The new Anbernic Game Boy Advance clone might awaken your nostalgia for purple tacos.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Anbernic has recently unveiled its new retro handheld console, the RG34XX, which clearly draws inspiration from the original Nintendo Game Boy Advance design. This device presents itself as a faithful clone of the classic, although it incorporates additional action buttons and rear buttons that allow playing titles from more recent systems. Pricing and availability details have yet to be revealed, but the RG34XX will be available in transparent red and green colors, as well as in the classic purple and black of the GBA.
One of the features Anbernic has decided not to include is the Game Boy Advance’s LCD screen, which lacked backlighting and was quite difficult to see unless played in sunlight or under a bright lamp. Instead, the RG34XX will feature a 3.4-inch screen with a resolution of 720x480 pixels. This screen will maintain the 3:2 aspect ratio used in the Game Boy Advance, ensuring that GBA titles look good, and that older games designed for 4:3 screens do not suffer excessive distortion.
Like its predecessors, the RG34XX does not have a cartridge slot, unlike the Analogue Pocket or the ModRetro Chromatic. This new model is intended for playing titles through software emulation. While details about the RG34XX's processor are still unknown, it is speculated to be based on the Allwinner H700 chipset, which the company has used in other devices in its XX series. If confirmed, it is expected to be capable of running games from older consoles up to the original Sony PlayStation and some titles from the N64 and Sega Dreamcast.
The RG34XX will include two pairs of rear buttons, a mini HDMI port, a USB-C port for charging, and two microSD card slots. It will also feature Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling online play and streaming PC titles via Moonlight, as well as Bluetooth for connecting multiple wireless controllers in split-screen multiplayer games. For those who find the 3.4-inch screen too small, the RG34XX offers the option to connect to a TV via the mini HDMI port, along with a USB-C port for charging and microSD card slots intended for ROM storage and its operating system.
This is not Anbernic's first attempt to replicate Nintendo designs; it previously launched the RG35XXSP, inspired by the clamshell design of the Game Boy Advance SP, improving the screen, processor, and presenting a concerning amount of pre-installed pirated ROMs.