Okay, for starters you've got another subscriber. I like the in depth style you presented, little fluff and lots of useable info. As for the 556, I pre-ordered this and really look forward to seeing it in person. I need a larger screen and size overall for better comfort and this one checked all of the boxes for me. The 820 chip is looking better and better with each reviews I see, it's overkill for the games I personally run. I hope Anbernic sees all of these pre release videos and fixes the few issues presented, its soooo close to being ideal. Thanks again for the great review, its really appreciated!
I'm glad you enjoyed it and thank you for subscribing! I try to keep the fluff to manageable mount but I'm a sucker for presentation 😂 I'm sure they will, they usually throw a few updates after release. And if they don't I believe the dev for gammaOS got one so one way or another were getting better software. -Aish
The screen looks awesome, PS Vita emulator works very well actually with some games, but as you say it's very important to check the compatibility. Here, in your video is the first time where I see the real potential with the most complicated emulators, nice video buddy!
@@retrohandhelds thanks to you man, yeah, I joined some time ago, that discord server is the retro gaming paradise 😅 where I read a lot of all the consoles that I have, want and need
I have this on pre-order for a very good price but I'm pondering cancelling it. Reviews are mostly positive but you just know there's an RG556plus/V/M around the corner with better (pla)stic(ks) and a better D-pad on top...Also a bit hesitant to get a first production run device, even from Anbernic. Maybe I should just show my Steam Deck some more love and attention for now, and see where things go this year.
Cheers Aish, appreciate the in depth review. Decent ergonomics, nice screen, ok performance ticks my boxes. Certainly not perfect but I feel Anbernic have done a pretty good job here, doesn't seem particularly over-priced. A few more shell options wouldn't go amiss.
More handheld should be in this price/size range, because this is the most ideal price size range for normal people, think of them like accord and camry cars. For some reason Nintendo wants to make 8" switch 2.
Aw, I was hoping you'd cover some games like Smash Bros Ultimate and my personal favorite, theatrhythm. Considering on getting this just for my GF who really loves Gamecube games such as Mario Kart Double Dash. But this 1 video pretty much answered a lot of my questions flawlessly, thank you!
Glad I could help and sorry I couldn't get to those games, I tried to show some good benchmark titles. Double dash shouldn't give you any issues since that ran on the last generation of 618 handhelds, and considering the 3ds performance you should be able to play Theatrhythm Final Fantasy for 3ds but smash bros ultimate is going to be too demanding. -Aish
This is pretty sweet, faster than the OG Odin! FINALLY they're doing analog triggers. My main issues is with the analog sticks snapping and the black finish, other than that I'd buy this if I didn't already own an Odin.
I suggested Anbernic run with an AMOLED screen because not only is it great for outside use, suffers from less burn-in, and also as you can see it's a beautiful screen.
I am new to the new age handheld gaming world. I really enjoyed your video. Did you copy your SD cards? I am looking for a handheld that I can play games such as midnight club and state of emergency with are on PS2. Before your video, I found myself stuck between the 405M, the 505, (and now the 556). Are these games easy to download on these handhelds? Also, do you have any recommendations for which one I should look more into? Thank you so much for your video.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. If you're going with anbernic the 556 is the way to go, it's currently their most powerful handheld. For games anbernic ships an SD card with the unit but I didn't get one, the games aren't hard to get on here Google is your friend 😉 once you have the game just put it in a folder and tell the emulator where it is. Unfortunately I haven't tested those games so I can't confirm if they run or not but my educated guess is yes, but with some adjustments. -Aish
Haha. I have a similar choice, but the rg556 is already on my nightstand. I didn't expect it to be so big. It seems to me that such a huge and high-quality screen is needed for good modern high-quality games, like on the Nintendo Switch. But games from the switch do not work well here, it is better to buy the switch itself, it will be even cheaper. And old games in low resolution and 4x3 aspect ratio look somehow ridiculous on such a screen. That's why the rg556 is sitting on the nightstand and I'm thinking of selling it while it's new. I still have the rg35xx h and I'm a little short on screen size and performance for Dreamcast games. So I'm leaning towards buying the rg405m.
This feels so close to being amazing. I’m gonna stick with my Rg505 but I’m thinking within the next year we’re going to have some absolutely amazing options
I'm curious. Other retro handheld reviewers are not being as kind as you were. They are not saying they wouldn't recommend it, but they seem to be having a few more issues than you did. Most of the other reviewers got their RG556 almost immediately upon launch or review units just before. Did you just get this review unit? If so, do you know if Ambernic has done some tweaking to get it to run better?
I've had mine for a week so I had more time then a lot of others, that's why I was able to go more in depth, I felt like I pointed out the issues but in general my experience was a positive one. Anbernic has been on vacation for the Chinese new year so they haven't done any updates. -Aish
Great review, Aish. Thanks for being so thorough. You covered everything I could've asked for and touched on all of my concerns. I hope Anbernic addresses the stick issue. JoyCon style sticks are already somewhat of a compromise, especially with a handheld that can really use good sticks. I have faith that there will be an update. If not, it might still be possible for potential replacements that are better, but as you showed, they are not going to be very easy to access, and its likely a software based issue. These little hall sticks can be finicky. These devices continue to stay interesting for one reason or another, and I love it. Thanks again for the review.
Thank you for watching I'm glad I was helpful. I'm going to try and switch the sticks out for some gulikit ones I have to see if it makes a difference, but I'm sure anbernic is going to do an update soon. -Aish
About the docking, does the device get charged while having video out through a dock to an external screen? I heard from another reviewer that the device can only use video out OR charged, not at the same time. And that's a deal breaker for me.
Man it sounds great. I want the OLED screen, but I just can’t help but feel like the RP4 Pro is the better choice, even with sticks on bottom for a device that I imagine most people want to play GC/PS2 with.
