Sorry for the delay, the battery life tests took way longer than I expected. Note: I used the Retro-8 core to play the Pico 8 games featured in the "What this does well" section.
This is what worries me and the reason I'm reluctant to buying any handheld just yet (except maybe Steamdeck OLED but I might be willing to wait until their next upgraded SteamDeck 2); because it reminds me of the smartphone company Xiaomi and it's phones that sure, it releases so many with incredible high specs and "affordable prices", BUT...poor unknowing people that gets them then has to suffer so many issues with it and I'm not even talking about low quality hardware malfunction due to cheap components, but software related things that rely on VERY high alert software developers updates to fix and since they're SO busy releasing 5 different devices every 2 days, this urgent update is almost never gonna happen and they have to either become software engineers themselves to fix their system by their own hands tweaking and jailbreaking it, or just literally give up. I know it sounds too farfetched and exaggerated, but I've honestly been there as one of those ignorant buyers...and only after many buys like that did I learn that it's not always about the specs but the quality of their reliance on software security and OS updates. So I'm not saying these devices like the many handheld gaming systems out there are bad, just that, I'm not "rich enough" to buy something that may or may not give me trouble and I can just brush it off and buy another or something like that. I'm so poor I need the closest thing to 99% reassurance of quality that will last me a good while without any further spending.
???? I thought it was an automated thing. I’ve never not been able to enable them even on tiny channels with less than 1000 subscribers. Are you saying that some UA-camrs flip a switch that denies the ability to view subtitles, or that the ones that have them as an option are all actually uploading transcripts to make that possible? I’m apparently ignorant of how all of this really works. 😅 Thanks.
@@JasonJrake all videos have auto-generated (basically speech-to-text) subtitles, they have a lot of drawbacks and barely work in my opinion. Alternatively, youtubers can opt to manually define subtitles for their videos that can be accurate and potentially provide extra context for non-audio viewers.
I JUST ordered one of these today. Was agonizing between this and the new clamshell SP, but flipped a coin and ordered this one. Excited to see what we can improve on ir over time from the user end. Edit: I should clarify. My handhelds are my Switch, Steam Deck and Miyoo Mini atm. I can't take the switch or Steam Deck to work because they're either the family console or too valuable to toss in and out of a backpack daily. The Mini is amazing for what it is, but trying to game on it too long with aging hands is truly painful. This device seemed like a nice toss in the backpack, work friendly device that can also support being played for an hour or two at a time on the couch.
I throw mine in my backpack every day, using the case that came with it. Steam library, emulation station or gamepass streaming are but a lunch break away 😂
This thing is excellent! I actually got the SP, but then almost immediately turned around and ordered the RG Cube. It definitely handles most games better, and also feels a bit higher quality overall. I do like the nostalgia appeal of the SP, as that as my favorite handheld when I was a teenager. I will keep it around, but it's not nearly as well suited for things like DS, GC, N64, etc. Even PS1 and PSP games don't run on it very well.
The more I watch of your reviews of these kinds of devices, the more impressed I am with how significantly better they are compared to others. You're extremely thorough, but also succinct. That's an incredibly hard balance to achieve. Thank you for your continued work on this channel!
A note about Wii, there's a setting that's unfortunately a little "buried" in Dolphin that allows you to set Wii games to a native 4:3 aspect ratio mode with no stretching if that will be more desirable for you - in config > Wii, toggle OFF widescreen. That's it. The easier to find solution is unfortunately "Aspect Ratio" in Graphics Settings with a forced 4:3 that will stretch. I can't exactly tell what Taki did, but since I didn't hear him mention it, I figured I would. I believe a majority of games you might want to play on the device have this, the Galaxy games, Sonic games like Unleashed, Colors, and All Stars Racing, but certain games like New Super Mario Bros. Wii will still be in a forced letterboxed 16:9. Still a worthwhile option to consider if you're going to play Wii at all, and it'd be kind of cool if we had an option that did the inverse of a Widescreen hack in order to get a full 1:1.
What a perfect review my man! I'm slowly getting to see all of the recent Anbernic releases. This might be the most thorough review on UA-cam. Subscribed for sure.
@@B3nG420 I mean, it's easy for an RGB30 to have no light bleed since there's no pressure on the screen...because the internals of it are pretty empty. I've taken mine apart several times to reset the battery and it's literally a screen, single board, and a battery being used as a heatsink.
complaining about light bleed makes you sound like a spoiled kid lol. What handheld out there plays wii and ps2? I would be excited to own one of these.
@@CheeseshredderI mean there are choices now. To each their own, if it bothers him then so be it! It'll help him narrow down the handheld he'll buy. That's what reviews of devices like this are for.
This has been rhe best review so far. All the other first few day reviews haven't cover alot of what he coverd and it was all the stuff i was looking for
I’ve already ordered one, I’m mostly interested in 3DS, but also a few GameCube and Wii titles as well. I guess I’ll have to toy around with it to find my preferred settings.
