I'm Done With These Things...

[@korryramone]

Nobody ever said that every reviewer had to touch every device. These things are just coin collections for millennials. The emphasis is on buying and customizing firmware on these things - feels like nobody is playing them. This is especially evident when reviewers miss huge QOL issues that come from spending more than 10 hours on one. Review the good ones, stop this handheld-acquisition syndrome everyone has, and incentivize these companies to innovate. Anbernic wouldn't be making these if they didn't sell - it isn't fair to be mad at them.

[@PaulTaylor1]

Bingo.

[@bastian8271]

I dunno dude. Gwarsancho Tinni, or no?

[@albertosaldivar2934]

These guys buy every single console for making content and get views, the most famous of them don't even buy them and got them for free, so nobody are forcing them to buy every console. I don't even think anbernic sells that well to launch a handheld every month, most of people I know doesn't even know this stuff exist, and I know a lot of nerds...

[@Myako]

@@korryramone oh my, poor company building a crapton handhelds with the exact same SoC for the past 5 years without bothering to at least improve on UI/UX! 🙄

[@andretti10]

@@Myakomore like, oh my, poor spoiled KZbinr who gets free devices to play with for a living. His job must be so unbearable

[@arondyte318]

I wouldn't be surprised if Anbernic just released a new handheld while I was watching this video 😂

[@X91X-km7hp]

you're close. they just announced new colours for the sp.

[@freakgamer3892]

😂

[@tappersreviews4677]

Only 1?

[@brucieplays3720]

@@X91X-km7hp It sold well so more colors :o

[@TwinGunz]

I Love Anbernic, But, please wait a second before releasing anything else. If ya wait a year, better tech and chips come out, then make a huge leap, rather than baby steps all the time. 😂😂

[@Triggermappy]

I got a steam deck and called it a day with these, it can pretty much emulate PS2 and Xbox games

[@This_man500]

A Steam Deck and Analogue Pocket is the ideal two car garage.

[@Semtex199]

its running xbox360 and ps3 games as well, some are running very fine

[@EpsilonChurchRVB]

I have an Odin 2 Pro and it's all I need to play anything from PS2/Gamecube and below flawlessly. I would've been satisfied with a Steam Deck as well (mostly to play my Steam library natively on the go instead of streaming them elsewhere) but not only does it have way less battery but it's too bulky to hold. Not to mention that Android is already getting Cemu (Wii U emulator) in the near future. It may only be a matter of time before Xenia and RPCS3 start development on Android as well. Until the Steam Deck somehow turns into the size of a GPD Win 4 for a reasonable price, I'm most likely never getting one.

[@BA-vw2kx]

Love my steamdeck. It’s an emulation monster. With the OLED , 6 hours of playtime on PS2 and below, and huge hard drive I feel it’s is hands down the best option at this time for emulation

[@Madblaster6]

Fits in your pocket really well.

[@randydrew66]

That Ambernic SP video you made got me to buy one and I use it on the toilet every single day, I appreciate you

[@RetroDodo]

That's one of the good handhelds to be fair.

[@randydrew66]

@@RetroDodo I don't understand buying a handheld for 3D games tbh, I know their SP can play a lot of them but I literally only use it for gba games. Before I bought it I was a daily driver of the GBA SP. If I wanted to play games that require a lot of paying attention to I'll probably just play my series x, switch or PC. Never understood buying a handheld for anything besides simple games you can put 20 minutes in at a time.

[@PaulTaylor1]

​@@randydrew66what, it only takes you 20 minutes to use the toilet? 😮

[@randydrew66]

@@PaulTaylor1 when I'm gaming it does lol

[@joelchrono]

@@randydrew66 The PSP came out in 2005 and is very angry at you

[@eddythefool]

I feel like you can just make shorts for handhelds that don't give much of an upgrade compared to the other version.

[@MisterKrakens]

It's not that the handheld market got worse. It got better but as the choice increases, reviewer struggle to make video for all of them. It only is a problem for you, not the consumer

[@aliasukvideo]

Absolutely. Well said. Key points I listened to in this video, is arrogance and a "cry baby" Western World problem approach.....Did he also refer to himself as an "influencer "? Oh. Dear........😂

[@mamory3791]

💯

[@gustavo9758]

@@aliasukvideo That's one of the things I was thinking about... I mean, you may be an influencer but saying it out loud is... bad taste. How about "we reviewers" or "we handheld lovers", etc, there are many ways of saying what he wanted say.

[@carwynvan]

Problem for these companies is there's no post-sale income (like the steam deck will do for valve with steam game sales), so they have to keep churning out more and more in an attempt to keep the money coming in...

[@RetroDodo]

Yup, they have an incentive to not make a perfect device.

[@tog2842]

​@RetroDodo Just like cancer research will never cure cancer or the Police will never solve all crimes. Self preservation is a strong motivator.

