I just got my 351p in the mail this past week and finally got it all set up yesterday thanks to your videos. Loving the system and your content. Thanks for all the helpful videos!
Great Review! I think I'm going to stick with my rg351p. I'm very satisfied with the build quality and how well its runs. If anbernic (or other brand) releases a handheld which can run systems like ps2 and much more stable n64, psp, etc. That's when I will take an upgrade. Edit: its still missing HDMI :(
@@Kevlar89 I dont like it that much from what I heard. There are just too many drawbacks conserning price and product quality (controls etc.). Thats the reason I will wait for an Anbernic device thats powerful enough...
I'll be the zillionth commenter to shamelessly throw gratitude at you...your videos are impeccable. I learned about you in the comments section of Amazon before buying and I'm glad. My setup went off without a single issue because I followed all of your videos. I've read comments from setup fails by people who were less lucky. Thank for all of these videos.
I’ve been watching your videos all day looking for the best mobile Retro Achievements setup, and this is it! Thanks for making such informative and enjoyable handheld videos! They were all really helpful.
@@l3oomll7 Unfortunately the only improvement on this version besides de metal housing is the built-in WiFi, which for me does not justify the extra cost if you're planning to get a 351P. Even if you already have a 350M I consider it's better to wait for the next-gen RG from Anbernic.
@@Camilkzee Just order 351p! Because I don’t like the button & d-pad of RP2! Not enjoy while playing. And this is my first anbernic retro handheld I heard that build quality is superb / d-pad&abxy is great! If 351p make me like anbernic product definitely buy more!
They should have made the device exactly like the rg350. Same screen size, resolution, ports, but with Rg351's firmware and chipset. Looks like they were using the same board as the Rk2020 and the same screen size too.
Great review as always, my RG351P arrives in a day or so and am looking forward to getting to grips with it. The M looks awesome, but there is no way I could justify that extra price tag!
Thanks! Yeah I hope they’re just planning all their sweet hardware upgrades for their next model. But competition is really heating up in 2021, Anbernic needs to step it up for their next model!
Thank you very much Russ for keeping me from ordering another Anbernic handheld. I received the rg351p in black for Christmas and I really love that unit. Also, thank you for another great video!
It's still crazy to me that these are so readily available and well over 10x more powerful than the first gaming pc I built when I was a kid, and this monster fits in your pocket.
thanks for your review! I bought the RG351P for christmas and I don't see me buying anything else for now. But next year if there is a metal version with internal wifi, better screen (I like this aspect ratio but a better resolution would be awesome) and hdmi then I will surely buy it, that would be the definitive console.
I was so worried going into this review as my kids just got me a 351p for Xmas . I got it so I could play older games not to go online . Thank you great video.
2:23: The sticker is easily removed with a stanley knife (or equivalent). Use the knife to 'slice' between the sticker and the console. If you're careful enough, you just lift up the sticker with the knife and it's like it has never been there. Of course, don't push on the sticker before hand. That way it will be loose enough to make it easy.
Honestly, getting something with nice build quality and tactile controls is far more attractive to me than the features of any modern "flagship smartphone", maybe growing up with GBA SP, and a DS lite as my primary "mobile devices" as a kid shaped my preference...
Honestly, the metal variations will never be worth it to me, they are tremendously more expensive in my currency and add extra weight to the hands that I really don't like. I already find the P versions heavy enough. And what a missed opportunity to improve the screen by Anbernic. This was really the main thing that you could complain about the device and they focused only on the Wi-Fi upgrade, really a shame.
@@RetroGameCorps I bet that for Christmas in 2021, we'll be talking about the 640x480 version that sits on the current 351p chipset/architecture. Basically the best parts of 350M + best parts of 351. Then, in 2022, we'll be talking about the version that has even beefier/faster processing that finally cracks N64 and PSP in totality and begins opening up some of the easier, lighter Wii/GC/PS2 games. I don't know enough about the display market, but I do know that there are certain stock sizes. But, I also wonder if we won't move to a 4-5" screen at some point -- more similar to the PSP and Vita displays, but not as large as the Switch.
@@TheRealEncy Oh yeah I agree, but it definitely has a sweet spot. There are devices that even the feel of the plastic already gives a cheap feeling, they seem hollow even. But the RG350/RG350P are solid devices and have a good weight to them, but even so, after a few hours of playing, I already find the weight uncomfortable in my hands. That's why I decline M variations entirely, because I know it would bother me. But of course, this is only personal preference, I'm picky I guess 😅
personally i don't understand why anyone plays retro games to then up res them. its seems non authentic, the small screen makes the games look way better than they used to look on our tv's anyway
I just bought a 350p after doing a ton of research, I would have got the 351p, but I just can’t justify the screen resolution, I need integer scaling for nes, snes, gen, etc. That new screen is a huge step backward.
The 4:3 screen is better, for sure. But I recommend you watch more of these videos. While you do end up losing some screen area as compared to the 350, the resolution and scaling is quite amazing on the 351p. Out of the box, yes, the resolution kills the gaming experience. With an hour of setup, it's nothing short of amazing.
I feel ya, I also though that the 351 would be decent to do PSP and n64 while it can't do heavy games so there's not so much value in having a little more powerful system. Yet the 351p has a lot of support for firmware: there are ports as Super Mario 64 and Half life and others, that it's good if you are interested in hacking the device more than old games.
@@67L48 I’ve watched a ton of these videos. Call me a snob, but I won’t settle for less than pixel perfect interger scaling. When you do 1.5x scale with shaders for image correction, you end up losing that crisp sharp look, it looks like a muddy blurry mess. I don’t need the extra processing power of the 351 line, Only interested in emulation up to psx anyway. So 350 is perfect for me. Would be nice to run ark or emuelec, but the menu interface isn’t the as important as the in game graphics, IMO.
