Best Retro Handheld

Guest2 · 17 Sep 2025 at 13:24

Smeghead said:
I've got a real hankering for a 4:3 device now. There's been a couple of new ones announced since the RG477M a few months back - there's the RG476H, which I love the look of, but it annoyingly has a weaker SoC than the 477, plus an all-glass front which I'm not keen on. Plus there's the Ayaneo Pocket Air Mini, but the screen is smaller, no price announced yet, and the design and colour options aren't my favourite compared to Anbernic.

I'm really hoping Anbernic just merge the RG477M and RG476H, and release a 476 with the internals of the 477, keep the analog triggers, use a better fan and a non-glass front. Endgame device for me right there.

Im done with Anbernic devices now. Fine for what they cost but pretty low build quality.
4:3, im trying an RP Classic

Guest2 · 17 Sep 2025 at 13:24

Kyle009 said:
C'mon there is no such thing as endgame in this hobby

100%

Raymond Lin · 23 Sep 2025 at 18:24

Anyone have the Retroid Classic AND a RP5?

I have the RP5 but tempted by the Classic.

Guest2 · 24 Sep 2025 at 10:42

Raymond Lin said:
Anyone have the Retroid Classic AND a RP5?

I have the RP5 but tempted by the Classic.

Sort of.
I had an RP5 and before that an RP mini (sold both and got an Odin 2 mini). RP classic should be delivered in the next few days. Went for the 6 button Sega Genesys/Megadrive colour (black top 3 grey buttons)

Guest2 · 24 Sep 2025 at 18:27

It arrived

Raymond Lin · 24 Sep 2025 at 18:34

1st question, what guide did you use to set it up and was it dificult?

Same as RP5? Which took me ages!

Guest2 · 24 Sep 2025 at 19:05

Raymond Lin said:
1st question, what guide did you use to set it up and was it dificult?

Same as RP5? Which took me ages!

Same as always, this one

Only done Retroarch, Dolphin and Daijisho which took maybe an hour. It took 20-30 mins to work out how to map C and Z buttons in Retroarch (you have to use L & R retropad binds instead of them being in the menu)

Android setup gets quicker the more you do, think this is my 5th now, maybe 6th. RG Cube, RP mini, RP5, Odin 2 and this. Im sure im missing another device there.

Lustral · 24 Sep 2025 at 19:34

I’m kinda missing my RP5 which I have sold recently. Kinda need a new toy to tinker with and still on the fence about the Thor or Odin 3.

Kyle009 · 25 Sep 2025 at 12:56

Guest2 said:
It arrived

Looks great, I'd buy one if they did the Mega Drive layout in the Pokemon or Atomic Purple colour

Armageus · 25 Sep 2025 at 13:17

Armageus said:
Ordered a RG35xx Pro last night - as there was an event on Aliexpress and a £10 off voucher, so ended up paying £41

Just an update, but absolutely loving this. Spent more time this week playing on this than my PS5!.

Played a good mix of GB, MD, PSX and Dreamcast games so far and everything runs fine.

Running Modded Stock on it and happy with how everything just works.

dtokez · 25 Sep 2025 at 13:44

Armageus said:
Just an update, but absolutely loving this. Spent more time this week playing on this than my PS5!.

Played a good mix of GB, MD, PSX and Dreamcast games so far and everything runs fine.

Running Modded Stock on it and happy with how everything just works.

Sounds ace! I've been eyeing them up, I really like the form factor. Can they play n64?

Armageus · 25 Sep 2025 at 13:55

dtokez said:
Sounds ace! I've been eyeing them up, I really like the form factor. Can they play n64?

I've not tried anything in depth, but I'm sure I fired up a game to check and don't remember any issues

lovelyhead · 25 Sep 2025 at 14:19

I ordered a Cube XX from Ali Express and it arrived yesterday. Only cost £44 delivered! Had a brief go on it last night and was impressed with the quality of both the screen and the handheld itself. Came with a 64GB SD card loaded with games. The stock software doesn't seem that great though so will probably change it to MUOS.

dacads · 25 Sep 2025 at 15:24

Had lots of fun setting up controller mappings for 007 game in M64 took longer than I wanted I guess because N64 controllers are different/weird to modern controller layouts.

