Personally, I was not a big fan of the RG Vita. It felt too expensive on launch, it was underwhelming in terms of QC, and the software was very…2023. So when they announced the RG Rotate and showed it using the same T618 as the Vita, I was certainly nervous about what we’d get.
But despite that, I’ve been testing the RG Rotate for a little while now, and despite a few small reservations about the handheld, this is one of my favorite Anbernic handhelds in the last year. And not for the reason a handheld channel would normally suggest.
Anbernic RG Rotate Specs
If you’re interested in picking up an RG Rotate, you’ve got the choice between a plastic/aluminum mix or a straight aluminum handheld. In terms of price, it starts at $88 + shipping for the black and $107 + shipping for the silver. If that’s worth it for the T618, then it might be worth it to you.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Hardware | |
| CPU | Unisoc T618 |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP2 |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Display | |
| Screen Size | 3.5-inch |
| Resolution | 720 x 720 |
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1 |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| PPI | 290.92 |
| Storage | |
| Internal Storage | 32GB |
| External Storage | microSD |
| Battery | |
| Battery Capacity | 2000mAh |
| Est. Battery Life | 5 Hours |
| Connectivity | |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | USB-C |
| Controls | |
| Triggers | Analog |
| Shoulder Layout | Shelf |
| D-Pad | Top Left |
| Audio | |
| Speakers | Mono |
| Speaker Location | Rear-facing |
| Audio Notes | USB-C Audio |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 80 x 80 x 21mm |
| Weight | 167g (Polar Black) | 204g (Aurora Silver) |
| Form Factor | Vertical |
| Software | |
| Operating System | Android |
Build Quality
This category is especially high, given that this is an Anbernic device. The full aluminum shell feels nice in the hand, with no sharp edges when the device is enclosed in its square screen mode. When opened, the bottom edge of the screen is pretty sharply angled, but doesn’t feel like it’d cut you when opening the hinge mechanism.
Speaking of that, the hinge feels surprisingly good. It’s nice and lightweight and easy to swing about without feeling. Now we don’t know the longevity of the rotating hinge, but in my time with it, I’ll say that it hasn’t gotten any looser, though I’m gonna continue to fidget with it into the future. One point of concern is the amount of flex on the screen when it’s open. If you’re not too careful, you might be able to break the device at the hinge, but you’d really have to be intentional, in my opinion.
Ergonomics & Controls
Starting with controls, everything is clicky. And if you ask me, everything has the same type of microswitch button underneath it. They’re not bad; they’re light and easy to press while still giving some recognition that they have been pressed. But if you don’t like that, you won’t like this device at all. As for the shoulder buttons, you can swap them out for taller ones, but I personally would prefer the shorter ones for easier pocketability.
Ergonomics, on the other hand, is either good or bad. When I was only using the face buttons, I found the Rotate to be pretty comfortable overall, but when I need the shoulders, I end up clawing my fingers way up just to be able to use them. So if you’re going to be doing a lot of shoulder button gaming, this might not be the move without a grip.
Performance
Performance-wise, for better or for worse, it is basically the same as the Anbernic RG Vita. Same amount of RAM, meaning I can’t complete a Geekbench 6 run due to being short a gigabyte, but normal performance through 3DMark or Antutu shows this outperforming a number of other sub $100 Android options for the price. GPU and CPU performance aren’t the biggest issue, but what may be is battery life.
At only 2,000mAh, the battery is pretty small. This is smaller than even the AYANEO Pocket Micro’s 2,600mAh battery. Anbernic rates the device for up to 5 hours, and if you’re doing any lightweight gaming, I can see that happening. But the moment you start pushing for anything heavier, you can kiss that all goodbye. Overall, it’s not absolutely atrocious, but you should be prepared to charge this more than you would expect.
Software
I’m gonna keep this simple. It’s your generic Anbernic slop fest of software. All of the same apps you’re going to delete are still there for every emulator under the sun. Anbernic AI is installed, though I deleted that quickly, and Anbernic’s launcher is present, which feels less bad than I remember, but I’d still rather go with something like Daijisho or Beacon launcher.