@@bonytologna Yeah. If you just want to play up to ps1, just stick with 350m. The operating system has been around for quite a while, so you'll find tons of great ports as well.
@@eaman11 I can play a ton of PSP games on my 351, but not the heavy action games (GOW, Resistance, Killzone). Star Wars Battlefront Renegade Squadron is a good example of a fun game that plays seamlessly. The LEGO games are pretty good. Etc. N64 is pretty spotty, as usual. Zelda OOT is probably playable, but the button layout is just too cumbersome to make this fun for me (it's just hard to cram the N64's 6 buttons + Z + R1 into a conventional button layout). Mario Kart is playable, with cracking audio. Excitebike, Star Fox, and the other "difficult" games (Conker, Goldeneye) are definitely not playable. I've really had a good time playing the old ports on the 351. Doom, Doom 2, the various custom wads, Quake II. These run so smoothly and the dual analog sticks are the only way to go to control player movement and sight/aim on independent axes -- I always hated GBA, PSX, N64, SNES ports of these games because it was just too clunky to control without two thumbs working independently. I hope that Duke Nukem gets ported soon.
I waited til the end of the year to buy this and got it for 80usd (some sellers were selling it for less than 100 but I found it on a sale). Its weight is actually not that big of a deal. In fact I have the 351v too and I can play longer with the m. Paired with a powerbank at my side and I can play all day with this. Whereas 351v makes me cramp within an hour or two. And I have a pretty small hands. So that says a lot. I actually wish we have more metal handhelds now.
Bought the 351p in purple and set it up thanks to your videos thank you so much! Bought a 2nd 351p in black for my partner but unfortunately the B button never worked. Considered remapping buttons but then I'd always be a button down. Anbernic were cool about it and have said they're sending replacement parts but were very vague in their messages so I don't have high hopes. If it is still no good I think I'll move to the 351m it looks so nice! And the built in WiFi is a bonus.
probably not. In order to display more modern games, with the more powerful chips, ie PSP, they'll need a more widescreen aspect ratio. I don't think the 4:3 screen is coming back
@@richarddukard8989 I was also disappointed as I was waiting for a 480p screen as well. I think the only way to rectify the integer scaling for both 4:3 and 16:9 is to go up to 1080p. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll see that happening until at the very least a generation after the RG352 although I’d be delighted if I was proven wrong.
Great review dude and nice comparison! I hope i receive mine too in a few days to make a review about it. I‘m very excited, but also a bit disappointed. The only benefits are internal WiFi and the metal shell. I was hoping for a 480p display and HDMI-out. I guess i need to complain about this in my review 🤨
Thanks MashTec! It is a nice device but I could see myself spending an additional $140 to upgrade, and the $40 price difference is a bit much. Hopefully the market will balance that price out in the future. Maybe they're saving all their great new features for the next device :)
@@RetroGameCorps I expect the same. This feels pretty much like the previous RG350-to-RG350M-upgrade. Honestly i wasn‘t very happy about it. I expected a more valueable upgrade ;) But still internal WiFi is an improvement and some people (including me) love to habe that premium feeling of a device in their hands. So let‘s see...as always, the community will decide ;)
Maybe it would be interesting for folks who don't already own either the 350M or the 351p. But otherwise I'd say it's better to hold off until a real anbernic upgrade appears. Like a 450M or something.
The official Anbernic video shows the 351m running God of War on PSP. I didn't think this was playable on these devices, would be great if you can try in an upcoming video.
I agree with Blaze and your review. The rg351p is a premium product that should last for years anyway. The metal version is more like a luxury product in this instance I think. Thats pretty expensive for a handheld. I'd prefer to pay more in the future when the internals and emulation is developed than worry about a metal shell....
I don’t mind the WiFi dongle and I prefer plastic handhelds and I bought my rg351p before the metal version came out and I don’t have money and it’s too late to return it lol. I’m happy with the plastic version.
Use isopropyl alcohol (>90%), you can find it in any electronics store, or online. I safely removes stickers, and helps iut a ton with cleaning dusty cartridge contacts. Just soak a q-tip in it, and then gently brush the sticker away. It should work.
Thanks for this Russ my man! By the way, is the screen on the RG351M laminated like the RG350M? It doesn't look like it when you tilted the device during the SM64 section.
Anbernic missed a huge opportunity here to improve some of the main lacks on the 351P. No HDMI out and no better screen, but still almost $40 over the 351P. I'll wait for the next RG. Hopefully they'll take care of those things and add some horse power.
I was waiting on your opinion on this. You and Taki are the 350 gurus. I will eventually upgrade from my rg350 but I'm not sure if I should get a 351 P or just wait for the next gen. I still play my rg350 just fine. :-)
So I've never done any emulation at all. Would this be a good starter system to learn all that? Also I see it comes in 64gb and 128gb which would you recommend?
New Starter? Well, Retro Game Corps explains all very detailed! I was new too, and all his videos are just of great help!!!! I recommend to buy the cheeper version, so the 64Mb instead of 128.... cause I highly suggest to buy a 128Gb or even 256Gm card seperately, as the shiped cards aren't that reliable (@others: correct me if I'm wrong ;) ). Get the RG351M.... the P model is cheaper, but if you need internet connectivty through wifi, you'll need to buy an additional usb converter and wifi dongle as the P model doesn't have wifi, so price would be the same at the end ;-) Have fun, I do!!!!
It's up to you...I have a comparison video with the 350M and 351P, so you can see whether it's a right fit for you: th-cam.com/video/0XwmbBbSg3Q/w-d-xo.html
I didn't think I'd care about Retro Achievements until I started using them. Now, I don't think I can ever use a retro device that doesn't have internal wifi. And for that reason, the 351M is my favorite handheld, to date.
