I have both the RG353VS and the RG353XX. That is why I bought the RG353PS, which beats them both. If you wanted a truly portable vertical handheld, get an RG280V. If size does not matter but price does, get the 35XX. If you wanted a vertical handheld that you’d use as your TV console and wanted anything over basic retro gaming, get an 353VS. If you wanted Android or PSP, get a Retroid. If you wanted a cheap all-rounder emulator, get the 353PS, which is the best of them all for the price and a clear winner.
Just received my RG353V - overall very impressed. Not a fan of the D-pad (mostly the texture and stiffness), knew the sticks were going to be meh but wanted a vertical with good specs and this is it.
Open it up and put small slivers of electrical tape on the dpad PCB to make it feel more directionally satisfying. More vertical tape makes it feel like a street fighter and contra friendly dpad.
I just bought the RG353V with the 256 upgrade. This morning I knew nothing about any of these. I just wanted to play some of my childhood games and a few that I missed out on. I think the RG353V will be more than adequate. I didn't realize how powerful it was. I was originally trying to avoid some crappy wish or temu crap that can't play GBA without being stuck at 10fps or something awful.
And rg35xx is even better now with the new distributions such as Koriki and batocera. Psp, dc and n64 are now possible to some extent ! This makes rg35xx the best $50 handheld, and by far!
I bought 353PS some time ago and I'm pretty happy with it. Definitely the ergonomics, the build quality and the ability to run ArkOS and Portmaster which I yet have to dig deeper into. Otherwise I play GBA and PS1.
I was researching the RG353V and this video was near the top of TH-cam's results. I can see why too; it was an informative review/comparo. Having a smaller size handheld isn't that big of a deal for me. So, after seeing how the RG353V struggled with N64 and above I think the extra $20 for the chunky RG405V would be money well spent, assuming I go in that direction.
The RG353VS is really nice in the black transparent colour. Forget the RG353V and Android, just get a black or white 353VS for the extra power, extra controls, extra micro SD card they come with. I’ve got a few of these and you can tell the difference in finish, the 353 models have nicer plastic. But let me make this point - forget vertical handhelds, get a Retroid if you wanted Android and the RG353PS or 351P if you wanted a decent budget handheld that connects to the TV. The only vertical handheld I like was the RG280V and it’s still one of my favourite ones.
I've got the 350M and Miyoo Mini+. But I think I might get rid of them when the RG405V comes out. It looks super comfortable to hold and the screen is bigger.
My thing is i will buy one of these for the older type of games, i dont care for n64 on such a small screen but gba ect games were made around that so i think i might for the RG35xx
What good is extra performance when in reality it only translates in a couple additional imperfectly emulated machines ? Take the price difference and the huge community support for the 35XX (GarlicOS and the upcoming Koriki) and i still would recommend it over the 353V.
@@yagami999913This is were opinion comes into play. I still prefer the 353v all the way, but I can see the love for the 35xx. Emulation of Dreamcast for me has been great while running Arkos on it. Also having Wifi and Bluetooth is a huge plus for me.
for those who want something cheaper, I have had the rg351v for awhile and its still amazing for the price and it is the perfect middleground between comfortable size and portability
Lovely video Joey! However, I think this video only really applies if you can buy these devices directly from Ambernic for the original price. In my region, the RG35XX costs almost as much as the RG353VS, meaning I'd only pay somewhere closer to 20-30% more for an RG353VS. Given I'm looking for the smallest possible form factor and small price difference, the RG353VS seems like the no brainer buy while the RG35XX feeling more like a considerable downgrade in the sound, emulation power and controls department.
Fair! What about Temu, AliExpress etc.? The coupons on Temu are enticing for example, $25/30 off. Should be lots of options out there for third party resellers, but I can't speak for everywhere in the world.
@JoeysRetroHandhelds I've tried those services, but I'm afraid the shipping takes either incredibly long or its very unreliable. That also means it's very difficult to gift these reliably unless you order them long in advance. So like many people, I'm stuck with larger online stores like Amazon. Which of course has the usual limitations like reseller markup which I suspect is based around demand. Thanks again for the video!
