Update: I took a look at the Miyoo A30 again this morning, and noticed that Miyoo has the Normal2x filter applied on the default SNES core (without setting bilinear filtering on, which is necessary for that filter to even take effect). I didn't investigate this when making my review because my assumption was that they underclocked the CPU to avoid heat issues, and so in order to normalize performance I increased the CPU clock speed. Removing the Normal2x filter fixes performance on games like Mega Man X with their default CPU clock setting. Either way, this is another indication that the A30 could be greatly improved by more precise configurations from a custom firmware team. The A30's CPU should be about on par with RK3326 devices when properly optimized.
it's not good that optimization should always be up to other people. After the success of the Mini, they needed to do better, a better dpad and better overall optimization
Huge props to Russ. For me he's basically been the face of this hobby. These companies owe a lot to him for putting the spotlight on their products in such a professional and accessible way.
His videos convinced me that the Retroid 4 pro was worth the price tag and. When I got it, I felt like he completely under sold its potential because it's even better than I was expecting and if you can under sell the worth of the product, have the customer want it so bad they are checking the tracking daily, and leave that customer feeling like a kid on Christmas morning because they got more than they were expecting, you're a helluva salesman. Even Retroid points to his setup guide for new customers like me. That's how thorough he is. And yet he has never compromised the integrity of his reviews. A class act in the tech/gaming space.
Perhaps both were under an embargo agreement (get the device early in return for agreeing not to release the review until a certain date) and russ collaborated with them on the understanding both would go live at once
I'm waiting for the flip, personally. I was hoping this would be a good device, though. I'm rooting for Miyoo. Unfortunately, it sounds like it has a number of issues.
This makes me really worried about Flip tho, hope it has better hardware... I waited for it for so long and it will be huge disappointment if it has the same performances issues
I love the way the A30 looks, but between the iffy build quality of their previous handhelds and not wanting a joystick in my pocket, I went with the Rg28xx.
It's not incapable of charging from a USB-C charging brick, but you've clearly demonstrated that it's incompatible with USB-PD voltage negotiation, which those low output chargers are unlikely to have (they might support a higher voltage like 9V or even 12V but likely won't be PD chargers). This is a serious and baffling oversight as all it takes to fix this for Miyoo is to add two tiny 5.1k resistors on the PCB pulling pins CC1 and CC2 to ground - if those resistors are present, any PD charger will output 5V (up to 3A). If they aren't, and the PD handshake isn't completed, a PD charger will output no voltage at all. This would cost them less than a cent in BOM cost and would require a few square millimetres of board space. In 2024, this is an unforgivable oversight. As for using the Genki BT adapter, that works as a USB headphone, which requires interfacing with the OS (which the Switch supports for it and other USB headphones). Most likely this port either lacks OTG functionality entirely, or the OS just doesn't enable it without some sort of mod (or, at best, a setting). If it had support but the OS lacked generic USB headphone drivers or similar, it would still power up. Most likely the adapter they're bundling is a passive adapter that simply passes an analog audio signal generated internally through to the 3.5mm plug using some of the USB-C connector's pins - as some early USB-C smartphones did. And, to be clear, this is also an incredibly shitty solution to a solved problem, and speaks to lazy software/OS design at the very least. Edit after finishing the video: tbh, this feels like a strangely dated design. The ancient SoC is kind of acceptable at a very low price point (though you can get far better performance at just a few tens of dollars more), the lack of USB headphone support (and seemingly any and all OTG support), the low quality screen, the lack of PD charging support ... it all has a mid-2010s feeling to me, tbh. No, there weren't many handhelds like this around at that time, but this is still the level of quality I'd expect back then, not now. Far, far, far too many flaws - some of them unfixable without serious hardware revisions - to be acceptable launching in 2024.
Great breakdown of the issues. One small oversight, there is no 3.5mm headphone jack. They could have just ran the analog audio from the speaker lines, but that would still be mono. Very strange choices indeed.
@@charliebrownbat I meant from the USB port to the jack on the adapter - I guess that could have been more clear. And yeah, that's my guess: that they're generating the analog signal internally (it being mono even points towards it possibly being the exact same signal sent to the speaker) and feeding it through some of the alt mode lines of the USB-C connector (or, of course, going for a non-compliant USB-C implementation and using, say, the USB 2.0 data lines for audio). Should be pretty easy to figure out exactly what's going on with one of those USB-C breakout boards and a stub of a 3.5mm audio cable with exposed wires.
@@Kraaketaerthe lack of resistors seems to be a widespread problem witb this class of device. I have a fair number of them and none of them seem to have usb pd charging capability. It's incredibly irritatiing to not be able to use some big fraction of my chargers with these things.
The analog type c passthrough is actually also being used as a form of hardware DRM now. Its hard as hell to find an analogue passthrough dongle, so dyson, who makes a thousand dollar pair of headphones, uses analog passthrough for their "proprietary" audio cable and sell it separately. I discovered this when trying an old analogue passthrough type c dongle with a 3.5mm cable, lol. Personally, the lack of a proper headphone jack is a dealbreaker. Im sick of dongles. Bring back the headphone jack on EVERYTHING.
I feel like the RG35XX-H should be compared to this, as you can RIGHT NOW get the RG35XX-H for less money, and it's better is EVERY SINGLE WAY, except size, but I would argue the 35-H size is better for most adult hands. And if you are REALLY set on getting a MICRO device, therefore the RG35-H would NOT work... the TrimUI and GKD Pixel are more the move. I don't think this thing deserves anyone's time... But incredible video as per normal Russ! Thank you.
@yaboirairai My mistake, but I still think the RG35XX-H is terribly designed. Why make a console capable of N64+ and then put the D-Pad on top of the Left C-Stick in the button layout? Such a simple missed opportunity that could've made it the best handheld on the market.
I can’t quantify how disappointed I am to hear about the lackluster performance of this device. I was so excited for this one. But I do appreciate your integrity to bring us the truth. Thank you.
