Comprehensive Review of the Anbernic RG35XXSP Retro Handheld
The RG35XXSP is a well-made device that’s lovely to look at. In many ways, it’s Anbernic’s finest by a long way. It’s a replica of the design of the GBA SP, though I suspect it’s a little bulkier and heavier than the original hardware.
Design and Build Quality
The screen flips up smoothly, with a satisfying “click” when it’s in place. This design ensures it fits comfortably in my largish hands, with all buttons easy to access. Those buttons all have an exceedingly low profile and are satisfyingly resistant and “clicky” to press. Even the shoulder buttons are up to par on this device. They’re large enough to comfortably reach and press individually, and also feel much more solid and resilient than the shoulder buttons feel like on many other emulation consoles.
Connectivity and Hardware Features
Otherwise, the shell of the console has everything that you’d expect from a current-generation Anbernic product. Regarding audio, there’s a headphone jack for the few headsets that still use that. Sadly it’s a bit of a tight fit and I’m not sure that’s good for the headset, but there’s also Bluetooth anyway. In terms of functionality, there are two buttons to control volume that have an impressive range. There’s a HDMI port to play your retro games on the big screen, and two SD card slots so you can hold plenty of games on the device.
Software Experience and Emulation
Turning it on treats you to a plug-and-play boot-up menu, with the main feature being Retroarch right there and primed to go. With the RG35XXSP I was playing immediately after pulling the thing out of the box. The interface lets you set up a playlist of favourites, so you don’t need to cycle through the entire list every time you want to play something that starts with an annoying letter in the middle of the alphabet.
Once you get into playing the games you’ll find that this console handles everything that it was designed for perfectly. Because there are no analogue sticks, your ability to play a lot of PlayStation, N64 and Dreamcast and beyond games is limited. However, for everything that can be played using a D-pad and buttons, the RG35XXSP handles them all without a problem, so for people who love their PSP, SNES and GBA games in particular, this is the console for you.
Hardware Specifications and Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | Clamshell replica of the GBA SP design |
| Buttons | Low profile, resistant, and "clicky" with solid shoulder buttons |
| Storage | Two SD card slots for extensive game libraries |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, HDMI port, and headphone jack |
| Software | Plug-and-play Retroarch interface |
| Battery | Higher quality battery for several hours of play |
Screen and Battery Performance
The screen is nothing special compared to what some others are doing, but it’s good with colour and the perfect size for these kinds of nostalgic experiences. The single greatest feature of the RG35XXSP, which helps elevate it and means that I actually find it useful, is the battery. A big part of the RG35XXSP’s weight seems to be that they’ve included a higher quality battery, because I can now play for several hours, or even a couple of sessions, without worrying if I was running the battery down too low.
Being able to connect a Bluetooth controller to the console, and then run it through the TV, makes for a handy portable multiplayer console, especially for those SNES epics. As a final neat feature, it is possible to stream your PC games to the RG35XXSP via Moonlight, though you’ll be limited by the lack of analogue sticks.