Anbernic has no chill. They just can’t stop releasing handhelds. They get their hands on a chip and they are just going to keep pumping out as many options as they can. This may be good in the sense that they make something for everyone or it is frustrating for someone who just bought a new device to see it is old news now.
Meet the RG40XX H
The RG40XX H Next to the SP and Playdate
Anbernic RG40XX H Full Specifications
- Display: 4-inch IPS display
- Resolution: 640 x 480
- Processor: H700 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53, 1.5GHz
- GPU: Dual-core G31 MP2
- RAM: LPDDR4 1GB
- Storage: Dual microSD card slots, supports up to 512GB
- Battery: Polymer lithium battery 3300mAH, rated for 6 hours
- Charging: 5V/1.5A, supports USB Type-C to Type-C charging
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2
- Software: Linux-based Anbernic Stock OS, 64-bit
- Extras: RGB LED lighting under analog sticks, and wired controller support, HDMI out via mini-HDMI
- Colors: Black / Blue / Gray
- Dimensions: 163 x 79 x 16mm
- Weight: 208g
The highlight of the device for me is the 4×3 aspect ratio. After getting the RG35XX SP and the RG Cube, it is nice to have a 4×3 screen. I received the blue model and it looks very sleek. It is a good change of pace from the normal black or DMG colors.
This is again the same chip H700 chip that we have seen from Anbernic lately, as the most recent one is the RG35XX SP. The addition of Wi-Fi is good and an estimated battery life of 6 hours is more than sufficient for a small device like this.
RG40XX H: Device Feel and Buttons
Stacked Shoulder Buttons
I was really surprised at how thin this device was! It is pretty comfortable to hold and if it weren’t for the analog sticks, it would slide very nicely into the pocket. Since the device can play some Dreamcast, PlayStation, PSP, and N64, the sticks are nice to have, but for a fully pocketable option, this is a small sacrifice you will have to make.
The face buttons are glossy and use rubber membranes. I like the feel of these much more than the clicky RG35XX SP buttons. The dpad feels pretty good as well, but it seems rather sensitive while playing some precision platforming games. The shoulder buttons are stacked which makes it more comfortable to hold, but they are a little small and too clicky for my liking.
Those analog sticks I said that were deterring the pocketability? Well, they also have the cardinal snapping issue that has plagued the RG556 and RG Cube. This makes movement in 3D games very frustrating. If you are planning on using this device for that, keep in mind that it is hard to get half movements. Maybe the RGB lighting can distract you from this.
The IPS screen looks pretty good and seems to be pretty vibrant. The one thing that I notice while playing is that the back gets quite hot, especially in the lower right corner. This is a little worrisome after seeing so many pictures of burned-up RG35XX SPs circulating online, though some may have been from charging issues. (Check our article about charging these devices here).
RG40XX H: Performance
Side View of RG40XX H
I had to go to the vet today with the dog and decided to take this with me as a way of getting some hands-on experience with this. To no surprise, it fits really nicely in my pocket.
Performance with this is going to be the same as any other Anbernic RG XX device that we have gotten recently. The lower-end systems will work great. So your Game Boy, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Genesis, Game Boy Advance, and so on will be fine. When it comes to PlayStation, PSP, Dreamcast, and N64, you will have some more issues.
For the most part, the PlayStation games I played were fine. PSP had some stutters when playing Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles though. The typical God of War: Chains of Olympus test? This thing chugs like a college freshman trying to prove himself at a fraternity (though that opening cutscene played really well).
PlayStation plays really well though. I had a great time playing Crash Team Racing in the waiting room. Also, the aspect ratio makes PlayStation games look really great. I enjoyed trying a few GBA titles as well. Anbernic pre-applies Shaders and Overlays on the stock firmware, so if you don’t like those, you can choose to turn them off in the settings as I did.
The stock firmware is never that exciting to use. Luckily since this chip has been around, CFW should be working on this rather soon. Sadly, Russ from Retro Game Corps tested these and they are not working yet and it could be because of the screen, but he did have access with MinUi. Hopefully, soon this will be fixed so look for updates on that on the website.
RG40XX H: Final Thoughts
I am not a big fan of this release from Anbernic, there are some pros for me, but I just wasn’t that excited for it. Just because it is not for me, it doesn’t mean it isn’t for you though. The size is great and I love how thin it is. The buttons feel great too, like most Anbernic devices. I am also a big fan of the screen.
The things that make me not love this are the analog sticks with their cardinal snapping, the heat that the device generates, and just not having a use purpose for me with my collection. If you are in the market for a 4:3 device and you don’t have any of the RG XX devices, this could be a perfect pickup for you. Check out Stubbs and his first impressions video below.
At only $69.99, the RG40XX H is not a bad deal at all for what you get. You can purchase the device below from Anbernic or their AliExpress store.
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