[@sergio_henrique]

​@@tog2842The police example doesn't make sense. There's not a limited amount of crime to be solved. People are always gonna commit new crimes.

[@crestofhonor2349]

@@tog2842 Neither of those examples really work because people will always get sick or get cancer and people will never stop committing at least some crime. It can go down but it will never reach zero in a large society

[@johnduncan5117]

I actually like it that Anbernic is releasing a load of versions of each series. The xx range uses one and the same chipset for example, but people prefer different form factors. Clamshell, vertical, horizontal, large screen, micro device, dual sticks one stick etc etc. It's not necessarily a bad thing. But that doesn't mean every retro channel is obliged to review every single one. If you want to focus on the more unique devices that is entirely your prerogative. Still think it's worthwhile reviewing Anbernic devices when they have a step change between series. Eg what processor will replace the one in the XX series when it inevitably gets upgraded.

[@RetroGamingWithDeadfred]

it should be released together though. The way they are releasing it is tiring

[@verygoodfreelancer]

it’s so funny how much the handhelds are not about playing games as much as they are about consuming the newest piece of tech. game playing is a total afterthought lol

[@Ray__E]

@@verygoodfreelancer Reminds me of the people buy the newest and more powerful graphics cards but never actually game with them. They love talking more about specs than actually using the product the way it was intended

[@gustavo9758]

Agreed, but don't talk for everyone here, I play a lot on them.

[@Killysunt]

Absolutely fair, a lot of retro gaming channels are constantly posting about them & it's a bit boring from a viewer's perspective unless I'm seeking out info on a system specifically

[@gustavo9758]

One of the top comments already addresses this and yeah, the video is, for the most part, not fair. Nobody said reviewers should go thru EVERY console. Also, yeah, Anbernic is a company that wants to make money so they will sell as many products as they can. You guys complain about them being almost the same when a model transitions to the other. To this I'll say: have you ever heard of the iPhone? (lol). Every Anbernic console is innovative in comparison, they actually make changes to the hardware, software, ergonomics, form factor, etc. Anyway, that other top comment explains it better.

[@EsThirt33n]

Honestly the oversaturation is what kept my from buying an emulation handheld and stayed on my psp and original hardware gameboy advances and ds/3ds with flash carts/micro sd cards.

[@korryramone]

Hacked 3ds is critically underrated.

[@Pixelman546]

Same! I'd rather grab a GBA and pop in a game than wade through menus for a (possibly) inaccurate experience. Not everyone will agree, but I think it's worth mentioning the special feel of original hardware with all their quirks. It just hits different

[@villageflippinidiot]

​@@Pixelman546 original hardware hits different, but you'll never catch me booting up Pokémon emerald without a speed up function now.

[@albertosaldivar2934]

​@@korryramoneit's not...

[@albertosaldivar2934]

You are just afraid of it, thinking you will need a new one released after you buy yours. I got into emulation with psp and I can say it sucks for emulation for today standards, we got better things now so it's not necessary to get stuck with a 2005 system...

[@TheNumberOneShmuck]

It's not oversaturation. If you're a reviewer trying to cover literally everything then yeah, it'll be tedious doing the same thing over and over with little to no substantive difference between them, it's probably no fun. You do what's right by you if it'll help you enjoy making videos. But as a buyer? It's amazing having so much choice. Having more granularity, not having to compromise so much on what machine is just right for you. You get to choose form factor, screen size, aspect ratio, price point, operating system, etc. And it's a sign of a healthy market, that there's room for so many. For me, the 40XX-H is just about perfect, it even has digital triggers. If that gets an upgraded version that can comfortably do GameCube/PS2 levels of emulation and a dock for Switch-like functionality, that would pretty much be an endgame system for me. But lots of people prefer the nostalgia of the 35XX's clamshell, or the pocketability of the Miyoo A30, or having a widescreen system, or the Sega-centric controls of the Arc-D/S, or even those funky square-screen systems. And of course people have different budgets and use cases. Having more options for more people to get what they want with fewer compromises is a damn good thing. We're spoiled for choice, and it's awesome.

[@douglasdelorey3045]

how long have you been into the retro handheld scene? Cause I used to get excited and get that amazing feeling but a lot of his points resonated. There are so many in my opinion too many for 1 reason for the companies to make us want to buy them and I've bought a handful and yeah each one are basically the same. Maybe if there were 10 new handhelds a year but there must be close to 100 that come out every year with minor improvements. FYI to Retro Dodo i feel you man I subscribed to your channel after watching this. This was my first video I've seen of yours. Do you don't get bullied by these companies. They sadly really don't care about you as a person they see you as a gateway to use and abuse to showcase the "new new" which is basically the "same same" but different. What are we in Thailand. Geez

[@TheNumberOneShmuck]

