Anbernic has been having a weird couple of years. At one point in time, they were a measured, strategic company, releasing exclusively vertical and horizontal rectangles at a slow pace and all but dominating the post-COVID emulation space. These days, Anbernic knows that space has changed, and they’ve ventured into clamshell territory (twice), tried their hands at building a PSP Go from memory (nailing everything but the size), and even releasing its own controller.

That isn’t to say the days of Anbernic rectangles are over. Far from it! This year already saw the uber-premium Anbernic RG477M, a potentially new fan-favorite. The RG477M had some new ideas, even if it recalls Anbernic’s classic handhelds like the RG351M. For starters, their newest Android devices (RG477M included) feature AI translation, a surprisingly competent launcher, and Android builds that get better and better. We’re even seeing niceties like LED-backed Hall-sensor joysticks and a fully glass front.

Naturally, the next release was destined to be a cheaper, plastic version of the RG477M, right? Almost!

Anbernic RG476H Specs

The Anbernic RG476H is here, and it’s exactly what fans of the company have been waiting for, with an asterisk. It wouldn’t be an Anbernic device without a couple of drawbacks, but after some time with the RG476H, I’m pleased to say the drawbacks will only disqualify this device for those seeking raw power.

• Display: 4.7-inch LTPS, 1280 x 960, 120Hz refresh rate
• Processor: Unisoc T820
• GPU: Mali-G57
• RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X
• Storage: 128GB UFS 2.2
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
• Ports: USB Type-C, microSD Card, 3.5mm Audio Jack
• Controls: Large-angle 3D Hall joystick, RGB, Hall Triggers
• Cooling: High-speed Fan + Heat Pipe (Active)
• Extras: Display Out via USB-C, Supports Dual-screen Display for NDS and 3DS, 6-axis Gyro, Vibration Motor
• OS: Android 13

Read on for my thoughts on the new device, and then be sure to yell at me about latency or something in the comments!

Anbernic RG476H (Direct) Anbernic RG476H at AliExpress

Anbernic RG476H: Input & Build Quality

With a couple of exceptions, Anbernic’s devices have never felt cheap, and the RG476H is one of the nicest I’ve held from the Shenzhen-based company. The plastic has a nice texture to it and feels solid in-hand, with no rattling to speak of. The triggers are upgraded from the RG477M’s in-line triggers to fully analog triggers here. That, combined with the prominent Hall sticks, makes for a less pocketable device, but the trade-off is a comfortable one.

The buttons feel great, with an excellent D-pad, springy face buttons, and comfortable sticks. The only thing worth noting, and has been mentioned by other reviewers, is that the L1 and R1 buttons are a bit loud. Hardly a deal-breaker, but worth noting. Other early reviews have also mentioned that the SD card door doesn’t sit flush with an SD card in the unit. Thankfully, this has not been my experience.

In-game, the D-Pad is delightful; players should be able to consistently rip 900ºs in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. It also passed the Contra test (though I, notably, did not). The sticks and analog triggers also felt responsive, and there was no noticeable input lag at any point during testing.

Screen & Sound

The RG476H adopts the RG477M’s absolutely stunning 4.7-inch display, which at 1280×960 has an excellent pixel density, great for integer scaling, and is blindingly bright with saturated colors. It’s worth noting that it is also touchscreen-capable, which is basically a requirement for Android devices.

The maximum brightness is not unlike staring into the sun, and the minimum brightness is decent, though it could go lower. The brightness curve as you move the slider from left to right is sort of awkward, with 20% brightness seeming much closer to 100% than 0%.

The stereo speakers sound good for their size, and get decently loud without clipping. You probably shouldn’t listen to Steely Dan’s Aja on these, but they are more than adequate for driving people crazy with the WonderSwan version of Golden Axe’s iconic soundtrack. They also have surprisingly good separation and are not muffled when the device is held by human hands.

Performance

And now, it’s time for the asterisk. At a price point of $165, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the device is not shipping with the same excellent SoC that the 477M was rocking, but the 476H’s inclusion of the T820 is a bit baffling when combined with some of its other features.

First, the T820 is a decently capable chipset, and we’ve seen it on a few other Anbernic devices, including the RG Slide and the 406H. It’ll play up to PSX and N64 comfortably, with upscaling and lightweight shaders.

Dreamcast, Saturn, and PSP run without issue, too, though with fewer bells and whistles. However, the systems that could most benefit from the device’s upgraded analog triggers and gorgeous screen, the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Gamecube, are only sort of playable on the T820.

GameCube compatibility is good enough that I’d almost recommend it, if not for the fact that you could get a Retroid Pocket Mini for only about $35 more. Regardless, about 85% of the games tested ran at full speed, with only a couple being truly unplayable. PlayStation 2 didn’t fare as well.

For testing purposes, the focus was on platform exclusives since most of the games with a GameCube counterpart are going to play better in Dolphin. Even narrowing the scope to PS2 exclusives, the experience was a coin toss.

About half the games tested were fully playable at 1x resolution, though even those often required tinkering and underclocking. Of the other half, slowdowns were common and often bad enough to be unplayable.

Conclusion

The 476H is in an awkward position in Anbernic’s slate of offerings and the market as a whole. Its price point places it directly between devices like the Retroid Pocket Mini ($200) and the Antec Core Micro ($130), while its performance leans closer to the latter. With AYANEO’s slightly less powerful (but presumably equally premium) Pocket Air Mini approaching for well under $100, it’s tough to determine who, exactly, the device is for.

So what do you get for $165? Anbernic has delivered a solid device at a solid price point, with the only true flaw being the device’s timing. If this were the first T820 Anbernic released, it would have dominated the market.

As it stands, you get a well-made device that looks and feels premium, plays a lot of systems well, and features one of the best displays currently on the market. Its less-than-stellar performance at its price point puts it in a tough spot in a competitive market, but despite this, it remains a strong choice for anyone seeking a premium-feeling handheld for retro gaming up to the Dreamcast/PSP era.

Anbernic RG476H (Direct) Anbernic RG476H at AliExpress

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