Just got my 351m. Had the new pocket go and ldk prior. The onboard WiFi is so critical with ArkOS I don’t think I could get a 351p that didn’t have that option. However Russ had a 351p with the WiFi installed so I can see how he would say the upgrade isn’t worth it. However, you don’t really know what you have until it’s gone so his opinion is a little biased having that WiFi chip already in his P version. Personally the extra 40$ is worth every penny to not have to deal with a WiFi dongle all the time and the metal case is super premium feel to it that it’s worth the price as well. But upgrading a 351p might not be worth it if you already have your perfectly tweaked image already on your SD. But it’s great that you can just plug and play it into the M version
@@RetroGameCorps Yeah, I was really surprised by its current sale price considering it’s shipped from Europe (which is where I live). Should be arriving soon’ish, can’t wait.
Could you elaborate a little bit more on the host two player option? May be do a full video on it? Does it only work with Arkos and both devices have to be Anbernic? Thanks
I'll start working on a video this weekend. It should be same RetroArch version, same core, same game. Firmware shouldn't matter, but ArkOS seems to have the best compatibility right now.
are there any rumor's about a 2021 new device from Anbernic? i hesitate to get one of these because im always worried a better version will come out soon after i purchase!
I'm seriously considering an RG351M. The only thing holding me back is waiting for a more powerful system that has no issue with N64/PSP/DC games. What would be the expected timeline for a hypothetical "352" release? Or is it not worth waiting because software updates improve performance? I don't want to buy one of these now and then kick myself four months later when a faster version comes out. Right now I don't own any retro game system, but am building a Gameboy Zero based on a Pi Zero (definitely no N64 on that!).
@IMerkScrubs I tried to buy one, Chinese Customs refused to let it leave their mainland, and I scooped a Japanese Aqua Blue PS Vita 2000 in a lucrative trade deal. Still use my RG350P, but I'm so darn happy with the Vita that I have entirely moved on from the whole "let's see what the new China handheld emulator can do"-scene. 😅 If it can't play N64, PSP, or other high quality systems, then I'd rather do without it. TBH, I'd only consider it for purchase if PS2 was playable, but that seems like a long shot still
Although I just bought my RG351P almost a month ago, having the chance to charge and use the WiFi at the same time makes me wanting to buy it! I think it is better to wait for the next RG352 as long as they will have HDMI port as well as a headphone port at the bottom of the device.
I use WiFi and charge my RG351P at the same time all the time. WiFi dongle goes on top in the left port and the charging cable goes in the right port. Am I missing something?
What is the wifi used for? There must be very few games that actually support online play. Do you find yourself connecting to it very often? Trying to decide between 351p and 351m. I don't see myself wanting to play any online games on this device but are there other reasons why I would want a built in wifi chip?
When you do a full review, could you talk more about the updates that enabled better PSP emulation? Also this model is advertised on AliExpress as playing Goldenfinger better than the RG351P, which I'm curious about as well.
Hi, the stock 3.8 that now ships with the RG351M (and new RG351Ps) does have more efficient PSP emulation than the stock 3.7 that shipped with the RG351P throughout September to December. It's really no huge feat, they just updated the PPSSPP to a better version. As far as Goldeneye playing better on the RG351M, I have no idea what they are talking about -- there hasn't been any big gains in the stock N64 emulation since its release (although ArkOS has standalone versions of MupenPlus that have a nice combination of accuracy and speed).
I have a problem here: i bought RG351p for myself and for my friend, but it seems i can't establish netplay - i've downloaded latest build of 351elec (1.0.7) and used SAME ROMs with SAME cores (just burned both SD cards with same image and dropped same ROMs to test it) and i get different errors when i try to connect: "A netplay peer is running different core. Cannot connect". Any clues? Update (jan. 10th 2021): with today's 1.0.8 release i updatetd both devices via WiFi connection and now it works properly.
Great video man, your work is awesome bro! Just a quick question please, I ordered my Anbernic RG351M and I was wondering, does it have any Atari games in the pre-installed collection? If not, could you please show me how to download the rom files for the Atari 2600 games? Thanks in advance!
Hi, I have a 351p and love it. I'm thinking of buying the 351m as a second device. I have ArkOS installed on the SD card on my 351p. Can I switch SD cards to the 351m and will it work the same? And will my save data switch over automatically? Let me know if you can ♡
They didn't even put a tempered glass? For a premium product? I think they should use it also for the 351p as the plastic one can cause a little torsion to the LCD panel with the consequences of backlight bleeding (the plastic of both shell and screen seems that doesn't give enough rigidity to the LCD panel)
Seems like RG351m is too much money for and insignificant upgrade. HDMI out would maybe half convince me, but a metal handheld isn't really of interest to me, the RG351p melts into my hands and I kind of like how it feels a bit like a 2DS. Great video Mr. Retro Game Corps, thank you!
Love my RG351P. It would be perfect with a 640x480 screen. For such a small cheap device, it's incredible. I have 25,000 games, all with scraped videos and art, running on Ark OS. Brilliant. The retroid pocket 2 that I have, I hate. Will shortly be sold.
I want 2 of the same for 2 players but I'll wait and see what happens this year. I just want somewhat better specs and I'm set for life. They're so close! I won't mind a higher price tag then. It's worth it if I'll never have to buy another ever again
This is a review unit directly from Anbernic. Your best bet is to order from them via their AliExpress store, I would expect a couple weeks at a minimum, depending on where you live. It should probably appear on Amazon by the end of the month, which will have better shipping, but a higher cost.
