Guide: RG350 Accessories and Tools

Last updated: 04NOV2020 (see Changelog for details)

Once you have your RG350 for a while, you might become smitten with it. And if you find yourself falling in love with its scrappy underdog character, you might want to buy it something nice to show your affection. Fear not, I’ve written up a whole list of stuff that will enhance your RG350 experience. So without further ado, let’s dive in.

Sandisk (left) and Samsung (right) microSD cards

Replacement microSD cards

The RG350 devices will come bundled with a 16GB internal (TF1) microSD card, and sometimes with another external (TF2) microSD card. The internal card is used for the operating system itself, while the external card is for storing the ROMs (game files). These cards that come bundled with the device are from a cheap, generic brand and they are prone to failure. I recommend you store that original cards somewhere safe in case you run into any issues in the future, and buy new SD cards from a reputable brand like SanDisk or Samsung to use in your device.

In general, I recommend the cards listed below, in order or preference. The prices fluctuate all the time, so keep an eye out for deals. In general, I would expect to pay $20 for a 128GB card and $30 for a 256GB card. A 128GB card will allow you to load EVERY 8-bit and 16-bit game out there, all of the arcade games that work, and quite a few PS1 and Sega CD games (those systems have the largest file sizes). A 256GB card will allow you to store even more of those larger games.

16GB cards:
SanDisk Ultra 
SanDisk Industrial (more reliable but pricey)

128GB cards:
SanDisk Extreme
Samsung EVO Select
SanDisk Ultra

256GB cards:
Samsung EVO Select
SanDisk Ultra

USB SD card reader

Many, if not most, retro devices come with a cheap USB SD card reader. I have about half a dozen of them, and only a couple of them actually work. So I think it’s worth it to invest in a solid, fast USB 3.0 SD card reader for your computer. You’ll be able to transfer your game files onto your SD card that much fast, and you don’t have to worry about corrupting your card.

I recommend this USB 3.0 SD card reader from Anker, which is generally between $10 and $15.

Screen protectors

It’s surprisingly hard to find screen protectors online that fit the exact dimensions of the RG350. I was lucky in that my purchase from RetroMimi came with a tempered glass protector; I really appreciate it because the tempered glass adds protection to the device, makes everything a little clearer looking, and added a tiny bit of center weight to the device. This Etsy seller sells a replacement screen cover for the RG350, which acts as a glass protector but also deletes the big “ANBERNIC” logo from the front as an added bonus. I’ve also read that people can buy a screen protector film for the PSP Go and cut it down to size. Finally, if you don’t mind waiting for the shipping, there are some glass screen protectors available through AliExpress.

Cases

Anbernic sells a case on their official webstore for about $8, but you’ll have to wait for it to ship from China. But bear in mind that the size of an RG350 is fairly standard — most 3DS cases will fit it, and 2.5 HDD enclosure cases also fit well. Personally, this HDD case from Inateck looks great, is water resistant, and I’ve read that it fits the RG350 perfectly, and this one from UGREEN looks pretty good, too.

Gamepads

Check out my full external gamepad support guide!

In order to use a USB gamepad with your RG350, you need an OTG converter; the USB-C end plugs into the leftmost USB-C port on your device, and the USB-A end connects to your gamepad.

When it comes to gamepads, my personal mantra is to use what you have. You may not have a wired USB game controller handy, but chances are, if you’re brave enough to dive into the world of RG350, you might also own a PS4 controller, Nintendo Switch Pro controller, or one of the newer model Xbox One controllers. If so, I recommend getting this wireless adapter from 8Bitdo. All you do is plug this into your OTG converter (linked above), and connect your bluetooth controller to it. As a bonus, this adapter works in a million other ways: with your PC or Mac, Raspberry Pi, PlayStation Classic, and even your Nintendo Switch dock. Definitely check it out!

If you don’t already own a gamepad, then I suggest getting a wireless 8Bitdo controller. They are affordable, and you can use them while plugged in, too – perfect for plugging directly into the RG350 OTG converter. If you want the true wired (and full lag-free) experience, this wired controller is OTG-compatible and affordable.

Bear in mind that emulators need to support button mapping in order to use a gamepad with the RG350. Right now, only five emulators (Atari 2600, PS1, Genesis/CD/32X, GBA, and XMAME) support external gamepads.