I bought the 353v hoping it would be the perfect upgrade from the 351v (my favorite handheld of all time). It felt cramped for me with those analogue sticks in my way. So I ended up selling it. And I hated those triggers. The 35xx seems to be quite nice. I've only held one briefly. I'm waiting for the 35xx Plus to come out, cause it will have better triggers. And hopefully come in metal.
Wow... I hope someday i have any one of thant ambernic here in Philippines, i wish someone give me like that, the Christmas is coming, i hope santa clause is coming here... God bless...
It’s pretty much perferance, I love the RG353V. I play all the gba games and snes games comfortably. Bigger games like ps1 Dreamcast etc are too uncomfortable to play on the small handheld.
My first choice before is 353v, but that is the reason why I just chose 35xx, it's because PSP and Dreamcast are not perfect, also the analog of 353v seems not comfortable, it's hard to justify the much added price compared to RG35xx.
Hi, I am Asiannbut have big hands and am nearsighted. Would you recommend the Anbernic RG35xx for me? I kinda dnt want my hands and eyes to suffer more. 😂
35xx has more of a Gameboy color esq feel which i like but is definitely spec limited unfortunately. While the RG35 is better you also pay for it in price. So its a bit of a toss up.
Hello, my filmware was damaged to turn on my R35S, you would have the filmware to pass it to me, I would really appreciate it. I'm very sad about everything that happened
The 353V is more powerful on paper but it doesn't translate that well in reality since PsP, Dreamcast etc have imperfect emulation. And the 35XX looks WAY better (hate how the analogs look on top of hearing they were bad quality) and GarlicOS is the most optimized OS out there. Plus the support for the 35XX from the community is CRAZY with stuff like Koriki OS nearing it's 1.0 release and supporting NDS too.
So the Anbernic RG353PS is the same console as the 353V but just different orientation? Also, do they come with the same games no matter whether I buy them from Anbernic or Amazon etc?
Basically, the 353PS is the same as the 353VS, just different form factor. Same with 353P and 353V. Can't answer the second question, I don't use their games.
I'm not much of a tech guy here but would i be able to port over AM2R or Axiom Verge to either one of these consoles? Not sure if i really need the android side of things to make that possible or would i be ok with just the Linux device.
Its complete no brainer..the 353v is th GOAT..more ram..2 analog sticks which do come in handy for games like mario 64 using the stick to move the camera.. the 35xx is underpowered under controlled unnecessary. 35xx only the tiniest bit smaller...
RP 2s vs Powkiddy x55 Which one would you suggest ? I'm not sure which form factor is better vertical or horizontal, I play on my android mostly in horizontal, because its comfy. But the streched gb, gba graphics. I don't like it very much. I'm confused with much info around emulation. I want my first emulation device. I'm on the fence to order the RG35XX, because of its active development community.
2S and it's not even close. More compact, more powerful, better specs, all of it. You'd only get the X55 for a larger screen, but even still, I wouldn't.
very informative :) .. I am totally new to this .. started exploring a week ago and now soooo confused .. im looking for a device that is just enough to play N64 perfectly without breaking the bank ... any advice ?
Thanks allot ! Another question if you allow me to.. what about running Wii games regardless of device orientation , which is the best option out of the box ? .. looking to gift someone who’s into retro , but not technical at all 😅
Can you use bluetooth controllers just played my brother in laws loved it ive been using emulators for years and this is really cool also recently saw the 4k firestick with retroarch looks good also
hi Joey, thank you for the video its good, I have Rg353v and I have problem with portmaster (I use ArkOS) when i select portmaster it ask me to upgrade yse / no but i couldn't select or move the selection, i manually downloads all ports its show but when click in any one its try to load after that showing black screen with ArkOS and back to ES. your suggestions are highly appreciated.
I am new to the "handheld emulators" scene. I've been researching for a week and can't find what I'm looking for. I'm looking for a handheld emulator that plays everything up to and including PSP and GameCube (PS1) without any problems. Furthermore, portability is very important to me. As small as possible, but still suitable for big hands. What can you recommend?
