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. This review covers what holds up across the GBA, GBC, SNES, NES and PS1 libraries, and what to know before you buy.
We don't receive review units. Specifications come from Anbernic's own listing, and every subjective judgement is attributed to the outlet that tested the device.
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 reviewers rate the GBA-shape ergonomics as a faithful reproduction of the 2001 hardware — cramped grip included. 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. Retro Dodo's Rob Page, who scored it 8.8/10, put the fidelity plainly: the RG34XX "not only looks like a GBA but it feels absolutely spot on to the original console too," with the back buttons, d-pad and face buttons all "identical." Retro Handhelds agreed on the controls — "the dpad feels really nice though and so do the face buttons."
Two upgrades stand out:
- The screen. A 3.4-inch 720×480 laminated IPS with no air gap — which, as Retro Dodo notes, "allows for a perfect 3x integer upscale" of GBA's native resolution. That integer relationship is the whole argument for this panel size. The original GBA's reflective non-backlit screen remains the single biggest reason to retire your launch unit.
- The charging story. USB-C and a 3,500mAh lithium-ion battery instead of AAs. Retro Handhelds measured GBA drain at "less than 10%" per hour, rising to 13–15% on more demanding systems — so roughly 10 hours of GBA, or 6–7 hours of PS1.
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 — ~10h GBA, ~6–7h PS1 (per Retro Handhelds' drain testing) |
| 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 is where each library lands 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.
The GBA experience is the headline, and it's what both reviews lead with. The honest counterweight is ergonomic rather than technical: Retro Handhelds found the device "very cramped" for larger hands, and called the shoulder button placement "very clever, but not very comfortable." That is the same complaint people had about the 2001 hardware, faithfully reproduced. If the original GBA gave you hand cramp, this will too.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Best-in-class GBA screen at this price — laminated, backlit, and a perfect 3x integer scale
- The most faithful GBA reproduction reviewers have found; Retro Dodo scored it 8.8/10
- D-pad and face buttons well received by both outlets
- USB-C, dual SD slots, mini-HDMI out, Wi-Fi for OTA updates
- GarlicOS support out of the box once installed
- Strong battery life for 8/16-bit sessions — around 10 hours of GBA
Cons:
- Cramped for larger hands, per Retro Handhelds — an inherited GBA flaw, not a new one
- Shoulder button placement is clever but not comfortable
- Not appropriate for PSP / Dreamcast / GameCube emulation
- Screen brightness is adequate rather than excellent; direct sunlight is a struggle
What the reviewers found
We haven't tested this device. The published coverage is unusually consistent:
- Retro Dodo (Rob Page, updated February 2025) — 8.8/10, the highest score we found for a sub-$80 handheld. The verdict is unequivocal: "any fan of the GBA should give this device a go" rather than keep using original hardware.
- Retro Handhelds (jalanimal, December 2024) — praised the d-pad, face buttons and the volume wheel, and did the battery drain testing quoted above. The more qualified of the two: "if you have any connection with the original GBA design, this device is a must-buy," but explicitly "not for everyone."
That caveat is the one to weigh. Both reviews recommend the RG34XX because it reproduces the GBA faithfully — including the cramped grip. If the shape isn't the reason you're buying, a vertical handheld like the RG40XX V will be more comfortable for the same money.
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 | $89.99 | LitNXT → |
| RG34XXSP | Clamshell variant of the RG34XX | $99.99 | LitNXT → |
| RG40XX V | Vertical 4-inch, slightly more powerful | $95.99 | LitNXT → |
| RG406V | PSP, Dreamcast, GameCube tier | $239.99 | 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 reviewers still rate above devices costing twice as much. The screen is the closest a $60 device gets to a premium display, the GBA reproduction is the most faithful available, 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.
