Anbernic RG35XX SP vs Miyoo Mini Plus: Clamshell vs Slab Under $70

Both of these handhelds sit under $70, run a 3.5-inch IPS screen at 640×480, have no analog sticks, and top out around PS1 emulation on a good day. On paper they’re nearly identical. In practice, they appeal to different people for different reasons, and picking the wrong one will annoy you every time you pull it out of your pocket.

The Miyoo Mini Plus is the older design — released in early 2023, now deeply mature firmware-wise, and absurdly light at 162 g. The RG35XX SP launched in mid-2024 as a deliberate Game Boy Advance SP tribute: clamshell hinge, 192 g, and the Allwinner H700 SoC that opens the door to N64 and Dreamcast territory the Mini Plus can’t touch. If you mostly play SNES and GBA and want the most pocketable device possible, the Mini Plus wins. If you want a screen-protecting hinge, more headroom in the emulation ceiling, and a wider firmware ecosystem, the SP is worth the extra ~$15.

Specifications side-by-side

Spec	Anbernic RG35XX SP	Miyoo Mini Plus
SoC	Allwinner H700 (Quad-core Cortex-A53 @ 1.5 GHz)	SigmaStar SSD202D (Dual-core Cortex-A7 @ 1.2 GHz)
GPU	Mali-G31 MP2	Integrated (ARM Mali-400 class per device class)
RAM	1 GB LPDDR4	128 MB DDR3
Storage	Dual microSD (up to 512 GB per slot per manufacturer)	Single microSD only (no internal storage)
Screen	3.5-inch IPS, OCA laminated, 640×480	3.5-inch IPS, 640×480, 228 ppi
Aspect ratio	4:3	4:3
Battery	3300 mAh (8 hrs per manufacturer)	3000 mAh
Weight	192 g	162 g
Form factor	Clamshell	Vertical slab
Dimensions	89 × 85 × 27 mm (closed)	78.5 × 108 × 22.3 mm
Wi-Fi	2.4/5 GHz (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)	2.4 GHz only
Bluetooth	4.2 (controllers only per manufacturer)	None listed
HDMI out	Mini HDMI	No
Shoulder buttons	L1/R1/L2/R2	L1/R1 only
Speaker	Mono	Stereo, front-facing
Stock OS	Anbernic Linux launcher	MiyooCFW Linux
Price (USD)	$64.99 MSRP / $57.99 sale	~$50 MSRP
Released	May 2024	March 2023

The RAM difference is not a footnote — it’s a wall. The Mini Plus at 128 MB DDR3 versus the SP’s 1 GB LPDDR4 is roughly an 8× gap, and it directly determines where each device’s emulation ceiling sits.

Build quality and ergonomics

The RG35XX SP is the heavier device at 192 g, but it earns that weight with the clamshell hinge. The screen folds shut when you’re done, which means no scratched display from keys or coins in your pocket. The 89 × 85 × 27 mm closed footprint is chunky but genuinely pocketable in a jacket. Reviewers describe the D-pad as crisp and the face buttons as tactile. The shoulder area is a real-world compromise though: the SP form factor limits surface area for the L2/R2 buttons, and they sit in positions that feel cramped compared to a traditional horizontal device.

The Miyoo Mini Plus at 162 g and 78.5 × 108 × 22.3 mm is one of the few handhelds in this class that disappears into a jeans pocket. The vertical slab format divides opinion — some people love the Game Boy Pocket feel, others find extended portrait-orientation play awkward for horizontal games. The D-pad is a genuine community favourite, frequently described as SNES-grade quality. The speakers are stereo and front-facing, which matters more than people expect until they try the SP’s mono speaker. The Mini Plus has no L2/R2 at all, which is a harder constraint than the SP’s cramped but present triggers.

One documented issue on some Mini Plus units: screen wobble due to loose adhesive. The community fix involves B-7000 glue or double-sided tape and is well-documented, but it’s still a QC footnote the SP doesn’t have.

Screen

Both devices share the same resolution (640×480) and aspect ratio (4:3) on a 3.5-inch panel, so the raw numbers are identical. The SP adds OCA full lamination, which eliminates the air gap between the glass and panel — colours look more saturated and glare is reduced. The Mini Plus is an unlaminated IPS panel at 228 ppi.

For GBA content specifically, the 240×160 native resolution doesn’t fill either screen — you get black bars at the sides on both. That’s a consequence of GBA’s 3:2 aspect ratio meeting a 4:3 display, and neither device solves it differently. For SNES and PS1, both screens render well at their native or slightly scaled resolutions.

