Anbernic is back with all brand-new variations. What happens when you take a RG406 V and cross it with a RG Cube? Well, you get something much like the new RG406H. You can check out Andrew’s first impressions here and also the video Stubbs did below.

Anbernic RG406H: The Feel and Buttons

I always thought the RG Cube design was oddly comfortable, and this device is no different. It shares the same style of grooves on the back with just a bit of texture. This makes it feel nice and secure in your hand. The shoulder buttons are in a nice and comfortable position that makes it easy to reach.

Speaking of shoulder buttons, the complaint I had with the RG406V was that it didn’t have stacked hall triggers, this is luckily present in this new device. The R2/L2 feels very nice to press. The R1/L1 however are a bit too clicky and loud for my preference.

The D-pad on this device is the floating Genesis-style D-pad that Anbernic has been using for the cube and it feels nice to pivot with. The face buttons are all that standard Anbernic quality that we have grown to enjoy over the years. The best part?

This device uses the new analog sticks from the RG406V. They have no cardinal snapping and are very smooth. They are just so tall and look very awkward in my opinion, but I will take performance over image.

Anbernic RG406H: Out-of-the-Box Experience

Opening a new Anbernic device is no different than any Android device they sell. The only difference? They do not include SD cards, which helps eliminate the preloaded card morality issue. However, when starting up the device, it does pre-download a huge list of emulators for you. This can be seen as handy for an easy setup, but some are not the best version of the app, and some apps are usually paid…so again, not much better.

I was able to toss in my SD card, which I use for Android devices, and point the emulators to where I store each console, and it was easy to get started. If you are familiar with setting up Android devices, this is a breeze. As someone who has been captivated by their OLED deck and Analogue Pocket as of late, I notice this screen is very nice for an IPS display. The colors are so vibrant and look great.

Anbernic RG406H: Performance

I started by testing X-Men Legends at a 1x resolution. During the beginning level, I noticed a steady 60fps. I then bumped the resolution to 2x and experienced a few performance dips. After switching the CPU setting to “High” (found in the drop-down menu), the fps stabilized back to 60. GameCube games look fantastic on the 4:3 screen, and it seems like some titles can be upscaled.

Next, I tried a PS2 game, setting the resolution to 1.5x. I played XIII, one of my favorite shooters, to test the controls—particularly the analog sticks and shoulder buttons. The game ran smoothly with a consistent 60fps, even with the CPU set to “High.” Luckily, as expected, the comfort of playing a shooter on this setup was much better than on the RG406V. The shoulder buttons feel much better and the sticks felt nice.

Of course, the lower-end performance is just fine. You can expect GB, GBC, Genesis, NES, SNES, and the like to perform perfectly fine.

Anbernic RG406H: Battery

The battery is one of the biggest points for me when testing these devices. I have a baby who is starting to roll around and grab stuff and will be crawling soon. I don’t want to have devices just plugged in that will be on her warpath.

When testing the battery for the RG406H, I noticed that it is very, very comparable to the RG406V. For the lower end, I tried some GBA. I played some Good Boy Galaxy and after about an hour of playing, I noticed my battery ran from 100% to 91%. I then put the device into sleep mode and walked away for a few hours and picked it up to it be at 90%.

For the higher end, I decided to play a little GameCube. I turned on some Bomberman Generations for an hour. This time, I had the device go from 90% to 76%. In my opinion, these short tests show the device is very serviceable for longer play sessions away from an outlet.

Anbernic RG406H: Final Thoughts

My final thoughts rest with preference. If you prefer a horizontal device and are intrigued by the RG406V, then this is the perfect device for you. Personally, I am more of a fan of vertical devices, so I prefer the former. The performance is pretty decent for the price, but we are getting to a point where if you were to spend a little more, you can get better performance from an RP Mini or RP5.

I am impressed with the screen, but again what I said above…for a little more you can get the OLED screen that Retroid is offering on their newest releases. The sticks and buttons feel great and the device does check quite a few boxes.

What I Like:

• New Anbernic sticks without cardinal snapping
• Comfortable to hold
• Fantastic IPS screen

What Can Take a Hike:

• Sticks look awkward/tall
• Clicky R1/L1
• There are more intriguing options around the same price range

Purchase Information

The Anbernic RG406H will retail for $167.99. However, if you pre-order it within the first 72 hours, you’ll save $10, dropping the price down to $157.99. Order your own below!

Pre-order the Anbernic RG406H

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