INCREDIBLE GBA! Anbernic RG34XX In-depth Review (with Teardown)

[@Pridetoons]

The RG34XX is a day one purchase for me.

[@polancoboomer]

Same! Again, I'm getting the black colour, 32g with no built in games as I really want to fill it in with my own.

[@Aereto]

It's small that it will be a good birthday gift for my younger relatives.

[@loveless9528]

It’s literally the exact device that I’ve wanted since I was… Oh, I dunno, 12? This is it right here… I can’t believe they actually made it, and before Christmas too! 😭

[@feahnorl]

Not with the menu button up there.

[@harleyn3089]

I ordered one at 5 am this morning. 🙂

[@Tom2112Tom]

I don't often laugh out loud, but when your editor put in the chime sound and the arrows pointing to the screws you missed - I totally guffawed! Thanks for that. I've been there, which is what makes it even funnier.

[@retrohandhelds]

"Why is this not coming out? What's stuck? Stupid piece of cr.... Ohhhhhhhhh."

[@Pridetoons]

I've been watching videos on this Handheld all day!

[@adamkane7513]

Me too... But I have already bought too many devices this year.

[@zu_perler3011]

My man is making sense!

[@mattdavis9601]

In regards to SNES and NES defaulting to 8:7 instead of 4:3; Anbernic did the same thing on the XX-SP too. On the XX-SP TurboGrafx-16 is also presented in 8:7 with huge bezel art. It's been a hot minute since I've watched Zu's other reviews about the rest of the XX lineup, so, I don't remember if this is something they do by default with all of their XX handhelds or just the GBA inspired models. If you're not an RH Discord member then you wouldn't know that our old buddy Zu is as sick as a dog. You certainly couldn't tell from this video that anything was amiss. So, I just want to give him some props for being a trooper. No-one who isn't a rogue AI would've blamed him for taking a few days off; but, he wanted people to have a good idea as to what they're spending their hard earned money on. I respect that a lot.

[@flaviometal]

Finally! A portable from Anbernic that replicates exactly the 3:2 AR screen from original GBA! Already purchased the RG556, but playing GBA games on this never gives me feeling that I've playing "the right way". Even the RG28XX, which has the closest experience to the GBA's horizontal format, has a 4:3 screen. Purchasing right now! Thanks for the video, RH!

[@turnbasedtoddy7664]

Hey ZU if you tap the power button while in N64 or Dreamcast games it toggles the d-pad to an analogue stick and you will be able to play.

[@retrohandhelds]

That's true. I was trying to make the point that it wasn't built for N64, but I lost a lot of my subtlety when I started slashing away in the editing booth.

[@jyllianrainbow7371]

Anbernic finally got me. The original GBA is my favorite retro handheld.

[@eatereater6312]

I still cant fathom the fact that they sold the original gameboy advanced with a screen that dim, like who really asked for that😭

[@Johntriger]

Yeah if you watch any ad from the era for the GameBoy Advance released they always showed the screen lit up. Crazy they got away with that. At least all the fancy 3d renders looked that way.

[@harleyn3089]

When the game boy advance was released a backlit TFT screen would have been several hundred dollars.

[@jared3977]

Zu you're my favorite, don't tell the others.

[@fryke]

I really didn't want to, but I just placed my order. Because I needed to. And I really want it. Too good.

[@egon4564]

Already have an XX device, but if they release a clear pink I would buy it.

[@superretromax2625]

Great review but the teardown was perfect! I can really see myself struggling taking it apart for finally backing off , thanks for the good laugh.

[@jrdoughty13]

I was shocked how loose the original d-pad was on my advance. I'm not sure I'll enjoy that aspect of it as I play, but it is faithful, and that's part of what I love about this design. Got mine ordered

[@retrohandhelds]

I wonder if it was always loose or if everyone's old GBAs are just broken-in to an unimaginable degree.

[@elglowingjar]

Love the DMX references xx

[@Reclaimer_XB]

@@elglowingjar RIP

[@Vonliktenstien]

Just found this channel via TrimUI Brick research and I'm a giggle a minute. Subbed.

[@retrohandhelds]

Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying it!

[@georged7627]

Is that a vibration motor i see ????

[@matti550]

hit the nail on the head DS form factor would be amazing

[@Rulyo38]

Is it possible to plug it on a TV with a HDMI port ? Does it has bluetooth ? Thanks 🙏🏼

[@Eragonfrost]

Yes it has mini hdmi and supports Bluetooth controllers

[@CabeGiuseppe]

I have kislux replicas, and my favorite is LV. In addition to the beautiful design, it is easy to take and can hold a lot of things.

[@VeganPopTart]

Anbernic I will buy this next year because I want it in my collection. Please next year bring us a dual screen flip with some power. PLease!!

[@Reclaimer_XB]

Yes! Something strong enough for 3ds would be nice but if it’s just for for DS I wouldn’t be mad.

[@bertrodgers2420]

do you have a list of gba 2.0 games?

[@retrohandhelds]

In the description my good man!

