Miyoo Mini Plus vs Anbernic RG35XX Comparison

[@LukeLukeLukeToo]

Against everything that KZbin or Tiktok would suggest, 36 minutes is an absolute joy to see on a video I look forward to, and such a sweet spot for personally digestible yet demanding attention while not dragging. Big fan.

[@jinstinky501]

36 mins of Russ is an absolute joy. All that other garbage should be short-form.

[@BrianJones-wk8cx]

Agreed. Russ has an incredible knack for this kind of comprehensive content. Not only is a huge feather in his cap, but a reminder that in the age of internet attention deficit, we’re not doomed to goldfish attention spans after all.

[@RetroGameCorps]

Thanks everyone!

[@dingmah]

@@RetroGameCorpsI often fall asleep listening to your videos! 😂

[@theglamthropologist]

100%

[@pobbityboppity1110]

I ended up getting the RG35XX but I still appreciate watching this video just to get a sense of the tradeoffs and options available to me. Good to get a sense of the market in general. Great job!

[@KWPZ21]

I've already seen the reseller pre-order prices. The Anbernic 35xx is way cheaper and it also has overclock on Garlic OS to perform better on harder to run PS1 games. For the price they are asking, it's better to buy any of the cheaper Anbernic RG351 devices because there price is that close and those 351 devices have 1GB of RAM and have a more powerful chip which will not have problem playing PS1 games and have joysticks which is pretty good with ports and Scumvvv games.

[@brandonrodriguez1277]

I’m in the same boat at you! Hope you are enjoying it! Mine on the way!

[@ImposterCinnamon]

I did the exact opposite but I am here for the same reason! I heard the rg35xx feels more like the original gameboy in size. How do you feel about that?

[@Lucifronz]

It does seem the more appealing option in many regards. The wifi option would be nice, but for me, it's not essential. I spend a lot of time playing these devices near my PC where I don't mind popping an SD card into an adapter and fiddling with some stuff, as I already have to do it sometimes for my 3DS systems or to move over some screenshots from my Switch. What's one more device to have to do that with, really? The small benefits of the shoulder buttons and the d-pad don't really make up for how... well... kinda ugly the Miyoo Mini Plus is. It's not bad, but something about the placement of those Start and Select buttons rubs me the wrong way and I wouldn't mind something a bit larger for more space for my hands and it just looks better overall. Some portability *is* nice, but it's not everything, as I'm not even intent on playing this outside of the house a whole lot (though the option is always great!).

[@uncletony3025]

I’m living my youth right now. I’ve been under a rock never knew any of these retro games existed😮

[@freezersk]

One more thing - really appreciate that you annotates all the games showed in your videos, very often I take inspiration from them to try as I didn't have any of the game consoles as a child and don't know most of the games, only the most widely known.

[@Surai00]

A little story to help people who may have some issues with the RG35XX. Quick Note: Check HDMI port for integrity when you receive the device. When I received mine, I didn't have a Mini HDMI cable or adapter so I didn't think about the port at all. It would turn out that my port had one bent pin inside, which wasn't an issue until I finally acquired a cord and plugged it into the port. The pin would bend and my audio output wouldn't operate. After removing the cord, my device would not output audio to the speaker after that, despite working fine otherwise. I think, based on my single anecdotal experience, that the ports themselves are not super great. It does work, but I wouldn't overlook it as a potential cause for issues. I was able to remove the audio pin and it still works to output video. IMHO the resolution on a larger screen is so bad, I will probably just disable the port and plug it up. Speaking of which, if someone wants to 3D print some port covers for these bad boys, I'd be happy to be the first customer.

[@Morcoman]

I would say check everything tbh, The first RG3XX had the entire power button disconnected from the motherboard. Looked like it had been broken off somehow, but you could tell without even opening the device lol i was able to get a replacement luckily

[@ivancho5854]

Since your port is defective could hot glue be a better answer rather than a 3D print?

[@Surai00]

@Marcus Griffin absolutely. One of the first things I did was crack mine open, blow out the hair (yeah it had some hair inside), and then add some buffer to stop the rattling shoulder buttons. Everything looked good on my board otherwise but I hadn't thought to investigate inside the port.

[@Surai00]

@@ivancho5854 yes, but I can't do that for the rest of my ports and I would like a solution for water proofing.

[@XxXx-kq]

@@Surai00 What did you use to stop the rattling shoulder buttons? i ordered a RG35XX and would like to make it silent too

[@joshb6470]

As a small hint, I used bulk rename utility to remove the first 4 ("001 ", "002 ") or first 3 ("01 ", "02 ") digits of the names on the SD card to make it sort alphabetically, it also helped as some of the included software were duplicates and couldn't be renamed so I knew which ones to clear.

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

Microsoft PowerToys (excellent package of Windows software) has PowerRename and I use it all the time

[@Ianforcements5669]

Best program

[@coolcat5481]

FYI microsoft offers its own free bulk rename as part of Power Toys package - power rename. Flawless integration, works really well

[@TXFDA]

Honestly, me, personally, I'd probably just delete all the roms and put my own set on it anyway. So really, for me, the naming means nothing. I have tons of roms already thanks to using emulators for years, so I'd just end up copying that stuff to the sd card.

[@agrisimfarming]

​@@TXFDA Same here, there were a lot of shovelware games and weird bootlegs for these retro consoles and I find i play only around 3%ish of the full library. (Basically the best of each systems) Like, do you really need Back to the Future Part II for the NES and Sonic 4 for the Super Nintendo?

[@RetroGameWorld8]

One thing I appreciate about your videos is the fact that you put names on every game you play there. Helped me tons.

