Anbernic
 Logo used since 2017 | |
| Founded | 2017  |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | , China |
| Parent | Shenzhen YangLiMing Electronic Technology Co. |
| Website | anbernic |
Anbernic is a Chinese handheld gaming console company founded in 2017 in Shenzhen by Shenzhen YangLiMing Electronic Technology Co.[1]
The company is known for producing devices that emulate video game systems from the first five generations, such as the NES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, SNES, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64, as well as more recent consoles from the seventh generation, like the PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS.[2] More recent handhelds are able to do much more, including being able to play 6th generation consoles such as the PlayStation 2 and GameCube, as well as the Nintendo 3DS.
History
The Anbernic trademark was registered in 2017 by Chinese manufacturer Shenzhen YangLiMing Electronic Technology Co., Ltd,[3] which released its first handheld console, the Retro Game (RG), that same year.[4] The brand gained prominence after launching a series of popular retrogaming devices, including the RG351P, RG353V, and RG35XX models.[5]
In December 2018, American rapper Soulja Boy launched the emulator console SouljaGame Console, which was actually a rebranded version of existing consoles developed by Anbernic. The project was shut down less than a month after its release.[6][7][8]
Since the establishment of the company 7 years ago, it has released an average of 4-5 models per year.[9]
Software
The devices typically run on Android or Linux-based operating systems and allow users to play classic video games through software emulation.[10][11]
Due to their popularity, several open source projects provide custom firmware for these devices, offering additional features and extended support. These include ArkOS,[12] AmberElec,[13] ROCKNIX,[14] and muOS.[15]
Reception
Its systems have consistently received acclaim and are considered among the best retro gaming devices.[2][5][16][17]
In 2020, Begina de Miguel of El País praised the RG350 model, stating that it "combines high performance with excellent gameplay," and named it the "best retro handheld console" for under 100 euros.[16]
In 2023, Billy Givens and Harry Rabinowitz of Popular Mechanics praised Anbernic's user-friendly interfaces, selecting the RG351P model as the "best handheld game system for emulation."[17] However, they warned that "loading old games into emulators and then selling them in this way is legally questionable in the United States," though consumers are "protected from the illegal nature of these emulations" since the company is based in China.[17]
In 2024, Jordan McMahon of The Strategist described the Anbernic RG35XX as the "best handheld gaming console for retro gaming," while Keith Stuart of The Guardian referred to Anbernic consoles as "unofficial handhelds" that "play thousands of games –as long as you don't mind about the shady legality of homebrew emulators and downloadable rom files."[18]
List of devices
| Model | Release date | SoC | CPU | GPU | Analog | Form Factor | Operating System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RG351P | Sep 2020 | Rockchip RK3326 | 4 * 1.5 GHz Cortex A35 | ARM Mali-G31 (2 Execution Engines) | Dual | Horizontal | Linux |
| RG351M | Jan 2021 | ||||||
| RG351V | Feb 2021 | Single | Vertical | ||||
| RG552[19] | Dec 2021 | Rockchip RK3399 | 2 * 2.0 GHz Cortex A72 4 * 1.5 GHz Cortex A53 |
ARM Mali-T860 MP4 | Dual | Horizontal | Android 11 & Linux |
| RG503 | Apr 2022 | Rockchip RK3566 | 4 * 1.8 GHz Cortex A55 | ARM Mali-G52 (2 Execution Engines) | Dual | Horizontal | Linux |
| RG353P | Jun 2022 | Dual | Horizontal | Android 11 & Linux | |||
| RG353V | Oct 2022 | Dual | Vertical | Linux | |||
| RG353M[20] | Aug 2022 | Dual | Horizontal | Android 11 & Linux | |||
| RG DS | Dec 2025 | Rockchip RK3568 | 4 * 2 GHz Cortex A55 | ARM Mali-G52 (2 Execution Engines) | Dual | Horizontal | Android 14 |
| RG Vita Pro | Mar 2026 | Rockchip RK3576 | 4 * 2.2 GHz Cortex A72 4 * 1.8 GHz Cortex A53 |
ARM Mali-G52 MC3 | Dual | Horizontal | Android 14 & Linux |
| WIN600 | July 2022 | AMD Athlon | AMD Athlon Silver 3050e Dali APU | AMD Radeon RX Vega 3 | Dual | Horizontal | Windows 11 |
| Unisoc T618 Lineup | |||||||
| RG505 | Nov 2022 | Unisoc T618 | 2 * 2 GHz Cortex A75 6 * 2 GHz Cortex A55 |
ARM Mali G52 | Dual | Horizontal | Android 12 |
| RG405M | Mar 2023 | Dual | Horizontal | ||||
| RG405V | Sept 2023 | Dual | Vertical | ||||
| RG Vita | Mar 2026 | Dual | Horizontal | ||||
| RG Rotate | May 2026 | None | Vertical | ||||
| Allwinner H700 Lineup | |||||||
| RG35XX Plus | Nov 2023 | Allwinner H700 | 4 * 1.5 GHz Cortex A53 | ARM Mali-G31 MP2 | None | Vertical | Linux |
| RG35XX H | Jan 2024 | Dual | Horizontal | ||||
| RG28XX | April 2024 | None | Horizontal | ||||
| RG35XXSP | May 2024 | None | Clamshell (GBA SP) | ||||
| RG40XX H | July 2024 | Dual | Horizontal | ||||
