Anbernic RG556 Review: Almost Perfect

Рет қаралды 266,338

Күн бұрын

Here is my final review of the Anbernic RG556, and 10 observations I've made about this handheld over the past couple weeks of testing it.
Buy one here (AliExpress): s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCt...
Anbernic direct: bit.ly/RG556rgc
RG556 first impressions: • Anbernic RG556 Impress...
RG556 written guide: retrogamecorps.com/2024/02/24...
RG405V review (for the Anbernic frontend): • Anbernic RG405V In-Dep...
Thumbstick caps: amzn.to/3uCkwPN
EmulationStation guide: • EmulationStation on An...
Correction: in the video I mentioned that GammaOS is in the works for the device, but I've since learned that development has stalled due to a lack of source files from Anbernic. If you are a developer and want to help, here is the error log from the GammaOS developer's GitHub: gist.github.com/TheGammaSquee...
This was a review unit sent to me by the manufacturer. All opinions are my own, they did not see this review ahead of time, and no money was exchanged in any way.
Timestamps:
00:00 introduction
01:12 color options
04:45 OMG this OLED screen
05:54 the controls aren't bad
09:23 it's very comfortable
11:24 Anbernic's janky software
15:37 use a good frontend
17:39 emulation performance
22:13 video out testing
23:59 RP4 Pro vs RG556
28:09 summary and conclusion
Ways to support this channel:
YT channel membership: / @retrogamecorps
Patreon: / retrogamecorps
Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/retrogamecorps
Find me on Discord! / discord
Theme song written by Jim Gray of Our Ghosts:
ourghosts.bandcamp.com/track/...
More music here: / posts
Keyboard shown in my videos: bit.ly/RGCnuphy
^^ use code "RGC10" for 10% off your order
Note that this description may contain affiliate links. By clicking on an affiliate link and buying something, I may earn a small commission of the sale at no extra cost to you. You can read more about that here: retrogamecorps.com/about/
This video is for entertainment and educational purposes only.
#Anbernic #RG556 #emulation #retrohandheld #retroid #retroidpocket

Пікірлер: 793

@RetroGameCorps 3 ай бұрын

My friends: I made a grave mistake, and labeled Wind Waker as Link’s Awakening during the GameCube testing section. I hope you find it in your hearts to forgive this very serious error. This channel used to be good, but now it’s like Anbernic RG556 analog sticks - terrible!

@Diosky27 3 ай бұрын

Done son!!

@abdullahkuzhan7247 3 ай бұрын

Unforgivable…

@nefariou5 3 ай бұрын

"This channel used to be good, but now it’s like Anbernic RG556 analog sticks - terrible!" 🤣

@user-uf5hp9jg1i 3 ай бұрын

hahaha. is normal mistake. I always love your videos by the way. Thanks👍

@davidvalentin4128 3 ай бұрын

Im gunna need that wallpaper...

@zuko9085 3 ай бұрын

All these amazing devices. Something ten year old me dreamed about and now it's practically commonplace.

@Midwestmikey 3 ай бұрын

I was just telling my gf that. 7 yr old me in 2000 would have LOST it if I saw what's possible in handhelds/phones now.

@sowonkun 2 ай бұрын

Thanks to xi jin ping

@dimavolvich9031 2 ай бұрын

I was thinking about it as well and it's cool to see people appreciate this insane technological opportunity. Definitely one of the major pluses in being a working adult the fact you can just buy those thingies. As a kid I remember getting this cheap multi game handheld system which was basically a tetris invader+calculator kind of thing, which was tons of fun but I could only dream of a PSX because poor haha...

@m8sm8s74 2 ай бұрын

I remember the days even a few can afford “PC”could run these games

@thebobman69 Ай бұрын

it's crazy isn't it. Would have gone mad for any of these as a kid. I'm glad people who don't have money can have access to so much gaming.

@sandplasma 3 ай бұрын

I've gained 10 lbs since I started watching this channel with all these snacks and drinks!

@breaddev1522 2 ай бұрын

Oh no

@tomgillespie559 2 ай бұрын

i really want chick-fil-a

@corpingtons Ай бұрын

😂

@joshmcgootermier2301 Ай бұрын

Greatest comment. Thats why i listen while I'm out running.

@majordynamic8641 Ай бұрын

Lol don't drink your calories

@Tepig_V 3 ай бұрын

That brief clip of NHL Hitz took me way back, I couldn't get enough of that series as a kid.

@LunnchBoxx45 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for including Dynasty Warriors! That was probably the game series I played the most on PS2 and I would not mind getting a handheld that can get be back into it. As always, awesome review, Russ. Keep up the great work!

@moziah. 2 ай бұрын

thank you for including SSX 3. I love that game and it was great to see it included.

