The main difference between the RG-353M and the RG-405M is power.
The RG-405M plays everything up to PSP well, while the RG-353M tops out at Dreamcast.
Other differences
- The RG-353M runs Android or Linux, the RG-405M runs Android.
- The RG-353M connects to a TV; the RG-405M cannot.
- The RG-353M runs on the RockChip RK3566, the RG-405M on the UNISOC Tiger T618.
Which is better
Which fits in a pocket better?
RG-353MThe RG-353M (145 x 70.5 x 15.9 mm, 232 g). The RG-405M is 162 x 73.6 x 15.8 mm, 265 g. Only the RG-353M fits a jeans pocket.
Which is better for PS2 games, the RG-353M or the RG-405M?
RG-405MThe RG-405M. It scores 50 out of 100 for PS2 against 10.
Which costs less?
RG-353MThe RG-353M, at about $146 at launch against $168. Prices today vary by store and the used market.
Which is better for GBA games?
TieBoth run GBA at full speed and fill about the same share of the screen with even pixels: 50% of the RG-353M's screen at 2x, 50% of the RG-405M's screen at 2x.
Which has the bigger battery?
RG-405MThe RG-405M, at 4,500 mAh against 3,500 mAh. That is capacity only: the chips differ, and the heavier the system you play, the faster either one drains.
Side by side
| RG-353M | RG-405M | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $146 | $168 |
| Released | Nov 2022 | Mar 2023 |
| Plays well up to | Dreamcast | PSP |
| Shape | Horizontal | Horizontal |
| Software | Android or Linux | Android |
| Chip | RockChip RK3566 | UNISOC Tiger T618 |
| Memory | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Screen | 3.5 inch IPS 4:3 | 4.0 inch IPS 4:3 |
| Resolution | 640 x 480 | 640 x 480 |
| Battery | 3,500 mAh | 4,500 mAh |
| Weight | 232 g | 265 g |
| Size | 145 x 70.5 x 15.9 mm | 162 x 73.6 x 15.8 mm |
| Analog sticks | Double, symmetrical | Double, asymmetrical |
| Hall effect sticks | Yes | Yes |
| L2 and R2 | Yes, side by side | Yes, side by side |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Video out | Yes | No |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes |
Green marks the better value where one is clearly better. Prices are launch prices.
Emulation
- RG-353MRG-405M
- Game Boy
- NES
- Genesis
- GBA
- SNES
- PS1
- DS
- N64
- Dreamcast
- PSP
- Saturn
- GameCube
- 3DS
- Wii
- PS2
100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues.
Full details
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More comparisons
Why this pair: buyers weigh these two against each other. 46 comments by 39 different people compare them in community discussions, and 9 post titles name both. Specs, emulation scores and launch prices from the retrocatalog.com handheld database.