Key Takeaways
1. Construction and Size: The Anbernic RG477V is praised for its build quality and is noted as the largest vertical handheld device from Anbernic, featuring the biggest screen compared to its competitors.
2. Comfort and Performance Issues: While comfortable to hold, the device weighs 339 grams and can heat up significantly in high performance mode, reaching 105 °C. An OTA update has resolved initial performance concerns.
3. Emulation Capabilities: The RG477V performs well with retro games from systems like NES, SNES, and GameCube, but struggles with certain titles due to the Mali GPU, especially Nintendo Switch games and some PC games.
4. Control Feedback: The controls are generally well-received, but the joysticks have a larger dead zone. Users are advised to switch between Vulkan and OpenGL for better gameplay experiences on certain games.
5. Pricing and Availability: The RG477V launches on December 20th, starting at $219 for the base model (8GB RAM, 128GB storage) and $239 for the upgraded version (12GB RAM, 256GB storage), with a temporary $20 discount available initially.
The Anbernic RG477V is the newest handheld gaming device from Anbernic. While its pricing and launch details have been shared before its December 20th release, early reviews of the RG477V have appeared online, uncovering some key information about the device.
Positive Review Highlights
One of the first reviews comes from Russ at the Retro Game Corps YouTube channel. He commends the construction of the device and even describes it as “likely the best vertical handheld” that Anbernic has crafted. When comparing it to other vertical handhelds like the Retroid Pocket Classic, which sells on Amazon for $149, Anbernic RG406V, Ayaneo Pocket DMG, and the Nintendo Game Boy DMG, the RG477V stands out as the biggest. This is not surprising given that it has the largest screen, too.
Comfort and Controls
Anbernic designed the RG477V to be comfortable to hold, even during long gaming sessions. However, with a weight of 339 grams, users should be cautious to not let it drop on their face while playing on their backs. The controls have received praise, although the joysticks’ dead zone is noted to be a bit too large and square. Nevertheless, they perform decently during gameplay.
Russ pointed out that the Anbernic RG477V encountered a performance issue that caused the device to heat up significantly in high performance mode, reaching temperatures of 105 °C. It also struggled with the Wild Life Extreme Stress test, showing a major decline after the first loop. After informing Anbernic, they released an OTA update that resolved the issue in performance mode. In terms of performance, the RG477V is reported to be comparable to the Ayaneo Pocket DMG, which is priced nearly twice as much.
Emulation Experience
When it comes to retro game emulation, players should be prepared to see black bars while playing Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games due to their 3:2 aspect ratios. However, games from NES, SNES, PS1, SEGA Genesis, Arcade, PS1, GameCube, and SEGA Dreamcast, which have a 4:3 aspect ratio like the Anbernic RG477V, should work well.
The review mentions that the RG477V is well-suited for emulating GameCube and PS2 games at a resolution of up to 2.25x. However, the experience is hindered by the Mali GPU from the MediaTek Dimensity 8300 processor. For instance, while playing Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, Mario disappears when using Vulkan, but shows up when switching to OpenGL. It’s recommended that gamers toggle between Vulkan and OpenGL for optimal play.
The RG477V also faces challenges with certain Nintendo Switch games and delivers a less-than-stellar experience for PC games via Gamehub due to the Mali GPU. Interestingly, Russ encountered an issue with the Android version of Diablo Immortal, where the controls failed to respond. Despite this, many other Android games run smoothly on the handheld.
Russ’s comprehensive 43-minute review shares additional crucial details, making it a must-watch for anyone considering the Anbernic RG477V.
The Anbernic RG477V will be available for purchase starting December 20th, with prices beginning at $219 for the base model featuring 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage. The variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage will be priced at $239. After three days, Anbernic will discontinue the $20 discount, raising the prices to $239 and $259, respectively.
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