Keyboards

Any USB keyboard should work fine, just make sure you use the OTG converter. For example, this Rii i8 mini keyboard connects via a small USB connector and comes with a built-in trackpad — perfect for emulating old computer systems or ScummVM games. Like with gamepads, the emulators need to have integrated keyboard support in order to work.

Headphones

Headphones for the RG350 are pretty straightforward: just use the 3.5mm audio jack that’s at the top of your device, with wired headphones. I don’t have any specific recommendations, but I will mention that I bought a pair of Sennheiser HD 6XX open-back headphones a few years back and they have transformed my audio life. But any old headphones will work fine.

If you want to use wireless headphones, it’s not so simple: trying to plug in a USB bluetooth dongle is not worth it, because the RG350 processor cannot keep up with the bluetooth signal and you will have significant audio delay. If you’re really dying for a wireless audio experience, you could use a 3.5mm bluetooth transmitter, which generally has low latency, but at $26 it’s a little steep (and a little clunky). They sell smaller ones, like this Hagibis transmitter, but at $37, that’s nearly half the price of the unit itself.

Screwdriver set

Yes, you could just go and rifle through your toolbox and grab the closest screwdriver you have, but using a precision screwdriver is so much better. And yes, you could find decent screwdrivers for about $10, but if you shell out a few extra dollars you could get a really nice set like this one, which is magnetic plus it comes with an anti-static wrist band and spudgers to make it a viable solution for many years to come.

Anti-static mat

If you’re going to get serious about disassembling your RG350, consider an anti-static mat. This model also has slots for your screws, and is heat resistant to 932F in case you ever need to solder something.

Grips

Some people like the feel of grips on their gamepads, and these grips from 3DPrintingLennard (left) get rave reviews. They are available in any number of colors, and include floating buttons for volume and power, as well as speaker holes. Be sure to check out his Etsy page. I also really like the blockier grip case (right) from DixieDPrints.

These grips from COOBILE fit the RG350 devices as well, and they have versions that include a cooling fan and battery power bank so you can cool and charge your device while on the go (although getting a cable plugged into your device while playing is a tight fit).

Replacement thumbpads

The thumbpads found on the RG350M and RG350P are modeled after the Nintendo Switch, so you could use accessories for that device. For example, the thumb grips from Skull & Co are very high quality (see my video above for a demonstration).

If you have the original RG350, the thumbpads that cover the analog sticks are prone to popping off. Luckily, they are the same size at the PS Vita, so there are replacement options widely available. Check out this pack if you want to replace or upgrade your current thumbpads.

HDMI cable and other video-related accessories

Check out my full HDMI upgrade guide!

If you don’t have one already, you’ll need a Mini HDMI to HDMI cable, since the RG350 uses a Mini HDMI input. Most monitors and TVs use a standard HDMI cable input, but if you own a portable monitor like this one, you’ll want a Mini HDMI to Mini HDMI cable.

Portable monitor: This monitor is one of my favorite purchases of the past year. If you use a laptop and are looking for a second screen, or you want a larger, portable screen for your RG350 / Nintendo Switch / tablet / phone / Raspberry Pi, this portable monitor is pretty amazing. It has a million different uses: on the airplane, in the car, on your desk, in your backyard, you name it – and it has a bright, crisp 1080p display with a price that can’t be beat. I also like to pair it with a hefty battery pack to make it even more awesome.

Capture card: If you want to record your gameplay directly onto your PC or Mac, you’ll want a capture card. There are two ways you can go about this: buy the high-quality, industry standard Elgato capture card, or pay a fraction of that price with one of these bargain capture cards. Personally, I’d rather shell out less than $20 for the cheaper card (1/8th the price of the Elgato card!), and take my chances that it might crap out on me some day. It should be noted that the cheaper capture cards may have more lag than the Elgato card.

More Upgrades

Looking to further upgrade your device, perhaps with low-profile analog sticks, new face buttons, or the 640×480 screen? Check out my hardware upgrade guides here:

Any other suggested accessories for your RG350 devices? Leave them in a comment below!

Affiliate disclosure: if you purchase anything using the Amazon links above, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Changelog

04NOV2020
– added microSD cards

08OCT2020
– added SD card reader
– added links to hardware upgrade guides

25SEP2020
– added Skull & Co thumbgrips video