The Anbernic RG SP looks like an awesome update to one of the most iconic Game Boys of all time
Anbernic has previewed the RG SP, a new retro gaming handheld designed as a closer modern reinterpretation of Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance SP. It follows the RG 35XXSP and RG 34XXSP, refining the clamshell design while removing analogue sticks to better suit older games and mirror the original device’s simpler layout.
The RG SP is said to use 90% newly moulded components, with improved buttons, a top bezel 25% thinner and a case 10% slimmer. It has a 3.4-inch, 720×480 IPS display—three times the original GBA SP’s resolution—plus dual hinges, an H700 chip, Linux-based software, microSD expansion and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It will be offered in metallic silver, black, pink and teal; no price or launch date has been announced, though earlier models cost $65 and $67 and it may remain below $100.
In short
- Anbernic’s RG SP modernises the Game Boy Advance SP format.
- It drops analogue sticks for a more authentic retro-focused design.
- Price and release date have not yet been confirmed.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters can reasonably see the RG SP as a thoughtful modernisation of a beloved handheld: its slimmer clamshell body, sharper screen, improved controls and headphone jack retain the original’s appeal while addressing practical shortcomings. Omitting analogue sticks may be a deliberate design choice, keeping the device focused on the 2D retro games for which the Game Boy Advance SP format is best suited. If it remains affordably priced, it could offer enthusiasts a convenient, well-made way to revisit older games.
The case against
Sceptics can reasonably argue that another close Game Boy Advance SP-style emulation handheld risks prioritising nostalgia and incremental hardware changes over a distinctive new product. The lack of analogue sticks narrows its usefulness for wider emulation libraries, while the H700 chip and Linux software may offer limited gains for people who already own similar Anbernic models. Until price, launch timing, software quality and legal use of game libraries are clearer, it is difficult to know whether the refinements justify upgrading.
Explained simply
Anbernic is a Chinese electronics company known for producing affordable handheld devices that play classic video games through emulation. The Game Boy Advance SP was Nintendo's compact clamshell version of the Game Boy Advance, launched in the early 2000s, and remains popular with retro gaming enthusiasts and collectors. There is considerable demand among gaming enthusiasts for modern handheld devices that recreate the experience of classic Nintendo portables.
Anbernic has released several handhelds in its RG series inspired by older Nintendo devices, including the RG 35XXSP and RG 34XXSP, which reimagine classic portables with contemporary technology. These products have found an audience among people seeking alternatives to expensive original hardware or who want portable access to classic game libraries.
The RG SP is Anbernic's latest handheld, modelled closely on the Game Boy Advance SP but with a sharper screen, slimmer body and refined buttons. The company has not yet announced a price or release date, though earlier models in the RG range have sold for relatively affordable prices.