We took a look at the two most popular modern handheld consoles, which are purposefully aimed at lovers of retro games.
Retrowave
Retro games are more popular than ever. The videos created on the topic on YouTube have increased a thousandfold (in a six-month breakdown, compared to 2007 data), while Spotify users create 50% more retro gaming themed playlists. The most surprising thing, however, is that this kind of content is also very popular on TikTok, which suggests that building arcade machines or collecting NES cartridges is no longer just for the X and Y generations. Of course, companies are also trying to ride the retro wave, it’s not for nothing that Sony recently launched the PS Classic and Atari the 2600+ console. What is perhaps most interesting, however, is the market for retro handhelds, which has experienced explosive growth in just a few years – so much so that the segment is now more characterized by oversupply due to the large number of available options. From these, we now looked at the two copies that appeared under almost every YouTube video and Reddit post as alleged must-buys.
(+)
The two gadgets in question are the Miyoo Mini Plus, the successor to the highly successful Miyoo Mini, and the Anbernic RG35XX Plus, which replaced the somewhat battered 35XX at the end of last year. Both devices try to evoke the design world of Nintendo’s legendary GameBoy in order to maximize the nostalgia factor, so we get devices with a vertical design, without analog sticks. Of course, their popularity is not primarily due to their appearance, but to the fact that they seem to be able to offer a significantly better price-value ratio than their competitors, even in such a terribly competitive market segment. On better days, Miyoo’s machine can be purchased for HUF 19-20 thousand, while Anbernic’s price is between 21-22 thousand – adding that none of them are available in domestic distribution, so when ordering from one of the well-known duo Banggood and Geekbuying, we may have to account for additional costs. The test of the pudding is the eating, so let’s see if the machines are really worth their money.
(+)
Ergonomics and material quality
In terms of material use, there is no significant difference between the two devices. Of course, the metal case should be forgotten in this price category (which is a rarity even in leagues with more expensive rounds and can cause heating), but both have a durable, high-quality plastic cover. Anbernic’s device only subjectively seems more massive due to its 21 gram heavier weight (0.186g). There is a reason for this difference, as compared to the Mini Plus, it has a wider lower part, which results in a more comfortable grip, if we also want to use the triggers located at the back. Unfortunately, although the 35XX Plus improves on the weaknesses of its predecessor, its front panel buttons (including the D-pad) still feel a bit soft and sticky, in contrast to the Miyoo’s responsive, superbly clickable buttons. Ironically, the only parts of the Anbernic that are better are the ones we will use the least (volume control and rear triggers).
(+)
Hardware, display, operating time
Both the 35XX Plus and the Mini Plus use 3.5-inch IPS displays with a resolution of 640×480 and a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is the best choice for most retro content. The real difference is rather to be found under the roof, because the Anbernic’s ketyre has a 10% larger battery, which in practice often results in a significantly longer operating time, presumably due to software and hardware optimizations. According to the official data, the Mini Plus lasts 5 hours, and the 35XX Plus 8, which are mostly realistic data if we are willing to push them with low brightness and without Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. On a theoretical level, one more point can be written in Anbernic’s favor, as it has a significantly beefier CPU and eight (!) times as much RAM. However, this is irrelevant in practice, except for the speed of the menus, because we could use the extra resource only when running more modern console games, but without analog sticks, this does not make much sense.
(+)
Software, functionality, operating system
Both devices strive for simplicity, so you can access RetroArch, settings, favorites, and the recently played games tab from the main screen within a few clicks. The difference is that Miyoo has an application browser, while Anbernic allows you to search for specific files using the search engine. Sleep mode and save state are options for both models, so you can continue playing games exactly where you left off. However, it is important to emphasize that Anbernic offers much easier access to essential functions during the game, such as turning on/off the vibration motor, adjusting the brightness, or even applying filters (dotmatrix, scan line, etc.). Miyoo also has these pipes – in fact, it puts significantly more options in the hands of those who want to fine-tune – but they can be reached with five or six clicks instead of one. Regardless, the community support of the latter device is greater, so the Onion OS cooked ROM is available for it, if we want a more intuitive user interface.
(+)
Games
Both Miyoo and Anbernic come with a 64GB SD card stuffed with all kinds of retro goodies. Without claiming to be exhaustive, this covers CPS, NES, SNES, PS1, GameBoy, GBA, and DS games, so there will be plenty to choose from. In the case of Anbernic, it’s pretty funny that it pulls the strings in front of us by putting the PSP menu at the top, although with the absence of an analog stick and a 4:3 display, it’s not exactly an ideal experience to fall for the pre-installed Vice City Stories. In any case, there is basically nothing wrong with the support of the games – which is not surprising from the point of view that most of the listed consoles have decades of emulation background. Regardless, sometimes you run into problems, since e.g. Robocop 3 practically committed harakiri on Miyoo’s machine, and I couldn’t get it to work even after several attempts, but there were minor compatibility problems on Anbernic’s console as well.
(+)
Summary
Overall, both devices are worth the money, but it’s good to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses before buying. The 35XX Plus is a keyboard with a faster, longer operating time, more comfortable and transparent user interface, while the Mini Plus is lighter, more compact, has the right buttons and offers more customization options thanks to Onion OS, which is available as a result of its settings and community support. .
David Koncz
Source: prohardver.hu
