The Anbernic RG34XX is a portable console that looks exactly like Nintendo’s famous GBA. Its interest: allowing you to play, if you have the cartridges, retro games ranging from the NES (and even before) to the Dreamcast and the PSP. All for less than 65 euros.
Emulation is a bit of a fuzzy area for many users, as it is governed by specific rules. For example, it is prohibited to own ROMs (virtual images) of games for which you do not have the physical cartridge. Consoles, like the Anbernic RG34XX discussed here, are authorized for sale, it is the use you make of them that must be regulated. So if you’re tired of having to take retro games out of your closet to enjoy them, you only have to spend less than 65 euros to have this console in your pocket.
The strong points of the Anbernic RG34XX
- His GBA look will tickle the nostalgic nerves of many
- It works on battery with 7 hours of autonomy
- The 3.4″ IPS screen displays 720 x 480 pixels, which is better than back in the day
The Anbernic RG34XX costs 74.99 euros on Geekbuying, in 32 GB version and without games. If you add the promo code NNNFRRG34X in the basket, the portable console goes to 64.99 euros.
A fake GBA, a real retro console
The Anbernic RG34XX tries to appeal to gamers by offering you a look that you already know: that of the Game Boy Advance. This console which raged between 2001 and 2008 with flagship titles like Golden Sun, Metroid Fusion, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, The Legend of Zelda The Minish Cap, Wario Land 4, etc. Well, on the Anbernic RG34XX, you can find all these games and much more (provided you offer the original cartridges at home).
The console measures 144.6 x 81.8 x 24.8 mm for 188 grams, where its model was 144 x 82 x 24.5 for 140 grams. An almost exact copy therefore, with a nevertheless better screen: 720 x 480 pixels in IPS on 3.4″, compared to a 2.9″ screen which displayed 240 x 160 pixels. It runs on a Cortex-A53 chip, 1 GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 32 GB of memory, with a port to add a microSD card.
The best way to play all retro games from anywhere
Another technological advance on this Anbernic console: it runs on battery power, instead of batteries, with a capacity of 3500 mAh for around 7 hours of autonomy. Approximately because you can change the brightness of the screen, activate or not the vibrations when you play, turn the sound up or down… So many options that affect autonomy.
You find the classic keys for playing with additional triggers to adapt to the most recent games. However, the lack of a joystick means that some games are simply unplayable. Moreover, the most demanding games on the most modern consoles, notably the PSP and the Dreamcast, will have difficulty running. For that, you have to move up a notch and opt for an AYN Odin 2 Pro for example, more expensive, but also more powerful.
The world of portable retro consoles is bigger than it seems, so if you’re interested, you can discover them in our dedicated buying guide.
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