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Chinese handheld gaming company Anbernic is preparing to launch its smallest game console to date. The upcoming Anbernic RG nano measures just 68 x 42mm (2.7″ x 1.7″), making it small enough to clip on a keychain and keep in your pocket or handbag.
But it’s also a full-fledged game system with a color display, D-Pad, action buttons, and even shoulder buttons.
The RG Nano has an aluminum alloy body and comes in several color options including dark purple, blue, and red.
Anbernic hasn’t revealed full details for the device yet, but we know that it has a USB-C port for charging, data, and audio (the company has released a promo video showing that you can use the RG Nano as a portable music player as well as a game console).
It’s also expected to have an 1,050 mAh LiPo battery and a Linux-based operating system. There’s no word on the processor, but given that the system is expected to be able to handle emulation of classic game consoles up to the Game Boy Advance, I wouldn’t expect anything particularly powerful.
Pricing and availability information should be revealed closer to launch.
The Anbernic RG Nano isn’t the first keychain-sized game console we’ve seen. The Arduboy Mini is a crowdfunded model that hit Kickstarter last year and should begin shipping soon, while the FunKey S is a tiny console with a Game Boy Advanced SP-inspired design that launched a few years ago. Others include the PocketStar and Thumby.
But the RG Nano is one of the first to come from a company with a long track record in the handheld game console space.
“There’s no word on the processor, but given that the system is expected to be able to handle emulation of classic game consoles up to the Game Boy Advance, I wouldn’t expect anything particularly powerful.”
According to Retro Handhelds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGRKRXdE6hw
it’s rumoured to feature an Allwiner K3S, but I can’t really find anything about this SoC… it looks like a Cortex A7 running at 1.2Ghz, similar to the Funkey S.
It is a pretty stupid item.
Looks like I’m a rich idiot, I’m probably going to buy one if it’s able to function as an mp3 player as well, Anbernics are usually reasonably priced so I bet this won’t break the bank.
another “idiot” with too much money to spend here. Anyway have you seen the prices of consoles and “only-for-download-in-my-latest-console” games these days?
For me this is a bargain!
Too much big for a keychain, too small to play if you aren’t too young, and if you are, you wouldn’t be interested in those old games.
I guess the target market for this are people with small hands and good eyesight (with/without glasses).
This thing is basically a complete clone (spec-wise) of the Funkey S.
I’m going to order one, but I have no hopes of it actually being playable. The Miyoo Mini was about 3x larger than this, and it was too small to hold for more than 5 minutes.