The RG34XX has become one of retro handheld’s most ambitious consoles to date. Not for its feature set, but for its overall design and capability to improve upon what the original GBA offered gamers in 2001.

One of the main highlights of the RG34XX is its screen. It comes with a 720 x 480 resolution that allows for 3x integer scaling on GBA games, and naturally follows the somewhat odd 3:2 aspect ratio found on the device.

However, before the RG34XX was released in December 2024, Anbernic released the RG35XXSP. As opposed to following the base GBA style as the RG34XX does, the RG35XXSP follows the design language utilized in the Game Boy Advance SP.

3x Integer Scaling SP?

Now, it seems there may be plans for a merger of the two designs, bringing the best of the RG34XX and the best of the RG35XXSP together.

Screenshot of "With the lamb" (Max Zhou) talking about a potential RG34XX SP

Screenshot of “With the lamb” (Max Zhou) talking about a potential RG34XXSP – Image via /u/JorgiJat

Recently, a conversation shared via Reddit showcases someone who is believed to be Anbrnic chief engineer Max Zhou, owner of Anbernic, claiming that the company is planning to release an RG34XXSP. Within the conversation, it’s said that the new handheld will not only “revise the 35XXSP problem”. It will also house a chipset that rests somewhere between the Rockchip RK3566 and Unisoc T618.

Anbernic RG35XX SP open on desk

The current RG35XXSP utilizes the same H700 chipset found in the current RG34XX but has a screen resolution of 640 x 480 and the standard 4:3 aspect ratio found in dozens of handhelds available today. With changes to its chipset and screen, the device could perfectly fill the somewhat new sub-niche of devices that heavily borrow their designs from the SP like the Miyoo Flip, PowKiddy V90, and Anbernic’s own RG35XXSP. But, it also allows for perfect integer scaling of the GBA library as well while being slightly stronger than the H700 devices Anbernic released throughout 2024.

Surprise New Chipset

The rumored chipset to be used is still entirely unknown, but some believe that it may be competing with the MediaTek Helio P65 found inside the recently shown-off MagicX Touch One 35. The P65 does currently sit between the RK3566 found inside devices like the PowKiddy X55 and Miyoo Flip, and the T618 that is featured within devices like Anbernic’s RG405V and RG405M.

All we have to work off of is a screenshot of a translated chat, but the idea that Anbernic would explore the possibility of releasing the rumored handheld falls in line with the company’s latest ambitions to create handhelds that gamers have been hoping to see re-created through the power of nostalgia. With the success and public fervor over the RG34XX, a stronger SP variant of the same device looks to be closer than we may think.

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