@@douglasdelorey3045Since 2015 with the GPD XD. Had a lot of retro emulation setups over the years since then, from Android phones and tablets with controller attachments, to portable PCs, and of course dedicated retro handhelds running both Android and Linux. The landscape has changed a lot, not just the systems. I saw excitement for systems that came out years after the XD despite being less powerful, like the RG350 and the Bittboy. Companies added things like affordability and better controls to the scene, and there weren't as many coming out back then. Nowadays there are more companies making these things, and they've got most of the basics pretty much figured out, so we wound up with lots more product releasing. But it's not like there's nothing new and exciting happening. The last two years moved a hell of a lot faster for the industry than the previous eight, I can tell you that. More big improvements, more noteworthy products, more innovation. It's way better now than it's ever been. Reviewers just feel the tedium more because back then there would have been radio silence between new systems. Having a lot of iterative product launches in between the bigger, more interesting ones now is, as I said, a sign of a healthy market that also improves consumer choice. It's filler, sure, but there's no real downside to it. The key here is that most of us aren't buying up every single one of these things. I've had what I consider to be a lot of different setups over the last decade, as I outlined in the beginning of this reply, more than most people would wind up with over that time. But nothing close to what I'm sure these KZbin channels wind up with. Most are probably going to buy one of these systems and stick with it for 3-4 years before replacing it, at least for a given use case. Maybe they buy a Miyoo Mini Plus for a pocket system and later get an Odin 2 for high-end emulation or something, but probably not much more than something like that, and they'll be happy with what they have for a long time. So if someone's going to be looking at getting a retro handheld that they're going to be using for a few years, they're a lot better now. Instead of having 4 or 5 viable choices, there's a few dozen out there, so they can narrow things down by price and performance, form factor, operating system, etc, and still wind up with half a dozen models that are all very similar on the surface, but then they can dig into the reviews and compare the smaller details - best d-pad, best analog sticks, best stock or aftermarket operating system, aesthetics, ergonomics, HDMI output, etc and find a better match for themselves than they might have done with fewer options. Any truly healthy and thriving industry with a higher output volume will have its share of garbage - a look at the shovelware quotient in the PS2 or Wii game libraries will readily demonstrate this - but most of these filler systems being released are really good, quality options at reasonable prices that people wind up happy with. There's no downside for consumers, as long as you're not compulsively buying up every single one you can get your hands on. They're just boring for reviewers. But reviewers have the same option too, and Brandon is exercising that option here: don't bother doing every single one, just stick to the ones that pique your interest.

[@ferdeboergd256]

I find ironic that there's FOMO in the retro world... 🤔

[@BigFatCone]

It's almost like many aren't in the hobby for the love of gaming, but to fill the hole in their soul with consumerism.

[@jesusiskingofkingss]

thank you for explaining why every other handheld review i ever watched were just ads pretending to be opinions as i suspected

[@Muzikman127]

If there are affiliate links, it's an ad. If the “reviewer” influencer is being compensated by the company making the products (whether by a flat direct payment, by payment on commission, or just a bunch of free shit), then you are watching marketing content - designed to part you and your money

[@WickedGamerCollector]

I stopped trying to keep up and when I review it .. will release it sometimes month later. Invasion of handhelds I love that we live in a time like this onlly it's over the TOP. Only problem indeed is repeating yourself because it's more of the same for us. Good Video ... totally feel with you ! By the way ... 2:00 Love your doggy ! 💖

[@TimelordUK]

Hi wicked, good to see you here!

[@jonathonearl482]

The problem isn't the gaming companies releasing the handhelds (releasing different handhelds is their purpose). It's the gamers trying to purchase every single handheld release. Only purchase the handhelds that interest you!

[@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude]

shh... dont say that people want to live in an illution and dont wanan hear the hard truth

[@jonathonearl482]

@@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude I have not purchased a handheld in quite a while. Didn't get the 40XXV, the RGCube or the Trimui Pro. I just ordered the Trimui Brick moments ago. Been waiting for the release of the Brick for about 2 years.

[@nsgames24]

To be honest, a lot of the handhelds that released this year, so far haven't really interested me that much. Heck, the only emulation portable I own currently is a Retroid 2+ that I barely play.

[@jonathonearl482]

@@nsgames24 That's totally fine! You didn't waste your money purchasing handhelds just to be purchasing them.

[@EpsilonChurchRVB]

​@pdrlzdss Ok, but there were other additional major factors that contributed to the video game crash of 1983, some of which were the lack of publishing control and the rise of home computer competition that was much more profound than it is today due to the rapid advancing technology at the time. Also, having more ergonomic/cosmetic options doesn't hurt either. Like the OP stated, only purchase the handhelds that interest you or that you think fits your overall needs. Don't go buying everything out there in the market or else you'll essentially be setting yourself up for disappointment on the overall market of handhelds in the end. As for me, I bought myself an Odin 2 Pro after having waiting for something that could play almost everything flawlessly at 1080p. Had no issues with it since and never looked back on the rest of the handheld options out there.