| RG40XX V | Aug 2024 | Single | Vertical | ||||
| RG CubeXX | Oct 2024 | Dual | Horizontal | ||||
| RG34XX | Dec 2024 | None | Horizontal (GBA) | ||||
| RG34XXSP | May 2025 | Dual | Clamshell (GBA SP) | ||||
| RG35XX Pro | Jun 2025 | Dual | Vertical | ||||
| Unisoc T820 Lineup | |||||||
| RG 556 | Mar 2024 | UNISOC T820 | 1 * 2.7 GHz Cortex A76 3 * 2.3 GHz Cortex A76 4 * 2.1 GHz Cortex A55 |
ARM Mali-G57 MP4 | Dual | Horizontal | Android 13 |
| RG Cube | Jun 2024 | Horizontal | |||||
| RG 406V | Sept 2024 | Vertical | |||||
| RG 406H | Nov 2024 | Horizontal | |||||
| RG Slide | Jun 2025 | Horizontal | |||||
| RG 476H | Sep 2025 | Horizontal | |||||
| Mediatek Dimensity 8300 Lineup | |||||||
| RG 557 | April 2025 | Dimensity 8300 | 1 * 3.35 GHz Cortex A715 3 * 3.20 GHz Cortex A715 4 * 2.20 GHz Cortex A510 |
ARM Mali-G615 MP6 | Dual | Horizontal | Android 14 |
| RG 477M | Aug 2025 | Horizontal | |||||
| RG 477V | Dec 2025 | Vertical | |||||
RGXX lineup
Identified by the inclusion of "XX" in their model name, this line of Anbernic handhelds is powered by the same Allwinner H700 chipset. Beginning with the RG35XX Plus, these devices are relatively cheap (35-70 euro) and low-powered compared to other emulation handhelds. Emulation ability tops out at PS1, with most N64 games and Dreamcast games playable at full-speed.[21]
The only difference in these handhelds are available controls and form factor. For example the 35XXSP is a clamshell device with no analog sticks, while the 35XXH is a horizontal handheld with sticks.
Custom firmware is usually compatible across the entire lineup.[22] Sometimes this may require a small update from the firmware developers.
References
- ↑ Newcombe, Rosalie (May 20, 2024). "Anbernic shows off how retro handhelds are made in rare behind-the-scenes footage". Dexerto. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- 1 2 Stuart, Keith (November 30, 2022). "The best retro video game consoles for 2022". The Guardian. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ↑ "ANBERNIC Trademark of SHENZHEN YANG LI MING ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED - Registration Number 5711050 - Serial Number 87750983 :: Justia Trademarks". trademarks.justia.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ↑ "ABOUT US". Anbernic. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- 1 2 "Top 10 Best Retro Handhelds Of 2021" (video). YouTube. RetroDodo. December 19, 2021. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ↑ Lanier, Liz (December 7, 2018). "Soulja Boy Is Selling Cheap Emulator Consoles Now". Variety. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ↑ Lanier, Liz (December 31, 2018). "Soulja Boy's emulator consoles meet their inevitable end". Engadget. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ↑ Frank, Allegra (December 5, 2018). "Soulja Boy is selling a console that's basically an overpriced emulator". Polygon. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ↑ "About Us". Anbernic. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ↑ Smith, Colin (November 9, 2022). "Pocket-Sized Metal Gaming Machines". Trend Hunter. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ↑ McFerran, Damien (June 4, 2024). "Review: Anbernic RG35XX SP - Superb GBA SP Clone That's Worth Every Penny At $70". Time Extension. Archived from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ↑ "ArkOS". GitHub. ArkOS. March 3, 2024. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ↑ "AmberELEC". GitHub. AmberELEC. March 31, 2024. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ↑ "ROCKNIX". GitHub. ROCKNIX. April 12, 2024. Archived from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ↑ "Devices | muOS". muOS. November 6, 2024. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
- 1 2 de Miguel, Regina (October 18, 2020). "Las mejores consolas portátiles retro para jugar niños y adultos" [The best retro handheld consoles for kids and adults to play]. El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- 1 2 3 Givens, Billy; Rabinowitz, Harry (August 17, 2023). "Game Anywhere With the Best Handheld Game Systems from Nintendo, Valve, and ASUS". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ↑ Stuart, Keith (January 4, 2024). "Super Pocket review – an affordable mini console that's simply a joy to play". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ↑ Lynch, Gerald (January 28, 2022). "Anbernic RG552 review". TechRadar. Future plc.
- ↑ Alderson, Alex (November 7, 2022). "Anbernic RG353M: New gaming handheld arrives with Android and Linux dual boot support". Notebook Check. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ↑ White, Joe (November 23, 2024). "Joe's Anbernic RGXX Series Tier List - Retro Handhelds". Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ↑ Russ (June 7, 2024). "Anbernic RG35XX Family Starter Guide". Retro Game Corps. Archived from the original on January 7, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2025.