Anbernic RG 55G1 portable device released – Snapdragon, Hall sticks, and Full HD display for $140

After several months of teasers, Anbernic has started sales of the RG 55G1 portable gaming console. The new model is the company’s first device on the Snapdragon platform, featuring a 5.5-inch Full HD display, Android 14, Hall sensor-based controls, and a design that noticeably resembles Nintendo Switch Lite.

Chassis and controls

The Anbernic RG 55G1 is built in a classic horizontal form factor. The front panel is covered with 2.5D glass, and on the sides of the screen are a cross, ABXY buttons, and two analog sticks.

Both sticks use Hall effect sensors and feature ring RGB backlighting with 16.7 million colors and multiple effects. Analog triggers are also made using Hall effect. Also included are a vibration motor, a six-axis gyroscope, and additional system buttons.

The console is released in three colors: black, Indigo, and Retro Gray. The latest variant features retro-style multicolored ABXY buttons. The body dimensions are 208 × 86 × 17 mm, and the weight is 339 grams.

Display

The RG 55G1 is equipped with a 5.5-inch Incell IPS touchscreen display with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:9. Full lamination of OCA is used, which eliminates the air gap between the protective glass and the matrix.

The first independent tests especially praise the console screen for its high brightness, image clarity, and rich colors. Full HD resolution works well for scaling games from PSP, Dreamcast, and other legacy platforms.

Performance

The hardware basis is the Qualcomm Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 with designation SG4250P. This is a 4nm octa-core processor with two Kryo Gold cores clocked up to 2.4 ГГц and six Kryo Silver cores up to 2.0 ГГц. Graphics are handled by the Adreno A12.

This is the first portable Anbernic console on a Qualcomm processor. To maintain performance under sustained load, an active cooler with a heat pipe is installed inside.

Two configurations are available: 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage, or 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. Storage can be expanded with a microSD card up to 2 TБ.

The RG 55G1 is primarily oriented towards Android games and emulation. The manufacturer claims support for more than 20 emulator types. In initial tests, PSP, Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 run at increased resolution without noticeable issues; Nintendo 3DS emulation is also available. More demanding games for PlayStation 2 and GameCube in many cases run at approximately 1.5x native resolution.

Despite the visual similarity to the Nintendo Switch Lite, do not expect full emulation of the entire Switch library. The Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 belongs to the more affordable class of mobile gaming processors and noticeably lags behind the chips of modern upper-segment Android consoles.

Software

The console runs on Android 14 and uses the proprietary RG Home interface to manage the game library. There is a separate settings center called RG Control Center, button remapping, and the ability to switch graphics drivers, including Turnip.

Anbernic has also integrated its own set of AI features. The system can search for game walkthroughs and hints, translate text in real time, operate in chatbot mode, generate images, and perform basic image processing.

Streaming games, wireless screen casting, network multiplayer, and over-the-air system updates are supported.

Battery and connections

Inside is installed a battery with a capacity of 6000 мА·ч. Anbernic claims up to 8 hours of battery life, and the maximum charging power via USB-C is 18 W.

Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 are provided for wireless connectivity. There is also a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a microphone, and front speakers with software-based sound processing DSP.

Prices and release date

Sales of the Anbernic RG 55G1 started on August 31. The recommended price for the version with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage is $149,99, while the 8/128 GB model is priced at $174,99.

For the first three days, a discount of $10 applies, so the base RG 55G1 can be purchased for $139,99, and the higher-end version for $164,99.

Also available are kits with microSD cards. Excluding the introductory discount, the 4/64 GB version with a 128 GB card costs $179,99, and with a 256 GB card – $199,99. For the 8/128 GB model, similar kits cost $204,99 and $224,99, respectively.

The package includes the console itself, the USB cable, and documentation.