The Anbernic RG G01 Smart Controller Adds a Screen and Heart Monitor
Anbernic’s new RG G01 gamepad targets pro players with a built-in display, wellness tracking and tri-mode wireless support.
Summary
- Anbernic is pivoting from retro handhelds into the high-end controller game with the new RG G01, a cross-platform wireless gamepad that bakes a 2.5-inch smart screen directly into the face of the pad
- The RG G01 layers in a built-in heart rate sensor, anti-drift “Purple Kirin” joysticks, dual-mode triggers and a 1000Hz polling rate to pitch itself as a latency-obsessed, pro-grade alternative to 8BitDo and first-party pads
- Pricing and release date are still under wraps, but the controller is positioned well above Anbernic’s budget RG P01 while staying compatible with PC, Switch, Android, iOS and more
Anbernic built its name on nostalgic handhelds, but the RG G01 smart controller is a clear signal the brand wants a piece of the premium peripheral space. Instead of another micro console, the company is pushing an Xbox-style pad with asymmetric sticks, textured grips and a curved 2.5-inch IPS display that lets you remap buttons, program macros and tweak settings without ever opening a desktop or mobile app.
The weird flex is the wellness angle. Sensors hidden in both grips track your pulse in real time, splashing your BPM on that center screen and firing off alerts when your heart rate spikes mid–boss fight. Anbernic frames it as a way to “monitor your well-being during intense sessions”, turning tilt-induced rage into just another data point.
Under the hood, the RG G01 is specced like a tournament-ready pad rather than a novelty toy. A tri-mode wireless stack covers Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz and wired USB-C, all rated for a 1000Hz polling rate, while the Purple Kirin electro-inductive joysticks are pitched as an anti-drift upgrade over Hall effect. Dual-mode triggers can be flipped from full analog travel to hair-trigger clicks, a six-axis gyro unlocks motion aiming on Switch and PC, and four back buttons sit ready for macros, combos or movement binds.
Culturally, the move feels like Anbernic testing how far its community will follow it beyond clamshells and candybars. A clear-shell variant shows off the rumble motors like a flex for hardware nerds, and the heart monitor plays right into the quantified-self crowd that already tracks everything from sleep to scrims. If the price lands comfortably below first-party pro pads, the RG G01 could become the go-to for players who want something weirder and more spec-heavy than the usual black-and-grey gamepad grid.
