ANBERNIC RG 406H handheld game console test

🎁 Packaging and accessories – What do we get for our money?

ANBERNIC has always been famous for not wasting all the designer talent in the world on packaging – and the RG 406H is no exception. The console is a in a simple, white cardboard box comes with minimal graphics and some basic information. There's no over-the-top marketing, no flashy presentation - the focus here is on the device itself, not the packaging. But what really matters is what's inside. Let's take a look at what's inside the box:

• ANBERNIC RG 406H game console: Of course, the main attraction itself, safely wrapped to prevent scratches during transport.

• USB Type-C charging cable: It's a basic cable, about 1 meter long, which is perfectly fine for its quality. It's important to note that it doesn't come with a wall adapter, so you'll either have to replace it with an existing charging head or purchase one separately.

• Screen protector: Fortunately, we also find a pre-sized film in the box, which is definitely worth putting on, as the display is quite durable, but extra protection is always useful in everyday use.

• Instructions for use: A short, multilingual description that includes basic functions and steps for turning it on. Let's face it, most people will only read it once, but it's useful for first-time setup.

Depending on the version — if you don't buy the "empty" basic model — you may get a pre-loaded 128 GB vagy 256 GB microSD card, packed with thousands of classic games, so you don't have to worry about collecting ROMs right away.

🛠️ Hardware and appearance: solid at first glance, a real experience in use

If someone expects that ANBERNIC RG 406H It will be a spectacular design revolution, but it will have to disappoint. At first glance, this console looks just like an average, clean game console: white housing, analog sticks surrounded by colorful RGB lights, discreet logo, minimalist style.

No show-offs, no exaggerations. But don't let the exterior fool you — the real deal is on the inside.

The use of materials is correct, although we don't get the rubberized back cover seen on the RG556 this time. The plastic shell is nice and even, does not creak, sufficiently solid in the hand gives a feeling. The grips are slightly raised at the back, which provides a comfortable grip even during extended gaming sessions – this was particularly refreshing, especially after so many flat designs. The quality of the buttons is also correct. The Sega-like D-pad It felt strange at first (especially to fingers used to the classic Nintendo school), but after a few hours of use I quite liked it. The controls felt more precise and less tiring during longer platformer or fighting game sessions.

The real stars, however, are Hall-effect joysticks. Finally, we don't have to deal with "snappy" sticks like the Switch Joy-Con, but with nicely moving, finely responsive analog sticks. The RGB rings around them are tasteful – they add a bit of playfulness and a premium feel to the console at the same time. The only minor drawback: the analog sticks and the bumps on the back make the device less pocketable, like, say, a Retroid Pocket Mini. But in return, I didn't give up on it even after prolonged use due to the hand-killing lack of comfort, so For me, the exchange is well worth it..

There is nothing bad to say about the RG 406H's display: the 4-inch, 960×720 pixel resolution IPS panel It comes with full lamination, so the picture is contrasty, rich in colors, and the viewing angles are flawless. It's not AMOLED like the more expensive RG556 or Retroid Pocket 5, but it fits perfectly for this size and price. The overall effect? ​​Clean, well-thought-out, practical. This won't be the console you'll keep in your display case and look at all day long — instead, you'll be playing with it for hours after unpacking it.

Inside the machine, the Unisoc T820 processor works, which 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage This combination is more than enough to run both PS2 and GameCube games — provided you're willing to compromise on settings or resolution. Performance is noticeably better than previous models, especially when running Android games.

Getting Started – Simple, but not perfect

On the console Android 13 is running and almost all important emulators preinstalled awaits the player. I tried the basic AetherSX2 for PS2 emulation and Dolphin for GameCube games.

Getting started was smooth: quick setup, simple menu system – everything worked as it should.

More experienced users, however, will soon notice that the pre-installed emulators not always the latest or most optimized versions. Therefore, if you really want to take advantage of the RG 406H's potential, it's worth spending some time fine-tuning your system. However, smaller titles like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 or Mario Kart: Double Dash they run beautifully without any modification.