[@LockheedLazar]

10:35 dude this right here says a LOT to me, the fact that the miyoo doesnt rattle at all makes it seem sooooo much higher quality. thanks for showing little stuff like that

[@diodora2381]

I've definitely been annoyed with Anbernic for the most part ever since the RG552 didn't bring much to the table, but the RG35XX has been really nice. I could never get a Miyoo Mini, so having an RG35XX has been awesome. I also bought a Miyoo Mini Plus from how much I loved using my RG35XX. Idk why, but it's so much fun to play retro games on these devices.

[@bloozism]

It’s a shame how bad the power management is in the default OS

[@ge2719]

its just not the same to play these old games emulated on a new big hd tv or monitor on a keyboard/mouse or even a new bluetooth controller. Getting to play them again on these handhelds with their old school colour schemes, button layouts, really brings back that old feeling of the old gameboy/gamegear, and even the feeling of using an old crt tv with a controller. with the added benefit of better brightness, colour, sharpness etc of modern screen technology. been thinking of buying oe of these for my friends kid when he gets a little older, and give his dad a collection of games to gradually give him over time to replicate the feeling we would have all had in the past of being able to get new games as they came out. as i think the only thig that can "break" the experience of these handhelds, is if you fill them with every game ever, you're spoilt for choice, you wont get into a game as much as if you know its the only game you have to play. so self limiting is a good idea. like putting mega man one on, and only put mega man 2 on once you finish number one and also play a different game. something like that.

[@brz757]

@@bloozism It really is. How fast it dies with the screen off makes it pretty much unusable as a portable. It always seemed like it was dead for me on stock. Garlic OS definitely saved this device. Having a Mini and an RGXX the ability to just swap the card makes it easy to compare hand feel and the RG is just way more comfortable.

[@michelcameo5637]

@@ge2719 You are the kind of dad I am aiming to be because I had the same idea !

[@modestyblaise4167]

After being a very disappointed RG351p owner, the RG552 brought everything to the table to me and still own mine today. I’m not the only one, Russ (your host here) ended up buying two and ended up making a video of why it’s his favourite handheld for retro games after the early disappointment and failings. I guess it comes down to personal preference.

[@joeblankenship377]

I ordered the Miyoo Mini+ yesterday. Just on a whim. Now that I'm watching videos about it, I'm getting pretty excited for it show up on Wednesday. The retro gray looks pretty cool and the screen looks pretty impressive on these things.

[@lynazerrouki8906]

After 9 months is it good in your opinion ?

[@dakkarocka]

I found out about retro handhelds like 3 weeks ago, got 3 just ordered the mini+. Great content, if my wife asks this was all your fault.

[@inferno2243]

Hey Russ, just wanted to say thank you for putting out such a comprehensive and enjoyable video. Keep up the great content!

[@RetroGameCorps]

Thank you so much!

[@KillerCat03]

Hey Russ, I have ADHD and long videos are usually hard for me to sit through and retain the information, but I love your 30-minute longer videos and watch them all the way through. So I think that says something about how well you present these devices and compare them

[@jayplay8140]

i find playback speed at 1.5 helpful

[@eddiedevereoxford4995]

LOL

[@gianoronce5688]

One thing to note is the Anbernic has a search function on it's stock firmware, so that's a plus when searching for a game

[@Streetsupra88]

Yup. I have GarlicOS now and I'm bummed about the lack of search feature

[@pizzaparkerpromotions6009]

After watching the video i decided to get the RG35XX. The Dual SD card slots, better speakers, and bigger build is what sold me. I’m new to the handheld emulation community but I really enjoy learning more about both systems. I’ll have to see how the stock OS is like but I might just get Garlic OS for the better experience. Thank you again for the extensive insight!

[@JS2123-m9x]

Sorry to piss in your beer, I got both devices and frankly I preferred Miyoo. 35XX’s dpad really annoyed me so much during Tetris.

[@Renvaar1989]

@@JS2123-m9x I don't think having your own personal preference "pisses in anyone's beer"....

[@JS2123-m9x]

@@Renvaar1989 🪤🪤🪤

[@NinjaPhooka]

​@@Renvaar1989Trickle some beef juice in there... 😅

[@fanaticist]

@@JS2123-m9x luckily you're not the authority on anything.

[@StatusQuo209]

Dude! Thank you for testing C to C charging. No one else does this. I carry a single cable on me and c to C charging is huge.

[@xkxxxx]

This really helped me feel better ordering the RG35xx last week :) I went from only caring about your steam deck to being obsessed with these mini gameboys.

[@kaiserkreb]

You won't be disappointed. I just got mine a few days ago and can't put it down.

[@ZR1Terror]

How are the d pad diagonals?

[@chandlercranford5292]

Thanks for taking the time to put this review together! I’ve been waffling between the two and this really helped me decide which is right for me

[@QuietMisdreavus]

It's fun watching this 3 months later when the Miyoo Mini Plus is now readily available from resellers for slightly less than the price the video mentioned (i'm seeing $67 on KeepRetro right now, for example). I'm highly tempted to pick up the Miyoo; i've started getting more into retro gaming in the last few weeks and it seems like it would be nice to have something small to play some of these systems with.

[@nomanshigh3058]

Hello there 3 month later Miyoo mini plus owner buddy!

[@JPerry-jw9ik]

I'm pulling the trigger right now on amazons.

[@HollyriousYT]

i just pulled the trigger too! so excited!!

[@hdtube7]

Awwwwww the chicken update is kind of heartbreaking but I'm glad you're keeping her well

[@Kawabxl]

I still wake up at night wondering which one I should buy :|

[@XiongMa0]

Which one did you buy?

[@dakota5768]

@@XiongMa0 Legend says he still wakes up at night wondering which one to pick.

[@Broken_robot1986]

I'm almost decided

[@genisisfivehundred3975]

I like Veronica and Jeffrey's back stories. I am a little of both and because of your nice in depth video I chose the Miyoo Mini + with the hope the the Anbernic 35xx will be on sale one of these late nights soon.😊 Thank-you for these in depth videos they have helped me make informed decisions about which handheld ones are right for me to buy and saving me from buyers remorse.

