The retro-handhelds landscape we’ve all come to know is in something of a limbo at the moment. Tariffs and trade debacles have complicated the cheap access to capable handhelds, and while we all hope for an eventual return to some semblance of the landscape we knew, perhaps there are opportunities to explore the devices that may have passed you by initially. That’s what happened to me with the Anbernic RG40XXV; a device that I always thought looked very nice, but I questioned my need to own it when I already had similar devices such as my beloved Game Console R36S, or the more recent BatleXP (Anbernic) G350.
As I was filling my cart with the last AliExpress orders of April to make it in under the newly imposed shipping deadlines, I was presented with an option I hadn’t really considered before: an older device that now had stock available here in the USA.
For just under $55 (after coupons), I could still get a new-to-me handheld experience that I already knew was well thought of in the community, and have the advantage of not having to wait a couple of weeks for it to show up in the mail. In fact, the RG40XXV was the fastest shipment I’ve ever received from an AliExpress order, showing up at my door just a few days after I clicked the checkout button.
The RG40XXV
Plants want in on the action
In his review of the device, Andrew lamented the release fatigue everyone was feeling at the time under the barrage of monthly device releases just from Anbernic alone. There wasn’t anything wrong with the RG40XXV, quite the opposite actually, it’s just that it can be hard for another device to stand out in the crowd when it not only looks similar to a number of other devices, but is one of 12 SKUs in a year from a single company.
Jumping on the RG40XXV was certainly driven more by the thought of “might as well grab one now while I can” vs any real need for the handheld. Sometimes my impulsive nature comes back to bite me in the ass, and that’s when you’ll hear me saying things like “it’s all part of the game” to justify my disappointment, but I’m happy to say that hasn’t been the case with the 40XXV whatsoever.
Nothing wrong with a single-stick setup
Without retreading too much review territory, I can now say that after about 3 weeks of regular use, the RG40XXV might be the perfect handheld in this form factor. It sits alone as something of a perfect in-between option. The RG40XXV is markedly nicer than its ultra-budget counterparts, noble though they may be, without going into the premium category and cost (and frankly ridiculousness) of something like the Ayaneo Pocket DMG.
In short, the 40XXV offers solid construction and controls, a beautiful, large screen, in a form factor that’s familiar and comfortable to most folks for the type of passive entertainment experience these consoles excel at offering.
The Lesson
Though it pains me to admit, the 40XXV may have been the device I’d been looking for all along while singing my love to lesser devices to anyone who’d listen. That’s not to knock the achievements of some stellar devices that have arrived at mind-boggling price points, but rather to say how impressed I am with what Anbernic has delivered here. It’s just solid in every way that counts.
I hadn’t been sold on the idea of an emulator with a single analog stick. I know that it lends itself well to things like the N64 or PSP, which themselves only had one stick, but it always struck me as something I’d be unlikely to use much. I’m a D-pad boy by default when it comes to the systems of old, and I already had systems with two sticks, so who cares, right?
If you do pick one up, I’d recommend a custom Kirby loading screen
Wrong! I have been shocked at how much I instinctively reach for that solo-stick vs the dual offerings available elsewhere that I rarely touch. It’s a testament to the well-thought-out control design on the 40XXV that everything just feels natural and intuitive.
I’d challenge anyone to jump into a game from their youth on the 40XXV and find something to complain about. It does the things it claims to be able to do from the box, and does them well in a package that’s both attractive and comfortable.
At a similar cost to that of a single $60 game, it’s hard to argue that spending just a bit more doesn’t deliver a more streamlined experience across the board. Community firmware options only increase the device’s desirability.
This isn’t to say “buy it nice or buy it twice”, but just that I realized how much value lies in a mid-tier handheld offering, rather than just its cloned cousins.
Where to Now?
So, while it might be all well and good that I’ve discovered a handheld that I never knew I needed before, you might already have owned one from the initial go-round. This, of course, doesn’t help your current situation, but I’m just trying to make some lemonade where we can.
Right now, before any local stocks are depleted, might be the best time to pick up that device you’ve been on the fence about. If you can find it at a price you find agreeable, that is. Once the current stock is gone, it’s anyone’s guess how prices in the space may be affected.
I didn’t even know there was a Bishi Bashi 2+3 before I got this device
Development on devices from foreign markets is unlikely to slow in the near future, but whether they’ll be available to purchase at digestible prices remains an unknown for now. Use this opportunity to round out any gaps in your collection for the time being, or better yet, maybe appreciate the devices you already have rather than feeding the dopamine beast of consumption.
If you’re like me and missed out on any devices during the 2024 release flood, you should consider taking a look at Anbernic’s Mother’s Day Sale that lasts from now until May 23. Here are some of the highlights that all also available for shipping from the US warehouse:
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