2026-03-19

Retroid and GPD Raise Prices and Suspend Production Due to Soaring Memory Costs; Anbernic 'Rotating' New Device Leaked

In mid-March 2026, the global surge in memory prices is severely impacting the product strategies of portable gaming PC and retro handheld manufacturers. While Retroid and GPD have moved to suspend production or significantly adjust prices for certain models, AYANEO is preparing to ship its high-end devices despite component cost pressures. Additionally, a leaked video of an unannounced Anbernic device featuring a unique gimmick reminiscent of 2010s smartphones has captured the community's attention.

Ripple effect of soaring memory prices: Retroid and GPD announce production suspensions and significant price hikes

The global surge in memory and storage component prices is hitting the retro gaming and portable gaming PC markets hard.

On March 16, Retroid announced a temporary production suspension of the Retroid Pocket G2, which features the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2, citing fluctuations in memory prices. At the same time, the company raised the price of the Retroid Pocket Classic by $20, setting it to $149. Prior to this, the company had just discontinued the 12GB RAM model of the Retroid Pocket 6 and raised the price of the 8GB model to $245. The older Retroid Pocket 5 model remains unaffected and will continue to be sold at $199.

This impact extends beyond Android devices to GPD, which develops Windows-based handhelds. The 32GB RAM + 2TB SSD model of the latest flagship, the GPD WIN 5 (powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395), has seen a massive price increase of $600 since its initial launch due to rising component costs. The component shortage affecting the entire industry is likely to continue imposing strict constraints on new product releases and pricing for all companies.

Unannounced Anbernic device leaked, featuring a unique 90-degree rotating screen gimmick

A video of what appears to be an unannounced new handheld from Anbernic has been leaked on the Reddit community (r/SBCGaming), sparking significant discussion.

The square device shown in the video appears to be a touchscreen terminal without integrated controllers at first glance, but it features a special mechanism where the screen slides and rotates 90 degrees horizontally to reveal a D-pad and ABXY buttons underneath. This design is seen as a strong homage to unconventional smartphones of the past, such as the 2010 "Motorola FlipOut." The home screen displays a Chrome browser icon, confirming that it runs an Android-based OS.

The company recently released details for the RG VITA Pro, which features a 5.5-inch 1080p display and dual-boot Android 14/Linux. This latest leak further highlights the company's experimental approach of paying homage to niche classic devices. While it is currently unconfirmed whether this is a prototype or a product destined for release, it is generating excitement as a unique form factor.

AYANEO to begin shipping the delayed 'Konkr Pocket Fit Elite' and strengthen support systems

New progress has been reported on the Indiegogo campaign page for AYANEO's high-end Android device, the Konkr Pocket Fit Elite, which had been delayed for several months due to the impact of soaring memory prices.

Manufacturing for this model, which is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, had been difficult due to supply chain challenges, but production began on March 17, and the initial batch is expected to start shipping by the end of March. The long-awaited high-end device will finally reach the hands of backers.

Additionally, to address user support challenges arising from rapid product expansion, AYANEO has announced the "2026 Service Improvement Plan." From March to April, the company plans to launch localized after-sales support via overseas warehouses for popular models. Furthermore, the introduction of a new ticketing system will allow for real-time tracking of repair and shipping progress, marking a concrete step toward improving brand reliability.