@geokarbou 3 ай бұрын

Russ, I stumbled upon the whole retro handheld space, maybe a couple of weeks ago? In that time I have been consuming your content nonstop, I have been completely enamoured with the idea of buying a handheld and playing games from my childhood and tinkering about with the software and roms, etc. I don't know how many hours I have spent in the last couple of weeks, haha. It's crazy, on one day I went from having no idea what any of this is, to obsessing and keeping up with every new product review and now having a decent knowledge of all the brands, models, what to expect, what to look out for, eagerly awaiting new releases and constantly adding handhelds to my baskets on every single website hahaha. Thank you for everything, still haven't decided what my first device will be! RG556 is in the running though :)

@jinstinky501 3 ай бұрын

Maybe wait until November before you buy. There'll be new ones out by then, from all the companies.... as soon as you buy one a better one will come out. Don't rush your decision. :)

@geokarbou 3 ай бұрын

@@jinstinky501 I hear you! November seems far away though haha. But yeah I am torn. I was thinking of maybe getting a budget device like the RG35XX-H to hold me over until new devices come out and decide to spend more on a much better one but then I am thinking that a budget device may just scratch the itch for a moment and I'll crave something more powerful even more. So no clue where to start and which would be the optimal route: get a budget device now, see how I like everything and wait until new devices launch to choose my next one, or go straight for a more premium device to avoid ending up eventually at the same place (and having spent more if I buy a budget one first). Decisions, decisions, hahaha.

@STR82DVD 3 ай бұрын

Welcome and have fun kid!

@STR82DVD 3 ай бұрын

@@jinstinky501 Right? I've been in this space since it started years ago and the last 5 years have been insane with new units coming out monthly. Anytime is a good time to jump in and have fun!

@jasonshiers5771 3 ай бұрын

Welcome to the world of every 2 week buying a new handheld, friendly tip stack up on SD cards

@WARSAW777 Ай бұрын

Just got it. It looks and feels soooo good. I also have an Odin 2 Pro and I seriiously like the look and feel of the RG556 better. Though I dont have the RP4 pro, I did have the RP3 and I would never ever buy a portable with that format again. I hated the feel and look of it (had rhe 16 bit style). To me there's no contest. I ll take the RG556 over the RP4 anyday of the week. The difference in real world performance is only noticeable in some gameswhile pushing upscaling and it's marginal, but the difference in look, feel, size and quality of rhe screen is massive and inmediately noticeable in every single minute you spend playing any and every game.

@KyleRuggles 3 ай бұрын

Excellent review, Russ!

@TheRetroByte Ай бұрын

Many thanks for your reviews on this. I really find your thoughts and feedback as validation for my own thoughts and feelings so yeah I wanted to say thanks for all the effort you put in. It's definitely appreciated

@jamesoglover 3 ай бұрын

This was the review I was waiting for. Thank you!

@iancurtlebrun3750 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for this review Russ, now I confirm that I'll go with RG556

@peachjackson3856 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for pointing out the more minute detail oriented things that a lot of us don’t generally think about. You do such an excellent job, sir! Thank you again!

@fennieyuen Ай бұрын

I am proud to say.. this is my favorite handheld ever! The ergonomic on this is unreal

@ericestradax 15 күн бұрын

Can you tell how is your experience with it? I’m indecisive about getting it.

@fennieyuen 10 күн бұрын

@@ericestradax the experience is awesome. It will be my favorite handheld for a long time. Powerwise, it is about 9/10. If you want perfect PS2, probably gof9r Odin 2. Else, this is the device!

@alexisrivera200xable 3 ай бұрын

One thing worth noting is that the analog sticks behaving that way is a software issue rather than the hardware itself. As reference those are the same sticks that the RG505 uses and they too feel like they are very prone to registering input on the cardinal directions rather than you being able to smoothly draw a circle with them. This goes away on the RG505 the second you install Gamma OS with the sticks becoming much smoother and accurate. Playing something like Mario 64 on the emulator or even Vampire Survivors from the Play Store allow you to notice the sheer difference in input response smoothness. It is like night and day so hopefully Anbernic can work that issue on their own software at some point because the sticks are actually pretty good.

@Diosky27 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for saying this as the main thing keeping me from selling my RP4Pro and switching to this was the analog sticks. Now I may have to rethink that.

@Pridetoons 3 ай бұрын

@@Diosky27 The RP4 Pro is more powerful, so if power is what you want, keep the RP4 Pro.

@serpserpserp 3 ай бұрын

Unfortunately GammaOS isn't available for this device?

@alexisrivera200xable 3 ай бұрын

@@serpserpserp Not yet.

@djstevie69 2 ай бұрын

Screen and the grips have sold this for me. Looking forwards to tinkering when mine arrives! :D

@chrisumali9841 3 ай бұрын

thanks for the demo and info, have a great day

@cornap1 3 ай бұрын

Because of your videos, I have bought three different devices. They’re very well produced and I enjoy them. Thank you from someone that didn’t know Chinese devices existed last year.

