Retro Gear
Anbernic RG35XX Plus Review: More Compute, Dual SD Slots, and Batocera Support
In-depth review of the Anbernic RG35XX Plus featuring the Allwinner H700 quad-core processor, 1GB LPDDR4 RAM, dual microSD slots, and Dreamcast/PSP performance.
2 min read
- Score
- 8.8 / 10
- Category
- handheld
- Price
- $68
The Anbernic RG35XX Plus delivers significantly higher raw compute than the Miyoo Mini Plus, featuring a quad-core Cortex-A53 processor and 1GB of LPDDR4 RAM. This hardware leap expands playable systems to include Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, and Sony PSP while retaining the beloved 3.5-inch 640x480 vertical format and dual-card storage architecture.
Hardware Specifications
| Component | Specification | Practical Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| SoC | Allwinner H700 (Quad-Core Cortex-A53 @ 1.5GHz) | Double the clock speed of sigmaStar chips; handles 3D emulators |
| GPU | Dual-core Mali-G31 MP2 | Hardware 3D rendering support with OpenGL ES 3.2 |
| RAM | 1GB LPDDR4 | Eliminates memory-exhaustion crashes during fast-forwarding |
| Display | 3.5-inch OCA IPS (640x480, 60Hz) | Saturated colors, wide viewing angles, and integer scaling for 4:3 consoles |
| Battery | 3,300 mAh (USB-C charging) | 6 to 7 hours of 16-bit gameplay; ~4 hours of intense Dreamcast |
| Storage | Dual MicroSD (TF1/INT for OS, TF2/EXT for ROMs) | Clean separation allows OS flashing without touching the game library |
| Outputs | Mini-HDMI output & Bluetooth 4.2 | Connects to TV and supports wireless 2.4G/Bluetooth controllers |
Firmware Options: Stock vs. Batocera / Knulli
The factory OS is usable but bloated. Third-party community distributions unlock the true potential of the H700 silicon:
- Knulli (Batocera Linux Fork):
- Full EmulationStation visual front-end with video previews and scraped metadata.
- Built-in RetroArch shaders (CRT-Royale, LCD-Grid) run without frame drops thanks to Mali-G31 GPU acceleration.
- Requires a 15-second initial boot time, but provides the cleanest user interface.
- muOS:
- Ultra-fast 6-second cold boot into a text-driven minimal menu.
- Exceptional battery standby management and zero background CPU overhead.
Performance Breakdown by Platform
- Sega Dreamcast: Runs at full 60 FPS across 85% of titles using Flycast. Crazy Taxi and Sonic Adventure run with steady audio and zero frame skips.
- Sony PSP: 1x native resolution runs smoothly with PPSSPP on 2D and moderate 3D games like Persona 3 Portable and Lumines. Demanding 3D titles like God of War: Chains of Olympus require 1-frame skip.
- Nintendo DS: DraStic emulator runs with full speed. Swapping screens is bound to the R2 trigger.
- HDMI TV Out: Plugging a Mini-HDMI cable instantly switches resolution to 720p/1080p, turning the unit into a miniature home console.
Miyoo Mini Plus vs. RG35XX Plus: Which to Choose?
- Pick Miyoo Mini Plus if you prioritize software polish (OnionOS Game Switcher), native PICO-8 Splore integration, and the absolute smallest pocket footprint.
- Pick RG35XX Plus if you want Dreamcast/N64 support, dual microSD card convenience, Bluetooth controller pairing, and HDMI output to your TV.