{"id":163011,"date":"2026-05-29T08:36:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T08:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/05\/29\/fun-rotating-design-with-some-major-flaws\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T08:38:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T08:38:28","slug":"fun-rotating-design-with-some-major-flaws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/05\/29\/fun-rotating-design-with-some-major-flaws\/","title":{"rendered":"Fun, rotating design with some major flaws"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rotate Embernik RG<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

ANBERNIC’s small, square handheld brings a refreshingly unique design, low price and good oomph to a low-end device. However, all this comes at the cost of comfort, controls, and battery life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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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 \u200b\u200bslab-based phones at the time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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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?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Is the RG Rotate design really that great?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Hadley Simmons\/Android Authority<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The RG Rotate’s rotating hinge makes for a fun design, but I wish the actual gaming controls were better.<\/q><\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Can you actually play games on it?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Hadley Simmons\/Android Authority<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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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?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n