@MrMovees87 Ай бұрын

I went ahead and bought the 556 just earlier this morning and I’m so excited for it to arrive! I loved the ergonomics of it right away and that screen is really stellar too, and seeing it in person is gonna be even better. I do already have a Retroid Pocket 4 Pro though, admittedly, but I absolutely love it and will balance using it and the 556 whenever possible Many thanks for this detailed review Russ, it went a long way in helping me decide to pick one up!

@gabryelangel2673 3 ай бұрын

I was waiting anxious for this video and now, i definitely will buy a rg556

@charlesgriffiths4901 3 ай бұрын

I'd been waiting so long to get this final review. Well not that long! I'm glad to hear plenty of positives about the rg556. As much as I like the aesthetics of the pocket 4, this screen just wins it hands down. Thank you!

@AlienSix 3 ай бұрын

I see Russ, I grab a snack and drink!

@SteveJohnson-ht6kv 3 ай бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

@christophgruber1137 3 ай бұрын

yeah man, i wanna do it

@willlawson6126 3 ай бұрын

Same AF.

@johnnythunders7975 3 ай бұрын

Been watching Russ so long, I've already grabbed a snack and drink before I start.

@FumiyaSugawara Күн бұрын

My snack pantry is gone now 😅

@Lightborn1311 2 ай бұрын

I dove into the retro handheld world with the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro (RP4P) and I am in love with it. That being said, your opinion of the screen size and ergonomics comparison is spot on. After about two months of use, the RP4P screen size is just a tad too small for my perfect screen (although it is hardly a deal breaker and the upscale resolution helps with this) and I often find myself adjusting my grip once or twice on the RP4P to experiment with comfortability, depending on what I'm playing. Long story short, this review is an excellent display of the RG556. In my humble opinion, if you are ok with a slightly smaller screen and more processing power, the RP4P is your sub $200 handheld. If you prefer more perfectly comfortable grips and a larger screen size, go with the RG556. All hail the Odyn 2, which I will hopefully own one day haha.

@420bobby69 2 ай бұрын

Noo how did I miss this?! I pulled the trigger on the RP-4 Pro the other day, but this straight up looks better.

@jakesmith5278 3 ай бұрын

Excellent review/comparison Russ. So glad you mention and focus more on the thumb sticks. So many devices have been using these Switch sticks for a while now and I hate them with a passion. Think I used them for two days when I got my Switch years ago and never touch them again, thank god for Amazon fast delivery. I am rocking an Odin 2 right now and it's really a fantastic system but not really pocketable and the dpad is on the wrong location for me. I grew up with the PlayStation and fighting games so dpad is everything, thus my RP4 Pro is on its way with the grip.

@buenogoodlive 3 ай бұрын

Getting rid of that Odin 2 by chance? Haha

@quickcuts3000 3 ай бұрын

too bad about the rp4 pro screen tho. deal breaker for us odin 2 owners... i can't go back to shitty lcd screens. i just refuse.

@Alessio.B87 3 ай бұрын

We need an Odin 2 with the same screen as the RG556, if it's in that device it cannot be that expensive!

@steelzepplin2012 3 ай бұрын

that would be the perfect handheld imho

@EliasPfaiffer 3 ай бұрын

Wait 3 or 4 month.... Every week is a nu handheld release... Dumb but yea

@mountain342 3 ай бұрын

If there was a 6-inch 16:9 OLED screen that they could source, Ayaneo would've used that for their Pocket S.

@mogberry2139 3 ай бұрын

Definitely the Odin 3 would be just that. They should be careful though for that price not to swim in Steam Deck/Ally territory.

@samh5886 3 ай бұрын

The Odin 2 screen already have very good colors, contrast etc, among the best for a ips panel, response time is Abit lacking but not enough of a concern for most people. Not worth it giving up the 6 inch to have this 5.5 OLED in my opinion. Need either a equivalent 6 inch OLED or a higher quality OLED (in areas such as colors/brightness/HDR/VRR) to be worth accepting the 15-20% downsize from 6 inch-> 5.5 inch.

@mattbtv 3 ай бұрын

Russ thank you for the hard work on the reviews. It is interesting to see your personal stock in Retroid drop in value - from the RP4Pro anticipation vid to the post-launch market reality - You were hyped man! Like a spring fling, but the Odin 2 was waiting for you at home all along. Haha. There will always be a better one coming down the line, and I can imagine a Retroid 5 OLED ErgoGrip and/or Ayn Odin 3 Pocket that is a perfect match for you.

@ryecatcher25 3 ай бұрын

Yeah....eventually this channel will become irrelevant once these devices get even more perfected and cheaper.

@mattbtv 3 ай бұрын

@@ryecatcher25 Definitely not irrelevant! But perhaps focused more on the tuning of the 40+ years worth of content we can play on these things. (Which Russ also does a great job of highlighting already… SMB widescreen!) I was mostly just surprised how quickly the 4pro took a backseat.

