Anbernic RG557: Amazing PS2 and Wii U Emulation Performance

Key Takeaways

1. Anbernic will announce the RG557’s release date and price next week, with rumors suggesting a price around $205.
2. The RG557 is expected to have a 17% price increase compared to the previous model, RG556, which is currently priced at $229.99 on Amazon.
3. Anbernic released a 14-minute unboxing video showcasing the RG557’s Android 14 software and internal cooling system.
4. Retro Handhelds provided early impressions, noting quality control issues with the translucent model compared to the white one.
5. The RG557 is reported to smoothly run Wii U titles and emulate PlayStation 2 games without slowdowns, thanks to its MediaTek Dimensity 8300 and 12 GB of RAM.

It looks like Anbernic is going to hold off until next week to announce when it will begin selling the RG557 and the price. Recent rumors suggest that the device will be priced around $205, which is a 17% and a $30 increase compared to the RG556 that Anbernic launched last year (currently priced at $229.99 on Amazon).

Unboxing Video Released

In the meantime, Anbernic has shared a comprehensive unboxing video that lasts over 14 minutes. The video, which is embedded below, showcases the Android 14 software experience by default along with some customization options. Additionally, Anbernic gives a glimpse into the handheld’s internals, including its compact active cooling system.

Early Impressions from Retro Handhelds

On a different note, Retro Handhelds has uploaded an early impressions video of the RG557, showing it in its two launch colors. The site reports that the translucent version has more quality control issues compared to the white one. Specifically, the L2 and R2 shoulder buttons on the translucent model have differing tensions, unlike its white sibling.

It’s important to highlight that these are pre-production models. However, there have been cases before where early retail units faced the same quality control problems as those reviewed. Regardless, Retro Handhelds noted no significant snapping with either joystick, and the fans do not need to activate when emulating even demanding 3D games. The MediaTek Dimensity 8300 and 12 GB of RAM seem to allow the RG557 to run Wii U titles smoothly. Plus, Retro Handhelds mentions that their units can emulate PlayStation 2 games like God of War II at 3.5 times the native resolution without any noticeable slowdowns. For more information, check out the video below.

Conclusion

The developments from Anbernic and Retro Handhelds are intriguing, and it will be interesting to see how the RG557 performs once it officially hits the market.

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