@Carl Ward it's cool that your just doing what ever makes you happy, The firmware that came with it is just fine, it's only the real geeks like me that are messing with all the other firmware's to get the most out of our new handhelds. I now have 3 SD cards doing different things lol one plays under PS1 running 351elec and one plays just PS1 running ArkOS and the other plays ports and Doom running ArkOS lol so if your having fun that's all that matters, we all play in are own way 👍 I Love My Plastic Version 🤓 Plus @Retro Game Corps has lots of good tutorials you can follow and try out, just get a new SD card to try them out on, so you don't muck up the one that came with it lol
Can you do a video on how to load your own games like you did on the ssd card you have would appreciate it just found out about this device and plan to get it thanks
The way to peel this off what works for me: using a needle or tip of craft knife i start to lift paper from SD slot (you have enough space to insert the needle) then after i've lifted part of sticker i just slowly peel the whole thing off (usually intact). When they did cover a screw hole in RG350 that was the real pain (but i have nothing to do inside, but here they went a bit unfair both stealing firmware AND placing a warranty sticker on crappy SD card with said firmware.
For the netplay, does it have to have wifi "internet" to access each other, of can you use it's own wifi to connect to another one without the actual internet, similar to it's own hotspot? I hope that makes sense what I'm asking. Just curious if you have to have internet to connect two or not.
They really dropped the ball on this one with that screen. Price difference between the 351P and 351M is the same as the price difference between the 350P and 350M, but you don't get the upgraded screen like you do with the 350M. I feel like the 351M should be like 20 bucks cheaper, but then I guess it would be competing with the 350M. Definitely glad I picked up a 351P with the built-in wifi last year.
Honestly, your videos are amazing. Please don't ever stop. This channel is a service to the Retro Gaming community!
Ditto that!
Your channel has been a godsend for me as a complete newbie to all of this. Thank you so much.
My pleasure!
I just got my 351p in the mail this past week and finally got it all set up yesterday thanks to your videos. Loving the system and your content. Thanks for all the helpful videos!
Thanks for watching!
Great Review! I think I'm going to stick with my rg351p. I'm very satisfied with the build quality and how well its runs. If anbernic (or other brand) releases a handheld which can run systems like ps2 and much more stable n64, psp, etc. That's when I will take an upgrade.
Edit: its still missing HDMI :(
Try the moqi i7
Thats just exactly what Im planning to do.
@@Kevlar89 I dont like it that much from what I heard. There are just too many drawbacks conserning price and product quality (controls etc.). Thats the reason I will wait for an Anbernic device thats powerful enough...
You can buy a GPD Win Max, or a GPD XD Plus (it cant emulate ps2, but psp works very well)
@@yorshka6955 I'm keeping an eye on that device but for now I think I will wait for devices in the future.
I'll be the zillionth commenter to shamelessly throw gratitude at you...your videos are impeccable. I learned about you in the comments section of Amazon before buying and I'm glad. My setup went off without a single issue because I followed all of your videos. I've read comments from setup fails by people who were less lucky. Thank for all of these videos.
Your videos are the best! Thank you for your detail and consistency. Looking forward to the Network Play in-depth video
Thank you!
Great review, I like the detailed analysis and comparison of everything before we get to gameplay
Much appreciated!
Finally! I was waiting for your review. Haven't seen it yet but I will most likely stick to the purple P.
Good call! I think the 351P versions are better looking and more distinct.
I’ve been watching your videos all day looking for the best mobile Retro Achievements setup, and this is it! Thanks for making such informative and enjoyable handheld videos! They were all really helpful.
Still like purple 351p plastic feel remind my gba.
I think that's a good call. These metal versions are nice, but lack personality!
@@RetroGameCorps if metal version upgrade to 640x480 I gonna buy it.
@@l3oomll7 Unfortunately the only improvement on this version besides de metal housing is the built-in WiFi, which for me does not justify the extra cost if you're planning to get a 351P. Even if you already have a 350M I consider it's better to wait for the next-gen RG from Anbernic.
@@Camilkzee Just order 351p! Because I don’t like the button & d-pad of RP2! Not enjoy while playing.
And this is my first anbernic retro handheld I heard that build quality is superb / d-pad&abxy is great!
If 351p make me like anbernic product definitely buy more!
They should have made the device exactly like the rg350. Same screen size, resolution, ports, but with Rg351's firmware and chipset. Looks like they were using the same board as the Rk2020 and the same screen size too.
Great review as always, my RG351P arrives in a day or so and am looking forward to getting to grips with it. The M looks awesome, but there is no way I could justify that extra price tag!
Enjoy! Yeah this price is STEEP.
Where did you get you’re from ? I never purchased a console like this before and I’m afraid of buying one from a knock off seller
I really don't see how the price is such a big deal
Great Video buddy ! 👌, like the compare parts of it !
Wish they give the metal version a good hardware upgrade that would be cool ! 😎
Thanks! Yeah I hope they’re just planning all their sweet hardware upgrades for their next model. But competition is really heating up in 2021, Anbernic needs to step it up for their next model!
All the RetroAchievements mentions made me so happy :D ordering mine soon
Thank you very much Russ for keeping me from ordering another Anbernic handheld. I received the rg351p in black for Christmas and I really love that unit. Also, thank you for another great video!
My pleasure, John!
Haha man i haven't heard hexadecimal genome in ages, that brought back some memories when your intro played.
It's still crazy to me that these are so readily available and well over 10x more powerful than the first gaming pc I built when I was a kid, and this monster fits in your pocket.
Thanks for the comparisons. It helped me out tremendously on which one to get. 😄
🔥🔥🔥Great initial impressions
Very thoughtful assessment. Thank you!
thanks for your review! I bought the RG351P for christmas and I don't see me buying anything else for now. But next year if there is a metal version with internal wifi, better screen (I like this aspect ratio but a better resolution would be awesome) and hdmi then I will surely buy it, that would be the definitive console.
That would be a very nice combo.
Thanks for the honest opinion! Still happy with my rg351p...
Side note: the 1tb micro sd card works! Has been running great, with no issues!
1TB card?! 🤩 That must cost as much as the console itself wow!
