Anbernic RG476H Review – Where Nostalgia Meets Refinement
As a long-time Steam Deck owner, it’s been my default go-to device for gaming on the go. Aside from my OLED Switch, it’s actually the only handheld I’ve really stuck with.
But lately, I’ve been craving something smaller and simpler. Something I can slip into a jacket pocket, boot up in seconds, and just have fun with. For all the benefits of the Steam Deck, Switch and similar handhelds, they certainly are big. Enter the ‘retro handheld’ scene.
If you’ve missed the retro handheld craze, it’s an ever-growing scene of incredibly compact devices that emulate the consoles we grew up with. They’re often called SBCs (single-board computers), a term that’s kind of stuck around since the Raspberry Pi days. It’s a rabbit hole of endless models, options and configurations, and that’s exactly where Anbernic’s RG476H caught my attention: a sleek little handheld which retails for $164.99 USD that promises to emulate everything from the early classics up through the PS2 era. On its store page, Anbernic describes it as:
“Full-Screen Power, Android Performance Unleashed — bringing every game to life in your hands.”
After a week of using it as my only handheld, I can honestly say this one surprised me. Not just for what it can play, but for how great it feels to use.
You’d think after releasing so many handhelds for so many years, Anbernic would’ve run out of ideas by now...and yet, here we are.
It’s rare to start a handheld review series with something that already feels definitive, but that’s exactly how the RG476H comes across to me. Anbernic’s been making handhelds under the RG (Retro Gaming) name since 2017, building a reputation for constant iteration, sometimes to a fault, but mostly to great effect.
All that refinement shows here. The RG476H feels like a culmination of everything they’ve refined: sleek, premium, and sized just right. It can handle just about everything up to PS2 (where a few titles still test its limits), and in daily use, it channels that same easy, handheld magic I remember from the PSP days. Not identical in form (it’s more like a squished Switch Lite) but it captures that same joy of pick-up-and-play gaming.
I can honestly say I got lucky, the first retro handheld I’ve reviewed just happens to be one I’ve found almost perfect. And I’ll tell you why!
Specs:
Design & Build
The RG476H has been a bit divisive among handheld fans purely because of the all-glass front they’re using for this model, which, for the record, I love. Some say it’s unnecessary and a fingerprint magnet (fair), maybe even a risk if dropped, but once you hold it, it just makes sense. Add in just enough weight (298g) to make it feel substantial, and you’ve got a device that instantly feels premium. Beautifully made. It’s clear Anbernic put some thought and care into the design here.
The back is still plastic, but it’s a sturdy kind that doesn’t flex in the hand. Everything feels tight and well-put-together. The buttons have a nice, confident click, the D-pad feels spot-on for 2D gaming, and the Hall-effect sticks are smooth and responsive. This model places the D-pad above the left thumbstick: a design choice that’s a benefit for some and a drawback for others, depending on what kind of games you play. Personally, I think it’s the right call: it encourages the more natural grip suited to older consoles, where the D-pad was the main (or only) way to play.
The face buttons have just the right amount of spring for satisfying presses without feeling stiff, and the analog triggers add a nice layer of control for racing and action titles. Everything just feels solid and well-built, like it’s meant to last. The only minor annoyance for some might be that the shoulder buttons (L1 & R1) are louder than you expect, they’ve got that sharp ‘click’ you can’t unhear in a quiet room. But personally I didn’t find it distracting at all; to me it’s just part of the device’s tactile charm. This one’s going to depend entirely on personal preference, I can’t see a middle ground on the shoulder buttons’ sound.
Overall, the controls make playing on this handheld feel genuinely comfortable and premium, I have not one complaint on the buttons.
The size and weight hit a sweet spot for me. It’s got just enough heft to feel solid and premium, but not so much that you’ll get tired holding it. The taller body shape actually makes it easier to grip, especially if you’ve got bigger hands or tend to play lying flat. I never felt like I was going to drop it, though I did wish the top edges on the front glass panel were a little more rounded at the edges; the plastic bumper it rounds into can dig into your palms if you’re gripping tightly. Still, it feels leagues better than the chunkier, shorter builds of Anbernic’s earlier 4:3 models.
That screen, though? It’s easily one of the nicest I’ve seen in this size. It’s a 4.7-inch LTPS panel with a 1280×960 resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate, and it looks gorgeous. Colors pop, brightness is strong (500 nits), and the glass front makes it feel like one smooth surface instead of a display dropped into a frame. It’s crisp enough that even running emulators at 1× resolution (which you’ll end up doing for a good few PS2-era games) still looks perfectly fine. Between the screen and the tight build, it honestly gives off more of a ‘premium-mini-smartphone’ feeling than a budget retro handheld.
I think the display on the RG476H is the one feature I love most on this device. I know you will too.