[@GreenTeaViewer]

Company puts out many products to provide choice, reviewer has breakdown. Tale as old as time. Counterpoint: I got in the handheld market for the first time in two years, saw that the RG40XXV looks perfect for my needs, bought it, happy with it.

[@anbernicguy]

Valve should release a mini Steam Deck now.

[@frankielopez825]

That would be my dream device. I love my steam deck. It’s just too dang big for travel

[@skycloud4802]

That would make a great companion to the Steam Deck. It wouldn't even matter if it's less powerful.

[@Pridetoons]

Agreed, some of us hate X86 Handhelds because of how comically big they are. A Steam Deck Mini would remedy this.

[@TakunHiwatari]

I completely understand. I got the 353m when it launched and I haven't seen Anbernic put out anything that was a worthwhile upgrade imo. If I had to give advice to anyone looking to pick up handhelds, I'd say you're better off going with official hardware (like 3DS, Vita, Switch, maybe a handheld PC) and one retro HH that specifically suits your needs.

[@ErnestJay88]

For Anbernic product, if it the same series like "XX" series just focus on the design and special features, since it using same CPU, same amount of RAM, the performance itself will not be different, for performance, no need to redone testing.

[@Cloud28693]

I really appreciate this decision! I'll be hapoy to read your reviews and see the video on those devices you truly appreciated, among the beautiful contents you share 😊

[@WitchDoctor87]

Brilliant video! As a viewer, i was feeling what you were going through. Many other people im subbed to did these repetitive vodeos, and frankly, i'm sick of it. This honesty was a breath of fresh air. This makes me have a massive increase of repsect for your content.

[@gluttonousmaximus9048]

The consumer habit has basically caused us to forget that these devices are not tied to game publishing deals or DRMs or stuff. They should be there to empower us, to help us combat consumerism with a device that works for purposes of our choosing - look at the growing custom OS scene. But some of us seem more enslaved by these things than anything else. Really, if other talks regarding these devices seem too complicated and cynical, then remember this: **Newcomers, don't buy anything at launch.** Let the hype settle, and let more experienced users find the quirks and faults and come up with ideas to help you with a more enjoyable experience with a handheld you *eventually buy*, not *instantly buy*. There are patient gamers, and we should also try to be patient gadgeters.

[@Gliiitch305]

Bro I’ve learned in life that no matter what people are never satisfied. If you give them a little they will say it’s TOO little if you give them options they say TOO MANY options! 🤯

[@nayt2978]

Good on you for openly disclosing the commission rate. Its rarely talked about but the financial incentive potentially lends itself to the possibility of reviews being more positive. I appreciate the transparency.

[@Muzikman127]

If you're getting a sales commission, you're not a review, you're a freelance marketer. Influencers and reviewers are the not the same thing, reviewers are journalists, influencers are advertisers.

[@Pixelman546]

FINALLY somebody said something. the emu handheld market is insane rn and I hope the bubble bursts soon

[@chimrichalds81]

Everyone has been saying this for a couple years now. Remember the rg351 devices?

[@batmabel]

Just from the ones I follow, Taki Udon jumped off a while ago and Bob from Wulff Den also said that he's not covering anything else he doesn't find interesting anymore. Hopefully soon more will follow, and let's see if Anbernic still keeps releasing a new device every few weeks, because I have the gut feeling that this whole marketing is being kept afloat by content creators advertising these and a handful of people just buying everything they see.

[@andretti10]

When did having options become a bad thing? No one told you that you had to buy every new shiny thing that gets released. If you're experiencing handheld fatigue, that's entirely of your own doing

[@Giggler.]

I feel your pain bro ❤😢

[@RetroDodo]

There's too much to cover, there's only two of us on the team, with a website to run also, it's exhausting man.

[@rsorry]

Sounds like a personal problem - 406v actually has great analog sticks but instead you posted a video complaining about getting free review units smh

[@ARZEON]

I absolutely understand that point of view. I've lost my passion for these handhelds over time as well, way earlier than you did, especially since I had no time left to play retro games, which is why I liked them in the first place. Best of luck brandon.

[@scaredylamb]

I think you made a very valid point here, there is an excessive amount of devices being released without bringing much on the table. I only got 2 emulators because I thought they looked nice: the SP (dmg version) and the 405V (the wood grain version). I then learned about modding my old consoles (3DS, PS Vita and Wii U) that were untouched for years and it helped me to avoid buying any other emulator device.

[@attackemartin]

Mad and massive respect for this move and I wish you absolutely nothing but the best for your future man! Great decision ❤

[@MrRamazanLale2]

Coal miners are sharing your pain.

[@NerdyWeaponXGames]

Good of you to be so honest and candid with this video. Whilst you’re waiting for some decent handhelds to be released, tell Rob I miss him.

[@Junier-Hussein]

Great video & relatable 💥 I spend longer setting them up than playing them! I only have a few of them - Miyoo Mini & another micro one plus a RG351V. I mainly play my old school handhelds/consoles, so many games I haven't played, large catalogue for each system so I'm covered for a while, plus I have a PS5 for anything new.

