CB408 Handheld Preview: A Name Only a "Mother" Could Love
- P'Nick
- 14 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Hey fam! 👋
Today we’re looking at a device with a name so uninspired it almost circles back around to being charming, the CB408. While its name might sound like a barcode scanner or a knockoff router, this little handheld actually has some interesting things going for it. Let’s dig in.
Design and Build
The CB408 comes in three colors: blue, red, and black. The shell is made from a mix of aluminum alloy and ABS plastic, giving it a more premium feel than many other generic handhelds. Around the back you’ll find silicone grip pads to keep it steady in your hands, while the front face sports offset Switch-style sticks, a Nintendo-style BAYX button layout, and a classic four-way d-pad reminiscent of the SNES/NES era.
The device weighs in at 400g and measures 192 x 82 x 13mm — slim enough at 0.51 inches thick, though with enough weight to feel solid in the hand.
Screen
On the front you’re greeted by a 4.7-inch IPS capacitive multi-touch display at 720p (1280x720). It’s not cutting edge, but at this size it should look crisp enough for retro gaming.
Hardware
CPU: Rockchip RK3566 ARM Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
GPU: Mali-G52 2EE
RAM: 2GB LPDDR4
Storage: 64GB or 128GB microSD card (included)
Battery: 4000mAh (≈5 hours, 2-hour charge, 5V/2A input)
Weight: 400g
The RK3566 isn’t a powerhouse by modern standards, but it’s a tried-and-true SoC for emulation devices, giving you solid performance up to PS1, N64, Dreamcast, and Naomi level. Beyond that, things get a bit dicey.
It runs Android 11 with Linux dual-boot options, which makes it more flexible than many budget handhelds in this category.
Controls and Ports
The CB408 has inline shoulder buttons rather than stacked, and moving left to right across the top you’ll find:
3.5mm headphone jack
USB-A port (for wired secondary controllers)
Mini HDMI out
Power indicator LED
USB-C charging port
Reset button
Power switch
MicroSD card slot next to R2
One quirk: while there’s mention of 2.4GHz WiFi (RTL8189), the wireless controller support seems to rely on a USB-A dongle rather than Bluetooth. That limits you to dongle-compatible controllers, which feels like a step backward compared to most Android handhelds.
Audio
Specs claim two 8W speakers at 1 ohm each, which seems… questionable. In practice, they appear to be downward firing stereo speakers. We’ll need hands-on impressions to know if they actually punch above their weight or if this is another case of “creative spec listing.”
Emulation Support
Preloaded emulators claim support for:
Nintendo: GB, GBC, GBA, NES/FC, SNES/SFC, N64, NDS
Sega: MD/Genesis, SMD, SMC, PCE, Naomi
Arcade: CPS, FBA, MAME
Sony: PS1…plus a grab bag of others.
As always, the real performance depends on firmware, tuning, and user setup, but the RK3566 platform usually handles this tier well.
Price and Availability
While the CB408 isn’t the cheapest version of this handheld on the market, this listing is the best one I could find that includes all three colors (blue, red, black) and both storage options (64GB, 128GB) in a single storefront.
As of this writing:
64GB model: US$83.85
128GB model: US$86.71
The seller is SPRINGCREAT on AliExpress. I’ve ordered from them before, and in my experience they’ve always shipped legit products in a timely manner, with everything arriving in good condition.
Final Thoughts
With its odd name, solid build, and mid-tier hardware, the CB408 feels like another entry in the “generic but capable” handheld pile. The aluminum casing and inline shoulder layout help it stand out a bit, but the reliance on dongle-based wireless controllers and only-okay specs may limit its appeal.
What do you think? Would you take a chance on the CB408, or is this one destined to fade into the background of the handheld flood?
Come let us know your thoughts either in the comments below or over in the สุ่มศูนย์ของ Handheld Hodgepodge.
Until next time! 👋
P’Nick ✨