KNULLI Scarab adds wide handheld support and better Saturn emulation

KNULLI Scarab landed as the kind of firmware update retro handheld owners actually notice the moment they boot: broader device support, a newer RetroArch core, and a real push for better Sega Saturn performance. The release fully supported Anbernic’s revised H700 devices, including the RG35XX Plus, RG35XX H, and RG35XX 2024 family, while also opening the door to handhelds like the BatleXP G350, GKD Pixel 2, Miyoo Flip, Powkiddy X55, Retroid Pocket 5, and Flip 2.

That wider compatibility is the headline, because it turns Scarab into more than a maintenance release. For people trying to choose between community firmwares, KNULLI now looks more like a polished base layer for devices that often arrive with uneven software support. The update also moved RetroArch to 1.22.2, the current tagged Libretro release, which keeps the emulation stack in step with upstream work. For Saturn in particular, that matters: Scarab added standalone Yabasanshiro, giving users another path for one of the most demanding systems in the retro catalog.

The quality-of-life changes go beyond emulation cores. Syncthing integration now supports manual sync triggers, automatic sync on game exit, and transfer-progress notifications, which makes save management feel less like plumbing and more like a visible part of the handheld experience. BatteryPlus brings more precise battery-state reporting, and Silky RGB reworks lighting support for devices with onboard LEDs. PortMaster also got a lower-friction entry point, since it can now be installed directly from the Device Settings menu.

For owners sitting on a stable install, Scarab still asks for a serious decision. KNULLI warned that the update required a reflash because of SD-card partition-table changes and renamed paths, and its documentation said major updates should be done with a clean install. It also recommended backing up userdata before reflashing. That makes Scarab less of a quick patch and more of a reset point.

For the handhelds it now covers, though, that tradeoff is the whole story. Scarab did not just widen the device list; it pushed KNULLI closer to the point where a supported handheld can feel finished the first time you power it on.