Anbernic RG351P Review – Best in Class

The Anbernic RG351P comes as a minor update over its predecessors, namely the RG350 and the RG351. The most notable change is the design update with more sturdy materials for durability and incremental hardware upgrades for an improved gaming experience. A lot of these changes are meant to cover the shortcomings of the previous models, so you’ll mostly see quality of life improvements in an already well-rounded package from before.

Just like its fellow handhelds in the RG series, the Anbernic RG351P also proves to be one of the best retro gaming consoles with great screen quality, a premium build for durability, and the best in class performance thanks to the new CPU/GPU combo. Its open-source Linux-based UI is simple for anyone to get into right out of the bat.

So if you’re looking to play classic games on the go, then the RG351P is the right choice for you under the $100 price range.

Here are the specifications

Pros:

• Great build quality
• Consistent performance in most games
• Better screen than the competition

Cons:

• No WiFi or HDMI
• Struggles with Nintedo 64 emulation
• UI is occassionally sluggish

Screen

The R6351P flaunts a 3.5-inch 480-by-320 IPS LCD. Its resolution is a bit lower than some other names in the competition and its 3:2 aspect ratio is more awkward than the more common 4:3 size. This puts black bars for games that are based on the 4:3 aspect ratio.

Regardless, the games still look good on this aspect ratio as the black bars blend into the black frame of the screen. In fact, it is one of the best screens to play Game Boy Advance’s 3:2 games since they fit perfectly into the RG351P’s display. The quality is stunning and pixel perfect for 3:2 games, making it ideal for Game Boy Advance fans.

Individually, the screen is bright and colorful, and easy to view in most lighting conditions.

Design and Build Quality

The handheld’s controls are set up exactly like a PlayStation Gamepad or the Nintendo Switch with joysticks at the bottom and the D-Pad and XYAB at the top. The L and R shoulder buttons are on the top corners as always, but the L2 and R2 buttons are quite small and placed further inward on the top edge, making them slightly harder to reach compared to conventional controllers. Though this does give it a flatter profile, making it more pocketable, especially since the joysticks are shorter and flatter as well.

The headphone jack’s placement at the top makes little sense as you would have to wrap the wire around the handset, which is much less convenient than simply having the port on the bottom.

The buttons themselves are nice to use since they don’t feel plasticky or clicky. It feels like each of the buttons are backed with thick rubber underneath, so you don’t get a click but a soft response instead.

The whole device feels very solid and well-made with a sturdy matte-plastic build and no loose parts. There is also a grip on the back unlike the previous models which keeps the handheld from slipping through your hands.

The joysticks are smooth and responsive, just like the Nintendo Switch’s sticks. This makes the RG351P another good-feeling handheld console that comes close to Nintendo’s standards.

Performance

The RG351P runs on an RK3326 quad-core 1.5GHz CPU with 1GB RAM and the Mali G31 MP2 GPU. There is no built-in storage as everything runs on an internal 64GB SD card, though you can add an external one for expansion.

The handheld is able to emulate games up to the fifth console generation. This includes NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Neo Geo, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Super NES, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Nintendo 64, Sony PlayStation, TurboGrafx-16, and the PlayStation Portable (PSP).

The console handles 2D games on the NES, SNES, Game Boy, and Game Boy Advance perfectly well. Even 3D games from the PlayStation 1 run smoothly including Tomb Raider, Pepsiman, Crash Bandicoot, and others.

Battery life is a bit better than most of its rivals. The RG351P can last about 6 hours before needing another charge, but it mostly depends on the type of games you play. More taxing games will often drain the battery faster.

Software and UI

One of the best things about this handheld is how easy it is to pick up and start playing straight out of the box. A lot of other brands require a load of work before you can start playing, but that is not the case with the RG351P.

Booting up the device takes you straight to a clean and simple menu for thousands of pre-loaded games. You can play any of these games right off the bat and also browse through a list by pressing A.

The software is based on the EmuElec frontend over open-source Linux, which has a functional and attractive interface, though it can occasionally feel a bit sluggish or janky.

It is a hassle to update the software without built-in WiFi, but functionality-wise, the RG351P is very easy and simple to use, ideal for people new to the retro gaming scene.

Verdict

The Anbernic RG351P is a powerful, easy-to-use handheld that is ideal for 2D and 3D games from the GBA as well as PS1. It struggles with some Dreamcast and PSP games, but they’re definitely playable.

The build quality rivals Nintendo’s own consoles like the Switch and is also quite durable. It lacks a few essentials like WiFi, HDMI, and a high-resolution screen, but that is a fair trade-off with an incredibly easy-to-use Linux-based OS.

Overall, it is a well-rounded package that is well suited for newcomers in the retro gaming scene.

FAQs

Where can I get the Anbernic RG351P?

The RG351P is currently available on Anbernic’s own website as well as Amazon, Aliexpress, and a number of other retailers.

Is it better than the RG350?

The RG351P has an improved design, better build quality, and improved hardware compared to the RG350 and the RG351.

How is the battery life?

The average battery life on this handheld is about 6 hours, but it will vary depending on the type of games you play.