@@blidosawr lol actually twice as much, but it was to complete a childhood dream of mine!
@@billyretrogamer it's a good investment then 😜
Very nice!
I was so worried going into this review as my kids just got me a 351p for Xmas . I got it so I could play older games not to go online . Thank you great video.
Glad I could help!
2:23: The sticker is easily removed with a stanley knife (or equivalent). Use the knife to 'slice' between the sticker and the console. If you're careful enough, you just lift up the sticker with the knife and it's like it has never been there. Of course, don't push on the sticker before hand. That way it will be loose enough to make it easy.
I used a toothpick to remove it and it came off clean. Its when I tried to peel it away that you get in trouble.
Thanks for the tips!
@@RetroGameCorps try using a blow dryer or heat gun for the sticker. It will heat up the glue, and the sticker will easily peel off.
@@MikeCanuck This!
I decided to dive in and get both one of these and an RP2 as my first retro handhelds... whichever I like less I'll give away as a gift XD
Never bought an Anbermic product... Extremely tempted.
Honestly, getting something with nice build quality and tactile controls is far more attractive to me than the features of any modern "flagship smartphone", maybe growing up with GBA SP, and a DS lite as my primary "mobile devices" as a kid shaped my preference...
You´re the best. Please continue the good job you´ve been doing.
Will do, thanks!
Honestly, the metal variations will never be worth it to me, they are tremendously more expensive in my currency and add extra weight to the hands that I really don't like. I already find the P versions heavy enough.
And what a missed opportunity to improve the screen by Anbernic. This was really the main thing that you could complain about the device and they focused only on the Wi-Fi upgrade, really a shame.
Very true, it was a missed opportunity.
@@RetroGameCorps I bet that for Christmas in 2021, we'll be talking about the 640x480 version that sits on the current 351p chipset/architecture. Basically the best parts of 350M + best parts of 351.
Then, in 2022, we'll be talking about the version that has even beefier/faster processing that finally cracks N64 and PSP in totality and begins opening up some of the easier, lighter Wii/GC/PS2 games.
I don't know enough about the display market, but I do know that there are certain stock sizes. But, I also wonder if we won't move to a 4-5" screen at some point -- more similar to the PSP and Vita displays, but not as large as the Switch.
To Be Honest, Heavy Handheld Make Really What It Look Like A Really Made Handheld Because Light Handheld Made It Feel very Cheap.
@@TheRealEncy Oh yeah I agree, but it definitely has a sweet spot. There are devices that even the feel of the plastic already gives a cheap feeling, they seem hollow even. But the RG350/RG350P are solid devices and have a good weight to them, but even so, after a few hours of playing, I already find the weight uncomfortable in my hands. That's why I decline M variations entirely, because I know it would bother me. But of course, this is only personal preference, I'm picky I guess 😅
Steam link?
I was really hoping for a higher-res screen that could support 2x integer scale for SNES and Genesis
Same. My search continues!
That would be nice!
That pretty much ruined it for me. I’m hearing that the devices coming out later this year is going to be really top notch.
@@xTrinity007 lol
personally i don't understand why anyone plays retro games to then up res them. its seems non authentic, the small screen makes the games look way better than they used to look on our tv's anyway
Had me sold at, "Go fly a kite" :) Thanks for everything you do buddy!
Haha, any time! It was between that and "take a hike" :)
I just bought a 350p after doing a ton of research, I would have got the 351p, but I just can’t justify the screen resolution, I need integer scaling for nes, snes, gen, etc. That new screen is a huge step backward.
The 4:3 screen is better, for sure. But I recommend you watch more of these videos. While you do end up losing some screen area as compared to the 350, the resolution and scaling is quite amazing on the 351p. Out of the box, yes, the resolution kills the gaming experience. With an hour of setup, it's nothing short of amazing.
I feel ya, I also though that the 351 would be decent to do PSP and n64 while it can't do heavy games so there's not so much value in having a little more powerful system. Yet the 351p has a lot of support for firmware: there are ports as Super Mario 64 and Half life and others, that it's good if you are interested in hacking the device more than old games.
@@67L48 I’ve watched a ton of these videos. Call me a snob, but I won’t settle for less than pixel perfect interger scaling. When you do 1.5x scale with shaders for image correction, you end up losing that crisp sharp look, it looks like a muddy blurry mess. I don’t need the extra processing power of the 351 line, Only interested in emulation up to psx anyway. So 350 is perfect for me. Would be nice to run ark or emuelec, but the menu interface isn’t the as important as the in game graphics, IMO.
@@bonytologna Yeah. If you just want to play up to ps1, just stick with 350m. The operating system has been around for quite a while, so you'll find tons of great ports as well.
@@eaman11 I can play a ton of PSP games on my 351, but not the heavy action games (GOW, Resistance, Killzone). Star Wars Battlefront Renegade Squadron is a good example of a fun game that plays seamlessly. The LEGO games are pretty good. Etc.
N64 is pretty spotty, as usual. Zelda OOT is probably playable, but the button layout is just too cumbersome to make this fun for me (it's just hard to cram the N64's 6 buttons + Z + R1 into a conventional button layout). Mario Kart is playable, with cracking audio. Excitebike, Star Fox, and the other "difficult" games (Conker, Goldeneye) are definitely not playable.
I've really had a good time playing the old ports on the 351. Doom, Doom 2, the various custom wads, Quake II. These run so smoothly and the dual analog sticks are the only way to go to control player movement and sight/aim on independent axes -- I always hated GBA, PSX, N64, SNES ports of these games because it was just too clunky to control without two thumbs working independently. I hope that Duke Nukem gets ported soon.