That being said, there are a couple of special additions for the Rotate. First is a series of clock faces you can use when the Rotate is not being used. They’re obviously ripped off from known brands, but at the same time, they’re nice to have. The other addition is a cassette-themed series of music player apps so that you can just listen to any of your MP3s as you wish. Again, not perfect, but I think it’s a nice addition for anyone wanting to use the Rotate as more than just a gaming device.
Gaming
Emulation
This is getting split into three brief categories because you should know what to expect by now. The T618 can manage just about everything up through Dreamcast with a solid showing into the Gamecube and lightweight PS2. If you want to tinker, those can be pushed further, but also.. Why would you? There are no sticks, and most games aren’t really going to be playable because of it.
For the most part, I stuck to my portable systems. Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, Game Gear, as well as the older classics like NES, SNES, and Genesis. And that helps in the sense that you can boost some of those 8:7 systems all the way to 1:1 easily without losing too much. Emulation is decent, but expected. If you really want to know some games to play on this square screen, I definitely recommend checking out Nick’s articles on emulation with the RG Rotate.
Android
Another place where the Rotate might lack for some is in Android gaming. Running Android 12, you have a bunch of games that you can download if you want to, but for the most part, you’ll stick to just a few with plenty of letterboxing. The Dadish franchise, Teslagrad, and Turnip Boy all come to mind first as more 2D games you could play on this, but it’s important to remember. It’s a touchscreen that can be all you see.
Suika Game was the main one I played on the RG Rotate. It looked a bit awkward, felt a bit clunky, but it worked surprisingly well, and I was happy to have it on a small enough device. Android gaming can certainly get a pass.
Pico-8
This is the big one for me personally. Over the past few months, I’ve sold every square screen handheld minus the Retro Pixel Pocket V2. And that’s because it was my ideal way to play Pico-8 natively with splore support and wifi out of the box. And that was going to be the case up until the RG Rotate dropped. Because with Macs75’s Pico8 Android wrapper, I can have that exact same experience in Android on a square screen device with Wi-Fi.
It runs perfectly, features Splore, and can read my personal carts too (when I set it correctly). And overall is a much better Pico-8 experience for me. Does that mean I’m going to sell my RPP? Not yet, because there’s something else I can still do with the RG Rotate.
Non-Gaming
Music. It was advertised as being a Music Player as well. DAP’s, or Digital Audio Players, have been getting more popular over the last couple of years, and every company from Hiby to Fiio and more are giving it a go again. But the RG Rotate doesn’t have a headphone jack. That’s true, and while not ideal, you can use a dongle like the Apple dongle or this weird Venture Electronics Devastator DAC to turn your USB-C port into a competent audio jack.
If I’m using wired, I’d go with my Grado SR60X’s to listen to music on the Anbernic, and it easily has enough power. However, I prefer using it as a Bluetooth player. Apple Music, or the built-in music player, paired with my modded Koss KPH30 wireless headphones, and I’ve got a nice music experience that doesn’t take as much thought as you’d expect. If you want a DAP and a handheld at the same time. I’d genuinely recommend it for this.
Final Thoughts
In my opinion, the RG Rotate is an answer to two things. Cheap DAPs that have Bluetooth and minimal audio output, and those 31:27 handhelds that people buy specifically to play Game Boy or Game Boy Color. Compared to the Retroid Pocket Classic or AYANEO Pocket DMG, this has less power, less battery life, and a full 1:1 display. But it also manages to play a lot of the same lower-end games exactly the same.
Is it a perfect handheld? No. The 32GB of storage is anemic, the 2,000mAh battery is also pretty mediocre, and Anbernic’s Slop AI software setup needs to be revamped one day. But it’s also different without RG Slide levels of overpriced. Is it going to be my daily driver or my one and done? No. But it is a solid, “minimal use case” handheld. And for the first time this year, I’ll recommend an Anbernic release.
