Anbernic RG406V Android Handheld – Review

Anbernic RG406V Android Handheld – Review

Most sim racers probably didn’t start their virtual racing career with a high-end setup including a gaming PC. In fact, many long-established sim racers took their first steps on the world’s racetracks on games consoles such as the Playstation or handhelds such as the Game Boy or PSP. Reason enough to take a closer look at the Android handheld Anbernic RG406V, which offers up to 30 different systems in a pocket-sized format for the occasional racing session.

Ordering and shipping

The Anbernic RG406V can be purchased both from Anbernic itself and from various third-party suppliers. The model tested here (RG406V 128GB + 128GB in white) was provided by Geekbuying. There are currently three variants to choose from:

• RG406V 128GB: 159€ with the code NNNDE10103
• RG406V 128GB + 128GB: 179€ with the code NNNDE10101
• RG406V 128GB + 256GB: 189€ with the code NNNDE10102

The product tested here was provided by the manufacturer. No influence was exerted on this review at any time.

Scope of delivery

The following components are included in the scope of delivery of the Anbernic RG406V:

• USB-C charging cable
• Quick guide
• Screen protector with wipes for prior cleaning

Specs

Nachfolgend die technischen Daten des Anbernic RG406V, wie sie vom Hersteller zur Verfügung gestellt wurden:

Features

Equipped with 8 CPU cores (1A76@2.7GHz + 3A76@2.3GHz + 4*A55@2.1GHz) and a quad-core Mali-G57 GPU with 850MHz as well as 8 GB RAM and a storage capacity of 128 GB, the Anbernic RG406V offers more than enough power for emulations up to the PlayStation 2 and Gamecube generation. The individual components of the handheld are presented in more detail below:

Housing

At first glance, the unusual design of the Anbernic RG406V is immediately noticeable. Instead of following the trend of ever smaller handhelds, the manufacturer has opted for what at first glance appears to be a rather chunky design with fairly large edges around the display area. However, what initially looks like a disadvantage turns out to be a great opportunity after just a few seconds. Thanks to the generous curves and the widely spaced buttons, the handheld fits much better in the hand than much smaller devices. With a size of 145 x 105 x 29 millimetres and a weight of just under 300 grams, the device loses its classic pocket character, but is very comfortable to use, especially during longer sessions.

The device housing is available in three versions (white, grey, black), whereby the white version tested here is more of a retro beige. The surface is slightly textured and there is an integrated controllable active fan on the back as a small special feature (only becomes active at all with high-end emulation).

Display

For the display, Anbernic has opted for a four-inch IPS display with a resolution of 960 x 720 pixels, which corresponds to an aspect ratio of 4:3. This makes the display ideal for retro classics such as the Game Boy Advance (240 x 160 pixels), whose content fills the entire screen. The display has a relatively wide brightness range so that it can also be used in bright environments. There is also a multi-touch function, which is functional but does not come close to the precision and reliability of modern smartphones.

Inputs

Ein wichtiger, wenn nicht sogar der wichtigste Aspekt eines Handhelds sind die verbauten Inputs. Anbernic setzt hier auf folgende Eingabemöglichkeiten auf der Vorder- und Rückseite:

• 2 x joysticks: The two illuminated joysticks, whose design is reminiscent of the Nintendo Switch joysticks, are located in the lower area. They are equipped with Hall sensors, which should prevent problems such as the dreaded stick drift. The range of movement is quite large due to the arrangement, which makes the joysticks very comfortable to use, especially compared to smaller variants. The caps of the two joysticks are removable.
• D-pad: A high-quality D-pad is located on the left-hand side of the device in a classic arrangement:
• Buttons: The buttons are also arranged in a classic way. There are four on the right (X/Y/A/B) and two at the bottom (Select, Start), each with a clearly defined pressure point. There is also another button in the centre (Home), which can be used to call up the menu in most emulations.
• Shoulder buttons: On the back of the Anbernic RG406V there are four shoulder buttons arranged in a slight arc. They are easy to reach (even individually) and also have a clearly defined pressure point.

Connections

The device’s connections are distributed over the four sides:

• Top: The USB-C port is integrated here, which also serves as a video output (max. 1080p) in addition to the charging function.
• Bottom: A classic 3.5 millimetre jack socket is installed here in the centre.
• Left: Here is a connection for the optional SD card and a button that switches between the normal Android environment and the custom Anbernic front end.
• Right: The power button and volume control are positioned here.

Battery life

Another important aspect of a handheld is the battery life. Here, the device shines with a very generously sized battery with a capacity of 5500 mAh, which, according to the manufacturer, should enable a runtime of up to eight hours. In practice, this runtime can even be exceeded in some cases, depending on the application and display brightness, while shorter runtimes are also possible with high-end emulation. Overall, the battery, which is fully charged in 3.5 hours at 2 amps, does a very good job and allows the device to get by reasonably well even on busy days.

Software

For the software, Anbernic relies on a preconfigured Android Rom and its own Anbernic front end:

Android

Based on Android 13, Anbernic has pre-installed a mix of different emulators that can be expanded as required with compatible apps from the Google Play Store. Otherwise, Android smartphone users will feel right at home here. Most of the settings can be made in the same way as on a normal smartphone, although there are a few special features. For example, you can configure the lighting of the joysticks, change the fan settings or switch the mode of the buttons via the quick settings ( drag the screen downwards in the upper area).

Otherwise, there are hardly any surprises. However, there is one special aspect to note when updating the system. It can sometimes take quite a long time (15 minutes+) for the update to complete, so you should be patient.

Emulation

Both the various apps and Retroarch, a free and cross-platform open source front end for emulators, can be used for the various emulations. You can choose between the normal Android user interface or the RGLauncher from Anbernic, which can be opened by clicking on the button on the left-hand side of the device. Here you can open all emulators in just a few steps and get started.

The individual emulators are basically ready for use, although you may need to adjust a few details here and there to suit your own requirements.

On the performance side, the Anbernic RG406V definitely delivers here. Older generations can sometimes even be operated with two to four times the resolution. There were no problems with any of the simracing classics tested; all games ran at the full regular frame rate without crashes or other problems.

Conclusion

The Anbernic RG406V offers an extremely well-rounded overall package consisting of very powerful hardware for an Android handheld in this price range, a high-resolution 720p display and a very good battery life. Anyone looking for an all-rounder that can emulate all consoles up to PlayStation 2 without any problems and can accept slight compromises in terms of dimensions will have a lot of fun with the RG406V. Many simracing titles from the past are just waiting to be rediscovered and can provide many hours of gaming fun.

• RG406V 128GB: 159€ mit dem Code NNNDE10103
• RG406V 128GB + 128GB: 179€ mit dem Code NNNDE10101
• RG406V 128GB + 256GB: 189€ mit dem Code NNNDE10102