Anbernic RG 300

The Anbernic RG 300 is a vertical retro gaming handheld launched in 2019, built for players who want a simple, dependable device for classic games. It is powered by the Ingenic JZ4760B, a single-core XBurst MIPS SoC running at 528 to 740 MHz, paired with a Vivante GC200 GPU and 128 MB of DDR2 RAM. This hardware handles 8-bit and 16-bit systems such as the NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Sega Master System, Game Gear, Mega Drive and PC Engine. Most SNES games run at 60 FPS, though titles using FX chips or Mode 7 can lag. Most 2D PlayStation games run fine, not always at a full 60 FPS, while 3D PS1 games struggle.

The 3-inch IPS display offers a 320 x 480 HVGA resolution, a 4:3 aspect ratio suited to retro games, a 60 Hz refresh rate and around 192 PPI. A tempered glass lens protects the screen during everyday use, and a dedicated brightness button makes adjustments quick.

Controls follow a classic layout. There is a cross-shaped D-pad in the upper position, four face buttons, and L1/R1 shoulder buttons in a shelf arrangement. There are no analog sticks and no rumble, which keeps the design clean and focused on retro play. A volume wheel, a sleep button and a physical power switch round out the controls. The plastic body measures 119 x 82 x 25 mm and weighs 220 g.

Power comes from a swappable 1800 mAh BP-5L battery, so you can carry a spare and swap it in on the go. Audio comes from a single front-facing mono speaker, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack is available for private listening. Games and data are stored on a microSD card.

The RG 300 runs RetroFW, a lightweight firmware popular in the retro community, and modding is permitted. Beyond consoles, its platform list covers arcade (MAME, Final Burn Neo, CPS1, CPS2, Neo Geo), classic computers such as the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, MSX, Amstrad CPC and MS-DOS, and engines and formats like ScummVM, OpenBOR, EasyRPG, TIC-80 and CHIP-8.

Ideal for: retro fans who want an affordable vertical handheld, priced at around $60, for 8-bit and 16-bit classics, arcade games and vintage computers, with the convenience of a swappable battery and a no-frills, button-focused design.