SpruceOS 4.3 just opened the door to more Anbernic handhelds

SpruceOS 4.3 is here, and this update is mostly about one thing: getting the operating system onto more handhelds while fixing a long list of everyday annoyances. The biggest addition is full support for the TrimUI Brick Pro. Anbernic’s RGXX+ handhelds are also joining the party, although support there is still in development. Existing SpruceOS users get plenty too, including interface changes, new emulator options, Wi-Fi fixes, better sleep behaviour and improvements to controls, audio and game management. So no, this isn’t just another tiny maintenance update.

TrimUI Brick Pro gets full support

The TrimUI Brick Pro is the main focus of the SpruceOS update. Support covers the PyUI interface, RetroArch and several of the systems people are likely to run on the device, including Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and PSP. PortMaster support is included as well, along with USB gadget features. The Brick Pro also gets its own settings for PPSSPP, DraStic and PICO-8. RGB lighting can be configured directly, and SpruceOS now understands the handheld’s function buttons.

That matters because those extra controls are part of what makes the Brick Pro different from simpler handhelds. SpruceOS can show what a particular switch or function key actually does, so you’re not left guessing after changing a setting. Joystick switching also works through the function controls. It’s a small detail, but a useful one.

Anbernic RGXX support is still taking shape

Anbernic RGXX+ support is a little different. SpruceOS 4.3 introduces early compatibility, but this part of the release isn’t finished yet. At the moment, RGXX devices need a modified TF1 system image before SpruceOS can run properly.

The good news is that the main SpruceOS installation still lives on the second SD card. That makes things easier if you use more than one compatible handheld because you don’t have to rebuild your entire game card from scratch every time. Nintendo DS support is already available on RGXX hardware.

The Spruce theme also works on models including the RG34XX SP and RG Cube. SpruceOS now handles Wi-Fi directly on RGXX devices too, which helps with several performance and connection problems that turned up during testing.

PyUI gets a few useful changes

There are some visible changes in SpruceOS 4.3 as well. PyUI now has a vertical carousel layout for browsing games. If you weren’t keen on the existing library view, this gives you another option. The screensaver has been expanded too. You can change the font it uses and enable a random box-art mode that pulls artwork from games already stored on the SD card.

Storage information is easier to find now. The About This Device screen can show SD card usage, so you can quickly see how much space you’ve got left without jumping into another utility.

Language support has grown as well. SpruceOS 4.3 adds a full Vietnamese language pack with Be Vietnam Pro fonts. More interface labels can now be translated too, including text used by the box-art scraper, activity tracker, system list and font settings.

Emulator support gets another round of changes

The update also adds Atomiswave as a supported platform and updates Naomi configuration. OpenBOR gets a specialised build for Final Fight LNS, while the vTree file manager moves to version 1.1. DraStic has also been updated for the TrimUI Smart Pro and Smart Pro S. A few things have moved behind the scenes.

Nintendo 64 and PSP files now sit inside their proper emulator folders. The M3U generator has also been moved into the general emulation scripts section. PICO-8 gets some device-specific work too. Compatible handhelds can now use the D-pad as a mouse, and controller profiles have been adjusted. The GKD Pixel 2 now uses PPSSPP’s own analogue toggle, with changes to loading behaviour and CPU handling thrown in as well.

Wi-Fi and sleep fixes do a lot of the heavy lifting

Some of the best changes in SpruceOS 4.3 aren’t flashy at all. Alternative ROM folder names now work properly across favourites, recent games, collections, the box-art scraper and the game switcher. That should save some frustration if your folders don’t follow the default naming system. Wi-Fi has had a lot of attention too.

One problem could cause Anbernic RGXX handhelds to slow down badly when Wi-Fi was switched off. That’s been addressed. Online services also check whether a connection is actually available before trying to reach the network.

Sleep behaviour has been tightened up, with fixes for shutdown timers and timeout conflicts. There’s also a useful charging option. You can stop the handheld from shutting down while it’s asleep and plugged into power. Audio gets a few fixes too, including unwanted volume changes when launching games and startup pops on some TrimUI devices.

SpruceOS 4.3 was quickly followed by version 4.3.1, which fixes Wi-Fi behaviour on the Miyoo Mini Plus and Miyoo Mini Flip. It also tackles performance problems caused by repeated connection attempts.

Taken as a whole, SpruceOS 4.3 doesn’t try to reinvent the interface. It doesn’t need to. The bigger story is broader hardware support, cleaner device handling and a long list of fixes that should make the software easier to live with day to day.

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