[@RemyValo]

About a year ago, I would have thought 'flash custom firmware? no, terrifying, this is only for very smart people.' Now, after a year of watching Russ's videos, I am so pleased to be apart of the retro gaming community, and I love watching these videos to make decisions when adding to my (admittedly still rather small) collection. I'm thinking I would really like to get the Mini plus since I missed out on the on the original mini. Thank you Russ!

[@Josh-lq5rw]

I think I'm in your shoes from a year ago. Lol! I have a sudden interest in these retro game hand helds. I've been. Watching these videos non stop. I'm gonna order the abernic rg35xx or the miyoo mini + but after I get it I don't know where to start. It's all a little intimidating plus I don't even own a computer at this time. I've got a chromebook and a smartphone. Been out of the tech world for awhile. 😆

[@jwill294]

That’s exactly how I feel right now. I really want the anbernic rg535p bc the shape looks so comfortable to hold. But I’m intimidated to download the OS so I can use save states.. lol I gotta just do it

[@Channel2S]

At this point, I would recommend the 35xx over the Mini+ any day of the week. Bigger shoulder buttons, better availability, effectively identical performance, and HDMI out. Also, with a bigger bezel around the screen I suspect that the 35xx is unlikely to break as easily as the Mini line.

[@ryankelly3743]

Sounds like buyers remorse

[@starmorpheus]

@@ryankelly3743Big time.

[@WhereThighs]

Wasn't sure which video to even comment on at this point. Your channel has been a fantastic resource for me now that I've started my journey into retro gaming on third party hardware. I recently purchased a miyoo mini plus and have found all of your videos about it really helpful to understand what my other options were and how I would go about setting up onionos and so on. I just wanted to say thank you for all the insightful and helpful content you've created!

[@skippyb.coyote895]

Excellent comparison! I ended up changing my KeepRetro order from the Miyoo Mini+ to the RG35XX because I like the slightly larger size and really want HDMI out, now I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed that Garlic OS or MinUI eventually implements correct aspect ratios for HDMI out across all systems.

[@aared]

Just a heads up that I mentioned in my own comment, I could not get my 35XX HDMI working reliably with Garlic (I didn't try on stock). It would cut out, sometimes not have audio, and also had issues when connecting a Bluetooth controller through an 8bitdo adapter. If it works for you then great! but personally I wouldn't recommend it for this purpose. I got a used Retroid Pocket 2+ for HDMI out, and as a bonus it connects directly with Bluetooth controllers. It does run Android rather than Linux, but I prefer that in most cases anyway. The RG353 series also has HDMI out, but had severe issues when I tried pairing Bluetooth controllers (couldn't find some, couldn't stay connected to them, only worked in Android but wouldn't work in Linux, including the custom firmwares that it could dual boot)

[@bear532]

Personally, I don’t see the appeal for either device. The 35xx has a lackluster battery life and its power management software is faulty in that it drains the battery even when the device is off. The miyoo mini + has no rtc. They also don’t have the charm of the original miyoo mini of being super portable. Personally, if I was in the market for a small vertical handheld I would just save some more money and get the 353vs or 353v. The 353v is very slightly larger than the 35xx, however it has no issues that are present in either the 35xx or miyoo. Great screen, good battery life, hdmi out, wifi, rtc, and analog sticks just in case. I just don’t get why you’d choose a miyoo plus or 35xx over the 353v unless you were so tight on cash that you couldn’t make a choice or you’re simply a collector. If I was in the market for a very portable handheld right now I’d just go with the 280v.

[@aared]

@@bear532 I find the larger Anbernics to be clunkier, the MM is extremely comfortable. Plus I personally don't like how they look, but the appeal of vertical Android does intrigue me The MM doesn't have RTC but it's emulators do seem to enable time passing. The GB/GBC emulator generates an RTC file and seems to track time using that, and in GBA I can verify time does pass unlike on the TrimUI S that I own. Technically neither of those are actually in real time, but time does pass

[@rajendrabiswas]

hdmi out out for tv ?

[@XtianApi]

Halfway through the video I just ordered both.

[@gutyourtrust]

This is the answer

[@XtianApi]

@@gutyourtrust :)

[@Noelonthemoon]

I did that with the retro pocket 4 pro 😂

[@rickievans1]

I'm about too

[@d0lph1n0lympics]

And 11 months later which one do you find yourself using more?? Thank you

[@podracer35]

I'm sorry to hear about Chicken, but I'm glad she's overall doing okay. Cat breaks will be missed

[@ShadowDrakken]

Would love to see you go through your collection and show off Pico-8 and TIC-80 compatibility, ease of use, etc :D

[@brentwells6802]

My miyoo mini plus is on the way and I am so excited!

[@doctordungus7774]

I enjoyed the way you pronounced Final Fantasy IX.

[@zenkmander]

I did a double-take when I heard it.

[@svn_ysrk]

I wonder how he pronounces Final Fantasy XVI. xD

[@titangrosso]

I have to say you are the best reviewer i have seen. They way you easily review with every detail and order is admirable. You rule! Thanks!!

[@markos8383]

A few thoughts on both devices: I have both the mini + and rg35xx and I have to say that the color calibration is way better on the rg35xx. even with the possibility to adjust the settings on the mini+ I can't get it like the rg35xx. Mini+: + easy removable battery + onion os is fully loaded with features + better battery life (2600mAh vs 3000mAh) + easy to install ports to play for example doom or diablo 1 + better ingame overlays: no fade in for fps like anbernic + easy installation, just drag and drop onion + little bit better build quality + wifi: netplay and retro archievements Anbernic: + more comfortable to hold + garlic os short press shutdown + better and brighter screen, fits better my taste even after calibration on miyoo + led light not so annoying + 'cleaner' ui + more powerful in case you want to try out n64 games and e.g. fast forward is faster : pokemon rubin: 120-140 (miyoo) vs 150 fps up to 185 with overclocking (++) + feels a litte lighter in my hands + overclocking (see above) + i like the buttons and the d-pad more despite beeing not so accurate + better headphone jack: my in ears are louder + better fast scroll through game lists imho + hdmi out + controller support: so at least in theory you can use it like a home console with a tv and two external controllers for example + better boxart positioning One thing I'm not sure: on rg35xx I just needed to drag and drop all rom folders and they show up. on miyoo i first had to figure out the shortcuts of the systems and enable the emulators in the package manager.

