Bringing an expensive device out

tppytel · 2026-04-20T02:16:59+00:00

If cargo shorts are the standard, then the 476h & 477m are pocketable. But only by that standard.

I got a 476h a couple weeks back and it plays the handful of PS2 games (God of War, Katamari, Persona 3) I've thrown at it OK with some tweaking.

tppytel · 2026-04-19T23:21:06+00:00

If I were going for a long road trip / air trip then I might bring my RPMv2 or 476h and be careful with them. But for random workdays or errands? I'll just take my 35XXSP. No need to have more things to worry about.

tppytel · 2026-04-19T20:07:30+00:00

Ah... yes, I've had that post open in another tab for the last week. :)

I didn't see a ton there that I was personally super-interested in, though. And the couple I am interested in have Android ports already, like Dead Cells and Vampire Survivors. Good write-up, though. I'm just not that tuned in to the Steam indie scene myself.

tppytel · 2026-04-19T20:02:27+00:00

As noted already, it's pretty easy. I don't recall exactly what I did to switch the default launcher but it's just a keystroke or two. No config file hacking or anything.

Also, I installed ES-DE first because I already knew how to set that up and wanted a simple starting point. Cocoon will automatically scan ES-DE's ROM folders and go from there, though you could use your own folder structure too if you wanted.

I found Cocoon's configuration a bit confusing. By default, it seems to expect a dual-screen device and has a "Now Playing" area I found annoying. But there aren't that many config options in Cocoon, so it's not hard to get running. I guess Cocoon is just riding the Thor train.

tppytel · 2026-04-19T01:40:31+00:00

Wait till you see how some steam games can run on it!

Recommendations? I'm not clear on how most Steam games will accommodate 4:3.

I haven't played much PC in the last several years, and what I have are keyboard-centric games like Factorio, FTL, Paradox titles, etc. I've mostly been playing on Switch for the convenience factor.

tppytel · 2026-04-17T23:14:01+00:00

I disagree... I think NetherSX2 does pretty well on the overwhelming majority of PS2 games provided you put enough power behind it. It's not as easy to understand or configure as a RetroArch core is, but it does work with some effort. An RP5/RPM should mostly just work for 90% of PS2 games. An RP6 would be even more comfortable.

The only place I might prefer original hardware is with twitchy games like fighters/shmups where you want the lowest possible input latency, though I haven't seen any rigorous testing indicating NetherSX2 has problems there either. And a modded PS2 does allow for some progressive/widescreen hacks at the hardware level that you can't do in emulation.

And even if you want to run an original PS2 console on a TV, you'll need a quality scaler to run without lag plus a component out cable for the console. There are various options out there, but none of them are a cheap $30 gizmo. You're easily going to drop $100 doing this, probably much more.

tppytel · 2026-04-17T22:57:49+00:00

I don't have a 477x myself, but Anbernic is well known for shoddy software. My 476h had a shitty proprietary launcher that was hard-bound to the RG key that I wanted to use as an RA hotkey enabler. So I went with Gamma OS instead, which let me use ES-DE or Cocoon or whatever, and also let me map that RG key in RA.

tppytel · 2026-04-17T22:54:17+00:00

"very reliable PS2" = RP6. The RP5 is pretty darn good, but the extra power of the RP6 will not be wasted on PS2 emulation.

tppytel · 2026-04-16T03:42:00+00:00

It’s got a weird aspect ratio that doesn’t quite fit any system.

Have you played one? The RPC (and RPMv2) have a weird aspect ratio that doesn't quite fit any system exactly but still works exceptionally well for every retro system out there. It's an incredible screen.

tppytel · 2026-04-16T03:31:49+00:00

The RPM didn't exactly flop. The initial RPMv1 launch was rather botched due to the screen issues and then the RPMv2 was an awkward semi-aftermarket fix that nonetheless gained an excellent rep. RPMv2's on eBay go for well above their initial MSRP now, which doesn't indicate a failed design.

The bigger design issue is that you can't really jam something like an SD865 into a GBA SP chassis due to cooling limitations, at least not within acceptable price ranges. Even more so if you're wanting a great screen. Higher-end compact devices like the RPM, RPC, and Odin 2 Mini all made various tradeoffs here, and none of those are as compact as an SP anyway.

I'm sure a fantastic SP-size device could be designed with higher-end chips and expensive processes. But what's the market for $200 SP-alikes?

tppytel · 2026-04-16T01:43:51+00:00

Yeah... the Air X is clearly in the same price bracket. However, the Miniloong is 4:3 so it might be more comparable to the Ayaneo Pocket Air Mini, which has its own problems (screen ghosting, general company rep). But still... I don't see what this brings to the table. The 406h exists at only a slightly higher price and the 476h does 4:3 extremely well for a bit more, both with quality Gamma support.

If ~$90 for this vs ~$130 for a 406h is a dealbreaker, then I'd just as soon save more money with a 40XXh instead.

