Ambernic's retro gaming handhelds are quietly losing RAM capacity and being downgraded to older LPDDR3 memory — firm reportedly aggressively trimming memory specs as supply dries up amid global shortage

(Image credit: Anbernic)

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. Anbernic reportedly seems to belong to the second group. According to Redditor Pixogen, Anbernic has quietly reduced the memory capacity of its RG34XXSP retro gaming handheld yet again without any official announcement. It's the second cutback since the device's launch.Go deeper with TH Premium: AI shortagesThe 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.512 ram RG34xxSP - Update - Samsung 740 K4E4E324EE EGCF - 512 LPDDR3 from r/ANBERNICIn the latest teardown of the RG34XXSP, the gaming handheld 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.Anbernic didn't respond to a request for comment. We'll update if we hear back.The implications of the memory swap extend beyond the simple reduction in memory size. LPDDR4 is faster and more power-efficient than LPDDR3. Buyers of the latest RG34XXSP revision will probably experience reduced performance, especially with more demanding emulation. The dramatic shift to a smaller, slower memory module is a cost-saving measure that will likely affect the gaming experience.The RG34XXSP’s constant hardware downgrades reflect the struggles many companies face as they attempt to deliver affordable products amid the memory shortage. The issue here is transparency. Anbernic never communicated the first memory shrink, but at least it updated the product's specification sheet to reflect the change. The second reduction comes stealthily as the RG34XXSP's product page still shows 1GB. Perhaps the company is just slow in updating the sheet.Anbernic may be behind in updating the official specification sheet for the RG34XXSP, rather than intentionally withholding information. In any event, the lack of transparency is difficult to justify, especially when the RG34XXSP continues to be sold at its original MSRP, even after losing an astonishing 74% of its memory capacity within a single year.Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.