[@DAEDRA_66]

Hey since you own both can you tell me which one has a better fighting game catalog out of the box? And do either of them have any 3d fighting games like tekken out of the box or would I need to add them myself, I’m really into fighting games and I’m trying to get the best bang for my buck out of the two, thank you!

[@markos8383]

@@DAEDRA_66 I,ve already replaced the sd cards so I can't say. But even if they Arena included I recommend to install new clean roms

[@DAEDRA_66]

@@markos8383 Ok I ended up going with the rg35xx, I’ll eventually put my own roms on it but I have to fix my pc hence why I can’t just yet.

[@prestoncram7507]

It’s funny, I have no intention of buying either of these, but I voted for the longer vid just because I love hearing Russ’ analysis

[@adamguy6342]

I think I'm going to go with the Mini...the offset shoulder buttons being the deciding factor.

[@XxXx-kq]

@@DailyShit. Youre just a Miyoo fanboy XD

[@aijokker]

Finally I ordered mine, purple, but better then none🎉

[@TitaPopo]

I chose the Anbernic for availability factor and I can get it at cheaper price. I'm not tech savvy but will try to follow the guide to flash custom firmware.

[@KevZapata]

I ended up getting the RG35XX from Keepretro. I look forward to tinker with it and flashing GarlicOS into it. Thanks for the comparison!

[@LegendBlakeHammer]

It's really difficult to choose between the Miyoo Mini Plus and the RG35XX. I want both of them so badly! However, I've noticed that a lot of people are ordering the RG35XX. As for me, I've decided to order the Miyoo Mini Plus because of its beautiful OnionOS interface! Perhaps in the future, I'll also purchase the RG35XX. Good luck to everyone making their decision!

[@TXFDA]

I don't own either. I'm considering one. I think for me, the thing with Miyoo, is just the community stuff. The original Miyoo had such a big community of fans that made all kinds of stuff for it. 3D printed cases, shells, and grips. More updated custom OS stuff, more fan-made themes and whatnot. The Anbernic is neat, and honestly, pretty much just a Miyoo clone with a different OS. But, it's also just an Anbernic. Not to say Anbernic is bad, most of their handhelds are perfectly fine, at least nowadays. But, Anbernic releases SO many handhelds. It's "just another Anbernic handheld". Neat, but....meh. I don't know. Something about buying an Anbernic just feels weird to me. Like, I could buy the newest handheld they make right now, and within a month or two, there'd probably be another one out. The Miyoo almost feels a bit "special" in that regard. The original one sold out so quick that it was super hard to even get your hands on one unless you wanted to pay like 2-3x the normal price. Mix that with the community stuff, and I THINK I'll probably go with a Miyoo. But, still gonna compare 'em just in case. I personally own a Retroid Pocket 2+, and while I absolutely love the thing, I kinda want that nostalgia and feel of an old school vertical handheld. Plus, the Retroid runs full Android, as opposed to it's own OS. Good for the fact that it has the play store, and you can download frontends from it, and even play some Android games. But on the other hand, it doesn't give me that sense of being a game console like a Miyoo would. It just ends up feeling like I'm using a low-powered cell phone with a controller attached.

[@hellothere_24]

Does Miyoo Mini Plus have a search function?

[@TXFDA]

@@hellothere_24 Yes, at least with OnionOS. Not sure about stock.

[@yarbles66]

Just grabbed the Miyoo Mini + My first retro handheld. Went for this colour as think it looks great with the SNES/Super Famicom button colours... although I was tempted by the GameBoy one for nostalgic reasons. Unsure how my massive hands will hold it, but looks good for lengthy cab rides etc.

[@stunnedpanda]

Thank you for this super informative video. Pre-ordered the Miyoo Mini+ the other day and can't wait to play it. Keep up the great content!

[@GoldenCoastGTA]

Bro, dude, you even do use cases? I mean listen, I was having a chill night, wondering about buying a Vita, remembering that I now could do so, and then went into this portable emulation rabbit hole, finding out that I can have a PS1 in my pocket??? And the guy guiding me does use cases and super in depth reviews? I mean. What a time to inquire that hobby! My man, THANK, YOU!

[@Verus3]

Love the 2 friend's comparison at the end and your personal choice. Great comparison.

[@podracer35]

I've been leaning towards the RG35XX based on the slightly more comfortable size and availability, but the extra OnionOS features/apps and WiFi are making the Miyoo Mini Plus more and more appealing. HDMI Out is nice, but I don't know how much I'll use it. The Miyoo's cloud backups I'd be able to start up an emulator on my PC or on my laptop hooked up to a TV and pickup where I left off.

[@spencerb8149]

I have the RG35XX, and the accidental diagonal issue is real. I notice it the most on games like Tetris and Dr Mario.

[@thetechdude1]

Is it a big enough reason to buy the miyoo plus over this?

[@spencerb8149]

@@thetechdude1 I don’t have a Miyoo Mini Plus, so I can’t say for sure. Since I’m aware of it, I’m able to play Tetris & Dr Mario, you just gotta be careful with the angle you use the DPad on those games. If you’re on the fence regarding which system to get, find the one with the features you like the most. Get that system. As for me, I’m grabbing two Mini Plus systems for multiplayer over Wi-Fi. I may, or may not, keep the RG35XX

[@texparker4407]

Tetris controlled fine for me.

