Anbernic's RG SP Clamshell Handheld Goes on Sale From $57.99 With a Three-Day Discount
Anbernic opened sales of the RG SP today, a Linux-based clamshell handheld built to look and feel like a Game Boy Advance SP. It starts at $64.99, but a launch promotion cuts $7 from every configuration for the first three days, putting the entry model at $57.99.
Prices and what each tier actually gets you
The three configurations differ only by the capacity of the bundled microSD card — the handheld itself is identical across all of them. Sales run through Anbernic's own store, and the discount applies to all three:
- 16GB card — $64.99, or $57.99 during the first three days
- 64GB card — $79.99, or $72.99 during the first three days
- 128GB card — $94.99, or $87.99 during the first three days
The jump from 16GB to 64GB costs $15 for 48GB of extra space, which is well above what a card of that size sells for on its own. There are two microSD slots on the device, so buying the cheapest model and adding your own card is the more economical route if you already have one lying around. Four colours are offered: Platinum, Graphite, Pearl Blue and Pearl Pink.
The hardware
The RG SP runs an Allwinner H700 — a quad-core Cortex-A53 chip clocked at 1.5GHz with a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU — alongside 1GB of RAM. That is the same silicon Anbernic has used across its budget line for a while now, and it sets a firm ceiling on what the device can do.
- Display: 3.4-inch IPS panel at 720 x 480, in the 3:2 aspect ratio the original GBA SP used
- Battery: 3,300mAh, rated at roughly six hours of play
- Storage: dual microSD slots, no internal game storage
- Wireless: dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2
- Ports: USB-C, HDMI output and a 3.5mm headphone jack
- Software: a Linux-based system rather than Android
Be realistic about emulation
The H700 is comfortable with 8-bit and 16-bit consoles, Game Boy Advance and the PS1, and it can reach into PSP territory. It is not a Nintendo 64, Dreamcast or GameCube machine in any dependable sense — individual titles from those systems may run, but that is a game-by-game lottery rather than a spec you should buy on. Anyone expecting smooth performance across a full N64 or PSP library should be looking at a considerably more expensive handheld.
The other thing to note is the control layout. This is Anbernic's third pass at the GBA SP shape, and unlike the RG 34XXSP that preceded it, the RG SP drops the analog sticks entirely. That is faithful to the console it imitates, and fine for the 2D libraries it handles best, but it rules out most 3D games that need proper analog input — including a good share of the PSP catalogue the chip could otherwise manage.
Where it sits in a rising market
A sub-$60 launch price is notable right now, because the budget handheld category has been drifting upward. Chip costs have been climbing across the industry, and rival makers have already passed that on — Retroid recently raised Pocket Nova prices by $10 and pointed directly at Qualcomm's costs. Anbernic's use of an older, cheaper Allwinner chip rather than a current Snapdragon is exactly why the RG SP can undercut those devices, and also why its performance ceiling is lower.
No devices ship with games. The RG SP is sold as hardware, and it is on the buyer to supply legally obtained ROMs, typically dumped from cartridges and discs they own. Copyright rules on that vary by country, so check what applies where you live before assuming a download is fine.
Worth it or not
If what you want is a pocketable clamshell for Game Boy, GBA, SNES, Genesis and PS1 libraries, and you like the idea of shutting a lid instead of finding a case, the RG SP is priced sharply enough to be an easy recommendation — particularly inside the three-day window. If you want 3D games, analog control or anything past the PS1 era running reliably, this is the wrong device and no discount changes that.
For anyone who would rather not buy hardware at all, a phone plus a controller covers a lot of the same ground. We have tested Android games with gamepad support and rounded up the best free Sega emulators for Android if that route appeals more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Anbernic RG SP cost?
The RG SP starts at $64.99 with a 16GB microSD card, rising to $79.99 for 64GB and $94.99 for 128GB. A launch promotion takes $7 off each tier for the first three days of sale, so the entry price during that window is $57.99. The handheld hardware is identical across all three tiers.
What can the Anbernic RG SP emulate?
The Allwinner H700 handles 8-bit and 16-bit systems, Game Boy Advance and PS1 comfortably, and can reach into PSP titles. Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and GameCube emulation is unreliable at best on this chip and should not be a reason to buy it. The lack of analog sticks also rules out most 3D games that need analog input.
Does the Anbernic RG SP have analog sticks?
No. Unlike the earlier RG 34XXSP, the RG SP has no analog sticks at all. Its face button layout mirrors the original Game Boy Advance SP, which suits 2D libraries but limits what 3D games you can realistically play on it.
How long does the Anbernic RG SP battery last?
Anbernic rates the 3,300mAh battery at around six hours of gameplay. Real-world figures will vary with screen brightness, the systems you are emulating and whether Wi-Fi is switched on. It charges over USB-C.
Does the Anbernic RG SP come with games?
No. It ships as hardware with a blank or system-only microSD card, and there are two card slots for adding your own storage. Supplying game files is up to the buyer, and copyright rules on dumping and downloading ROMs differ from country to country.
