AM2R feels so nice on this, loving it so far!

(Reposted with text)

I just got my RG Rotate (Metal version) this morning! Purchased it on AliExpress about 3 hours after orders opened. Thought I’d give my impressions, skipping all the usual stuff you can get from major reviews and trying to hit the points that were missed or ignored.

Why I Swapped the Trimui Brick Hammer

I originally bought the Trimui Brick Hammer to serve as my EDC handheld, hoping it could double as a Digital Audio Player (DAP). While the Brick’s ability to quickly pick up and play is unmatched, it was absolutely worthless as a music player. Bluetooth support is almost non-existent, USB audio lacks volume control when using NextUI, and loading files over the network was a massive pain.

When Anbernic advertised the RG Rotate, it seemed like EXACTLY what I wanted: Android-powered, a faster processor, and an even smaller form factor. I sold my Brick Hammer immediately and bought the Rotate on AliExpress on opening day.

First Impressions & Form Factor

The first thing I noticed is how nice it feels in the hands when closed. It’s incredibly easy to palm and navigate one-handed. Operating the device feels just like using a phone, so if you’re used to Android, doom scrolling feels right at home.

Out of the box, it comes with 11 GB used out of 32 GB (9 GB for the OS, 1 GB for pre-installed emulators and apps). I’m not even going to bother with an SD card; 20 GB of free space is more than enough for my core rotation of music and retro games. Android feels snappy, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth all just work—unlike on the Brick.

The Display

The display looks bright and holds up great at all viewing angles. I’ll admit the Brick's screen feels a bit sharper due to its higher DPI. The Rotate's 3.5” 1:1 screen means you get roughly the same 4:3 image size as the 3.2” Brick. On the Rotate, a 4:3 image scales to 3.1”, so screen real estate isn't actually any better unless you utilize 8:7 with overscan for NES and SNES. However, because this is a 1:1 panel, 3:4 vertical games and square-aspect systems (like Neo Geo Pocket and GB/GBC) look much bigger.

The Bluetooth Audio Situation

Let’s talk about Bluetooth audio, which is inherently laggy. If you want true low-latency wireless audio, you typically need both the Android device and the headphones to support aptX LL (Low Latency), and even then you are looking at some delay (>50ms). The RG Rotate uses Bluetooth 5.0, so there is no native aptX LL support. If you have low-latency wireless headphones and want to experiment, you could try a Bluetooth 6.0 dongle, but the resulting latency can be a roll of the dice. If you want the absolute lowest wireless latency, you’ll have to get dedicated 2.4GHz gaming headphones with their own specific USB dongle, which can bring latency down to ~15ms.

For my setup, I used a pair of TWS earbuds with a dedicated game mode: the Moondrop Space Travel 2 Ultra. In gaming mode, they advertise a 55ms latency, and honestly, I don't think you can do much better than that over standard Bluetooth.

With the ST2, audio lag goes from an unbearable ~500ms in music mode to almost imperceptible in game mode. The lag is technically still there, but it's not enough to bother me while gaming.

Wired Audio (The Zero-Latency Route)

If you want absolutely 0 latency, you need a dongle. I highly recommend the classic Apple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle. It’s cheap, accessible, and sounds excellent. If $10 is still too rich for your blood, the JCALLY JM6 (non-Pro) can be found for under $10 on AliExpress. Avoid generic, unbranded USB dongles; stick with proven brands like Apple and JCALLY. Pair one of those with a Truthear Gate or 7Hz x Crinacle Zero:2, and you have a killer budget entry into the audiophile world. The sky is the limit here—if you want to fall down that rabbit hole, check out r/iems.

No analog stick? No problem. Bluetooth controllers pair easily with no noticeable latency, and the device handles my endgame audio setup beautifully!

I hope this helps anyone who has been sitting on the fence after watching YouTube reviews and worrying about audio lag.

Pros

• Compact: Amazingly pocketable.
• Great Value: Excellent performance-to-price ratio.
• Android OS: Flexible app ecosystem.
• 1:1 Display: Perfect for vertical arcade shooters.

Cons

• D-pad: Not my favorite (personal preference, as I lean toward softer rubber membranes).
• L2/R2: Pretty much useless during gameplay unless you swap them out for the taller variant buttons.

My Setup

• Handheld: Anbernic RG Rotate (Arctic Silver)
• TWS: Moondrop Space Travel 2 Ultra
• Dongle: Apple USB-C to 3.5mm
• Controller: GameSir G8 Plus
• DAC: Chord Mojo
• IEM: Sennheiser IE800
• GAME: 1st screen: Dragon Blaze(Arcade), 3rd screen: Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven(PS2)

Edit: Added game info.

I’d say I’m pretty seasoned in the emulation world at this point. For whatever reason, this thing just keeps grabbing my eye, and I bought one today.

I’m a real sucker for the storm trooper look, and horizontal handhelds that fit in your pocket. As far as I can tell, this was the best fit for me. The RG35XXH was so close for me, but the transparent white just doesn’t do it for me. I can’t wait to get my hands on this thing.

I’m well aware of its shortcomings, but I’m really just looking for a gba device, my favorite retro console by far. I will also read ebooks on it but I know I’m a weirdo for that.

Am I overlooking any other options? Also, what’s the best firmware for this device these days, any advice? Pls be kind.

Thanks!

Just got my 34xx today. Came at 0% battery. I had it plugged up while I set everything up and Knulli. At 100% battery. Unplugged from the wall and played Golden Sun for about 20 minutes. Battery at 79% now. Not using any fast forwarding as the hot keys for it not working for gba for some reason and only working with GB.

Dont know whats draining it so fast.

Not even sure how. I was unable to replicate it

My new favorite gaming console

The metallic blue rg34xxsp won't work with the new knulli scarab it's a different version of the 1gb models with a new panel

I talked to the knulli devs they sent me a test build that works so it'll be released soon

Currently if your case swapping with the old 2gb model motherboard you have to swap the screen as well, the 2gb MB will have the same issue with the new metallic blue screen

Hopefully this helps anyone who gets this new model

[effacé]

Hello everyone, I'm Brazilian, and I'd like to know if there are other Brazilians here who can help me with a question. I want to buy an RG34XX, but I don't know where to buy it. It's around R$292.00 on the ANBERNIC website, but before buying, there's a warning that it could be taxed between 92% and 100% when it arrives at customs. On Aliexpress, there are many listings with prices between R$350 and R$290 and free shipping, but they're all from abroad. I'm afraid to buy and be taxed by Aliexpress, which would be more expensive. Is there a reliable listing link? Or a reseller of ANBERNIC products here in Brazil? Even if I pay a little more, I still want the security of not having to spend twice as much to have an emulation console, paying exorbitant taxes.

I've been tinkering with ES-DE and already loving the device! I highly recommend watching RetroGameCorps video review and checking out the section involving the screen, to get the most out of aspect ratios and scaling. It definitely makes a big difference with this square screen.

Infinite zoom smapi mod installed

You need a copy of windows version of sdv (not android apk) then install cinderbox apk download it from Nexus or GitHub

You can also try other smapi window versions that are not compatible on the android version

Big thanks to the developer of cinderbox

Welp this is disappointing. I've been using my RG Rotate pretty constantly and I had noticed the start button wasn't working occasionally. I thought it was due to some emulation issues but it just completely stopped working today. Really hope I can get a replacement device.