[@antgue756]

Thank you for the deep dive Russ. I know you’re a busy man so its much appreciated you took your time to leave almost no stone unturned in this comparison.

[@yksnidog]

This is a comparision which has everything you can wish for. So thanks for all the work you put into it.

[@steelwrath]

I'm finally gonna decide which is one is for me thanks for your effort man another great job LIKE 👍👍

[@SchmurtzAlex]

I think that there should be no "hunt" to do on the Miyoo Mini Plus thanks to the 20 000 units which have been produced. A big difference not mentioned here between Onion and Garlic is the fact that Onion is open source and not Garlic. Open source project allows to anybody to participate to the improvement and guarantees perennial improvements in the future. This video is awesome for all users to make their choice ! Really done well, so much details, awesome work !

[@robotoboy30]

They sold out immediately.

[@SchmurtzAlex]

@@robotoboy30 the sell has not start… it’s tomorrow 😅

[@dreamybull1509]

don't have to go hunting when you preorder from keepretro lol

[@RetroGameCorps]

Thanks for all your work with OnionOS, Schmurtz!

[@lucsaguiar]

Let's see about the 20000 units. First batch of 1100 devices sold out in 90 seconds, only got to snag one because Russ posted about it. 20000 units wold sell out in a couple minutes.

[@NorthGameGod]

I was waiting this video for weeks. And the result is excelent, as always!

[@grantfielder]

Awesome overview, great work on all the fine details. Thank you for all the work you put into these videos. Very informative and entertaining, of course along with educational. Rock on dude keep up all the awesome work!

[@sogeking9395]

I bought the RG 35XX first because it was available and I didn't want to wait months before I could get a mini plus. I own them both and enjoy them both. The people who defend the mini plus on Reddit make it sound like the RG35xx is a total piece of inferior garbage. The Reddit fanboys blindly defend anything miyoo like they are they endgame handheld. I ultimately reach for the RG35xx because it is a slightly bigger. Anyone jumping into handheld retro devices would be absolutely thrilled owning any of these. This was a great review

[@moody5763]

I ultimately went with the MM+ but the ability to hook an HDMI up to the RG35XX, as rudimentary as it is atm, is wild. I might end up getting the RG in the future for that feature alone!

[@huskyfluffers9017]

I got the rg 35xx for 12 bucks at a amazon return bin store! Came with tempered screen protector

[@kyle88l]

I actually really love the sloppy diagonals on the RG35xx. This one I feel will end up being personal preference. My miyoo mini I did not enjoy the lack of easy diagonals..

[@RemyBonnici]

Agree man. (I own both the + and XX)

[@keystep8669]

Great review. It's super comprehensive and, unlike other channels, it doesn't try to hype stuff up. You give everything a fair shake and compare them properly. I wish this was the standard.

[@skycloud4802]

The netplay and retro achievements look really fun. I think I'd really like to play 'online' local multiplayer on some of these kinds of handhelds.

[@t3ripley722]

I’ve been thinking about getting a little handheld for the commute, and this is a perfect video! I really appreciate your style, definitely subscribed!

[@NtrlSelecti0n]

Retro achievements is the only reason I'm leaning ever so slightly more to the miyoo mini plus. The scores you gave could not be more accurate. With the prices being so close it's a coin toss to what I'll end up getting. Or I'll wait to see is how anbernic may respond to this. Maybe they will update the 35xx with a wifi chip but who knows.

[@justinvanhorne9958]

final fantasy icks? not sure if im supposed to be laughing or not, but i have been thoroughly enjoying your content recently. keep up the great work and production values.

[@brucegreen8463]

Great video, Russ. I don't think I will get either of them because I love the bigger screens, 7" and up. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos, you really bring joy to Retro Gamers!

[@Waevform]

The biggest thing for me with these devices is the ability to quickly and easily shut them off while simultaneously saving and pick them right back up! I can get an SD card together and set one up for a a not so tech savvy friend and they can easily enjoy nostalgic gaming without any tech gatekeeping. It’s all about the ability to spread joy and other options fall short.

[@robotoboy30]

LMAO! The Miyoo Mini+ sold out immediately. This is hilarious. RG35XX all the way for me. There was talk of being able to plug a wifi, or bluetooth adapter into your RG35XX which might allow us to do some cool stuff like netplay and other nifty things in the eventuality. I personally would definitely go with the RG35XX unless you get lucky enough to just grab a Miyoo Mini+ I've purchased 3 of the 35XX's for family and friends and they love them, and the ease of which that you can get that device makes it leagues better, especially with how identical these two devices are. Great video Russ! Very in depth and educational!

[@seirin8891]

Just bought RG35XX. A little jewel this console. I'm replaying all the titles from my childhood. Only downside I've seen so far on ps1 titles is a slight audio delay and sometimes some writing in the subtitles is like missing pieces of letters.

[@chedhead3278]

Thanks Russ, great comparison video and the perfect length. Both look pretty good, the Miyoo just a shade cooler to me though the trans purple on the 'Nic is pretty tasty. Thing is I don't think I could buy one of these over an RGB20s. I don't feel good about that but ... the power of the Tiger is strong. And temptingly cheap.

[@aared]

LOL did you actually get one? They actually outsmarted even themselves with the design

[@YOUR_NARRATOR975]

Had my miyoo mini plus for a few days and i love it. Especially the custom themes/boot logos (found a totk theme and boot logo that i love)

[@sambagogo777]

An excellent comparison video. About the only thing not mentioned was the ease of installing custom firmware. Onion OS is the simplest whereas Garlic OS requires the additional step of needing to mess about with configuring partitions on the microSD card.

[@brz757]

I never had to touch partitions. The image burns the partitions for you. If you use a 16gb for the OS card you can use the 2nd card for your games.

