Ambernic's retro gaming handhelds are quietly losing RAM capacity and being downgraded to older LPDDR3 memory — company says 1GB capacity is still the standard, 512MB models 'an unexpected error' | Tom's Hardware
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(Image credit: Anbernic)
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Recent updates
Friday 29 May 7am ET: This story has been updated with a statement from Anbernic which claims that the handheld's 1GB capacity remains the standard and that devices shipping with 512MB is "an unexpected error."
Different companies are responding to the global memory shortage in different ways. While some, such as Sony, Nintendo, or Valve, choose to raise prices to offset higher component costs, others opt to downgrade hardware specifications. According to Redditor Pixogen, Anbernic has quietly reduced the memory capacity of its RG34XXSP retro gaming handheld yet again without any official announcement. However, the company says that the standard memory capacity for the device remains 1GB and that this is an "unexpected error."Go deeper with TH Premium: AI shortages
(Image credit: Nvidia)AI data centers are swallowing the world's memory and storage supplyChip scarcity assaults auto industry amid the worsening Nexperia and DRAM crisisSamsung and SK hynix shorten memory contracts as pricing power shifts back to suppliersMemory makers are set to earn $551 billion from the AI boomThe RG34XXSP, which debuted in May 2025, quickly established itself as a popular retro gaming handheld thanks to solid specifications with a competitive price tag. The Game Boy Advance SP-inspired device launched with a generous 2GB of LPDDR4 memory. The ample memory enabled the RG34XXSP to run tons of classic games flawlessly, with very smooth emulation. However, the global memory shortage has significantly affected Anbernic, which has reduced the RG34XXSP's memory capacity.In January 2026, Anbernic implemented the first downgrade to the RG34XXSP by halving the memory. Instead of 2GB, the clamshell retro gaming handheld device shipped with 1GB, but at the same price. The move understandably led to disappointment and frustration among retro aficionados. Now, a new report has surfaced claiming that Anbernic has once again halved the memory capacity, bringing it down to just 512MB, resulting in a 74% reduction compared to the original.Latest Videos From512 ram RG34xxSP - Update - Samsung 740 K4E4E324EE EGCF - 512 LPDDR3 from r/ANBERNICIn the latest teardown of the RG34XXSP, the gaming handheld in question features a single Samsung K4E4E324EE-EGCF chip, which is a 512MB LPDDR3 memory module. The change reveals that Anbernic has not only reduced the device's memory capacity from its original specifications but also slapped an older, slower memory module into the RG34XXSP.In a statement to Tom's Hardware, Anbernic says that the "current standard memory capacity is 1GB," and said that if a customer has received a 512MB version, this is "an unexpected error." Notably, the company didn't deny that this could have happened, and recommended that any affected users should contact the company's after-sales service team, who will "assist with a replacement as a priority." The company did not address the disparity between the listed LPDDR4 spec and the inclusion of LPDDR3.The implications of the memory swap extend beyond the simple reduction in memory size. LPDDR4 is faster and more power-efficient than LPDDR3. Anyone with a 512MB RG34XXSP will probably experience reduced performance, especially with more demanding emulation. So customers should definitely reach out if they find this is the case.The RG34XXSP’s prior hardware downgrade reflects the struggles many companies face as they attempt to deliver affordable products amid the memory shortage. As such, the company is claiming that this latest memory twist doesn't seem to be a downgrade or intentional, and claims that the handheld should still be shipping with 1GB of RAM.
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Zhiye LiuNews Editor, RAM Reviewer & SSD TechnicianZhiye Liu is a news editor, memory reviewer, and SSD tester at Tom’s Hardware. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.
2 Comments
Comment from the forums
Bad practice, typical from a Chinese company.
1-2 GB range should be fine for the low-end stuff. I wonder about 512 MB. Even if very old systems being emulated don't need it, more RAM could be useful for UI bloat or Linux/Android overhead.
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Turns out a company that loads their handhelds up with unlicensed ROMs doesn't have the highest scruples towards its customers. Who would have guessed?
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