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🕹️ Anbernic RG35XX Pro Short-Term Review: A $50 Retro Gaming Marvel?

Hey fam! 👋


There is something magical about handheld retro consoles, especially when they hit the sweet spot of performance, portability, and price. The Anbernic RG35XX Pro is one of the best examples of that balance in 2025. But is it really worth your 50 dollars?


Let’s take a full walk through everything this little handheld has to offer. This review is designed for everyone, whether you are just getting into retro gaming or you have a shelf full of emulation handhelds already.


📦 Unboxing Experience – 40/69

The RG35XX Pro comes in Anbernic’s typical no-nonsense white box. On the front, you’ll see a simple line drawing of the device along with the model number. One side shows the available color options, and the opposite side has some regulatory labels like CE and FCC markings.


Slide the lid off and you’ll find the device wrapped in a plastic sleeve with a soft foam pad over the front to protect the screen and thumb sticks. Inside the box, you’ll also find a USB-A to USB-C charging cable and a small but decent-quality printed manual.


There is no included screen protector, which is unusual for Anbernic devices. Overall, the unboxing is functional and clean, but not very exciting. Still, for a device in the 50 dollar range, it gets the job done.


👀 First Impressions – 49/69

Right out of the box, the transparent teal version is a real attention-grabber. The shell feels solid with no creaks or weak spots. The overall shape fits well in the hands, and the slightly curved sides help with grip.


The layout uses parallel thumb sticks, similar to a PlayStation controller, which feels more symmetrical and natural for many types of games. The D-pad is SNES-style and feels responsive, while the face buttons have a smooth texture and just the right amount of resistance.

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The 3.5-inch IPS screen is bright and colorful, with good viewing angles and no obvious backlight bleed. The materials feel better than expected for the price, and everything is put together very well.


🧠 Internals and Performance – 47/69

Processor and Graphics

  • CPU: H700 Quad-core Cortex-A53 at 1.5GHz

  • GPU: Dual-core Mali G31 MP2

This setup is perfect for most systems up to PlayStation 1 and PSP. Performance is generally smooth for 8-bit and 16-bit consoles, as well as handhelds like Game Boy Advance. More demanding PSP titles like God of War or Ridge Racer may dip from 30 frames per second to around 20, so expect minor slowdowns.


RAM and Storage

  • 1GB LPDDR4 RAM

  • Comes with 64GB TF card

  • Supports dual TF cards, up to 512GB

You get one card slot for your system and another for game storage, making it easier to organize your files or upgrade later.

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Display

  • 3.5-inch IPS OCA laminated screen

  • Resolution: 640x480

The screen is fully laminated, meaning there is less air between the layers, which improves brightness and reduces glare. The 4:3 aspect ratio is ideal for retro consoles that were designed around CRT displays.

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Connectivity

  • Wi-Fi: Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz

  • Bluetooth 4.2

  • Mini HDMI output

Having both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth at this price is rare. Wi-Fi allows for scraping game artwork or using Moonlight for PC game streaming. Bluetooth lets you use wireless headphones or controllers. HDMI output is perfect for connecting to a larger screen.

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Battery

  • 3200 mAh lithium polymer battery

  • Rated for about 7 hours of use

  • Charges via USB-C at 5V/1.5A


🧰 Ease of Use – 50/69

Anbernic’s OS is built for simplicity. It boots straight into a menu that includes RetroArch and other emulators. Navigation is quick and intuitive. Within about one minute, even first-time users can be in-game.


Transferring games is simple. Plug in via USB-C, and the device appears on your computer. You can drag and drop files without installing anything special.


It also supports music, video playback, and even .txt format e-books. You will find a file manager, media player, and online features ready to go.


🛠️ Customizability – 50/69

The RG35XX Pro is already getting attention from the community. While custom firmware like Knulli and RockNix is still being adapted, there is already strong accessory support.

You can find:

  • Grips and stands on Etsy

  • Hard shell cases and screen protectors on AliExpress

  • Game card upgrades up to 512GB

  • Third-party Bluetooth controller pairing

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It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is great if you prefer wired headphones. The dual TF card slots make it easy to customize your build without constantly swapping cards.


🎮 Controls – 49/69

Let’s break down the controls:

  • D-pad: SNES-style, precise, and soft

  • Face buttons: Good travel, slightly clicky but not annoyingly loud

  • Thumb sticks: PlayStation-style parallel layout, smooth movement, but L3/R3 clicks are the loudest buttons on the device

  • Shoulder buttons: Among the best on any vertical handheld. Responsive and easy to reach

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Everything feels tight and deliberate. There are no wobbly parts, and the responsiveness is spot-on. Even for games that require quick reflexes or diagonal inputs, the controls perform well.


💰 Value – 51/69

For about 50 dollars, here’s what you get:

  • A laminated IPS screen

  • A quad-core CPU and 1GB of RAM

  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

  • HDMI out

  • Great build quality and responsive controls

  • Solid battery life

  • Support for over 30 emulators and ported games


You can even stream PC games or do couch multiplayer with external controllers. At this price, that is an impressive list of features.


📊 Category Breakdown and Final Score

Category

Score (Out of 69)

Unboxing

40

First Impressions

49

Internals

47

Ease of Use

50

Customizability

50

Controls

49

Value

51

Overall Average

48

✅ Top 4 Pros

  1. Beautiful 4:3 laminated IPS screen

  2. Full wireless support with Bluetooth and dual-band Wi-Fi

  3. Great controls, especially the shoulder buttons

  4. Dual TF card slots and HDMI output at this price


❌ Top 4 Cons

  1. No screen protector included

  2. Thumb stick clicks are loud when pressed for L3/R3

  3. Custom firmware is still being developed

  4. Some PSP games are not perfectly smooth


👤 Who Should Buy This

  • Newcomers to handheld emulation who want a plug-and-play experience

  • Retro gaming fans who want a vertical layout with good controls and display


🚫 Who Might Want to Skip It

  • Gamers who want to emulate Dreamcast, Saturn, or GameCube smoothly

  • Users who only want a device with full custom firmware support at launch


🎬 Final Thoughts

The RG35XX Pro might not be flashy, but it is focused. For 50 dollars, you get real hardware value and a dependable handheld that can grow with you. Whether you're playing SNES classics or trying out PS1 RPGs, it performs smoothly and feels comfortable in the hand.


This is the kind of device that earns its spot in your bag or on your shelf, not by being the most powerful, but by being a solid and balanced choice.


🔗 Buy the Anbernic RG35XX Pro

AliExpress:

Anbernic Store:


💬 Got questions or want to share your experience? Drop a comment below or post in the Anbernic Annex on the forum.


Until next time!


P’Nick! 👋

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