I often get asked which system is best to buy right now: the RG350M ($120), RG351P ($95), or the Retroid Pocket 2 ($85 + shipping). The video below will break down all of the aspects I find most important when considering one of these devices: hardware, supported systems, user interface, screen, and performance.
Continue reading “Deep Dive Comparison: RG350M vs RG351P vs Retroid Pocket 2”
Last updated: 24SEP2021
Unless you purchased an RG351P during the first few days it was available, you probably do not have an internal WiFi chip inside your device. This is because they were removed due to speaker noise issues (see my whole post here, which includes a guide to reduce the noise).
But the RG351P has some really great online features, like the ability to download media (box art and videos), download and install new themes, download a cheat database, connect to your PC and load games wirelessly, implement RetroAchievements, and even use an online update tool for the ArkOS operating system. You *can* use an OTG adapter and a USB WiFi module to connect, but it’s a little clunky. So in this guide I’ll show you how some members of the community have installed WiFi chips to their device so they have a seamless experience.
Full disclosure: I have an internal WiFi chip on my device, so I haven’t attempted this myself, but I took copious notes when others were sharing their experience! Note that this is not a beginner’s guide: it includes soldering. If you have any questions or issues with this process, I suggest you post something in the Retro Game Handhelds Discord server (in the #RG351P channel).
If you are familiar with KiCad, here is a prototype WiFi adapter created by Reddit user kuzmapunk, and here are more instructions in the comments section of his Reddit post on the subject.
Continue reading “Guide: Install your own Wi-Fi chip inside the RG351P”
Last updated: 13JAN2021
Fresh off the heels of 351ELEC, another RG351P operating system is now available. This one is called ArkOS, and it has some features that may make it my favorite operating system yet.
The developer who created ArkOS is not new to RK3326 chipset devices like the RG351P, as they had previously developed an operating system called TheRA-NTFS that was used on similar ODROID GO ADVANCE handheld devices (and clones). But there were enough deviations from TheRA-NTFS to warrant a new name, and now we have ArkOS (Another RK3326 OS).
What I really love about this OS is that it has a lot of quality of life features: online updating, 32-bit and 64-bit userspace, background music, and screensaver options. So let’s dive into this OS and show why I think this might be the best one yet.
Continue reading “ArkOS, another excellent RG351P firmware”
Hey everyone, I had an opportunity to unbox and spend a few minutes with the new Anbernic RG280V, which is a 2.8″ mini handheld with the same internal architecture as the RG350 devices. That means that for the most part, it will use the same emulators and have the same performance as those devices. See below for my video about the device, and expect more videos and guides soon.
Buy the device here: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_9R8IeD
Continue reading “RG280V: Unboxing and First Impressions”
Over the years, I’ve always found that the best way to ensure I can can play all of my favorite arcade classics is by using a full arcade romset. The only problem is that these romsets contain thousands of games, and at least half of them are not worth trying — they’re full of hacks, duplicates, trivia games, mahjong games, and more.
This guide will show you how to reduce arcade romset file sizes significantly with the help of LaunchBox — in this case, from 34GB down to 8GB! This method will work with any full non-merged romset, and works beautifully with your favorite arcade emulator and handheld devices like the RG350, RG351P, and Retroid Pocket 2.
Continue reading “Guide: Trim Arcade ROMsets using LaunchBox”
Last updated 19JUN2021 (see Changelog for details)
Pico-8 is one of my favorite systems to run on handheld emulation devices, because there are thousands of indie games right at your fingertips, and they are a perfect match for a handheld system.
Continue reading “Guide: Pico-8 on Retro Handheld Devices”
Last updated: 12JAN2021
I’m excited to show off a new fork of EmuELEC, called 351ELEC, which is designed specifically for the RG351P. This firmware incorporates the most recent release of EmuELEC and also has a FAT32 “Games” partition which allows you to drag and drop ROM files directly onto your SD card. Like with ArkOS, 351ELEC is a more feature-rich and user-friendly operating system than the stock firmware.
Continue reading “Introducing 351ELEC – a new firmware for the RG351P!”
After six weeks of testing and playing, I’m ready to review the RG351P. So check out the video below to hear all of my thoughts on this impressive device.
Continue reading “RG351P In-Depth Review”
Last updated 08NOV2020 (see Changelog for details)
If you a running the stock firmware that comes with the RG351P, or the updated 3.7 version that I recommend in my Firmware Guide, you’re in luck — Anbernic just released an update patch to this firmware that provides some serious improvement to PlayStation Portable (PSP) performance. It’s still far from perfect, but it definitely makes more games playable.
One nice thing about this update is that it doesn’t require you to reinstall any new firmware. In fact, all you have to do is replace a couple files on your SD card and you’re all set. No need for WiFi FTP, either!
Continue reading “RG351P 3.7 Firmware Update – Improved PSP Performance!”
I recently had an opportunity to take somebody’s RG350 and give it an internal makeover. Someone on the RG350 subreddit had asked for help in getting their device up and running again after several months of trial and error. So I took the project onboard and also filmed the entire process so you could see all the tricks I used to get everything back into tip-top shape.
Continue reading “Refreshing a used RG350 device”
Retro Game Corps 