This is my current debate is either getting the 556 or the RP4 pro. The drawbacks I’ve seen with the RP4 pro is the screen size, no built in ergonomics, sticks at the bottom, only a 750p LCD screen using iPhone 6 screen technology that a lot of people are reporting has bad ghosting. The fan also drowns out a good bit of audio while playing more demanding PS2/GC. While the 556 is a bit larger with a beautiful 1080p oled screen and great ergonomics, the shell is a drawback and seems cheap and I hear the sticks don’t feel all the great and you’re getting a bit less power overall from the RP4 pro. Maybe I’ll just get both and decide from there lol
I try to avoid using Bluetooth headphones for games in general, I don't like it and when it happens on a video it frustrates me even more. But it may change depending on the headphone brand, I had some samsung ones that did it even with TH-cam videos, I used my jbuds and didn't feel any lag t speak of but I still want the headphone jack fixed because I prefer using that, im always amazed when cheap headphones work better then some expensive ones 😂. -Aish
The hardware is good, but other emulators are not optimized yet. Hopefully, Anbernic will develop their own emulation system for each model in the future to improve performance.
Does the 556 come with the same game disk that my rg35xx-h has? and should i make a copy of the game disk that comes with this device? I'm old-school i'm 67yrs. old and i don't do downloads or emmalations just want to play with what the device comes with. I'm happy with my rg35xx-h just want the 556 because of the size of screen.
I didn't get an SD card this time so I'm not sure what all comes with it but it should come with more games then the 35xx did. If you just want something ready out of the box it's not a bad set up, the pre-installed emulators are already configured and set up with the launcher. -Aish
@RetroHandHelds Aish my man! You say atvthe beginning it supports C to C charging. So does that mean it supports fast charging? Or just the ability to charge using a C to C cable? Ive found a 1.5A 5V USB-A - USB C charger does a very good job charging this device, but have been wary of plugging it into my fast charger. Could you shed some light on this? Thanks man!
It does support C to C charging but I haven't noticed a difference between using an A to C charger vs C to C, so my guess is that it just supports using c to c. Then again I haven't done any precise testing on that.
Well I paid 269 plus tax you say under 200 were are you going to find it for that price? I know retail from ambernic was like 189.99 that's still over 200 and shipping cost
Silly question - can you actually update Chrome on the RG556? The RG405V and RG505 cannot update, which I think is due to the T618. Hopefully this is a non-issue with the T820.
That's a good question I haven't tried, but what I have noticed with the apps that come with these devices is that you have to uninstall and redownload them to be able to update. -Aish
@@retrohandhelds Thanks for getting back to me. Mind trying when you have a moment? I’ve tried to uninstall/reinstall on my RG405V/RG505 and Chrome just shows up as incompatible in the Play Store afterwards. I get these aren’t top tier, but it’s disappointing that something as fundamental to Android as Chrome is not supported on devices still being sold.
@@mjwaters1985I'm so sorry I took so long to get back to you, TH-cam doesn't do the best job at getting follow up replies to us. I just updated using the playstore and no issues. -Aish
So silly question does dynasty warriors 5 empires work on this. I see people doing reviews on this product but a lot of people use the same games. Or similar things I'm very happy with you doing FF12.
Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed the video, unfortunately I didn't test that game but I can add it to future videos. The reason you see a lot of the same games is because it helps set a benchmark for performance. -Aish
This or a Powkiddy x55? I know it's not the same power but it's more than twice the price. Can you have Koko bezel shaders working fine with either of the 2?
I'm not sure about the bezels since I don't use them myself, but between the 2 the 556 is the better choice. I'm just not a fan of the x55 in any way. -Aish
Don't buy the PowkiddyX55. Better stuff like Saturn is broken as f. Tested 2 games and both froze after 25 minutes. Even GBA and PS1 games froze. Worst emulator (own a few) I've ever bought. Last the charge rate sucks.
I'm honestly glad that more people are aware of Nether SX2 instead of AetherSX2 since the creator of Aether threw a little hissy fit, took his ball and went home.
Well in the AetherSX2s defence , when Fheada are making Def Threats against you , your best reply is to refuse to continue. Had he continued working on the emulator , HR wouldn't be taking. A stand
I'm using NetherSX2 not. AetherSX2 on my Odin 2 and honestly no problems, no issues all the games run fine and even better than AetherSX2 I'm using the latest version no ads. Never had a problem whereas AetherSX2 did gave me some problemss like some of my games save files deleted by themselves and some games ran slowly I don't have any of these problems on NetherSX2 and I love it!
@@FantasyVisuals That's a misconception and the moderators of his Discord have already said that threats against him were something that he made up for drama.
Hey Aish, Thank you for this great video!😃 A lot of reviewers are very surprised at how good the RG556 is! I wrote my opinion about the RG556 in Techdweeb's video, but he probably didn't understand what I was getting at😅 The Retrododo video of the R556 was a complete disaster, so they took it down immediately😅 I'm looking forward to my RG556 in blue transparent . The screen simply makes a difference (beautiful Amoled screen), if the controls, ergonomics, battery life and performance are up to PS2, it's a good handheld for my collection and I know I'll enjoy it! I have to say about the Retroid Pocket 4/Pro that, compared to the RG556, it simply doesn't offer what I value in a handheld! The screen is too small for me (many people also have extreme problems with their screens), not ergonomic (an extra handle costs $15 extra on top of $215 including shipping anyway!) and a host of other problems like non-working R2 triggers or SD card slots! The RP4 is a good handheld if everything works but if the only advantage is 20% more power than the RG556, no thanks! That's not what matters with a handheld and some people should finally understand that😅
Glad you enjoyed the video 😁 That's why I make a point to say power isn't everything, everyone has different things that they want out of a device. This is kind of like the steamdeck vs ROG ally discussion for me, yes I know the ally can do more but for a lot of people the deck is perfect. Same thing here, I love my 4pro and luckily I haven't had any issues with it, but I have to admit hands on the 556 gives it a good run. -Aish
@@retrohandhelds So everyone has their own experiences!😅 My Steam Deck (LCD) has already caused me a few problems so far From getting stuck to suddenly not wanting to start games to not having a functioning Emu deck!😅 With my ROG Ally everything always works no matter what I do want to do with it😅 Even if my SD card slot doesn't work, that's a well-known problem and I don't care because I have a 2 TB SSD installed there! That was the only downside to my Ally! Overall, I like my ROG Ally much better than my Steam Deck, not because of the performance but because of the compatibility and reliability!😊
Will i be able to use the game disk thats in my rg35xx-h in the 556? I like the games that i collected in my favorites and would like to put that disk in the 556.
