Soulty's Yapping Corner

As an early birthday surprise, my partner got me the Anbernic RG34XXSP. Since we were out of town when it arrived, he also picked up the R36S for me while we were at TOYCON 2025. We spotted it at the GameCove PH booth, and I couldn’t resist giving it a try while we were there.

Now that we’re back home, I finally got the chance to sit down and try both. Here are my first impressions of the two retro handhelds.

R36S at a glance

Image taken by Soulty Ragevin

We got the 64GB version of the R36S for ₱2,000 from GameCove PH’s booth at TOYCON 2025. While it’s a little pricier than the ₱1,600–₱1,800 listings on Shopee (especially with vouchers), it was still a nice convention find.

Quick Notes:

• The ArkOS it came with was pretty outdated, and the boot-up time was noticeably longer at 25 seconds. So, I tinkered with it and updated it to the latest version, which helped reduce the boot-up time. I also added my little chibi to the startup screen!

What I Liked:

• The purple transparent shell hits that nostalgic sweet spot. I’m a sucker for retro designs, especially clear casing.
• Comfortable fit in my hands. Could also be great with bigger hands.
• The joysticks have a satisfying click and decent size.
• The screen is 3.5 inches, giving enough room to enjoy games.
• Battery life lasts around 4–5 hours.

What Could Be Better:

• Buttons feel a bit squishy and raised, and the trigger buttons are on the tackier side but not really that big of a deal.
• Inner trigger buttons feel awkward to reach.
• The screen colors look washed out, even with adjusted settings.
• 20-second boot-up time.
• UI is text-heavy and clashes with the default background, not the most intuitive.
• No built-in Wi-Fi (though Wi-Fi adapter support is available).
• Audio becomes crispy at high volume, with slight delays during heavier games.
• Struggles with PS1/PSP titles, or heavier games.

Unfolding the Anbernic RG 34XXSP

Image taken by Soulty Ragevin

My partner got this one on Shopee for ₱3,880 after using vouchers, as a surprise gift for me. He even chose the blue color that closely resembled my old Game Boy Advance SP, which I had mentioned to him a year or two ago. I appreciate that he remembered it ;w;

What I Liked:

• The Indigo color immediately reminded me of my old Game Boy Advance SP.
• I adore the compact clamshell design. It’s travel-friendly and easy to throw in my tote bag.
• Handling feels great, but again, maybe not the best for bigger hands.
• Button feedback is firmer and more tactile, and the lower height makes it faster to press.
• The IPS screen (3.4 inch) pops with vibrant colors and sharpness.
• 18-second boot-up time.
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
• Comes with apps like a music player, video player, and e-book reader.
• User interface is sleeker, with console icons that are easy to distinguish. Plus, I can customize them!
• Performs well with heavy games, especially PS1 and PSP games.
• Battery life is also 4–5 hours.

Minor Quirks:

• Joysticks feel a little bit tight or small to my liking, but understandable since they have to fit the sticks in such a compact form.
• Like the R36S, audio can be too crispy at higher volumes.
• Reaching the inner trigger buttons is still a bit awkward, though better than the R36S.

Final Thoughts

I’ve grown attached to both devices and use them for different gaming moods.

The RG34XXSP is my go-to for a lot of games. Its portability makes it ideal for chilling anywhere, anytime, whether it’s on the couch or at the mall.

Meanwhile, the R36S is still a comfy handheld for GBA titles and chill, low intensity games, especially when I want to relax in bed. It’s also going to be my tinkering toy, thanks to ArkOS, though I’ll need a lot of brainpower to make it happen.