Booyah! The Anbernic RG Rotate is hitting the $100 sweet spot I was hoping for, and its specs aren't half bad either

We've finally got an Anbernic RG Rotate price, and I'm hyped to report it's actually affordable. The rotational retro handheld that doubles up as an iPod-inspired MP3 player will start at $87.99, accompanied by a premium metal version for $107.99 that boasts the same respectable specs.

The Anbernic RG Rotate pricing was initially shared with Retrododo, but the gaming handheld maker has also posted a new unboxing video outlining full specs. Both the plastic "Polar Black" and the aluminium alloy "Aurora Silver" versions are packing the same Unisoc Tiger T618 Octa-core chipset with Mali G52 graphics, 3GB RAM, and 32GB storage, and a 3.5-inch 720p display.

Basically, there is no "pro" version of the RG Rotate, but both should run everything up to the PS1 without a sweat. On paper, the APU should provide emulation performance that slots somewhere between the Anbernic RG35XXSP and RG Cube, rivalling the likes of the Retroid Pocket Flip with middle-ground capabilities. That should translate to a device that can run some GameCube and PS2 releases, provided you avoid the more demanding romps.

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Let's be real, though: the RG Rotate is looking to wrangle more casual players who miss the glory days of offline MP3 players. Specifically, Anbernic's latest handheld looks like an oversized iPod Nano 4th Generation, and while the pivoting GBA SP-style buttons are neat, their flat design means they really cater towards lighter 2D gaming.

The unfortunate part is that, even as a music player, the RG Rotate keeps things casual. This Android device isn't going to rival higher-end DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters) since it's missing a 3.5mm jack, meaning you'll have to use USB-C or Bluetooth headphones.

Don't get me wrong, I still think around $100 is great for a capable retro handheld with Android abilities and a touchscreen, but the missing headphone jack means it's not an ideal player. Touches like the cassette animation will draw some of you in, and I'm admittedly also a sucker for that sort of thing. However, if that's literally the only thing drawing you to Anbernic's square gadget, you might want to consider something like the FiiO Echo Mini since it's only $59.99 and looks more like a classic Walkman with lossless playback support and a double helping of headphone jacks.

Even if the RG Rotate doesn't end up trading blows with the best, it's still great to see Anbernic releasing affordable, quirky portables, given the current climate. The $100 price point feels like Goldilocks "just right" porridge to me, and even though not including a headphone jack feels absurd, I'd still hook the gadget on my belt as a semi-fashionable offline music solution for when heading out for a day away from the internet.

I'll try my best to review the Anbernic RG Rotate ahead of its May 11 release date, but even if it takes me a bit longer, you'll be hearing more from me about this square portable in the coming weeks.

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