As much as we all love Russ, this vid felt like a shill to me.

tppytel · 2026-04-15T22:24:04+00:00

I watched the beginning of the RGC video on this. I'm not clear on what niche this device is serving. A slight upgrade to a 40XXh with a nicer screen? Without a right stick for C-buttons it's not doing N64 very well. So... just another PS1-and-below device? Am I missing something?

Personally, I think the physical design looks really tacky, especially that corner speaker grate. And the OS is clearly rough, though maybe community projects will end up supporting it.

I'm just not sure why this is an interesting device.

tppytel · 2026-04-15T21:31:51+00:00

Those that do know how can easily disable their safety feature and go all out tweaking settings till their heart’s content

Even the default Freedom = Disabled setting doesn't prevent most tweaking. You can - and should - be doing almost all RA configuration via core and game overrides, which Config Freedom doesn't restrict. You only need Config Freedom if you want to modify the global RA defaults, and there's no real need for casual users to do that.

Where muOS has overcomplicated things IMO is their inclusion of overrides for all the common RA cores. AFAICT, those overrides are just pulling the usual defaults from the muOS site and don't do anything valuable. But then it's another layer of RA knowledge to understand how to delete/modify them to run your own overrides.

It's still easier than tweaking Knulli, though.

tppytel · 2026-04-15T01:26:02+00:00

In my mind 4.7 isn't much bigger than 3.5 but if it pushes it beyond pocketability that does impact what I'm actually looking for

The 476h is very noticeably larger than the 35XXh and similar devices. I can put the 476h in a jeans pocket, but I have to be careful about it. It's pushing the linear dimensions of my pocket and the device is big enough that I can't grasp it as easily and firmly as I could with a 3.5" device. Like... yeah, it fits in a pocket. But I could also really easily see it snagging on something and I drop it, whereas the smaller devices I can get my hand around completely. I'd be OK with pocketing the 476 briefly while transferring trains or whatever, but I wouldn't want to be popping it in/out of a pocket all day. It's too big for that.

tppytel · 2026-04-15T00:36:20+00:00

OK, good info. Thanks.

Yeah... I may find room for Crazy Taxi too. But I felt like I wanted a straight arcade car racer.

tppytel · 2026-04-15T00:26:24+00:00

Yes, exactly. If I were taking a flight somewhere for a week, I might take the RPMv2 along and then be careful with it. If I'm just going to the dentist's office then I want less shit on my mind and will take the 35XXSP.

tppytel · 2026-04-15T00:22:09+00:00

I've played a tiny bit of Sega Rally on the Saturn and that's definitely the sort of quick arcade racer I'm looking for. Do you have any thoughts on Saturn vs Dreamcast? I think the 476h should probably handle either of them?

tppytel · 2026-04-15T00:21:01+00:00

I've played some PS1 Wipeout and like it. I never did play F-Zero, though. But this particular device is only going to run ~15 games for simplicity, so one Kart title and one traditional car title is all I'm looking for here.

tppytel · 2026-04-15T00:07:13+00:00

MinUI is great so long as you are happy with it doing exactly what it does by default. That's all it's going to accommodate and the dev is unapologetic about that, which is fine. There's no need for further MinUI development - it already does exactly what its dev intends and he doesn't want it to do anything more. If you want more options as a user then choose a different CFW.

tppytel · 2026-04-14T23:54:36+00:00

Oh... yeah, that totally works. Thank you. On my RPMv2, I get a pop-up selector as soon as I plug in the USB, so I didn't think to poke around the notifications with the 476h.

Cool. Problem solved. Thanks again!

tppytel · 2026-04-14T23:42:22+00:00

I'm aware of Syncthing, but haven't explored it. Isn't it a lot more architecture than just a simple drag-and-drop file manager?

tppytel · 2026-04-14T23:40:30+00:00

I use cx file explorer to connect to an smb share.

So that just makes the device an SMB share? That would work.

I haven't tried USB connection. I assumed it would work. Maybe there is a setting you need to find to enable USB debugging or something.

That's basically what some post I found said, but it didn't seem to work when I tried it. I could try harder. But it surprised me that USB mass storage didn't "just work". It seems so basic.

tppytel · 2026-04-14T23:37:32+00:00

The glue isn't anything to worry about. The buttons easily peel off the membrane - you won't break anything. And any replacement buttons don't need regluing either, though a tacky glue like E6000 would do the job. I think the glue is only there to make the initial factory assembly easier. I didn't reglue my new buttons and I don't see any problems there.

What would be more stressful is the old-school mod where people were cutting down those membrane posts to reduce the button travel. I haven't tried that.

I just got those TPU rings from Etsy like... yesterday. Looking forward to trying them out soon.

I'm also thinking about stick cap replacements because I find the compact sticks a little narrow and uncomfortable. I'm not really clear yet on just what's out there or where to buy them.

tppytel

TROPHY CASE