The RG35XXSP has been an incredibly popular handheld, likely ANBERNIC's most popular this year, so much so they have released a RG35XXSP version, with dual joysticks, a slightly better screen and some extra RAM.
Our review video is going live this week (subscribe to our channel to watch it), but in the meantime for those who have the older brother, there is a new hardware company on the block that will likely end up selling custom shells for the RG35XXSP.
Called TANQ, they plan to create metal and plastic DIY mod kits that turns your device into a hingeless handheld, using a new face plate that combines with your RG3XXSP's back shell.
The modding community have fell in love with hingeless SP's, brought to our attention many years ago by BoxyPixel. We used their kit to turn our SP into a metal hingleess device and it felt remarkable. I gave it to my father two years ago and he still plays on it to this day!
The TANQ SP is designed to pair with an original back shell and buttons from an Anbernic RG35XX SP. The unique two-piece design allows the original screen to comfortably sit above the PCB, creating the "hingeless" form factor.
- TANQ
My bet is that the metal mod kit will be the most popular, as the plastic mod kit will simply turn the RG35XXSP into a RG35XX Plus, just smaller and I know from being a metal handheld fan myself that there's plenty of people waiting for something like this.
ANBERNIC hasn't made a metal device in years, as if they're done with that niche since the RG405M days, which is a shame as they felt great.
With the reveal and release of the newer RG35XXSP, I am hoping that TANQ releases a metal front shell for this variant too, as I have yet to try a metal vertical handheld with two joysticks, and I think this could turn the RG35XXSP into something even more beautiful.
That's if its easy enough to transform back into a clamshell, but only time will tell. TANQ has stated that the hingeless mod kit is "in development" and that "aluminum metal, injection molding and 3d printed versions all being carefully considered throughout the testing process".
This is a good sign and I hope it comes to fruition as I am sure there's many modders wanting to transform their RG35XXSP into this.