I ordered one myself... Seems tedious to tear down and reload emulator,bios etc. Can you just updated or tweak the base software to optimize performance?
Phones can be a great alternative for a lot of people, but personally after a while the telescopic controller just becomes a hassle to carry around, at that point might as well just have a dedicated device. If someone just wants to play some RPGs or visual novels I think a phone is a great fit for that. -Aish
It switches the face button layout from Nintendo style to Dreamcast/Xbox style. It also enables the analog triggers. Nintendo controllers for Switch don't have analogs while Xbox controllers do and that distinction matters to Anbernic for reasons I can't fathom.
My assumption is the anbernic just used their usual controller configuration for the ns mode and used an Xbox profile for the Xbox mode. Gamma spoofed the system into thinking you were using a Bluetooth controller, and that's how he got it to work with mobile games. Retroid and AYN do the same thing. -Aish
I noticed you say you deleted ALL of what came on the device out of the box. Do you have a video that shows what you put on an Android Anbernic device when you get one?
I don't currently have one but I labeled every emulator I use in the game section and in the description of the video, for almost everything else I stick to RetroArch and duck station for ps1. Russ from retro game corps just updated his android guide and I highly recommend his video. -Aish
Settings for Wii by any chance? I can't even get my Galaxy S20+ to run DonkeyKongCountryReturns as well as you had Sonic Colora running in this 556's much less powerful chip. I have to imagine sonic is a way more dema ding game over DKCR?
P.s. why bother with duckstation for PS1? Retroarch runs so well? I just wish the cores for NDS were even remotely close to running roms as well as Drastic does. But Drastics remapping situation is a joke. It doesn't even recognize analog sticks for anything except a Pointer. I mapped my RG405M for vertical play NDS with ABXY &R Analog at the bottom, and it's so fun. Works great on super Peach, but anything more demanding, forget about it.
@@-Airwalk1616-sonic colors is easier to emulate, I haven't tested donkey Kong country on this yet so I'll have to get back to you on that. And for duckstation it's just for the upscale options. -Aish
Odin 2 crushes this in performance, but doesn't have an OLED screen and is twice the price, so it really depends on your use case and what systems you want to emulate.
@@retrohandhelds thanks for your immidiate answer. I am looking forward ps2 and gamecube emulation mostly, as I already own rg353v. So I am probably going to purchase odin 2. there are some thoughts for "ayaneo next lite" also.
It comes with them pre-loaded, you just add your own games (unless you buy one with the micro sd card option, then it will come pre-loaded with games too)
At this price, I would agree. Its only problem is the switch-style analog sticks. I understand they’re cheap, and they had to keep the price down somehow, but even when the cardinal snapping is fixed, they’ll still be simply too short, especially since pocket-ability is no longer a consideration here. Stick extenders will be necessary for any semblance of fine control in modern games.
@@dauntless0711 Yeah I got to give it to you there. I suggested Anbernic use full sized controls like an Xbox Controller but I guess they got to appeal to the Asian set of hands too I guess. ¯\_( ͠° ͟ʖ °͠ )_/¯
Is it safe to say that this device is a better buy than the retroid 4 ? Especially if hou care about ergonomic, oled screen and if care less about emulating a few extra more powerful games that the retroid can play
Depends on what you're after: Big, beautiful screen and great ergonomics for hours of gameplay, great battery life and the ability to play everything up through PS2 or smaller and more easily portable, more power and possibly getting a defective screen and trigger (said only because it's a fact they do have these issues, not a shot at it). Some folks like 'em small, some like 'em big, seems like you really can't go wrong here with either one.
@@iamCifu better build quality? Are you serious, the launch of the rp4 was a disaster on reddit with trigger issues and screen issues ans Retroid releasing a statement apologizing and offering replacement triggers
Yes but maybe no, it depends on the type of PS2 games you want, it's going to do very well with RPGs and platformers but probably won't handle some racing games and the hard games like shadow of the colossus. Let's say it wouldn't be my first choice but I wouldn't necessarily say no. -Aish
It has been mentioned multiple times on the discord that he got a review unit, no word yet on when it's happening or how the progress of any is going. -Aish
If I order one of these with, let’s say the 256 GB card that claims it comes with 170 PS2 games etc… Does it still come with all of the various different consoles like Game Boy and Game Boy Advance and super Nintendo and Sega genesis PlayStation and Sega Saturn and all that .. does it still come with all of those games and for the most part I wanna know does it work out the box? Are these games all playable out the box without me having to download a new front end or what have you? Thanks
Unfortunately I didn't get an SD card to test out, but they usually have a variety of systems and everything is preconfigured to work with the built in launcher. Just keep in mind you won't get the absolute best performance with the pre-installed emulators, but if you just want a plug and play experience it'll work. -Aish
Wtf you're the first dude to show it run wii and switch, ps vita. I know it won't be a full library, but that seems enough for the screen/price. I cannot for the life of me decide either a steam deck, chipped base switch or this. Not just price and power but actual portability and not looking like an ass if i pull it out in work.
