Review cover New AceNS (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review

Product Information:

The Ace3DS team swiftly return to the Switch to right wrongs and revisit their dongle design. Is it a step forwards or a step too soon?

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A second RCM dongle from the Ace3DS team, this review mainly focuses on what's new and different. If you want to have a better understanding of the device's features and the dongle this is being compared to, be sure to check out my AceNS review.

What's in the Box?

  • AceNS 3 in 1 Loader
  • RCM Jig
  • Micro USB to USB Cable

A remarkably familiar package at first glance, the second iteration of the AceNS dongle comes in the same transparent box, with the same essentials to get you started. Once again, my first impressions were really quite good. Instead of a plain box, it now has clear branding to make it stand out and easier to find on my desk. There's a lot more space inside the box with the dongle being drastically smaller this time around, and the jig being stored internally. The micro USB cable is again quite small, with the same issue of the dongle likely hanging from a desktop tower USB port should you decide to plug it in, but with this dongle feeling a reasonable degree lighter than before, it's less of an issue. Chances are you'll have a few dozen of these cables lying around from old phones and miscellaneous tech.

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The design is again something I'm incredibly fond of. The neon red and blue stand out and allow me to make an association on sight, the jig slotting into the back is great to help with keeping it handy without having to keep everything in a box, and the single hardware button feels sturdy with a satisfying click when pressed. You have the same simplicity in payload updating as the previous design, simply requiring you connect to a PC and drag and drop files just like you would onto a memory stick. Nothing has changed here: the dongle appears the same, and functions the same. If you bought the first iteration, everything is familiar. This of course beckons the question: why should I be buying this if it functions the same as the first? To boil it down to a single word—battery.

By far my largest criticism of the original AceNS was the requirement to plug it in for a few seconds before you could use it. Because of it storing so little power, if you wanted to change payloads, you'd have to update it manually by editing a text file on your PC, or loading into whichever payload was currently enabled, and cycling through them once your switch had started up. Whichever way you look at it, it was a pain, and it really held back what was otherwise a brilliant dongle. The battery fixes everything. Having charged it when I first received the unit last week, it hasn't needed charging despite my daily usage. Because of its ability to charge by either being plugged into a turned on Switch, or via micro USB,  it's really quite possible your dongle will remain powered beyond the advertised three months because of the extra power fed to it by the Switch each time it's powered on. Even without this, only having to charge it for an hour for it to last this long is a dream come true.

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Review image

Because it now has a proper source of power, switching payloads is even easier. You hold a button just as you did before, but you're no longer shackled to your console being turned on and the dongle being plugged in. You can switch payloads before usage, or with the dongle plugged into the Switch just as before. It's a great step up that comes with the jump from capacitors to battery, and it's an incredibly welcome one.

Having had the dongle for just over a week, I've honestly found very little to complain about. My biggest issue is that the Switch doesn't sit flat if you have the jig in the dongle, but with the connector being USB-C, you can just flip it to completely get around this. I can't say how long it'll last, but after my daily usage, it's still going strong. The connector at the head of the device does feel a lot more sturdy than the previous iteration, so it bodes well for its lifespan.

All in all, I find myself struggling not to recommend this as your daily RCM driver. Lighter than ever, sporting a great design and a greater battery, the only test left is the test of time.

You can pick up a New AceNS at the stores below:

 

Verdict

What We Liked ...
  • Small and lightweight
  • Easy to update payloads
  • Simple to switch between payloads
  • Quick to charge
  • Battery lasts up to three months on standby
  • Well designed to store jig internally
What We Didn't Like ...
  • The 'New' naming convention is a bad path to go down
10
out of 10

Overall

It is no understatement to say I cannot fault this dongle. Between its fantastic design and improvements over the previous iteration in its internal battery, I firmly believe there is no better option for Switch users at the moment.
ah, its called the new acens.

i thought it was about naming files and whatnot.

i guess if i ever buy a dongle, it's likely going to be one like this
 
This is still just a rebranded RCMloader dongle, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's worth mentioning though. Buy whichever is cheaper of the two if you're on the market for a dongle.
It's a point I'm actually really confused over. The first dongle was a raw rebrand of the RCMloader, but this one was announced before the RCMloader one when I looked? I didn't want to put something I was so uncertain over in the review. But I do agree with you. I said in the AceNS review that it being a rebrand of a good design still makes it a good design. It comes down to whether a person feels more trusting in AliExpress or a flashcard site imo, both have their pros and cons.
 
Maybe you could add a link to the first AceNS version review, as it's an update?
this one doesn't have any information about hardware or how to install/switch/select payload.bin file.
your previous review covers it.

(hijacking the review)
another website review said the jig still has the xKit logo (X) on it.
and provides internal pictures for anyone curious about the hardware : https://www.abxgame.com/new-rcm-loader-one-tear-down/
Yeah now you mention it it seems I completely forgot to mention what it is on a basic level... I'll edit in like you said once I get home in a few hours. A bit of a silly mistake on my part, thanks for picking up on it!
 
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Reactions: Cyan
damn, i scratching my hand to buy this, i don't really need it right now, i already have sx pro and ns-atmosphere, but this is small as sx pro and have muti payload and battery.

maybe i will get it as backup.
 
Still waiting on a softmod solution *sigh*
Switch has impressive, airtight security, to the point it took an exploit as big and far-reaching as fusee-gelee (thanks again, ktemkin) to put a permanent dent in it - if you didn't get ipatched, that is. You will be waiting a very long time for a great softmod solution past 3.0.0, or 4.1.0. For the time being, we have an incredible, and pretty simple, hardmod solution.
 
Switch has impressive, airtight security, to the point it took an exploit as big and far-reaching as fusee-gelee (thanks again, ktemkin) to put a permanent dent in it - if you didn't get ipatched, that is. You will be waiting a very long time for a great softmod solution past 3.0.0, or 4.1.0. For the time being, we have an incredible, and pretty simple, hardmod solution.

Probably never going to happen at all. Not worth the wait.
 
RCMLoader is the original (from Xkit)
AceNS is a clone (it still has the X logo on the jig)
both are identical (maybe even from the same manufacturer to create a false competition! we already saw that with DS/3DS flashcarts)
buy the one you want, probably get the cheapest you'll find :)
 
Put the shop links back in since they've gotten rid of that 'deal'. But yeah, what Cyan said seems to be the case. I can definitely recommend this dongle, and assuming the RCMloader one really is identical, I can recommend that all the same.
 
Just so you know, in the beginning of December I order one from Digibayz, it costed more than it was listed on their site (I've checked my credit card transactions), plus it is shipped from China! which will take like a month to arrive, and still hasn't.
 
I am very new to the Switch hacking scene, having only recently purchased the system. If there is a FAQ or guide please link me to that and delete/ignore this comment. If I want to use emulators, would I need only this device? Does it work like a (3)DS flashcard? Would I need to install a softmod to my system first?
 
X
i just received this one
https://www.xkit.xyz/rcmloader/
bought it from Amazon for 12$
i hve an R4s Dongle and i hate their closed file format, i cant seem to make R4 to work with 6.2.0 even with their provided files.

now this RCM loader i fell in love with it, copied Fuse_primary,bin, renamed it and done, worked 100% everytime

i saw the Ace 3DS branded one with a friend, it looks like a knock off mine, can confirm RCM loader is the original and their site has a firmware update and much cleaner professional design on website
https://www.xkit.xyz/support/

Battery
  • Built-in Li-on battery
  • 1000 times inject with 1 hour charging time
  • 3 months standby time
can someone confirm if it works as advertised also curious if Ace clone has similar results
 
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