagonals on my d pad.
It took no time so I’m glad I tried it.
Interesting and usefull video. Btw Russ, thanks to you I've bought a RG ARC S for my 8/16bit Sega needs. Already have a Retroid Pocket 3+, but the retro itch is getting worse and worse. I like it! Keep up the good work.
I LOVE Mewithoutyou! Saw them in concert back in the day with Thrice and it was rad!
Video idea: budget and midrange phone emulation performance. It becomes weary, seeing all these devices with high end chips inside. Plus, gaming on our phones saves us from having to carry around an entirely extra device, just for the few minutes we may be able to game here and there. Love the vids. Keep up the fantastic work. 🤘
Great video! I’ve been contemplating getting one to complete the RGxx saga but the clicky buttons don’t convince me. If I find a good deal I would try this mod. However, I wish Anbernic made a revision. I know some people like clicky buttons, but a lot of times I’m commuting or at some doctors office. I like small handhelds that I can carry around and not be conspicuous pressing buttons. Lol. Bought a second XXH and I just find it perfect. But again I would give the SP a try if a score a good deal later.
Am I the only only that actually likes how the buttons are by default? Anyway, loved the video, I'm not gonna do that but in the eventuality that I need to, is always nice to have those for reference.
I like the clicky buttons too personally 🤣
The bigger issue is the lack of a pivot under the dpad.. No shmups or beat ‘em ups for this little UA-camr on the 35XXSP. Check out my review ✌️.
You had me at standard reference point.
I suppose my question is, will the tape eventually wear down from the constant contact? Once it starts to slightly breach that first layer of tape, wouldn't the button become sticky?
In my experience, things like tape is usually never a permanent solution. Always wears down
The tape is unfortunately a temporary fix
If using electrical tape, I did 1 layer on dpad and 2 layers on face buttons. And 1 layer for select,start, menu buttons. And it is very quiet. I did not try the triggers, may do that next. Just some helpful info for folks
I've never liked super clicky buttons on my gaming devices, but I recognize that the community is divided on this feature/issue.
Hi Russ, I think I found a solution for the rattle! I ended up using some sort of thin foam tape cause i couldn't find any masking tape around the house and only had to apply one layer of tape on every button including the shoulder buttons and it was thick enough to stop rattling all together. For the shoulder buttons though, I had to cut out space on the tape so that the actual button is making contact with the switch on the board cause the foam stopped it from clicking. Hope this helps!!!
Cool video! One thing I don’t like about this is the buttons pretty much
Might be a good thing to use Kapton tape to resist any heat melting the adhesive or becoming like “goo” for longevity. Should hold up better to constant abrasion from button clicks compared to masking tape. While also not building up a static charge of using something like scotch tape.
Great shirt! awesome vid too 👍
I was scared hearing a lot of reviewers saying the buttons were too high and clicky, but when I received it I instantly loved it, then I handed it to my brother and he immediately said the buttons were too high and noisy lol so it's not that they are bad, just a matter of preference
My A Button is recessed now after playing a while. Not sure if it's any idea buying new ones if they will get worn out so fast, still works fine and feels okay to use
Russ the goat, my copy shows up tomorrow!
i'll watch just about any video this man makes
Friends, thanks a lot for sharing! Such a wonderful and interesting movie Great Thanks😍😍😍
I put felt tape on my RP3+ R2 and L2 dome switch buttons to reduce travel significantly and noise. I'll try it on the sp when i get mine instead of tape.
Yeah, I'm not gonna do that. But I'm glad it's an option for those who mind the sound. :) I like how it normally feels and sounds.
Am I the only one who likes the clicky buttons? Either way great video as usual.
23:11 despite his long ive been watching this channel it's still crazy to me to see SF2 running on what looks like a GBA SP!
I'm not even gonna buy this console and I liked this video so much
I've been having an issue with the d-pad on mine that I wonder if this would fix (or exacerbate): I can press the whole thing down in the center and hit all four directions at once. It makes shmups more difficult to play since you tend to ride the pivot on those a lot, and this just... doesn't have a proper pivot as far as I can tell. Am I the only one with this issue? The GBA SP pad this is modeled after doesn't have the same problem, the pivot is deep enough there to prevent simultaneous opposing directions.
Addendum to this: since I was annoyed by the pivot but WASN'T annoyed by the sound of the buttons (I find 'em about as loud as Joycon buttons, which I can deal with), I decided to follow this guide but added a couple layers of tape below the pivot of the dpad instead, and this fixed the issue perfectly. No more opposite directions being pressed.
I love the Mewithoutyou shirt!
I was wondering if someone would comment on the shirt. One of the weirdest band I ever saw in concert. Lol
Would suggest using blue painters tape. The problem with regular masking tape is the adhesive will degenerate over time and eventually leave a sticky mess in place should you ever decide to open it up in the future/replace the tape/etc.
What about the D-Pad with no pivot? You can press down on all four direct buttons... How can no youtuber have mentioned this?
Well as a UA-camr I feel left out now 😂
I’m one of the little guys who mentioned this right at the beginning of my video
@@OGTechNick we're definitely out there but we get no respect 😂
@@AishTalksTechlet’s be honest the chance that anyone watching your videos are extraordinarily slim.
@@user-yk1cw8im4h not really I also make videos for the retro handhelds channel 😁 Aish Talks Tech is just my personal channel that I started not too long ago, but was it necessary to make such a negative comment ?
You home yet??? Dying to see the Odin 2 Mini feedback 😊😊😊
I don’t mind the clickiness. The exploding battery though… that its something I would mod it for (if only for the convenience of using a usb-c to usb-c cable).
Im not sure if im right but you could test the pressing forced better if you go to settings and see the controls, theres an option for looking if all the controls are good so you could see at what time the button is on
It comes down to preference and if it annoys you or not.
The buttons are just fine to me, I never had an issue with them they feel great
Love that mewithoutyou shirt
Freakin' awesome. Thanks Russ.
I love the clicky buttons!!
Hey Russ, what's your view on ETA Prime's SP copper heat sink below battery mod that he quickly removed?
That was the stupidest thing to do on this device. People are already saying the battery is the heatsink even with the 2mm air gap and the dude actually made the damn thing a real heatsink lmao
Imagine watching ETA Prime. Pure shill channel.
@@MortonSeinfeld His videos are a press release reading
Couldnt find the video, what was his suggestion?
@@InuGamiac the video is already deleted. He added a thin strip of copper in between the CPU and the battery, effectively ensuring that the CPU heat will get transferred to the battery. And faster.
I modded mine too but just the D-Pad and the face buttons with the same layers you put for both. I didn't do the Menu, Start and Select buttons because those feel fine anyway.
I was thinking of doing the shoulders down the line.
The mewithoutYou shirt! ❤❤❤
I would like a similar mod for the legion go back buttons
Thanks Russ!! Can you make a sinden light gun review/setup guide?
that's such a dope shirt!
Thank you Russ i love your videos 🤍
6:00 I put a drop of T-700 glue on the tip of shoulder botton of my rg35xxh and it muffled the clickyness and the rattling of the should botton
T-700 is a rubber like glue it's flexible and easy to remove if needed to it is also used in phone screen repair
You can't improve perfection! The only actually loud buttons are start and select but I don't press them enough to mind much. The stock RG35XXSP d-pad and face buttons are wonderful.
UA-cam: Are you sure you want to thumbs up this video after just 6 seconds into the intro?
Me: Yeah man, I wanna do it