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds right I get that you can add roms but I'm not really s computer guy, I'm a console baby lol so I meant is there a list of games already pre loaded on it.
The RG353V, VS and 35XX are 15% right now through LITNXT. V: bit.ly/3DHvXX2 // VS: bit.ly/3rNxI2e // 35XX: bit.ly/40ASMVq
Links don't work...
Just tried all 3, they all work. Try a different browser?
I have both the RG353VS and the RG353XX. That is why I bought the RG353PS, which beats them both. If you wanted a truly portable vertical handheld, get an RG280V. If size does not matter but price does, get the 35XX. If you wanted a vertical handheld that you’d use as your TV console and wanted anything over basic retro gaming, get an 353VS. If you wanted Android or PSP, get a Retroid. If you wanted a cheap all-rounder emulator, get the 353PS, which is the best of them all for the price and a clear winner.
This comment helps a lot. You answered every questions i have in my mind
Hey! Can all of the different models play online vs eachother or dp.i need the same model?
Just received my RG353V - overall very impressed. Not a fan of the D-pad (mostly the texture and stiffness), knew the sticks were going to be meh but wanted a vertical with good specs and this is it.
Open it up and put small slivers of electrical tape on the dpad PCB to make it feel more directionally satisfying. More vertical tape makes it feel like a street fighter and contra friendly dpad.
is there a video I can watch of this@@gnawtsatyr8865
Might need some breaking in.
Wow I was literally looking for comparisons on these all morning today. Glad I found your video 👍
I just bought the RG353V with the 256 upgrade. This morning I knew nothing about any of these. I just wanted to play some of my childhood games and a few that I missed out on. I think the RG353V will be more than adequate. I didn't realize how powerful it was. I was originally trying to avoid some crappy wish or temu crap that can't play GBA without being stuck at 10fps or something awful.
Bought the 353v, games and library poofed out of thin air within 2 days of having it. Have a 35xx and its been amazing so far
Damn, bad memory card?
Have mine months .. no issues
You just need a quality brand micro sd card. I recommend Sandisk.
And rg35xx is even better now with the new distributions such as Koriki and batocera. Psp, dc and n64 are now possible to some extent ! This makes rg35xx the best $50 handheld, and by far!
I bought 353PS some time ago and I'm pretty happy with it. Definitely the ergonomics, the build quality and the ability to run ArkOS and Portmaster which I yet have to dig deeper into. Otherwise I play GBA and PS1.
Does it come loaded with games? Specifically the original Resident Evil trilogy?
I was researching the RG353V and this video was near the top of TH-cam's results. I can see why too; it was an informative review/comparo. Having a smaller size handheld isn't that big of a deal for me. So, after seeing how the RG353V struggled with N64 and above I think the extra $20 for the chunky RG405V would be money well spent, assuming I go in that direction.
Blast from the past with this video!
I own the Anbernic RG35XX and I can vouch for the quality. It's very good and with the Garlic OS, it's user friendly
RG353V has : SS (Sega Saturn) , PSP (Play Station Pee) , PS1 (Play Station 1) , SFC (Super Famicom) , FC (Fami com) , MAME, MD (Mega Drive) , NDS (Nintendo DS) , N64 (Nintendo 64) , SMS (Sega master System) , INDIE GAMES , ANDROID , DC (DreamCastTheSpell)
The RG353VS is really nice in the black transparent colour. Forget the RG353V and Android, just get a black or white 353VS for the extra power, extra controls, extra micro SD card they come with. I’ve got a few of these and you can tell the difference in finish, the 353 models have nicer plastic. But let me make this point - forget vertical handhelds, get a Retroid if you wanted Android and the RG353PS or 351P if you wanted a decent budget handheld that connects to the TV. The only vertical handheld I like was the RG280V and it’s still one of my favourite ones.
I've got the 350M and Miyoo Mini+. But I think I might get rid of them when the RG405V comes out. It looks super comfortable to hold and the screen is bigger.
I love my r353ps, which has the same specs, cause its Dreamcast capabilities and arkos itself (preview videos, screensaver kiosk)
I have the same one too. I love it.
