Fun, rotating design with some major flaws

I’m always curious about the unique look of a smartphone, and Motorola introduced a nice form factor when it launched the Flipout in 2010. This phone had a square display that rotated out and up to reveal the keypad. Was it practical? History says no, but it certainly stood out in a sea of ​​slab-based phones at the time.

Now, ANBERNIC has decided to take the same approach with its new RG Rotate Android handheld. But is it just a gimmick, or is there more to this form factor?

The ANBERNIC RG Rotate actually uses a rotating slider design that is reminiscent of a jackknife. To rotate the screen simply press your thumb on the bottom-right edge of the display, which will reveal a set of physical controls below. The company’s promotional material suggests that it scratches the same itch as a fidget toy, and I have to admit that I’ve opened and closed the device several times just for fun. I also appreciate the satisfying thump when you open or close the device.

I sometimes found that slowly opening the handheld would cause the screen to slant slightly, as it failed to deploy fully. However, you actually have to open it very slowly on purpose, and even then, this is a rare occurrence.

Once you open the device, you’ll see an initial set of controls. You have a D-pad, four face buttons, and Start and Select keys. Yes, there are no analog sticks or nubs. This is a shame and means that some Nintendo 64 titles and later PS1 entries are barred, let alone many sixth-generation games. But in light of the RG Rotate’s size, form factor, and price, this omission makes sense. There is also a single Home/Back button above the Start and Select keys.

Otherwise, the handheld’s controls are pretty solid. Don’t expect any fancy materials here, as we’ve got simple, hard plastic. The D-pad and face buttons are also extremely clunky compared to more premium Android handhelds. I generally liked the clickiness, but I definitely wished the controls weren’t so snappy when I was playing games and my partner was watching a movie. The shoulder buttons are also quite attractive, but L2 and R2 are entirely digital affairs. It also doesn’t help that the four shoulder keys are extremely small and close to each other, meaning you’ll sometimes press one key when you should be pressing another. ANBERNIC’s solution is to offer a pair of large L2/R2 buttons in the box, which can be switched after removing the back cover and disconnecting the speaker.

As for the overall design, the black version is available in plastic while the silver model has a metal back. I got the black model, and I thought the plastic back cover felt a little cheap. But then again, this is a budget handheld. However, I do appreciate the lightweight design, which comes in at 167 grams compared to 204 grams for the metal version. Also, the top half of the black version still uses aluminum, so it’s not entirely plastic.

My biggest problem with the RG Rotate’s design is that it’s uncomfortable even for short gaming sessions. I often found that my hands started hurting after just 20 minutes of playing the game. I’m guessing it’s because of the small size, but at first glance I don’t have big hands. So I can’t recommend it to people with large mites. But it should be fine for kids.

ANBERNIC RG Rotate comes with Unisoc Tiger T618 processor, 3GB RAM and 32GB expandable storage. That’s not a bad combo on paper for a low-end Android handheld. It has a 3.5-inch 720 x 720 IPS display, and even that low-resolution screen is potentially a boon. So what does this mean for performance?

The RG Rota stands firmly in the budget arena when it comes to GPU benchmarks. The slightly more expensive Ayaneo Pocket Air Mini takes the lead in our wildlife stress tests, but the RG Rotate comes in a close second. Furthermore, ANBERNIC’s handheld Retroid outperforms rivals like the Pocket Classic and MANGMI AIR The Rote also runs cooler than all but the Pocket Classic. What about real-world consequences?

The biggest takeaway is that you shouldn’t get your hopes up for PS2 and GameCube emulation. I found that while some titles were playable on these consoles, such as Gran Turismo 4 and Aggressive Incline, most of the games were slow motion or slideshow affairs. Emulators like AetherSX2 offer some neat tools to improve performance, but underclocking and 0.5x resolution scaling can only last for so many games. So if sixth generation emulation is important to you then don’t buy a handheld. However, I generally found that the PS1, Nintendo 64, and PSP were the best places for game performance.

Another blemish in the RG Rotate’s copybook is the 1:1 LCD screen. This is an aesthetically pleasing choice, as it features a square design, but many games will look a little odd here. Home console emulation can result in apparent letterboxing, making an already small screen appear even smaller. At least emulators like Dolphin stretch the game to fit a 1:1 screen, even if the results vary.

Fortunately, Game Boy Advance titles look better due to the console’s 3:2 screen. Plus, Neo Geo Pocket Color games actually look great here since the original console had an almost square aspect ratio. So if you’re a fan of old handheld games, ANBERNIC’s new device will do the job perfectly.

My biggest concern with the RG Rotate is the 2,000mAh battery. It’s absolutely tiny in 2026, and I had no confidence that the handheld would last for any significant length of time. Real-world use yielded results that were slightly better than expected, but still on the low end. Very moderate use with brightness below 40% (GBA and Neo Geo titles mixed with some GameCube and PS2 emulation) typically provides about 3.5 to four hours of screen-on time. I think heavy usage and bright screens will reduce this figure even more. The battery life isn’t as bad as I thought, but it’s still quite low. So if you want something for long flights and trips you should consider a different handheld.

Once your RG rotates over, you can take advantage of 10W wired charging to get the speed back up. I used a 67W Xiaomi charger, and it took just over an hour to fully charge the device. It’s extremely slow for such a small battery.

Otherwise, ANBERNIC’s handheld ships with Android 12 on Android 12 at first glance. I would love to see a slightly newer OS, especially since I expect new emulators to target more recent Android versions. I would also like to see a little more polish here. For example, why do I need to pull down Quick Settings twice and then flick up once to see the Power and Settings shortcut? There is also RG Launcher, which can be enabled via quick settings or by pressing the shortcut key below the power button. This launcher is still pretty basic, but at least it looks pretty cool. I was also glad to see some pre-installed emulators here, so you can start playing in no time.

ANBERNIC is also trying to position it as a desktop companion of sorts. A big part of this effort is that the Rotatable can display an analog clock, but there are only four of these “lock clock” styles on offer. At the very least you can use the screensaver functionality to set a digital clock or display photos. It also doesn’t help that the device can’t be made to stand upright without being tipped over by the slightest gust of wind. This is disappointing, because I’ve seen people using it as a kind of budget smart speaker.

Additionally, the company marketed the RG Rotate as an audio player, but it omitted the 3.5 mm port. This means if you want a cheap music player and value wired earphones (or an aux cable) this is not an option. This is also obviously disappointing if you want good quality in-game audio without any latency.

The RG Rotate is one of the more refreshing Android handhelds we’ve seen in some time thanks to the swiveling form factor. Opening and closing the device is really satisfying, but this approach also enables a compact footprint. With good performance and a price under $100, there’s a lot to like here.

Unfortunately, ANBERNIC also made a lot of compromises as it tried to deliver a cheap, small, and memorable handheld. Poor battery life, slow charging, and frustrating controls all make for a significantly flawed experience. The fact that this tool also hurts my hands is icing on a well-baked but terrible-tasting cake.

It’s hard to choose alternatives to the RG Rotate, as it’s form factor really stands out from rival handhelds. Nevertheless, ANBERNIC RG Slide ($199.99 on Amazon) If you want a quirky, slider-based handheld then this might be up your alley. It’s significantly more expensive than the Rotatel but offers an Xperia Play-style design, better performance, and a sleeker screen. Ayaneo Pocket Air Mini ($69.99 on manufacturer site) It’s also worth a look if you want a traditional budget handheld. Expect great performance, a great 4:3 screen for retro games, and an attractive price. It even has dual analog sticks, although they’re quite small.