@w3bbi3 3 ай бұрын

That screen is beautiful

@BMakk205 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the review

@Loknath009 2 ай бұрын

Russ, I wonder how many thousands of people you have helped get into this world, me for sure A LOT. I think just as we help developers, you should also be supported as what you do is simply amazing. Thank you 🙏. Now one question to you or anybody, I’m trying to run dragon quest 8, but I don’t know where to find the adjustments you say, I swear I looked almost everywhere I guess.

@vincentorme9906 3 ай бұрын

This is the perfect device I’ve been waiting for but the sticks are killing me. I think I need to wait for one more version once that’s sorted

@Chancer 3 ай бұрын

10:05 that SMW Wide-screen patch looks amazing

@mrshifter6974 3 ай бұрын

the blue version looks incredible.. sold!!!

@Reyeston007 Ай бұрын

cap

@JimPanzeeEsq 2 ай бұрын

Finally, someone played Onimusha Dawn of Dreams. Thank you! *single tear of joy*

@joepage5000 3 ай бұрын

For folks cross shopping this vs RP4/4pro, add another $15 to the Retroid for the snap on grip if you want similar comfort to the 556.

@Kyle-yn5hy 3 ай бұрын

Ergonomics are important but there’s shockingly few people in this comments section talking about the screen. OLED is such a massive bonus, infinitely better contrast than LED or LCD displays, crt like response times making it great for retro gaming, and better color accuracy too. My perfect device is a Retroid Pocket 4 Pro with an AMOLED display, basically a true successor to the PS Vita which I adored.

@Tetchystar 3 ай бұрын

@@Diosky27why do you keep saying this, it has 128Gb of internal storage? From Anbernic's website: Storage 128G UFS2.2

@RetroGameCorps 3 ай бұрын

@@Diosky27 I’m not sure what this means. The RG556 has 128GB internal storage and 8GB RAM, same as the RP4 Pro…

@Diosky27 3 ай бұрын

@@RetroGameCorps you're right, I stand corrected. When I checked out the Alibaba link I didn't see any storage listed, but looking at their website it's there 🤦‍♂️

@DarthPhillius Ай бұрын

And here's me two weeks in enjoying my RG35XXH and this beast comes out. To be fair I've been out of the emulation handheld world since the GP2X sputtered out.

@SicketMog 3 ай бұрын

Huh! Stick on top and STILL looks nice and comfy for D-pad usage. Currently watching without sound so can't tell; will watch this properly later but this looks good.

@tylerjones6518 3 ай бұрын

New to Handhelds, love the content! I pre-ordered the RG556 but I don’t know if I’ll be able to do much updates to it, since I only have a Mac. But man do I wish I could so the software would look clean like yours!

@willlawson6126 3 ай бұрын

Came to hit the thumbs up and hit save to watch later since i'm still at work

@davidsapir3764 Ай бұрын

Awesome review man, hat tip to you. I can't love this thing enough. It's so powerful, so capable, so comfortable and so awesome in every way. The RG 556 is a God Tier Android retro handheld. Dollar for dollar, at this price point it's as irresistible as it is untouchable, and you'll have to pay considerably more for a handheld only slightly better, whatever "better" means to you personally. Score it now while they're available at such a great price, because once October rolls around six months from now and the election year holiday shopping season starts they'll be gone in a flash, take that to the bank. If Android based retro/GooglePlay handhelds are your jam like they're my jam, wow are you going to absolutely freaking love this thing too.

@dtape 3 ай бұрын

I love how competition between Anbernic and Retroid is resulting in killer products. I can see the successor to the RG556 being perfect and probably irresistible if they improve the sticks to be on part with the RP4, plastic quality and Wi-Fi 6 for game streaming and get a bump in performance. The larger screen seems amazing. I definitely feel cramped playing on my RG353P and RP3+ screens. Been playing games on my iPad mini lately to have a larger screen actually. My eyes would be much happier with the 5.5 inch AMOLED screen on the RG556 for portable handheld use.

@pranze3484 3 ай бұрын

It's always the next one :D

@tynao2029 3 ай бұрын

Nothing is perfect. The best you can hope for it close to or near perfection. Which is why this device is a great purchase. Will they get better and better? Sure but this one plays pretty much everything you could need up to PS2 and GC with some settings tweaks

@dtape 14 күн бұрын

@@tynao2029I already have the RG353P and RP3+ to hold me over to play games on. I'm not in a rush to get another imperfect device. I can easily wait for something that checks off more boxes, likely within the next round of devices in the next year.

@tynao2029 12 күн бұрын

@@dtape Every device is imperfect, and always will be. No perfect devices.

@Baumie11 3 ай бұрын

I preordered the RP4 Pro the day it went live. I don’t regret it at all but I do see how much better it could be if the screen was upgraded. Looks like Anbernic did really well on this one!

@quickcuts3000 3 ай бұрын

you regret that rp4 pro preorder....

@jeff____ 3 ай бұрын

Love your videos Russ!