Shame about the mediocre dpad. The miyoo mini models had the dpad for any sub 100 device, so this is a big step back for them that I hope they correct.
I just bought two of these (because they were 50% off) and I'm going to gift one to my sister from Christmas. Thanks for all your reviews Russ, I really appreciate you ❤
I was readingand watching reviews on RG28XX and Miyoo A30 for a couple of weeks, and finally, ordered A30. I like the way it looks, I like bigger face buttons and Wi-Fi. Hope software updates are coming! And of course, I'm waiting for an update of this from Miyoo ))
Was wondering how I'd waste time till my next meeting, and boom. New video for a device I don't need but will read about anyways, lol. Love the videos.
Agreed! Solid controls is my #1 priority for a new device. To me it doesn’t matter much how powerful it is if I can’t even play Mario accurately/comfortably
So disappointed that they messed up the d-pad...it was the one thing I didn't think we'd have to worry about. It really feels like they would have been better off using the Mini/Mini+ chip in this. Hopefully Onion or someone can save this device.
Thank you for another great review, it really makes me happy every time a new video is posted and also thank you for your honesty in every video, it really makes the difference.
I just got my A30 today and I must say I fell in love. The form factor is amazing and begs to be pocketed. Tried some custom firmware and it helps, but really, REALLY hoping for onion or something similar. This thing has a LOT of potential, hope to soon forget about the launch hiccups
Thanks for the video Russ, extremely good review as always. I was really hyped for the A30 for a while but the performance looks really dissapointing right now. I have a 35XX H and planning to change it to a more pocketable handheld to replace my Trimui Smart, thanks to your videos I decided to go for the 28XX instead
My Miyoo Mini White battery lasts between 6 to 7 hours sometimes even more... Mixing from GB/GBC/GBA to Neo Geo and PS1. 2600MAh with 2.8" inch screen won't be doing miracles.
just got my a30 i honesetly forgot i had ordered. it's a nice little unit. threw minui onto it, loaded up TBS collection and it goes. screen is nice, sound is decent, games play well and it easily fits into a pocket (mine did come with a nice case too). feels good in the hand. don't know if i could do a 8 hour gaming session on it, but it's good when i have a few minutes to spare. oh, and it was $35 from ali. glad to add it to my collection.
Was looking for a gift idea for both a childhood buddy and my nephew, I'm glad that I stumbled across this review as both the poor quality D-Pad and the lack of Bluetooth audio on this device are the deal breakers for me. Keep up the good work.
So close to my dream handheld. Will continue to be patient and wait for someone to finally nail it. I basically want the GKD Pixel but with the horizontal layout >,>
The battery from my RG353V is starting to deteriorate, so I am kinda itching to get a new handheld. When I saw the announcement of this device I was like "Yeap, I wanna do it". But after watching the review, I'm gonna hold back for a moment. Looking forward to maybe seeing OnionOS coming to this device, or maybe a firmware update that would fix the few shortcomings that it has due to optimizations... All in all, thank you so much Russ for making my experience in retro gaming a fun and wonderful one...the nostalgia is priceless! All in all, thanks for making my experience
Thank you for mentioning the charging intricacies. It's really good to know for the consumer when they need certain wattages for the charging to work and I felt that this was something sorely missing from some previous reviews.
Thanks for the review. I have the Miyoo Mini Plus and I love it. 😍 Looks like they Miyoo A30 won't be such a hit due to the poor screen quality, low battery endurance and "bad" (out of the box) performance.. I'll pick the Anbernic RG35XXH instead for my next horizontal device. Thanks. 👍
Let's go🔥Man you got that quick👌🏾 I am really unsure about the A30 to be honest, unless we are happy playing the more light weight systems on it. But let's not forget the price point so we can't be too upset with it. Fantastic video as always 🔥🔥👌🏾
Keep Retro is no "piece of mind" to me. Had ordered an OG Miyoo Mini from them when it came out, and they totally boned me. Never got my order and all they did was offer a discount on ordering another one.
If the makers of Miyoo mini continue like this, they will be the top handheld brand. I have tested a bunch of handhelds and my original V2 myioo mini is just AMAZING. Never had an issue with it.
Seeing then flip videos aboutnpossible design got me to dig out mynold SP and remember it's nostalgia not function that makes me want to play it again.
@@Telerian3some people really like Clamshell consoles tho including myself. I never had SP, but always considered DS consoles as well as early GPD's really neat devices
@@nickd6673 the flip won’t be able to play n64-dreamcast-psp. it’s going to have the same chip set as the miyoo mini. so the A30 will still be better. Just need the onion OS team to make onion for the A30 and it will run smoothe.
For me the appeal of the miyoo mini was how it looks like a modern gameboy, the screen ia bigger than normal, with small bezels and the design is just beautiful. The a30 just looks like an old handheld, and honestly the thing that looks the most "modern" about it is not having a headphone jack
I picked it up under 40 dollars and am pleased with this at that price. I have a couple Anbernic devices but wanted something for travel I wouldn't cry about if it broke or lost.
With all due respect to Miyoo, this console (with these specifications) is not worth $56. Miyoo Mini Plus can now be purchased for $40, and with discounts it’s even cheaper. Well, considering that there is Rg35xx H on the market... I don’t know. I hope they release a big screen version soon. I like my rg35xx H, but the second stick is superfluous.
Personally, I've been waiting for the flip and anbernic rg35xx sp, if both of those end up as failures, I'm buying the rg35xx H during the Aliexpress November big discounts and that is it.
@@garciamartinezerikmanuel8810 I recently picked it up on sale for $43. For me, this is an ideal device for games up to PS1, later I will order myself a retroid 4 pro for ps2. Rg35xx H has one minus - stock OS. Immediately replaced it with Batocera Lite.