I waited til the end of the year to buy this and got it for 80usd (some sellers were selling it for less than 100 but I found it on a sale). Its weight is actually not that big of a deal. In fact I have the 351v too and I can play longer with the m. Paired with a powerbank at my side and I can play all day with this. Whereas 351v makes me cramp within an hour or two. And I have a pretty small hands. So that says a lot. I actually wish we have more metal handhelds now.
Bought the 351p in purple and set it up thanks to your videos thank you so much!
Bought a 2nd 351p in black for my partner but unfortunately the B button never worked. Considered remapping buttons but then I'd always be a button down. Anbernic were cool about it and have said they're sending replacement parts but were very vague in their messages so I don't have high hopes. If it is still no good I think I'll move to the 351m it looks so nice! And the built in WiFi is a bonus.
Sorry to hear that you had issues with the button!
Very nice device and video! Good job!
Thank you very much!
So disappointed they didn't update the screen to 4:3 640x480. I hope they are holding that one back for a chipset revision. I'm passing on this one.
probably not. In order to display more modern games, with the more powerful chips, ie PSP, they'll need a more widescreen aspect ratio. I don't think the 4:3 screen is coming back
@@richarddukard8989 I was also disappointed as I was waiting for a 480p screen as well. I think the only way to rectify the integer scaling for both 4:3 and 16:9 is to go up to 1080p.
Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll see that happening until at the very least a generation after the RG352 although I’d be delighted if I was proven wrong.
Just buy both 4heed
Great review dude and nice comparison!
I hope i receive mine too in a few days to make a review about it. I‘m very excited, but also a bit disappointed.
The only benefits are internal WiFi and the metal shell.
I was hoping for a 480p display and HDMI-out. I guess i need to complain about this in my review 🤨
Thanks MashTec! It is a nice device but I could see myself spending an additional $140 to upgrade, and the $40 price difference is a bit much. Hopefully the market will balance that price out in the future. Maybe they're saving all their great new features for the next device :)
@@RetroGameCorps I expect the same. This feels pretty much like the previous RG350-to-RG350M-upgrade.
Honestly i wasn‘t very happy about it. I expected a more valueable upgrade ;)
But still internal WiFi is an improvement and some people (including me) love to habe that premium feeling of a device in their hands. So let‘s see...as always, the community will decide ;)
Maybe it would be interesting for folks who don't already own either the 350M or the 351p.
But otherwise I'd say it's better to hold off until a real anbernic upgrade appears. Like a 450M or something.
I think that's a prudent approach!
The official Anbernic video shows the 351m running God of War on PSP. I didn't think this was playable on these devices, would be great if you can try in an upcoming video.
I'm going to work on a PSP performance video soon!
WiFi is the main reason to want this metal version since they removed it from the plastic one.
I agree with Blaze and your review. The rg351p is a premium product that should last for years anyway. The metal version is more like a luxury product in this instance I think. Thats pretty expensive for a handheld. I'd prefer to pay more in the future when the internals and emulation is developed than worry about a metal shell....
I ordered the 351P earlier this year, still waiting for it. I feel like if I change my mind, the 352P will be out by the time I get the 351M.
Haha, good point!
Where did you order from? I got mine from Amazon in 1 day. 😊
Well I am personally just glad to see a showcase of the net play, I can’t wait to buy my friend one. (351p) I think the WiFi dongle is cutie patooty.
I'll make a NetPlay video soon, but I will say that it works best on ArkOS at this time.
That supermario port looks fantastic.
It really is!
I don’t mind the WiFi dongle and I prefer plastic handhelds and I bought my rg351p before the metal version came out and I don’t have money and it’s too late to return it lol. I’m happy with the plastic version.
Kevin, you have like five reasons why you made the right choice :)
Use isopropyl alcohol (>90%), you can find it in any electronics store, or online. I safely removes stickers, and helps iut a ton with cleaning dusty cartridge contacts. Just soak a q-tip in it, and then gently brush the sticker away. It should work.
Great video!
I'm having trouble choosing between the RG351M and the RG351V. What would you recommend and why?
Thanks for this Russ my man! By the way, is the screen on the RG351M laminated like the RG350M? It doesn't look like it when you tilted the device during the SM64 section.
It is
Hi Marvin, yep it's laminated. It's a nice screen (despite the 480x320 resolution).
look good thanks for the review :)
Thanks for watching!
Either of the UBS-C ports able to provide a video out?
Thats what i had in mind too! Hope he answers :)
i just got the 351V this week and love it to bits. if down the line abernic get the hardware improved id be all in for twin stick one s well.
To easly remove sticker use hot air on it, for example use hair dryer to heat up the glue and then take it off
Anbernic missed a huge opportunity here to improve some of the main lacks on the 351P. No HDMI out and no better screen, but still almost $40 over the 351P. I'll wait for the next RG. Hopefully they'll take care of those things and add some horse power.
True, I hope they make some big improvements next time around.
I was waiting on your opinion on this. You and Taki are the 350 gurus.
I will eventually upgrade from my rg350 but I'm not sure if I should get a 351 P or just wait for the next gen. I still play my rg350 just fine. :-)
The 350M is a very lovely handheld!
So I've never done any emulation at all. Would this be a good starter system to learn all that? Also I see it comes in 64gb and 128gb which would you recommend?
New Starter? Well, Retro Game Corps explains all very detailed! I was new too, and all his videos are just of great help!!!! I recommend to buy the cheeper version, so the 64Mb instead of 128.... cause I highly suggest to buy a 128Gb or even 256Gm card seperately, as the shiped cards aren't that reliable (@others: correct me if I'm wrong ;) ). Get the RG351M.... the P model is cheaper, but if you need internet connectivty through wifi, you'll need to buy an additional usb converter and wifi dongle as the P model doesn't have wifi, so price would be the same at the end ;-) Have fun, I do!!!!
