Anbernic RG SP vs RG34XX SP: What Changes, and Should You Wait?

Anbernic just teased the RG SP, a slimmer folding handheld built on the same H700 chip as the RG34XX SP. The two look like close cousins. Same clamshell idea, same emulation ceiling, same budget bracket. The differences come down to size, buttons, and one big control change. The RG SP drops the analog sticks. The RG34XX SP keeps them.

One note before we start. The RG SP is not out yet, and we have not tested a unit. The figures below come from Anbernic's teaser and early launch coverage. Treat the RG SP column as provisional. We will finalize this comparison once retail units ship.

Specs Compared

The headline difference is the sticks. The RG SP goes pure D-pad. The RG34XX SP has two of them. Almost everything else is close.

Design and Size

Both devices fold shut to protect the screen, which is the whole appeal of the SP shape. The RG SP takes that further. It is around 10 percent thinner, and the top bezel shrinks by roughly a quarter. Anbernic also remoulded most of the shell and reworked the buttons for a better feel.

That makes the RG SP the more pocketable of the two. A thinner clamshell slides into a jeans pocket more easily and disappears into a bag. If daily carry is the point, the slimmer body matters.

Leans RG SP. Thinner, tighter bezels, and reworked buttons give it the edge on feel and portability, based on what Anbernic has shown so far.

Controls Are the Real Dividing Line

This is where the two split. The RG34XX SP ships with dual analog sticks. They are small, since they have to fit a clamshell, but they make lighter N64, Dreamcast, and analog PS1 games playable. The RG SP has no sticks at all.

For 2D libraries, that is not a loss. GBA, SNES, NES, Genesis, and 2D PS1 games play on a D-pad. Removing the sticks even cleans up the face layout. For 3D systems, it is a real tradeoff. Camera control in N64 and Dreamcast games leans on a stick, and a D-pad is a poor substitute.

Leans RG34XX SP if you play 3D systems. Leans RG SP if your library is 2D.

Screen

The panels are close in size but shaped differently. The RG SP moves to a 3.4 inch 720 x 480 panel in a 3:2 ratio. The RG34XX SP uses a 3.5 inch 640 x 480 panel in 4:3. The RG34XX SP's 4:3 shape is a near-perfect match for GBA, which runs at a 3:2 ratio inside a 4:3 frame with clean scaling. The RG SP's higher 720 x 480 count should look a touch sharper overall.

Both are good retro screens. The difference is minor and comes down to which aspect ratio you prefer for your main systems.

Leans even. Slightly sharper on the RG SP, slightly better GBA fit on the RG34XX SP.

Performance

There is no gap here. Both run the same Allwinner H700. That means the same emulation ceiling. Flawless 8-bit and 16-bit play, excellent GBA and PS1, and competent N64 and Dreamcast with per-game tuning. RAM looks likely to match at 2 GB, though the RG SP figure is unconfirmed. Do not expect one to run a game the other cannot.

Leans even. Identical chip, identical performance.

Firmware

Both are part of Anbernic's H700 clamshell family, so custom firmware support should line up. KNULLI and muOS both run well on this hardware, and KNULLI's sleep-on-close behavior is a great fit for a folding device. The RG SP is new, so expect a short wait for official builds and button mapping to settle. The RG34XX SP already has mature support today.

Leans RG34XX SP for now, only because its firmware support is already proven.

Should You Wait?

Wait for the RG SP if:

• You mostly play 2D systems like GBA, SNES, NES, and 2D PS1.
• You want the thinnest, most pocketable Anbernic clamshell.
• You are fine waiting for price, release date, and firmware to be confirmed.

Buy the RG34XX SP now if:

• You want analog sticks for N64, Dreamcast, or analog PS1 games.
• You want a proven device you can buy and set up today.
• You prefer the 4:3 screen for a GBA-first library.

Both are the same handheld at heart. The RG SP is the slimmer, 2D-focused refresh. The RG34XX SP is the versatile, stick-equipped original that you can buy right now.

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