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expired Posted by RevOne | Staff • Jun 18, 2024
expired Posted by RevOne | Staff • Jun 18, 2024

128GB Anbernic RG556 Android AMOLED Retro Emulation Console - $139.40 + Free Shipping @ AliExpress

$139

$185

24% off
AliExpress
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Update: Sale ends tonight at 11:59pm Pacific Time.

Anbernic Direct Store | AliExpress
  • Anbernic RG556 [aliexpress.us]
    • $164.38 - $2 w/ code 8TYGOTM5A no longer valid - $25 w/ code ETA25 = $137.38 now $139.38 (priced dropped down from $144.38 when initially posted)

The option marked 'only game console' does not include games preloaded onto the device..

Specs:
  • Review [youtu.be]
  • 5.48" 1920x1080 AMOLED touchscreen display
  • Unisoc T820 octa-core chipset
  • 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
  • 128GB internal storage (UFS2.2)
  • micro SD card slot (supports up to 2TB cards)
  • Hall Effect joysticks, Hall trigger buttons
  • Six-axis gyroscope sensor, vibration motor
  • 802.11ac WiFi | Bluetooth 5.0
  • USB Type-C port (supports 1080p DisplayPort output)
  • 5500mAh battery
  • Android 13
  • Can emulate up to some (but not all) PS2, GameCube, and 3DS games (see the video review linked above for more details)
Free 15-20 day shipping (from China). Free 90-day returns.
Community Notes
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Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Update: Sale ends tonight at 11:59pm Pacific Time.

Anbernic Direct Store | AliExpress
  • Anbernic RG556 [aliexpress.us]
    • $164.38 - $2 w/ code 8TYGOTM5A no longer valid - $25 w/ code ETA25 = $137.38 now $139.38 (priced dropped down from $144.38 when initially posted)

The option marked 'only game console' does not include games preloaded onto the device..

Specs:
  • Review [youtu.be]
  • 5.48" 1920x1080 AMOLED touchscreen display
  • Unisoc T820 octa-core chipset
  • 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
  • 128GB internal storage (UFS2.2)
  • micro SD card slot (supports up to 2TB cards)
  • Hall Effect joysticks, Hall trigger buttons
  • Six-axis gyroscope sensor, vibration motor
  • 802.11ac WiFi | Bluetooth 5.0
  • USB Type-C port (supports 1080p DisplayPort output)
  • 5500mAh battery
  • Android 13
  • Can emulate up to some (but not all) PS2, GameCube, and 3DS games (see the video review linked above for more details)
Free 15-20 day shipping (from China). Free 90-day returns.

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+40
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64 Comments

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Pro
Jun 18, 2024
3,276 Posts
Joined Sep 2007
Jun 18, 2024
fewlio
Pro
Jun 18, 2024
3,276 Posts
140 range? now you got my attention...
1
Jun 19, 2024
649 Posts
Joined Dec 2018
Jun 19, 2024
ChristianMcC
Jun 19, 2024
649 Posts
Quote from fewlio :
140 range? now you got my attention...
Pretty worth it, since it can handle PS2. I got mine on a freak sale on tiktok for under 130, but would've gladly paid 150+. Only downside is the size; it fits comfortably in a Switch case, so if I were choosing now, I'd probably go with the cube.
2
Jun 19, 2024
850 Posts
Joined Aug 2008
Jun 19, 2024
ap619
Jun 19, 2024
850 Posts
I could never "collect" those coupon codes on Aliexpress. It's the strangest thing and customer service is of no help at all.
Jun 19, 2024
1,772 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
Jun 19, 2024
halogod2
Jun 19, 2024
1,772 Posts
I wonder if this device can handle shooting games like ps2 call of duty series.
1
Jun 19, 2024
81 Posts
Joined Jul 2010
Jun 19, 2024
tied
Jun 19, 2024
81 Posts
Just got one in, kinda crazy hardware for the price… the screen is nuts…
1
Pro
Jun 19, 2024
3,276 Posts
Joined Sep 2007
Jun 19, 2024
fewlio
Pro
Jun 19, 2024
3,276 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank fewlio

Quote from tied :
Just got one in, kinda crazy hardware for the price… the screen is nuts…
guys guys guys...this is AMOLED
2
1
2
Jun 19, 2024
81 Posts
Joined Jul 2010
Jun 19, 2024
tied
Jun 19, 2024
81 Posts
Quote from fewlio :
guys guys guys...this is AMOLED
And it's perty…

