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Anbernic RG Cube Review: The Square Screen That Actually Works
2026-04-11 · 4.0 / 5 · $170
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The Anbernic RG Cube is the weirdest device Anbernic has ever shipped and also one of the best. A 3.95 inch square screen at 720x720 resolution sounds like a design mistake. In practice it is the best display shape for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and certain arcade games available on any handheld. It also handles DS emulation in a vertical split layout that actually works on a single screen device.
At $170 the RG Cube sits in a competitive bracket where it faces devices with more conventional displays and broader appeal. The question is whether the square screen is a feature that matters to your specific library or a novelty that will wear off.
Pros
- Game Boy and Game Boy Color content fills the screen perfectly at native resolution
- DS vertical split layout is the best single-screen DS solution available
- TATE arcade shooters display without letterboxing
- Hall effect analog sticks
- Comfortable ergonomics with rear grips
- 5200mAh battery delivers around seven hours of retro gaming
- 128GB internal UFS storage plus microSD expansion
- RGB lighting around analog sticks
Cons
- 16:9 content (PSP, cloud streaming) looks terrible on the square screen
- $170 is a premium for a niche form factor
- Light bleed is a known quality control issue on some units
- Anbernic's stock launcher is mediocre
Specs
| Screen | 3.95" IPS, 720x720, 1:1 aspect ratio, OCA lamination, touchscreen |
| Processor | Unisoc T820, 6nm, octa-core (1x A76 2.7GHz + 3x A76 2.3GHz + 4x A55 2.1GHz) |
| GPU | Mali-G57, quad-core, 850MHz |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 128GB UFS 2.2 + microSD up to 2TB |
| Battery | 5200mAh, approximately 7 hours |
| OS | Android 13 |
| Cooling | Active fan |
| Controls | Hall-effect analog sticks, six-axis gyroscope, hall triggers, RGB lighting |
| Connectivity | WiFi 2.4/5GHz 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C DisplayPort output |
Build Quality and Design
The RG Cube is not pocketable. It is wider and chunkier than most Anbernic devices due to the square screen and protruding rear grips. Those grips are a significant comfort advantage. Your palms wrap around the back naturally and your fingers rest close together. Extended sessions are comfortable in a way that flat-backed devices are not.
The D-pad uses a Sega-style design that is accurate and responsive. Face buttons are clicky with good travel. The hall effect analog sticks feel precise with no detectable dead zone. RGB lighting around the sticks is configurable with 16 million color options. The aesthetic appeal is real even if the functionality is purely decorative.
Build materials are standard Anbernic quality. Solid plastic, flush seams, no rattling or flex. The 128GB of UFS internal storage means you do not need a microSD card to get started though one is recommended for larger libraries.
The known quality control issue is light bleed on the IPS panel. Some units exhibit visible light bleed in dark scenes, particularly noticeable at night. This varies by unit and is a luck of the draw situation. If your unit has severe light bleed Anbernic's warranty should cover a replacement.
The Square Screen
The 1:1 aspect ratio is the entire point of this device. Whether it works for you depends entirely on what you play.
Game Boy and Game Boy Color look the best they have ever looked on the RG Cube. These systems output at a near-square resolution and the display fills almost completely with game content. No letterboxing. No stretching. Just clean pixel-perfect output on a sharp 720p IPS panel. If you have a large Game Boy collection this screen alone justifies the device.
GBA scales surprisingly well on the 1:1 display. The 3:2 aspect ratio of GBA games results in small black bars at the top and bottom but the image is large and sharp. GBA is one of the best retro systems to play on this device.
NES and SNES can be displayed at 8:7 pixel aspect ratio to nearly fill the square screen. The result is close to the original CRT output and looks excellent. Standard 4:3 display is also available if you prefer accuracy with small side bars.
DS emulation is where the square screen provides a unique advantage among single-screen devices. Displaying both DS screens in a vertical stack on a square display gives each screen reasonable size. The bottom screen functions as a touchscreen for games that require touch input. This is not equivalent to a dual-screen device like the AYN Thor but it is the best DS experience available on a single-screen handheld.
TATE arcade games fill the screen beautifully. Vertical shooters like Ikaruga, DoDonPachi, and Radiant Silvergun display in their native orientation without wasted space.
PSP and 16:9 content look poor. The 16:9 image is letterboxed heavily on a 1:1 screen, reducing the effective display size to roughly 3 inches. Cloud streaming services are similarly constrained. If PSP is a priority or you plan to use streaming services, this is not the right device.
Emulation Performance
The Unisoc T820 is a capable mid-range processor. It sits above the H700 class devices and below the Snapdragon 865 and above tier.
NES, SNES, Game Boy, GBA, Genesis: Flawless on all titles. No configuration needed.
PS1: Perfect. Full library at full speed with upscaling available.
N64: Good. Most of the library runs well. A handful of demanding titles need per-game settings.
Dreamcast: Excellent. Full library at full speed.
PSP: Good performance but the square screen makes this a poor fit regardless of raw capability.
GameCube and PS2: Partial. Lighter titles run at playable framerates. Demanding 3D games will struggle. The RG Cube is not a GameCube or PS2 device. If those systems matter, step up to a Retroid Pocket 5 or Retroid Pocket 6.
Software
Android 13 runs well on the RG Cube. The 8GB of RAM keeps the system responsive. Google Play Store access means you can install any emulator or app directly. Anbernic's installation launcher pre-installs common emulators with button mappings configured, which is a welcome improvement over older Anbernic devices that shipped completely unconfigured.
The stock Anbernic launcher is functional but uninspired. Replacing it with a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or using a game-focused frontend like Daijishō significantly improves the experience.
RetroArch, standalone Dolphin, PPSSPP, DraStic, and all major Android emulators work without issues. The touchscreen enables touch-based DS emulation directly.
Who Should Buy the RG Cube
The RG Cube is a specialist device. It excels at Game Boy, GBA, DS, NES, SNES, and arcade games. If those systems make up the core of your personal collection, the square screen is a genuine advantage rather than a gimmick. The combination of the unique display, comfortable ergonomics, and strong mid-range performance makes it one of the most enjoyable retro handhelds available for its target audience.
If your library extends heavily into PSP, GameCube, or PS2, or if you plan to stream games, the square screen works against you. A conventional 16:9 or 4:3 device will serve you better.
At $170 the RG Cube costs more than budget alternatives that cover similar emulation tiers. You are paying a premium for the form factor and the 1:1 display experience. For the right buyer that premium is worth it.