I tried to be as thorough as possible, but I think the power of the t820 is being undersold. It's not the top of the line but it's a very capable chip. -Aish
@@TheDarkguide no, i wont be spending that much.. 160 for the rg556, around 200 for a regular chipped switch with a solid controller (not even going to bother with joycons), and a regular steam deck at 350 or so. (64 version with 512 sd). Just not sure. It's driving me crazy.
@@CrumpetsNBiscuits Then spend bit more and get regular steam deck. Hardware and software are both going to be premium and will be supported for a long time. If you really want Android handheld go for the base version of Odin 2 for 300$.
@@TheDarkguide hmm yeah, reddit is filled to the brim with deckers. I understand, I saw it has power plenty. But do you guys really pull out that big BBC on a bus, work and carry it around? Seems heavy and cumbersome. Also it can run way better games yeah, but wont the fan go wild? Also i'd use '3rd party' games, so the whole installation process might be annoying. (Doesn't seem that bad but sure harder than drag drop roms)
I wish this had a d900 in it at least. It'd be an easy choice at that point. The screen looks so good, and I really want to use it. From what you showed here, it had no problem playing Wii titles? My phone has a hard tune with some wii even and it's an s20+. Do you think it can play almost any wii game?
This doesn't have the power to emulate a game like that, unless there's been some major development on windows emulation that I don't know about. -Aish
Oh you're one of those who never owned a genesis like Russ...okay fine...SAY-GUH. Sonic 2 in genesis will teach you how to say it right. SAY GUH...not SEG-UH. Gooooooooood daaaaaaaaammit!!
@@charlessamuelpenn9374 well part of my childhood was in Mexico and Spanish is my first language, we always said it like I say it 😂 but to make the Sega folks happy I'll do better... -Aish
Preordered one for myself! Can’t wait!
Okay, for starters you've got another subscriber. I like the in depth style you presented, little fluff and lots of useable info.
As for the 556, I pre-ordered this and really look forward to seeing it in person. I need a larger screen and size overall for better comfort and this one checked all of the boxes for me. The 820 chip is looking better and better with each reviews I see, it's overkill for the games I personally run. I hope Anbernic sees all of these pre release videos and fixes the few issues presented, its soooo close to being ideal. Thanks again for the great review, its really appreciated!
I'm glad you enjoyed it and thank you for subscribing!
I try to keep the fluff to manageable mount but I'm a sucker for presentation 😂
I'm sure they will, they usually throw a few updates after release. And if they don't I believe the dev for gammaOS got one so one way or another were getting better software.
-Aish
The screen is freaking amazing!
It really is, I tried my best to show it on camera but it doesn't do it justice.
-Aish
thanks for this review, man. I'm going for this one instead of the RP4 Pro. I don't need extra power since most of what I'll be playing are PS2 RPGs."
@@fairydane9449RPGs run great on this, they usually don't need that much power.
Glad you liked the review.
@@fairydane9449 I'm sure you're going to have a great time with it.
I know right!!! 😁
You sold me on it. Getting the blue one 💙 great review!
The screen looks awesome, PS Vita emulator works very well actually with some games, but as you say it's very important to check the compatibility.
Here, in your video is the first time where I see the real potential with the most complicated emulators, nice video buddy!
Thanks man, nice to see you here! You should come hang out in the discord if you're not already there.
-Aish
@@retrohandhelds thanks to you man, yeah, I joined some time ago, that discord server is the retro gaming paradise 😅 where I read a lot of all the consoles that I have, want and need
I have this on pre-order for a very good price but I'm pondering cancelling it. Reviews are mostly positive but you just know there's an RG556plus/V/M around the corner with better (pla)stic(ks) and a better D-pad on top...Also a bit hesitant to get a first production run device, even from Anbernic. Maybe I should just show my Steam Deck some more love and attention for now, and see where things go this year.
In a few months they will surely release a new version-they always do this…
There's always something better coming that's just the nature of the business, but waiting a little is usually a good idea.
-Aish
Cheers Aish, appreciate the in depth review. Decent ergonomics, nice screen, ok performance ticks my boxes. Certainly not perfect but I feel Anbernic have done a pretty good job here, doesn't seem particularly over-priced. A few more shell options wouldn't go amiss.
Glad you enjoyed it.
I was very skeptical about this one but if they fix the software issues this could be a hit.
-Aish
More handheld should be in this price/size range, because this is the most ideal price size range for normal people, think of them like accord and camry cars.
For some reason Nintendo wants to make 8" switch 2.
Aw, I was hoping you'd cover some games like Smash Bros Ultimate and my personal favorite, theatrhythm. Considering on getting this just for my GF who really loves Gamecube games such as Mario Kart Double Dash. But this 1 video pretty much answered a lot of my questions flawlessly, thank you!
Glad I could help and sorry I couldn't get to those games, I tried to show some good benchmark titles. Double dash shouldn't give you any issues since that ran on the last generation of 618 handhelds, and considering the 3ds performance you should be able to play Theatrhythm Final Fantasy for 3ds but smash bros ultimate is going to be too demanding.
-Aish
I'm watching your review again. You didn't test the gyroscope for Vita3K. 😰
I did while playing gravity rush and it works but I must have forgotten to leave that clip in.
-Aish
@@retrohandhelds Thank You!
This is pretty sweet, faster than the OG Odin! FINALLY they're doing analog triggers. My main issues is with the analog sticks snapping and the black finish, other than that I'd buy this if I didn't already own an Odin.