[@sambagogo777]

@@brz757 Ah, so if that's the case then I guess it's due to an update because the video I saw not so long ago showed that you needed to manually partition the card.

[@Kodykub]

I just purchased the purple RG35XX. Can't wait till it arrives so I can play golden sun. My favorite jrpg from my teen years. My first device like this but been wanting to get one for a few years now. 😍

[@aared]

I had the Mini and the RG35XX at the same time and tested them together. My thoughts are as follows in case anyone else wants more perspective from someone who's used both Mini: physically feels more fragile, but through Onion it has perfect emulation settings, and everything is integrated to give you true customization. Specifically, to update you copy a file and it will launch an installer. You can easily add and remove systems, and change themes and the boot logo through apps. The app switcher is reliable. It looks and feels like MY device and that makes me enjoy using it. The 35XX on the other hand gave me trouble. To update Garlic, you either have to reflash the SD card or copy and paste files. Either way every update I had new bugs (even though Black Seraph is doing great work, he's dealing with a system that is closed off to him so it's not going to be perfect. And I think most of these bugs are from hardware quirks that he is having to work around). The HDMI and external controllers didn't work reliably. resuming a game would sometimes cause it to crash and require using the reset button (it has one for a reason)..To customize themes in Garlic you have to overwrite system files on the SD card. If doesn't have the same apps as Onion such as the screenshot viewer. And Garlic also doesn't have a proper sleep mode, it takes a save state and fully shuts off if you press the power button in a game. But from the home screen you have to hold the power button for a long time to turn it off. Sometimes when turning it off it would automatically turn itself on, multiple times in a row, and it was hard to make it actually stay off. Even though it was definitely more solid of a device and far more available (meaning you can easily replace it if you actually do break it) the build quality still didn't feel as good - the dpad didn't work as expected, the plastic texture felt like something designed for durability while traveling in my pocket, rather than feeling comfortable in my hands. In every way, using it made me wish it was more like the Mini and so I returned it and hunted for the Mini Plus.

[@freezersk]

Yeah, GarlicOS has a long way to go, its been frustrating for me too for some time, even ended up using older version of it as the new ones even when they bring some nice functions, break basic things (at least for me). But I really like it exists, without it I would not consider buying the RG35XX, was very disappointed with the reviews of stock FW. Will be considering buying the Mini Plus too.

[@Akiga_games]

Man I appreciate all the work you did for this review! This was really great look at both handhelds!

[@paco1512]

Display on the rg35xx is much much better, i have both devices and its not even close, you even say it yourself, yet you give the miyoo mini a better rating fir display? Rg35xx is much more comfortable to hold and play, yet you give it a lower rating for ergonomics, wow

[@butterletto]

I second this

[@CraigGrannell]

Sorry to hear about your cat. I hope she’s doing OK (and that you are with the changes). I don’t think that cat break was too long! :) Great video too, as ever.

[@tyisafk]

I actually just bought the RG35XX today. I'm someone who's very much a stickler for playing games on original hardware using things like flash carts and backup loaders because it's "The most genuine experience" in terms of hardware the games are programmed for, but I've had my eyes on portable emulation devices for a while now. Granted, at my desk I will definitely play on original consoles through my little CRT, but also if I just want to chill on the couch with a twitch stream or movie on the TV as background noise, the Anbernic sounds great to have, especially alongside my Steam Deck for more modern stuff. (I know the Deck can emulate retro games, but the idea of emulating retro games on a device that big seems dumb to me lol)

[@gustavinus]

I also bought my RG35XX like a month after buying my steam deck LOL

[@JohnCiaccio]

Remember when you used to be able to swap batteries on cell phones???? Ordered the Mini+

[@albertobastos]

Best comparison you can get for these two. I've been enjoying a RG35XX for a couple weeks but then I step into a good deal for the MM+. Waiting for it to arrive, and then I'll decide which way to go. For the 35XX I'd prefer MinUI because GarlicOS felt a bit too much tinkering-required, but I miss all the boxart. Because of that, how robust and stable OnionOS looks, in addition to the Wi-fi capabilities, sound very appealing to me.

[@Steven-ol7wv]

do you have an update which one is better for you?

[@albertobastos]

​@@Steven-ol7wv I'll finally keep the RG35XX and give the MM+ to a friend. It is a very close race because both are too similar in terms of supported systems and ergonomics, but I have some motives. I tried OnionOS and although it feels more "mature" than GarlicOS, it doesn't feel enough "plug & play" to me. I don't have a problem playing with the configuration at an initial stage, but with Onion/Garlic it seems that every now and then I would have to re-adjust some settings for a particular game. Besides, this few weeks with MinUI made me feel really comfortable with its shortcuts systems, specially for applying fast forwards and save/load states in almost a compulsive way. Anyway, I can confirm that OnionOS is an awesome custom firmware if you don't mind the "fine-tuning" process. The only thing I miss from Onion/Garlic is the themes and the boxart while browsing games. It's a big loss. Talking about sound there's no debate: the RG speaker is way better than the MM+ one. The latter tends to sound saturated and distorted even with not-so-high volumes. About the ergonimics and although they are pretty similar, I'm grateful for the extra

[@Steven-ol7wv]

@@albertobastos whoa that was fast, thanks for the comprehensive review!

[@Frilleon]

@@albertobastosthank you for your feedback

[@XxXx-kq]

@@albertobastos Appreciate your feedback, very helpful I ordered a RG35XX, and just want to play all the gb gbc gba pokemon games again would you recommend leaving the stock firmware?

[@HitoriGnocchi]

the performance part is the most important section imo. if you get some free time a 1v1 performance showdown: same game same settings comparing fps to really see which one is objectively better performance.

