A VERY in-depth review of the Anbernic ARC (Linux and Android) 

The shortcut for screen brightness is Function + Volume Keys. It also lets you go two ticks lower in brightness, so it will get even dimmer than the 0% shown in settings. Note that I have the ARC-S model.

Solid thumbnail!

I’d take ergonomics over pocketability from this absolute beautiful machine…mines in the mail and can’t wait to get it🤘🏾

I didnt grow up with a genesis. But it is by far my favorite style of dpad. Ive been thinking about grabbing this. Thank you for the video!

Did you know about the Sega Genesis Nomad by chance? As a wee lad, it was all I could muster to afford with allowance cash, and it was awesome at the time. AC adapter port and video out port, just like a normal console, just also was a controller... with a screen... and a second controller port. Ahead of its time in many ways, aside from the battery pack that required 8-10AA batteries. Ultimately, this device reminds me of my Nomad. The ARC just has a smaller form factor, USB-C rechargeable battery, and the cart slot subbed for microSD slots. If you have a Sanni Reader, this is way more convenient. I know I can play all of the above on my 351MP or 35XX, but it's strange how much nostalgia begs us nerds to seek familiar button layouts. An attractive device, for sure. Off topic, but the NSFW moments made me lol.

Love your videos! I dig the cup of tea in the background, is relaxing to watch. 🍻

I went with Retro Arena beta 9 on my ARC-D. Only thing missing is the GL driver, but soon this will hopefully be fixed. Android does nothing for me on these small devices, just bought the D because of the black color, Anbernic knows it and cashes in the extra dollars. 😅

Thank you for such an in-depth explanation. I thought I was going crazy because a lot of my Saturn games were not working until I tried CHD files, and now your advice has confirmed that I need CHD for the rest of my CD games. Top notch video!

I'm really happy to see a reviewer praising front-facing speakers. They are a must!

Excelent video. A perhaps silly question: is it possible to install fighcade and play online let's say sf3iiis, on this device?

Beautiful video as always. Good device but it really needs some CFW love to be a great device.

Do I use the same SD card that came with the device to update the firmware? Does it need to be formatted first in order to burn the ISO file using Win32 Disk Imager ?

Hello Adin, did you try to play some MS-DOS games with the dosbox core ? For example, does Jazz Jackrabbit run smoothly without sound or graphic glitches ?

I received the black one a few days ago and this is a great Sega device. I never played on any old Sega consoles (and bought the Dreamcast in the mid 2000‘s ) but this controller is great. I ordered a 8bitdo M30 and could consolize this handheld when visiting a friend. Some NHL, some Striker/Fifa and a couple MK and SF amongst other fighting games via HDMI on a big screen…a dream come true. I started playing Comix Zone. The bigger screen makes it a blast. Together with the RGB30 my favourite handheld atm. And I have a SD, RP3+ and all Nintendos since the original GB. So, what good Sega exclusives are there on the Megadrive (Genesis)?

My Saturn finally stopped reading discs, so figuring out some way to relive some of the magic Sega moments is pretty high on my list! The form factor looks nice and playing some classic FGs alone would make it worthwhile.

I'm so glad you mentioned the wi-fi interference. Seems that they brought that from rg353p as well. Unfortunate. That's going to be a deal breaker :/ I was sold otherwise.

I’m using mine in android mode most of the time.

Got mine today and absolutely love it for sega stuff, genesis and game gear mainly. 👍👍

This great video showed up in my feed again, probably because I'm always looking for any updates on CFW or just ANYTHING at all about the ARC any more. I am very disappointed in the way the community abandoned this one immediately. Anything with a vaguely Nintendo vibe gets all kinds of mods, custom OS, and whatever else. I love mine, and am still very happy I bought it, but I really hoped for more community support. Something comes out that is really set apart, and all anyone can talk about is "when are all the clam shells coming out?" Great job, Adin. I really enjoy your videos.

Great video man. I may buy it, but thinking on waiting to see if someone drops a version with sticks. You also has the option to pair a controller with sticks tho.

I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on this one, but I can't find out if 1 game in particular I want to play works. Saturn game named Mr.Bones. It seems to only work with the Beetle emulator and no one has a review or guide stating if we can load up that emulator. The same opens fine on my RG35xx+, but one you start playing the Mr.Bones guy isn't visible. I fixed this on a PC but I'd love to play it with a 6 button layout

I've been contemplating this for a friend. She grew up with Sega consoles, so the form factor is spot on. Not having over the air updates & scraping kills it for me though currently. Hopefully there will be a 3rd party Linux OS that brings those functions in time. As for me, I have the RGB30 which is the right combination of form & features for me in this bracket.

