Anbernic RG Nano (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://anbernic.com/products/rg-nano
Ah, the humble GameBoy; for many, the whole reason they’re reading at GBAtemp to begin with. I don’t need to get into a whole song and dance about why the GameBoy line of consoles is so iconic and beloved, but needless to say, there’s a clear reason why the market for the now retro handhelds has lasted well past the line’s relevancy as new, and by extension, why the market for travel-friendly emulation has managed to keep staying power. Which brings us to today’s review, where we’re gonna be looking at the latest from Anbernic’s line of handheld emulation consoles; the RG Nano. Anbernic has a history of making compact, travel-friendly emulation handhelds, but this one easily takes the cake in my mind, in terms of compact and travel-ability. But does it have the playing power to stand out beyond it’s small frame? Let’s take a look.
Tech Specs
Color: Purple/blue/red
Material: Aluminum alloy CNC process
Screen: 1.54-inch IPS full-fit screen, resolution 240*240
CPU: ARM Cortex-A7 @ 1.2Ghz
RAM: 64 MB DDR2
Memory: 64G TF
System: Linux
SD card: 64G (compatible 5433 games), 128G (compatible 8030 games)
Games Support: PS1,Arcade,GBA,SFC,NES,PCE,GB,GBC,GG,MD,SMS,WSC,NGP,LYNX,Pokemon Mini and more than 10 kinds of format games.Support users to download games in related formats
Audio and video function
Support: MP3, FLAC, Ogg and other music formats
Support MP4, avi and other video formatsLanguage: Chinese/English
Speaker: Hi-fi speaker
Battery: Polymer lithium-ion battery 1050 mAh, lasting 2.5 hours
TF card: Support TF card expansion, up to 512GB
Other function
Support clock function
Music player function
Support connecting to the computer to add games
Wise auto shutdown function
Accessories: USB charging cable, Adapter cable for codec, keychain, giftbox, ueser manual
Box specification: length 11.6cm；width 8.5cm；height 2.5cm；weight 0.153kg
Console specification: length 7.1cm；width 4.3cm；height 1.7cm；weight 0.075kg
Small Box, Big Fun
Before I even cracked open the box, I was perplexed by what I had been sent; my tracking info coming in at a mere 0.67 kg, I thought there was no way that an emulation console was being sent my way. Cracking into the box, you can imagine my surprise when the tiniest GameBoy that I’ve ever seen is what greeted me. In addition to the cute little device, the RG Nano comes with a few accessories that definitely seem tailor made for this thing; you get your standard USB-A to USB-C charging cable, but also included is a USB-C headphone adapter so you can listen to music and game audio with ease (especially useful as the device also includes a dedicated MP3 player), and a keychain so you can take the Nano with you literally anywhere you go. I was also sent the optional carrying case, which is a well-built faux-leather carrying bag, which is great for keeping the device from getting scratched up, or even lost based on the size.
In terms of included features and build quality, there’s a lot here: the body is made from an aluminum alloy, and manages to feel well built and sturdy despite the nano size. The trigger buttons at the top are sturdy and click satisfyingly, the speaker is shockingly capable, and the 1.5inch, 240*240 IPS screen is crystal clear. The face buttons, though, are a bit disappointing. The directional pad is wobbly, and feels dissatisfying when used. And the lettered buttons, while not nearly as wobbly, feel the same. In addition, due to the size of the console and its buttons, it’s so easy to accidentally hit all buttons in one go with my adult sized thumb. These may be nitpicky, but it ultimately doesn’t detract from how well-built and well-designed the Nano is; it’s just an honest observation from an adult trying to utilize this for gaming.
The Tiniest GameBoy I’ve Ever Seen
Now, before I dig into the performance aspect of the device, and the things that I like/impress me, I’m gonna break from tradition ever so slightly to address my chief complaint, as it’ll be a consistent theme throughout this review; this. Thing. Is. SMALL. Yes I know that’s the point, and yes I know it’s literally in the name. But I was unprepared for precisely how small the Nano would be until I cracked it open and compared it to a few other items. Compared to my other Anbernic handhelds, it’s the clear runt of the litter but not too outrageously tiny (though as a fun aside; in my previous review of the Anbernic RG353PS, GBAtemp user K3N1 rightfully called how much of a gripe this would be for me in the comments). Plopping it down next to a phone, something I use every single day, is what helped relay to both myself and a few other gaming friends just how ridiculously small this thing is. And when I placed it next to an OG GameBoy and game cartridge, where the Nano is nearly the same size as the cart and absolutely miniscule next to the console? Well despite my complaints of cramped hands and strained eyes, it was impossible not to relate to everyone’s favorite Pokémon NPC (at least, favorite barring youngsters with top percentage Rattatas and an affinity for shorts). Seeing such performance capabilities cramped into a device that barely fills my palm? Well all it left me saying is, technology is incredible!
