Anbernic RG406V Review: The Best Vertical?

Anbernic has returned with yet another handheld! I was eager to give the verticals another go because I had given the RG40XXV so much positive feedback. I was intrigued by this one because my first vintage handheld was the RG351V. This is an improvement over the more recent RG405V, which I have never owned.

Before the box is even opened, the first objection must be, "Where is the woodgrain?" I genuinely like this colourway because of its ridiculousness, even if it is such a foolish colourway. Transparent black, an SNES choice, and an off-white gadget with skittle buttons are the available colours. Instead of the purple buttons that are typically seen on the SNES version, the PAL version has colourful buttons.

Anbernic RG406V Specs

The specifications for the RG405V are listed below.

  • Display: 4-inch IPS
  • Resolution: 960×720
  • Processor: Unisoc T820
  • GPU: Mail-G57
  • RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X
  • Storage: 128GB UFS 2.2 w/ microSD Card Expansion (up to 2TB)
  • Battery: 5,500mAh (rated for up to 8 hours)
  • Charging: 5V/2A (~3.5 hours)
  • Audio: High-fidelity dual-speakers / 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Video: 1080p Display Output via USB-C
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi / Bluetooth 5.0
  • Extras: Six-axis gyro / Vibration Motor / Large-angle 3D Hall Joystick / 16 million colour RGB Lighting Effect
  • Software: Android 13
  • Dimensions: 145 x 105 x 29mm
  • Weight: 289 grams
  • Colours: Black Transparent / Beige White / Gray

Design and Display

The SNES colour I received looks fantastic! The grey bezel is quite appealing to me. The feel of the plastic is almost matte. There is a slight texture to the back grips that improves the experience of gripping it.

When I see the RG406V, hefty is the first term that springs to mind. The gadget looks odd and is rather bulbous. It appears to be a cartoon character's cliché after overindulging at a buffet. Nonetheless, it is enjoyable to use, particularly for larger-handed people.

This device has a fantastic screen. Anbernic may have produced the best screen to date. Many of your old games will look great with a 4x3 aspect ratio and 960x720 resolution. It looks excellent when integer scaling is used. On this one, the colours stand out.

RGB lighting is the new standard for these devices. I have a minor complaint with them, and I am aware that you can disable it, but it is not my favourite feature.

Controls

Anbernic's analogue sticks have now been updated! Cardinal snapping and Nintendo Switch sticks are over. Anbernic should continue to use these sticks because they are pretty smooth. I discovered that I could run and stroll far more fluidly than I could on my RG Cube when playing a little Spyro the Dragon. Particularly for those who wish to play 3D platformers, this is a significant upgrade. However, they seem too tall. Attempting to use both sticks simultaneously seems weird.

The RG40XXV's D-Pad was fantastic. I even went so far as to call it my favourite D-Pad ever made by Anbernic. This device is either identical or quite comparable to the other one. It's the best non-Vita-style D-Pad I've ever used, and it's a lot of fun to use. When I want to play something quickly, this device is worth getting just for that reason.

Although I am aware that stacked shoulder buttons may appear odd on a vertical device, I still prefer them. I would have been okay with them using those instead of this equipment because it already seems so big and heavy. My hands always hold or press things awkwardly, although this is just a personal problem. The actual buttons don't feel particularly clicky. They aren't the best for PS2/GameCube racers and shooters, though I am inadvertently pressing them quite a bit.

Performance

The device downloads any emulation apps you might want immediately after it is set up. This is problematic for me because it can be an outdated version of the software. The commercial versions of several of the apps are also available for free download. Although your preferences may differ, I usually remove all of these and install my emulator copies.

I began by playing NBA Street Vol. 2 in 1x resolution. I saw a steady 60 frames per second during the pick-up game. After deciding to increase the resolution to two times, I took a few dips. It immediately returned to 60 frames per second after setting the CPU to high (this is an option on the top drag-down menu). Some games are able to take some upscaling, and GameCube looks fantastic on this 4x3 screen.

I then changed the resolution to 1.5 and tried some PS2. One of my favourite shooters, Time Splitters 2, allowed me to test the sticks and shoulder buttons properly, so I gave it a go. The game operated flawlessly! With the CPU set to "High," I was consistently getting 60 frames per second. However, as I expected, playing a shooter on this was not very comfortable.

In the video above, you can see Stubbs testing additional PS2 titles to gain a better understanding of what this chipset is capable of. He tests more games with his RG556.

Streaming

Moonlight worked flawlessly when I tried it out on my ROG Ally X to the RG406V. Streaming to this mobile device from your PC is a viable alternative. Once more, it is not the most comfortable way to play more recent games on this device.

I also gave XBPlay a go. This was equally effective. Halo 5 was really playable when I played it online. Although it was challenging to manage, it nonetheless functioned well. I can imagine myself enjoying myself while broadcasting some independent games.

Battery Life

A device's battery life is one of its main selling aspects. I can easily experience battery anxiety after using something that drains batteries while obsessively checking my current percentage. The battery life has been excellent after using this for a few days.

I conducted two tests to determine how long the battery lasted. The first test was on the GBC, which is a lower-end battery test. I used Gambatte to run Game and Watch 2 for the GBC in RetroArch with Wi-Fi turned on, and the screen brightness was set to 100%. The battery lasted slightly more than 12 hours (12:06), from 100% to 0%.

Next, I used the standalone Dolphin emulator to run GameCube from 100% to 0%. Once more, I had Wi-Fi enabled, the CPU set to usual, and the screen brightness at 100%. The duration of this test was a little over eight hours (8:13)! I used my Steam Deck charger to charge it both times, and it took around three hours to reach full capacity.

Android's sleep mode is also really compelling. With minimal impact on my overall battery, I was able to put my gadget to sleep for hours at a time. This is an excellent choice if you want a vertical handheld with a long battery life.

Final Thoughts

This year, Anbernic has been incredibly generous. Although the releases are monotonous, nobody is pressuring you to purchase them all. It allows you to buy a range of devices for every type of individual. Indeed, the releases make it somewhat of a meme, but they also make the activity more approachable. With its redesigned sticks and screen, this device is more recent, but it should become the new standard for them.

This portable is for you if you enjoy a vertical design factor but want more power than the standard XX devices that have been coming out. The D-Pad is fantastic, the sticks are excellent, the screen is gorgeous, and the battery life has been outstanding. I had a hard time picking out flaws in it.

I'm thinking about my best handhelds of the year, and this one might make it into my top list or earn an honourable mention. The bulky and bulbous form of this handheld could make it a sleeper smash if you can ignore it. So far this year, this is my favourite Anbernic release.

What I Like:

  • Battery Life
  • Screen
  • D-pad and analog sticks
  • Performance is good

What Can Take a Hike:

  • Thick and bulbous design
  • No woodgrain?!
  • The sticks are a bit tall
  • Overly sensitive shoulder buttons