When we think of Android handhelds, ANBERNIC is one of the first names that pops up. They’ve made a huge variety of devices, from vertical form factors reminiscent of the Game Boy to more modern-style handhelds. Now, though, ANBERNIC seems to be taking an additional step; for the first time, they’re releasing a handheld with handles that allow it to be easily gripped by your hands. More than that, this will be their first device to have triggers instead of regular L2/R2 buttons.
In keeping with the device’s name, the RG556 will boast a 5.5″ screen. It doesn’t skimp on performance either, with the SoC rumored to be the Unisoc T820, meaning it should be more than capable of running games from the PS2 and Gamecube era. ANBERNIC seems to be taking a step up with this device, both in terms of power and ergonomics. In fact, we have proof of that, as ANBERNIC has released a video on their YouTube channel showing the RG556 in action, emulating several PS2 Titles and popular Android games like Genshin Impact.
There are rumors that the RG556 might contain an OLED panel, but from the video, it looks to me like this is your standard IPS LCD. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing; ANBERNIC has always been there to offer a cheaper alternative, and staying with an LCD panel should help keep the production costs down. We have no word on pricing yet, although most think the device will likely cost around the $200 mark. This would be a competitive price because it would compete with the likes of the Retroid Pocket 4/4 Pro.
There is also a survey that was released to ask us about which color we would prefer, a guess on the final price, and a suggestion for the RG556 for what would make it the ideal device!
As for a release date, the Chinese New Year starts on February 10th and runs until February 24th, so it’s unlikely they would release a device just before they begin their holiday season, so we should probably expect a launch in Q2 2024.
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