I wish the 28xx would have the analog stick and the larger face buttons of the A30, that'd make the decision I'm trying to make right now wayyy easier lol
2-4 hrs of battery?! My 280M gets like 12 hrs on fast forwarded GBA, has a good d pad and buttons, and plays basically the same things, minus the shotty n64 dreamcast psp stuff (which is crazy to play on a 2.8" screen.) Also the 280M has the analogue stick set in a bit, just like you were suggesting, plus a premium metal shell, and you can easily find one for 60 beans.
I hate to comment above @bensnacmachine5037 because I couldn’t have said it better…Russ is THE man...just seems like such a genuinely good dude. On topic…like others, I’ve also been waiting for this review since it was announced for a Thursday release. I also, prefer the horizontal handhelds…ever since my first PSP. I did just get the 35XX H, and as much as I would love to defer to one of these smaller A30/28XX devices for more portability, I feel like my hands don’t mesh well with the smaller handhelds. Probably gonna stick with the 35XX H…and looking forward to the knulli firmware to hopefully evolve the batocera experience (can’t wait for Russ’s guide). Love this channel, it is the one that I look the most forward to for content releases to on the daily. Keep up the great work!!
This is based on the Game And Watch design, that’s why it feels old fashioned. That same design was mirrored by the Gameboy micro anniversary edition. But it goes back to the game and watch, right down to the gold and maroon colors. That aspect makes this a verrrry cool device for retro hardware junkies.
I just commented the same but you (and maybe others) beat me too it. This is Game and Watch design and colors. Famicom was off-white and red. And though it’s controllers were gold and red, they were a lighter shade.
I really can't decide, I'm really glad that you lent Crystal of Crystal is Cozy and Stuff an RG28XX, it was cool to see her opinion on that device. Personally I have been considering a horizontal pocketable device and am struggling to decide. The wifi chip stands out as a good feature on this one, especially if it can run Splore with Pico 8. But false diagonals on a Dpad are not fun. I really love how cute both devices are though, especially the RG28XX.
Thanks for the honesty I’m still gonna pick up the mini + retro game boy and the bigger screen overall I don’t wanna buy a retro handheld because of the hype so I’m gonna wait and see where I go from there
Some other reviewer pointed out that slowdowns in Snes, Arcade and Dreamcast are due to some filters that Miyoo had applied through the Retroarch settings. He said that deactivating those filters actually increase performance better than overclocking. Can you confirm it?
Thanks for this video. It's disappointing to see that the A30 has performance issues. If it gets Onion OS in the future, that might be enough to make me look more seriously at it but, as it currently stands, I think it's not the highly pocketable horizontal handheld want.
One thing that blows me away about the Miyoo Mini is how long it keeps a charge. I haven't used the Mini much over the past year, but I've also not charged it for well over a year too, and it still shows no sign of needing a recharge whenever I pick it up to play a quick game. Literally mind-blowing to me.
Honestly, anything that can't do that either has poorly designed circuitry, or has a bad battery. When it's off, it shouldn't be drawing any power, so the only drain should be the self discharge of the battery.
@@derp195 Why have all of my laptops and phones always drain themselves when off? Are they different somehow? Genuinely curious bc I don't know anything about batteries.
Awesome Review. First really good look i have had at the Famicon style A30. That nostalgic gold plate look look really brings back memories but i have to agree the Rg28xx gets my vote when comparing these 2. I would however agree with some of the commenters and say that i think the Rg35xx H isa better option than either of these if you can get it on sale,
ngl the whole headphone jack situation would be a deal breaker for me on its own, but it only gets worse if you add the fact that the d-pad and the screen are subpar as well, like no amount of performance optimization or custom firmware in the future will be enough to redeem its failing points
I have been waiting for this review cuz I was excited about this. I'm disappointed in the A30. Gonna have to choose another pocket horizontal handheld.
Thanks for making a video about this as this device has really been interesting me, and I love its aesthetic however I've never really considered horizontal handhelds. I have some requests for games I'd like to see you play if you get the chance, MvC2 on DC, SSB on N64 and DBZ SB2 or DBZTTT. I wanna see if those few games can run as they are ones I'm very interested in playing at an affordable price on the go. I don't care much for the d-pad as I want to use the joystick, but the dim screen and stock OS does seem trash from the jump. I'd still wait for better optimization for emulation to get an A30 but your video has given me hope especially if this can run GTA, Kingdom Hearts and such on PPSSPP, hopefully with an aspect ratio that fits the screen.
Shame it has a bad D-pad. I would wait for a revision but I was more excited for a decent clamshell handheld but was considering this to try in the interim, but the Miyoo SP (or whatever it’ll be called) will almost certainly release before this gets a revision. Here’s to hoping they don’t screw up the Clamshell device.
honestly i was ready to drop money on this handheld for the control layout alone, but with it being a step back in power compared to the mini/plus and having no headphone jack, i guess i'll wait some more.. maybe they'll make an a30 plus down the line? lol also, i love all your review and guide videos and got both a steam deck and rg nano thanks to you! a couple of things i've really wanted to ask: what's your opinion on rhythm games like dance dance revolution, parappa the rapper, or djmax respect v? and if you've emulated them before, would you happen to know how to get ddr games on ps1 properly synced on handhelds like these?
I didn't need to spend the money but I ended up getting one of each. The A30 will probably just end up being a Tetris or Dr Mario machine for around the house. The Anbernic will probably be the one that I carry around with me when I leave the house.
I was excited that this would be the device that gets me to buy a pocketable horizontal handheld. I already have a Miyoo Mini+, which I love but sometimes wish was horizontal instead of vertical. I’m not planning on upgrading unless the horizontal device is more powerful than the MM+ and has at least one analog stick. Unfortunately, the A30 performance issues are not something I want to deal with. Maybe if a CFW comes out that makes all the systems I can play on my MM+ perform fine without tweaking, then I’ll consider it again.
good thing I already have snacks in front of me. As for what I'm seeing here, they need to hurry up and take my money haha. and love that Game and Watch theme, I'm all about that.
