Anbernic RG SP: Clamshell retro gaming handheld available at an initial discount

Anbernic has officially launched the RG SP, with prices starting at $57.99 after an introductory $7 discount. This launch promotion runs for roughly three more days. The base configuration includes a 16 GB microSD card, while bundles with an additional 64 GB or 128 GB card are available for a surcharge—though these secondary cards often come pre-loaded with games that raise clear copyright concerns. Orders ship directly from China, so buyers should keep potential import duties and delivery timelines in mind.

Visually, the Anbernic RG SP pays clear homage to the Game Boy Advance SP, complete with a clamshell design. It sports a 3.5-inch IPS display with a 640 x 480 resolution. Under the hood, the handheld is powered by an Allwinner H700 SoC paired with 1 GB of RAM. While the performance of its four Cortex-A53 cores is modest, it is sufficient for emulating retro platforms up to the SNES and PlayStation 1.

The control layout closely mirrors its inspiration, with a key upgrade: Anbernic has equipped the RG SP with four face buttons instead of two, making it far better suited for SNES titles. It also features four shoulder buttons. However, the handheld lacks analog sticks, which limits its usability for certain 3D PlayStation games.