@antonio_carvalho 3 ай бұрын

The OLED just kind of trumps everything else... Like the SD, I had the LCD version and was debating about "upgrading" to the Legion Go or the Ally, but then the SD OLED launched and the debate was over instantly. Ok, the performance is a little behind, but the leap in image quality is enormous.

@STR82DVD 3 ай бұрын

That is literally the ONLY metric the RG556 beats the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro on. Everything else with the RG556 handheld screams mediocrity. The poor choice of plastics, the absolute crap analog sticks, the horrid Dpad (which from Anbernic is inexcusable), LED distraction lighting, only two colour ways and finally, the craptastic frontend. Sounds like a sure winner.

@williamegan6756 3 ай бұрын

@@STR82DVDYou obviously weren’t watching Russ’ review. The ergonomics and the battery life are also very clear winners here over the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro. I think this one is a win overall for Anbernic, and I say that as a proud owner of the 4 Pro. Credit where credit is due, Anbernic really upped their game with this device.

@STR82DVD 3 ай бұрын

@@williamegan6756 I watched. That's Russ:s opinion, it's not gospel kid. Attach the ergonomic grip available from Retroid and the ergonomic advantage vanishes. Battery life, smattery life, the delta between the two units is negligible.

@HearMeLearn 3 ай бұрын

@@STR82DVDbro thinks his opinion is objective fact

@CSHummer 3 ай бұрын

I have both the SD and the LEGO, and the LEGO has the best screen of any handheld, hands down. The deck's screen is a step up from LCD, and is great in it's own right, but it's really no contest with the LEGO screen. The LEGO has many other flaws though, like atrocious battery life.

@ungratefulmango 3 ай бұрын

The first Anbernic device since the 351 era that I'm seriously considering

@aarongamingdev 3 ай бұрын

its time for my rg351p to retire, the rg556 looks awesome!

@Pridetoons 3 ай бұрын

Nah my RG351P will stay my ultimate GBA. It's great you found something for you tho.

@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydude 3 ай бұрын

damn i miss my 351p first device back in 2009 i got

@Neon_Plasma 3 ай бұрын

@@Pridetoons I wish another company could get a hold of the screens the KT-R1 uses. I like the RG351P but I want a better 3:2 screen.

@Pridetoons 3 ай бұрын

@@Neon_PlasmaWe NEED 4" 3:2 Handhelds!

@EliasPfaiffer 3 ай бұрын

@@CHICKENmcNUGGIESMydudeanbernic rg351p in 2009??

@arandomguy6067 3 ай бұрын

I think I'll consider getting this one, since my hands are pretty big and it has a cute waifu as the background for all of their devices. The only thing that I wish they could have is more color options for the handheld itself and RGB options for the LEDs.

@rsorry 3 ай бұрын

🔥 anbernic is coming along!

@Veddy74 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Russ, I ordered a blue one for my wife. I got myself an Odin 3 weeks to a month ago. Keep being awesome!

@nefariou5 3 ай бұрын

Odin 3 ? damn, dude's living in 2025

@eddydeniro 3 ай бұрын

He said Odion. 3 weeks to a month ago. Not odin 3 do take note @@nefariou5

@arandomguy6067 3 ай бұрын

@@nefariou5 and that's the importance of a comma

@ersindag36 Ай бұрын

Votre commande est arrivée ?

@akronguy3616 3 ай бұрын

Hey Russ! Great review and very informative as always! I have an off topic question if you don’t mind sharing. What shorts are you wearing in your pocketability test? I’ve actually been looking for some just like that, and it would be a bonus knowing they’d fit some of my recent handheld device purchases 😅. Thanks!

@RetroGameCorps 3 ай бұрын

Hi, those shorts are called Quicksilver amphibian shorts, they’re older but I think they are still sold by the company.

@JamieR 2 ай бұрын

As always these reviews are spot on! I'm just sad OLED uses PWM dimming and temporal dithering in most cases. Makes these devices painful to use for many of us. Shame, but the Switch will suffice until the next iteration and Rog Ally works too since it's IPS with DC DImming.

@colinmartin9797 3 ай бұрын

i love my RP4 pro due to its size, a 3d printed grip case is all I need for it. But man, the bezels really make me think that it would have been insane if they found a 5 inch bezel-less screen. But that transparent color is also what I was hoping the transparent colors of the RP4 pro were like. But size/form factor is still paramount for me, since I mostly use mine when I'm on duty, not at home. That's the reason I didn't want the odin. I would probably have paid $300 for the RP4 pro if it was the only way to get this much performance in that form factor. Now what I really want is something about the size of the 353v with the chipset of the RP4 pro. I really am still just far more of a fan of the vertical form factor. But I also love using my tablet for emulation now. An old galaxy tab 7 plus with its snapdragon 8 and an 8bitdo controller is a super awesome portable solution as well, with a huge screen that works great for multiplayer gaming.

@adventurousash 2 ай бұрын

Perfect timing... finally getting one of these. Do I get it directly from anbernic or from ali express?

