Anbernic RG353PS (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://anbernic.com/products/rg353ps?variant=43909289607425
Emulation on the go has definitely been one of my favorite ways to game lately; whether from an android phone or a dedicated machine, I just love how I’m able to bring some of my favorite games with wherever I go, without being constrained by “what’s available on the GameBoy (despite that being one of my most often emulated systems).” And while I do love having quite the library on my daily driver cell phone, there’s an indisputable charm to having a device dedicated to emulation, that wears its core design principle on its sleeve and just really excels at that. Enter Anbernic’s latest design, the RG353PS; an update to last year's RG353P emulation handheld. What exactly does this update change, and does it still hold up? Let’s take a closer look.
Tech Specs
- Screen: 3.5-inch IPS full viewing angle, zero distance OCA fullfit/ 640*480
- CPU: RK3566 Quad-Core 64 bit Cortex-A55, Main frequency up to 1.8GHz
- RAM: LPDDR4 1GB
- Memory: Linux 16GB TF
- WIFI/Bluetooth: 2.4/5G WIFI 802.11a/b/g/n/ac,Bluetooth 4.2
- OS: LINUX
- SD Card: 16G (no game) ; 16G+128G (compatible 4519 games) ;16G+256G (compatible 4318 games)
- Games: Supports ：Some PC porting games, PSP、DC、SS、PS1、NDS、N64、CPS1、CPS2、FBA、NEOGEO、GBA、GBC、GB、SFC、FC、MD、SMS、GG、MSX、PCE、WSC、WIN、NGG etc 20 kinds of games format.
- Software: Supports Bluetooth gamepad and multimedia network playback.
- Language: Multilanguage
- Speaker: High quality double horn stereo speaker.
- Battery: Li-polymer 3500 mAh, lasting 6 hours
- TF card: Supports dual TF card expansion, up to 512GB
- Other function:
- Support built-in WIFI online fighting, HDMI，vibrating motor/Support 3.5mm stereo earphones/
- Energy saving setting, Display brightness and other functional properties settings
- Box specification: length 21.5cm*width 10.1cm*height 3.5cm
- Console specification: length 17.4cm*width 8.1cm*height 2.0cm
Out of the Box
Cracking open the box, the tightly packed RG353PS was proudly on display, still wearing its SNES controller inspiration on its sleeve, though now sporting transparent plastic casing options that are quite reminiscent of some classic GameBoy Color options. Packed into my review unit were two micro SD cards for use on the device, a screen protector, charging cable, and a carrying case for storage and transportation.
The device feels good in the hands, owing in part to its shameless inspiration source, with two rubber pads along the back that assist with grip comfort and keeping it slightly raised when placed down. When playing games, all of the face buttons and d-pad are responsive and feel natural to use, though my complaints start to boil to the surface when getting to the shoulder buttons and analog sticks; the shoulder bumpers and triggers don’t feel bad to use, necessarily, but they feel far less satisfying than the face buttons, lacking a firm indication of being pressed and just feeling overall more “squishy.”
When it came to the analog sticks, I personally found that I had issues using them properly, due to how deep into the housing they were set. I’d find my thumb sliding off the stick, as it sat almost completely flush against the lip of its insert when used, which made playing games that require analog use a bit more difficult. Luckily, a simple pair of Joycon stick covers alleviated this issue, so this shouldn’t be a dealbreaker when considering if this emulation device is right for you. Especially with how much of a performance powerhouse it is.
Before we get into the emulation performance on this updated model, I wanted to take a minute and compare the specs on this one with the previous model, the RG353P, which my colleague Prans reviewed last July if you’re interested in a more detailed look at the older version. The differences between the two models are going to boil down to two key areas; console size, and supported OS.
The easy one to tackle first will be the size, as this one is a slightly smaller model of console. While last year's model measures up at 20.08*10.04*4.7cm, the RG353PS comes in at 17.4*8.1*2.0cm. The result is a console that’s slightly smaller, but as discussed above, doesn’t sacrifice the Super Nintendo inspired design. With that said, I was also open about how I feel like this new model is a bit too small; I don’t think a few centimeters shaved off across the board really contribute to that overall, nor does it change the portability of the device, but it is definitely something worth noting.
The other biggest aspect of change is that Android support has been cut from this model, making it an exclusively Linux machine. This shouldn’t be too much of an issue, as Prans stated in his review that custom firmwares from the community were plentiful for the Linux boot; and in fact a number of those firmwares have already been updated to support the PS model. That said, it is still a cut feature worth noting.
Performance
Now, onto the meat of any emulation device; how does it play? As expected, a device like this is gonna run the more retro games with no problem; things like GameBoy, GameBoy Advance, NES, SNES, and other 2D games and systems run flawlessly. SNES, in particular, feels right at home here thanks to the handheld’s design. The 3.5 inch, 4:3 presenting screen makes each game look vibrant, crisp, and fluid when playing through games such as Earthbound, Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland, Castlevania, and Pokemon.
When it comes to the beefier systems, I had zero issues running games on Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, and PSOne. I tested a variety of games between these systems, with some standouts being Crazy Taxi, Resident Evil: Code Veronica, and Sonic Adventure all running stable on the Dreamcast end with no issues.
For N64, the only thing even resembling an issue I had was that Super Smash Bros would occasionally lag in-between bouts of Classic Mode, but otherwise ran perfectly fine. Spyro the Dragon, Metal Gear Solid, and Silent hill all showcased the PlayStation’s skills on the console, matching its Nintendo and Sega contemporaries.
On the PSP end here’s where things got a bit more inconsistent; GTA Vice City Stories offered me a relatively stable 30 FPS, while God of War: Chains of Olympus tended to bounce between 20 and 30 FPS depending on just how much was going on at any given time.
A good amount of games are running in Retroarch too, which means that certain games will have features like netplay and cheats available to use all from the convenient, on the go system. Overall I’d say performance was fine on the device, with the biggest limiting factor being the screen size.
The screen itself is crystal clear, and displays each game beautifully; whether upscaled 3D graphics, or vibrant 2D sprite art. With the GameBoy/SNES/etc systems, the screen was hardly a limiting factor at all. But on the 3D systems, your mileage really will vary. The screen is just too darn small for some of these games, and really highlights the biggest flaw I have with this device. It’s not impossible to work with, and in reality the screen on the device isn’t much smaller than what you’d get playing on a phone in 4:3. But it did make those 3D games a bit more challenging, in my mind, to play.
With great performance, an aesthetically pleasing and sturdy build quality, and maximum portability, there’s no doubt in my mind that RG353PS is a worthy emulation device. The only question that one may still have is, does this warrant an upgrade if I already own an RG353P? Honestly, I don’t think so; all you’re really gaining here is an overall smaller package, though one where the difference is only a few centimeters. From what I can tell, the performance I got out of this device pretty perfectly matches the experience on the older model, so unless you really want one of the newer casings, a slightly smaller device, or want your Android boot removed entirely, you’re mostly getting the same product here. With that said, this is an absolutely worthy emulation device that is worth your consideration.
Verdict
- Classic inspired design
- Powerful device in a small package
- Crystal clear screen
- Plenty of community support
- Screen almost too small for some games
- Inconvenient joystick placement
- Minimal alterations from previous model
