My RG405m suffered an unfortunate broken screen - Time for a new handheld (or 2). 



**It's not obvious what can directly replace it really...**

When my RG405M screen broke, I realized it fills an odd niche. There are a few 4-inch devices on the market, but few are as svelte as the 405M. If you like that specific aspect of it and you don't mind inline buttons, then congrats, look no further because nothing else matches it. It is a premium-built, very slim handheld with a nice 4-inch screen.

  
  
**So I picked the rg476h...**

Eventually, I decided that if I was moving up from the 405M, I was going to prioritize the display. If you want a better (and bigger?) 4:3 screen, there is not as much out there as I was expecting. The obvious answer in the running was the Anbernic RG476H. Others considered were the Pocket Air Mini (excellent price, but not the best display) and the Retroid Pocket Classic (which looked a bit more bulky than I wanted in comparison to the screen size, and close enough to 4:3 for me).

Prioritizing the screen pushed me to the Anbernic **RG476H**. The major "downside" is the stacked triggers - while generally more comfortable, it means the device isn't as slim. I figured I could always find a couple of games to make use of them. I got my RG476H on AliExpress for $146 from the "Anbernic Direct Store," and it was on my doorstep in three days. Having previously owned an RG-Slide, I knew what I was getting into, and this screen is abso-fricking-glorious. It is a good deal brighter than the 405M, and the bump in performance to the Unisoc T820 means I can play heavier games and run resource-intensive shaders. I put GammaOS on my old 405M, but the RG476H just doesn't really need it. It is a little heavier and feels slightly larger, but it's hard to notice in hand. It is definitely less pocketable, but that is mostly due to the stacked L2/R2 button humps.

The cpu isn't powerful enough for the higher scalex stuff, but I do like xbrz freescale on text for RPGs.

* While bigger and heavier, it's not too different in the hand - and the humps for the stacked L2+R2 buttons make it easier to grip.
* That screen is ludicrously beautiful.
* The stock OS feels snappy. I don't think I need to change anything here.
* I DO wish there was a slim version with inline buttons (not 477m $$$ though!). Everyone has different grip styles, so that is going to sound odd to some.

  
  
**...And I also picked up an rg34xxsp?**

I just saved a bunch on ~~car insurance~~ fixing a 1500va UPS by replacing the batteries inside with cheap cells for a ride on toy - so big success. I need a medal 🎖️. By medal I ended up with an rg34xxsp. I bought mine from AliExpress (same "Anbernic Direct Store" trader) as the 476h for $68.

Obviously, being a 3:2 aspect ratio, it isn't the same as the 405M. Right now, I'm running Super Mario World forced into a 3:2 ratio with the epX upscale filter... like an animal. When actively playing, I don't notice the stretch easily, though that is heavily game-dependent.

The rg34xxsp was surprising on several levels.

* I paid $68, and got a 64GB card (which is *nice...*) and it doesn't *feel* cheap. In fact I find myself flipping the bloody thing like a fidget toy while working.
* The screen is *very* nice. It's bright. The colors are nice and saturated. It's slightly warm - you can see in the second pic, the rg405m is somewhat cool, and the rg476h is in between. 
* It's strangly comfortable. I've had the PowKiddy V90 (gave to nephews) but this comfortable even using the low joysticks. I wasn't expecting that.
* It's FAR snappier than I expected. H700 CPU is very underpowered. For perspective, the 405m gets about the quarter the geekbench score of the T618 in the 405m, and an *eight* the score of the T820 in the 476h. But.. MuOS never feels sluggish.
* PortMaster is amazing. Linux usability has come so far... The first gaming handheld I had was the GP2X. Usability is... wow. Even without roms, you can be gaming in a minute. 60fps MarioKart on this?!

  
Oh I'm definitely going to primary the RG476H for retro 😄 But that rg34xxsp can stay in my bag all the time. 

RG405m replacements... RG476h (and RG34xxsp)