@crunchrock 3 ай бұрын

2024 is nuts for handhelds! That screen and the grips look great, thats got to be the best screen available at that price point... It looks GINOURMOUS compared to the Retroid Pocket 4/Pro. I think I'm still set with the P4Pro because I like slipping the device in my pocket so much and the sticks are amazing for their size. On that comparison chart, for me, the "Pocketable" is GREEN text as hell. Like yesterday, I went to a busy store, slid the RP4Pro in my somewhat skinny jeans side pocket before I got out of the car, checked in and could just easily slide out the RP4Pro, play 10 minutes of Phoenix Wright, orders ready, just tap the top button and slide it back in my pocket. You dont even feel it. I can easily have my iPhone in my left pocket and RP4Pro in the right pocket and not feel like a techno cyborg.

@Diosky27 3 ай бұрын

Techno cyber-dork. Fixed that for you 😋.....just giving you a hard time ;-)

@gregmasciola3332 3 ай бұрын

Seems decent, despite its flaws. If I didn't have an Odin and was just getting into handheld emulation, I would definitely consider this one.

@ralex3697 3 ай бұрын

I like it, but the Odin 2 does it all

@gregmasciola3332 3 ай бұрын

@@ralex3697 true. I like that we have a few different levels of price/performance when it comes to these handhelds though.

@kitsinu1 2 ай бұрын

Nice comparison between the RG556 and the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro. The performance goes a long ways to overcome the lower resolution of the Retroid compared to the higher resolution of the RG556. Still, I want the better monitor setting. I am old school and cannot help it. Whether it is the Retroid or the Steam Deck, I want 1080, even if I cannot see the difference. Sure it is irrational, but that is what I have learned over the course of decades of life. Customer satisfaction is a primary factor as well.

@Phiidyn 3 ай бұрын

I'm going to wait for the next iteration of the Anbernic RG556 because you know it'll have more console-like sticks and a better processor. We're *almost* there. I've been waiting years to upgrade my RP2 and what I want to get me to pull the trigger is a gen 6 capable handheld with console sticks in the shape of a 556 with a *little* more juice at $200.

@quickcuts3000 3 ай бұрын

i'm sorry, but this post sounds so pathetic and sad....

@ShamanNoodles 3 ай бұрын

Midnight club 3 is such a hidden gem 🤩

@dan_lev 3 ай бұрын

The review I was waiting for before making my decision... Guess we'll see what I'm buying in about a half hour...

@Guitario666 3 ай бұрын

And ..?

@dan_lev 3 ай бұрын

I gotta go with the 556. I just don't think I could live with the screen and formfactor of the rp4p. I'm not a super gamer so as long as the sticks are usable, that's good enough for me.@@Guitario666

@dan_lev 3 ай бұрын

@@Guitario666 Going with the 556 over the rp4p. I'm not a heavy gamer so dealing with controls that are "Mostly Great" paired with a screen that is big and beautiful seems like the right way to go for me. In a year if they have a 557 with better sticks, I'll just buy that one too.

@Guitario666 3 ай бұрын

@dan_lev good pick. I went with 556 as well. I don't want pocketable. I want to enjoy a beautiful screen

@orlandocabrera6269 2 ай бұрын

I want to buy one of these handheld but EVERY other month a new comes out.. better and better.

@jonathanzeng955 3 ай бұрын

Hey Russ, thanks for the great video as always. The comparisons we often make are to the latest and greatest, but I realized the original Odin 1 and Odin Lite are now in a similar price range, and could be picked up second hand for cheaper as well. How do you feel this compares to the Odin 1 and Odin Lite in terms of controls/comfort as well ss performance? Thanks!

@dimantius 25 күн бұрын

Nice video . Which controller are you using since minute 23 ? Looks fine.

@matthewdobsson3883 3 ай бұрын

Highly considering getting one of these. Is there a full game listing somewhere?

@tjs8560 3 ай бұрын

Ahhh! Just grabbed my favorite beverage. Let’s go!!!

@suhtangwong 3 ай бұрын

Vodka? Me too!

@ematta 3 ай бұрын

You validated my preorder. This should hold me til Odin 3 (or SD3 equivalent). Thanks Russ, love the channel.

@shaolindreams 3 ай бұрын

Been tossing up these two for my new device. Definitely leaning towards the 556 because of the AMOLED screen. It could be a little more powerful but tbh up to PS2 is just fine, There are bigger more powerful handhelds for that.

@pspsmallz 3 ай бұрын

That screen is so nice. Really hoping odin 3 will have an oled screen when it eventually happens.

@Pridetoons 3 ай бұрын

Amen 🙏

@krazykid2002k 2 ай бұрын

yep once that drops ill upgrade from this :)

@ScroteRot 3 ай бұрын

Great review, but think I'll wait for the RG556 plus, lol!

