MY HANDHELD BLOG

Second thoughts on the Anbernic RG40xxH

September 19, 2024

What do I think about this device now.

Let’s say that it’s time to talk a little about my second thoughts about this device. Do I think it’s worth it’s price or is this device just one of the many devices that Anbernic has pooped out? I mean if you follow them on social media, you can see that they already made 2 new devices, but today we will be talking about this one again.

The Anbernic RG40xxH is a vertical device with a good size screen compared to the RG35xxx series. Also, they made it rounder than the RG35xxH and I think that is certainly a good thing. Personally, I find this device very comfortable. Is there something special compared to their RG35xx series? No only the bigger screen. The hardware is sadly still the same. Now you would think is this worth buying it? I mean Anbernic has released so many of these devices with the same hardware already. I can say yes, it is worth it for me at least. The slightly bigger screen and device itself makes it so much more enjoyable to look at. Personally, I think that even Gameboy advance games do better on this size of screen. The screen is 4 inch if you are wondering.

This device is also a joy to hold for longer gaming sessions, and I love the joysticks. Yes, as always, they have the same Anbernic sticks with the same bad points as for the RG556 or the RGCube, but again I also think that it’s personal. For example, I have asked my dad to play with the console for a while and he really liked the joysticks. This is because there not very sensitive for him compared to the PlayStation 4 controller. What do I think is actually a little useless are the colorful light rings on both sides around the joysticks. I had them on for once and then turned them off to never see the light again. Sorry colorful rings but for me it’s a little useless.

I sadly do think Anbernic is milking this chipset and hardware out a little, but on the other side you can also think about it like this. They try and make something for everyone. I mean if this was my first device, I really would be happy. Screen is good joysticks are nice and we can easily swap over to the D-pad from the Joystick on your left hand. The rest of the buttons are simple. Menu button sound, on and off, and the buttons we play games with. Also, I love the fact they bring out other colors then black or gray.

Well, it’s out of the box now and I’m sure you want to know can we play games with a Micro-SD card if we order one with it? Yes, we can this device comes with the same Micro-SD card as the Anbernic RG35xxSP, and exactly the same games. That is a good and a bad thing. Good thing is that you can plug and play and be happy with this one for a long time, bad thing is a personal thing I would have liked to have a variation in games and maybe some more PlayStation 1 games. Thou if I really wanted that I should have spent more money for the 128GB card. Thou I am afraid you will get a no brand card with it then.

The Stock OS is good. Works fine and does what it does. Nothing to worry about that. You can turn this device on and play. Seems like the games for PSP and N64 that come with the card work okay. Also, I was curious what this device could play. I heard online that PSP and N64 would very limited. Personally, I am happy with the games I tested. There were some games that are laggy or slow but those games are more demanding. Some other games have some graphic problems, but most of the games I have tested were actually pretty good. Some games had some graphic problems like Zelda Ocarina of time and Kirby. Other games for PSP like 3rd birthday or shin Tegami Tensai play fine Silent Hill on PSP is very slow. So as long as you play games that are not very demanding on both emulators you can really add lots of games if you want to try that. I do have Knulli as my firmware so I cannot guarantee that those games play well on stock OS please keep that in mind.

A thing that I was more than happy about compared to the smaller devices with the same hardware. Nintendo DS emulation as long as you play games that need where you need the touch screen from the original DS Again, there are some games on the 64GB one. Thou the ones that are on it are actually nice when playing the bigger screen actually makes it more me more enjoyable to have 2 DS screens next to each other. I don’t like switching screens all time so this is a good compromise. The DS screens are small thou but much better compared to the RG35xx series for example. Of course, this emulates up till PS1 and all those games play very well. It’s a joy to even when you don’t originally had joysticks on the SNES back then I find myself using them while playing those games on this device. I do wish that Anbernic would made a cooling spot on this device. I don’t know why they don’t, but I think it would the device better. Sometimes when gaming it can get a little hot. It’s not terrible or something you would burn your hands on, but I do not like this personally. I mean they ask a little more for this device so it would have been nice if they also did a little more than only a bigger screen and device.

My overall thoughts about this device

I am more than happy with this one. I think it is very decent made, if this one is your first device you would not be disappointed. At least if this would have been my first one, I would not have gotten other ones probably. It is really beginners friendly if you will get one with a 64GB Micro-SD card. The brand card is better then some of their other ones. This is also a good device when you want to set it up yourself. There is some really good custom firmware around and still some that will come out soon. There are lots of ways you can go on with this device. The only time I would not recommend this if you prefer to have a vertical handheld otherwise, I would sure say this is a device worth for your collection. Or as your first device

Some last advice that may be helpful for every Anbernic device, Check out AliExpress. Sometimes they have great deals on these devices, and you can check if a seller is trustable. Of course, if something is too good to be true it still mostly is. Check out the comments and how many people already bought from the shop.

Till the next blog everyone

Alexia