Overall though, when it comes to the look and the feel of the build, I’d say the RG476H nails that balance of premium and practical. It’s got the polish you’d expect from something twice the price, but still feels ready to take a few knocks in a bag. The design is thoughtful, the materials feel great in hand, and it’s just satisfying to hold and use. A few small quirks aside, this is easily one of the best-feeling handhelds Anbernic’s put out so far.
My hope for finding a handheld which was easy and unobtrusive to just carry about? I'd say this one nailed it.
Software Experience: Android Done (Mostly) Right
Out of the box, the RG476H runs Android 13, and while that’s great on paper, Anbernic’s take on Android has always been a little… idiosyncratic. Thankfully, this time around, it’s surprisingly usable. The setup is straightforward, the system feels snappy, and it doesn’t bombard you with bloatware or unnecessary launchers right away. But the default ‘Anbernic’ front-end launcher (accessible by swiping down from the top of the screen), the one that shows game tiles and shortcuts. It feels la little like a leftover from a much older device. It works, but it’s just a little clunky, a little dated, and doesn’t really match how slick the hardware feels in hand. Luckily you’ve got two choices: if you want to just get to playing games, leave it as-is! If you want to dive deeper, tinker and set up your own way of playing games, then that’s possible too.
If you’re serious about organising your collection like I am (it's half the fun!), you’ll want to install a proper front-end alternative. ES-DE or Daijisho are my go-to recommendations. They’re fast, clean, and gives the whole experience a polished, console-like feel. Beacon Launcher is another solid option if you prefer something more minimal and modern. Once you set one of these up, the RG476H feels like a completely different device: smooth, responsive, intuitive to navigate and above all, looking nice.
Performance-wise, Android runs beautifully. I haven’t had one single hitch or issue. Not one. Switching between apps, tweaking emulator settings, or browsing for box art feels effortless, and I never ran into major crashes or hiccups. It’s not quite as ‘pick up and play’ as a Linux-based handheld like the RG35XX series can be, but the flexibility of Android makes up for that. You can pair controllers, use streaming apps like Moonlight or Steam Link, and even install anything else directly from the Play Store if you want.
One more addition is a relatively new focus from Anbernic. Software-wise, they included a custom AI assistant (called ANBERNIC AI) which claims to offer some features like real-time translations and walkthrough guidance. Handy I suppose if you’re diving into games that are hard to track without help. Not being much of a fan of AI, I didn't invest much time in this, it seems to be just what you’d expect it would be, and perhaps some here have some use for it. I’d consider this one a nice feature if you want it, but easily ignoreable if you don’t. Better to have than not, at least they’re giving the option to the user.
Overall, the software side of the RG476H is what you make of it. Out of the box it’s fine, a little clunky, but totally functional if you’re not wanting to tinker. Spend an hour setting up your own front-end and emulators though, and it transforms into one of the most seamless Android-based handhelds out there. It’s an experience that rewards a bit of tinkering, and once it’s dialed in, it feels like something much more premium than its price tag suggests.
Performance & Emulation: Riding Close to the Edge
The RG476H really shines with the earlier generations of consoles. PS1 titles run flawlessly, often allowing 3× or even 4× upscaling without hiccups, making classics like Final Fantasy VII or Metal Gear Solid look surprisingly crisp. N64 games? Every single one I tried was smooth and playable, and the Hall-effect sticks make precision platformers and 3D adventure games a joy to control. Dreamcast and PSP titles also hit a sweet spot: Sonic Adventure 2 and Patapon ran silky smooth at full speed, giving that ‘just like the original’ feeling, but in a handheld that’s easier to hold. Basically, if you’re revisiting PS1, N64, Dreamcast, or PSP (or similar) libraries, this device handles them all with impressive polish. You simply won’t have an issue, the graphics look consistently sharper than you’d expect on the 4.7-inch 120 Hz screen. These are the games where this handheld feels right at home.
However when you slide up into GameCube or PS2 territory, things get more nuanced. Performance can vary depending on the game and the emulator core used. Most titles run perfectly at 1× resolution, while others require tweaks: lowering internal resolution, adjusting shaders, or switching performance modes. On this device, I’ve found around 1.5× upscaling is the absolute limit for most titles. PS2 games, in particular, fall into three categories:
- Lighter games that run fine by default at 1× to 1.5× resolution.
- Games that need a bit of tinkering in settings to run smoothly.
- Games that just won’t play well, no matter the adjustments.
For example, GameCube’s Metroid Prime holds up at 1.5×, though more intense areas can show slowdown if pushed any higher. On PS2, God of War runs okay at default settings, but demanding titles like Shadow of the Colossus start to hiccup noticeably. GameCube compatibility is ‘good enough’ for many games, but you’ll see trade-offs in detail or performance depending on the title. The device clearly hits its limits in this generation of emulation.
That said, the 4.7-inch display helps hide flaws more than you’d expect. It is a fantastic display for one which isn’t an OLED. I’m constantly admiring the colors and 120hz. Even games that aren’t running at full speed still look pretty decent on it; frame drops are noticeable if you know what to look for, but the overall immersion remains strong. The high refresh rate, bright colors, and crisp 4:3 scaling make even imperfect emulation more enjoyable, particularly with less demanding PS2 and GameCube titles.