From transferring the ROMs and setting up the software, testing settings and tons of games, a tear down with a partial fix.. comes a brutally honest review! Seriously that's a lot of work that went into this video and I enjoyed it. Hopefully this helps the community make a better purchase... Or influence the companies to make a better device. 👍😎
The thing I like most about this device is that Anbernic is finally doing step ups in quality. This device alone looks like if they keep this way, more beautifully crafted handhelds are coming from them. Though, I will never agree with clicky shoulders, those are not nice to press or hear.
Just received mine today. I bought the retro grey one. Build quality indeed feels on par with my RP4 pro. The right trigger has the scrapping feeling as mentioned. Light bleeding wasn't super noticeable, but I'll have to test it more; haven't run any game on it yet. Scrapping is very annoying, I'll have to open it up later today. Edit: Nope, light bleeding is indeed quite bad. On mine there are three spots, two at top and one at bottom.
This is a super niche comment for a super niche device…. But the Rgb30 can handle Caves bullet hell library up to about Ketsui and Dodonpachi DOJ (2003 ish) with little issues…. And the rg cube can handle their entire library including up to Dodonpachi Saidaiojou which I believe was released in 2012 and was their last bullet hell…. That is so cool and exciting to me
the fan is directly taken from the RG405V and the fan looks like that to emulate a cube look, like damn, never knew the RG405V's fan was foreshadowing for the RG Cube.
Looks great! If the d-pad was digging into my thumb because of the ridges, I would very CAREFULLY file it down a bit, just to take the edges off. No biggie.
Got this a couple of days ago, no mayor screen bleed issues and LOVING it so far… not a big fan of Android and considering just having everything but Dolphin for GC and Cintra for 3DS run through Retoarch Thank you for your awesome review
Thank you very much for your candidness and your attention to detail. Its unfortunate that you have to QA these things for the company in the field, they would stand to benefit a lot if they just worked with (and paid) people like you for the effort.
So excited to see handhelds that are starting to handle PS2 games well. I can't wait until we get a device that can touch all PS2 games flawlessly and I'll finally be done with my handheld search....assuming whatever device can do that does the rest like this one did with GC/Wii/PSP/DC/etc.
great video! really like the new review format. I ended up buying one even with the issues which I think I'll be able to live with since I only have a steam deck and the R36S. I wanted something in between, lil bigger then the R36S and more ergonomic but smaller then the steam deck.
@@PS3ClassicGamesHD Yea. Sorry, it's a big eye roll hearing people talk about the price of an emulation device at their expense when I'm pretty sure most of them aren't dumping games they already own.
Love the look of this thing, even though I don't know if I will get it. The price itself isn't terrible, but I think the screen might be too small for my eyes, which is kind of a shame. But what you said about Ambernic is spot on. Always got to be something weird or broken
Yeah it’s a pretty nice device but yeah I wish the screen was a bit bigger, I’m probably going to get the powkiddy x55 as that has a nice 5 inch screen and has thousands of games pre installed 😏
On balance I prefer the RBG30. It runs the same 1:1 systems (GB, GBC, NGPC), systems that look fine at 8:7 (NES, PCE, SNES) and the only vert screen console, Vectrex, all at the full frame-rate just like the Cube does. It may not run every DS game at the full frame-rate but its half the price of the Cube and their screen is practically too small to be seeing DS's two screens very well anyway. Sure, the Cube can run DC games at the full frame-rate and it can also run some PS2 and 3DS games but with mixed results. However, playing 4:3 systems on this screen is far from ideal so the extra power will be a moot point to many gamers. As for vert screen arcade games then the RGB30 runs the vast majority of them at the full frame-rate as long as it's left at the default setting of no shader being applied. So overall the RGB30 seems the more sensible choice when it comes to what devices a 1:1 handheld is actually good for. Plus it doesn't have the same light bleed issues as the Cube does and it also benefits from the simplicity of being a Linux-based handheld which will be a huge positive for those who wish to avoid using Android.
I'm so glad I watched this review. I thought the display was 4:3 and not 1:1 and when I saw games stretched to 8:7 I almost threw up. I get stretching horizontally to fit the widescreen, but stretching vertically is just awful. Thanks for saving me a few bucks!
My wallet weeps and My heart sings of joy. I already got the scheme to custom paint this and other mods planned out. I love the over all look of this. As Russ would Say it's Very Pocketable.
I'd be so much more interested in this if it were a 4:3 aspect ratio. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but I really just don't like those borders. I love the look of this handheld but I have others with much better screen real estate.
Totally. The square aspect ratio makes this a really tough buy. You're limited to older games despite the beefier hardware which makes this handheld full of lost potential.