I'm sure we're going to see an update on the sticks soon, but I'm glad we're finally getting decent PS2 and GameCube at this price.
-Aish
Yeah, man! Great review btw. ^_^@-Aish@@retrohandhelds
I suggested Anbernic run with an AMOLED screen because not only is it great for outside use, suffers from less burn-in, and also as you can see it's a beautiful screen.
I am new to the new age handheld gaming world. I really enjoyed your video. Did you copy your SD cards? I am looking for a handheld that I can play games such as midnight club and state of emergency with are on PS2. Before your video, I found myself stuck between the 405M, the 505, (and now the 556). Are these games easy to download on these handhelds? Also, do you have any recommendations for which one I should look more into? Thank you so much for your video.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
If you're going with anbernic the 556 is the way to go, it's currently their most powerful handheld. For games anbernic ships an SD card with the unit but I didn't get one, the games aren't hard to get on here Google is your friend 😉 once you have the game just put it in a folder and tell the emulator where it is.
Unfortunately I haven't tested those games so I can't confirm if they run or not but my educated guess is yes, but with some adjustments.
-Aish
Haha. I have a similar choice, but the rg556 is already on my nightstand. I didn't expect it to be so big. It seems to me that such a huge and high-quality screen is needed for good modern high-quality games, like on the Nintendo Switch. But games from the switch do not work well here, it is better to buy the switch itself, it will be even cheaper. And old games in low resolution and 4x3 aspect ratio look somehow ridiculous on such a screen. That's why the rg556 is sitting on the nightstand and I'm thinking of selling it while it's new. I still have the rg35xx h and I'm a little short on screen size and performance for Dreamcast games. So I'm leaning towards buying the rg405m.
This feels so close to being amazing. I’m gonna stick with my Rg505 but I’m thinking within the next year we’re going to have some absolutely amazing options
This year is already shaping up to be a good one. If your current handheld plays what you want then no real reason to upgrade yet.
-Aish
I'm curious. Other retro handheld reviewers are not being as kind as you were. They are not saying they wouldn't recommend it, but they seem to be having a few more issues than you did. Most of the other reviewers got their RG556 almost immediately upon launch or review units just before. Did you just get this review unit? If so, do you know if Ambernic has done some tweaking to get it to run better?
I've had mine for a week so I had more time then a lot of others, that's why I was able to go more in depth, I felt like I pointed out the issues but in general my experience was a positive one. Anbernic has been on vacation for the Chinese new year so they haven't done any updates.
-Aish
Beautiful screen, running some cool switch games also
Great review, Aish. Thanks for being so thorough.
You covered everything I could've asked for and touched on all of my concerns. I hope Anbernic addresses the stick issue. JoyCon style sticks are already somewhat of a compromise, especially with a handheld that can really use good sticks. I have faith that there will be an update. If not, it might still be possible for potential replacements that are better, but as you showed, they are not going to be very easy to access, and its likely a software based issue. These little hall sticks can be finicky. These devices continue to stay interesting for one reason or another, and I love it. Thanks again for the review.
Thank you for watching I'm glad I was helpful.
I'm going to try and switch the sticks out for some gulikit ones I have to see if it makes a difference, but I'm sure anbernic is going to do an update soon.
-Aish
Thanks for reviewing output video and streaming
Thank you for watching
Will It Play Crash Bandicoot The Wrath Of Cortex In Full Speed
I think Trails in the Sky FC should be the go to for every handheld...it's not graphically intensive or anything it's just awesome.
About the docking, does the device get charged while having video out through a dock to an external screen? I heard from another reviewer that the device can only use video out OR charged, not at the same time. And that's a deal breaker for me.
Minor correction. The Retroid Pocket 4 Pro model also supports USB C video out. Just not the base model.
I never said it didn't.
-Aish
Man it sounds great. I want the OLED screen, but I just can’t help but feel like the RP4 Pro is the better choice, even with sticks on bottom for a device that I imagine most people want to play GC/PS2 with.
For a pure power stand point the 4pro wins but I think the 556 more than holds its own, and seriously the visual experience is awesome.
-Aish
Rp4pro's screen is too small.i hope they'll release 5,5 inch version.
This is my current debate is either getting the 556 or the RP4 pro. The drawbacks I’ve seen with the RP4 pro is the screen size, no built in ergonomics, sticks at the bottom, only a 750p LCD screen using iPhone 6 screen technology that a lot of people are reporting has bad ghosting. The fan also drowns out a good bit of audio while playing more demanding PS2/GC. While the 556 is a bit larger with a beautiful 1080p oled screen and great ergonomics, the shell is a drawback and seems cheap and I hear the sticks don’t feel all the great and you’re getting a bit less power overall from the RP4 pro. Maybe I’ll just get both and decide from there lol
anyone who bought the rp4 pro should feel ripped off. thanks russ!
I have had audio lag on every emulation handheld I have ever used when I use wireless earbuds so for this not to have latency is pretty amazing.
I try to avoid using Bluetooth headphones for games in general, I don't like it and when it happens on a video it frustrates me even more.
But it may change depending on the headphone brand, I had some samsung ones that did it even with TH-cam videos, I used my jbuds and didn't feel any lag t speak of but I still want the headphone jack fixed because I prefer using that, im always amazed when cheap headphones work better then some expensive ones 😂.
-Aish
The hardware is good, but other emulators are not optimized yet. Hopefully, Anbernic will develop their own emulation system for each model in the future to improve performance.
Glad to see anbernic is improving on their usual design. They gotta het rod of those joysticks like you said though. Thanks aish
Yeah it's time to upgrade them.
-Aish
Looking forward to having mine! It really looks like an amazing device, not as amazing as this video though. Cheers!
I appreciate the kind words.