With this in mind, my downsides to the console can mostly be summed up as follows; it’s too small, my hands get cramped when I’m trying to play it, pressing the right button is sometimes hard because they’re communally the size of my thumb, and the 1.5 inch display, while sharp and clear, makes you work to get any detail out of most games. These complaints are present across all games I’ll be talking about in my testing, with just a few exceptions. With all of that addressed, let’s move on to the good stuff.
Big Fun, Bigger Performance
One of the first things I tested when digging into this device was the PlayStation emulator; seeing that crammed inside such a tiny little package had me immediately curious, so I set to work trying out some games that I knew would put the device through its paces; namely Spyro the Dragon, Tekken 3, Resident Evil, Doom, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Across these games, I experienced mostly the same issues; making out fine details was an almost impossible task on such a compact screen, and while I couldn’t get a specific number to display, it’s clear to me that none of these games are running at 60 fps; if I had to offer my best guess, I’d predict they were going at 30-40 fps. Playable, certainly, but not up to standards that I’d like to see in an emulation device. For Spyro, specifically, controlling the game was tough with no analog stick and, on the tinier D-Pad, how cramped my hands had to be together to get anything done. But with all of that said… everything DID play. And that’s the impressive part here. It’s not the ideal way to experience any PlayStation game, but they do run at acceptable rates, and that right there is a testament to the power of the Nano.
Digging into the other emulators, this is where I found myself having the most success. As expected, systems like GameBoy, GameBoy Advance, NES, and SNES all ran flawlessly, limited only by the microscopic screen that the Nano had to offer. The Pokémon Mini emulator was an addition I was pleased to see, as well, and fits naturally with the design of the device. With all of these systems, I found that top down games worked the best in terms of comfort and visibility while playing; Pokémon and Legend of Zelda, specifically, standing out among the pack. All versions of Tetris, also, stuck out to me as playing exceptionally well on a device of this size. Your mileage will obviously vary in regards to how comfortable you are in these games. But that said, it should come as no surprise that the “retro” systems are where you’re going to experience the best performance.
As far as other functions on the device go, there’s a few universal quality-of-life options that do go a long way; lacking both a volume and brightness dial, you’re able to adjust these simply via hotkey commands by using the select button + a directional pad option. You can do the same to change the aspect ratio of the game you’re playing, zoom in or out (in case you thought the screen was too big and need to see less), and an option to see how much of the devices RAM and CPU power is being used at any given moment (though no FPS counter that I could find, sadly). You can also access all of these options by pausing the game and simply pressing the power button once, which pulls up a callout menu to adjust these functions a bit more easily. The device also has dedicated video player and MP3 player options, giving the tiny little thing a bit more function outside of gaming; a fun and all around gadget that may actually have more use as a music device than as a gaming console.
Ultimately, I’m a bit torn on the RG Nano. While the device's charm and ability to cram so much emulation power into such a tight package definitely won me over, there’s no denying what this is when all’s said and done: a gimmick device. It’s an impressive showcase to be sure, but one that I don’t see having a ton of practical applications beyond showing it off and impressing your friends and fellow tech lovers. For me, personally, I can see this being something I throw in my pocket when traveling for my job that I can bring out either on a plane or in the office, to get in some Pokémon or Tetris while prompting questions from my coworkers. It’s a handheld that I’m thrilled that I had the pleasure of reviewing, but one that I can really only recommend to those who would like to experience it firsthand, or have something unique and interesting to show off to others.
Verdict
- Crams a lot of power into such a small package
- Excellent build quality
- Easy to use
- Charming and impressive gadget overall
- Wildly impractical for daily use
- Screen size is hilariously small
- Wobbly D-pad