I have a mini plus, it’s insanely good for the price. I play everything except ps1, n64 and Saturn on it. I have retroid pocket 3 for the newer stuff. I just don’t have a need for a replacement in this category.
How did this turn out to be worse in almost every way compared to the miyoo mini and + after such a long wait? The dpad alone is a bummer but the funny thing about the screen brightness is that in your 28xx review, you showed how that was already rather dim compared to the 35xx-h. So this A30 being noticeably dimmer than 28xx is pretty rough. Needing to overclock for megaman x1 is crazy too...even the old rg280m didnt need that, but at least i imagine CFW remedying that. Either way, this thing seems disappointing. Hopefully their upcoming Flip is more refined.
I'm really loving the design, especially the way they kept the pocketability with the analog stick. The swappable face plates would have been really cool... I wish they had kept the option even if they didn't sell the plates themselves. I'm a little bummed out by how many trade-offs there are though. The lack of a headphone jack and no Bluetooth option is a big hurt. The dpad quality is also a shame. I was pretty excited at the idea of it, but it seems like I'll be waiting a little longer for my ideal horizontal mini device. The RG28XX seems like the better option for me between the two, but the panel rotation stuff gives me pause. I know no device is perfect, but still... Small details like that can make or break the experience.
I really hope this gets some quality of life upgrades in the future. I've actually really been hoping someone would be brave enough to do a single stick handheld at this power level for a while now. N64 and dreamcast just don't play right without analog controls, but the second stick is so unnecessary and usually just a waste of space. Thanks for the impressions Russ!
I went with the a30 I prefer the look, the controls are bigger. Although I understand the problems resulting from a slower chipset and screen not being so bright. I like the form factor too. I hope software updates maybe onion and further optimisation may improve it a little. I suspect though onion os probably won’t come to the a30 considering the development costs and they will like wait until it is updated to a better and matching chipset to the mini version. I plan to have other retro devices for the games it can’t handle. For me this is just an ultra portable to have when out and about don’t want to carry larger device. Good review it is a shame the dpad and chipset let it down but not a deal breaker for me.
The mono usb-c only headphone jack is really the deal-breaker for me, this is really weird since the DAC part is in the adapter cable, i wonder if it could be fixed by a firmware update.
Update: I took a look at the Miyoo A30 again this morning, and noticed that Miyoo has the Normal2x filter applied on the default SNES core (without setting bilinear filtering on, which is necessary for that filter to even take effect). I didn't investigate this when making my review because my assumption was that they underclocked the CPU to avoid heat issues, and so in order to normalize performance I increased the CPU clock speed. Removing the Normal2x filter fixes performance on games like Mega Man X with their default CPU clock setting.
Either way, this is another indication that the A30 could be greatly improved by more precise configurations from a custom firmware team. The A30's CPU should be about on par with RK3326 devices when properly optimized.
it's not good that optimization should always be up to other people.
After the success of the Mini, they needed to do better, a better dpad and better overall optimization
Huge props to Russ. For me he's basically been the face of this hobby. These companies owe a lot to him for putting the spotlight on their products in such a professional and accessible way.
100%
agreed
His videos convinced me that the Retroid 4 pro was worth the price tag and. When I got it, I felt like he completely under sold its potential because it's even better than I was expecting and if you can under sell the worth of the product, have the customer want it so bad they are checking the tracking daily, and leave that customer feeling like a kid on Christmas morning because they got more than they were expecting, you're a helluva salesman. Even Retroid points to his setup guide for new customers like me. That's how thorough he is. And yet he has never compromised the integrity of his reviews. A class act in the tech/gaming space.
100 percent! Russ through his videos has sold me a lot of different consoles!
Yep.
This video came out 4 minutes ago and theres an article quoting Russ already.
gotta be AI lol
Ok 🤖
Perhaps both were under an embargo agreement (get the device early in return for agreeing not to release the review until a certain date) and russ collaborated with them on the understanding both would go live at once
@@Autotrope maybe not, there were some reviews in the wild and even some early orders a few days ago
I'm waiting for the flip, personally. I was hoping this would be a good device, though. I'm rooting for Miyoo. Unfortunately, it sounds like it has a number of issues.
This makes me really worried about Flip tho, hope it has better hardware... I waited for it for so long and it will be huge disappointment if it has the same performances issues
Been hitting refresh on TH-cam all day waiting on this! I already ordered the RG28XX, glad to hear you like it better.
Same. Ordered the RG28XX this morning and pre-ordered the A30 through keep retro. Been checking youtube all day for the video.
Same here! That Lava Orange
I love the way the A30 looks, but between the iffy build quality of their previous handhelds and not wanting a joystick in my pocket, I went with the Rg28xx.
@@PeezyPurpi agree. The orange is a good looking little handheld.
I just wish the rg 28XX had a thumb stick :/
It's not incapable of charging from a USB-C charging brick, but you've clearly demonstrated that it's incompatible with USB-PD voltage negotiation, which those low output chargers are unlikely to have (they might support a higher voltage like 9V or even 12V but likely won't be PD chargers). This is a serious and baffling oversight as all it takes to fix this for Miyoo is to add two tiny 5.1k resistors on the PCB pulling pins CC1 and CC2 to ground - if those resistors are present, any PD charger will output 5V (up to 3A). If they aren't, and the PD handshake isn't completed, a PD charger will output no voltage at all. This would cost them less than a cent in BOM cost and would require a few square millimetres of board space. In 2024, this is an unforgivable oversight.
As for using the Genki BT adapter, that works as a USB headphone, which requires interfacing with the OS (which the Switch supports for it and other USB headphones). Most likely this port either lacks OTG functionality entirely, or the OS just doesn't enable it without some sort of mod (or, at best, a setting). If it had support but the OS lacked generic USB headphone drivers or similar, it would still power up. Most likely the adapter they're bundling is a passive adapter that simply passes an analog audio signal generated internally through to the 3.5mm plug using some of the USB-C connector's pins - as some early USB-C smartphones did. And, to be clear, this is also an incredibly shitty solution to a solved problem, and speaks to lazy software/OS design at the very least.
