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A busy week in the retro handheld scene. Here’s everything worth knowing heading into the weekend.
Anbernic RG Vita Pro: First Real Look at the RK3576 Dual-Boot Handheld
Anbernic dropped its first proper showcase video for the RG Vita Pro this week, and it’s more impressive than many expected. The six-minute video covers a range of games running on both Linux and Android — including PS2 titles like God of War II and Devil May Cry, PSP games, GameCube, Nintendo 64, and even a Wii title (Muramasa: The Demon Blade).
The RG Vita Pro is powered by the RockChip RK3576 — the first retro handheld to use this chip. Based on the showcase footage, it appears to sidestep the frustrating performance issues that plagued the standard RG Vita. Anbernic has partnered with GammaOS for the Android side of the dual-boot setup, which is a smart call — Gamma has a better track record than Anbernic’s own Android builds.
The Linux interface shown appears notably refreshed compared to previous Anbernic releases. Developer units have reportedly been distributed to third-party firmware teams, which suggests KNULLI or ROCKNIX support could land shortly after release — good news for anyone who wants to run a single-OS custom firmware setup.
No pricing or release date has been announced yet. Given that this is Anbernic’s first RK3576 device and the first dual-boot handheld from them in some time, the price point will be critical. Watch this space.
AYN Raises Prices on Thor and Odin 3
If you’ve been on the fence about an AYN Thor or Odin 3, this week brought some unwelcome news: AYN has announced price increases on both devices, with newer Thor batches specifically flagged for a price “adjustment.” AYN cited ongoing supply chain pressures as the reason.
This continues a broader trend of mid-to-high-end retro handhelds creeping upward in price. The Retroid Pocket 5, Odin 3, and now the Thor are all sitting at price points that were reserved for flagship devices just two years ago. The budget end of the market (Miyoo, Anbernic RG35XX/40XX) has remained relatively stable — another argument for that tier if you’re price-sensitive.
→ Retroid Pocket 5 on Amazon — the strongest alternative at the premium tier right now.
Hyper Mega Tech Super Pocket: Rare Edition Announced
Hyper Mega Tech has announced a Rare Edition Super Pocket packed with Banjo-Kazooie and 13 other classic Rare titles. For diehard Rare fans, this is a compelling limited-run device — the Super Pocket form factor is a slim, Game Boy-style handheld that runs licensed game collections out of the box, no ROM loading or custom firmware required.
It’s a different product category than most of what we cover here — closer to a plug-and-play nostalgia device than a proper retro handheld — but Banjo-Kazooie on a dedicated handheld is hard to ignore. Worth watching for N64-era fans.
Stop Killing Games: 1.3 Million Signatures, Now Forming NGOs
The Stop Killing Games campaign — which pushes for legislation requiring publishers to keep games in a playable state after server shutdowns — has crossed 1.3 million signatures and is now launching formal NGOs in both the EU and US to push for concrete regulation.
This directly matters to the retro community. The same preservation instinct that drives us to maintain physical cartridge libraries, flash carts, and open-source emulation is at stake here. If you haven’t signed, the campaign’s website makes it easy to do so in a few clicks.
Quick Hits
- PortMaster February 2026 Roundup — PortMaster’s monthly update added a solid batch of new Linux ports, including several titles compatible with the Miyoo Mini Plus and RG35XX family. If you run OnionOS or GarlicOS, check the PortMaster app for the full list.
- Xbox on Android via Xemu — The original Xbox emulator Xemu is now accessible on Android handhelds via X1 Box, opening up the original Xbox library (including Halo, Jet Set Radio Future, and others) on devices like the Retroid Pocket 5. Early performance reports are promising on capable hardware.
- Anbernic RG Vita Pro trending — The RG Vita Pro story is dominating discussion in r/SBCGaming and on GBATemp this week. Community sentiment is cautiously optimistic but waiting on pricing before committing.
That’s the week. The RG Vita Pro is the one to watch — if Anbernic prices it right and the RK3576 delivers on its promise, it could be the mid-range story of 2026. We’ll cover it in depth when it lands.
→ See our buyer’s guides for in-depth recommendations at every budget.
→ Best Retro Handheld 2026 — our full breakdown of the current market.
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