Best Retro Handheld

[HeadlessChicken]

Just tried to fire up my RG35XXH, aaaand the SD card is dead. Probably used it 4-5 times....

[ 1145.394548] sd 10:0:0:1: [sdb] Test Unit Ready failed: Result: hostbyte=DID_NO_CONNECT driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 1145.395210] sd 10:0:0:1: [sdb] Test Unit Ready failed: Result: hostbyte=DID_NO_CONNECT driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 1145.395299] sd 10:0:0:1: [sdb] tag#0 access beyond end of device
[ 1145.395302] I/O error, dev sdb, sector 75840 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x80700 phys_seg 256 prio class 0
[ 1145.395347] sd 10:0:0:1: [sdb] tag#0 access beyond end of device
[ 1145.395349] I/O error, dev sdb, sector 75584 op 0x0:(READ) flags 0x0 phys_seg 1 prio class 0
[ 1145.395355] FAT-fs (sdb1): FAT read failed (blocknr 1856)
[ 1145.405955] sd 10:0:0:1: [sdb] tag#0 access beyond end of device
[ 1145.405959] I/O error, dev sdb, sector 96542720 op 0x1:(WRITE) flags 0x800 phys_seg 1 prio class 0
[ 1145.405964] Buffer I/O error on dev sdb2, logical block 0, lost sync page write

Going to use this as an opportunity to try out some additional firmwares. Any recommendations? By all accounts Stock + mod seems to be flavour of the month?

Also does anyone know if the stock ROM contains everything from factory?

Was that the stock sd card? Surprised it lasted as long as it did!

I have muOS on my 35xxH - and really like it.

 

[HeadlessChicken]

Also treated myself

 

[funguST]

Also treated myself

How you finding it? Currently my front runner (if I cat justify/afford a legion go/steamdeck).

Did it come with any games pre installed?

 

[Nemiyen]

How you finding it? Currently my front runner (if I cat justify/afford a legion go/steamdeck).

Did it come with any games pre installed?

What is that model of handheld? Not sure I've seen that one before.

 

[funguST]

What is that model of handheld? Not sure I've seen that one before.

Looks like the anbernic rg556

 

[HeadlessChicken]

Looks like the anbernic rg556

It is!

How you finding it? Currently my front runner (if I cat justify/afford a legion go/steamdeck).

Did it come with any games pre installed?

So far so good. I decided against a SD card included. Mostly because the quality is ususally pap (of the card and the ROMS themselves), and also I quite like to self curate.

A bit more set up than a linux device (I have expiernce of the RG35 models) but nothing difficult - plenty of helpful guides.

Haven't used loads but so far;

• PS1 and below - as expected perfect. Upscaling PSX by 5x. Using Retroarch for most of these
• PS2 - just tried suikoden 3 - ran perfectly at 1.5x. Not the most demanding game
• Android - Minecraft / Stardew Valley / Evoland / Vampire Survivors / Stumble guys all run natively with conreols and perfectly well (there is the ability to map the controls to games with only on screen controls if needed)
• Steam link (one of the key reasons I bought it) runs perfectly well. Ran Outer wilds & FF7 Integrade. Obvs probably calls more on your PC / Network, but the decoding / controls are fine

The main complaints appears to be the sticks. There is now a "fix" for this (https://github.com/TheGammaSqueeze/Bootloader_Unlock_Anbernic_T820/releases/tag/analog_fix) but to be perfectly honest after an hour of outer wilds & FF7 I had noticed zero issues so didn't bother with it. Maybe I will as time goes on.

Only slightly odd thing is the d-pad squeaks a tad when pressing down, but only sometimes. A few people have reported this, but also said it disappears after use (assume the membrane bedding in).