DROIX blog review comparing the anbernic-rg353v and RG353VS retro gaming handhelds. Both use the RK3566 processor; V model has Android + Linux dual boot with touchscreen and 2 GB RAM; VS is Linux-only with 1 GB RAM. Covers hardware, OS differences, emulator performance, and ArkOS custom firmware recommendation.
Mixed; some games OK, others slow (Sonic Adventure 2) or sound lag
GBA
Perfect
NDS
Runs fine, but 4:3 aspect squeezes dual screens; single screen mode recommended
PSP
Unplayable on God of War; no Vulkan hurts performance; slightly better on Android
Android OS Assessment
Android feels “half-finished” with emulators not properly set up
No Google Play Store pre-installed
RetroArch is the “redeeming quality” with more emulator cores than Linux
AetherSX2 and Dolphin pre-installed but not worth using due to insufficient CPU power
No Dreamcast emulator pre-installed on Android despite being more useful
Pros and Cons
RG353V
RG353VS
+ Android & Linux OS
+ Lower price
+ Touchscreen
+ Get up and running straight away on Linux
+ 2 GB RAM
~ Linux only
- Higher price
~ 1 GB RAM
- Android OS feels half-finished
- No touchscreen
Reviewer Verdict
ArkOS custom firmware is the recommended experience for both models. If using ArkOS, the cheaper RG353VS makes better sense. The RG353V is let down by its half-baked Android OS. Both are decent handhelds with the metal M model being the best of the RG353 series.