Anbernic RG353V and the wildcard Anbernic RG353VS are official with tempting price tags to lure retro console enthusiasts!
After a few weeks of running the hype machine, Anbernic have formally announced the Anbernic RG353V and the RG353VS.
We earlier reported with videos showcasing the RG353V. While not a lot has changed since, the RG353VS is an addition that is new.
Let’s have a deeper look at the Anbernic RG353 series!
Anbernic RG353V
As expected, the RG353V is a vertically-oriented version of the Anbernic RG353P.
For the unaware, the RG353V features the RK3566 chipset, a 3.5-inch screen, and can dual boot into either Linux or Android.
Here are the full specifications of the Anbernic RG353V:
- 3.5-inch, 640 x 480p display with touchscreen support
- Rockchip RK3566 1.8GHz Quad-Core 64 bit Cortex-A55 chipset
- 2GB RAM
- 32GB eMMC 5.1 + 16GB microSD built-in, expandable up to 512GB
- 3200mAh battery
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Dimensions: 12.6cm x 8.3cm x 2.1cm
The RG353V is priced at $112.99, going up against a lot of the sub-$150 retro handhelds.
As for the variants, it’s available in four colors: Black Transparent, Gray, White, and Purple Transparent.
With that, Anbernic are also offering certain different storage variants, 16GB+64GB up to 16GB+256GB.
Check it out on the official Anbernic website or AliExpress.
Anbernic RG353VS
The wildcard, the RG353VS from Anbernic is very much the same as the RG353V, except that it does not dual boot.
Along with that, there’s some minor differences in hardware as well. Let’s have a look.
Here are the full specifications of the Anbernic RG353VS:
- 3.5-inch, 640 x 480p display
- Rockchip RK3566 1.8GHz Quad-Core 64 bit Cortex-A55 chipset
- 1GB RAM
- 16GB microSD built-in, expandable up to 512GB
- 3200mAh battery
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Dimensions: 12.6cm x 8.3cm x 2.1cm
The Anbernic RG353VS starts at an attractive $89.99, and is available in the same four colors: Black Transparent, Gray, White, and Purple Transparent.
The RG353VS is also being offered in a few different storage configurations. With that price tag, the RG353VS will battle it out against some of the best retro consoles under $100.
Check out the RG353VS on the Anbernic store on the web and AliExpress.
Anbernic RG353V Review
Here’s a review of the RG353V from YouTuber Retro Game Corps.
Anbernic RG353 series: Gallery
Here’s a video of the RG353V and RG353VS side-by-side:
And here they are in pictures:
Anbernic RG353VS vs Anbernic RG353V: What’s the difference?
With not a lot separating the two, it’s indeed a bit of a task picking what’s best for you.
Essentially, there’s three main bits that separate the Anbernic RG353V and the RG353VS:
- Touchscreen: The RG353V (like the RG353P) features a touchscreen, while the RG353VS doesn’t.
- RAM: The RG353V features 2GB RAM, while the RG353VS comes with 1GB of it.
- OS: The RG353V features dual-boot capabilities (Android/Linux), while the RG353VS only does Linux.
That said, there’s also the matter of price; the RG353V (at $112.99) is $23 more expensive than the RG353VS (at $89.99).
Is the price difference justified? We’d say, yes. For just about 20 bucks extra, you get to run native Android games, flexibility, and the potential of Android.
That said, the Retroid Pocket 3 might also pose a threat to the RG353V. The scene is definitely heating up!
