Anbernic's shiny take on the PS Vita is now kicking around at retailers, but I'm not so sure I'd grab one over the original. Yes, we're talking about a modern contender within the best gaming handheld ring that's designed to run, well, almost everything rather than just Sony's portable catalog, but if you're mainly the idea of owning something Vita-shaped again in the big 26, you could get the real deal for the same money.
Again, the Anbernic RG Vita is a modern handheld with Android and Linux emulation capabilities, so the fact that it's $179.99 at Amazon isn't a shocker. That sort of cash will get you the "Pro" version with a Rockchip RK3576 chipset, 4GB RAM, a 1080p IPS display, video output, and dual booting, but there is a vanilla version at Aliexpress for around $116 that swaps in a lower-spec Unisoc Tiger T618 SoC with 3GB of RAM.
Focusing on the RG Vita Pro as just a handheld, it does offer up more impressive specs than the RG Cube. That RK3576 is going to fare better with PS2 games or anything that needs a little more oomph, but we're not talking dramatically enhanced results. The issue is that if you spend that bit more for something like the Retroid Pocket 5, which has an AMOLED screen and Snapdragon 865 under the hood, you'll end up with slicker results when emulating the best retro consoles or messing with Android apps.
Don't get me wrong, I love a handheld homage, and "remakes" like the Anbernic RG35XXSP do a tremendous job of bringing back old portables like the GBA SP. My issue with the RG Vita is that it feels a bit half-baked on all fronts, as it's missing too many little details that would make for a convincing PlayStation Vita comeback while not quite managing to stand as tall as other portables within the price bracket.
Okay, maybe I'm being slightly pedantic when it comes to the portable's overall vibe, as the fact that it's missing the side landyard holes shouldn't be a dealbreaker. Its bulkier body sort of upsets me too, but for what it's worth, the Anbernic RG Vita does retain plenty of original elements like similar symmetrical thumbsticks and the back grip divots that are a core part of the 2010s device's DNA.
If the RG Vita Pro were armed with an AMOLED screen and specs that could properly rival Retroid and Ayn's top-end rivals, I'd be more on board with the remake. Since that's not the case, though, I'm left wondering whether I should just tell anyone who asks me for something Vita-inspired to just search for an actual Sony handheld. Your mileage may vary depending on the condition, but as of this moment, I'm seeing plenty of options at eBay ranging from $150 to around $220, so you could potentially acquire the OG for less than its tribute.
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