This new PS Vita clone looks the part, but the specs tell a different story
Source: Android Authority
TL;DR
- The ANBERNIC RG VITA will feature a Unisoc T618 SoC and 3 GB of RAM.
- Those limited specs imply a much more budget‑friendly device than initially thought.
- The Pro model will presumably be more powerful, but specs haven’t been revealed.
Specs
The upcoming RG VITA handheld is styled after the Sony PlayStation Vita but uses a budget chipset that ANBERNIC hasn’t employed in years. It is slated to run on a Unisoc T618 processor, paired with 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage.
This configuration is weaker than ANBERNIC’s recent releases (aside from the RG DS) and is unlikely to handle GameCube or PS2 titles reliably. The company has shown gameplay of some PS2 games in a recent showcase, but similar demonstrations with 3DS games on the RG DS proved the hardware couldn’t sustain them.
The last time ANBERNIC used the T618 was in 2023, and it also powered the fan‑favorite RG 505 in 2022 (that model had 4 GB of RAM). The RG 505 shared many design cues with the RG VITA, including a 16:9 screen at the same resolution and size as the original PS Vita (960 × 544). Some reports suggest it may even use the exact same OLED panel as the original Vita.
Display
The RG VITA sports a 5.46‑inch IPS panel with a resolution of 1280 × 720. This does not provide integer scaling for either PSP or PS Vita games, which is an odd choice for a device focused on those platforms. While the lack of integer scaling is less critical for retro pixel‑art titles, it remains a questionable decision for a handheld marketed around PlayStation emulation.
Emulation
Software support is another concern. The Vita3K emulator on Android is still in a rough state, suffering from frequent crashes and limited compatibility. A showcase by YouTuber forthenext demonstrates that, although the RG VITA can run many PS Vita games at full speed, they often crash seemingly at random, with little recourse.
Pro Model
ANBERNIC has announced a Pro version of the RG VITA, but no specifications have been released yet. It is presumed to feature a more powerful chipset, though it is unlikely to solve the underlying emulator compatibility issues.
Pricing and Competition
Pricing for both the standard RG VITA and the RG VITA Pro has not been disclosed. However, the modest hardware suggests a price point lower than initially expected, positioning the device against other budget Android gaming handhelds such as:
ANBERNIC appears poised to launch the RG VITA soon, so further details may emerge in the coming days.