My thing is i will buy one of these for the older type of games, i dont care for n64 on such a small screen but gba ect games were made around that so i think i might for the RG35xx
the RG353V screen is absolutely beautiful
The RG35XX is nice but the RG353V/VS blows it out of the water as far as performance. ARKOS firmware is great too for the RG353V/VS.
Good recommendation
What good is extra performance when in reality it only translates in a couple additional imperfectly emulated machines ?
Take the price difference and the huge community support for the 35XX (GarlicOS and the upcoming Koriki) and i still would recommend it over the 353V.
@@yagami999913This is were opinion comes into play. I still prefer the 353v all the way, but I can see the love for the 35xx. Emulation of Dreamcast for me has been great while running Arkos on it. Also having Wifi and Bluetooth is a huge plus for me.
I have both. I prefer 353v analog sticks are what I use for direction. Also the extra performance besides gaming allows for filters/overlay.
Will you do a comparison between rg405v and the rg353v????
I would go for the RG35XX solely because the analog sticks on the other with that design looks completely atrocious in my eyes
for those who want something cheaper, I have had the rg351v for awhile and its still amazing for the price and it is the perfect middleground between comfortable size and portability
I heard Anbernic is working on RG35XX Plus, with some upgraded features like WiFi.
BTW great video!!! 1st time watching you and already love how you cut things down!!! I'll be sure to watch more of your content😄👍
Love the Illidan statue in te background
Lovely video Joey! However, I think this video only really applies if you can buy these devices directly from Ambernic for the original price.
In my region, the RG35XX costs almost as much as the RG353VS, meaning I'd only pay somewhere closer to 20-30% more for an RG353VS. Given I'm looking for the smallest possible form factor and small price difference, the RG353VS seems like the no brainer buy while the RG35XX feeling more like a considerable downgrade in the sound, emulation power and controls department.
Fair! What about Temu, AliExpress etc.? The coupons on Temu are enticing for example, $25/30 off.
Should be lots of options out there for third party resellers, but I can't speak for everywhere in the world.
@JoeysRetroHandhelds I've tried those services, but I'm afraid the shipping takes either incredibly long or its very unreliable. That also means it's very difficult to gift these reliably unless you order them long in advance. So like many people, I'm stuck with larger online stores like Amazon. Which of course has the usual limitations like reseller markup which I suspect is based around demand.
Thanks again for the video!
I bought the 353v hoping it would be the perfect upgrade from the 351v (my favorite handheld of all time). It felt cramped for me with those analogue sticks in my way. So I ended up selling it. And I hated those triggers. The 35xx seems to be quite nice. I've only held one briefly. I'm waiting for the 35xx Plus to come out, cause it will have better triggers. And hopefully come in metal.
is there a plus model out yet
@@noahthet. absouletly not
Awesome in depth comparison, thank you!
Wow... I hope someday i have any one of thant ambernic here in Philippines, i wish someone give me like that, the Christmas is coming, i hope santa clause is coming here...
God bless...
It’s pretty much perferance, I love the RG353V. I play all the gba games and snes games comfortably. Bigger games like ps1 Dreamcast etc are too uncomfortable to play on the small handheld.
Can different models play multiplayer with eachother or would me and my friends need to buy the same version?
Please help+
if you're broke get RG35XX but if not and you want the best device get RG353V or the VS version of the RG353
That's it
I'm broke and cooked💀
Maybe I getRG35XX
@@codfish1776 the RG35XXH has analog sticks. So yeah it's good. And also powerful. Just know how to add your own roms.
Happy enough with my 353 v to be honest
My first choice before is 353v, but that is the reason why I just chose 35xx, it's because PSP and Dreamcast are not perfect, also the analog of 353v seems not comfortable, it's hard to justify the much added price compared to RG35xx.
Hi, I am Asiannbut have big hands and am nearsighted. Would you recommend the Anbernic RG35xx for me? I kinda dnt want my hands and eyes to suffer more. 😂
Question. Why the fvck they named these handhelds like that? What's with the code-like name? What's next? RG467XG1125?! Its so confusing.
rg = retrogaming , 353 = 3.5 inches , V = Vertical . Not sure about the XX , it's the same with rg405m , retrogaming 4.0 metal. hope this helps.
