Anbernic has recently teased its latest gaming handheld called the RG Slide, which features a sliding mechanism reminiscent of the Sony PSP Go. Although the PSP Go itself didn’t achieve massive sales, its innovative design has left a lasting impression and influenced products like the Xperia Play smartphone. Sadly, the Xperia Play 2 was never released, but Anbernic’s RG Slide brings the sliding design back more than a decade later. The RG Slide was showcased in a YouTube teaser, revealing a design larger than the PSP Go while maintaining a similar aesthetic.
However, the video only displayed the rear of the device, with the thumbnail suggesting a rounded form that pays homage to its predecessor. While specific specifications remain undisclosed, a small fan port visible on the back hints at the use of a more powerful chipset, potentially signaling that this may be an Android-based game console. This is significant as Anbernic’s previous Linux-based models, like the RG-34XX, typically lack active cooling features. Additionally, Sony’s patent on sliding controls is set to expire next month, which opens the door for this design to be utilized by other manufacturers.
The RG Slide could mark the beginning of a new wave of handheld gaming devices employing this innovative form factor, especially considering the success of clamshell devices like the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 and Anbernic’s RG-35XXSP. This announcement follows two other handhelds from Anbernic released this year, the RG-557 and the upcoming RG-35XXPro. Given the company’s track record of releasing multiple devices, it is likely we will see more exciting announcements in the near future.
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