@CapitonnePlanet 3 ай бұрын

I pre-ordered this device 2 weeks ago knowing it was a slapper 🤙

@poetryinmoti0n 3 ай бұрын

Hey Russ, love your channel so much. Just a question, if my primary use case would be remote play, would this be better, or would you recommend the RP4+? I was thinking of the G Cloud, but for the same price I'd get more by getting either the RG556 or RP4+. Thanks!

@colin_actually 3 ай бұрын

It's tempting. I think the OLED is making me strongly consider it.

@suhtangwong 3 ай бұрын

I think it's a samsung AMOLED so not true OLED screen.

@colin_actually 3 ай бұрын

AMOLED is just a type of OLED screen. It's totally an OLED. @@suhtangwong

@adelin081 3 ай бұрын

@@suhtangwong I've never had a samung amoled, how does it differ? Does it not have perfect blacks?

@ThunderTheYellowJolteon 2 ай бұрын

Looks very good. I'll be getting one of these bad boys along with a Galaxy A53 5G.

@LUISMUSICLIVE 3 ай бұрын

What is the name of that front end? I want to put that when mine arrives. What is the name of the front end that you use for the transparent blue model?

@Jonnyturboable 3 ай бұрын

Great video thank you, I’m so close to buying one however I’m tempted to leave it 6-8 months and see if they release one with similar specs to the RP4 pro and hopefully sort the sticks out. How long was it between release for the rg34xx and the plus model?

@marcusray4803 3 ай бұрын

Hey Russ, I've been watching your videos for a long time now probably since the RG351p if not earlier. The RG556 may be my first handheld if I don't decide to go with a phone and a Gamesir Galileo. My question is can the sticks be replaced with larger ones since that seems to be the only factor that would matter for me. I love the ergonomics and the looks especially the transparent blue one.

@johndelanie3649 3 ай бұрын

So I've been looking to upgrade from my Anbernic RG351MP with the main reason being Gamecube emulation. The RG556 seems like the overall better device, but is the dip in GC/PS2 emulation that noticeable?

@nickentros 3 ай бұрын

Maybe Anbernic will throw a RG557 at us next year with the D1100 and the better Ayn/Retroid sticks and the rest the same

@capoman1 3 ай бұрын

Critique: Controls. I'd like to know how the buttons sound, are they clicky or smooth, will it be annoying to those nearby? Also does the d pad fireball and dragon punch well.... Good review and much appreciated.

@JD96893 3 ай бұрын

Great options from retroid and anbernic! Personally I would go for the anbernic. I like the bigger screen and better ergonomics. Last one is very important to me. I don't see myself using this level of device for dpad centric games either, I think retroid made a mistake there. If you play older 2d retro games, just get a cheaper handheld. The way I see it, is just have a handheld for ps1 and older, and then one for newer, so a dpad and analog stick centric devices. It's not like the budget 2d handhelds are really expensive.

@martinh4982 3 ай бұрын

Is the stick cardinality snapping a software issue (ie one that Anbernic (hah!) could sort out, or GammaOS could address)? Not a deal breaker for me, but it would be nice to have an option of switching snapping on and off. Some games, like Robotron, could benefit from the snapping, others not so much.

@Pridetoons 3 ай бұрын

I'm pretty sure GammaOS will fix the Cardinal Snapping issue. GammaSqueeze already has a RG556 Dev unit.

@xiaoyu88 2 ай бұрын

I have been following for a while and I want to say thank you, that this place even exist and that you go into so much depth, I have learned a lot. I want to ask you please, if you have a source or a list that can help me know about how controls "feels", mainly the dpad and the abxy buttons. Why do I ask, because I consider now purchasing a handheld and I have no idea how they feel/sound. I am a PlayStation guy and I love the feeling of the PS5 controller or a PSP for example, and in your review you talk, and while I enjoy with my snack and drink, I would like to know your idea of how they feel, or even a record of the sound. from another video I heard the RP4 has a very tactile feeling buttons, and I came here again because it looked quite comfortable. Can you please add such thing to your future videos, or maybe tell me which handhelds have that ps5/psp buttons feeling? Thank you!!!

@ilpastor 3 ай бұрын

Hey Russ, nice review! What do you think about the new video that Taki has made? Switch lite with mod, it seems to be another great value option.

@ikissfutebol12 3 ай бұрын

I had been ready to get my first retro handheld as an RP3+. I thought it seemed weird a 4 had not been announced. I really missed a lot of GC/PS2 era so that has been my target. I do think I am still leaning towards the RP4Pro, but know the 556 is very tempting. I think about an Odin 2 as well. I have an iPhone 13 Mini so the screen size of the RP4Pro seems kind of moot to me. It would be nice to have something I can tuck in a pocket. I don’t usually play many text heavy games. The 556 seems like if you could swap in better sticks, I’d be all over it. I just…how does one look at PS2/GC and even some N64 and think bad sticks are going to be satisfying? I know, it is subjective. I do think the Odin 2 would be amazing. Being my first retro handheld though, is $299 too much when I don’t actually know if I’ll use the heck out of it? It would probably be a lot nicer to use with Steam Link between size and HP. I don’t really care, yet about Switch emulation so is it overkill? I do use LaunchBox on PC and already bought an Android license along side the PC one during Black Friday. I know it has its following, as do all front ends. I’m very curious if it would really require an Odin 2 to feel snappy though. If anyone has insights on that, I’d appreciate hearing! That might be a determining factor as well!

