Anbernic’s new rotating screen handheld will start at less than $100

Following its sliding screen handheld that debuted last June with a design that some reviewers found to be too chunky and thick, Anbernic has shared more details about its new rotating screen handheld that looks more pocketable. The RG Rotate (Anbernic has never been known for its clever device naming) will be available for preorder starting on May 11th through the company’s online store starting at $87.99 for the polar black version featuring a metal front and plastic shell, according to Retro Dodo. A more premium version with an all-metal body and silver finish will be $107.99.

A new unboxing video shared on the company’s YouTube channel reveals the RG Rotate will feature a 3.5-inch square LCD touchscreen display with a 720×720 resolution. While Game Boy and GBC games should mostly fill the screen, games from TV-connected consoles, or other handhelds like the GBA, will have to be displayed with borders or bars.

The RG Rotate will run Android 12 and be powered by a Unisoc Tiger T618 Octa-core CPU paired with 3GB of RAM which should be capable of emulating most 3D games from the N64 and PS1 eras, as well as some less demanding GameCube titles. With the screen closed the handheld can still be used with Anbernic suggesting it can double as an MP3 player thanks to Bluetooth connectivity and support for wireless headphones like Apple’s AirPods. Battery life is estimated to be up to five hours, and Anbernic includes an extra swappable set of inner shoulder buttons with a raised design so they’re easier to distinguish by touch.