It’s been another odd year for retro handhelds, as the AI “boom” continues to wreak havoc across the industry. Somehow, Anbernic has managed to ride the wave so far, releasing a handful of devices that still manage to capture our attention. The latest of which is the Anbernic RG SP, yet another Game Boy Advance clone that’s now available for preorder.
This release came out of left field, as the company had already begun releasing teasers for the RG 55G1. However, for a variety of reasons, that handheld has been delayed a bit, so Anbernic took a step back and is now releasing a different handheld in the meantime.
Related Reading: Anbernic RG SP First Impressions
Anbernic RG SP: Price and Preorder Deals
When first shown off, there was no indication of how much the RG SP would cost. However, we knew it would be a more budget-friendly handheld, given that Anbernic confirmed that it was powered by the Allwinner H700.
Thankfully, our suspicions have been confirmed, as the Anbernic RG SP is priced at $59 for the first 72 hours. After that, the retail price of the RG SP will be $64.99, making it a couple of dollars cheaper than the RG34XXSP, and putting it on par with the RG35XXSP.
What to Expect
Circling back to the processor, yes, this is the same H700 chip that sparked the RG XX lineup of handhelds, and the same one that I thought was done following the release of the RG40XXH. It’s probably for the better that Anbernic didn’t call it quits with the H700 after that, as the community support around this SoC has been immense.
I suspect the same will remain true once the Anbernic RG SP makes its way into the hands of developers and the community.
Here’s a look at the full spec sheet for those who are interested in such things:
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Hardware | |
| CPU | Allwinner H700 |
| GPU | Mali-G31 MP2 |
| RAM | 1GB |
| Display | |
| Screen Size | 3.4-inch |
| Resolution | 720 x 480 |
| Aspect Ratio | 3:2 |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| PPI | 254 PPI |
| Storage | |
| Internal Storage | ❌ |
| External Storage | 2x microSD |
| Battery | |
| Battery Capacity | 3300mAh |
| Connectivity | |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Ports | 3.5mm Audio Jack, microSD, USB-C |
| Controls | |
| Sticks | ❌ |
| Triggers | Digital |
| Shoulder Layout | Shelf |
| D-Pad | Top Left |
| Audio | |
| Speakers | Mono |
| Speaker Location | Front-facing |
| Headphone Jack | Yes |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 83 x 82 x 24mm |
| Weight | 168g |
| Form Factor | Clamshell |
| Software | |
| Operating System | Linux (ARM) |
What’s a bit curious about the RG SP isn’t the handheld itself, but instead, it’s now the fourth Linux-powered clamshell in Anbernic’s lineup. Removing the RG DS from the equation, the RG35XXSP kind of stands alone as an option for those who prefer a larger screen.
That leaves the RG34XXSP, which, as of earlier this year, features the same specs as the RG SP. When first released, the RG34XXSP featured 2GB of RAM, arriving as the only H700 handheld to do so. However, due to rising costs, Anbernic quietly downgraded the handheld to include just 1GB of RAM, removing a bit of the appeal.
With the RG SP on the way, I can’t really see a reason why Anbernic would keep both handhelds in its lineup. If anything, I’d like to see Anbernic release more color options for the RG SP, as we’ve seen from other retro handhelds in the past.
Nevertheless, as mentioned earlier, preorders for the RG SP open at 3 AM PT (6 AM ET)