Great video. I would love to play multiplayer games. But nobody is interested in such a device. However, I'll keep stay with my Rg350m.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the Review on the RG351M... really nice... I'm so impress with the ANbernic line of retro Consoles!
Compared to a retro pocket 2, is it worth ?
better in almost everyway
Great vid as always dude!
I bought the rg350m 6 months ago... is it really worth upgrading yet ??
It's up to you...I have a comparison video with the 350M and 351P, so you can see whether it's a right fit for you: th-cam.com/video/0XwmbBbSg3Q/w-d-xo.html
How you managed to get it so fast??? I’ve ordered the rg351p on November and it haven’t arrived yet!!
You can order the P on Amazon and get it in a couple of days. I did
Mine is a review unit sent from Anbernic, so I think they sent it pretty quickly.
I didn't think I'd care about Retro Achievements until I started using them. Now, I don't think I can ever use a retro device that doesn't have internal wifi. And for that reason, the 351M is my favorite handheld, to date.
Just got my 351m. Had the new pocket go and ldk prior. The onboard WiFi is so critical with ArkOS I don’t think I could get a 351p that didn’t have that option. However Russ had a 351p with the WiFi installed so I can see how he would say the upgrade isn’t worth it. However, you don’t really know what you have until it’s gone so his opinion is a little biased having that WiFi chip already in his P version.
Personally the extra 40$ is worth every penny to not have to deal with a WiFi dongle all the time and the metal case is super premium feel to it that it’s worth the price as well. But upgrading a 351p might not be worth it if you already have your perfectly tweaked image already on your SD. But it’s great that you can just plug and play it into the M version
Glad I ordered my 351p instead of waiting for this one. For 75$ I think I’ll be happy with what the product has to offer.
That's a great price!
@@RetroGameCorps Yeah, I was really surprised by its current sale price considering it’s shipped from Europe (which is where I live). Should be arriving soon’ish, can’t wait.
Could you elaborate a little bit more on the host two player option? May be do a full video on it? Does it only work with Arkos and both devices have to be Anbernic? Thanks
I'll start working on a video this weekend. It should be same RetroArch version, same core, same game. Firmware shouldn't matter, but ArkOS seems to have the best compatibility right now.
@@RetroGameCorps thanks
are there any rumor's about a 2021 new device from Anbernic? i hesitate to get one of these because im always worried a better version will come out soon after i purchase!
I haven't seen anything official, but I have heard of a possible RG351V (like the RG380V but with RG351P internals).
does it come preloaded with games?
Yes, it comes with the same preloaded games that the RG351P ships with.
great work
Please teach us how to install Doom 4 Vanilla on rg351
:)
I hope they can embed a gameplay recording... so you can upload your gameplay... Wow the netplay is a game changer...
I'm seriously considering an RG351M. The only thing holding me back is waiting for a more powerful system that has no issue with N64/PSP/DC games. What would be the expected timeline for a hypothetical "352" release? Or is it not worth waiting because software updates improve performance? I don't want to buy one of these now and then kick myself four months later when a faster version comes out. Right now I don't own any retro game system, but am building a Gameboy Zero based on a Pi Zero (definitely no N64 on that!).
DOes it have safe shutdown? or do you still need to turn it off through the menu or else it will corrupt the SD card?
ArkOS has a safe shutdown hotkey (R3 + Power), it works really well.
This better be worth it, or I'm holding you personally accountable... Lmao
@IMerkScrubs I tried to buy one, Chinese Customs refused to let it leave their mainland, and I scooped a Japanese Aqua Blue PS Vita 2000 in a lucrative trade deal. Still use my RG350P, but I'm so darn happy with the Vita that I have entirely moved on from the whole "let's see what the new China handheld emulator can do"-scene. 😅 If it can't play N64, PSP, or other high quality systems, then I'd rather do without it. TBH, I'd only consider it for purchase if PS2 was playable, but that seems like a long shot still
Although I just bought my RG351P almost a month ago, having the chance to charge and use the WiFi at the same time makes me wanting to buy it!
I think it is better to wait for the next RG352 as long as they will have HDMI port as well as a headphone port at the bottom of the device.
I use WiFi and charge my RG351P at the same time all the time. WiFi dongle goes on top in the left port and the charging cable goes in the right port. Am I missing something?
I think that's the prudent choice. Hopefully they're already working on their new model :)
@@Cyko.. well that’s interesting. In my case, I can’t use both ports at the same time
@@RetroGameCorps In your opinion, how it’d probably look like?
What is the wifi used for? There must be very few games that actually support online play. Do you find yourself connecting to it very often? Trying to decide between 351p and 351m. I don't see myself wanting to play any online games on this device but are there other reasons why I would want a built in wifi chip?
10:05 Doom 3 runs on RG351M confirmed?
It’s a work in progress.
When you do a full review, could you talk more about the updates that enabled better PSP emulation? Also this model is advertised on AliExpress as playing Goldenfinger better than the RG351P, which I'm curious about as well.
Hi, the stock 3.8 that now ships with the RG351M (and new RG351Ps) does have more efficient PSP emulation than the stock 3.7 that shipped with the RG351P throughout September to December. It's really no huge feat, they just updated the PPSSPP to a better version. As far as Goldeneye playing better on the RG351M, I have no idea what they are talking about -- there hasn't been any big gains in the stock N64 emulation since its release (although ArkOS has standalone versions of MupenPlus that have a nice combination of accuracy and speed).
@@RetroGameCorps Wonderful, thank you for the insight, I appreciate it!
@@RetroGameCorps Where can I buy the 3.8 version of the 351p? I'm thinking about picking one up and I'd rather get the latest version. Thanks!
I have a problem here: i bought RG351p for myself and for my friend, but it seems i can't establish netplay - i've downloaded latest build of 351elec (1.0.7) and used SAME ROMs with SAME cores (just burned both SD cards with same image and dropped same ROMs to test it) and i get different errors when i try to connect: "A netplay peer is running different core. Cannot connect". Any clues?
