Quick answer
The Anbernic RG 35, announced on 2 September 2026 at $37.99, is a rebadged BATLEXP G350: a vertical handheld with the same Rockchip RK3326 chip, 1GB of RAM and 3.5-inch 640x480 IPS screen as the R36S. It plays the same systems at the same speed. What you are choosing between is Anbernic's build and colours with a 32GB card shipped from China, or the R36S at £34.39 with a pre-loaded 128GB card from UK stock.
- Announced: 2 September 2026, global pre-orders on Anbernic's store
- Price: $37.99 plus shipping and VAT, roughly £38 to £42 landed
- Chip and screen: RK3326, Mali-G31, 3.5" IPS 640x480, identical to the R36S
- Battery: 3200mAh (up to 7 hours claimed) vs 3500mAh (6+ hours) in the R36S
- Storage: 32GB card vs the R36S's 128GB card with 40,000+ games pre-loaded
Anbernic does not usually launch a device this cheap under its main name. The RG 35, which went up for pre-order on 2 September 2026 at $37.99 with a 32GB card in the box, is the company's lowest-priced handheld in years, and it sits squarely on top of the R36S in both price and spec. That is not a coincidence: the two devices share a chip, a screen and a form factor.
If you own an R36S, this article tells you whether the RG 35 is an upgrade (it is not). If you are choosing your first handheld, it tells you what the extra money and the extra wait actually buy.
What is the Anbernic RG 35?
The RG 35 is a vertical handheld in the Game Boy shape: screen on top, D-pad and face buttons below, and, unusually for the layout, two analogue sticks beneath those. Anbernic is selling it in classic grey, transparent black and transparent pink, and the translucent shells are clearly aimed at people who remember the Atomic Purple era.
| Spec | Anbernic RG 35 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Rockchip RK3326, quad-core Cortex-A35, Mali-G31 MP2 GPU |
| Memory | 1GB RAM |
| Screen | 3.5" IPS, 640x480, 4:3 |
| Storage | 32GB microSD included, two slots, up to 256GB each |
| Battery | 3200mAh, up to 7 hours claimed |
| Controls | D-pad, four face buttons, two analogue sticks, shoulder buttons |
| Audio | Single speaker, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Connectivity | None: no WiFi, no Bluetooth, no HDMI |
| Software | Linux (Anbernic's stock system) |
| Size and weight | 128 x 81 x 22mm, 191g |
| Price | $37.99 pre-order, Anbernic store |
Is the RG 35 just a rebadged BATLEXP G350?
Yes, in everything that matters. BATLEXP operates as a sub-brand under Anbernic, and the RG 35's chip, screen, stick layout, dimensions and weight line up with the BATLEXP G350, a device that built a reputation as the best-feeling budget vertical because it used Anbernic-grade buttons and membranes. Anbernic has done this before: its Classic Up was a reworked RG35XX Pro and its RETRO LAND was a rebadged RG40XX H. The RG 35 brings the G350 under the main brand with new colours and Anbernic's own packaging.
For buyers that is good news. The G350 was hard to find in the UK, and Anbernic's distribution is far wider than BATLEXP's ever was.
How does the RG 35 compare with the R36S?
| Anbernic RG 35 | GameBro R36S | |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | RK3326, Mali-G31, 1GB RAM | RK3326, Mali-G31, 1GB RAM |
| Screen | 3.5" IPS, 640x480 | 3.5" IPS, 640x480 |
| Layout | Vertical, two sticks | Vertical, two sticks |
| Battery | 3200mAh, up to 7 hours claimed | 3500mAh, 6+ hours measured |
| Card in the box | 32GB | 128GB, pre-loaded with 40,000+ games across 20+ systems |
| Build | Anbernic buttons and membranes, translucent shell option | Solid budget build, several colours, huge accessory market |
| Firmware | Anbernic stock Linux | ArkOS-based, the most documented budget firmware there is |
| Price | $37.99 plus shipping and VAT, about £38 to £42 landed | £34.39, free UK delivery |
| Delivery | Two to four weeks from China | 2–3 days from UK stock |
| Warranty and returns | Manufacturer, overseas | 12-month UK warranty, 30-day returns |
The first three rows are the point. Same chip, same GPU, same memory, same panel at the same resolution. There is no scenario where a game runs on one and not the other, and no scenario where one is meaningfully faster. Our buying guide explains why the RK3326 tier handles everything up to PlayStation 1 and stretches to selected N64, Dreamcast and lighter PSP titles; that description applies to both devices word for word.
What does the RG 35 do better?