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Jun 19, 2024
2,409 Posts
Joined Aug 2010
Jun 19, 2024
DrGreenthumb
Jun 19, 2024
2,409 Posts
How does this compare to the Odin 2 or Retroid Pocket 4 pro?
Pro
Jun 19, 2024
3,276 Posts
Joined Sep 2007
Jun 19, 2024
fewlio
Pro
Jun 19, 2024
3,276 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank fewlio

Quote from DrGreenthumb :
How does this compare to the Odin 2 or Retroid Pocket 4 pro?
I think this is the peach for many. I wonder if retro game corps didn't say that the rp4 pro is the best performance for money, but it has a smaller (I think?) screen and no oled. This level of performance gets you right at the sweet point in history where all the consoles were more unique platforms and more exclusives, it's the ps3/xbox360 era where all things started to converge to be the same on pc and the "upper end" consoles. So in my mind I always think I wanna have a nintendo console, a pc, and a classic console open app portable platform that can run things up to the ps2/gamecube era. I'm not forgetting xbox but that's just a bridge too far at this price point, and the most historically significant xbox is the 360 anyway.

There's a huge difference between 140 something and 300-500 dollars for the mid to upper end "pc" handhelds these days (and the only upper end at that price is the priceformance bargain of the asus elite handheld they're trying to clearance out), and it takes 500 to get steam oled. Switch oled is badass but it's its own thing and in the 300-350 range, it's a good deal more than 140 range. So if you can pass on nintendo games, that makes this handheld even a stronger buy EEK!

That said, the new cube shaped smaller anbernic does the classic handhelds systems better (more compatible screen ratio) and with a more portable form factor...but...no OLED. Other than that it's the same chipset as this unit.
Last edited by fewlio June 18, 2024 at 09:14 PM.
1
2
Jun 19, 2024
2,409 Posts
Joined Aug 2010
Jun 19, 2024
DrGreenthumb
Jun 19, 2024
2,409 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank DrGreenthumb

Quote from fewlio :
I think this is the peach for many. I wonder if retro game corps didn't say that the rp4 pro is the best performance for money, but it has a smaller (I think?) screen and no oled. This level of performance gets you right at the sweet point in history where all the consoles were more unique platforms and more exclusives, it's the ps3/xbox360 era where all things started to converge to be the same on pc and the "upper end" consoles. So in my mind I always think I wanna have a nintendo console, a pc, and a classic console open app portable platform that can run things up to the ps2/gamecube era. I'm not forgetting xbox but that's just a bridge too far at this price point, and the most historically significant xbox is the 360 anyway.

There's a huge difference between 140 something and 300-500 dollars for the mid to upper end "pc" handhelds these days (and the only upper end at that price is the priceformance bargain of the asus elite handheld they're trying to clearance out), and it takes 500 to get steam oled. Switch oled is badass but it's its own thing and in the 300-350 range, it's a good deal more than 140 range. So if you can pass on nintendo games, that makes this handheld even a stronger buy EEK!

That said, the new cube shaped smaller anbernic does the classic handhelds systems better (more compatible screen ratio) and with a more portable form factor...but...no OLED. Other than that it's the same chipset as this unit.
Seeing some performance comparisons I just can't justify buying this for the OLED since it can't play 100% of the PS2 library and the games it can you're limited to 1-1.5x resolution it seems. I also saw some complaints about the Dpad which would ruin it for me as a retro console if it had a bad dpad. But for $150 it seems a great deal if you're ok with the bare minimum for PS2 vs other consoles that can play PS2 at 2x+ resolution with better compatibility with the RP4 at $200.

The shape/ergonomics looks nice though compared to the RP4, I'd have to get the grips since I hate the slab style designs like the switch. It is a very tempting device at this price point though, I just don't get this and then be wanting a better PS2/Xbox playing handheld.
1
Pro
Jun 19, 2024
3,276 Posts
Joined Sep 2007
Jun 19, 2024
fewlio
Pro
Jun 19, 2024
3,276 Posts
Quote from DrGreenthumb :
Seeing some performance comparisons I just can't justify buying this for the OLED since it can't play 100% of the PS2 library and the games it can you're limited to 1-1.5x resolution it seems. I also saw some complaints about the Dpad which would ruin it for me as a retro console if it had a bad dpad. But for $150 it seems a great deal if you're ok with the bare minimum for PS2 vs other consoles that can play PS2 at 2x+ resolution with better compatibility with the RP4 at $200.

