Step aside for the new king of vertical handhelds, the Anbernic RG40XX V
At a similar thickness to the 35XX with a bigger body and 4″ screen, the RG40XX V is a super slim console that adds a lot of charm and premium feel to an initially Gameboy inspired reto handheld. Running on Linux and the same chipset as the 35XX range of handhelds means custom firmware is also accessible straight of the bat.
The RG40XX V comes in at a similar size to the original 351V but looks much more slick, and refined, while nailing it visually and performance-wise for a vertical retro gaming console.
RG40XXV Reviews
The 40XXV has YouTubers and retro enthusiasts commending what could be one of Anbernic’s best Dpads, a very sleek shell, and a gorgeous screen with finally a thin bezel. A decent stock OS and custom firmware are available from the go enhancing your gaming experience further.
Brand Name Games Card
Given the importance of your games card and the failure rates of generic micro SD cards, Electro Arcade has chosen to include brand name cards where possible. Our RG40XXV has a 128GB Lexar card ensuring longevity and good read/write speeds.
Enhanced Gameplay
The RG40XXV is the third vertical XX handheld device from Anbernic, designed to provide a refined vertical gaming experience. It features a beautiful 4-inch IPS display with a 640×480 resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio, delivering vibrant and clear visuals. Powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU running at 1.5GHz and a dual-core G31 MP2 GPU, the RG40XXV offers smooth and responsive gameplay up to the PlayStation 1 era.
RG40XXV Performance
With several vertical handheld consoles out there, the 40XXV delivers a compelling case and price. It’s faster and has a higher build quality and display resolution compared to the Powkiddy RGB20SX and Magic XU10 along with more features.
This console comes equipped with 1GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 64GB of microSD storage, which can be expanded to 512GB via the second microSD slot. Connectivity options include 2.4/5G WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2, allowing users to connect wireless controllers, pair for multiplayer, and even stream gameplay. The 3200mAh battery provides up to 6 hours of playtime with fast-charging USB A-C & C-C support.
Sleek
Aesthetically, the RG40XXV boasts a sleek, GameBoy-inspired design available in white, transparent black, and indigo blue. The Joystick lets you customise your gaming experience by using it as a preferred controller, stylus for DS gameplay, or from a visual light effects perspective. If you are looking for a dual analog stick setup the RG35XX H might be your go-to however the D-Pad on this is very impressive if you don’t need 2 joystick setups. The device also offers HDMI output for playing on a larger screen for a more immersive experience.
What consoles can the Anbernic RG40XXV play?
As a guide, the XXV comes with close to 3,600 games on the main 64GB microSD card across the following consoles;
Capcom – CPS
Final Burn Alpha – FBA
Famicom – FC
Game Boy – GB
Game Boy Color – GBC
Game Boy Advance – GBA
Game Gear – GG
Mega Drive – MD
Neo Geo
Neo Geo Pocket Color – NGPC
PC Engine
Playstation – PS1
Super Famicom – SFC
Sega Master System – SMS
Wonderswan
Vertical Mame Games
Keep in mind more demanding titles will vary in performance.
Adding games to your RG40XXV
You can read the main Micro SD card, however, to show these in the main menu you will need to format a second card to FAT32 and insert it into the TF2/EXT slot. Boot the device up and it should set up the required game folder structure on the card for you.
Shut down the console by going into >Settings >Shut down.
Copy your ROMs into the required folders, insert the card back into TF2 and turn on. Once you have booted up with 2 Micro SD cards, when you select games, it will ask you if you want to access the External Card or Built-in card. Please ensure you check the main card for what format each console’s games are in and replicate the same on card 2.
Time to treat yourself? It’s a Wrap!
Overall, the Anbernic RG40XXV is a compelling vertical handheld option that delivers strong performance, versatility, and a refined design at a price point that undercuts more expensive alternatives like the Analogue Pocket.
If you don’t already have a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 powered handheld, what are you waiting for, if you already do, then what are you waiting for :-). Whatever your choice, happy retro gaming.
The boring stuff
– Due to the light and screen differences, the colour of the item may be slightly different from the pictures.
– Please allow up to 1cm size difference due to manual measurement.
– Buttons and controller finish may vary depending on the model and colour.