- Button feel. Anbernic's D-pads and face buttons are the best in the budget tier, and the G350 lineage means the RG 35 inherits them. If you play a lot of fighting games or precise platformers, this is a real, if small, advantage.
- Translucent shells. The R36S comes in a wide range of solid colours; the RG 35's transparent black and pink are a different look.
- Brand support. Anbernic publishes firmware updates and spare parts under its own name. The R36S relies on a very large community instead, which in practice has produced better firmware, but it is a community rather than a company.
What does the R36S do better?
- It arrives ready. A 128GB card with 40,000+ games sorted by system, box art in place, emulators configured. The RG 35's 32GB card is a starting point, not a library. Filling it is not hard, our guide to adding games covers the whole process, but it is an evening's work you do not have to do with the R36S.
- Slightly bigger battery. 3500mAh against 3200mAh. Anbernic's 7-hour claim will depend on what you play; the R36S delivers 6+ hours in our battery comparison.
- Price and delivery. Once shipping and VAT are added, the RG 35 costs more than the R36S and takes ten times as long to arrive.
- A UK returns route. Sticks drift, cards fail, screens arrive with a dead pixel. Every GameBro handheld has a 12-month warranty and 30-day returns; an Anbernic order from China has a manufacturer warranty you exercise by post.
- Firmware and community. The R36S runs the most documented budget firmware there is, with years of guides, themes and fixes. Our troubleshooting guide exists because that community has already solved nearly everything.
Should you wait for the RG 35?
Wait if you specifically want Anbernic's buttons in a translucent vertical body, you enjoy setting up your own card, and delivery time does not bother you. That is a perfectly good handheld for the money.
Do not wait if you want to be playing this week, want a full library out of the box, or want somewhere in the UK to send it back to. The R36S is the same machine in every way that affects a game, it costs less landed, and it is in stock now. If you would rather have a bigger screen at the same chip tier, the R36S Max moves to a 4-inch panel for £49.48.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Anbernic RG 35?
The RG 35 is a vertical, Game Boy-shaped retro handheld that Anbernic opened pre-orders for on 2 September 2026 at $37.99. It runs Linux on a Rockchip RK3326 chip with 1GB of RAM, a 3.5-inch 640x480 IPS screen, two analogue sticks, a 3200mAh battery and a 32GB microSD card, in grey, transparent black or transparent pink.
Is the Anbernic RG 35 the same as the BATLEXP G350?
Effectively, yes. BATLEXP is a sub-brand under Anbernic, and the RG 35 matches the G350's chip, screen, layout and dimensions. Anbernic has rebadged sub-brand hardware before, so treat the RG 35 as the G350 brought under the main Anbernic name with Anbernic's colours and packaging.
Is the RG 35 more powerful than the R36S?
No. Both use the Rockchip RK3326 with a Mali-G31 GPU and 1GB of RAM, and both have a 3.5-inch 640x480 IPS screen, so they play the same systems at the same speed: everything up to PlayStation 1 comfortably, with selected N64, Dreamcast and lighter PSP titles as a stretch.
How much does the Anbernic RG 35 cost in the UK?
Anbernic's pre-order price is $37.99, roughly £29 at September 2026 rates, plus shipping from China and UK VAT collected at checkout. Expect to land it for around £38 to £42 and to wait two to four weeks, with no UK returns route.
Does the RG 35 come with games?
It ships with a 32GB microSD card and Anbernic's Linux system. Anbernic devices typically arrive with a selection of games on the card, but a 32GB card holds a fraction of what a 128GB card does, and you will be curating and adding titles yourself. The R36S from GameBro arrives with a 128GB card pre-loaded with 40,000+ games across 20+ systems.
Should I wait for the RG 35 or buy an R36S now?
If you want Anbernic's button feel and a translucent shell, and you are happy to set up your own card and wait for delivery, the RG 35 is a fair buy. If you want the same games running on the same chip and screen, out of the box, from UK stock with a warranty, the R36S is the quicker and cheaper route.
Same chip, in stock today
The R36S ships from UK stock with a 128GB card pre-loaded, FREE delivery in 2–3 days and a 12-month warranty.
See the R36S →The verdict
The RG 35 is Anbernic admitting that the R36S formula works: an RK3326, a 3.5-inch 4:3 IPS screen and two sticks for under £40. It is a good device with better buttons, but it is not a faster one, and by the time it has cleared customs it is neither the cheaper nor the quicker way to play the same games.
For the wider picture on this price bracket, read our best retro handhelds under £50 round-up, see how the R36S fares against Anbernic's horizontal line in R36S vs RG35XX, or compare every model in the GameBro shop.
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