I've been looking at the Chinese Android/Linux emulation handheld scene for a few years now and while I think these things are really neat I've never bought one. They've always either been too expensive or too compromised/crappy with no middle ground.
The RG35XX H from earlier this year was pretty close- it had a horizontal form factor, Bluetooth, Wifi, a full set of buttons and analog sticks, decent build quality and performance that could easily handle everything up to PS1 (and could stretch just a little bit beyond that), and could be bought for less than 70 dollars. I hated that it had those in-line shoulder buttons a lot of these Chinese manufacturers love and I wished the screen had been just a bit bigger.
(To be fair, I wouldn't mind a device that could readily play DC, N64, PSP and even the Saturn, but that sort of performance seems to cost at least 130-150 dollars and would most likely end up costing about 200€ in Europe)
This new RG40XX H looks to be the exact same thing as the 35XX H but with a 4-inch screen and stacked shoulder buttons. If it's not horribly more expensive than the previous model I might finally end up getting one
That might take a while as all the PS2-capable devices still cost around 150-200 dollars from what I can see (or 200-300 euros in Europe).
Personally I don't mind since all of the sixth gen games I'd like to play are ones I'd prefer on a big screen anyway, though the PS2 and GC definitely have tons of arcadey games that would be fun on the go
True, a lot of the chips used currently are older ones that are common in android tv boxes. I'm hoping given time the more recent chips will start to trickle through so we start to see more capable machines and more competition may lead to lower pricing. There's a load of systems up to ps1, the new sp shaped ambernic my wife has been keeping an eye on but I can emulate everything up to 360 on my laptop so I'm hoping for something a little more for on the go personally. But its nice to see a wide range of devices and what they can do currently is great, the markets competitive for them too which is always healthy and good for the consumer
Honestly, I wouldn't get anything from Anbernic other than the budget stuff anymore. I have a 351P which is a nice device for playing anything older than the PS2 generation, but the Steam Deck is just too cost efficient (and ships from Europe) to even consider any of the more expensive Anbernics.
I'm really only interested in budget devices. I just can't justify splurging several hundred euros on what is at the end of the day a frivolous gadget when I could put that money towards a new phone or something.
I don't really need a Steam Deck or equivalent either as I already have a desktop PC.
I've just been waiting for a budget device with the right balance of quality and performance to come along
I've been following these things on and off and they've really stagnated for years. Really seems to me like Anbernic keeps making 20 new devices with different form factors and random combinations of numbers and letters for names, but none of them can emulate anything more powerful than frameskipped PSP.
There is the RG Cube they just put out that seems to be fairly competent at PS2 and GameCube but that again costs a hundred bucks more than these budget devices
This looks like the RG405M but better?
I have the Arc-D and I think it's the same screen. 4 inch really is a sweet spot for handhelds that you maybe don't wanna take on the go.
I really wanna get the RG35XXSP but this looks sweet too.
This looks like the RG405M but better?
It has the same guts as the RG35XX Plus, RG35XX H and RG35XX SP, so it's much less powerful
I have the Arc-D and I think it's the same screen. 4 inch really is a sweet spot for handhelds that you maybe don't wanna take on the go.
I looked at the cheaper version of the Arc but the lack of analog sticks and L3/R3 on it made me pass on it, though I believe even the S might be powerful than the XX series.
I really wanna get the RG35XXSP but this looks sweet too.
The SP definitely looks cool but a horizontal form factor with traditional stacked shoulder buttons and triggers is a must for me since the PS1 would be one of my main systems
I guess I don't follow the hardware as close as I thought I did lol. I will say I've played Ocarina with my Arc and it's actually playable. I haven't checked any PS1 games yet, but mostly play JRPGs anyway so I think it would also be manageable.
The SP was more me wanting something that I can throw in my bag on the way to my hypothetical job, but I am never gonna have a job again so maybe I will skip it lol.
