Anbernic is finally sharing the details many retro gaming fans have been waiting for: official pricing and pre-order timing for the RG Vita and the upgraded RG Vita Pro. Both handhelds borrow the familiar, compact feel of a PS Vita-style design, but they’re built to run modern software and tackle a wide range of emulation targets.
Pre-orders for the Anbernic RG Vita and RG Vita Pro are set to begin on March 23, and early buyers will be rewarded with limited-time launch pricing. The RG Vita will debut at $99.99 for the first 72 hours. After that early bird window closes, its price is expected to rise to $139.99.
The RG Vita Pro follows the same strategy. It starts at $109.99 during the early bird period, then moves to a reported standard retail price of $149.99 once the introductory deal ends. Anbernic hasn’t confirmed an exact shipping date yet, so buyers interested in being first in line may want to keep a close eye on the pre-order opening.
For anyone comparing specs, the standard RG Vita focuses on solid value. It comes with a 5.46-inch HD display running at 60Hz, powered by a Unisoc T618 processor. You’ll get 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, plus a microSD card slot to expand your game library. Other features include a 5,000mAh battery, Wi‑Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and a headphone jack. It ships with Android 12 out of the box and will be offered in Black and Gray.
The RG Vita Pro is positioned as the more performance-focused option, and its feature upgrades are aimed directly at enthusiasts who want smoother higher-end emulation and better connectivity. It keeps the same 5.46-inch size and 60Hz refresh rate, but increases resolution to a sharper 1920 x 1080 (Full HD). Inside, it uses a Rockchip RK3576 processor paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage.
Battery capacity remains 5,000mAh, but the Pro model adds 18W wired charging. It also upgrades wireless connectivity with Wi‑Fi 8 and Bluetooth 5.2. For ports and expandability, this is where the Pro version clearly separates itself: it includes an HDMI port, two microSD card slots, and a USB‑C port with DisplayPort support, making it much more flexible for external displays and larger storage setups. Color options for the RG Vita Pro are Black and White.
Software is another big difference. While the standard model ships with Android 12, the RG Vita Pro is designed to dual-boot Android 14 and a 64-bit Linux operating system. Users will be able to choose the default OS the device boots into, which is a nice touch for players who want a more console-like Linux experience or the app flexibility of Android.
Anbernic has also teased an AI assistant for both devices, designed to offer one-click guides, real-time translation features, and text-to-image generation. On the gaming side, the company says the handhelds will target emulation across multiple retro platforms up to the PlayStation 2 era, with the Pro model expected to deliver better results—especially for PS Vita emulation where extra power can make a noticeable difference.
With only a $10 gap between the early bird pricing of the two models, the RG Vita Pro looks like the more tempting buy for most shoppers who can stretch the budget. Still, once prices return to standard retail, competition in the $150 range gets tougher, so the early bird period may be the best time to grab one if you’re already set on Anbernic’s new Vita-style handheld.