-Aish
Does the 556 come with the same game disk that my rg35xx-h has? and should i make a copy of the game disk that comes with this device? I'm old-school i'm 67yrs. old and i don't do downloads or emmalations just want to play with what the device comes with. I'm happy with my rg35xx-h just want the 556 because of the size of screen.
I didn't get an SD card this time so I'm not sure what all comes with it but it should come with more games then the 35xx did.
If you just want something ready out of the box it's not a bad set up, the pre-installed emulators are already configured and set up with the launcher.
-Aish
No preinstalled games ? That was the plus of choosing Anbernic for me. Getting games to play on the Retroid Flip emulators was a chore.
It comes with an SD card full of games but they didn't ship it out with my unit.
-Aish
What are the screen dimensions in mm? horizontal length, vertical length?
I bought the rp4 pro but now I want this one for the screen and handling :D
The struggle is real 😂
-Aish
@RetroHandHelds Aish my man! You say atvthe beginning it supports C to C charging. So does that mean it supports fast charging? Or just the ability to charge using a C to C cable? Ive found a 1.5A 5V USB-A - USB C charger does a very good job charging this device, but have been wary of plugging it into my fast charger. Could you shed some light on this? Thanks man!
It does support C to C charging but I haven't noticed a difference between using an A to C charger vs C to C, so my guess is that it just supports using c to c. Then again I haven't done any precise testing on that.
Well I paid 269 plus tax you say under 200 were are you going to find it for that price? I know retail from ambernic was like 189.99 that's still over 200 and shipping cost
Found it for under $160 today on AliExpress because there's a promo code. It also includes free shipping.
If you shop around you can usually find it around 160.
-Aish
Silly question - can you actually update Chrome on the RG556? The RG405V and RG505 cannot update, which I think is due to the T618. Hopefully this is a non-issue with the T820.
That's a good question I haven't tried, but what I have noticed with the apps that come with these devices is that you have to uninstall and redownload them to be able to update.
-Aish
@@retrohandhelds Thanks for getting back to me. Mind trying when you have a moment? I’ve tried to uninstall/reinstall on my RG405V/RG505 and Chrome just shows up as incompatible in the Play Store afterwards. I get these aren’t top tier, but it’s disappointing that something as fundamental to Android as Chrome is not supported on devices still being sold.
@@mjwaters1985I'm so sorry I took so long to get back to you, TH-cam doesn't do the best job at getting follow up replies to us.
I just updated using the playstore and no issues.
-Aish
So silly question does dynasty warriors 5 empires work on this. I see people doing reviews on this product but a lot of people use the same games. Or similar things I'm very happy with you doing FF12.
Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed the video, unfortunately I didn't test that game but I can add it to future videos. The reason you see a lot of the same games is because it helps set a benchmark for performance.
-Aish
This or a Powkiddy x55? I know it's not the same power but it's more than twice the price. Can you have Koko bezel shaders working fine with either of the 2?
I'm not sure about the bezels since I don't use them myself, but between the 2 the 556 is the better choice.
I'm just not a fan of the x55 in any way.
-Aish
Don't buy the PowkiddyX55. Better stuff like Saturn is broken as f. Tested 2 games and both froze after 25 minutes. Even GBA and PS1 games froze. Worst emulator (own a few) I've ever bought. Last the charge rate sucks.
@@jjwhy321y3 Just bought one for 55cad on AliExpress, let's hope it's not a fake seller. For the price I couln't resist.
@@SupaaManixmost likely a scam
I'm honestly glad that more people are aware of Nether SX2 instead of AetherSX2 since the creator of Aether threw a little hissy fit, took his ball and went home.
I'm glad the nether team is keeping it going, it sucks that it's partially closed source but I'm glad they're doing what they can.
-Aish
Well in the AetherSX2s defence , when Fheada are making Def Threats against you , your best reply is to refuse to continue.
Had he continued working on the emulator , HR wouldn't be taking. A stand
I'm using NetherSX2 not. AetherSX2 on my Odin 2 and honestly no problems, no issues all the games run fine and even better than AetherSX2 I'm using the latest version no ads.
Never had a problem whereas AetherSX2 did gave me some problemss like some of my games save files deleted by themselves and some games ran slowly I don't have any of these problems on NetherSX2 and I love it!
@@FantasyVisuals That's a misconception and the moderators of his Discord have already said that threats against him were something that he made up for drama.
@@nepaliprayasgurung2594 I'm glad NetherSX2 is a thing. I hope it goes full open source some day for other developers to improve upon it that wish to.
Wow that screen is amazing.
It really is, I wish I could have done it more justice.
-Aish
Hey Aish, Thank you for this great video!😃 A lot of reviewers are very surprised at how good the RG556 is! I wrote my opinion about the RG556 in Techdweeb's video, but he probably didn't understand what I was getting at😅 The Retrododo video of the R556 was a complete disaster, so they took it down immediately😅 I'm looking forward to my RG556 in blue transparent . The screen simply makes a difference (beautiful Amoled screen), if the controls, ergonomics, battery life and performance are up to PS2, it's a good handheld for my collection and I know I'll enjoy it! I have to say about the Retroid Pocket 4/Pro that, compared to the RG556, it simply doesn't offer what I value in a handheld! The screen is too small for me (many people also have extreme problems with their screens), not ergonomic (an extra handle costs $15 extra on top of $215 including shipping anyway!) and a host of other problems like non-working R2 triggers or SD card slots! The RP4 is a good handheld if everything works but if the only advantage is 20% more power than the RG556, no thanks! That's not what matters with a handheld and some people should finally understand that😅
Glad you enjoyed the video 😁 That's why I make a point to say power isn't everything, everyone has different things that they want out of a device. This is kind of like the steamdeck vs ROG ally discussion for me, yes I know the ally can do more but for a lot of people the deck is perfect. Same thing here, I love my 4pro and luckily I haven't had any issues with it, but I have to admit hands on the 556 gives it a good run.
