Anbernic RG35XX H Linux Retro Handheld Console product image

Anbernic RG35XX H Linux Retro Handheld Console

(4/5)
Review by Joshua Morris on
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Review

I revisited the RG35XX H this fall after flashing GarlicOS 1.5 and the little Linux handheld still punches way above its price. The laminated 3.5" IPS panel is genuinely crisp, and the H700 plus 1GB of RAM keeps PS1 and 16-bit cores locked at full speed while my nightly sync job copies save states over 5 GHz WiFi. ANBERNIC continues to ship a 64GB card packed with thousands of ROMs; I wipe it for my own dumps, but the dual microSD slots make juggling firmware and a clean library painless. Real-world battery life lands around 4 hours with WiFi on, so I tuck a 10,000 mAh pack in the bag, yet the ergonomics and the surprisingly snappy low-profile sticks make this the retro handheld I reach for first when I want to speed-run Symphony of the Night on the couch.

✓ Pros

  • Laminated 3.5" IPS panel looks razor sharp at native 640x480
  • Dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth pads, and mini HDMI make docked play effortless
  • GarlicOS 1.5 plus dual microSD slots keep firmware and ROM management simple
  • Tighter low-profile analog sticks and a clicky D-pad feel better than most $70 handhelds
  • Still one of the cheapest handhelds that runs PS1 and 16-bit libraries full speed

✗ Cons

  • Expect roughly 4 hours of battery with WiFi enabled
  • Bundled ROM set remains a licensing gray area—budget time to load your own

Specifications

Display3.5-inch laminated IPS (640x480) with OCA full lamination
ProcessorAllwinner H700 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 (1.5GHz) + Mali-G31 MP2 GPU
Memory1GB LPDDR4 RAM
Storage64GB microSD included (dual microSD slots, up to 512GB)
Battery3300 mAh Li-Polymer (USB-C fast charge)
OsGarlicOS 1.5 / Linux dual microSD setup
ConnectivityDual-band 2.4/5GHz WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, mini HDMI out
Dimensions5.0 x 2.7 x 0.6 in
Weight11.3 oz
Date First AvailableAugust 29, 2024