Is it normal for when you start a game it says loading data and takes around 9 seconds before you can press continue and the game starts

Guess I'm being impatient again!

Raymond Lin · 25 Sep 2025 at 15:25

dacads said:
Had lots of fun setting up controller mappings for 007 game in M64 took longer than I wanted I guess because N64 controllers are different/weird to modern controller layouts.

Is it normal for when you start a game it says loading data and takes around 9 seconds?

Guess I'm being impatient again!

Depends on the game, console and emulator. As long as it loads and it runs fine I wouldn't worry about it.

Guest2 · 26 Sep 2025 at 07:41

dtokez said:
Sounds ace! I've been eyeing them up, I really like the form factor. Can they play n64?

I had (still have) an RG35XX and it wasnt great at N64 or Dreamcast. A few games worked, but slowly.
Unless emulation has improved a lot since then (late 2022) the H700 wasnt the fastest chip.

Armageus · 26 Sep 2025 at 08:06

Guest2 said:
I had (still have) an RG35XX and it wasnt great at N64 or Dreamcast. A few games worked, but slowly.
Unless emulation has improved a lot since then (late 2022) the H700 wasnt the fastest chip.

Dreamcast games seem absolutely flawless on my RG35XX Pro. Tried Crazy Taxi, Soulcalibur, Ferrari F355, Unreal Tournament and a couple of others.

Guest2 · 26 Sep 2025 at 08:32

Armageus said:
Dreamcast games seem absolutely flawless on my RG35XX Pro. Tried Crazy Taxi, Soulcalibur, Ferrari F355, Unreal Tournament and a couple of others.

Nice

I've just checked my RG35XX OG. Incredible is still has loads of battery and havent used it in at least a year!
I have GarlicOS installed which didnt/doesnt support GPU so no N64 or Dreamcast. Great that they were well now, I did try them on different OS (alpha at the time) and they didnt work well.

Some quick photos

Armageus · 26 Sep 2025 at 09:45

Guest2 said:
Nice I've just checked my RG35XX OG. Incredible is still has loads of battery and havent used it in at least a year!
I have GarlicOS installed which didnt/doesnt support GPU so no N64 or Dreamcast. Great that they were well now, I did try them on different OS (alpha at the time) and they didnt work well.

I'm on the Stock Anbernic OS (Well the "Modded Stock" from here: https://github.com/cbepx-me/Anbernic-H700-RG-xx-StockOS-Modification) which I believe has slightly better performance, at the expense of not as much flexibility/looking as nice as some of the 3rd party OSes/

Guest2 · 26 Sep 2025 at 11:54

Armageus said:
I'm on the Stock Anbernic OS (Well the "Modded Stock" from here: https://github.com/cbepx-me/Anbernic-H700-RG-xx-StockOS-Modification) which I believe has slightly better performance, at the expense of not as much flexibility/looking as nice as some of the 3rd party OSes/

GarlicOS was/is fantastic but doesnt offer support (or didnt in the past) for N64, Dreamcast and some other systems. That being said, I have the following on mine-

Amiga
Amiga CD32 - doesnt play well / testing
Apps
Arcade
Capcop CPS1, 2, 3
Doom ports
MS Dos
FB Neo (arcade)
NES
Gameboy
GBA
GB Colour
Gamegear
Jaguar - doesnt play well / testing
Lynx
MAME
Genesys (Megadrive)
Master system
MSX
Neogeo
Neogeo cd
Panasonic 3DO - doesnt play well / testing
TurboGrafx16
Pico-8
Ports
Playstation
ScummVM
Sega CD
SNES
Sega CD 32X
Virtual Boy
Videos
Sharp X68000

It boots up in less than 10 seconds from pressing the power button and powers off in less than a second.