Anbernic RG34XX SP vs RG35XX SP: Which Clamshell Should You Buy?

Anbernic makes two Game Boy Advance SP style clamshells, and the names are one letter apart. Both fold shut, both run the proven Allwinner H700 chip, and both cost under $90. The real difference is the screen, and that one difference decides which device belongs in your pocket. Here is the short version: the RG34XX SP has a 3:2 screen built for the GBA library, while the RG35XX SP has a 4:3 screen built for everything else.

Specs Compared

The Screen Decides Everything

Same chip, same shell concept, same firmware. So the buying decision collapses into one question: which aspect ratio matches the games you play most?

The RG34XX SP's 3:2 panel is a GBA machine first. Game Boy Advance games fill the entire screen edge to edge with perfect integer scaling. On any 4:3 device, GBA runs letterboxed or scaled with compromise. If your nostalgia lives in Metroid Fusion, Golden Sun, and Mario Kart: Super Circuit, this is the correct hardware, and the SP-style hinge completes the tribute. Pair it with our best GBA games list and it is the closest thing to a modern Game Boy Advance SP that exists.

The RG35XX SP's 4:3 panel is the generalist. NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, and the original Game Boy line all target 4:3 or fit it closely, so the broader retro library fills this screen the way it filled a CRT. GBA is the one system that suffers, with black bars or non-integer scaling. If you play a bit of everything, 4:3 serves more of your library more of the time.

Everything They Share

• The H700 ceiling. Both run NES through PS1 flawlessly, with light N64 and lighter PSP as a bonus. Neither touches PS2 or GameCube. The full tier picture is in our best handhelds under $100 guide.
• Clamshell practicality. The hinge protects the screen in a bag, and closing the lid sleeps the device, ready to resume instantly. It is the best form factor for commuters and kids, as our best clamshell handhelds roundup covers.
• Custom firmware. Both belong to the H700 family that muOS and KNULLI target. Our muOS setup guide and KNULLI setup guide apply to either device.

The Verdict

Buy the RG34XX SP if the Game Boy Advance is your system. The 3:2 screen is the whole reason the device exists, and for that library nothing at this price does it better.

Buy the RG35XX SP if you want one clamshell for the whole retro catalog. The 4:3 panel fits far more systems natively, and GBA remains playable, just not pixel-perfect.

Either way you get the same chip, the same firmware scene, and the same satisfying snap of a clamshell closing. This is one of the lowest-stakes choices in the hobby. Match the screen to your library and enjoy.

Related Reading

• Anbernic RG34XX SP Review
• RG35XX Pro vs RG34XX SP
• Best Clamshell Handhelds
• Best Handhelds Under $100