[@itbutcher1838]

Ergonomic wise, I personally prefer the vertical handheld style more having arthritis in my right hand. All the weight is centered compared and easy to hold with one hand, compared to retroid pocket 3+, steam deck, switches, the rg35xx has been my go to from the moment it came in the mail. Sadly the mini plus won’t be getting to me until late April. Great video, appreciate all the detail you put into it

[@pouterbuttercup9665]

Look into bee venom therapy for arthritis. I had it also and it worked.

[@GG-tj5ne]

Hi! I have a form of arthritis too and I have difficulty using force. Assuming you have the mini now, do you find it much easier to press the buttons and use the dpad as opposed to the RG35XX?

[@itbutcher1838]

@@GG-tj5ne you know, I know it would be better using the mini+ over the rg35xx, but in the hands for longer periods of time the 35xx is so much more comfortable to hold. The mini+ I kinda have to hold with my finger tips to be able to play it for long periods of time, sometimes switching hands. Overall though the rg35xx has been the more pleasant experience to use.

[@TommySuX]

This was a really fantastic and thorough video, great first impression too. You sold me on the Miyoo mini +, can’t wait to hunt one down.

[@freezersk]

Thanks for the comparison - Miyoo Mini Plus seems much more of my taste then the original Mini, I probably like the Wi-Fi most and possibilities it could bring, bigger battery is nice too. Really like my RG35XX, GarlicOS is must for me on it, but hope it gets better, now is in the state that I prefer older version of it (broken DOSBox audio, no save states for GB/GBC ROMs). OnionOS seems much more capable and solid even when don't have much experience with it I agree with the Software rating. Definitely try the MinUI on RG35XX too.

[@deansmits006]

I got a cheap ($25) GBA SP style emulator device last year, and it truly played soome classic NES games. However, i found the software experience to be poor, and didnt want to invest time into trying to make it work. Creating save states, correctly mapped buttons, even inaccurate game titles made it difficult. Miyos software looks really attractive, and may yet again lure me back at some point. Just want a good out of the box experience, and bith look to be steadily improving

[@MajinBuru]

Hey Russ, Have you ever tested the headphone jacks of these devices and commented about them in your video reviews? I've watched a lot of them and the most you seem to say is if they have a jack or not. These would be good details to add if the stock speaker isn't great but the jack audio is fine. A lot of these devices do seem to come with cheap headphone jacks that buzz or hum though, so it would be good to know when a device has great audio output from the headphone jack as that's mostly how I use these devices. I'm really interested in both of these pocket emulators, but no one seems to mention the jack audio quality in their reviews. How does the audio fair with headphones on these two? You mentioned the audio is clearer and louder on the XX, is that true of the jack audio as well? Great review as always. : )

[@ivancho5854]

Great question. 👍

[@FranzKafkaRockOpera]

Yeah, I primarily play with headphones, and the audio shielding on pretty much every sub-€200 emulation handheld I've tried has been kind of awful-by far the least professional part of the whole package. Considering these are pretty niche products, seeing the major reviewers in this space actually test and critique that would probably provide an incentive for manufacturers to the bare minimum in that regard.

[@MajinBuru]

Yeah with most of these devices having a mono speaker and small screens, the only way I can get immersed in what I'm playing is with headphones on. So it's kind of a bummer hearing a constant low buzz or audio pops from an unshielded jack when you're just trying to chill out and play a game. Would like to see more reviewers put focus on this hardware shortcoming, and add it into the audio section of these device reviews going forward. Throw a bone to us headphone users. : )

[@kaiserkreb]

@@MajinBuru Just fired up the RG35xx with my Sony cans and other than the usual emulator scratch in the SNES game I chose, I get no other unwanted background noise. I have a mini+ on order so I can't speak to that, obviously.

[@ivancho5854]

@@kaiserkreb Good to hear. 👍 When your Miyoo Mini + arrives I sure would appreciate to know what you think of its audio. All the best.

[@freeze23]

I have bought mmp (retro gray) and there is still a difference between rg35xx. I am high maintenance. 1. The speaker of mmp is very noisy in a quiet environment (playing by yourself at night), whether it is the onion system or the official system. 2. There is still a background noise during one-click hibernation. It is judged to be fake hibernation, and then it will take a little time to really hibernate, and the screen flashes the speaker to burst. Even in onion system. 3. It doesn't feel as good as rg, and the little finger needs to be placed on the chin of the machine (it can be compared with the position of the little finger when holding the cell phone with one hand). I can't stand it for a while. 4. Some fans talked about the problem of screen strobe, which is true, but it will not exist when you get it out of the factory. If you adjust the saturation brightness in the system settings and adjust the first lightness item above 04, the strobe (official system) will appear. If in the onion system, there will be no problem.

[@GamingPalOllieMK]

Awesome video! Thank you so much I'm tempted to buy one but I think my Vita is still perfectly fine for 8 and 16bit gaming plus GBA gpSP has been pretty much perfect on it with color correction and everything and for GB there are tons of palette options through Gambatte

[@aared]

Yeah I've seen many reviews say that the device you already own is the right one No reason to replace unless it's specifically falling short in some way (uncomfortable, unreliable, slow, can't play your desired systems, battery doesn't last) If it works and you like it and you actually play it, then that is the right system for you!

[@GamingPalOllieMK]

@@aared Initially I had GBA problems with the Vita, but after setting up gpSP properly it's every bit as good as original hardware, better even. I have a ton of games for the 8 and 16bit games, plus for the GBA and I also own a GBA flash cart so I often compare games between the Vita and real hardware and I must admit, my OLED Vita wins every time :) Tho the form factor of these is very appealing but I'd like something more OG Gameboy like but with a much bigger screen personally.

[@0525ohhwell]

I ordered the Mini PLus from your link. The nice thing is that by the time it gets here, I will have forgotten all about it. That's always a neat little surprise.

