This is not a first for Anbernic, the retro gaming specialist is once again offering a console with a more than familiar look. After releasing the RG35XXSP in a format that didn't convince us much, here comes the RG34XX, a machine that fully assumes its Game Boy Advance inspiration down to the smallest details. From design to performance to screen, this portable console promises to revive the glory days of Nintendo portable gaming, while adding a welcome touch of modernity.
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A design that instantly revives nostalgia
It seems that this time, the manufacturer has made every effort to immerse players in nostalgia, by rediscovering exactly the sensations of yesteryear. Here we find the dimensions and design of the original Game Boy Advance identically. The handling is instantly familiar to anyone who has ever held Nintendo's portable console in their hands. The choice of colors further reinforces this impression, with our indigo model in particular, which seems to come straight out of 2001.
The build quality is very good, quite far from the standards of some low-cost Chinese consoles. The plastic used gives off a reassuring impression of solidity, without any creaking or play in the assembly. The buttons and the directional cross offer a feeling remarkably close to the original, with a touch whose calibration will delight purists. We will notice the presence of new keys such as the L2 and R2 triggers, placed where the cartridge port is on the Nintendo console. The two keys above the A and B buttons will also be useful for games on consoles other than the GBA, but also as shortcut keys.
GBA games enhanced by an exceptional screen
The 3.4-inch IPS screen is undoubtedly the greatest success of this RG34XX. With its definition of 720×480 pixels and its 3:2 format, it ensures perfect scaling of Game Boy Advance games. The pixels are displayed with remarkable clarity, without the slightest blur or visible artifact. The vibrant colors and generous viewing angles allow you to rediscover the GBA classics in their best light.
The maximum brightness is rather sufficient to play comfortably indoors. Outdoors, the screen struggles more to resist reflections, but remains usable provided you avoid direct sunlight. The brightness adjustment on 6 levels makes it easy to adapt the display to its environment. We will appreciate here the presence of a screen protector provided in the box.
It should also be noted that the presence of shaders to choose from allows you to find several effects such as pixel grids or scan lines, offering retro visual effects as close as possible to the original consoles.
Performance tailored for GBA emulation
Under the hood, the RG34XX has an Allwinner H700 chip, supported by 1 GB of RAM. This configuration ensures perfect emulation of Game Boy Advance games, without the slightest slowdown or sound problem. Loading times are minimal, and control responsiveness suffers from no latency.
The emulation of other older systems is just as convincing, particularly for the NES, the Super Nintendo or the original Game Boy. The original PlayStation also runs smoothly, even if some more demanding titles can cause some slowdowns. On the other hand, there is no point in hoping to run Nintendo 64 or PlayStation Portable games correctly, as the computing power quickly shows its limits on these more recent systems.
A pleasant user interface, but one that could be improved
One of the points of the RG34XX that did not fully convince us is its original user interface. While Anbernic has made great efforts, the OS is quite functional, but not always intuitive. Navigating the menus sometimes lacks fluidity, and some important options are buried in submenus that are difficult to access. Fortunately, installing custom firmware can greatly improve the user experience as well as the performance of the machine, even if this manipulation requires some technical knowledge. For the purposes of our test, we used the original OS as well as Knulli, which is a much more complete solution.
ROMs (copies of your original games) are managed via a microSD card, with two slots available. The first hosts the operating system, while the second is dedicated to games. This separation makes it easy to switch between different firmware versions without risking losing your game library. Of course, it is still possible to put the entire OS and your ROMs on a single card.
Comfortable battery life for a sluggish charge
The 3500 mAh battery provides very respectable battery life, varying between 6 and 8 hours depending on use and screen brightness. Energy management is intelligent, with a customizable automatic standby and a precise battery indicator. Charging is done via USB-C, with a very long full charge time of around 2 hours 30 minutes. The console does not accept fast charging, being limited to a 5V charger. It was also difficult for us to find a compatible charger.
Appreciable modern connectivity
The RG34XX does not ignore modern connectivity. The mini-HDMI port allows you to play on a big screen, even if the lack of support for external controllers limits the interest of this feature. Bluetooth 4.2 allows the connection of wireless headphones, a particularly useful option when on the move.
The presence of 5 GHz Wi-Fi makes it much easier to update the firmware and transfer files, even if the network interface could be more intuitive. A 3.5 mm jack port completes the package for wired sound enthusiasts.
A rather nice quality-price ratio
At less than 80 euros, the RG34XX is a rather convincing budget choice. It offers a near-perfect GBA emulation experience, complemented by excellent compatibility with 8- and 16-bit systems.
The few compromises made, particularly in terms of the user interface and screen brightness, are amply justified in view of the price. The build quality and emulation performance set the bar high for the competition in this price range.
The Anbernic RG34XX is only 75.99 euros at Geekbuying with the code NNNFR34128!
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