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#This New PSPgo Inspired Retro Handheld Looks Brilliant

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This New PSPgo Inspired Retro Handheld Looks Brilliant

You may recall a few weeks back, we reported on Anbernic’s new PSPgo-style retro handheld. Now the first hands-on impressions of the device are beginning to bubble up online, and it looks absolutely brilliant.

While benchmarks are still embargoed for the time being, the chipset is basically identical to the RG556, so that means you can expect to play pretty much everything up to and including the PSP perfectly – and still get decent compatibility with more demanding PS2 and GameCube games.

The star here appears to be the slide mechanism, which looks beautifully satisfying, and the screen. While it’s not OLED, this hands-on points out that it’s just about as close as you can get, with great contrast and truly impressive brightness. It also runs at 120fps, which is nice.

YouTube Video — Subscribe to Push Square on YouTube157k

There’s no official release date just yet, but it’s expected pre-orders will be available in the coming days, starting at $179.99. That obviously puts it in a similar bracket to the more powerful Retroid Pocket 5, but the form factor is really the star of the show here.

Personally, we’ve always adored the PSPgo’s form factor – and while it was thinner and more pocketable than what’s being served up here, we think Anbernic’s done a really great job. The question is: do you really need another retro handheld? (You probably don’t!)

[source youtube.com]

As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 through PS5 and everything in between. He’s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a bit of a gacha whale.

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1
Lowdefal
Yesterday, 3:31pm

Bad ergonomics are still bad.

2
Jrs1
Yesterday, 3:59pm

My 556 will do me as its comfy 👍

3
nessisonett
Yesterday, 5:02pm

@Lowdefal Doesn’t stop the Steam Deck being popular.

4
ZeroSum
Yesterday, 5:09pm

I keep looking at the Anbernic devices, but can never quite pull the trigger. Having a cellphone with a backbone largely makes dedicated retro handhelds seem redundant – I can just download a ROM/emulator and play it on my cell without needing to spend $100CAD extra on a dedicated device.

5
tameshiyaku
Yesterday, 5:15pm

@nessisonett most people praise the steam deck for it’s ergonomics, but yeah, it’s definitely not pocketable unless you’re wearing XXL cargo pants.

6
Lowdefal
Yesterday, 5:17pm

@nessisonett The Deck’s ergonomics are pretty good though? It’s hardly the PSP Go, most of these “clone” design handhelds or a set of Joycons.

7
tameshiyaku
Yesterday, 5:20pm

@ZeroSum yeah, never could decide for one since they mostly lack the power for PS2.

I’ve decided to use the mcon on a well specs phone instead.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ohsnapofficial/mcon-the-switchblade-of-mobile-controllers-by-ohsnap

Gives proper pspgo vibes.

8
get2sammyb
Yesterday, 5:22pm

I think the ergonomics on this look quite nice personally. I’m into it.

Nice to have a device you can throw into a pocket sometimes.

9
CutchuSlow
Yesterday, 5:46pm

Is it just an emulator?
I like how it looks but not something I would buy if it’s just an emulator.

10
kyleforrester87
Yesterday, 5:54pm

@CutchuSlow Yep

@nessisonett The deck is really comfortable for its size and weight. I doubt this is terrible, and it’ll be a lot better than the vertical (gameboy style) retro consoles!

11
ZeroSum
Yesterday, 6:05pm

@tameshiyaku it’s a nice concept, but the reliance on a good spec phone is the crux for me – I already know my Pixel 6 struggles with PS2 games. If I were to dive in to retro and needed more power, I’d just pick up a used PS Vita and mod it with CFW.

12
Jrs1
Yesterday, 6:32pm

@ZeroSum Its convenience, i had the same setup with my phone but clipping controllers on and off and phone notifications became a pita.

13
LuXifer
Yesterday, 7:05pm

According to Retro Gaming Corps it’s sadly quite top heavy and a bit unwieldy.

14
tameshiyaku
Yesterday, 7:19pm

@ZeroSum I’ve been there, hacking a vita is really only good to play psp and vita, not much else, at least not better or more convenient then elsewhere. I think wulffs den made a video once describing the process and outcome pretty well.
I’m just moving to the phone option because I’m soon reaching year 7 with my phone and it’s showing signs of aging. But yeah, generally against refreshing tech unless it’s necessary.

15
J0kerIsHere
2:57am

I saw a video on this by Retro Game Corps and yeah, disappointed. I expected it to be nice and slick. This is so chonky, not even pocketable. For around the size and girth, you can just get the Anbernic RG Cube. For around the same price as this RG Slide, Retroid Pocket Mini.

It is cool but yeah, I’ll wait and see for another revision of this by Anbernic or anyone else. Right now, my RG556 does the job. Same with my ROG Ally.

16
Porco
6:45am

it completely dwarfs the psp go – it is more than twice as thick and has double the weight. why is it that 15 years after the launch of the go, and all the modern tech they have at their disposal, they were unable to keep the size down? it’s barely pocketable. getting a 0.9″ larger screen with the anbernic is a nice upgrade over the go, but ultimately there are far too many tradeoffs. better off waiting for revision 2 or 3 of this thing when they shrink the size down (they likely made it huge on purpose to get people to double and triple dip like they do with all their devices). this is quite a failure as it stands. the psp go is still an amazing handheld and i’m glad i got it on the cheap before it became scarce and expensive.

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