Abxylute E1: A $69 Dual-OS Handheld With Familiar Looks
A new budget Android/Linux handheld has been announced, but its design is raising a few eyebrows.
Abxylute has just pulled the curtain back on its latest budget offering, the E1 handheld. Priced at a tempting $69 ( during its introductory sale, it promises dual-OS functionality on the cheap. The announcement, first reported by Retro Handhelds, also reveals a device that looks... well, let's just say it's not breaking any new ground in the design department.
📊 Quick Specs- Chip: RockChip RK3566- RAM: 2GB LPDDR4- Screen: 3.5-inch IPS (640x480)- Battery: 3,000mAh (~5 hours)- Price: $69 (sale) / $89 (full)
The core pitch is solid enough. For your money, you get a device running both Android and Linux, powered by the increasingly common RK3566 chipset. That's paired with 2GB of RAM, a 3.5-inch 640x480 screen, and a 3,000mAh battery. It's a spec sheet we've seen before on devices like the PowKiddy x55 or the Anbernic RG353PS. The inclusion of HDMI out and USB-C OTG is a nice touch at this price.
A Case of Déjà Vu
Here's where it gets interesting. The Abxylute E1's design is virtually identical to another ultra-budget handheld that hit the market earlier this year: the Game Console RX6H. That device, however, used a much older RK3266 chip and only 1GB of RAM, and can often be found for between $29 and $43. The E1 appears to be a direct, spec-bumped successor using the same shell. It's a common practice in this segment-companies often source designs from shared manufacturers-but it does make the E1 feel less like a fresh product and more like a revision.
Credit: Abxylute
Abxylute isn't a complete newcomer; they're also behind devices like the One Pro handheld and the M4 controller. But with the E1, they're jumping into a fiercely competitive budget arena. They're up against established players like Anbernic, who recently teased their own premium vertical Android device, the RG477V. While the RG477V aims higher, it shows how crowded the Android handheld space has become. Success here often hinges on software support and community engagement, something Anbernic has worked on with updates for devices like the RG DS.
At $69, the E1 is undoubtedly cheap. The RK3566 is a capable chip for up to PlayStation 1 and some Nintendo DS emulation. But with so many options in the $70-$120 range, from Anbernic, PowKiddy, and others, Abxylute will need to prove the E1's software experience and build quality are more than just a cloned shell with better internals. For retro gamers on an extreme budget, it's another choice. Just maybe not a unique one.
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