Anbernic RG35XX H vs RG40XX H: which size to pick

The RG35XX H and RG40XX H are the same hardware idea in two sizes: a 3.5 inch and a 4 inch screen at an identical resolution, with the smaller model stating two more hours of battery life.

Same core, different body

Anbernic lists an H700 quad-core Cortex-A53 at 1.5GHz, 1GB of RAM, a dual-core G31 GPU, Linux 64-bit, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2 for both models. Both include a 64GB card, have dual TF slots and list up to 512GB. Anbernic also uses the same phrase, "ported games and other 30+ emulators", without naming systems. If you were hoping the stated hardware separates them, it does not: both list the same chip, RAM and GPU.

So the questions are about the screen, the body, the battery claim and the extras.

At a glance

Screen size and sharpness

Both are 640 x 480. Spread over 3.5 inches that works out at roughly 229 pixels per inch, and over 4 inches at 200, calculated from the stated diagonal and resolution rather than quoted by Anbernic. The larger screen shows the same image bigger and a little less dense. If you rely on small on-screen text, a bigger display at the same pixel count helps readability but not detail; if you want a denser picture, the smaller one is slightly crisper by that arithmetic.

Worked example: what the extra half inch buys

Both panels are 640 x 480, which is a 4:3 shape. From the stated diagonals, a 3.5 inch 4:3 screen is about 2.8 inches wide and 2.1 inches tall, and a 4 inch one is about 3.2 inches wide and 2.4 inches tall. That makes the viewing area roughly 5.9 square inches against 7.7, about 31 percent more on the larger model. These are our own sums from the listed sizes, not figures Anbernic prints.

The shared resolution has one tidy consequence. A source picture that is 320 x 240 pixels fills 640 x 480 at exactly double size on either screen, with no bars and no uneven pixel widths. Anything wider than 4:3 will sit inside the frame with empty bands above and below, and those bands are bigger on the 4 inch model simply because the whole screen is bigger. Neither page says which scaling modes the software offers, so treat this as arithmetic about the panel, not a promise about the menus.

Battery and weight

The RG35XX H lists 3300 mAh and 8 hours. The RG40XX H lists 3200 mAh and 6 hours. Weight follows size: 180 g for the H against 208 g for the 40XX H, a 28 g gap. Thickness is the same at 1.6 cm; the difference is length and width, 14.5 x 6.9 cm against 16.3 x 7.9 cm. Both are listed as console dimensions, so a case or grips add to that.

Reading the battery claim sensibly

Dividing the stated capacity by the stated hours gives an average draw of about 413 mA for the RG35XX H (3300 mAh over 8 hours) and about 533 mA for the RG40XX H (3200 mAh over 6 hours). That is a rough implication of two maker figures, not a measurement. Taken at face value, the larger model draws more, but Anbernic does not say what brightness, volume, wireless state or content sit behind either number. The practical reading is simple: the 2 hour gap is the maker's own, it points one way, and you should expect real sessions to depend on how you use the device.

Extras that differ

The RG40XX H highlights RGB joystick lighting with 16 million colours, adjustable colour and brightness and several effect modes. It is a cosmetic feature, and nothing on the page links it to battery use. Both pages list an HD connection to a TV (the RG35XX H page does not state the port type) and support for 2.4G wireless and wired controllers. Only the RG35XX H page adds Bluetooth controller connection; the RG40XX H page does not list it, although it states Bluetooth 4.2 for the device itself. Check Anbernic's pages directly if the TV port or controller type matters.

Colours: the H comes in black, white transparent and purple transparent; the 40XX H in black, blue and gray.

Price as the maker shows it

On 14 October 2026 Anbernic's store showed $57.99 for the RG35XX H as a sale price (regular $67.99) and $67.99 for the RG40XX H (regular $69.99). Neither names a currency, we have not converted them, and UK prices are not checked yet. As listed, the larger model is $10 higher. With the sale and regular prices side by side, the discount on the H looks bigger, but sale prices change, so confirm before you buy.

What to check before you buy

Since the hardware matches, think about how you will hold and carry it. The 40XX H is 1.6 cm thick like the H, but 1.8 cm longer and 1 cm wider by the maker's dimensions, which is a larger footprint on paper. Check which storage bundle you are pricing: both pages list 64GB, 32GB plus 64GB, 64GB plus 128GB and 64GB plus 256GB variants, and the price you see may belong to a particular one. Finally, confirm UK delivery and any import charges with the maker, as the figures we hold do not cover them. Neither page gives battery test conditions, so read the stated hours as the maker's own figure. If you are undecided, the smaller model's stated advantages are battery, weight and price, and the larger model's are screen size and lighting.

What neither page tells you

• Named systems: both pages use the phrase "ported games and other 30+ emulators" and name no systems, so check your must-play list against Anbernic's own material first.
• TV port and resolution: both mention HD output to a TV, and neither gives the connector type or an output resolution.
• Battery test conditions: no brightness, volume or content is given for 8 hours or 6 hours.
• UK availability: delivery, import charges and warranty terms are not covered in the figures we hold, and UK prices are not checked yet.

Which should you buy?

• You want the longer stated battery life, the lighter body and the lower price: the RG35XX H.
• You value a bigger screen and a larger body: the RG40XX H, accepting 28 g more and a 6 hour stated battery life.
• You want to pair Bluetooth controllers: only the RG35XX H page lists Bluetooth controller connection; both list 2.4G wireless and wired controllers.
• You like lighting effects: the RG40XX H is the one with the RGB sticks.
• You want a clamshell instead: see how the RG35XX SP and RG34XXSP compare.

The data page shows every stated row in one place: RG35XX H vs RG40XX H side by side. The RG35XX H is also paired with the RG35XX Plus in our other comparison, and how we research explains our sourcing.

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