Author: Russ

Last updated 23SEP2020 (see Changelog for details)

As an affordable handheld retro gaming device, the original RG350 is almost perfect. There’s a lot to love: the device is lightweight but feels nice and sturdy, and the d-pad and face buttons punch way above its weight class. I also really like how its d-pad below the analog stick and therefore not aligned with the face buttons, because this diagonal button placement makes the unit feel more balanced in my hand. This may come from those years when the Xbox 360 was my primary home console, but either way, I prefer this placement.

But after a couple months with the device, I do have some gripes. First, I wasn’t impressed with its low-res 320×240 screen resolution, especially after getting my hands on its more successful cousin, the RG350M, who has a nice 640×480 screen. Luckily, I was able to remedy this issue by installing an RG350M screen onto my device (read my guide here). The next part are those analog sticks. They stick out (pun intended) like a sore thumb, and make the device much less pocketable than it could be. Moreover, they are covered with these small rubber nubs, which can flip off and disappear in your couch cushions for days or weeks at a time.

So today we’re going to replace the analog sticks with a low-profile that also happens to improve the gameplay experience, too. And while we’re at it, let’s swap out the face buttons with something a little more colorful, just for fun.