@@Mr.GuGuGaCucaSnooch I don't even think Game Boy is going to be perfect on this as it's 720x720 while integer scaled Game Boy/Game Gear will be 768x720 or 640x576
Only thing I wish is that all these handhelds had a built-in kickstand in the back so I can bring it to my kitchen and watch stuff while eating, then quickly switch to gaming whenever.
Thanks so much for your review. I own an RGB30 but I hate the stiff controls, also dpad hurts my thumb after playing for a while. Seeing your review, I know I wont buy the RG Cube, as I hate backlight bleed with a passion. Thank you very much!!
I'm willing to put in the effort to fix minor issues, so I'm happy with this. It will be my second dedicated retro handheld device, and I'm confident that I will be very satisfied with it. The form factor is just right to where it's nearly the size of a controller. I expect we will see a fix for display out, whether it be from anbernic or 3rd party, and at that point I can see this as my favorite device to use with AR Glasses while on a train, bus, or just lying in bed. -As much as I love my Steam Deck, I will definitely grab something more controller-sized for streaming if it's a better fit for the task.
i love so much the design of this console, i'm using rp3+ with handgrip at the moment but i love so much 1by1 aspect ratio and this ergonomics. Looks like they have made this console for me, it fit's so well. I think it's time to buy another handheld...
That was a fair review. I think it's enough of an upgrade that I'd buy it over the RGB30, but the price has to be more competitive, especially given the major flaws of light bleed and improper video out. I will keep my eyes open for sales but I'd probably lean more towards the RG556.
The only thing I know of not mentioned in the review is that this device is apparently better than you might expect for playing native Android games. A lot of them will adapt better than you might expect to the 1:1 aspect ratio.
Great video! Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the [redacted], as I think in many ways it has the potential to be the superior device in many use cases (and has had some time now to dip a bit in price/work through many initial launch hiccups) EDIT: Whoops, meant the RG406H! Too many Anbernic devices, hahah
im sold with this idea. handheld devs need to stop pumping up price because the cpu and gpu justifies it. instead what they should have done is reducing the screen size as well as the resolution so that we can enjoy our games at constant 60 fps while maintaining the detail. its a simple idea that just works. works for the price, fps, battery, and event the device size itself.
Oh crap SON!!!! You just sold me on that thing with video out and Bluetooth. I needed something for Pico 8 and if this has the Video out the way you say it may not be as big but the picture should be awesome. Thanks. ETA Prime kind of missed the Video out thing. For the price though I just still need to think about it. IDK. Hmmmmmm
Thank you for the in-depth review. I think after seeing 3ds performance and lack of gyro, I'm less likely to pick one of these up. And console mode not working, that's a HUGE downside. Thanks for the info.
Dealing with the 1080p out, Anbernic contacted me and showed me a video where it was literally just a button in the settings menu to switch to widescreen output.
@TakiUdon i really hope the MiSTer handheld will also have a 720x720 1:1 screen. i feel like this screen upgrade for a handheld is such a boon and 1:1 allows for a much wider range of games, specifically arcade games, which the MiSTer has a ton
3:39 I think that's the core of the issue with these emulation devices since the beginning. Many of these companies churn out these devices without really thinking about them any deeper than the initial face value they present. If given more time, and perhaps allowing iterations of some of these models, i'm sure they would knock all preferences out of the park and maybe give maximum value for their given price brackets. I stopped buying these handhelds a long time ago but I enjoy seeing these iterations. RG35XXSP was SO close to being the perfect console for me.... the battery is what ruined it for me.... it had everything I wanted, except that one crucial thing got overlooked and it ruined the entire experience for me.
7:00 You're discussing the display, which I get, but this time, I don't think it's as problematic if Android is on-board. Display white balance can be enforced here, possibly without even using developer settings. But also, ADB is always powerful. 9:34 Ah, well, you've actually stumbled upon one that is precisely Android's fault. Now, charging is a bit more dubious, but yes, Android mirroring with USB-C is very hit or miss. I think only VLC and Netflix will properly "output" to a screen of its own. There's some options with desktop mode in the developer settings but they're not mature at all, even in Android 13. Anbernic's not going to make their own desktop mode solution like Samsung or Motorola. 14:44 Phantasy Star Online probably looks great on that too. And PSO2...
I would be super interested in a dedicated video about hacking 1:1 resolution for 3D games on PS1, PS2, Gamecube, etc. Your video is the only one so far I've seen even mention it and all I can find on UA-cam are videos for widescreen hacks to enable 16:9.
Thanks for doing the investigation on the cause of the light bleed! Bummer to know every unit will have it unless they change the structure (they won't, cuz it's shipping soon).
This is the first Anbernic device I've bought at release $160 on ebay. I own their RG351MP and RG28xx from Amazon. Ive been patiently waiting for a compact handheld that can reliably play up to GC/PS2. The 405M was close but didnt hit this level of power. The 556 is great but not compact. I think people are forgetting that while the 1:1 screen gets you black bars on top and bottom you're also getting a taller device which allows for the better ergonomics.
