In today's fiercely competitive retro handheld gaming market, renowned handheld brand Anbernic has once again made its move, announcing the upcoming release of a new...A brand new device called "RG Rotate"Unlike traditional upright or horizontal layouts, this new phone features a unique 1:1 aspect ratio rotating screen design.
Introducing patented ultra-thin alloy hinges, challenging a completely new mechanism design.
Anbernic is accustomed to releasing new product information gradually through its official YouTube channel in a "squeezing toothpaste" manner. Judging from the videos released so far, the most eye-catching feature of the RG Rotate is its 1:1 display screen that can be rotated and opened to the side.
To achieve this unique sliding and rotating mechanism, the official statement emphasizes that the chassis uses an aluminum alloy frame and incorporates a "patented ultra-thin alloy hinge," claiming that the mechanism has passed rigorous high-strength durability tests. Although Anbernic has accumulated considerable experience in hinge design in the past, such as developing the dual-screen RG DS handheld and the folding RG 34XXSP, this side-rotating screen mechanism is clearly a completely new engineering challenge in terms of tolerance control and cable durability.
In terms of color options, the RG Rotate is expected to offer two metallic choices: Polar Black and Aurora Silver.
It features Android and replaceable shoulder buttons, but the headphone jack has been removed?
In terms of software and user experience, RG Rotate is confirmed to run on the Android operating system, meaning players will enjoy high emulator flexibility and Android game support. Furthermore, Anbernic has included a thoughtful design: replaceable L2 and R2 shoulder buttons, allowing users to adjust their height according to their preference.
However, the port configuration of this new device has sparked some discussion. Judging from the details in the official video, the RG Rotate appears to only have one USB-C port, meaning the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack may be omitted. For retro gamers who demand extremely "zero-latency audio," the inability to directly use wired headphones (requiring an adapter) might be a significant drawback.
The official pricing and launch date have not yet been announced.
Anbernic has not yet announced the official pricing and release date of the RG Rotate, but based on its past product positioning strategy, the market expects the price of this handheld to be more affordable than the high-end flagship models launched by competitors such as Ayn or Retroid.
In the current retro handheld console market, Anbernic's new handheld console, with its 1:1 aspect ratio screen, is perfect for playing retro platform games like the Game Boy (GB/GBC) or Pico-8. Its rotating design, reminiscent of the T-Mobile Sidekick, further enhances its "trendy toy" appeal, making it highly likely to generate buzz on social media.