Performance comes with trade-offs. Pushing the device with high-demand titles or performance modes draws more power and generates heat. For the heaviest emulation sessions, it can get ever so faintly warm after 30–40 minutes, and battery life will be shorter under these conditions. For casual to mid-heavy use, though, it’s manageable, you just have to be aware of it. For retro enthusiasts who like tweaking settings, these trade-offs are part of the fun (or all of the fun, for some!)
Overall, the RG476H does enough to let you enjoy a wide range of consoles without feeling severely limited. PS1, N64, Dreamcast, and PSP are smooth sailing; GameCube and PS2 are more of a careful adventure, but the device gives you the tools, screen, and extras to make the experience enjoyable.
For me, when it comes to performance, it really feels like the perfect device for PSP and earlier consoles. For GCN and PS2, they’re just a happy bonus that might need some tinkering. If you’re after smooth, classic retro gaming in a handheld that’s easy to hold and looks great doing it, this is where it really hits its stride.
Value: Punch Above Its Price
For what it costs, the RG476H is worth every cent. You’re getting a device that feels genuinely premium in the hand: hall effect triggers and thumb-sticks, a beautifully bright, crisp screen, and buttons that often feel more impressive than those on my Series X controller. It actually made me double-check the price tag, because it feels like it should cost more than it does.
Performance-wise, it’s not pretending to be perfect. It’s a reminder that Anbernic has built this as a well-rounded all-purpose handheld, not a powerhouse emulator box. A stronger chip might’ve pushed it into a higher class, but it also would’ve pushed the price up. Instead, they’ve found a balance that just works. You’re paying midrange money for something that looks and feels high-end, performs admirably, and never feels cheaply made. It’s the sort of device that rewards you every time you pick it up, not just because it can play your favourite old games, but because it feels like it was built by a company who actually cared about the experience of using it. Whether you’re playing upscaled Dreamcast or PS1 games, your old GBA catalogue, or enjoying the PSP library, this keeps feeling like a match made in heaven. If you’re chasing flawless PS2 or GameCube performance, there are stronger (and pricier) options out there. But for everything else, from PSP and below, the RG476H feels just about perfect.
There’s some eccentricities here: the ANBERNIC AI thing is something I won’t use myself, their launcher, while competent enough lacks true polish, and the aforementioned performance issues up the higher end...but the end result is that the value for what you pay is so very strong.
This is 100% worth the buy, in my opinion. If you can grab it with a coupon or on a slight sale, it’s an absolute steal, but even at full price, I’ll stand by this as worth every cent. At this price point, there’s really not much more you could ask for. The RG476H doesn’t try to reinvent the formula; it just refines it. And that’s what makes it such an easy device to enjoy: you stop thinking about specs and just start playing.
Final Thoughts
For all its strengths, the RG476H doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is: a compact, beautifully built retro handheld that makes gaming feel effortless again. It’s not trying to outmuscle the competition, and it doesn’t need to. What makes it special is how refined the experience feels.
After a week of using it, I’ve come to appreciate just how well-balanced it really is. It nails that sweet spot between nostalgia and practicality. Powerful enough to handle almost anything I’d actually want from a retro handheld, yet simple enough to just pick up and play. It reminds me why I fell in love with handheld and retro gaming in the first place: no noise, no updates, no waiting...just play. And it’s small enough that taking it with me isn’t the drama it is with a Switch or Steam Deck. It’s genuinely unobtrusive, the kind of device that just fits into your day.
I’ve seen other reviews call it iterative or bland, and maybe that’s true if you buy every Anbernic release. But if, like me, you only pick up one of these once in a while, the RG476H feels like the right one to have. With its premium feel, fair price, and the kind of charm that grows on you the more you use it, it’s a handheld that makes old favorites feel fresh again.
- Design: 10/10 — From sleek glass, to an unobtrusive back. No glaring logos or weird looks. It’s a beautifully made device, and looks it. I love how this handheld looks.
- Display: 9/10 — My single favorite feature of the handheld. Clear, bright in sunlight, crisp and smooth with 120hz. It can only be beaten by an OLED panel, but it will amaze you.
- Gaming: 8/10 – With every system below the PS2 performing without any issue for me, this was a dream. GameBoy Advance with shaders, upscaled PS1, PSP and ports. You can play most of the PS2/GameCube library with some tinkering, but I’d not buy it specifically for these consoles.
- Buttons: 9/10 — The D-pad being up the top (above the thumb-stick) means it’s a perfect older console device, and in typical Anbernic fashion, every button is accurate and satisfying to press. The L1/R1 buttons may be too ‘clicky’ for some, but that’s down to personal preference.
- UI/UX: 9/10 – The Anbernic launcher isn’t as pretty or refined as it could be, but it’s perfectly serviceable if you just want to start gaming. And far easier to install your own if you’d like to.