Great review i subbed 😎
35xx has more of a Gameboy color esq feel which i like but is definitely spec limited unfortunately. While the RG35 is better you also pay for it in price. So its a bit of a toss up.
It reminds me of the Gameboy Pocket actually. Similar casing and the buttons are very much the same.
touch screen
I want to get one but honestly I'm going to wait for an upgrade on the system so I can have a lot more fun on the more demanding games
Might want to check out the RG405V if you like vertical! My review will be up within a week, but there's other videos out.
My note 8 does psp, Saturn, dream cast on retro arch with zero stutter. With much better screen of course
Hello, my filmware was damaged to turn on my R35S, you would have the filmware to pass it to me, I would really appreciate it. I'm very sad about everything that happened
My 35xx turns on but don’t boot up ?! And when it does it’s lucky should I send it back and get the 353 it’s on sell right now for 80
That's an SD card issue, not hardware. Stop using the stock SD cards and flash a branded one.
I already have a T618 device, so I bought rg35xx for 40usd. Only for pocketability and 16bit games 😂
how do i know if i have the first version of the 353v screen?
No easy way to tell.
The 353V is more powerful on paper but it doesn't translate that well in reality since PsP, Dreamcast etc have imperfect emulation.
And the 35XX looks WAY better (hate how the analogs look on top of hearing they were bad quality) and GarlicOS is the most optimized OS out there.
Plus the support for the 35XX from the community is CRAZY with stuff like Koriki OS nearing it's 1.0 release and supporting NDS too.
my RG35XX doesn't have some games like crash nitro cart the PS1 version so... I played the GBA version it's not that bad.
what about the remote pc play on the rg353v?
So the Anbernic RG353PS is the same console as the 353V but just different orientation?
Also, do they come with the same games no matter whether I buy them from Anbernic or Amazon etc?
Basically, the 353PS is the same as the 353VS, just different form factor. Same with 353P and 353V. Can't answer the second question, I don't use their games.
Thanks for the response. 👍🏻
Are there Nintendo DS Pokemon games available on the RG353V? Like the Black and White?
You can add any DS games you'd like.
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds how? Just download the ROMS into the console?
Sweet spot seems to be RG353VS at 70usd
I'm not much of a tech guy here but would i be able to port over AM2R or Axiom Verge to either one of these consoles? Not sure if i really need the android side of things to make that possible or would i be ok with just the Linux device.
Both of those would be available through portmaster on any ArkOS install, so the RG353V would work here.
so either the 353v or 353vs would be fine running arkos on the linux side of things, no android needed?@@JoeysRetroHandhelds
For those two games? Correct, just need portmaster.
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds really appreciate the help, I'll probably just go 353vs as I don't plan on playing many games requiring the sticks. 👌🏽Thanks!
Its complete no brainer..the 353v is th GOAT..more ram..2 analog sticks which do come in handy for games like mario 64 using the stick to move the camera.. the 35xx is underpowered under controlled unnecessary. 35xx only the tiniest bit smaller...
Can i play windwaker on both? I haven't played that yet.
Neither.
The ads are as long as the video smh. 30 seconds of content...AD.
Seems like an unfair comparison no?
RP 2s vs Powkiddy x55 Which one would you suggest ?
I'm not sure which form factor is better vertical or horizontal, I play on my android mostly in horizontal, because its comfy. But the streched gb, gba graphics. I don't like it very much.
I'm confused with much info around emulation. I want my first emulation device.
I'm on the fence to order the RG35XX, because of its active development community.
2S and it's not even close. More compact, more powerful, better specs, all of it. You'd only get the X55 for a larger screen, but even still, I wouldn't.
Feel like a better comparison would be the new rgbmax
No wifi no buybuy
What about the RG351V?
I just bought the rg353v for what it already is but is it possible to download the original smash bros or conkors bad fur day on it?
You can download them onto it yep. Not sure how well they'll play.
