I won't lie, I was expecting the Anbernic RG SP to land with an unsavoury, but the GBA SP clone is making big impressions with its pre-order price tag. While even the cheapest portables are taking a battering thanks to AI component demand, this clamshell is holding onto a sub-$60 MSRP that's actually lower than its predecessor.
GBA alternatives
It's safe to say there's really no shortage of GBA SP clones out there, so if you really cba waiting for the Anbernic RG SP, you could grab its RG35XXSP predecessor for around $55, or the RG34XX that looks more like the OG for $61 if you prefer the horizontal version from back in 2001.
I should caveat that the Anbernic RG SP is sitting slightly lower at $57.99 due to "early bird" discounts. Normally, the retro handheld will set you back $64.99, and that's if you order directly from Anbernic. Still, even that full MSRP is respectable since it matches the RG35XXSP from two years ago, and it demonstrates the portable maker is trying to keep prices steady.
Yes, we are talking about low handheld specs that, logically speaking, should be outside the RAMageddon blast zone, but that's sadly not how this works. Even the modest Super Pocket, Blaze's Evercade cart-wielding portable, fell folly to price hikes last month, and it comes armed with just 256MB of DDR RAM and a quad-core ARM chipset.
There are multiple layers to the AI-fuelled debacle surrounding component demand that's rooted in all production rather than specific parts, so no device is really safe. Therefore, it's worth commending Anbernic for keeping the RG SP under $60, as its rivals aren't faring quite as well
For instance, Ayaneo Pocket Advance pre-orders just landed, and I'm not opposed to its $89 price tag by any means; it will eventually jump up slightly higher to $109. The GBA clone is technically new, but it's pretty similar to the previously released Pocket Air Mini in terms of specs, and it landed for a lower introductory price. That would suggest there's something narrowing the margins that will lead to slight price increases, even if they are pretty small.
Ultimately, I think it's worth rooting for the handheld makers actively keeping prices sensible right now, and Anbernic is one of them. Yes, it does dabble with higher-end hardware, with the Anbernic RG Cube serving as an example of a more premium portable, but it seems to be making the right calls by focusing on its core affordable offerings that helped it ascend as a renowned brand in the first place.
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