@@fillerbunnyninjashark271I don't think you're going to convince anyone that has the FOMO bug to pass on this device. It's everything we've been yearning for in a 4:3 screen device, while only forcing distortion and other compromises through a1:1 screen. It will be a poor seller but these glowing comments prove there's lid for every pot.
I want the 406v Coming soon.... Same chipset ... 4 inch screen... But in a vertical form factor... I was going to get the 405v...until I heard the 406 is coming... can't wait.
I was able to get it under $150 shipped from their eBay store last week with the site wide coupon they had. I didn't think I would have paid more than that for this, especially if I have to try and fix the video out myself.
Confirmed light bleed in same spot. Video out you have to update to desktop mode but it is a bit clunky with a cursor needed to jump into emulators. The ps4 remote with touch pad seems to be a good match. If you could scale gamecube to 8:7 it would be perfect but from my research its only stretch full or original
I'm looking to replace my RG552 due to poor battery life and was considering this, but I think i'll wait for the handheld FPGA OLED that is coming out this year.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Sorry for the delay, the battery life tests took way longer than I expected.
Note: I used the Retro-8 core to play the Pico 8 games featured in the "What this does well" section.
When you think about it, that’s actually a very good thing
How are the analog sticks? They look similar to the ones in the RG556 which a lot of people didn't like.
At the level you bring these reviews you can take the time you need ;)
Were those battery tests with the stick lights on? Just curious.
must have been some good battery life :p
"It's been less than a month since their last release..." never have more accurate words about Anbernic been spoke aloud.
I think that's their company motto as well
They re brand AliExpresss handheld consoles
this applies to ayn too, a new device before anyone even got the last one with the same ryzen cpu
This is what worries me and the reason I'm reluctant to buying any handheld just yet (except maybe Steamdeck OLED but I might be willing to wait until their next upgraded SteamDeck 2); because it reminds me of the smartphone company Xiaomi and it's phones that sure, it releases so many with incredible high specs and "affordable prices", BUT...poor unknowing people that gets them then has to suffer so many issues with it and I'm not even talking about low quality hardware malfunction due to cheap components, but software related things that rely on VERY high alert software developers updates to fix and since they're SO busy releasing 5 different devices every 2 days, this urgent update is almost never gonna happen and they have to either become software engineers themselves to fix their system by their own hands tweaking and jailbreaking it, or just literally give up.
I know it sounds too farfetched and exaggerated, but I've honestly been there as one of those ignorant buyers...and only after many buys like that did I learn that it's not always about the specs but the quality of their reliance on software security and OS updates. So I'm not saying these devices like the many handheld gaming systems out there are bad, just that, I'm not "rich enough" to buy something that may or may not give me trouble and I can just brush it off and buy another or something like that. I'm so poor I need the closest thing to 99% reassurance of quality that will last me a good while without any further spending.
@@gamerman644AYN’s made like 4 product lines since 2021, Anbernic probably has 10x that
I love the way it looks. Like some kind of pre-school toy.
Looks like one of those Leapfrog Handhelds Lmao
That's bad!
@@WheeledHamster I don’t think so.
@@UkeofCarl yeah exactly it could bring nostalgia to some people
Pretty much the only reason I'd want it too but at that price point I'll pass.
Thanks again for subtitles, it's still surprisingly not standard in even medium sized youtubers.
???? I thought it was an automated thing. I’ve never not been able to enable them even on tiny channels with less than 1000 subscribers.
Are you saying that some UA-camrs flip a switch that denies the ability to view subtitles, or that the ones that have them as an option are all actually uploading transcripts to make that possible?
I’m apparently ignorant of how all of this really works. 😅
Thanks.
Agreed! For some of us who are hard of hearing, this is a big plus.
After UA-cam removed the community added captions feature, a lot of UA-camrs just ignored them and left the captions to the auto generator.
@@JasonJrakeIf they aren't auto-generated, they've been written and uploaded.
@@JasonJrake all videos have auto-generated (basically speech-to-text) subtitles, they have a lot of drawbacks and barely work in my opinion. Alternatively, youtubers can opt to manually define subtitles for their videos that can be accurate and potentially provide extra context for non-audio viewers.
The circle d-pad looks like that on the Sega Saturn. Fantastic!
That was my first thought as well, loved that controller.
Damn, I had my money on your RG Cube review being titled "It's (Even More) Hip to be Square".
I can picture the youtuber ,Techdweeb saying that lol
I JUST ordered one of these today. Was agonizing between this and the new clamshell SP, but flipped a coin and ordered this one. Excited to see what we can improve on ir over time from the user end. Edit: I should clarify. My handhelds are my Switch, Steam Deck and Miyoo Mini atm. I can't take the switch or Steam Deck to work because they're either the family console or too valuable to toss in and out of a backpack daily. The Mini is amazing for what it is, but trying to game on it too long with aging hands is truly painful. This device seemed like a nice toss in the backpack, work friendly device that can also support being played for an hour or two at a time on the couch.
