ANBERNIC RG 477M The RG 477M has the perfect screen with the enough power to take any retro game to the next level. It's pricey, but it's worth it to make classic games really shine.
When I first got into modern emulation handhelds, I always went for horizontal models with a widescreen aspect ratio. Maybe it was just what I came to expect after being conditioned by the PSP and Nintendo Switch, but the squat screens found on most ANBERNIC devices just didn’t appeal to me.
That was, until I reviewed the ANBERNIC RG Slide. That little 4:3 120hz display absolutely blew me away, and although ultimately I was slightly disappointed by the weaker chipset, I knew it was only a matter of time until the company paired it with a little more power.
Fast forward to last week, when I finally got to test the RG 477M. This little metal handheld has exactly what it takes not just to play my favorite retro games, but to make them look better than ever.
Premium materials, retro priorities
Before I get to any of that, I have to talk about the device itself. The M at the end of the name means that it has a metal chassis, in this case an aluminum alloy, which gives it a premium feel. The edges are also nice and rounded, although there is a slight lip where the front and back meet the sides.
The RG 477M has a symmetrical stick layout, which is ideal for the D-pad centric retro games work best on this device. The sticks themselves are a little low on the frame but still feel great, with a wide range of motion. They’re also Hall effect so stick drift should never be an issue.
Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
The D-pad is the real star here, and it’s a joy to use. It feels soft but responsive, and I didn’t experience any false diagonals in testing. ANBERNIC has made dozens of handhelds over the years, and at this point it really knows how to make a D-pad.
The buttons are soft and very quiet, and again they’re great to use. The in-line shoulder buttons are another matter. They use the loudest microswitches I’ve ever tested in a handheld, and I wish they were just slightly longer. My fingers naturally rest on the R2 and L2 buttons, so I had to adjust my grip to reach the R1 and L1 buttons that are more commonly used in retro games.
... continue reading