Few companies have the same grip on the retro gaming scene as Anbernic, who provide some of the best emulation devices outside of those PC handhelds. While the company might have made a few questionable decisions, there’s no doubt that it makes some great gaming machines.
Naturally, some fans want to know what the best system from this company is and that’s not an easy question to answer. Gamers want different things all the time, which is why so many customers end up buying a ton of these handhelds.
Thankfully, we’re here to help you decide which Anbernic handheld is suited for your needs. Some gamers want something powerful enough to play PS2 games, while others are more than content with playing SNES games in the palm of their hand. Whatever your preference is, there’s something here for you.
Best Budget Anbernic
Anbernic has been at this for a while now, so anyone going to their page might be overwhelmed by the devices they offer. Luckily, they do have some budget-friendly handhelds that can scratch that retro gamer itch. Based on our experience with these devices, we feel that the best budget system from the company is the original Anbernic 35XX.
While there are multiple variations of the 35XX model, some more powerful than this, they can be a bit pricey. For the safe price of $40 to $50, maybe even cheaper depending on where you buy it, the 35XX should be able to appease most gamers.
Technically, this version of the handheld has been discontinued by Anbernic but it should still be available through second-hand sellers. For the price, it’s better than the 2024 model and can play any retro device up to the PS1. That’s not too bad for a little device that can play Final Fantasy VII or Metal Gear Solid.
Best Mid-Priced Anbernic
Luckily, choosing a mid-priced Anbernic device is a lot easier, because the company made a whole line of these $60 to $70 devices. Affectionately called the XX line by fans, these are devices with the same chipset that can play up to some Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, and PSP. Because there are so many designs for this line, there are plenty of choices to choose from.
Nostalgic fans will love the Anbernic 34XX, as it looks just like the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. With its beautiful 3:2 screen, this device can play GBA games perfectly without having to sacrifice screen space like in some 4:3 devices. The only downside is that there are no analogs, making it a bad choice for Dreamcast and N64.
Similarly, if you want something with analogs that can play Ape Escape and N64 games, the RG40XXH might be the handheld for you. This mid-budget device has a huge screen and analogs that can be used for those games we mentioned.
Best High-End Anbernic
Those who want a device that can play up to PS2, Gamecube, and Wii will want to look at the company’s recent RG406 line of systems. While there are only two, we’d recommend the RG406H for the sake of comfort. The 4:3 screen is great for most retro devices, especially PS2 and Gamecube.
As if the screen and power weren’t good enough, this system also has great hall-effect analogs. Despite looking like Switch joy-con analogs, these are anything but and players will have a great time using them. Perfect for those beam clashes in the Dragon Ball Z Budokai games.