Anbernic RG40XXV First Impressions

I will tell the truth. At this time of year, I have been experiencing the onset of Anbernic weariness. Though the 4:3 screen was fun to use, I wasn't very excited by the RG40XXH. I felt dizzy from the eye roll when I learned that another XX gizmo was coming out. But the fact that it's a vertical handheld accomplished something different.

I adore handhelds that are vertical. This might be because I grew up loving the Game Boy Color. Actually, the RG351V was my first emulation portable, and it led to my obsession (more on that here). My curiosity was sparked when I considered the RG 40XXV as the 351V's replacement, and the weariness was short-lived.

What's Under the Hood

  • Display: 4-inch IPS, 640 x 480
  • Processor: Allwinner H700
  • GPU: Dual-core G31 MP2
  • RAM: 1GB LPDDR
  • Storage: Dual microSD Card Slot / Supports up to 512GB
  • Battery: 3200mAh (6 hours estimated battery life)
  • Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wifi, Bluetooth 4.2
  • Extras: 5V/1.5A Charger / Supports C2C charging / RGB Joystick Lighting
  • Software: Linux / 64-bit
  • Colours: White / Transparent Black / Indigo Blue

The Look

I was hoping for the white out of the three colour options—blue, white, and transparent black. This seems like a perfect substitute for my all-white Analogue Pocket. However, I received the transparent black. Even though this has been a mainstay of Anbernic's colour palette for a while, it still looks nice.

The texture of the shell is rougher than anticipated, but it feels good. Compared to when I had my RG351V, the shoulder buttons are now in a much better place. With its thin bezels, the tablet looks fantastic. It weighs only 220 grams, making it incredibly light. It feels fantastic.

An analogue stick is present, and yes, it is conspicuous. It appears to be the RG351V, but I wish they had sent two sticks or a different speaker. With so much blank space at the bottom, it looked unprofessional, but hey, it's RGB, so some people might find it cool.

Controls

I really enjoy Vita styles like the Retroid Pocket 2S and AYN Odin or Sega styles like the Cube and Arc on the D-Pad. However, this D-Pad is excellent. It is incredibly responsive and user-friendly. I like this one a lot more than my Game Boy Color and DMG. This is the best D-Pad Anbernic has created to date, even though I am aware that D-Pads vary significantly from person to person. It's that good.

The nice thing about face buttons is that they feel like any other Anbernic device. They are really responsive and feel pleasant and smooth. I see no friction on the shell, and they click down with ease.

Although the shoulder buttons are positioned well, there is a problem with resistance. It takes no pressure at all to press them, even though your fingertips rest on them so naturally. By holding them a bit too tightly throughout my testing, I was inadvertently pressing them a lot.

The analog stick is back. I detest this stuff. I've already mentioned how ungainly it appears, but using it is also an odd sensation. It seemed really strange after some experimentation with Crash Bandicoot on the PS1. The movements didn't feel very precise, and the manner my hand had to hold the device to utilize it felt strange. I don't know if the stick scraping the shell or the angle at which I was holding it is to blame.

Performance

Discussing performance on another XX device is redundant. It can play some Dreamcast, N64, and PS1 games. Anything below? It performs brilliantly. You could feel a little let down if this is only for those more expensive systems, especially if you have to do any remapping for N64. PSP can also be handled by it, albeit it's not always reliable.

However, it does bring back fond memories of playing those old Game Boy games with the appropriate overlay and shader. It wasn't until I started making comparisons that I realized how little the DMG screen was. The games look fantastic and are genuinely popping on this screen.

I don't generally test a lot of N64 on these devices, but I gave it a fair shot with this one. Wow, that plays really nicely! I spent a considerable amount of time playing Wave Race. It has excellent performance and looks. I didn't lag or slow down. It performed flawlessly straight out of the box.

Running PSP on the XX devices has always presented some challenges for me. There are times when it performs poorly, and I don't want to spend the extra time troubleshooting it, especially when there are other devices that can play it more upscale and in a better format. I gave Vice City Stories a go for this, and it handled it rather nicely! Although there were sporadic slowdowns, the game was nevertheless wholly playable. Although the analogue stick has received a lot of criticism, it had a purpose in this instance.

Custom Firmware

Yes, I am aware of how annoying the frequent releases of gadgets using this chip are. One advantage, though, is that custom firmware is readily available. After my initial testing, I installed MinUI on mine, and it truly gives the impression that this device is less expensive than the Analogue Pocket. You can do this yourself by following our instructions here. Given how quickly these excellent developers work, there might be even more alternatives available by the time this post is published!

Battery Life

Battery life is my primary selling feature for gadgets. I prefer to have as little time as possible to worry about charging something. Since this is a first impression, I haven't had much time to really test the batteries. Since I've been testing games, I've just been aware.

However, based on my tests, the battery life has been excellent thus far. I played a variety of games on the GB, PS1, N64, and other devices throughout the morning without noticing any significant battery drain. After trying the more expensive systems for more than an hour, I predict a 10% drop in battery life. In our last examination, we will delve deeper into the battery.

Lastly, this gadget doesn't become very hot! The RG40XXH was getting too warm, which was my main grievance. Even the RG35XXSP would occasionally become a bit toasty, but this? There were no heating problems at all, and it was comfortable to use. Although your fingertips don't usually travel there, there was a small area beneath the screen, and even if you intentionally touched it, it wouldn't be apparent.

Final Thoughts

Using this gadget brought me a fair amount of happiness. The RG40XXV's buttons, screen, form factor, and size are all excellent features. But deciding whether or not to endorse it becomes challenging. This chipset's market is highly crowded. This item is worth a try, even though it almost becomes cumbersome.

This is a fantastic and reasonably priced choice if you enjoy vertical devices. You get a beautiful screen, sound buttons, and the Anbernic build quality. Compared to the RG351V and RG405V, it is far more portable, streamlined, and less heavy. Although the performance is not as good as the latter, this is still a good upgrade for them.

If you own an Anbernic XX device, you can skip this step. Be content and at ease if you are content with your 40XXH, SP, XX+, and so forth. But if this piques your attention, know that it's a fantastic gadget that won't break the bank!

What I Like:
  • Lightweight, thin, and cosy to hold
  • The screen looks fantastic.
  • Among the greatest D-Pads I've ever used
  • Good battery life
  • An excellent reference to their RG351V
What Can Take a Hike:
  • The analog stick
  • The shoulder buttons' level of sensitivity
  • One more XX gadget

This newest portable will be available for pre-order starting on August 26 at 3 AM PST. Anbernic is offering a pre-order discount for the first 72 hours, lowering the retail price of the RG40XXV from $66.99 to $59.99.

On or after August 26, place your order for RG40XXV using the buttons below. They won't be operational until then, so be careful! As you're doing it

  • AliExpress 
  • Anbernic