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Anbernic just officially unveiled the RG Rotate, and the retro handheld maker's next device mimics a weird sub-genre of 2000s cellphones. Having already created numerous conventional Game Boy clones over the years, quirkier clamshell portables like the GBA-inspired RG35XXSP, and oddities like the RG Slide, it's apparently time for rotating devices to make their grand return, bringing era-appropriate MP3 player functionality with them.
A fresh minute-long teaser for the Anbernic RG Rotate provides a proper look at handheld in all its rotational glory, albeit without full specs, pricing, or a release date. For now, the focus seems to be on the spinny screen and its "proprietary ultra-thin alloy hinge" that's used to hide flat Game Boy Advance controls under a 3.95-inch square IPS display.
The swivelling screen is naturally what gives the RG Rotate 2000s cellphone vibes, but it's evocative of several other devices, both classic and contemporary. You could say that the 1:1 screen means it's effectively an Anbernic RG Cube with no thumbsticks and a vertical layout, but while it's tempting to label the new portable as a homage to the Nokia 7705 Twist (my last cell before finally getting an iPhone 3GS), it also looks like a really beefy sixth-gen iPod.
The latter actually means that while the flat GBA-inspired buttons and odd ergonomics might make for a crampy gaming handheld experience, the RG Rotate could make for a solid touch-screen MP3 player. Anbernic seems to think so too, since it shows off the portable running a music app, complete with a cassette tape animation not unlike Sony's new-age Walkman.
Just keep in mind we're still talking about what should be an affordable Android handheld here rather than a premium portable player. The handheld solely relies on USB-C and Bluetooth for audio, so you're not getting a proper DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) or even a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. Skipping the latter feels extremely weird since every other Anbernic portable I've tried so far has one, and I can only imagine it's thanks to the thin swivel sandwich design.
If the trailer is anything to go by, the pitch for the RG Rotate seems more fashion-lifestyle-based. By that, I mean the portable is focused on providing the right 2000s vibe, ultimately becoming something you'll see dangling from waistbands and carabiners. Again, we've got no specs yet to determine whether it'll actually pack an emulation punch too, as so far all we know is that there will be ABS plastic and aluminum flavors in "Polar Black" or "Aurora Silver".
Anbernic sometimes releases reduced-spec versions of its handhelds, but there's nothing to suggest so far that the plastic RG Rotate will deliver less performance. Both the metal and ABS models will come armed with Android, and seemingly the same screen, so the real difference between the two could simply be durability and weight.
Lingering specs questions and caveats aside, I do think MP3 player functionality could be a saving grace for the RG Rotate. Yes, it's geared towards casual use since it's missing a DAC or headphone jack, but it could be a bridge for people looking to shift away from subscriptions like Spotify and embrace loading up files to the portable for an offline experience.
I'm not fully convinced the handheld itself won't upset my aging hands, especially since the buttons are both extremely flat and recessed. But, I'm open to giving the RG Rotate a seat at the retro handheld table, even if it does end up loaded with a bunch of nu-metal and emo playlists.
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