Anbernic RG34XX Review: The Ultimate GBA

While they're about it, Anbernic might as well adopt Sega's old tagline, "Anbernic does what Nintendon't," since they've been producing so many classic Nintendo-looking gadgets. Every child with a GBA gave out a loud sigh, took out their cash, and made up a reason to justify their most recent $70 buy to their spouse when the Anbernic RG34XX was announced. The GBA font is even used on the box! Is this the greatest GBA gadget available? Let's have a look at Andrew's excellent initial impressions as well!

Anbernic RG34XX: Specs

  • Display: 3.4-inch IPS
  • Resolution: 720 x 480 (3x GBA pixel-to-pixel)
  • Processor: Allwinner H700
  • GPU: Dual-Core Mali G31 MP2
  • RAM: 1GB LPDDR4
  • Storage: Dual microSD Card Slots (Up to 512GB)
  • Battery: 3,500mAh (Up to 7 hours)
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi / Bluetooth 4.2
  • Extras: Vibration Motor, mini HDMI,
  • Dimensions: 144.6 x 81.8 x 24.8mm
  • Weight: 188 grams

Anbernic RG34XX: Look and Feel

Zu does a fantastic job at demonstrating how comparable these are in his video above, but I don't have an original GBA to compare this against. Any admirer of the Game Boy Advance form factor should be happy since this is amazing and spot on. I couldn't believe how tiny a GBA seemed in my hands because I hadn't held one in more than 15 years. This item is tiny for someone with larger hands. The nostalgia did not outweigh my discomfort.

However, both the face buttons and the Dpad have a pleasant feel. That should not be surprising since it is Anbernic. To help them blend in better, they even matched the colors of X and Y's buttons to the shell's color. The buttons on the shoulders are... intriguing. R2 and L2 were moved to a bottom location where the cartridges would have been on the original GBA, while R1 and L1 remained in their original location. It's really smart, but it's also not exceptionally cozy.

The volume control is one feature that I find really incredible. It takes the shape of a wheel to regulate the volume. The wheel functions more like a switch than a wheel. It's a lot of fun and incredibly cool. Black, Transparent Red, Transparent Green, and Indigo are the possible colors for the RG34XX.

Performance

There are no performance surprises because this is just another model in the XX line. The lower-end systems will be delivered to you without any problems. Even the PS1, Dreamcast, PSP, and N64 can be played, but don't count on much from them. It could be annoying to play those without any analog sticks.

This gadget does incredibly well at playing GBA games, which is its primary use. When I began playing Sonic Advance, I found it challenging to put it down. With a GBA, I've been taken back in time to my childhood. You won't be let down if you get this for GBA! I was using my Analogue Pocket to play GBA, but as of yet, the GBA core lacks RTC. However, the RG34XX does, and it's a pleasure!

Battery Life and CFW

The RG34XX's battery life has been excellent thus far. Although I haven't had time for extensive testing, I have played a significant amount of Grand Battle Arena during that period. After an hour, it should drop by less than 10%. The dips were slightly closer to the 13–15% range for the more expensive platforms (PS1, PSP, etc.).

The best thing about these gadgets is the custom firmware. Although it is serviceable, the stock Anbernic firmware is lacking. Although there isn't any CFW accessible at the moment of writing, MinUI will be released shortly. The other RG-XX CFWs will follow shortly.

Conclusion

What I Like

+ The GBA has a tremendous retro form factor. Very similar to the original!

+ The "wheel" of volume

+ Excellent buttons! The buttons on the shoulders are smooth.

What I Don't Like

  • It's not for everyone. You won't be transferred if you don't have a GBA.
  • Inconvenient for large hands

This is a really entertaining release, and I believe Anbernic should continue to imitate our childhood game consoles. I'm after a DS or N64 controller with a screen! We will continue to purchase these even if they continue to push them out. This device is essential if you have any connection to the original GBA design.