Edit after finishing the video: tbh, this feels like a strangely dated design. The ancient SoC is kind of acceptable at a very low price point (though you can get far better performance at just a few tens of dollars more), the lack of USB headphone support (and seemingly any and all OTG support), the low quality screen, the lack of PD charging support ... it all has a mid-2010s feeling to me, tbh. No, there weren't many handhelds like this around at that time, but this is still the level of quality I'd expect back then, not now. Far, far, far too many flaws - some of them unfixable without serious hardware revisions - to be acceptable launching in 2024.
Great breakdown of the issues. One small oversight, there is no 3.5mm headphone jack. They could have just ran the analog audio from the speaker lines, but that would still be mono. Very strange choices indeed.
Thanks for the breakdown, I am usually just hacking away at these things without truly understanding what is going on, so I appreciate these insights.
@@charliebrownbat I meant from the USB port to the jack on the adapter - I guess that could have been more clear. And yeah, that's my guess: that they're generating the analog signal internally (it being mono even points towards it possibly being the exact same signal sent to the speaker) and feeding it through some of the alt mode lines of the USB-C connector (or, of course, going for a non-compliant USB-C implementation and using, say, the USB 2.0 data lines for audio). Should be pretty easy to figure out exactly what's going on with one of those USB-C breakout boards and a stub of a 3.5mm audio cable with exposed wires.
@@Kraaketaerthe lack of resistors seems to be a widespread problem witb this class of device. I have a fair number of them and none of them seem to have usb pd charging capability. It's incredibly irritatiing to not be able to use some big fraction of my chargers with these things.
The analog type c passthrough is actually also being used as a form of hardware DRM now. Its hard as hell to find an analogue passthrough dongle, so dyson, who makes a thousand dollar pair of headphones, uses analog passthrough for their "proprietary" audio cable and sell it separately. I discovered this when trying an old analogue passthrough type c dongle with a 3.5mm cable, lol.
Personally, the lack of a proper headphone jack is a dealbreaker. Im sick of dongles. Bring back the headphone jack on EVERYTHING.
I feel like the RG35XX-H should be compared to this, as you can RIGHT NOW get the RG35XX-H for less money, and it's better is EVERY SINGLE WAY, except size, but I would argue the 35-H size is better for most adult hands. And if you are REALLY set on getting a MICRO device, therefore the RG35-H would NOT work... the TrimUI and GKD Pixel are more the move. I don't think this thing deserves anyone's time... But incredible video as per normal Russ! Thank you.
None of these devices have a control stick.....
@@stfn4472what are you smoking? Rg35xx H has two control sticks...
@yaboirairai My mistake, but I still think the RG35XX-H is terribly designed. Why make a console capable of N64+ and then put the D-Pad on top of the Left C-Stick in the button layout? Such a simple missed opportunity that could've made it the best handheld on the market.
I feel the 405m is better than the xxh model as supports more systems
35-H has terrible shoulder buttons
I can’t quantify how disappointed I am to hear about the lackluster performance of this device. I was so excited for this one. But I do appreciate your integrity to bring us the truth. Thank you.
Shame about the mediocre dpad. The miyoo mini models had the dpad for any sub 100 device, so this is a big step back for them that I hope they correct.
Any old retro handheld needs to nail that d-pad. It's one the things manufacturers should have solved by now.
"You should probably grab a snack and drink for this one"
**checks playtime** oh ok, brb Russ
He rarely uploads a video under 20 minutes and I'm here for it :D
I think he says that so you don't have to check the time... you know it's gonna be a long one.
Russ better be getting kick-backs for all these snacks we're eating
Finally! Been waiting all day! The community really appreciates your work!
I just bought two of these (because they were 50% off) and I'm going to gift one to my sister from Christmas. Thanks for all your reviews Russ, I really appreciate you ❤
I like your in depth reviews of pretty much every device that hits the market. Thanks for making these
I was readingand watching reviews on RG28XX and Miyoo A30 for a couple of weeks, and finally, ordered A30. I like the way it looks, I like bigger face buttons and Wi-Fi. Hope software updates are coming! And of course, I'm waiting for an update of this from Miyoo ))
Was wondering how I'd waste time till my next meeting, and boom. New video for a device I don't need but will read about anyways, lol. Love the videos.
Good to see the Pocket-Go appearing on the channel after all these years, mine is still here alive and kicking.
If it does not pass the Contra test, it is a deal breaker 🙂
Agreed! Solid controls is my #1 priority for a new device. To me it doesn’t matter much how powerful it is if I can’t even play Mario accurately/comfortably
Yeap!
I wonder if that would be solved with electrical tape like other devices.
Super disappointing
That's why I hate Anbernic devices, but I wasn't expecting it from Miyoo
So disappointed that they messed up the d-pad...it was the one thing I didn't think we'd have to worry about. It really feels like they would have been better off using the Mini/Mini+ chip in this. Hopefully Onion or someone can save this device.
That really irks me. Decent d-pads are a baseline requirement to me.
Youve convinced me to buy... The RG28XX!!
Thanks for another indepth review Russ.
Test Rg28xx's shoulder key and d-pad ... Yuo should
Haha, me too! Imma wait for the SP about to come out, but I’m pretty much sold on the 28xx now. 🍻
Bro you put out such good detailed content.
Thank you for another great review, it really makes me happy every time a new video is posted and also thank you for your honesty in every video, it really makes the difference.
Can't say that I'm impressed with the RG28xx or Miyoo A30. Both look like a lackluster experience.
The minute Russ said 'rotated panel', I thought 'just spend a little more and get something much better.'
its pretty impressive for 50$
I just got my A30 today and I must say I fell in love. The form factor is amazing and begs to be pocketed. Tried some custom firmware and it helps, but really, REALLY hoping for onion or something similar. This thing has a LOT of potential, hope to soon forget about the launch hiccups
Mono sound on the headphones is crazy. Wonder if a new OS can change that.