[@JRChuxx]

Sounds like you describing the iPhone 😂(0:51)

[@abehikura]

Particularly with the anbernic "family" devices there isn't a whole lot to say beyond "it's the same thing in a different shape" they just need the one review that gets referred back to until they actually do something different.

[@ConsummateGamer]

Love this. I want to know about the things that you are seeing that get you engaged and excited and that are different!

[@mrwoodcat]

bro that is for real. I've been following this retro handheld scene from like the very down of it. people seems to forgot a deep content, sharing experience, and a revisit of old history is what makes this hobby charming. not a review race. looking out for your new series 🙌

[@MrSirFluffy]

I can see how that is time consuming and annoying for you. As a consumer though, I love it. The selection and options have been wide and cover most interest and niches. It will probably slow down a bit after awhile, but it's good to see that no matter your budget or need their is likely a retro handheld that has you covered. For instance the RGB10X from Powkiddy that just released was exactly what I needed. However, some people may want WiFi or other features, so they can get something from Ambernic that is more expensive. I just wanted something cheap and more portable than a steam deck or Retroid 4/5. I didn't want to spend alot for something my devices can already do, but the 10x fit perfectly into my use case.

[@cakestealer5983]

Appreciate the honesty

[@investoreyes1]

I only own 3 devices and I realized last year these things aren't getting any better, unless you want to spend $300+ ...which I'm not interested. The development of handhelds that put you in the ps1 and below space is exhausting in itself. Thanks for acknowledging the reality of the handheld space. I wish more content creators would speak up about the excessive remodeling of the same old crap.

[@masamasa1815]

Importing these things in bulk and selling them has been the greatest cure for me to not want any of these for myself anymore. Seriously getting to get my hands on basically all the releases gives one the sense that this is an old thing in a new package. They are literally all the same, play the same systems, play the same games ect so on and so forth. The only one as of recently that I think is pretty cool and fairly unique is the trimUI smart pro. People are nuts for these little handhelds though, when I'm fully stocked I will without any doubt sell between 10-20 of these retro consoles a week.

[@TheRetroByte]

When you said hamster wheel I totally got it, and the fun is being sucked out of it, on Tiktok it's even a faster wheel and most of the people reviewing these on Tiktok haven't got a clue and just completely blag it leaving the honest reviewers to sink in a sea of honesty.

[@maddoggaming1171]

It has been pretty insane seeing 1 or more devices announced each week. I can't even fathom trying to make an in-depth video on each and every one. Good on ya for even trying. Keep up the great work!

[@ianhobbies]

Analogue Pockets, Mini consoles and an Evercade collection is all I need!

[@RetroDodo]

Great combo to be fair!

[@MangakasDream]

I respect it. Though I will say while it is frustrating seeing how many different variations of the same hardware releasing time and time again, there is some solace in knowing that there's a good chance you can find exactly what suits your needs. In my case, it just leads to choice paralysis tho lol.

[@Ghreak]

I wish people would actually play with those devices. I often see on reddit people buying every device they see but donot really play with them. I still have my pocket go from 2019 and it works fine. I sometimes think of getting a larger one but thereare just to many options.

[@DavidFilskov]

Very understandable! - Is the Retro Show on this channel? - can't find a link here.

[@georgeogden1277]

As a consumer of these devices I'm suffering from too many devices that are essentially the same just from different companies. As a result I've stopped buying until something significantly different and better comes along. I can only imagine how much worse it must be for content creators such as yourself who are constantly being innudated by devices being sent to you for evaluation?

[@RetroGamerDesigns]

I hear you loud and clear. As a fan of retro handhelds, but with a very limited time and budget, watching the same kind of videos from creators, saying the same things is also fairly monotonous. So knowing that you'll only be reviewing the handhelds you think are worthy is a great time save for me personally. At least I know I'll be watching something different and interesting, rather than the same old same old in a different format. Keep up the great work.

[@CraftComputing]

This is going on, maybe to a lesser degree, in the handheld PC market. Identical hardware, being released in multiple form factors, with each device having slight tweaks or input choices, but none of them having basically any innovation at all. Thanks for the honest video. Make content YOU want to make, and more importantly, content you'd actually want to watch.

[@RetroDodo]

Thank you.

[@CraftComputing]

@@RetroDodo Anytime brother. Keep being awesome 🍻

[@UMvsC3DPFWPW]

As much I love the Retro Emulation Gaming Market I do agree that they are being WAAAY Oversaturated on the Design and Specs. To me it’s Best to Buy a Handheld you would Enjoy and play for a Longtime. But you’ll never know you Jinx of getting an Inferior Handheld this experiencing FOMO.