@drhassoon Ай бұрын

If this was dual os using dual micro SD cards I would highly intend to buy it even though I got the RP4PRO. Screen size and resolution + ergonomics really stand out well with this one.

@torant 2 ай бұрын

congratulations for this wonderful explanatory video.!!!... do you happen to have an iso with your complete configuration saved that you can download??... I don't like it with the basic settings and the basic interface that comes out of anbernic. I prefer by far, the front end presentation that you have. Please help me....thank you

@Iciouailleurs-ne8of Ай бұрын

Hello and thank you for everything you do on your channel. I wanted to ask you a question about this Anbernic RG556 console... Do you know if the compatibility with Playstation 2 games could improve soon with software updates (emulators) or console (firmware). Thanks a lot.

@will_5053 2 ай бұрын

Every year these devices keep getting better. And every year i decide to hold off. Going digital nomad in a few years and ill need a PC. I guess ill just keep waiting lol!

@joshe272 3 ай бұрын

i wish you would show more 3ds testing, usually these machines will always run the consoles up to ps2/gamecube and even switch relatively well, but 3ds is always in question, wish you would show that testing more

@waberdoop 3 ай бұрын

The stick issue is kind of a dealbreaker for me. Do you think you could replace them or is it a software issue?

@buenogoodlive 3 ай бұрын

You'd have to replace them. Those sticks just tilt and don't actually move from their center point, hence the flicky feeling. True analog sticks move with your thumb (Retroid Pocket 2S / 4 sticks). When Retroid dropped their latest devices with those new sticks I can't ever personally go back to those Switch style ones.

@RetroGameCorps 3 ай бұрын

A software update could definitely fix their responsiveness, we saw similar fixes with GammaOS on the RG505 and RG405M.

@user-wl3qq8kw9h 2 ай бұрын

@@RetroGameCorps still no fix update?

@Daddel666 2 ай бұрын

PSA: If you install es-de on the rg556, you can get along with Anyhome only. If you want to get out of es-de, back to the android surface, just double press the dedicated "built in front-end" button (under the d-pad, left one).

@Francestoke Ай бұрын

Ross did the plastic on the blue one feel better than the black one? I just bought the black one and didn’t mind the smudges but I definitely want to go for the sturdier feeling color

@CAPMAX_Gaming 3 ай бұрын

Crazy how many videos have come out for this thing, considering it isn't even available yet for the common man. Here's hoping that they'll introduce additional colour choices for the shell, updates to the firmware to address issues, and maybe a new sale by that point. I can wait.

@joepage5000 3 ай бұрын

Can you imagine that gloss transparent in neon green?!

@CAPMAX_Gaming 3 ай бұрын

@@joepage5000 Tons of possibilities! Even PowKiddy's upcoming MAX 3 has at least 6 colour choices on the way!

@joepage5000 3 ай бұрын

@@CAPMAX_Gaming yeah it’s actually like a budget version of the 556: big 16:9 screen and very ergonomic.

@tonyfei472 3 ай бұрын

I'll be waiting for RG666, if they will ever make one

@OneLifeGames 3 ай бұрын

I think it would make a great companion to my miyoo mini! It's out of my price range for now but maybe one day it will be mine :)

@stebopign 3 ай бұрын

there is it. finally

@aoi_mizma 3 ай бұрын

24:29 I think I agree with the table for the most part, but for Size, I think there is an unbeatable gap between "Pocketable" and "Portable" I have multiple devices including the pocketable RG305V and RP4Pro as well as more "portable" Aya Neo Air series, GPD WIN 4 etc. and I find myself just repeating to grab RP4Pro over all others just because it is not cumbersome to bring around. It does get more ergonomically challenged when it goes the pocketable route in general, but I think it's a price worth paying. And having better controls like RP4Pro makes a lot more difference for me at least in terms of fatigue in use. I think the one huge minus for RP4Pro is its display (color vibrancy and accuracy looks pretty bad, it looks worse than original Steam deck). Other than that I personally find RP4Pro beating RG556 for the price in price to performance/pocketability/better control by a long shot, unless the ergonomics is a must (but I personally just grab the Steam Deck when I want the ergonomics+great controls because ergonomics really means nothing to me if controls aren't great).

@worstJago Ай бұрын

Having performance mode on "High mode on" does make a big difference in (some?) android games, I got mine today and played Identity V and when performance mode was off (default) and I set game graphic settings to highest I was getting less than 60fps, with "high mode on" it was easily able to maintain 60fps.