Design and Build Quality
The Anbernic RG28XX is available in several stylish colors: Gray, Beige White, Black Transparent, and Lava Orange. It features a compact design, measuring 12.5cm in length, 5.65cm in width, and 1.65cm in height, and weighs just 0.125kg, making it highly portable. The console’s build quality is impressive, with a robust plastic shell that feels durable and offers a comfortable grip. The buttons, including the A, B, X, and Y buttons, are kind of small but have a good tactile feel, providing a satisfying and responsive experience. The D-pad offers precise control. The shoulder buttons have a good click to them but are small and not positioned well for medium to large hands, making it somewhat uncomfortable for long gameplay. The overall design is both aesthetically pleasing and functional, ensuring it can withstand daily wear and tear.
Performance
Powered by an H700 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU clocked at 1.5GHz and a dual-core Mali-G31 MP2 GPU, the RG28XX delivers smooth and consistent performance across a wide range of games, including some N64 and Dreamcast games on a very small device, obviously with some exceptions. The 1GB LPDDR4 RAM ensures efficient multitasking, allowing users to switch between games and applications seamlessly. The use of RetroArch for game emulation, makes for a very smooth experience.
User Interface
The RG28XX runs on a Linux-based operating system, offering a clean and user-friendly interface. Navigation is straightforward, with easily accessible menus for games, settings, and other features. The system is responsive, with quick transitions and minimal loading times. Customization options are available, allowing users to personalize the interface to their liking. Some may prefer to upgrade the UI by moving to a more custom OS like muOS.
Battery Life and Charging
The RG28XX is equipped with a 3100mAh Li-polymer battery, providing 6-8 hours of gameplay on a single charge. The device supports 5V/2A charging via a USB-C port, allowing for fast and convenient recharging. This ensures that users can enjoy extended gaming sessions without frequent interruptions for charging.
Display Resolution
The device features a 2.83-inch IPS display with OCA full lamination, offering a resolution of 640×480. The screen delivers sharp visuals but does appear dim at times, even with the brightness level turned all the way up. Even with the sightly dim display, the gaming experience is nice, making even older, pixelated games look crisp.
Storage and Expansion
The RG28XX does not include internal storage but includes dual TF card slots, once for the OS and another for game storage. The second slot is expandable up to 512GB of additional storage. This ample storage capacity enables users to maintain a large library of games and multimedia files.
Wireless and Connectivity Features
The RG28XX includes supports 2.4G wireless and wired controllers. However, it does not support Wifi internet connection. It also supports HDMI output, enabling users to connect the device to a TV for a larger display experience. The device includes a vibration motor for enhanced gaming feedback.
Sound
The RG28XX speaker delivers clear audio, enhancing the overall gaming experience. For a more private session, the 3.5mm headphone jack allows users to connect their favorite headphones, ensuring high-quality sound without disturbing others.
Operating System and Emulation
The Linux-based operating system on the RG28XX is optimized for emulation, supporting over 30 different emulators through RetroArch. Users can download and play games in various formats, making it easy to enjoy a wide range of retro titles. The OS receives regular updates, ensuring ongoing improvements and new features. As mentioned in the UI section, there are a few options for custom firmware like muOS or Knulli.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Robust and portable design available in multiple colors
- Smooth performance with excellent emulation capabilities
- Robust community with lots of upgrade and customization options.
- Intuitive and responsive user interface
- Long battery life with fast charging
- High-resolution display with vibrant visuals
- Ample storage with dual TF card slots for expansion
- Modern wireless for external controller and connectivity features, including HDMI output
- High-quality sound output
- Regular OS updates
Cons:
- Poor shoulder buttons, small and not positioned well.
- OS and UI may not be for everyone. However, custom OS options are available from the community.
- Limited to emulation and retro gaming (may not appeal to those seeking modern gaming experiences)
- Small screen size might not be ideal for all users
- Does not support connecting to Wifi Internet.
Conclusion
The Anbernic RG28XX is a standout handheld gaming device that excels in design, performance, and versatility. Its robust build, impressive emulation capabilities, and user-friendly interface make it a top choice for retro gaming enthusiasts. With long battery life, expandable storage, and modern connectivity features, the RG28XX offers a comprehensive and enjoyable gaming experience. Despite a few minor drawbacks, the RG28XX is highly recommended for anyone looking to relive the nostalgia of classic games or explore a wide range of retro titles.
Anbernic RG28XX Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Color | Gray, Beige White, Black Transparent, Lava Orange |
| Screen | 2.83-inch IPS full viewing angle, OCA full lamination, 640*480 |
| CPU | H700 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53, 1.5GHz frequency |
| GPU | Dual-core Mali-G31 MP2 |
| RAM | LPDDR4 1GB |
| Storage | 64GB TF/MicroSD |
| System | Linux |
| Multi-media | Video player supports formats such as “wmv”, “avi”, “rmvb”, “flv”, “mp4”, “3gp”, “asf”, “mov”, “mpg”, “mkv”. Music player supports formats such as “flac”, “mp3”, “wav”, “ape”, “aif”, “aiff”, “ogg”, “wma”, “aac”, “m4a”, “m4r”. File manager, and e-book reader (supports txt format) |
| Games | Support 30+ emulators; Support users to download related format games |
| Language | Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Russian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Speaker | High-fidelity speaker |
| TF Card | Dual card slots, support TF card expansion, maximum 512GB; 64GB (compatible with 5516 games); 64GB+128GB (compatible with 10153 games) |
| Battery | Li-polymer battery 3100mAh, battery life 8 hours |
| Charging | Support 5V/2A charging |
| Other Functions | Support 2.4G wireless and wired controller, HDMI output to TV, vibration motor |
| Accessories | USB charging cable, giftbox, user manual |
| Carton Specification | Length 36cm; Width 34cm; Height 17.5cm; Weight 11kg (40pcs) |
| Box Specification | Length 17.2cm; Width 8.1cm; Height 3cm; Weight 0.233kg |
| Console Specification | Length 12.5cm; Width 5.65cm; Height 1.65cm; Weight 0.125kg |