-Aish
@@retrohandhelds So everyone has their own experiences!😅 My Steam Deck (LCD) has already caused me a few problems so far From getting stuck to suddenly not wanting to start games to not having a functioning Emu deck!😅 With my ROG Ally everything always works no matter what I do want to do with it😅 Even if my SD card slot doesn't work, that's a well-known problem and I don't care because I have a 2 TB SSD installed there! That was the only downside to my Ally! Overall, I like my ROG Ally much better than my Steam Deck, not because of the performance but because of the compatibility and reliability!😊
@@RGB-Gamer Just goes to show it's never one size fits all 😂
Will i be able to use the game disk thats in my rg35xx-h in the 556? I like the games that i collected in my favorites and would like to put that disk in the 556.
You should be able too, if it tried to format it just copy the games over.
-Aish
I ordered one myself... Seems tedious to tear down and reload emulator,bios etc. Can you just updated or tweak the base software to optimize performance?
You can just use the stock ones and be fine or get most of them from the playstore.
-Aish
How good is the screen vs the Steam Deck OLED in person
It holds up pretty well the decks screen is slightly warmer but this one looks sharper.
-Aish
Which is more powerful this or the Pimax portal? Rp4 or Pimax? I have a pimax, so I'm just trying to compare the power of the newer devices.
From just a performance standpoint the portal wins.
The chip in the portal is an overclocked snapdragon 865 and you also get better drivers.
-Aish
@@retrohandhelds Ok thx. Gameplay wise, they seem pretty close
I would say that the new s9fe to be the best bang for the price tbh with a bluetooth strech controller
Phones can be a great alternative for a lot of people, but personally after a while the telescopic controller just becomes a hassle to carry around, at that point might as well just have a dedicated device.
If someone just wants to play some RPGs or visual novels I think a phone is a great fit for that.
-Aish
@@retrohandhelds i ment the tab
so, what does xbox mode do if it doesn’t make the controls be recognized as an xbox controller?
It switches the face button layout from Nintendo style to Dreamcast/Xbox style. It also enables the analog triggers. Nintendo controllers for Switch don't have analogs while Xbox controllers do and that distinction matters to Anbernic for reasons I can't fathom.
My assumption is the anbernic just used their usual controller configuration for the ns mode and used an Xbox profile for the Xbox mode. Gamma spoofed the system into thinking you were using a Bluetooth controller, and that's how he got it to work with mobile games. Retroid and AYN do the same thing.
-Aish
I download them and they don't work... I don't know what to do anymore
Downloaded what ?
-Aish
@@retrohandhelds roms
I noticed you say you deleted ALL of what came on the device out of the box. Do you have a video that shows what you put on an Android Anbernic device when you get one?
I don't currently have one but I labeled every emulator I use in the game section and in the description of the video, for almost everything else I stick to RetroArch and duck station for ps1. Russ from retro game corps just updated his android guide and I highly recommend his video.
-Aish
Settings for Wii by any chance? I can't even get my Galaxy S20+ to run DonkeyKongCountryReturns as well as you had Sonic Colora running in this 556's much less powerful chip. I have to imagine sonic is a way more dema ding game over DKCR?
P.s. why bother with duckstation for PS1? Retroarch runs so well?
I just wish the cores for NDS were even remotely close to running roms as well as Drastic does. But Drastics remapping situation is a joke. It doesn't even recognize analog sticks for anything except a Pointer. I mapped my RG405M for vertical play NDS with ABXY &R Analog at the bottom, and it's so fun. Works great on super Peach, but anything more demanding, forget about it.
@@-Airwalk1616-sonic colors is easier to emulate, I haven't tested donkey Kong country on this yet so I'll have to get back to you on that. And for duckstation it's just for the upscale options.
-Aish
@AishRH so what's the name of that video? I don't know which one I'm looking for?
What SD storage did you have for the review?
Samsung Evo select 512 card that I use on most of my android handhelds.
-Aish
Does it come with a protective case?
They sell one but it's a horrible Gucci look a like.
-Aish
what would you choose between this and odin2?
Odin 2 crushes this in performance, but doesn't have an OLED screen and is twice the price, so it really depends on your use case and what systems you want to emulate.
@@retrohandhelds thanks for your immidiate answer. I am looking forward ps2 and gamecube emulation mostly, as I already own rg353v. So I am probably going to purchase odin 2. there are some thoughts for "ayaneo next lite" also.
@@antoniospoulis5285 of course! Good choice, it will handle everything you throw at it, Android wise.
does it not come with its own emulator? or do I have to download emulators to run games?
It comes with them pre-loaded, you just add your own games (unless you buy one with the micro sd card option, then it will come pre-loaded with games too)
The RG556 is the definitive Steaming Handheld. It destroys all the other options in this market!
At this price, I would agree. Its only problem is the switch-style analog sticks. I understand they’re cheap, and they had to keep the price down somehow, but even when the cardinal snapping is fixed, they’ll still be simply too short, especially since pocket-ability is no longer a consideration here. Stick extenders will be necessary for any semblance of fine control in modern games.
@@dauntless0711 Yeah I got to give it to you there. I suggested Anbernic use full sized controls like an Xbox Controller but I guess they got to appeal to the Asian set of hands too I guess. ¯\_( ͠° ͟ʖ °͠ )_/¯
Is it safe to say that this device is a better buy than the retroid 4 ? Especially if hou care about ergonomic, oled screen and if care less about emulating a few extra more powerful games that the retroid can play
Not safe to say at all. Better build quality and better performance >> cheap feeling plastic and less portable.
