Handheld gaming company Anbernic’s latest device is a device with a retro design, a 3.5 inch, 640 x 480 pixel touchscreen IPS LCD display, and a 1.8 GHz Rockchip RK3566 quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor with Mali-G52 2EE graphics.

But perhaps the most unusual thing about the Anbernic RG353P is that it’s a dual-boot system that ships with both Android and Linux software. The RG353P goes up for pre-order June 18th, with prices starting at $130.

The little device has 32GB of eMMC 5.1 storage that comes with Android 11 pre-installed. But the system also comes with a 16GB microSD card that’s loaded with a Linux-based operating system designed for running emulators.

While Anbernic says the system should be able to handle Nintendo64 and PlayStation Portable emulation, among other things, at least one independent reviewer suggests it’s probably better suited for emulating PlayStation 1 and earlier systems.

The Anbernic RG353P has 2GB of LPDDR4X RAM and two microSD card readers (one for the bootable Linux distro and a second for up to 512GB of removable storage), support for WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2, stereo speakers, and a 3,500 mAh battery that the company says provides up to 6 hours of battery life.

Ports include:

  • 1 x HDMI
  • 1 x 3.5mm audio
  • 1 x USB Type-C OTG (for data)
  • 1 x USB Type-C (for charging)

And while the Anbergnic RG353P looks like a game console designed in the 1990s, it has most of the buttons you’d expect from a modern system including dual analog sticks, a D-Pad, four shoulder buttons, four action buttons, and start and select buttons.

Anbernic offers two color options: grey or “black transparent” with a see-through case.

 

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11 replies on “Anbernic RG353P is a retro gaming handheld that dual boots Android and Linux”

  1. They should have gone with a 800×480 screen and a chassis to match for higher end gaming. The RK3566 has the power to push PSP & such emulation. Ambernic, you’re almost there..

    1. win600 is coming shortly that will be their highest performer and step into Wii emulation and more.

  2. There is no such thing as “USB Type-C OTG”. OTG only makes sense for UBS A/B and not with C. So I’m not sure what that’s supposed to be…

    1. Actually you could do it with usb-c there’s a bit that is shaped with a usb-c ending with it

  4. Does anyone know what type of Linux is included or what it’s capable of? Assuming dingux as opposed to full fledged?

    1. Same OS as 503 and 552. EmuElec and RetroArch. Given similarities between 503 and 353P custom firmware is already being worked on and Jelos has a beta relase out. Think this device is going to be popular.

  5. Aside from the really silly design, this looks like a good option for those that want a device with a 4:3 display, and don’t need performance beyond the N64 and PS1 era of systems.

    If you want to do more than that, you should probably buy the AYN Odin. Many people have had good results with PS2, Gamecube, Wii, and also some people have shown some promising results of the new Egg NS (Nintendo Switch) emulator. Some of the more simple games seem to run a decent speed.

  6. The second MicroSD slot only handles up to 512MB?! That seems like a rather… ridiculous limitation.

      1. oh 512MB would be funny. Many of these can push 1TB but can be hit n miss depending on card.

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