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There’s a sweet spot in the budget retro handheld market right around $55–$65 where two devices consistently come up in every buying conversation: the Miyoo Mini Plus and the Anbernic RG35XX H. Both are small, relatively affordable, and run a surprisingly capable library of classic systems. But they’re not the same device, and picking the wrong one is an easy mistake to make if you’re buying blind.
This comparison breaks down exactly what separates them — hardware, software, form factor, and real-world emulation performance — so you can buy with confidence.
At a Glance: Specs Comparison
| Spec | Miyoo Mini Plus | Anbernic RG35XX H |
|---|---|---|
| SoC | Ingenic T618 (dual-core A7, 1.2GHz) | Allwinner H700 (quad-core A53, 1.5GHz) |
| RAM | 128MB LPDDR3 | 1GB LPDDR3 |
| Screen | 3.5″ IPS, 640×480 | 3.5″ IPS, 640×480 |
| Battery | 3000mAh | 3500mAh |
| WiFi | 802.11 b/g/n ✅ | None ❌ |
| MicroSD slots | 1 | 2 |
| Form factor | Vertical (portrait) | Horizontal (landscape) |
| OS | Linux (OnionOS recommended) | Linux (MinUI / GarlicOS recommended) |
| Price | ~$60–$70* | $54.99 |
*Miyoo Mini Plus: miyoo.com is currently offline. Verified reseller listings (March 2026) show new units at $60–$70. Check the Amazon link below for current pricing.
Form Factor: Vertical vs Horizontal
This is the first and most important thing to get right, because it’s purely a preference decision and neither device wins objectively.
The Miyoo Mini Plus is a vertical/portrait device — think Game Boy Color with a slightly wider body and a 3.5″ screen. It’s genuinely pocket-sized, slides into jeans without fighting the denim, and that upright form factor feels immediately right for anything GB, GBC, GBA, or NES-era. If you spent childhood gaming on a gray brick, you’ll feel at home here within about thirty seconds.
The Anbernic RG35XX H is horizontal — the “H” literally stands for horizontal. It’s closer in layout to a GBA or a modern Switch Lite, with the screen centered between two grip areas and proper shoulder buttons on both sides. For longer sessions, most people find landscape devices more comfortable; thumbs rest naturally rather than reaching up. The RG35XX H is slightly wider, but still slips into a jacket pocket without issue.
Neither layout is wrong — it comes down to what you grew up with and what you’re mostly going to play. Vertical GB/GBC nostalgia? Miyoo. GBA-style landscape for longer sessions? RG35XX H.
Build Quality & Feel
Both devices are plastic, and both are honest about it. The Miyoo Mini Plus has a slightly premium feel in the hand — the shell has a subtle texture and the buttons are well-spaced for a vertical device. The D-pad is one of the better ones in this price class, tactile and accurate without being mushy or overly clicky.
The RG35XX H feels more utilitarian. Anbernic’s build quality in this segment is consistent but unremarkable — the shell is sturdy enough, the buttons functional. Where it earns points is the shoulder button layout: proper L1/L2/R1/R2 triggers make a real difference for PS1 games and anything else that relies on analogue-era control schemes. The Miyoo Mini Plus has only single L and R shoulder buttons, which can be a limiting factor depending on what you’re playing.
Display
On paper, both screens are identical: 3.5-inch IPS panels running at 640×480. In practice, both look sharp and clean for retro content — the pixel density is high enough that you get crisp sprites without that blurry upscaled look of older budget devices.
Brightness and colour accuracy are similar between the two. The Miyoo’s screen has a slight edge in community opinion for colour vibrancy, but it’s close enough that you won’t feel shortchanged on either. Both support integer-scale display modes and shader support via RetroArch for those who want to replicate a CRT look.
Performance & Emulation Capability
This is where the two devices diverge most significantly — and where a lot of buying guides get it wrong by glossing over the spec gap.
The Miyoo Mini Plus runs the Ingenic T618, a dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 clocked at 1.2GHz. It’s paired with just 128MB of RAM. That’s a capable chip for what it targets — GB, GBC, GBA, NES, SNES, and Genesis all run flawlessly. Most PS1 games work well, though some titles with complex FMV or audio streams can stutter. N64 emulation is hit-or-miss, with simpler titles running acceptably and complex 3D games struggling.
The RG35XX H runs the Allwinner H700, a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.5GHz paired with 1GB of RAM — eight times the memory of the Miyoo Mini Plus. That’s a meaningful difference. The H700 handles the same 8-bit and 16-bit library with ease, but it also pushes further: PS1 is rock-solid across the board, N64 runs well for most titles with minor tweaks, and even some Dreamcast games are playable. If you want a device that comfortably covers everything up through fifth-gen without compromise, the RG35XX H wins this category decisively.