Update (jan. 10th 2021): with today's 1.0.8 release i updatetd both devices via WiFi connection and now it works properly.
thought the 351p didnt have wifi though?
@@SirZanZa you get type-c to usb adapter and usb WiFi dongle. It has WiFi via extarnal dongle.
@@ThereWasNoFreeName thanks buddy, i will get myself one i think, its a ballache having to reinstall everything when i wanna update lol.
@@SirZanZa Since thaty version it's pretty easy - just connect to WiFi and then press update from menu. Wait few minutes and it's done.
@@ThereWasNoFreeName Awesome, i will get myself a usb and wifi dongle then. thanks^
Nice review, I will take that extra 40 bucks and get a better MicroSD for my future RG351P.
Great video man, your work is awesome bro! Just a quick question please, I ordered my Anbernic RG351M and I was wondering, does it have any Atari games in the pre-installed collection? If not, could you please show me how to download the rom files for the Atari 2600 games? Thanks in advance!
1) No. There are no Atari 2600 games on the 351P/M.
2) No. That's piracy and RGC doesn't condone piracy.
Hi, I have a 351p and love it. I'm thinking of buying the 351m as a second device. I have ArkOS installed on the SD card on my 351p. Can I switch SD cards to the 351m and will it work the same? And will my save data switch over automatically? Let me know if you can ♡
They didn't even put a tempered glass? For a premium product?
I think they should use it also for the 351p as the plastic one can cause a little torsion to the LCD panel with the consequences of backlight bleeding (the plastic of both shell and screen seems that doesn't give enough rigidity to the LCD panel)
Good points. Hopefully they can improve their next model.
Seems like RG351m is too much money for and insignificant upgrade. HDMI out would maybe half convince me, but a metal handheld isn't really of interest to me, the RG351p melts into my hands and I kind of like how it feels a bit like a 2DS.
Great video Mr. Retro Game Corps, thank you!
Thanks for watching, and I agree that the 351P feels great in the hands.
Do you have a video showing how to put ArkOS onto an SD card like the one you used in the video?
Here you go: th-cam.com/video/YBYMKrf775o/w-d-xo.html
Hi my friend how do I get net play or use it please looks fun
Would you go with ArkOS or 351elec on February 22, 2021? I just ordered one and am thinking which firmware to install.
351Elec definitely
@@willisvondoom Thanks!
Love my RG351P. It would be perfect with a 640x480 screen. For such a small cheap device, it's incredible. I have 25,000 games, all with scraped videos and art, running on Ark OS. Brilliant.
The retroid pocket 2 that I have, I hate. Will shortly be sold.
I'm definitely in the 351P camp myself. If it had 4:3 and HDMI it'd be just about perfect.
I want 2 of the same for 2 players but I'll wait and see what happens this year. I just want somewhat better specs and I'm set for life. They're so close! I won't mind a higher price tag then. It's worth it if I'll never have to buy another ever again
Same. I'm waiting.
Nowadays which one is the best handheld (Retro)console???? Cheers
Where did you order it from and how long did it take to get it?
This is a review unit directly from Anbernic. Your best bet is to order from them via their AliExpress store, I would expect a couple weeks at a minimum, depending on where you live. It should probably appear on Amazon by the end of the month, which will have better shipping, but a higher cost.
I just got mine yesterday and it did not have a sticker on the SD card slot
Thanks man, i already own an rg351p but now I want the metal version. I hope they lower it's price at some point 🤣
You and me both!
Wait does the net play allow you to play with other players around the world? Or is it just locally?
You can play around the world, I tested it with MashTec!
everyone new the metal one was coming but ill stick with the plastic one, they shouldn't of made it so good lol
Haha, exactly!
@Carl Ward it's cool that your just doing what ever makes you happy, The firmware that came with it is just fine, it's only the real geeks like me that are messing with all the other firmware's to get the most out of our new handhelds. I now have 3 SD cards doing different things lol one plays under PS1 running 351elec and one plays just PS1 running ArkOS and the other plays ports and Doom running ArkOS lol so if your having fun that's all that matters, we all play in are own way 👍 I Love My Plastic Version 🤓 Plus @Retro Game Corps has lots of good tutorials you can follow and try out, just get a new SD card to try them out on, so you don't muck up the one that came with it lol
Whats missing in this review. Does it come with games or not
Can you do a video on how to load your own games like you did on the ssd card you have would appreciate it just found out about this device and plan to get it thanks
The way to peel this off what works for me: using a needle or tip of craft knife i start to lift paper from SD slot (you have enough space to insert the needle) then after i've lifted part of sticker i just slowly peel the whole thing off (usually intact). When they did cover a screw hole in RG350 that was the real pain (but i have nothing to do inside, but here they went a bit unfair both stealing firmware AND placing a warranty sticker on crappy SD card with said firmware.
For the netplay, does it have to have wifi "internet" to access each other, of can you use it's own wifi to connect to another one without the actual internet, similar to it's own hotspot? I hope that makes sense what I'm asking. Just curious if you have to have internet to connect two or not.
I don't get why there is only 1 sd slot. Do you not need 2 for FW and games?
Vapor can take care of those stickers, I had use it to take out those sale stickers from my book covers once.
Oh, good idea!
They really dropped the ball on this one with that screen. Price difference between the 351P and 351M is the same as the price difference between the 350P and 350M, but you don't get the upgraded screen like you do with the 350M. I feel like the 351M should be like 20 bucks cheaper, but then I guess it would be competing with the 350M. Definitely glad I picked up a 351P with the built-in wifi last year.
Good points!
Damn i need to get that doom 4 vanilla!
Dumb question perhaps but how do I eject the card on it? Mine had no sticker is it the TF slot ?