[@bertrodgers2420]

@@retrohandhelds spiffing, cheers sir

[@Johntriger]

Ah, I saw someone say that C to C was working on their review unit. maybe it is an early sample before production cuts are made. Anbernic typically doesn't include the resistors on the CC1 and CC2 pins to ground needed to enable even slower C to C charging in their retail units. Too bad you didnt get a chance to go a bit deeper to see the charging circuit on the other-side of the board. Anyway, thanks for the partial teardown!

[@EliHank]

I'd buy it right now but Im scared Anbernic's going to release an Atomic Purple variant and I'll have buyer's remorse. Atomic Purple is the one I had as a kid in '02 (yes I'm old lol).

[@CoffeePotato]

Hell yeah, a device that technically runs every Tactics Ogre game on a GBA. Now that's something. (TO PSP is contrarian in design to the core, this even applies to emulator settings. You can likely get it running smooth minus some small graphical glitches by turning off speed hacks, and Block Transfer Effects, if it has it. Many speedups slow it down)

[@yourbear2812]

Love the thumbnail and content is so good😊 I think if someone make gba bezel for this device it would be perfect

[@paulocoelho55]

You can switch betwen stick/dpad mapping for the dpad by pressing the power button when playing PSP and N64

[@retrohandhelds]

That's true. I was trying to make the point that it wasn't built for N64, but I lost a lot of my subtlety when I started slashing away in the editing booth.

[@paulocoelho55]

I agree with you, Zu. Just wanted to mention it here for people who are new to the XX family of anbernic devices. Thanks for the great vid 👍

[@ALL4ONE5288]

kinda miss my gba advance it got destroyed yearsago.

[@Wobble2007]

Modern devices with LCD screens are not my cup of tea, especially handhelds, but this with an OLED would be awsome, sadly the LCD is just too laggy and washed out, what I'd really love is a GBA SPXL with an OLED display, with hardware level 120Hz HDR-BFI, so you are getting really smooth motion-clarity and low latency, along with a single amped 3-watt full-range speaker, a HQ-DAC & HP-AMP, that would be the perfect GBA soft based clone, FPGA would be even better of course, but a lot more expensive.

[@agiaco000]

@@Wobble2007 i think ips is good for old handheld (gb, gbc, gba, neogeo pocket and game gear) and i'm one obsessed with oled screens. In fact i prefer oled for nes, snes genesis and every other old home consoles because it' the closest way to a crt, but for the gb and gba the ips screen gives me the right feels like original hardware. Oled in the other hand for me is just too modern for those consoles.

[@nectronx]

Great Review Zu .... But this time no more Ambernic For 2024 since I have the Cube, the Cube XX, the 35XXH, powkiddy RK2023 and RG20 Pro I am waiting for a power full Linux Handheld capable of running PS3 dual screen same dimension and design of the 3ds XL ...

[@zinesis]

Waiting a replica of ngpc with its dpad and everything though would be nice if its a bit bigger.

[@Pridetoons]

@@zinesis I definitely want to see this too.

[@ShawnSoth]

I am also waiting for the DS version!

[@zerosick]

to remove that ribbon cable just lift up that black plastic tab

[@jerryofthebikes]

Another one that can play only "up to ps1" device.. There will be no progress in "price to components ratio" area as long as people keep buying consoles with garbage SoC. We already should have handhelds that can play 100% PSP, GC for around $60-80.

[@iamnotyourbuddyGUY]

What's the PPI on this?

[@KatDoomsong]

Oh no Zu, you've pushed me into pedantry... but only because you made me question something I thought I understood. "Since it's exactly three times the size, you're gonna get three times the pixels." 240 x 160 = 38,400 720 x 480 = 345,600 I thought I understood 3X upscale as meaning three times the pixels, like you said, but does that really just refer to three times the length and width of the original screen? If it is about the actual screen pixels rendered, does that mean that with a powerful enough processor this screen has the pixels to accurately display 9X upscale? lol, thanks for the confusion :p

[@DSB542]

Does it have rumble?

[@RockYoMomsWorld]

Yep

[@leecollins5479]

it just needs a screen protector with gameboy advance on it to finish it off

[@TheMysteryDriver]

So you didn't save Russ' life as many times as TechDweeb?

[@MatthewJefferis808]

34 xx GBA. Tell them Stop lying. I'll take rain check on the bugga!

[@iamnotyourbuddyGUY]

All i got from this, is Zu uses save states every 5 seconds

[@Pridetoons]

Does this Handheld have Rumble Motors!?

[@jsdouglas2612]

yea

[@Wobble2007]

DKC2 colours look bizarre, and so washed out and overly pink tinted, I know it's LCD, but even LCD can look a little better than that.

[@lilluckypit]

I cant find my wallet man

[@xkxxxx]

Dont trust Russel, he's lying to you!

[@japyoo2248]

Already sold out.

[@seapunk.mp3]

Nah, not for sale yet

[@jyllianrainbow7371]

Goes on sale tomorrow at 2AM PST.

[@joepage5000]

No that’s how Anbernic’s shop displays things before release. It’ll be in stock at 2am pacific time tonight.

[@zertero]

Retro Handheld Justice League gots me... 25:23