The shape/ergonomics looks nice though compared to the RP4, I'd have to get the grips since I hate the slab style designs like the switch. It is a very tempting device at this price point though, I just don't get this and then be wanting a better PS2/Xbox playing handheld.
I just figure, oh darn I gotta run ps2 at the original resolution...oh wait that's what we did back in the day Embarrassment Note that black borders on AMOLED are not very distracting vs other displays EEK!

Russ surprised himself, giving the nod to the rg556 EEK!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A...NI&t=1439s
3
Jun 19, 2024
2,409 Posts
Joined Aug 2010
Jun 19, 2024
DrGreenthumb
Jun 19, 2024
2,409 Posts
Quote from fewlio :
I just figure, oh darn I gotta run ps2 at the original resolution...oh wait that's what we did back in the day Embarrassment Note that black borders on AMOLED are not very distracting vs other displays EEK!

Russ surprised himself, giving the nod to the rg556 EEK!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A...NI&t=1439s
I can already play 1x PS2 games on an older android tablet I have, but want a portable as it's clunky using a controller and tablet. The issue I have with the RG556 currently is the compatibility isn't 100%, some games people have had luck with patches, but others they say they can't get to run. 1x I can live with, but it needs to be able to play 100% of the library at least at a stable 30 fps before I'd consider buying it.
1
Jun 19, 2024
3,187 Posts
Joined Aug 2014
Jun 19, 2024
shark974
Jun 19, 2024
3,187 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank shark974

basically these handhelds are a rat race to themselves lol. you will spend most of your time setting it up not playing the games. particularly early Sony PlayStation consoles and handhelds are some of the worst and ugliest games ever created and i'm certain no one plays them beyond a few seconds at a time. unless its a 2d game anyway.

not saying dont buy it lmao. the prices are crazy. china. you can have a lot of fun setting it up for a few hours, then playing some games for 15 seconds-2 minutes each (about as much as you'll be able to stomach). you're always going to want the next one.

or you can skip it all and get the logitech g cloud. which is where these will end up. but, it's 299 and not that powerful (about as powerful as this though) and has a borked d-pad

also, i would take eta prime reviews (linked in the op) with salt. his vids are fine but understand they are essentially commercials, he will not mention the downsides of products. retro game corps is more credible.

for instance rgc said the plastic on rg 556 is very cheap and smudgy.
Last edited by shark974 June 18, 2024 at 11:23 PM.
2
1
10
Pro
Jun 19, 2024
3,276 Posts
Joined Sep 2007
Jun 19, 2024
fewlio
Pro
Jun 19, 2024
3,276 Posts
Quote from shark974 :
basically these handhelds are a rat race to themselves lol. you will spend most of your time setting it up not playing the games. particularly early Sony PlayStation consoles and handhelds are some of the worst and ugliest games ever created and i'm certain no one plays them beyond a few seconds at a time. unless its a 2d game anyway.

not saying dont buy it lmao. the prices are crazy. china. you can have a lot of fun setting it up for a few hours, then playing some games for 15 seconds-2 minutes each (about as much as you'll be able to stomach). you're always going to want the next one.

or you can skip it all and get the logitech g cloud. which is where these will end up. but, it's 299 and not that powerful (about as powerful as this though) and has a borked d-pad

also, i would take eta prime reviews (linked in the op) with salt. his vids are fine but understand they are essentially commercials, he will not mention the downsides of products. retro game corps is more credible.

for instance rgc said the plastic on rg 556 is very cheap and smudgy.
mainly points fingers at the piano black and for himself he prefers the look of the blue anyway...

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Pro
Jun 19, 2024
1,270 Posts
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Jun 19, 2024
corvato
Pro
Jun 19, 2024
1,270 Posts
Quote from ap619 :
I could never "collect" those coupon codes on Aliexpress. It's the strangest thing and customer service is of no help at all.
I took a screen shot of the popup with the list of codes when I see them. I love the snipping tool in windows.

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