I throw mine in my backpack every day, using the case that came with it. Steam library, emulation station or gamepass streaming are but a lunch break away 😂
This thing is excellent! I actually got the SP, but then almost immediately turned around and ordered the RG Cube. It definitely handles most games better, and also feels a bit higher quality overall. I do like the nostalgia appeal of the SP, as that as my favorite handheld when I was a teenager. I will keep it around, but it's not nearly as well suited for things like DS, GC, N64, etc. Even PS1 and PSP games don't run on it very well.
@@laughyourashevilleoff2546 I like the cube for form factor and comfort but I’m finding it really unwieldy with the default software.
I’ve not bought a handheld since the retroid pocket 2 and I’m DEFINITELY getting this
I was waiting to hear from you before pulling the trigger on this! Excited to hear what you have to say. Thanks for all your work Taki! 🙏🏽💪🏽
The more I watch of your reviews of these kinds of devices, the more impressed I am with how significantly better they are compared to others. You're extremely thorough, but also succinct. That's an incredibly hard balance to achieve. Thank you for your continued work on this channel!
I'm a sicko who loves how goofy games look when stretched to fullscreen, so I'm definitely gonna get a kick out of this thing
Disgusting
Back to the hole you crawled out from
You maniac!
You monster!
😂
A note about Wii, there's a setting that's unfortunately a little "buried" in Dolphin that allows you to set Wii games to a native 4:3 aspect ratio mode with no stretching if that will be more desirable for you - in config > Wii, toggle OFF widescreen. That's it. The easier to find solution is unfortunately "Aspect Ratio" in Graphics Settings with a forced 4:3 that will stretch. I can't exactly tell what Taki did, but since I didn't hear him mention it, I figured I would.
I believe a majority of games you might want to play on the device have this, the Galaxy games, Sonic games like Unleashed, Colors, and All Stars Racing, but certain games like New Super Mario Bros. Wii will still be in a forced letterboxed 16:9. Still a worthwhile option to consider if you're going to play Wii at all, and it'd be kind of cool if we had an option that did the inverse of a Widescreen hack in order to get a full 1:1.
Thank you for the video. I was literally waiting for something like this when I found out this handheld existed like 5 days ago.
What a perfect review my man! I'm slowly getting to see all of the recent Anbernic releases. This might be the most thorough review on UA-cam. Subscribed for sure.
The light bleed is a deal breaker for me. Thanks for calling it out.
$160 device should not have that. Rgb30 has little to no light bleed, but qc with is probably just as bad with the battery charging etc.
@@B3nG420 I mean, it's easy for an RGB30 to have no light bleed since there's no pressure on the screen...because the internals of it are pretty empty. I've taken mine apart several times to reset the battery and it's literally a screen, single board, and a battery being used as a heatsink.
light bleeds can only bother you if you look for it, even psp has it
complaining about light bleed makes you sound like a spoiled kid lol. What handheld out there plays wii and ps2? I would be excited to own one of these.
@@CheeseshredderI mean there are choices now. To each their own, if it bothers him then so be it! It'll help him narrow down the handheld he'll buy. That's what reviews of devices like this are for.
This has been rhe best review so far. All the other first few day reviews haven't cover alot of what he coverd and it was all the stuff i was looking for
Another extremely thorough and candid review. Thank you for what you do for this community.
These releases never stop do they 😅 Great vids as always!
Taki, thanks for this review, the PASS/FAIL review format is really useful for me as a potential buyer!
The side by side pros cons and game testing was fantastic. Do that more. Great videos as always.
Bro you are cooking with these reviews! Keep up the good work!
I’ve already ordered one, I’m mostly interested in 3DS, but also a few GameCube and Wii titles as well. I guess I’ll have to toy around with it to find my preferred settings.
Man, this is the first video of yours i've seen and you earned a subscriber. Such a thorough review is a rare sight. Great work!
From transferring the ROMs and setting up the software, testing settings and tons of games, a tear down with a partial fix.. comes a brutally honest review!
Seriously that's a lot of work that went into this video and I enjoyed it. Hopefully this helps the community make a better purchase... Or influence the companies to make a better device. 👍😎
The thing I like most about this device is that Anbernic is finally doing step ups in quality. This device alone looks like if they keep this way, more beautifully crafted handhelds are coming from them. Though, I will never agree with clicky shoulders, those are not nice to press or hear.
Great video, there are so many options available and this was super helpful!