Right? What is this, 1985.
Could be a bad dongle DAC, or just that they didn't implement the switch from mono (speaker) to stereo (dongle) when connected. I bet it's software.
@@turnbasedtoddy7664 even the Original GameBoy had stereo headphones lol
@@714SNF haha! True!
@@714SNFI was going to mention this.
Thanks for the video Russ, extremely good review as always. I was really hyped for the A30 for a while but the performance looks really dissapointing right now. I have a 35XX H and planning to change it to a more pocketable handheld to replace my Trimui Smart, thanks to your videos I decided to go for the 28XX instead
Thanks for the review. I love my Miyoo Mini Plus and I’m definitely going to hold off on this one. Maybe they’ll fix the problems!
My Miyoo Mini White battery lasts between 6 to 7 hours sometimes even more... Mixing from GB/GBC/GBA to Neo Geo and PS1. 2600MAh with 2.8" inch screen won't be doing miracles.
just got my a30 i honesetly forgot i had ordered. it's a nice little unit. threw minui onto it, loaded up TBS collection and it goes. screen is nice, sound is decent, games play well and it easily fits into a pocket (mine did come with a nice case too). feels good in the hand. don't know if i could do a 8 hour gaming session on it, but it's good when i have a few minutes to spare. oh, and it was $35 from ali. glad to add it to my collection.
I never clicked faster
Same
I’ve been waiting all day lol😂
Same, I just went “oooh” when I saw the thumbnail
I clicked faster once… but not by much 😬
HAHA, me too!!
Was looking for a gift idea for both a childhood buddy and my nephew, I'm glad that I stumbled across this review as both the poor quality D-Pad and the lack of Bluetooth audio on this device are the deal breakers for me. Keep up the good work.
So close to my dream handheld. Will continue to be patient and wait for someone to finally nail it. I basically want the GKD Pixel but with the horizontal layout >,>
The battery from my RG353V is starting to deteriorate, so I am kinda itching to get a new handheld. When I saw the announcement of this device I was like "Yeap, I wanna do it".
But after watching the review, I'm gonna hold back for a moment. Looking forward to maybe seeing OnionOS coming to this device, or maybe a firmware update that would fix the few shortcomings that it has due to optimizations...
All in all, thank you so much Russ for making my experience in retro gaming a fun and wonderful one...the nostalgia is priceless!
All in all, thanks for making my experience
Huge props on the Dismemberment Plan shirt, awesome band from an awesome era.
They were really great live.
I really like how cozy and gentle your channel is while being informative.
Keep making these awesome reviews. They make a world of a difference compared to other TH-camrs. 👍🏻
It seems like every small handheld that comes out always has a compromise. Great Video. 👍🏽
I was so excited for the A30. To hear that its not the evolutionary next step from the mini or plus. Really took the wind out of my sails.
Thank you for mentioning the charging intricacies. It's really good to know for the consumer when they need certain wattages for the charging to work and I felt that this was something sorely missing from some previous reviews.
Thanks for the review. I have the Miyoo Mini Plus and I love it. 😍
Looks like they Miyoo A30 won't be such a hit due to the poor screen quality, low battery endurance and "bad" (out of the box) performance..
I'll pick the Anbernic RG35XXH instead for my next horizontal device. Thanks. 👍
Let's go🔥Man you got that quick👌🏾 I am really unsure about the A30 to be honest, unless we are happy playing the more light weight systems on it. But let's not forget the price point so we can't be too upset with it.
Fantastic video as always 🔥🔥👌🏾
Amazing and very informative video as always, Russ! Thanks so much for creating it! ♥️
My pleasure!
I don’t even need a new handheld anymore I just enjoy getting a snack and drink and listening to Russ talk so I watch his videos
Will be there another A30 analisys with Spruce OS and the new batch of A30 units? Russ
Keep Retro is no "piece of mind" to me. Had ordered an OG Miyoo Mini from them when it came out, and they totally boned me. Never got my order and all they did was offer a discount on ordering another one.
Poop :(
WTF they scammed you basically
Did you get a tracking order number?
Keepretro is a dropshipping website, just don’t get fooled
@@Tonno7 IF he didn't get this money back for the first unit. I'm not sure that's the case from reading the OP
If the makers of Miyoo mini continue like this, they will be the top handheld brand. I have tested a bunch of handhelds and my original V2 myioo mini is just AMAZING. Never had an issue with it.
it really nails the look of a Nintendo Game&Watch from the 80s
Closer to a Game Boy Micro. The last Game Boy Advance before the Nintendo DS.
@@futaris in size maybe.. but not looks
Closer to a Famicom joypad.
Im slowly becoming addicted to these. My favorite is the rg35xx atomic purple. I wish these consoles had atomic purple colors
Props to you Russ, you really showed to be unbiased when its comes to your reviews/impressions.
Oh man, I should’ve waited for the review, I just assumed this was going to be the miyoo mini but horizontal 😱
I want one but I’ll wait for the flip tbh.
Me too, but after seeing the flaws with the A30, I'm nervous about the state of the Flip on release. Fingers crossed the Flip is a winner.
Seeing then flip videos aboutnpossible design got me to dig out mynold SP and remember it's nostalgia not function that makes me want to play it again.
@@Telerian3some people really like Clamshell consoles tho including myself. I never had SP, but always considered DS consoles as well as early GPD's really neat devices
@@nickd6673 the flip won’t be able to play n64-dreamcast-psp.
it’s going to have the same chip set as the miyoo mini.
so the A30 will still be better. Just need the onion OS team to make onion for the A30 and it will run smoothe.
Hey Russ,
Great video, as always. Love your MM+ stuff.
Most minor comment but you said audibly the battery is 2500mAh but the overlay says 2600.
Almost waited for this buy found such a good deal on the rg35xx h that I went that way. I don't think I will regret my decision.
