The Anbernic RG34XX is a handheld gaming device that mirrors the iconic Game Boy Advance shell while adding everything the original GBA was missing: a backlit IPS screen, USB-C charging, rechargeable battery, dual SD slots, and a modern emulation stack. After living with one for several weeks across GBA, GBC, SNES, NES, and PS1 libraries, here's what holds up and what to know before you buy.
Price: $59.99 at Anbernic — usually the cheapest direct source. Also available at LitNXT if you'd rather bundle with a case or SD card.
Buy the Anbernic RG34XX at Anbernic.com →
Quick verdict
If your priority is Game Boy Advance above everything else, the RG34XX is the handheld to buy under $80. The 3.4-inch laminated IPS panel scales GBA cleanly, the H700 CPU comfortably handles up to PS1, GarlicOS is mature, and the GBA-shape ergonomics are honestly more comfortable than the original 2001 hardware. It is not the right pick if you mainly play PSP, Dreamcast, or GameCube — for that, look at the RG406V or Retroid Pocket 5 instead.
Key features and design
The RG34XX nails the GBA silhouette down to the button placement and shoulder profile, then quietly modernizes everything underneath. The shell feels solid in hand, the face buttons are clicky without being noisy, and the start/select buttons finally sit somewhere reachable rather than awkwardly under your right thumb.
Two upgrades stand out the most after a few weeks of use:
- The screen. A 3.4-inch 720×480 laminated IPS with no air gap. Colors are punchy, contrast is good, and Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow finally looks the way it was supposed to. The original GBA's reflective non-backlit panel is the single biggest reason to retire your launch unit.
- The charging story. USB-C, lithium-ion battery, and roughly 5–6 hours of real-world play. No more buying AA batteries every weekend.
Other quality-of-life additions: dual MicroSD slots (one for the OS, one for your ROM library), a mini-HDMI out for TV play, and 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi for OTA updates and game scraping.
Specifications at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | Allwinner H700 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 |
| GPU | Dual-core Mali G31 MP2 |
| RAM | 1GB LPDDR4 |
| Screen | 3.4-inch IPS, 720×480, OCA full lamination |
| Battery | 3,500mAh, ~5–6h gameplay |
| Storage | Dual MicroSD (OS + Games) |
| Connectivity | 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.2, Mini-HDMI |
| Dimensions | 14.46 × 8.18 × 2.48 cm, 188 g |
| OS | Stock Linux + GarlicOS support |
Performance by system
The RG34XX is squarely a 8/16-bit and PS1-tier device. Here's how each library actually feels in 2026 with GarlicOS installed:
- GBA: Flawless. Full-speed, perfect scaling on the 720×480 panel, every BIOS-required game (Mario Kart Super Circuit, Golden Sun, F-Zero Maximum Velocity) runs without tweaking.
- GBC / GB: Perfect, with shader options if you want the green LCD look.
- NES / SNES / Genesis: Effortless, including SuperFX titles like Yoshi's Island.
- PS1: Plays the full library at full speed via DuckStation. Final Fantasy VII, Symphony of the Night, Crash Bandicoot — all fine.
- N64: Hit-or-miss. Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64 are smooth; Conker, Goldeneye, and any 3D-heavy title will stutter.
- PSP / Dreamcast / GameCube: Don't bother — the H700 chip isn't built for it. This is a "look elsewhere" tier.
After putting it through the usual gauntlet (Contra Advance, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Pokémon Emerald, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow), the GBA experience really is the headline. The D-pad needs a few days to break in — straight out of the box it's a little sensitive on diagonals — but settles into a near-perfect feel for platformers and fighters.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Best-in-class GBA screen at this price — laminated, backlit, accurate colors
- Authentic Game Boy Advance ergonomics with modern button additions
- USB-C, dual SD slots, mini-HDMI out, Wi-Fi for OTA updates
- GarlicOS support out of the box once installed
- Excellent battery life for 8/16-bit sessions (6+ hours realistic)
- Mini-HDMI for couch play
Cons:
- D-pad needs break-in time, diagonals can feel mushy at first
- Shoulder buttons sit slightly higher than original GBA — minor adjustment
- Not appropriate for PSP / Dreamcast / GameCube emulation
- Single-firing speaker is fine but not great — headphone jack is essential
How it compares to other Anbernic handhelds
| Model | Best for | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| RG34XX (this device) | GBA, GBC, SNES, PS1 in a Game Boy-shaped shell | $59.99 | Anbernic → |
| RG35XX Plus | Same era + slightly squarer screen, often on sale | $89.99 | LitNXT → |
| RG35XXSP | Clamshell / GBA SP form factor | $74.99 | LitNXT → |
| RG34XXSP | Clamshell variant of the RG34XX | $89.99 | LitNXT → |
| RG40XX V | Vertical 4-inch, slightly more powerful | $89.99 | LitNXT → |
| RG406V | PSP, Dreamcast, GameCube tier | $219.99 | LitNXT → |
For pure GBA the RG34XX wins. For more horsepower the RG406V is the obvious step up.
Should you buy the Anbernic RG34XX?
Yes, if:
- You grew up with the Game Boy Advance and want the most faithful modernized version
- You mostly play through PS1 and earlier libraries
- You want a $60 handheld that doesn't feel $60
Skip it if you want a single device for everything up to GameCube — that's a $200+ category, not this one.
The Anbernic RG34XX is one of the few sub-$80 handhelds in 2026 that I keep coming back to. The screen is the closest a $60 device gets to a premium display, the ergonomics feel right, and the dual-SD setup means switching between firmware experiments without re-flashing is painless.
Buy the Anbernic RG34XX at Anbernic.com → — usually the cheapest direct source. Or buy via LitNXT if you'd prefer bundled accessories.
Want more handheld reviews? Browse our full Anbernic device guide and Powkiddy device guide, or compare every handheld we've covered on the devices page.