Just received mine today. I bought the retro grey one. Build quality indeed feels on par with my RP4 pro. The right trigger has the scrapping feeling as mentioned. Light bleeding wasn't super noticeable, but I'll have to test it more; haven't run any game on it yet. Scrapping is very annoying, I'll have to open it up later today.
Edit: Nope, light bleeding is indeed quite bad. On mine there are three spots, two at top and one at bottom.
This is a super niche comment for a super niche device…. But the Rgb30 can handle Caves bullet hell library up to about Ketsui and Dodonpachi DOJ (2003 ish) with little issues…. And the rg cube can handle their entire library including up to Dodonpachi Saidaiojou which I believe was released in 2012 and was their last bullet hell…. That is so cool and exciting to me
Same for me, I just bought the RGB30 and love the screen format, so the cube seems like a great upgrade!
the fan is directly taken from the RG405V and the fan looks like that to emulate a cube look, like damn, never knew the RG405V's fan was foreshadowing for the RG Cube.
Looks great! If the d-pad was digging into my thumb because of the ridges, I would very CAREFULLY file it down a bit, just to take the edges off. No biggie.
Got this a couple of days ago, no mayor screen bleed issues and LOVING it so far… not a big fan of Android and considering just having everything but Dolphin for GC and Cintra for 3DS run through Retoarch
Thank you for your awesome review
The Cube looks so beautiful ❤
I was wondering why the analogy wasn't in the bottom and you answer is so true that I will think differently when I see any other
This white cube looks so clean, love it
Thank you very much for your candidness and your attention to detail. Its unfortunate that you have to QA these things for the company in the field, they would stand to benefit a lot if they just worked with (and paid) people like you for the effort.
So excited to see handhelds that are starting to handle PS2 games well. I can't wait until we get a device that can touch all PS2 games flawlessly and I'll finally be done with my handheld search....assuming whatever device can do that does the rest like this one did with GC/Wii/PSP/DC/etc.
Thanks for pointing out that Factory Defect, I think i'll wait for the Ayanoe Micro to release
I totally agree about left joystick on bottom. Especially when old games sometimes require the claw grip.
Man, this thing is adorable. No use for one myself, but damn it just looks neat.
The closest visually looking Dreamcast handheld
Anbernic is getting close to affordability and performance. No ps2. I like the form factor of their devices.
great video! really like the new review format. I ended up buying one even with the issues which I think I'll be able to live with since I only have a steam deck and the R36S. I wanted something in between, lil bigger then the R36S and more ergonomic but smaller then the steam deck.
I can't wait until devices like this are 100 bucks or less.
not gonna happen anytime soon. Rp2s is your best bet.
Because you've spent so much money on legitimate copies of games, right?
@drezial Sarcasm?
@@PS3ClassicGamesHD Yea. Sorry, it's a big eye roll hearing people talk about the price of an emulation device at their expense when I'm pretty sure most of them aren't dumping games they already own.
@@lambasted6886 Lol, I guess you're supporting devs by buying PS2 games from Ebay huh?
Wow this was a masterclass review
I was really hoping this device would be good… I think its better to wait. Great video, thanks for the feedback
Who else does reviews like this? 12:22
That's top tier analysis.
The review I was waiting for
Chaos Legion?!?! Dude, haven't heard that game mentioned since it came out. So underrated. Thank you!
Love the look of this thing, even though I don't know if I will get it. The price itself isn't terrible, but I think the screen might be too small for my eyes, which is kind of a shame. But what you said about Ambernic is spot on. Always got to be something weird or broken
Yeah it’s a pretty nice device but yeah I wish the screen was a bit bigger, I’m probably going to get the powkiddy x55 as that has a nice 5 inch screen and has thousands of games pre installed 😏
On balance I prefer the RBG30. It runs the same 1:1 systems (GB, GBC, NGPC), systems that look fine at 8:7 (NES, PCE, SNES) and the only vert screen console, Vectrex, all at the full frame-rate just like the Cube does.
It may not run every DS game at the full frame-rate but its half the price of the Cube and their screen is practically too small to be seeing DS's two screens very well anyway. Sure, the Cube can run DC games at the full frame-rate and it can also run some PS2 and 3DS games but with mixed results. However, playing 4:3 systems on this screen is far from ideal so the extra power will be a moot point to many gamers.
As for vert screen arcade games then the RGB30 runs the vast majority of them at the full frame-rate as long as it's left at the default setting of no shader being applied.
So overall the RGB30 seems the more sensible choice when it comes to what devices a 1:1 handheld is actually good for. Plus it doesn't have the same light bleed issues as the Cube does and it also benefits from the simplicity of being a Linux-based handheld which will be a huge positive for those who wish to avoid using Android.
in use I've found the RGB30's terrible charging and battery situation to be a major downside. Plus poor D-pad and overall cheap feel
I'm so glad I watched this review. I thought the display was 4:3 and not 1:1 and when I saw games stretched to 8:7 I almost threw up. I get stretching horizontally to fit the widescreen, but stretching vertically is just awful. Thanks for saving me a few bucks!