Az 5000 mAh battery not only strong on paper: it has also brought its strength in real use 6-8 hours of playtime, depending on what game I was running. However, the loading is a bit slow — It takes approximately 3 hours to fully charge.It's annoying that you can't charge the console while using the video output, as it's a minor flaw that can be annoying during extended gaming sessions. The RG 406H also supports 2,4/5 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and wireless screen mirroring Also. Although the Wi-Fi chip is not the most powerful, the features overall increase the versatility of the console.

Gaming Experience – Nostalgia Reloaded

A Everything from NES to N64 runs flawlessly on the test subject, even upscaled. The emulated The 1:4 aspect ratio is a particular joy for PS3 games, because there is no annoying black bar at the edge of the screen, which we experience with many 16:9 aspect ratio handheld consoles. However, there are already limitations at the PS2 and GameCube level: Lighter titles like Ratchet & Clank or Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 run enjoyably, but heavier games like Jak and Daxter can stutter even at native resolution. Those willing to use PAL versions or play with graphics settings can greatly improve performanceThe RG 406H also does well in PSP emulation, although due to the 4:3 display the letterbox effect slightly spoils the experience. For DS and 3DS games the dual-screen layout isn't perfect, but many single-screen games can still be played flawlessly.

I have collected the tested platforms, emulators and game examples in the table below:

🔧 Fine-tuning and performance settings – How to get the most out of it?

Although the RG 406H performs well out of the box, you can make the experience even better with a few tweaks:

Emulator settings:
For AetherSX2 and Dolphin emulators it is worth turning on "VBI Skip" and "Speed ​​Hacks". On PS2, for example, Shadow of the Colossus that's the only way it ran at a reasonable speed. In the case of the GameCube,Instead of 1.5x upscale, it is worth reverting to native resolution for some heavier titles.

Latest emulator versions:
Pre-installed emulators are not always the latest. For example, it is worth switching to the updated AetherSX2 version called NetherSX2 for PS2 emulation, because gives a spectacular performance increase.

Brightness and battery:
The IPS display is quite bright, so 50–60% brightness is more than enough indoors.This way you can increase the operating time by up to 1-2 hours.

Cooling optimization:
The console has active cooling (fan+heat pipe), but for long PS2/GameCube marathons it is worth using it in a ventilated place, because The center of the back cover gets noticeably hotter..

Using a wireless display:
Because of Android 13 you can easily mirror the image to a TV or monitor. Ideal if you want to have a retro tournament with friends on a bigger screen, for example.

Tips for advanced users

If you're already a regular in the world of emulator handheld consoles, there are many little tricks that can make the RG 406H even better. Here are some extra tips:

• Installing custom firmware: Keep an eye out for alternative firmware releases, as over time the community releases a better optimized Android ROM to the device.
• Controller game: For more serious PS2 or Android games, you might want to consider a Pair the device with a Bluetooth controller, making long games more comfortable.
• Space-saving emulators: For some platforms (like SNES), it's worth choosing lighter emulators to save battery and minimize background usage.
• Backups and synchronization: Használj cloud backups, so if something happens to your device, you won't lose a single hour of playtime.
• Screen protector, case: The RG 406H is relatively durable, but a tempered glass screen protector and a soft case can help maintain your condition in the long term.

Quick comparison

📊 Benchmark results

To support the performance not just by feeling, but also with concrete numbers, I ran some basic benchmark tests on the RG 406H. Here are the results:

The RG 406H benchmark results confirm what you can feel while gaming: this little machine It runs smoothly up to PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PSP levels, and on the PS2 and GameCube front, it delivers enjoyable performance with minimal tweaking. It's not a powerhouse at all compared to modern handheld consoles (such as Steam deck or Retroid Pocket 5), but perfect for a retro gaming experience.