For me the appeal of the miyoo mini was how it looks like a modern gameboy, the screen ia bigger than normal, with small bezels and the design is just beautiful. The a30 just looks like an old handheld, and honestly the thing that looks the most "modern" about it is not having a headphone jack
I picked it up under 40 dollars and am pleased with this at that price. I have a couple Anbernic devices but wanted something for travel I wouldn't cry about if it broke or lost.
No headphone jack is a deal breaker. Especially with the mono speaker
Another great video, thank you!!
Good to see Anbernic get a win with their device. I love both companies but competition will only give us better products.
The video I've been waiting for! You're the only source I trust!
With all due respect to Miyoo, this console (with these specifications) is not worth $56. Miyoo Mini Plus can now be purchased for $40, and with discounts it’s even cheaper.
Well, considering that there is Rg35xx H on the market... I don’t know.
I hope they release a big screen version soon. I like my rg35xx H, but the second stick is superfluous.
I agree that it’s a very hard sell. 😅
Personally, I've been waiting for the flip and anbernic rg35xx sp, if both of those end up as failures, I'm buying the rg35xx H during the Aliexpress November big discounts and that is it.
I didnt wait for this review and ordered and received a rg35xxH. I believe its a better choice for the same price. Will wait for the flip❤
@@garciamartinezerikmanuel8810 I recently picked it up on sale for $43. For me, this is an ideal device for games up to PS1, later I will order myself a retroid 4 pro for ps2.
Rg35xx H has one minus - stock OS. Immediately replaced it with Batocera Lite.
I wish the 28xx would have the analog stick and the larger face buttons of the A30, that'd make the decision I'm trying to make right now wayyy easier lol
@24:29 changing the Analog to Digital Type setting to "left stick" is a much easier and more convenient way to make the analog stick work as a Dpad.
All they had to do was put the V4 guts in the horizontal body, and it would’ve been great
2-4 hrs of battery?! My 280M gets like 12 hrs on fast forwarded GBA, has a good d pad and buttons, and plays basically the same things, minus the shotty n64 dreamcast psp stuff (which is crazy to play on a 2.8" screen.) Also the 280M has the analogue stick set in a bit, just like you were suggesting, plus a premium metal shell, and you can easily find one for 60 beans.
That's a lot of beans
@@KswiftRob 1/7th of a full can. (465 beans per can)
@producedbymarj what kind of bean we talking, pinto? Garbanzo?
I hate to comment above @bensnacmachine5037 because I couldn’t have said it better…Russ is THE man...just seems like such a genuinely good dude. On topic…like others, I’ve also been waiting for this review since it was announced for a Thursday release. I also, prefer the horizontal handhelds…ever since my first PSP. I did just get the 35XX H, and as much as I would love to defer to one of these smaller A30/28XX devices for more portability, I feel like my hands don’t mesh well with the smaller handhelds. Probably gonna stick with the 35XX H…and looking forward to the knulli firmware to hopefully evolve the batocera experience (can’t wait for Russ’s guide). Love this channel, it is the one that I look the most forward to for content releases to on the daily. Keep up the great work!!
anything being stuck in mono is such a deal-breaker for me. it would drive me crazy
Great review! This is exactly what I wanted to know! Appreciate you!
This is based on the Game And Watch design, that’s why it feels old fashioned. That same design was mirrored by the Gameboy micro anniversary edition. But it goes back to the game and watch, right down to the gold and maroon colors. That aspect makes this a verrrry cool device for retro hardware junkies.
I just commented the same but you (and maybe others) beat me too it.
This is Game and Watch design and colors.
Famicom was off-white and red. And though it’s controllers were gold and red, they were a lighter shade.
I really can't decide, I'm really glad that you lent Crystal of Crystal is Cozy and Stuff an RG28XX, it was cool to see her opinion on that device. Personally I have been considering a horizontal pocketable device and am struggling to decide. The wifi chip stands out as a good feature on this one, especially if it can run Splore with Pico 8. But false diagonals on a Dpad are not fun. I really love how cute both devices are though, especially the RG28XX.
please do an updated review video on this. Also, do you think they will be making a A30 plus?
Thanks for the honesty I’m still gonna pick up the mini + retro game boy and the bigger screen overall I don’t wanna buy a retro handheld because of the hype so I’m gonna wait and see where I go from there
I love the look of this handheld. I think the MagicX XU Mini M will be the best horizontal mini handheld out of the 3 (including the 28xx)
Time for me to deep dive into handhelds again.
I'm behind with reviews 🤣
Some other reviewer pointed out that slowdowns in Snes, Arcade and Dreamcast are due to some filters that Miyoo had applied through the Retroarch settings. He said that deactivating those filters actually increase performance better than overclocking. Can you confirm it?
When they said Emulators were coming out shaped like a GBA i didnt think they were talking about the micro
I'm completely satisfied with my Steam Deck and Retroid Pocket 2, but this A30 might be fine addition to my collection too. Thanks Russ for the video
Would love this Device with 3:2 Aspect ratio
Thanks for this video. It's disappointing to see that the A30 has performance issues. If it gets Onion OS in the future, that might be enough to make me look more seriously at it but, as it currently stands, I think it's not the highly pocketable horizontal handheld want.
No headphone jack and the included adapater is mono audio? That's a dealbreaker with so many options similar in size, performance, features and price.
Dang that thing looks so good i have a miyoo and ill be adding this to my collection
Was really excited for this unit but there are some downsides that I cant compromise on. Thanks for reviewing it though Russ, your the best.
One thing that blows me away about the Miyoo Mini is how long it keeps a charge. I haven't used the Mini much over the past year, but I've also not charged it for well over a year too, and it still shows no sign of needing a recharge whenever I pick it up to play a quick game. Literally mind-blowing to me.
Honestly, anything that can't do that either has poorly designed circuitry, or has a bad battery. When it's off, it shouldn't be drawing any power, so the only drain should be the self discharge of the battery.