Your voice sounds warm over phone speakers. It's perfect
The screen looks amazing. Clean and bright. No need to have an oled sreen.
My wallet weeps and My heart sings of joy.
I already got the scheme to custom paint this and other mods planned out.
I love the over all look of this. As Russ would Say it's Very Pocketable.
I realise this isn't the point of the video, but I am blown away by how good Spryo looks with 3x especially considering it's age!
Great hands on video! Very interesting device, probably gonna buy one. Don't care about the light bleeding very much
Awesome video dude
Hi Taki! Greetings from El Salvador, I really like your videos!
I'd be so much more interested in this if it were a 4:3 aspect ratio. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but I really just don't like those borders. I love the look of this handheld but I have others with much better screen real estate.
Totally. The square aspect ratio makes this a really tough buy. You're limited to older games despite the beefier hardware which makes this handheld full of lost potential.
This is good for ds and 3ds only.
@@MegaVSable Cell phones can already do that with no effort. Why put so much power in something that'll only be good for low end games?
@@Mr.GuGuGaCucaSnooch 3DS is hardly low-end
@@Mr.GuGuGaCucaSnooch I don't even think Game Boy is going to be perfect on this as it's 720x720 while integer scaled Game Boy/Game Gear will be 768x720 or 640x576
Only thing I wish is that all these handhelds had a built-in kickstand in the back so I can bring it to my kitchen and watch stuff while eating, then quickly switch to gaming whenever.
I DIY my own kickstand
Generic phone stands should work and they can be used with anything else. Why watch stuff with this square screen anyway?
dang man the gamecube performance...the ps2 performance...crazy!
Thanks so much for your review. I own an RGB30 but I hate the stiff controls, also dpad hurts my thumb after playing for a while. Seeing your review, I know I wont buy the RG Cube, as I hate backlight bleed with a passion. Thank you very much!!
I'm willing to put in the effort to fix minor issues, so I'm happy with this. It will be my second dedicated retro handheld device, and I'm confident that I will be very satisfied with it.
The form factor is just right to where it's nearly the size of a controller. I expect we will see a fix for display out, whether it be from anbernic or 3rd party, and at that point I can see this as my favorite device to use with AR Glasses while on a train, bus, or just lying in bed.
-As much as I love my Steam Deck, I will definitely grab something more controller-sized for streaming if it's a better fit for the task.
I also have a Steam Deck and just ordered the Cube for DS/PS2/Wii and GC
i love so much the design of this console, i'm using rp3+ with handgrip at the moment but i love so much 1by1 aspect ratio and this ergonomics. Looks like they have made this console for me, it fit's so well. I think it's time to buy another handheld...
Hey Taki! Try the ps vita it's amazing.
It's one of the best handheld for ports
and retro gaming.And we can't forget
the legendery exclusives.
Taki, you should really think about making an ASMR channel.
You are top tier level dude. Seriously.
I'm still rocking my head automatically whenever I hear Escape from the city.
That was a fair review. I think it's enough of an upgrade that I'd buy it over the RGB30, but the price has to be more competitive, especially given the major flaws of light bleed and improper video out. I will keep my eyes open for sales but I'd probably lean more towards the RG556.
Perfect device will be here in maybe 2 years for a great pricd lets go
All i want is a PSP Go like device that can play up to Ps2. But maybe soon technology will catch up to my dreams.
Excellent analysis. I really hope Anbernic releases a revision with silent L R buttons. A noisy portable video game is very inconvenient.
Man I gotta say taki by far sonic adventure 2 is my absolute favourite sonic game next to dx director's cut
Hopefully we start seeing more oled and amoled screens on these devices. Its pretty much my only gripe.
I always suspected these rgb lights were a waste of power in mobile devices. Thanks for confirming it.
The only thing I know of not mentioned in the review is that this device is apparently better than you might expect for playing native Android games. A lot of them will adapt better than you might expect to the 1:1 aspect ratio.
My retroid pocket 2 just died after a few years of services
Your vids are pretty useful to make a choice !
كم سنة
Great video! Would be interested to hear your thoughts on the [redacted], as I think in many ways it has the potential to be the superior device in many use cases (and has had some time now to dip a bit in price/work through many initial launch hiccups)
EDIT: Whoops, meant the RG406H! Too many Anbernic devices, hahah
im sold with this idea.
handheld devs need to stop pumping up price because the cpu and gpu justifies it.
instead what they should have done is reducing the screen size as well as the resolution so that we can enjoy our games at constant 60 fps while maintaining the detail.
its a simple idea that just works. works for the price, fps, battery, and event the device size itself.
