Square Screen
Anbernic RG Cube vs RG Cube XX
The square-screen Android RG Cube and the budget Linux RG Cube XX, compared on performance, price, and which one fits your library.
| Spec | RG Cube | RG Cube XX |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Anbernic | Anbernic |
| Form Factor | Horizontal | Horizontal |
| Operating System | Android 13 | Linux |
| Chipset | UNISOC Tiger T820 | Allwinner H700 |
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR4X | 1 GB LPDDR4 |
| Screen | 3.95 inch | 3.95 inch |
| Resolution | 720 x 720 | 720 x 720 |
| Battery | 5200 mAh | 3800 mAh |
| Price | $170 (+ shipping) | $60 (Early Bird) $67 (Retail) + shipping |
The RG Cube and RG Cube XX share a square 720x720 screen, but they are very different devices. The RG Cube is an Android handheld with real power. The RG Cube XX is a budget Linux device. The name similarity hides a big performance gap.
Performance
The RG Cube runs on a UNISOC Tiger T820 with 8 GB of RAM. It reaches GameCube and Wii as almost full speed and PS2 as playable. The RG Cube XX runs on an Allwinner H700 with 1 GB of RAM, which puts it at N64 and Dreamcast mostly playable, with no real GameCube or PS2.
Screen
Both have a 3.95 inch 720x720 IPS panel. The square aspect ratio is great for arcade games, vertical shooters, and Game Boy, but it letterboxes widescreen content. The screen itself is the same quality on both.
Price
The RG Cube XX is the budget option at around $60 to $67. The RG Cube is around $170. That is a large gap, and it buys the Android OS, the stronger chip, and the PS2 and GameCube capability.
Which should you buy?
Choose the RG Cube XX if you want a cheap square-screen device for arcade, Game Boy, and older systems. Choose the RG Cube if you want the same screen shape but with the power to run GameCube, Wii, and PS2.