@@derp195 Why have all of my laptops and phones always drain themselves when off? Are they different somehow? Genuinely curious bc I don't know anything about batteries.
@@okjoz Off, or asleep? It should barely drain at all when it's fully turned off, but different devices draw varying amounts of power when asleep.
@@derp195 Asleep. At least all i did was hit the power button once, not hold it.
Awesome Review. First really good look i have had at the Famicon style A30. That nostalgic gold plate look look really brings back memories but i have to agree the Rg28xx gets my vote when comparing these 2. I would however agree with some of the commenters and say that i think the Rg35xx H isa better option than either of these if you can get it on sale,
ngl the whole headphone jack situation would be a deal breaker for me on its own, but it only gets worse if you add the fact that the d-pad and the screen are subpar as well, like no amount of performance optimization or custom firmware in the future will be enough to redeem its failing points
Russ, i hope this youtube thing is paying off. Or, is at least extremely gratifying. You are the de facto standard of this niche
I have been waiting for this review cuz I was excited about this. I'm disappointed in the A30. Gonna have to choose another pocket horizontal handheld.
Thanks for making a video about this as this device has really been interesting me, and I love its aesthetic however I've never really considered horizontal handhelds. I have some requests for games I'd like to see you play if you get the chance, MvC2 on DC, SSB on N64 and DBZ SB2 or DBZTTT. I wanna see if those few games can run as they are ones I'm very interested in playing at an affordable price on the go. I don't care much for the d-pad as I want to use the joystick, but the dim screen and stock OS does seem trash from the jump. I'd still wait for better optimization for emulation to get an A30 but your video has given me hope especially if this can run GTA, Kingdom Hearts and such on PPSSPP, hopefully with an aspect ratio that fits the screen.
Shame it has a bad D-pad. I would wait for a revision but I was more excited for a decent clamshell handheld but was considering this to try in the interim, but the Miyoo SP (or whatever it’ll be called) will almost certainly release before this gets a revision. Here’s to hoping they don’t screw up the Clamshell device.
honestly i was ready to drop money on this handheld for the control layout alone, but with it being a step back in power compared to the mini/plus and having no headphone jack, i guess i'll wait some more.. maybe they'll make an a30 plus down the line? lol
also, i love all your review and guide videos and got both a steam deck and rg nano thanks to you! a couple of things i've really wanted to ask: what's your opinion on rhythm games like dance dance revolution, parappa the rapper, or djmax respect v? and if you've emulated them before, would you happen to know how to get ddr games on ps1 properly synced on handhelds like these?
I really like the looks of this, it’s gorgeous. I think they would have had a better edge putting out that clam shell device first.
I didn't need to spend the money but I ended up getting one of each. The A30 will probably just end up being a Tetris or Dr Mario machine for around the house. The Anbernic will probably be the one that I carry around with me when I leave the house.
I was excited that this would be the device that gets me to buy a pocketable horizontal handheld. I already have a Miyoo Mini+, which I love but sometimes wish was horizontal instead of vertical. I’m not planning on upgrading unless the horizontal device is more powerful than the MM+ and has at least one analog stick. Unfortunately, the A30 performance issues are not something I want to deal with. Maybe if a CFW comes out that makes all the systems I can play on my MM+ perform fine without tweaking, then I’ll consider it again.
Why is Russ's voice so soothing? i always get drowsy every time i hear him talk
He has a deep voice but he speaks in an upper register.
good thing I already have snacks in front of me. As for what I'm seeing here, they need to hurry up and take my money haha. and love that Game and Watch theme, I'm all about that.
I have a mini plus, it’s insanely good for the price. I play everything except ps1, n64 and Saturn on it. I have retroid pocket 3 for the newer stuff. I just don’t have a need for a replacement in this category.
How did this turn out to be worse in almost every way compared to the miyoo mini and + after such a long wait? The dpad alone is a bummer but the funny thing about the screen brightness is that in your 28xx review, you showed how that was already rather dim compared to the 35xx-h. So this A30 being noticeably dimmer than 28xx is pretty rough. Needing to overclock for megaman x1 is crazy too...even the old rg280m didnt need that, but at least i imagine CFW remedying that. Either way, this thing seems disappointing. Hopefully their upcoming Flip is more refined.
I'm really loving the design, especially the way they kept the pocketability with the analog stick. The swappable face plates would have been really cool... I wish they had kept the option even if they didn't sell the plates themselves.
I'm a little bummed out by how many trade-offs there are though. The lack of a headphone jack and no Bluetooth option is a big hurt. The dpad quality is also a shame. I was pretty excited at the idea of it, but it seems like I'll be waiting a little longer for my ideal horizontal mini device.
The RG28XX seems like the better option for me between the two, but the panel rotation stuff gives me pause. I know no device is perfect, but still... Small details like that can make or break the experience.
Some of this latest devices i can not understand why they exist, this One and 35xx 2024 are 2 of them.
Already ordered from your post! Thanks
I really hope this gets some quality of life upgrades in the future. I've actually really been hoping someone would be brave enough to do a single stick handheld at this power level for a while now. N64 and dreamcast just don't play right without analog controls, but the second stick is so unnecessary and usually just a waste of space. Thanks for the impressions Russ!
I went with the a30 I prefer the look, the controls are bigger. Although I understand the problems resulting from a slower chipset and screen not being so bright. I like the form factor too. I hope software updates maybe onion and further optimisation may improve it a little. I suspect though onion os probably won’t come to the a30 considering the development costs and they will like wait until it is updated to a better and matching chipset to the mini version. I plan to have other retro devices for the games it can’t handle. For me this is just an ultra portable to have when out and about don’t want to carry larger device. Good review it is a shame the dpad and chipset let it down but not a deal breaker for me.
The mono usb-c only headphone jack is really the deal-breaker for me, this is really weird since the DAC part is in the adapter cable, i wonder if it could be fixed by a firmware update.