Oh crap SON!!!! You just sold me on that thing with video out and Bluetooth. I needed something for Pico 8 and if this has the Video out the way you say it may not be as big but the picture should be awesome. Thanks. ETA Prime kind of missed the Video out thing. For the price though I just still need to think about it. IDK. Hmmmmmm
Thank you for the in-depth review. I think after seeing 3ds performance and lack of gyro, I'm less likely to pick one of these up. And console mode not working, that's a HUGE downside. Thanks for the info.
Dealing with the 1080p out, Anbernic contacted me and showed me a video where it was literally just a button in the settings menu to switch to widescreen output.
never fails to deliver!
@TakiUdon i really hope the MiSTer handheld will also have a 720x720 1:1 screen.
i feel like this screen upgrade for a handheld is such a boon and 1:1 allows for a much wider range of games, specifically arcade games, which the MiSTer has a ton
Mine screen is better, and the resolution is higher.
3:39 I think that's the core of the issue with these emulation devices since the beginning. Many of these companies churn out these devices without really thinking about them any deeper than the initial face value they present. If given more time, and perhaps allowing iterations of some of these models, i'm sure they would knock all preferences out of the park and maybe give maximum value for their given price brackets. I stopped buying these handhelds a long time ago but I enjoy seeing these iterations.
RG35XXSP was SO close to being the perfect console for me.... the battery is what ruined it for me.... it had everything I wanted, except that one crucial thing got overlooked and it ruined the entire experience for me.
You can fix the screen bleeding by using a thinner thermal pad on the back of the mother board or squash the pad flatter.
7:00 You're discussing the display, which I get, but this time, I don't think it's as problematic if Android is on-board. Display white balance can be enforced here, possibly without even using developer settings. But also, ADB is always powerful.
9:34 Ah, well, you've actually stumbled upon one that is precisely Android's fault. Now, charging is a bit more dubious, but yes, Android mirroring with USB-C is very hit or miss. I think only VLC and Netflix will properly "output" to a screen of its own. There's some options with desktop mode in the developer settings but they're not mature at all, even in Android 13. Anbernic's not going to make their own desktop mode solution like Samsung or Motorola.
14:44 Phantasy Star Online probably looks great on that too. And PSO2...
Looks much better to hold. Just wish the screen was a little bigger for GameCube
I would be super interested in a dedicated video about hacking 1:1 resolution for 3D games on PS1, PS2, Gamecube, etc. Your video is the only one so far I've seen even mention it and all I can find on UA-cam are videos for widescreen hacks to enable 16:9.
We need more square screen devices in general, such a useful aspect ratio
Thanks for doing the investigation on the cause of the light bleed! Bummer to know every unit will have it unless they change the structure (they won't, cuz it's shipping soon).
This is the first Anbernic device I've bought at release $160 on ebay. I own their RG351MP and RG28xx from Amazon. Ive been patiently waiting for a compact handheld that can reliably play up to GC/PS2. The 405M was close but didnt hit this level of power. The 556 is great but not compact. I think people are forgetting that while the 1:1 screen gets you black bars on top and bottom you're also getting a taller device which allows for the better ergonomics.
The retroid pocket 4 pro can play more than this and is 30 more. More than 90% of PS2/GC support 16:9
@@fillerbunnyninjashark271 right but the retro games end up with larger black bars on right and left. I also prefer left joystick up top.
@@ninjason57I prefer black bars top and bottom for sure
@@fillerbunnyninjashark271What if I told you I purchased RG Cube for 152$ US final price?
@@fillerbunnyninjashark271I don't think you're going to convince anyone that has the FOMO bug to pass on this device. It's everything we've been yearning for in a 4:3 screen device, while only forcing distortion and other compromises through a1:1 screen. It will be a poor seller but these glowing comments prove there's lid for every pot.
I want the 406v
Coming soon....
Same chipset ...
4 inch screen...
But in a vertical form factor...
I was going to get the 405v...until I heard the 406 is coming... can't wait.
I was able to get it under $150 shipped from their eBay store last week with the site wide coupon they had. I didn't think I would have paid more than that for this, especially if I have to try and fix the video out myself.
Abernic does not disappoint. But im gonna wait and see if they improve this one.
Seems like a cool device. After getting a rg35xx-h though, I'm holding off on Anbernic devices until they make their buttons less stiff.
Gonna wait 72 hours for the next version
Confirmed light bleed in same spot. Video out you have to update to desktop mode but it is a bit clunky with a cursor needed to jump into emulators. The ps4 remote with touch pad seems to be a good match.
If you could scale gamecube to 8:7 it would be perfect but from my research its only stretch full or original
I'm looking to replace my RG552 due to poor battery life and was considering this, but I think i'll wait for the handheld FPGA OLED that is coming out this year.
Btw, Ebay has the RG Cube right now for $137, which is nearly $50 cheaper than MSRP + shipping
I gotta get this for sure, looking for a friend to accompany my Nintendo Switch and my ROG Ally