The Powkiddy RGB30 showed us all how much fun a budget 1:1 device could be. It offered up a great experience to enjoy emulation systems that serve up alternate aspect adventures. Most users agreed that while the system was undoubtedly imperfect (I’ll never know how much battery the thing actually has), it managed to scratch an itch that other handhelds weren’t offering at the time. Since the RGB30 release, Powkiddy has remained silent in the 1:1 space, despite my pleas. That certainly hasn’t stopped everyone else from throwing their hat in the ring, though.

Anbernic gave us the RG Cube earlier in the year, followed by last week’s reveal of the Cube XX. The ZPG A1 Unicorn flew under a lot of people’s radars, but it certainly still has its fans. It was really only a matter of time before the budget masters behind the R36S decided they wanted a piece of the square action too. To be fair, they tried this once already earlier in the year with the R40S, which as you can read in Ban’s overview, was a spectacular disaster. So has Game Console righted the 1:1 ship? For the most part, I’d say yes, but with the amount of offerings out there, you may want to weigh whether this will be the device for you.

Game Console R46S: Specs

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So it’s another 1:1 3566 device. At this point, we are well aware of what this chipset is capable of emulating. We’re firmly in the “up to and including some PSP” territory. This is designed as a budget device and if you were hoping for any semblance of Gamecube or PS2 capability a la the Anbernic RG Cube, you’re in the wrong place. This is Game Console making its budget play in the 1:1 space, and given the success of the R36S, it’s probably a worthwhile pursuit, as long as it can keep the sales price down.

Game Console R46S: Aesthetics and Controls

The 46S isn’t going to set the world on fire with design breakthroughs, but it’s certainly fine enough for what it needs to be. The RGB30 was much more a single-shaped rectangular design, while the 46S has some bump outs in shape to improve its ergonomics in the hands.  I never had too many complaints with the RGB30 as far as comfort, as I have larger hands and thought it felt quite good. The shape of the 46S contours around my hands a little better and makes for a very comfortable play experience overall.

Right now, the 46S is offered in 90s translucent black or purple, and in a Famicom color scheme. I went for the purple after seeing some pics of the device in the wild. It really is a bright and vibrant purple that catches the eye. The plastic of the shell is neither the best nor the worst that’s out there. It feels fine, and somewhere in the middle, as to be expected. The plastic does get some finger smudging, but the color mostly hides them and they don’t seem to linger.

The layout is the same as the RGB30 as well, with two bottom-half analog sticks and a d-pad on the top left of the device. Top shoulder buttons are here instead of analog triggers, and given this device’s system lineup, that makes sense. The RGB30’s shoulders were oddly loose and always made me feel like there was something rattling around on the inside of the device when I went to pick it up. These do the job they’re here for without much flair, but also no fuss.

A lot of folks had some not-so-nice things to say when they got a look at the 46S’ concave face buttons. They do stand out as a different choice, though I don’t think anyone was pining for an updated nod to the buttons of the 36S. The mixed-color labeled lettering is oversized and makes the device look cheap. As far as function goes, however, they deliver over form. I was unsure how I was going to feel about them going into the experience, but after a few gameplay sessions really determined it was a non-issue for me. They get the job done just fine.

The sticks and d-pad are a similar story. They aren’t going to inspire anyone, but they work quite well. The D-Pad has a good feel under my thumb and I haven’t had any issues with false inputs. The analog sticks are familiar but do feel like an ever-so-slight upgrade from those on the R36S and the RGB30. Perhaps it’s the difference in the shell casing, or just in my head, but I think the sticks have a little more travel on the 46S than the budget offerings that came before it.

The only input issue I’ve had with the device is the Select button on my unit seems to be sitting ever so slightly off-kilter. This makes inputs on the button not register about 10% of the time, as the button slips slightly when pressed from the wrong angle. This might be entirely unique to my experience, but I thought it was worth noting here in case anyone else runs into a similar issue as it could be related to design or quality control issues.

Game Console R46S: Overall Experience

The R46S that I received came with two preconfigured SD cards. One with a ROCKNIX, and the other with a somewhat curated ROM library. Chances are if you’re interested in this device, you’re already on the lookout for what community firmware it may be able to run. One thing this console certainly has going for it out of the gate is adaptability. I took the JELOS setup out of my RGB30 and swapped it with those that came with the Game Console. I was delighted that not only did the image intended for the RGB30 work on the 46S right away, but the other way around as well. Fun!

The stock experience is familiar to anyone who has used ROCKNIX/ArkOS in the past, and it keeps user options open and unlocked. It will be enough of an experience for the vast majority of users who aren’t interested in tinkering around with devices.

Given the known RK3566 architecture and the ability to swap cards on the fly with an existing device, it’s fair to see that this device should see some support with firmware you may already be familiar with. Users on our Discord have already reported that GammaOS Core, which was recently released for the RGB30, also cleanly fires up when inserted into the 46S. Having such options right out of the gate is a tinkerer’s delight and something I very much look forward to playing with further.

Game Console R46S: Conclusion

If you’ve read any of my previous writing on the R36S, then you know I was the budget king’s most vocal supporter. I think Game Console has delivered a versatile horizontal successor with the 46S IF they can get the price down. With the Anbernic CubeXX releasing at a price point of $67, Game Console might have an uphill battle on their hands if they’re going to be around the same price point.

Anbernic as a brand brings with it some level of familiarity in the space, while some consumers might already be put off by Game Console and the R36S clone debacle. The only hope for the 46S will be to get that price down.

I paid $70.92 (no GREG coupon!) for my R46S and at that price point, I’d have a hard time recommending the device. I’m not saying that it has to go as low as the R36S, as we are dealing with a larger display and more powerful processor here, but it has to come down some. I think if they can get it to the $50 price the R36S launched around, it’d be a much more interesting proposition.

The RGB30 still hovers around that $60-$70 price point a year from release, so I’m sure Game Console has considered that people are still willing to pay this much for a RK3566 device. I’d speculate though that with the holidays approaching, we’ll see some deals come for the 46S as they ramp up production on the device and it becomes more widely available to retailers. Keep an eye on this one.

R46S at AliExpress

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