Anbernic RG SP Hits $59 Preorder Price, Keeps H700 Alive
The clamshell is back, and it’s cheaper than a new game. Anbernic’s RG SP has surfaced at $59 for the first 72 hours of preorders, slotting the H700 chipset into a pocketable GBA SP-inspired shell. That’s not just a nostalgia play — it’s a statement that the budget retro handheld segment still has room for a $60 device with a 3.5-inch 640x480 display.
For anyone who grew up with the Game Boy Advance SP, the RG SP is an immediate hand-feel memory. The clamshell closes flat, the shoulder buttons are usable, and the screen sits behind a scratch-resistant cover. But the real story is what’s inside: a chipset we’ve seen in a dozen handhelds, now priced to move.
Why the H700 Refuses to Retire
The H700 first made the rounds as a low-power ARM chip capable of handling PS1, SNES, GBA, and even some N64 with the right emulator. In the RG SP, it’s paired with 1GB of RAM — enough for the systems most people actually play on a clamshell. The battery life is the bigger win: the same chip that struggles with heavier PSP titles will happily run GBA and SNES for hours on a single charge.
Anbernic could have used a newer processor, but that would push the price up. At $59, the H700 is not a compromise; it’s a deliberate choice for a device aimed at the daily rotation rather than the specs sheet.
A GBA-Perfect Screen in a Pocket-Sized Shell
The RG SP’s 3.5-inch IPS display runs at 640x480, which scales GBA’s 240x160 resolution perfectly with integer scaling. For an SP-style handheld, that’s the entire job. The result is crisp pixels and deep blacks in a shell that slips into a front pocket without a case.
The button layout follows the GBA SP template with modern comfy ergonomics. Face buttons are clicky, the D-pad is precise, and the clamshell hinge feels sturdy enough for the sort of abuse a $59 device is likely to get. It’s the kind of hardware that makes you want to find a game to play, not just tweak settings.
Preorder Timing and the Budget Handheld Landscape
The $59 preorder price is limited to the first 72 hours, after which the RG SP is expected to settle around its regular retail price. That makes the early window the moment to decide if a clamshell fits your rotation — especially when the Miyoo Mini Plus and Anbernic’s own RG35XX Series occupy similar price points.
Against those competitors, the RG SP’s clamshell is a genuine differentiator. It protects the screen, feels satisfying to open and close, and taps into a form factor that hasn’t seen this much attention since the original SP. If 2025’s handheld wave is about choice, Anbernic just made the easiest yes.