To be clear: if your target library is anything from the GB era through SNES, either device is more than capable and you’ll never feel the hardware ceiling. The difference only shows up once you push into PS1, N64, or beyond.
Software & Custom Firmware
Both devices benefit enormously from custom firmware, and both have strong community support — but the Miyoo Mini Plus has a clear edge here.
OnionOS is one of the most polished custom firmware projects in the retro handheld space. It’s actively maintained, well-documented, and transforms the Miyoo into a genuinely slick device with a proper app launcher, theme support, RetroArch integration, and scraping tools. Setup takes maybe an hour and the result is something that feels intentional rather than cobbled together. The community around Miyoo and OnionOS is enormous — forums, Discord servers, pre-built SD card images — beginners are well served.
The RG35XX H supports MinUI and GarlicOS, both of which are excellent in their own right. MinUI in particular is a masterclass in restraint — it strips away everything unnecessary and delivers a supremely fast, clean interface that gets out of your way. GarlicOS is closer to OnionOS in scope, with more features and customization. Neither is as beginner-friendly as OnionOS out of the box, but both are stable and capable.
One note: the stock firmware on both devices is worth ignoring. Anbernic’s stock Linux is functional but basic, and Miyoo’s stock UI is similarly underwhelming. Factor in the time to flash custom firmware when you unbox either one.
WiFi & Connectivity
The Miyoo Mini Plus has built-in WiFi. The RG35XX H does not.
For most players this won’t be a dealbreaker either way, but it’s worth thinking about what WiFi actually enables: RetroArch netplay for multiplayer, scraping metadata and boxart directly on-device, SSH access for file management, and over-the-air firmware updates. If any of those matter to you, the Miyoo has a genuine advantage. The RG35XX H requires a USB-C connection to transfer files, which is fine but less convenient.
On storage, the RG35XX H has two microSD slots — one for the OS and one for ROMs. This is a practical advantage: you can swap your ROM card between devices, or load an alternative OS on card one while keeping your game library on card two. The Miyoo uses a single card for everything.
Battery Life
The RG35XX H ships with a slightly larger 3500mAh cell versus the Miyoo’s 3000mAh. In practice, both will give you somewhere in the 4–7 hour range depending on screen brightness and what you’re running. The Miyoo’s less powerful chip is more power-efficient at lighter loads, so real-world endurance tends to be similar despite the smaller battery. Neither device will leave you hunting for a cable mid-session on a typical gaming run.
Price & Value
The RG35XX H is available directly from Anbernic at $54.99, and the official Anbernic store is generally reliable with reasonable shipping times.
The Miyoo Mini Plus is typically priced in the $60–$70 range depending on where you buy — Miyoo’s official AliExpress store tends to be the cheapest, with Amazon third-party sellers running a few dollars higher. Stock availability fluctuates, so if you see it at a good price, don’t sit on it.
The RG35XX H is the better spec-per-dollar value if raw performance is your metric. But the Miyoo’s software ecosystem and WiFi connectivity are real additions that have value beyond the spec sheet.
Who Should Buy the Miyoo Mini Plus?
- You want a compact, pocket-friendly vertical device
- Your library is primarily GB, GBC, GBA, NES, SNES, Genesis
- You want WiFi for scraping, netplay, or SSH access
- You want the best beginner-friendly software experience (OnionOS)
- You value community size and support documentation
→ Check current Miyoo Mini Plus price on Amazon
Who Should Buy the Anbernic RG35XX H?
- You want a horizontal GBA-style layout for longer sessions
- Your library extends into PS1, N64, or Dreamcast
- You want dual microSD slots for flexible storage
- You want the best raw performance in the sub-$60 bracket
- You’re comfortable with slightly more involved firmware setup
→ Buy the Anbernic RG35XX H direct from Anbernic ($54.99)
→ Check RG35XX H on Amazon
Verdict
These two devices aren’t really competing with each other — they’re solving slightly different problems at a similar price point, and the “right” answer depends almost entirely on two questions: What do you want to play? and What form factor feels right in your hands?
If your retro library stops at SNES and GBA and you want the most polished plug-and-play experience possible, the Miyoo Mini Plus is the easier recommendation. OnionOS is genuinely excellent, the vertical form factor is uniquely satisfying for classic Nintendo-era content, and the WiFi connectivity adds real convenience.
If you want to push into PS1 and N64 without hitting walls, prefer a landscape layout, and want more raw headroom for your money, the RG35XX H is the stronger technical choice. The H700 chip and 1GB of RAM give it a ceiling that the Miyoo simply can’t match.
Both are genuinely good devices at a price that’s hard to argue with. Pick the one that matches your form factor preference and your target library — you won’t regret either.
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