[@luissolis2426]

Doing written review is a great compromise in my opinion so you can review stuff you’re actually excited about and enjoy making the videos while keeping us informed on all the other stuff cause some of those do fit certain niches for people

[@Asaylum117]

I have a Nintendo Switch, PSP and PS Vita. I have been playing my Vita a lot, especially when it's jailbroken, it's honestly one of the best handheld consoles ever made.

[@kampru6867]

Fascinating that he got fed up on one that actuallyl finally brings the big newthings like higher res (after all these times being stuck on 640:480) and first time proper sticks at anbernic .... weird one to lash on after the barage og XX devices

[@GameboyZeroOfficial]

I have been saying the same thing... What we long wished for has now become tired.

[@Eragonfrost]

In my opinion the more handhelds we have the better because more options, We have the SP/Cube for Compact portable gaming or the 556 for great screen, and the H devices for 4:3 etc

[@SchmurtzAlex]

The problem is real for video creators but also for the involved community: you don’t have enough time to really focus and the project always tried to keep compatibility instead of improving. It’s a lot more fun to try to get the best from a non perfect device than having a new device each week. I respect Miyoo way for this : they are critized because their new device is not coming as soon as expected but this long life cycle allows their devices to improve and it’s better like this. Nice to expose this point because many of us also have the feeling to be saturated too: before a new device was an event, now "it´s just another video". Device manufacturer should release one device maximum per year and the rest of the time they should watch videos to improve their product with little iterations.

[@yuzzi8861]

Thank you for being so honest, you’re one of my favorite youtubers. Please keep it up! I love your channel and I’m excited to see the direction you turn it in :^)

[@ThxrnTech]

As someone who has been really getting into the handheld emulator scene lately to play classic titles I grew up with, it definitely feels like the market is heavily saturated. I have my RG350M as a dedicated handheld, butni also have a pixel 5 for that oled display, which has sorta taken place of the Anbernic because of how easy it is to use the pixel with the Backbone. Regardless, I can't wait to see the upcoming videos, and I hope this new push towards content you enjoy works out for you :)

[@alexquencholara33]

Wherever you go, we go together brother 🙏🏽🙇‍♂️

[@RetroGamingWithDeadfred]

This is why I will not parlay into that territory. Think of my channel as the craigslist of handhelds. Nothing fancy, no scripting, barely edited and just off the cuff reaction reviews. I do this for myself first and foremost and I reccomend you do the same.

[@mrplaomeow768]

I wish there was an ergo shop where we can hold the device in our hands with an accurately depiction of the display and included software.

[@MetalKingdomOfHammer]

It’s not THAT many devices. It’s a portrait and landscape version of a Linux based budget handheld, and an Android based higher end handheld. I would review the portrait and landscape variants in the same video.

[@PolarBlairTech]

I think it's ok to skip devices that don't speak to you. If you get every one, and you get tired of them, you're less likely to approach each one with care and an open mind. For example, the rg406 is a generational leap from the rg40xxv. But you only get to know that if you've given yourself time to give it a proper chance.

[@TheDeadlyTikka]

yeah they need to stop spamming the market. A company really only needs to make 5 different devices max Vertical 4:3 Horizontal 4:3 Clamshell 4:3 Horizontal 16:9 Clamshell 16:9 There is no reason to release multiple of each with the same chip inside.

[@lphillimore]

It's out of control these days. Friends ask what handheld to buy, and honestly it's hard to answer....we went from custom-made devices to literary 100s of mass-produced ones in a small space of time. Some are really, really good, but I don't understand the constant release schedule with subtle changes, small tweaks etc. Would be so much better if they focussed on the actual emulation levels we're after and tailored their devices more to this. The 'middle of the road' options are saturated beyond belief.

[@SWPLGAMING]

I feel your pain,there is too much happening too fast,can't even have the joy of playing them. it's taking away something that should be refreshing and fun. It's all time sensitive,we have families and jobs,it's just crazy. I feel a reviewers podcast rolling in 😅 My friend just got the 405v and the 406v drops😂😂 Unfortunately the market dictates what is to be seen, Lets bring back content on why we love and what we love. Awesome and truthful video bro🔥🔥

[@Bobbin4Brownies]

As someone who's been into handhelds since the early 90s and emulation since the early 2000s who had 16 bit systems running on my Blackberry way before smartphones, you'd expect I'd be overjoyed by all these devices but nah. We used to imagine them all the time and how cool it'd be to have android emulators in a handheld dedicated device but now they're here and mostly suck and flood the market with confusing fly by night garbage and subpar experiences. I think the issue aside from such a lack of progress between iterations, the performance just doesn't impress me so these things mostly come off as cheap toys for kids into "retro" themed merch more than an enjoyable method to play games. They're hobbyist status symbols and have to assume most people set them up, show off their gamer badge online and then never use it or buy the next one. I recall running tweaks and making compromises on emulators for so long to be the first to barely play laggy PS1 games on my phone, same with Dreamcast, being hyped watching Dolphin development, etc and at this point seeing people wowed by chinese cheap crap that is worse than what my phone could do 15 years ago is lame. If I want to play a game, I'm spoiled and I want a good experience haha. Full speed without jerky threaded video, low latency, shaders, a solid and comfortable form factor. Just being able to play a game portably isn't a wow factor anymore. These novelty things are desk ornaments. Like if I want to see a movie I'll use my home theater, not be giddy about watching it on a VMU screen or something and buy five of them to show what a movie enthusiast I am. So... naturally I bought an Oden 2 and calling it a day lol.