Nice Video..IF YOU CHOOSE ONE BETWEEN ANBERNIC OR MIYOO AND WHY PLEASE?
th-cam.com/video/G2L80T8a8Vw/w-d-xo.html
Which emulator would nds games run smoothly
very informative :) .. I am totally new to this .. started exploring a week ago and now soooo confused .. im looking for a device that is just enough to play N64 perfectly without breaking the bank ... any advice ?
RG405V is the only vertical that can do that.
Thanks allot ! Another question if you allow me to.. what about running Wii games regardless of device orientation , which is the best option out of the box ? .. looking to gift someone who’s into retro , but not technical at all 😅
Unfortunately it doesn't exist, none of them are good out of the box, but the only two that will do Wii is the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro and Odin 2.
Can you use bluetooth controllers just played my brother in laws loved it ive been using emulators for years and this is really cool also recently saw the 4k firestick with retroarch looks good also
Should have been a v/vs model comparison.
Sort of useless to do, they're the same minus lack of touchscreen, ram and android. Performance wise they're equal.
Does golden sun come on the rg35xx
Does Genshin Impact run ok on 353 or would I need 405? (This looks nicer and is cheaper.)
Neither unfortunately, it's hard to run.
Do you prefer vertical or horizontal handhelds 🤔
Horizontal across the board, but I do like smaller verticals sometimes.
Go for Anbernic rg353ps
That joystick is what you pay man
I want a more powerful miyoo mini+
I just want to be able to play Pokémon stadium 1&2 on the go lol.
They’re on the switch
I want ambernic or someone to make a cheap handheld that can handle all psp game 2x resolution 60fps.
The RG 35XX went up in price on amazon 😮
I was thinking the same thing after watching this... I want an emulator in this size.😅
Missed that Prime Day sale! $56 is pretty good as MSRP, otherwise there's those $25/30 coupons on Temu to get it pretty cheap there as well.
@@brodyjames4126get the 35xx or a miyoo mini + from temu
How about $41 from Anbernic eBay? ebay.us/KnQNwA
ebay.us/KnQNwA - try this
hi Joey, thank you for the video its good, I have Rg353v and I have problem with portmaster (I use ArkOS) when i select portmaster it ask me to upgrade yse / no but i couldn't select or move the selection, i manually downloads all ports its show but when click in any one its try to load after that showing black screen with ArkOS and back to ES.
your suggestions are highly appreciated.
Hey, I'd jump in the Discord in my description and share that issue. The dev is active in it.
Anyone considering powkiddy rgb20s? With slightly higher price but with extra analog stick and more powerful CPU 1gb ram.
can you review the r35s please
Yep, it's arriving this week.
Can anyone let me know if either have California games on it?
Go for a powkiddy rgb30, the best 👌
Yeahhhhh..... nooo......
I am new to the "handheld emulators" scene. I've been researching for a week and can't find what I'm looking for.
I'm looking for a handheld emulator that plays everything up to and including PSP and GameCube (PS1) without any problems. Furthermore, portability is very important to me. As small as possible, but still suitable for big hands. What can you recommend?
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro and Odin 2 are your only options.
353V download roms and extract right from the system instead of doing it from a computer
Want to play super smash bros ,Mario kart64 &double dashsuper, and super Mario 64 can this do that ?
Nope.
Do these come with Pokemon or Chrono trigger jw
You can add any games you want.
@@JoeysRetroHandhelds right I get that you can add roms but I'm not really s computer guy, I'm a console baby lol so I meant is there a list of games already pre loaded on it.
Does Mario 64 come pre loaded?
35XX doesn't do N64 and the V, not sure, don't use their ROMs.
can the 353v play stardew valley well??
Yeah it plays pretty good.
Anyone buying a 35xx wears on their sleeve how bad at decision making with logic they are.
353v can play gamepass and steam link on top of everything.....
DOES THIS CONSOLE HAVE "SPAWN: In the Demonds Hand " For DC "DREAMCAST" ‼️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️⁉️
Pretty lame comparision is like ps1vsps2
It's one of the most requested comparisons.