It’s the RG300X, the latest in a range of retro gaming handhelds from Anbernic which has been announced,
What we know about the RG300X handheld retro gaming console
RG300X Technical Specifications
| Screen | 3.0 inch IPS screen, OCA full lamination. 640*480 resolution |
| CPU | 4770 dual 1.0 GHz |
| RAM | DDR2 512M |
| SD Card | 16GB |
| Operating System | Opendingux / (music/video) |
| Speaker | High quality double horn stereo speaker |
| Battery | Li-polymer 2500 mAh, lasting 6 hours. |
| Micro SD Card | Up to 256GB |
| Other features | HDMI output, With vibrating motor,Support 3.5mm stereo earphones.support energy saving setting, display brightness, interface background and other functions of display. |
| Accessories | USB charging cable, giftbox , user manual |
| Console Size | 5.3 x 2.7 x 0.78 inches (13.7 x 6.9 x 2 cm) |
The RG300X Design
The RG300X handheld gaming console from Anbernic will be available in two colours which are officially called Golden and Black. The Golden colour is clearly inspired by the eye catching classic Famicom Gold and Red colour scheme. The Black colour has a silver trim and is based more on the original Gameboy Micro colours. Both colours look great, but the Golden one definitely appeals to the retro gamer in me.
The size of the RG300X is approx. 5.3 x 2.7 x 0.78 inches (13.7 x 6.9 x 2 cm) which is certainly larger than the Gameboy Micro, but a little smaller than their RG351 series. It weighs 160g which is twice as light as the newer models likely due to plastic instead of metallic casing.
RG300X Specifications
The expected specifications of the RG300X are quite interesting. The CPU used is the JZ4770 dual core 1.0 GHz, the same which has been used in the previous Anbernic RG30x model series such as the RG350M. This is a step backwards as their newer models such as the highly-rated RG351M use the newer RockChip RK3326 Quad Core 1.5Ghz CPU. However, we have been thinking about why and have a few theories.
First, the RG300X retro gaming console uses a 2,500mAh rechargeable battery, instead of 3,500 found on newer models. This may be due to the size of the gaming handheld being a smaller form factor, hence a smaller battery, slower processor and less power requirements.
Another idea was that due to the size, there are no analogue joysticks. So playing higher end consoles such as the Dreamcast and PSP which many games require analogues are not practical. So if they are not fully playable, why the need for a more powerful processor? It will run all the older generation consoles just fine on the efficient JZ4770 CPU.
The screen size of 3.0 inches is a little smaller than previous models, but this is expected as the handheld is smaller. It does however have a higher resolution screen of 640×480 which is perfect for retro gaming as you can double the resolution on many consoles for better visual quality.
What emulators will the RG300X run?
The RG300X retro gaming handheld runs OpenDinguX which is a well established operating system for Anbernic handhelds. With this we can expect to see a great range of classic consoles including PlayStation 1, CPS 1 to 3, Arcade, NeoGeo, NeoGeo Pocket, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy Color, Gameboy, Super Nintendo, Nintendo, Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System, Game Gear, Atari Lynx, MSX, PC Engine, WonderSwan and Poke Mini.
Like previous handhelds, we can also expect Anbernic to include a good number of game ports such as Cave Story and much more.
RG300X Pricing and Release Date?
The RG300X is available for pre-order now with an estimated release date of early August 2021. The price will be £84.95 from DroiX shipping within UK, so there’s no waiting for lengthy overseas shipping, customs fees or poor customer service!
Let us know your thoughts!
What are your thoughts on the RG300X by Anbernic? Is it a wrong step backwards for them? Or does it make sense to go lower CPU to match the capabilities of the handheld? Let us know in the comments below!
Can’t wait until the RG300X is out? Check out our range of Retro Gaming Handhelds, and buy yours today including the high performance RG351M or if you fancy the Famicom colours, the RG280V.