The practical screen difference is the lamination. If you’ve used an OCA-laminated display versus a non-laminated one side by side, it’s noticeable — the SP’s screen looks like the image is painted on the glass rather than floating behind it.

Emulation performance

Anbernic RG35XX SP — emulation performance

• GBA — mGBA

  Full speed Perfect
• PS1 — PCSX ReARMed

  Full speed Perfect
• N64 — Mupen64Plus-Next

  Playable Playable
• Dreamcast — Flycast

  Playable Playable
• DS — DeSmuME/DraStic

  Playable Playable
• PSP — PPSSPP

  Choppy at 1x Choppy

Miyoo Mini Plus — emulation performance

• NES — FCEUmm

  Full speed Perfect
• SNES — Snes9x

  Full speed Perfect
• GBA — mGBA

  Full speed Perfect
• PS1 — PCSX ReARMed

  Full speed Perfect
• DS — DraStic (OnionOS 4.3)

  Choppy (varies by title) Choppy
• N64 — Mupen64Plus

  Not practical Choppy
• Dreamcast — Flycast

  Not viable Choppy

The story here is clean: both devices are excellent for everything up to and including PS1. The SP extends that ceiling to N64 and Dreamcast at a playable — if not always smooth — framerate. The Mini Plus simply cannot run those platforms in any meaningful way given its 128 MB DDR3 constraint.

Where the Mini Plus wins on paper is SNES: reviewers describe it as “absolutely flawless” at that level, and the hardware is so comfortable with 16-bit content that it may actually deliver a slightly smoother experience than the SP, which is using more capable hardware for lighter work. In practice, both are perfect at SNES — the difference is headroom, not execution.

N64 on the SP has a specific caveat worth naming: without analog sticks, many N64 games are compromised even when they run at an acceptable framerate. The RG35XX SP maps C-buttons to R2, which works for some games and is frustrating for others. The SP can run N64; whether it’s enjoyable depends on the game.

Firmware and software

The Miyoo Mini Plus runs OnionOS in practice — stock firmware is almost never used. OnionOS is a mature, beginner-friendly launcher with RetroAchievements support, a built-in scraper, activity tracking, blue light filter, and VNC remote control. Version 4.3 added native DS support via DraStic and screen recording. It’s purpose-built for the Mini Plus and it shows: the setup experience is polished and the theme ecosystem is active. MinUI is a minimalist alternative for those who want something leaner.

The RG35XX SP ships with Anbernic’s own Linux launcher, which most users replace quickly. The main options are muOS (BEANS build for the SP specifically, distinct from the BANANA build used on the RG35XX Plus and H) and Knulli. Both support RetroAchievements and overclocking. Knulli adds PortMaster — native Linux ports of games like Stardew Valley and Celeste — and handles the SP’s hinge specifically: closing the lid triggers sleep mode. muOS is generally considered the more beginner-friendly of the two, with an active theme ecosystem and straightforward two-card setup. Neither muOS nor Knulli supports the Miyoo Mini Plus, and OnionOS does not support the SP — the firmwares are device-exclusive.

The SP also gains dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4/5 GHz, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth 4.2 versus the Mini Plus’s 2.4 GHz-only Wi-Fi. For Wi-Fi scraping and RetroAchievements, the Mini Plus is sufficient. For pairing a Bluetooth controller on a TV via the SP’s mini HDMI output, the SP’s connectivity suite is materially more useful.

Value and buyer notes

The Mini Plus is the cheaper device by roughly $15 at full price. That gap narrows during sales, and the SP at $57.99 sale price is a strong value given the significant hardware step up. The Mini Plus has no HDMI output and no Bluetooth, which are hard constraints if you want TV output at any point. The SP’s mini HDMI makes it a capable couch device when paired with a Bluetooth controller.

Warranty on either device is the same reality: cross-border consumer rights are limited, Anbernic and Miyoo both operate out of China, and after-sales support is community-driven rather than formal. Factor in the landing cost and treat it as final-sale pricing.

Who should buy which

For most buyers who want a sub-$70 retro handheld in 2026, the RG35XX SP is the stronger device. The hardware headroom, laminated screen, dual microSD, HDMI out, and Knulli’s PortMaster support give it a longer useful life. The Miyoo Mini Plus wins if raw pocketability and weight matter more than everything else, or if you’ve already decided you only care about content through PS1 and want the best community firmware polish at that level — OnionOS on the Mini Plus is genuinely excellent. It also wins if stereo speakers are non-negotiable; the SP’s mono audio is a real step down on the hardware side.