Did you try the sound output of the ARC with good headphones ? I read somewhere the output was crap with permanent background noise... Do you have the same feeling ?

I’m hearing people saying, still (June ‘24) that the RG ARC have the best d pad on a handheld yet. (Genesis 6 button/Saturn d pad, THE best) Still hadn’t got myself a handheld yet, but really, REALLY, want this one. The dual system version

I have the RGB 30, in fact I got two , one of which was a Chrimbo present for my 9yo boy. I installed Min UI on his so that he didn’t have to (couldn’t) fiddle too much with the settings. I then decided to also install the same on mine, at least for a while so that I could become accustomed with the operation and quirks for his sake. I’ve noticed something strange, his boots in less than 16s, but mine takes around 70s to boot!? I can live with this, but seems odd? I’ve swapped the SD cards between devices (I upgraded them to better quality), this does nothing. Also, periodically both devices have exhibited sound issues, ranging from no sound at all (not ROM related) often occurs when powering on straight into a suspended game, to also sometimes having issues with the volume controls, if you tap up or down they continue to change the setting as if you are holding the button, and then won’t let you change in the opposite direction, so no volume or full volume. The stick buttons are both used for the menu, so holding one of these changes volume function to brightness, when this volume issue occurs brightness can not be altered at all …it’s very strange? That being said when it’s running well (95% of the time) this device is great, games look really nice on this large screen, for the price it’s really nice …just wish I knew how to sort these little issues?

Does anyone know how to add amiga games and spectrum c64 etc? I go into files and I see the list there but none are on my home screen

How does Dragon Force 1 and 2 run on it?

Anbernic try really hard to make a very user friendly system. Thankfully it worked.

How are the SD cards? Are they prone to get corrupted? Please tell me what you think about it, I'm really interested in buying this device but the unreliability of Micro SD cards makes me think...

even with Linux CFW I think the D is worth it, apparently the dev for Retro Arena said that you need the extra GB of RAM for arcade emulation

I really enjoy your reviews. The only thing is that knife you’re always pointing with makes me feel a bit weird.

Have you tried Marvel vs Capcom 2 on Dreamcast under Linux?

since you seem to be one of the only handheld reviewers that actually care about loowest brightness and playing in bed it would be great to get a list of best devices for such situations like quietness of buttons too. I've yet to find a great way to play games in bed for too long before annoying the SO if she's struggling to sleep.

You've got me at Rooibos

"Download quota exceeded" for the update iso. Anyone got a mirror?

can it run fightcade?

I want one of these real bad 😥

I think you will open it.

Devices such as the Arc and RGB30 are a very nice trend. It’s one thing to play retro games however it’s like levelling up to play them the way they were meant to be played with unique hardware that is designed for certain systems. As well, retro devices need to give off the retro vibes which the Arc oozes. “That’s what she says” 😆

Is there any way to add the Google Play store ?

GammaOS and Retro Arena are the Combination right now.

mine stopped booting after a few months so.... great

On saturn plays i get double audio.any tips?

Just finished watching whats ken making, he found a hidden microphone, and an AI chip or something. Sneakey sneakey Anbernic.

It's much like anything else. Lineage OS, etc... It lacks in the software department.

may be i was too excited for this device and all turned down 1. scraping is next to impossible with pc too as .xml needs to be manually updated imagine 10000 roms no software or auto script does it 2. v11 breaks the system lots of roms dont work as they need bios to be in a specific place and it isnt in arc in fact put it anywhere roms like street fighter sf hyper, (and other lot of games) etc usually mame doesnt work or breaks control. best solution downgrade to v10 everything is a smooth sail. 3. in fact i was surprised all the ports boot up , i mean all not a single gave error but because of lack of joystick cant move and you cant reconfig 4. i usually like to have my own hotkeys on retroarch (learned form ADINs retroid video, by the way it was awesome) in linux u can modify but only till you play a rom and as soon as you reset or close, you reopen rom everything goes to default save config overwrite or create new or load new doesnt matter you have to reconfig retroarch for every rom everytime you boot or adapt to their personal defaults (difficult beacuase of F button placement) 5. i think if they had only everything below psp/ps1 its a great system i mean quality/dpad /boot time etc I'm in love with it only they shouldn't give extra option to fiddle around which creates a kind of mess. for MD genesis GB GBA and especially if you are an open Bor fan its awesome Thanks ADIN loved your review. in fact, i hardly miss any of your videos.

I see rooibos, i like 👍

LMAO @ TWSS!

Go SEGA!

First!

Waving a knife blade over the screens makes me want to throw up :p