Anbernic RG35XX Review: Every Version Compared, and How to Buy One Used

"RG35XX" is not one handheld. It is a family name that Anbernic has put on at least six devices since the first one arrived in 2023, all built around the same 3.5-inch, 640x480 IPS screen in what Anbernic calls the classic 4:3 aspect ratio. Underneath, they split into two generations: the original used a quad-core Cortex-A9 chip with 256MB of memory, and every later model uses the much quicker H700 with 1GB. They also come in three body styles, with or without analog sticks and Wi-Fi. This review is built from Anbernic's own product pages, its RG35XX comparison guide and firmware page, and two Time Extension reviews, rather than first-hand use. As with every emulation device on this site, it assumes you play games you legally own.

Anbernic RG35XX versions at a glance

Sources: Anbernic's product pages for each current model, checked September 2026, and Anbernic's "RG35XX Series Comparison & Shopping Guide" (April 22, 2024) for the original, which Anbernic marks as no longer produced. Every current model also lists a laminated IPS panel, two microSD slots that take cards up to 512GB, a 64GB microSD card that holds the system, a 64-bit Linux system, TV output, a vibration motor, support for 2.4GHz wireless controllers, and 5V/1.5A charging. Anbernic's own store listed the current models from $47.99 to $57.99 on sale when checked, with the Plus listed as unavailable.

What the H700 models play

Time Extension's reviews are the clearest independent read on the ceiling. Reviewing the RG35XX Plus in December 2023, it found the H700 and 1GB gave "a sizeable performance boost" over the original, enough to make Dreamcast emulation possible, "which couldn't be said of the original." PSP also ran, but not smoothly, with audio drop-outs and stuttering, while the 8- and 16-bit eras, arcade, handhelds and PlayStation were fine. Reviewing the RG35XX H a month later, it put Dreamcast and PSP at the upper end of the chip's range: playable, with frame drops and audio skipping on some games, with PlayStation more solid and everything earlier "rock-solid."

Because Anbernic lists the same H700 and 1GB for the 2024, Plus, H, SP and Pro, expect a similar ceiling across them, although Time Extension reviewed only the Plus and the H. What changes is control. Time Extension noted that without analog sticks, the Plus leaves you on digital control for games designed around a stick; the H and the Pro are the two with sticks. Anbernic lists support for more than 30 emulators on each current model. For how this chip tier compares with the ones above it, see our emulation ceiling tool.

The original RG35XX is the one to be careful with. Time Extension described it as offering decent 16- and 32-bit emulation for a low price while lacking power next to its rivals, and its chip and memory are a clear step below every later model.

Which RG35XX fits you

• You want analog sticks: the H (horizontal, which Time Extension found more comfortable, with easier shoulder buttons) or the Pro (the only vertical model with sticks).
• You want the most pocketable one: the SP. Anbernic says its lid closes magnetically and a built-in Hall sensor puts the device to sleep when you close it and wakes it when you open it.
• You want the cheapest current model: the 2024, which shares the Plus's chip and system but drops Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and has the smaller battery.
• You want the vertical shape plus Wi-Fi: the Plus. Time Extension also noted its battery is user-serviceable.

If you are deciding between this family and the other famous vertical budget handheld, our Miyoo Mini Plus review covers the smaller, PlayStation-ceiling alternative, and the handheld shortlist ranks current picks.

Buying it second-hand

A used RG35XX is usually an inexpensive purchase, but the family name makes it easy to buy the wrong one. Identify it first, then check the parts that wear. Our used handheld market guide covers the general test-on-arrival routine; these are the RG35XX-specific points.

1. Pin down which RG35XX it is. Anbernic's store now carries a note that the RG35XX it sells "is the latest 2024 version, not the older dual-system model," so a listing titled just "RG35XX" could be either. Start with the shape: horizontal with sticks is an H, a clamshell is an SP, and vertical with two sticks is a Pro. The original, the 2024 and the Plus look alike, and Anbernic's colour lists overlap (grey, transparent white and transparent purple appear on both the original and the 2024), so colour will not settle it. Ask for a photo of the settings or system-information screen. A Wi-Fi menu points to a Plus; Anbernic's comparison guide says the original shipped with two systems preinstalled, Anbernic's Linux and Garlic OS, and its firmware page lists that model as the "dual system" version.

2. Remember that the microSD card is the operating system. Anbernic lists the storage on these models as a 64GB microSD card, and that card carries the system. A unit sold without its card will not start until you add a card and install Anbernic's system image, which Anbernic still publishes for every RG35XX version, including the original, on its firmware page (the 2024 and Plus share one image). If the unit comes with a card, wipe or replace it; the legal note in our used-market guide explains why. If you replace it, a name-brand card such as the SanDisk Extreme microSD is a sensible choice; our microSD buying guide explains the speed classes.

3. Check the battery honestly. Anbernic's 7-to-8-hour ratings describe a new battery, and Time Extension noted real runtime depends on what you emulate, screen brightness and volume. Ask how long a charge lasts now. Any lithium battery that has swollen, which can show as a lifting screen or a bulging back, is a reason to walk away rather than a repair to attempt.

4. Test every control. Press the D-pad in all eight directions and every face and shoulder button. On an H or Pro, check both sticks for drift and full range. On an SP, open and close the lid a few times: the hinge should feel firm, and the device should sleep and wake as Anbernic describes.

5. Check the ports. Confirm the USB-C port charges, both card slots read, and the headphone jack and video output work if you plan to use them. Anbernic lists USB-C-to-USB-C charger support specifically for the SP and Pro; the other current models are listed only as 5V/1.5A, so if a charger does not work, try a standard USB-A charger before assuming the port is faulty.

How to judge the seller's claims. "Games included" is not value, and it is not something you can legitimately buy; price the hardware only. "Custom firmware installed" is not a problem in itself, but plan to reinstall a system you trust. "Barely used" should come with a photo of the device powered on and an answer about battery life. And "RG35XX" on its own should always prompt the question: which one?

Sources

• Anbernic, product pages for the RG35XX (2024 version), RG35XX Plus, RG35XX H, RG35XXSP and RG35XXPro, anbernic.com, checked September 2026.
• Anbernic, "RG35XX Series Comparison & Shopping Guide," anbernic.com, April 22, 2024.
• Anbernic, "RG 35XXPro Unveiled," anbernic.com, May 26, 2025.
• Anbernic, system update (firmware) page, anbernic.com, checked September 2026.
• Damien McFerran, "Review: Anbernic RG35XX Plus - A Welcome Upgrade," Time Extension, December 19, 2023.
• Damien McFerran, "Review: Anbernic RG35XX H - Third Time's A Charm," Time Extension, January 24, 2024.