Hot on the heels of Retroid’s newest machine comes the Anbernic RG505. Both manufacturers have chosen the same SoC this time around, and the end results are two very similar handhelds. Despite this, there are some differences between the consoles, let’s take a look.
PROS: ANBERNIC RG505
If 2x integer scaling for PSP is a must for you, then Anbernic’s machine is the one. The Anbernic RG505 also contains the same OLED panel as the PS Vita, which is far less power hungry than an LCD equivalent. OLEDs in general have excellent contrast, vivid colours and are able to display deep blacks, the PS Vita OLED was no exception.
However it is an old panel, assuming they are actually using the same SKU, and the Vita was not as bright as modern day OLEDs.
The RG505 also has a larger battery than the 3 Plus by 500mAh and runs Android 12 compared to Android 11. I have no doubt that the pricing of the RG505 was in part decided by the price of Retroid’s console, and assuming Anbernic’s usual build quality I think they’ve done well with the price point this time.
PROS: RETROID POCKET 3+
Whilst the RG505 seems to have it beat on some fronts, the RP3+ has some tricks up its sleeve. Its higher resolution panel is going to look nicer for non-integer scaled systems, and at an advertised 450nits it is a lot brighter than the PS Vita’s OLED panel.
The Anbernic RG505 apparently won’t ship with any Google Play Services, so the Play Store won’t be present on the stock OS. Of course it is probably possible to get it working with some tinkering, but the RP3+ comes with these features already installed as stock. As well as that, you’ll get Retroid’s excellent launcher pre-installed.
The console is also slightly smaller and almost 50g lighter than the Anbernic RG505, but its screen is ~0.3″ smaller than the RG505 too. Retroid’s console also has stacked shoulder buttons unlike the RG505, which is preferable for most people and may account for the official specs saying it’s it’s a few mm thicker than the RG505.
The base price is also lower, however current promotions will affect this and certain stores may or may not label the parcel such that it incurs tax on import.
ANBERNIC RG505 vs RETROID POCKET 3+ SPECS
| Retroid Pocket 3+ | Anbernic RG505 | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Unisoc T618 | Unisoc T618 |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4x | 4GB LPDDR4x |
| Internal Storage | 128GB eMMC | 128GB eMMC |
| WiFi | 2.4 / 5 Ghz | 2.4 / 5 Ghz |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12 |
| Battery | 4500mAh | 5000mAh |
| Stated Battery Life | ? | 8 Hours |
| HDMI Output | 720p | N/A |
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo |
| Screen Res | 1334*750 | 960*544 |
| Screen Tech | IPS? | OLED |
| Screen Size | 4.7" | 4.95" |
| Screen nits | 450 | ~150 |
| Size | 185*81*24 | 189*87*18 |
| Weight | 235g | 286g |
| Base Price | $149.00 | $157.99 |
The RG505 goes on pre-order today and is available in grey, turquoise and yellow. There’s a small discount available on the official store if you order in the next 12 days, and a $10 coupon at Aliexpress too.
Be aware that shipping incurs extra tax if you’re in the UK (possibly in some US states too) and shipping is extra. Check both stores to see which is cheapest for you. For me in the UK it’s a grand total of $191 shipped, which is too much. I miss the days when we paid no tax at Aliexpress 🙁
Affiliated links above, if you choose.
Is the screen brightness configurable somewhere (even in .cfg)? I’m curious if the OLED brightness is due to a battery-saving setting or an actual limitation of the particular screen.
My issue with Anbernic is mostly this – hard to reach shoulder buttons, OLED panel is nice but it’s minimal brightness is too high to play comfortably at night, no Google Play Store. Anbernic makes devices with solid hardware, but it’s software support is usually pretty bad. Most fixes comes from community. I thought Retroid would be same as Anbernic, but they actually support their devices and they constantly release updates and fixes. I love my RG350M but this time I pre-ordered RP3+.
The word is “fare”
Yep fair enough, school boy error. Thanks.
Again the ugly logo on the huge chin, I’ll pass.
The RG505 looks like the better retro system, mainly OLED, better android, better battery and price is comparable, but the colors on the RG505 are unfortunate.
Considering how much bigger the RG505 is, the screen isn’t a lot larger. Anbernic went back to wasting a lot of bezel space with their logo.
No way, the RP3+ has by far the superior screen, support and features out of the box. Even if this is a winner by Anbernic, they’ve got a long way to go to rebuild the trust they’ve lost over the last few years.