[@amanitamuscaria4559]

I think the features between the 2 seem pretty well balanced;each have their tradeoffs. Netplay on the Mini would be great but only if it's perfect. 2 player local over hdmi with 2 controllers should be possible on the 35XX but would need a lot of setup. I think the biggest deal breaker will be how available the Miyoo Mini+ is; if scalpers buy them all up and leave people refreshing aliexpress pages at 3am then it may be passed on by many people.

[@bndp]

Just bought the MM+ as a present to my 7yo boy and saw this video only after sending it.. thank god it seems like either is a great choice and that given I don't care about HDMI the MM+ is even better (then again he doesn't care about the wifi stuff too..). I totally enjoyed the whole video. thank you!

[@gast321]

The miyoo mini plus seems ever so slightly better in terms of the quality of the device, but I think the true test of which would be considered better will be decided by how available the mini plus is

[@saysoun752]

Went with the Anbernic as it's slightly longer and I don't have to mess with it.

[@mjbreese]

Own both of these as of a few days ago. They are way more similar to each other than I expected, so it's really a coin toss. I do find the RG35XX slightly more comfortable to hold due to the longer part on the bottom where I rest in on my fingers. Controller I slightly prefer the Miyoo Mini but both are excellent. I could go back and forth for years as to which I like more.

[@felippedias5446]

Wifi is the no-brainer here, being without remote system updates, box-arts downloads, cheats, retroachievements is like going back to stone age. Miyoo for me anyday.

[@WiHL]

I have an RG35XX and a Miyoo Mini+ on the way. I always wanted an original mini but they were too hard to obtain. The 35XX is fantastic value, the battery is a bit rough out of the box, as is the OS, and shoulder buttons, but those all can be fixed. After switching to Garlic, getting better shoulder buttons/triggers, and the bigger battery on the way, I'm curious how I'll like it compared to the Mini+ when that eventually arrives. The only other fix that I am debating on is the slight rattle for the shoulder buttons/triggers, and the diagonals, but like Russ, I haven't found the diagonal issue to be a problem for the types of games I play. (GBA, GBC, GB, SNES - I don't really touch fighting games, so YMMV.) Only must if you get a 35XX is to get Garlic. Having the ability to properly put the device to sleep as well as having your 10 recent games akin to Xbox Quick Resume is fantastic (you also have this with the Mini+).

[@yiltang842]

Agree with you 100%. I've done the shoulder button and diagonal mods on my 35xx and it makes it feel more premium, much more enjoyable and definitely recommended. I've added the bigger battery and I would say roughly 30% more run time. I also have the Mini with the Mini+ on pre-order, I don't find myself touching the mini anymore, I find it too small and hands get cramped quickly. We'll see how the Mini+ does, looking forward to it.

[@FloatingSunfish]

How easy is it to replace the battery for these two devices? I saw some wires connected to the battery and have never done something like this before, so I'm curious if you also need some tools to do the job.

[@WiHL]

@Floating Sunfish it's super easy! Another channel @Retro Handhelds TV made a video on the button + battery install that can make the process less daunting. As soon as you open the device you can access the battery, it's just one cable that runs from the battery to the board and it comes out easy. The replacement battery will just plug right in too. I highly recommend checking out his video before doing the install!

[@vickturorteez]

@@yiltang842where did you get the better battery ?

[@dr.strange6458]

​@@yiltang842 where did you get upgrade buttons at? Was it easy to install?

[@swarbrickjesse]

2 days in on miyoo mini+. Love it. Missing for me: Bluetooth for headphones. That’s about it. I ordered the rg35xx + to try it, but if the OS isn’t similar to Onion I’ll probably return it. Can’t see myself using the HDMI port ever, or dual SD cards, but it is a nice touch.

[@zero604]

the RG35XX now comes with a 2600mAh battery instead of the original 2100.

[@RolandKoller90]

You’re very detailed man 👍🏼 definitely bringing up points that us with ocd about our electronics pay heavy attention to.

[@sergiopalma7180]

I hope Chicken feels better soon :( that minUI sneak looked very much like the analogue pocket UI which I very much like.

[@youzernejm]

I'm shocked how close the poll was, guess it was the reason for this 36min format. Great, informative video as always.

[@KWPZ21]

35xx major flaw is the closed source code of the device but with only 1 guy working on this, it will take so much time before it catches up to the Miyoo when it comes to the software and features of the device.

[@View619]

I'm curious about durability. Miyoo Mini seemed fairly fragile, but I would be surprised if they haven't taken that into consideration for the next model.

[@NickDyers]

no scalpers/influencers would like to talking about miyoomini screen durability/fragility. def would destroy their market indeed.

[@KWPZ21]

Russ has a review on the Miyoo Mini Plus. He says it has better build quality now when it comes to the shell and the shoulder buttons but doesn't mention anything about the durability of the screen.

[@poemsbypoetry]

It's honestly around the same. The "issue" of the Miyoo is the lack of bezels.

[@poemsbypoetry]

I say "issue" because some people are willing to trade no bezels for less durability. I'd prefer a more durable device.

[@KWPZ21]

My only issue on Miyoo is they don't have an official store in my country but Anbernic has which makes Anbernic cheaper. I don't like buying stuff overseas especially electronics because it's difficult/impossible to return if something is wrong with the product. With Miyoo Mini Plus' current reseller price in my country I would just rather buy an Anbernic 351P (which I already have) or a 353VS because the price is close to thosse products which has higher specs and better build quality.

[@fedeterra42]

You should really do a follow up on the MM+ situation, lots (and i mean lots) of reports of detaching screens, mine included :(, what a disaster of a launch.

[@bland9876]

The buttons rattling around isn't a bad thing in terms of sound but it just means that they're slightly more annoying to use because they stick to your finger and stuff. All I can say is if you've used both a 3DS the original model and a Game boy advance SP they both use metallic domes but the GBA SP feels way better because the d-pad is not loose. Even my "NEW" 3DS XL is more loose than I would like.

[@nerdyhustle]

Excellent breakdown, going with the Miyoo, thanks!