Depends on what you're after: Big, beautiful screen and great ergonomics for hours of gameplay, great battery life and the ability to play everything up through PS2 or smaller and more easily portable, more power and possibly getting a defective screen and trigger (said only because it's a fact they do have these issues, not a shot at it). Some folks like 'em small, some like 'em big, seems like you really can't go wrong here with either one.
I would say yes over the base rp4 but not necessarily over the pro, it really comes down to what you want out of your device.
-Aish
@@iamCifu better build quality? Are you serious, the launch of the rp4 was a disaster on reddit with trigger issues and screen issues ans Retroid releasing a statement apologizing and offering replacement triggers
Does it have Pokémon Dragonball team training ?
I didn't get a preconfigured SD card so unfortunately I don't know what games come with it.
-Aish
@@retrohandhelds is it possible to get that game on the anbernic rg556?
Would you recommend it for ps2 emulation?
Yes but maybe no, it depends on the type of PS2 games you want, it's going to do very well with RPGs and platformers but probably won't handle some racing games and the hard games like shadow of the colossus.
Let's say it wouldn't be my first choice but I wouldn't necessarily say no.
-Aish
Source on gammaos being worked on?
It has been mentioned multiple times on the discord that he got a review unit, no word yet on when it's happening or how the progress of any is going.
-Aish
@@retrohandhelds gotcha. I couldn't find anything on Google and that explains that. Thank you very much
If I order one of these with, let’s say the 256 GB card that claims it comes with 170 PS2 games etc…
Does it still come with all of the various different consoles like Game Boy and Game Boy Advance and super Nintendo and Sega genesis PlayStation and Sega Saturn and all that .. does it still come with all of those games and for the most part I wanna know does it work out the box?
Are these games all playable out the box without me having to download a new front end or what have you?
Thanks
Unfortunately I didn't get an SD card to test out, but they usually have a variety of systems and everything is preconfigured to work with the built in launcher.
Just keep in mind you won't get the absolute best performance with the pre-installed emulators, but if you just want a plug and play experience it'll work.
-Aish
NFS Most Wanted is just a tough one to run. My Loki Max has issues with it and so does the rp4pro. Good vid though.
Thank you.
Yeah unfortunately some GameCube games are just a little too demanding.
-Aish
The8 cardinal sticks Is a no go for me 😢
It's unfortunate that anbernic did address that, I switched the sticks out for regular switch sticks and it helps.
-Aish
@@retrohandhelds do you know if 353p/ps sticks are full 360 degrees a la 405m or 8 cardinal points ala 35xx-H? Thanks!
for switch gaming I think I will just pick up a switch!
That's the ideal move, but being able to run some of your lighter indie games on here is nice.
-Aish
Wtf you're the first dude to show it run wii and switch, ps vita. I know it won't be a full library, but that seems enough for the screen/price.
I cannot for the life of me decide either a steam deck, chipped base switch or this.
Not just price and power but actual portability and not looking like an ass if i pull it out in work.
I tried to be as thorough as possible, but I think the power of the t820 is being undersold.
It's not the top of the line but it's a very capable chip.
-Aish
If you have the funds definitely a steam deck OLED.
@@TheDarkguide no, i wont be spending that much..
160 for the rg556, around 200 for a regular chipped switch with a solid controller (not even going to bother with joycons), and a regular steam deck at 350 or so. (64 version with 512 sd).
Just not sure. It's driving me crazy.
@@CrumpetsNBiscuits Then spend bit more and get regular steam deck. Hardware and software are both going to be premium and will be supported for a long time. If you really want Android handheld go for the base version of Odin 2 for 300$.
@@TheDarkguide hmm yeah, reddit is filled to the brim with deckers.
I understand, I saw it has power plenty. But do you guys really pull out that big BBC on a bus, work and carry it around? Seems heavy and cumbersome.
Also it can run way better games yeah, but wont the fan go wild?
Also i'd use '3rd party' games, so the whole installation process might be annoying. (Doesn't seem that bad but sure harder than drag drop roms)
So now the TRUE QUESTION;
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro or Anbernic RG556?!?!😅
The rr4 pro is more powerful but this one has a great screen though less powerful...hard choice...I like rg556 better
No point in a nice screen if you can't use it to it's full potential. RP4pro >>>
The important question is what do you want to play and what aspects matter more to you.
-Aish
I wish this had a d900 in it at least. It'd be an easy choice at that point. The screen looks so good, and I really want to use it. From what you showed here, it had no problem playing Wii titles? My phone has a hard tune with some wii even and it's an s20+. Do you think it can play almost any wii game?
@AishRH seeing you playing the new Prince of Persia on here with like no stuttering... kinda blew my mind. How's that even possible?
Nice video, could you do a short running skyrim on it?
This doesn't have the power to emulate a game like that, unless there's been some major development on windows emulation that I don't know about.
-Aish
Skyrim of switch my man@@retrohandhelds
@@gabryelangel2673 even the switch version needs more power then what the t820 has.
@@AishRios But the snapdragon 732g runs and t820>732g
odin2 is the winner again on performance and battery life.
Of course but you're comparing a device that's almost twice as expensive.
-Aish
thank you for calling out c to c charging
too many devices from china only charge with a -> c charging
It's starting to get better, hopefully C to C just becomes the new standard for these devices.
-Aish
Oh you're one of those who never owned a genesis like Russ...okay fine...SAY-GUH. Sonic 2 in genesis will teach you how to say it right. SAY GUH...not SEG-UH. Gooooooooood daaaaaaaaammit!!
🤣🤣🤣
@@retrohandhelds LOL - cool channel - you guyz is killin' me though!!
@@charlessamuelpenn9374 well part of my childhood was in Mexico and Spanish is my first language, we always said it like I say it 😂 but to make the Sega folks happy I'll do better...
-Aish