[@DoWeNeedAName]

I can see your side of things. As a tech/gaming 'enthusiast' I do enjoy hearing about the latest and greatest handhelds. Other than emulating on some sony and nintendo devices, I was waiting to invest in a handheld that could do it all. From time to time over the last four or five years, I would keep tabs on the releases from various companies. In the last two and a half years, it was getting a little more confusing to keep up on what was releasing in the market, and what was actually WORTH while. In the last two years, things were catching my eye again and I noticed the power and cabalities of handhelds were improving. Well, after FINALLY deciding on a device in late 2024, I'm happy to say that in the flooded market of handhelds, with the help of your reviews as well as a bunch of other channels, I decided with the Odin 2. I still enjoy hearing about what's being released, but a little yawn-inducing these days with Anbernic and even Ayaneo's releases. Always enjoy your videos and the channel. You deserve some chill time.

[@Dqni122]

Thank you for been honest ,i was going to buy one and the price was $214 with $50 extra i got me a steam deck 😎

[@khreativa]

Right on! Give us your take on what floats to the top, what interests you, what is innovative, what is worth our time and money - watching reviews of 'the same handheld in another color or with blinking analogs' is also getting old.

[@eddythefool]

I bought one a few years ago for GBA games and they pretty much all i needed. I was tempted to buy updated versions with bigger screens, but after thinking about it i just didn't bother.

[@DeathMetalThrasher]

I can understand your position and the challenges that come with reviewing on multiple platforms and dealing with the companies that send you review units. I won't disclose my other channel where I'm a tech reviewer out of my privacy reasons. However, I will say I have gotten screwed over by off brand computer and laptop manufacturers not communicating, blacklisting me and not finishing their end of the deal. It's very frustrating at times, but I continue out of the love of my passion for it. I'm still having fun collecting these new handhelds, but I pick and choose which ones I really care about and actually see using for more than a week. There is too much oversaturation in this market. Anbernic, Powkiddy, and all these other brands should slow down and release very well designed and well thought out products with signicant features and hardware/software changes that would warrant the consumer or give real incentivization to make a worthy purchase.

[@ProjectEdan]

To be fair, this sounds like more of a reviewer problem. I love the amount of choice that there is out there in terms of form factor and screen ratios.

[@deatheros]

Maybe you should create a separate channel for quick reviews. No script, no deep dives. Only fast, 1 working day worth reviews for the pace of industry. And then keep doing more interesting videos for the devices that you think deserve it. What do you think?

[@Papabears_2nd_rate_art]

Excellent honest video. I completely agree 👍

[@ben-tendo]

This month as a result of being tired with so many models and specs and features, I gave in and ordered the Odin 2 and now no longer need to look at these things... I can just enjoy a handheld that can play games amazingly well, and sell the rest of my devices like the RG35XX-H and RG556 to pay for most of it. Done, now to actually play games! Which now that even Wii U is on Android, the Odin 2 is loving all of these platform options...

[@selfdestructivef0rce]

Its why I just bought the mm+ plays a lot of what I want and is very portable

[@marksimpson1454]

Definitely understand why you want to take a step back from video reviews of practically the same device. I also don't get why they (especially Anbernic) don't release different control styles with the same system - out of their new releases, why not have one with N64 style controls? Nobody else is doing it and at least it makes it somewhat different

[@guillaumebanville3811]

Thanks for posting this Brandon, and very glad that you were able to stop the hamster wheel in this way. Too often we are doing things we don’t love simply because it’s the normal thing to do, or what we feel is expected of us. When we’re not aligned with it, it brings stress and that significantly contributes to burnout. Thanks for your candour Brandon! By the way, got the AHH 88-95 and TCC - loving them both as much as the first AHH! Thanks for making this awesome content!

[@TimelordUK]

Thank you for talking sense. I've stopped watching videos on handhelds because every week there's another new one. Are we meant to buy them all? When is enough enough? I first bought the RG300 and I loved it, the scene was quite new at that time. I was aware of it's limitations, so when the RG350M appeared, I bought that. So now I have two. And for me, that IS enough. I like the idea of you travelling to games shops and interviewing the owners, the same way I enjoyed KZbinrs visiting record shops which was all the rage once. Quality not quantity. And this channel has always been quality. Good luck with everything

[@evilzombie]

We appreciate all the hard work. Im looking forward to just seeing reviews on the truly interesting and different handhelds that actually contribute to improving our hobby. I cant afford to get a bunch of them, just every so often when budget allows, so its nice to see this.

