Does spruceOS 4.4.0 Run on the RG35XX H, RG40XX and RG28XX?

spruceOS began life as a replacement front end for the Miyoo A30 and grew into one of the two custom firmwares that matter on budget Linux handhelds. Version 4.3 in the summer added the first experimental support for Anbernic's Allwinner H700 devices. Version 4.4.0, out on 12 September 2026, is the release that calls that support finished.

If you own an RG35XX H, an RG40XX H, an RG28XX or the clamshell RG35XX SP, this is the update that makes spruceOS a sensible default rather than an experiment. Here is what it supports, what is new, and how the two-card install works.

Which devices does spruceOS 4.4.0 support?

Notice what is not on the list. The R36S and every other Rockchip RK3326 handheld are outside spruceOS's scope; those devices run ArkOS-derived firmware, which is what GameBro ships them with and what our R36S setup guide covers. If you own an R36S, nothing in this article applies to you, and nothing needs changing.

What is new in spruceOS 4.4.0?

• DSperate. A Nintendo DS emulator written from the ground up, which the spruceOS team is careful to describe as neither a re-skin nor a hack of DraStic. It ships with per-device configurations, auto-resume, integer scaling, video effects, RetroAchievements support and the option to boot straight into the DS firmware menu. Given that DraStic has been closed-source and unmaintained for years, a maintained alternative on budget Linux hardware is the most significant thing in the release.
• Dreamcast, NAOMI and Atomiswave through an updated Flycast build with a Vulkan renderer.
• New systems: Atari Jaguar and the Tandy Colour Computer, the latter via XRoar.
• PortMaster is integrated, so native ports of PC classics install from within the front end.
• Incremental over-the-air updates. Updates now download only the files that changed instead of a full image, which on a WiFi-equipped RG35XX H turns a multi-hundred-megabyte download into a few minutes.
• WiFi improvements: support for the physical WiFi switch on devices that have one, automatic time zone detection, USB dongle support for handhelds without built-in WiFi, and better diagnostics.
• A new Spruce Installer app for Windows, Mac and Linux that writes the card for you.

A 4.4.1 release followed to fix early reports: DSperate library paths on the Miyoo Flip, a missing Tandy ROM folder, restored Jaguar icons in the default theme, and more reliable backup and restore on slow SD cards. It also added the J2ME (Java mobile) system as an optional download and opened incremental updates to all stable users. If you are installing fresh, start from 4.4.1.

How do you install spruceOS on an Anbernic H700 handheld?

Anbernic's H700 devices boot from the first card slot, so spruceOS splits the install across two cards:

1. TF1: the BaseOS card. Download the spruceOS BaseOS image for Anbernic H700 and flash it to a small microSD card (a few gigabytes is plenty) with the Spruce Installer app or any imaging tool. This card replaces Anbernic's stock card in slot one, so keep the original safe; it is your route back.
2. TF2: the spruceOS card. Format a second card as FAT32 and either use the Installer app or extract the spruceOS 7z archive onto it. This is the card that holds the system, your games and your saves.
3. Boot. With both cards in, power on. First boot takes a minute or two while spruceOS sets itself up. After that, drop games into the folders on the TF2 card exactly as you would on stock firmware.

Two points that catch people out. First, if you were on spruceOS 4.3.4, you must reflash TF1 with the new BaseOS image; the old one will not boot 4.4.0. Second, because the spruceOS card lives in TF2 and the device-specific part lives in TF1, the same TF2 card can move between any supported handheld, an RG35XX H one day and a TrimUI Brick the next, without reflashing. Our SD card guide covers which cards to trust for this.

Is spruceOS worth it over Anbernic's stock firmware?

For most owners, yes, and 4.4.0 removes the last reason to hesitate. Anbernic's stock Linux is functional but dated: a slower front end, no PortMaster, no RetroAchievements, no over-the-air updates and a DS emulator that is DraStic under the hood. spruceOS fixes all of that, looks better doing it, and because it runs from its own card the stock experience is one card swap away if you ever want it back.

The competition is muOS and Knulli, both excellent on the same hardware. spruceOS's edge is polish and the pace of releases; if you have used it on a Miyoo device and liked it, you will feel at home. If you have never flashed a firmware before, the new Installer app makes this the easiest of the three to set up.

What does this mean if you are buying an Anbernic now?

The H700 family is the best-supported budget hardware on the market right now, with three actively developed firmwares to choose from and a new device, the RG SP, still arriving with full support on day one. That matters for longevity: a handheld with a living firmware community keeps getting better after you buy it. Our R36S vs RG35XX H comparison walks through how the two budget tiers differ, and the Anbernic vs Powkiddy guide covers the brand question.

The verdict

spruceOS 4.4.0 is the point where Anbernic's H700 handhelds stop being a beta target and become a first-class platform. If you own one, put a second card in it this weekend: a real DS emulator, PortMaster and over-the-air updates for the cost of a microSD card is the best upgrade these devices have had.

New to the jargon? Our retro handheld glossary explains firmware, cores and everything else, and the buying guide will tell you whether an H700 device is the right tier for the games you play.