Did Anbernic Make the BEST Budget Controller? RG P01 Review

One of Anbernic's recent pronouncements was unexpected and winding up. They decided to play the controller game. This only makes sense for a corporation that produces a huge number of handhelds. Since they are already producing handheld controls, they are no longer concerned with a screen and all of its accessories.

Anbernic RG P01: Price and Availability

The RG P01 is the right choice if you're merely interested in collecting new controllers or if you've been searching for something new. The first controller from Anbernic will be available for pre-order starting on October 29 and will cost only $15.

  • RG P01 from Anbernic
  • RG P01 at AliExpress

The RG P01 pricing will increase by $18 when orders start to arrive, which is anticipated to happen around November 15. Therefore, unlike other Anbernic gadgets, you will have more than a few days to take advantage of a pre-order discount.

Anbernic RG P01: The Feel

When I first opened the Anbernic RG P01, I was pleased to notice that each analog stick had some protection. Out of all the color selections, I got the one I wanted the most—white and purple. I quickly reached for my just-acquired 8BitDo Ultimate C for comparison. I'll be comparing these controllers throughout this evaluation because they look a lot alike.

Although the RG P01's sticks operate smoothly and feel fabulous, they are also sadly smooth on the outside. They appear to have absolutely no grip, which sounds like a formula for disaster if you're a sweaty-palmed gamer like me, and it slips. I prefer the Anbernic controller, although the 8BitDo has more resistance.

I don't have any problems with the face buttons; they feel good. I truly like the controller's two rear paddles. I can easily press them because they rest just where my middle fingers do. Additionally, they offer a pleasant grip that the sticks don't have.

The Dpad feels comfortable, and I'm eager to test it out to see how it works. I like hall triggers, and the triggers are good. However, pressing the Anbernic is less pleasant than pressing the 8BitDo, particularly for the R1/L1. It isn't easy to describe. Additionally, the R2/L2 has less resistance than the 8BitDo, which is what I like better.

Anbernic RG P01: Performance

Finally, it was time to switch this thing on and see what it could accomplish. It has a USB dongle that you can connect to, or you can use Bluetooth or a USB-C cord. I decided to utilize the dongle and plug it into my ROG Ally's USB hub. I had to see if there was cardinal snapping, like some of their newer handhelds, first. I am pleased to report that, to my surprise, the joystick calibration using Armory Crate does not have cardinal snapping. This is shown in the video above.

I decided to give the D-pad a shot. Celeste, a favorite of the RH Podcast, was fired up for Pico-8. I didn't see any problems when I was playing, and it worked really well. To see whether I could acquire any false diagonals, I chose to try a different game. When I started Tetris, the down direction would be triggered by dragging the D-pad to the right and pivoting slightly to the right. I find that annoying, although it might be someone else's preference.

Lastly, I wanted to see if programming the two back macro buttons was simple. It is a simple and effective method. You must hold down the back button you wish to program while simultaneously pressing select. You push the button you wish to program the RGB to once it begins to flash (well, there is RGB, of course). After that, it should be programmed if you press your macro button once more.

I experienced terrible latency problems when using the controller with Metaphor ReFantazio. In handheld mode, I've been playing this game without any issues, but the controller was complicated to use. Sometimes, my character would go wild and start running into the wall or in circles. He would slash aimlessly, making it difficult to start a fight. The experience was awful.

Anbernic RG P01: Final Thoughts

Thus, it is still unclear if this is the most significant budget controller. No, it's not. It is a decent initial controller attempt from Anbernic and is serviceable. It really exceeded my expectations. I'm still content with my 8BitDo Ultimate C and am starting to lean toward it. Subtle variations like the overall feel and the resistance of the sticks and triggers are what I like best. I appreciate that it is more bulbous, like an Xbox controller.

Update 

I haven't been able to replicate the Metaphor problems. It functions flawlessly now. However, what was the initial problem? If someone else has similar issues, it is beneficial to have that section. Additionally, this product is in preproduction and may undergo some changes prior to release.