[@ETlandxoxo]

Exactly one of the reasons I am slowing down all my videos. Losing a lot interests in these things.

[@drdiva70]

Theres a lot of interesting retro accessories/interfaces that would be cool to see reviews of. Rom dumpers, gameboy camera mods, controllers, etc. would love to see more of that stuff. These are products I actually want to see how they work before I buy them

[@akos.kokenyesi]

Totally understandable! Keep it up in the future, I really like your content! I always wondered, doesn't it drive you crazy when you have to play the first 5-10 minutes of the same games over and over again?

[@jesusiskingofkingss]

now that i understand whats going on a little better, that reviews are just basically scamming ads, i will be blocking every other review channel i see and just watching yours bro. the truth will always be the best way to go about things trust this will only bring you more success

[@roxsonixx]

Buy an attachable smart phone controller -> attach phone -> no need for handhelds.

[@shashasha2333]

I only have the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro, Miyoo Mini, RG35XXSP, my Galaxy S24+ with Gamesir G8+, Aya Neo Air Plus 6800U. If getting too many devices with the same chipset sent to you is stressing you out, I know it's a rough problem to have, give them away.

[@Cyko..]

I used to buy these Chinese handhelds left and right, but have refrained big time this year when I too just got tired of the same chipset but in a different form factor. The only devices I bought this year so far is the RG35XX H and the RG Nano. My favorite combo to play retro games consist of my hacked New 3DS XL, hacked PS Vita, a Steam Deck, and my phone. If I was on a deserted island with just those 4 items I would be in retro gaming bliss.

[@Aidod27]

Anbernic is taking the piss releasing a new handheld every week, the exact same spec in a different shell, my SP didn't even work 😡 great video 👍

[@patchdb7]

I get it. I prefer your left-field content anyway. Be the best Dad you can be - most important, then show us the positive passion that helped point me at retro gaming years ago.

[@RetroDodo]

Appreciated.

[@cybersed57]

The reason why Anbernic is releasing so much similar devices is to give more choices to customers. Keeping reviewers entertained shouldn’t be a consideration. These are not mediocre devices, they’re quite good for the price. Not everyone will buy $200 devices that are fun to review.

[@TheXtremeBoltGuy]

Honestly, good on you. Personally, I'm sick of SEEING these things. It's like they put out a new one of these things every few MINUTES now, with little to no differences between them!

[@shadowside8433]

It's all very confusing for the first time buyer, for sure.

[@Lazybal.gaming]

You don't have to buy all of them. I am glad i waited, because the RG40XX V is exactly what i wanted (for my retro gaming needs). I probably won't need to buy another handheld for a couple of years, unless something game changing comes out.

[@Pridetoons]

All you have to do is wait for the one you watch then buy it. You don't have to buy every Handheld.

[@Colrmebloodred]

@@shadowside8433 I spent about 2 days watching reviews and reading up on this before buying one. Option paralysis is annoying.

[@johnmickey5017]

So you just… know which one you want? I’m fascinated how you think this works.

[@ezpz4646]

Hey I'm an indie dev looking to start a handheld line with just my games. Do you know of any decent blank (unbranded) handheld devices with good ergonomics and specs I could purchase, modify and sell?

[@fredrodnick2881]

Similarly, I no longer own a computer. Years ago I gave it up and can't afford one now,. I never learned about adding games to a handheld. So that being said, I have to rely on plug and play. Now I have several that play up to psp , but want one to play beyond this like PS2 for example. I've tried to buy cards ,but so far they don't work and I am skeptical about being able to get my money back and am on a tight budget to begin with. So unless a company comes out with say ps2 games that I actually like and actually play decently at a modest price, I am forced to all but give up the hobby and no I don't know any one who can help me to get the cards to work. Looks like I'm stuck. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you

[@charlesforbin8526]

I feel the same when shopping for a new handheld.

[@nerdcraftercoley7305]

I was collecting them right and left never did reviews on them was collecting Ambernic Powkiddy and anything else that was high-quality handhelds but even in the last year I've only bought one thing and it was actually a Pandora's box that had a screen that came with it and that was better than any of these handhelds I've bought. I haven't collected one of these highmarket handhelds in over a year because every time I see them I'm thinking I've already got that and it looks different but it plays the same. So I definitely get what Brandon is talking about here.

[@Xanduur]

I bought a Nintendo switchlite, a steam deck, and a Lenovo Legion go over the last year. I have zero interest in any of these android based handhelds. The only one I purchased was the Ambenic 405M. I ended up getting rid of it because the screen is just too small and there’s no video output.

[@lighthawk95]

I just bought a telescoping controller for my phone. No clue why I'd want one of these since doing that. Better screen, better CPU, more RAM, newer Android, etc., Seems silly to buy another device that won't last as long or be as capable. These handhelds are kids toys in my mind now, it's just that they're not priced appropriately.