The LODEX opinion · Retro handheld
Anbernic RG40XX V: is it worth replacing your R36S?
You can enjoy your little retro handheld and still wish for a more comfortable screen. The Anbernic RG40XX V plays precisely that card: a familiar vertical shape and a four-inch display. Our view: it makes returning to old favourites appealing, but its value lies more in comfort than in a race for power.
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Staged illustration created from the selected product image. The setting illustrates a possible use.
The LODEX opinion
We recommend considering the RG40XX V if you want a vertical handheld mainly for classic games and value a four-inch screen. It is an interesting comfort upgrade. Replacing an R36S you already enjoy simply to play many more systems, however, seems a poor reason to buy it.
The useful question is simple: does your current handheld still make you want to play? If its small screen holds you back, the RG40XX V deserves a look. If you already enjoy your sessions, there is no obligation to change.
Four inches: the real reason to consider this Anbernic
Anbernic lists a four-inch IPS display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and 640 × 480 resolution. Around it are a directional pad, four action buttons and a single analogue stick. The RG40XX V retains the appearance of a vertical handheld while giving more space to the picture.
For LODEX, that display is the reason to take an interest. Returning to a familiar adventure, seeing characters more easily and wanting to extend a session matter more than a listing’s game count. We would choose a handful of classics we genuinely want to play over a huge collection we never open.
What the reviews tell us
Joey’s Retro Handhelds and RetroReady both appreciate this handheld’s shape and controls. Their reviews support the idea of an enjoyable device for directional-pad play, without establishing that it suits every pair of hands. Comfort remains personal: a vertical shape may appeal aesthetically while a horizontal device suits some players better.
Joey also describes overly directional analogue-stick behaviour in the original software at the time of its review, and mentions a fix in a community operating system. We would therefore not choose this machine primarily for games demanding delicate analogue control. Its strongest proposition remains directional-pad retro gaming.
Staged illustration created from the selected product image. The setting illustrates a possible use.
Performance: buy for your games, not a list
The specification lists an H700 processor and 1 GB of RAM. The reviews consulted put classics up to the original PlayStation at the centre of its appeal; results are more variable on Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and PSP. A system appearing in a commercial specification does not guarantee that every game will run well.
Our choice would be clear: buy it to revisit retro favourites, not to target PS2 or GameCube. If you mainly want a more demanding game, start by checking that title on this exact model. That is more useful than comparing two long lists of emulators.
Against the R36S: a comfort purchase, not an obligation
The R36S still makes sense as a low-budget entry to retro handhelds. The RG40XX V is more relevant to someone who already knows what they enjoy and wants a different screen or control layout. We do not claim to have measured the two devices side by side: this comparison concerns the buying decision.
Before changing, name what bothers you about your current handheld. If the answer is “I want a bigger picture in a vertical device,” the plan makes sense. If it is simply “I fancy another handheld,” enjoy that purchase knowingly, without inventing a technical necessity. Our R36S opinion helps put the entry budget into perspective.
Who would we recommend it to?
| Your needs | The LODEX opinion | The useful advice |
|---|---|---|
| Classic games and directional-pad controls | Our preferred use | Choose a few games you genuinely want to revisit. |
| Current small screen feels uncomfortable | An upgrade worth considering | The four-inch vertical format is the main reason. |
| An R36S you already enjoy | No essential replacement | Save the budget for a meaningful change in use. |
| Demanding PSP, PS2 or GameCube | We would target another category | Do not buy on a promise of universal compatibility. |
The selected AliExpress offer
We selected the Anbernic RG40XX V listing from Ampown Europe Store. The AliExpress API showed €77.71 on 21 October 2026 using France/euro search parameters. This is a listing price, not a guaranteed total for every colour and capacity. The illustration shows the indigo colour; check the selected variant and delivery in the cart.
Anbernic RG40XX V
View the current price
Offer checked on 21 October 2026 for France. Check the variant, delivery and cart total on AliExpress.
Our verdict
We like the RG40XX V for a specific reason: giving the picture more space while preserving the appeal of a vertical handheld. For a classics enthusiast looking for that comfort, it is an offer worth checking. For an already happy R36S owner, we would not push a replacement: the purchase should bring extra enjoyment, not merely another model on the shelf.
About this opinion
LODEX opinion based on Anbernic specifications, reviews by Joey’s Retro Handhelds and RetroReady, and the AliExpress offer consulted on 21 October 2026. This is editorial analysis, without a hands-on hardware comparison conducted by LODEX.
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