The Anbernic RG552 is a
dual-boot Linux
Linux ( ) is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an kernel (operating system), operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically package manager, pac ...
and
Android-based
handheld game console
A handheld game console, or simply handheld console, is a small, portable self-contained video game console with a built-in screen, game controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are smaller than home video game consoles and contain the con ...
created in China by
Anbernic
Anbernic is a Chinese Handheld game console, handheld gaming console company founded in 2017 in Shenzhen by Shenzhen YangLiMing Electronic Technology Co.
The company is known for producing devices that emulate video game systems from the History ...
. A
retrogaming emulation console, it is the successor to the
RG351, and is a larger console in general, about the size of a
Nintendo Switch Lite.
It has more powerful hardware and increased screen size in a 5:3
aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a geometry, geometric shape is the ratio of its sizes in different dimensions. For example, the aspect ratio of a rectangle is the ratio of its longer side to its shorter side—the ratio of width to height, when the rectangl ...
. Critics praised the system for its build quality, but criticized its price to performance ratio, saying that it would likely be eclipsed by other systems with increased emulation capabilities such as the
Ayn Odin and
Retroid Pocket 2+.
Specifications
The system measures and weighs about . It has a 5.36-inch HD
touchscreen
A touchscreen (or touch screen) is a type of electronic visual display, display that can detect touch input from a user. It consists of both an input device (a touch panel) and an output device (a visual display). The touch panel is typically l ...
with a resolution of 1920x1152, giving it a 5:3 aspect ratio. It is the first portable Anbernic console to have an active
heat sink
A heat sink (also commonly spelled heatsink) is a passive heat exchanger that transfers the heat generated by an electronic or a mechanical device to a fluid medium, often air or a liquid coolant, where it is thermal management (electronics), ...
and fan.
It can boot into the Linux-based Batocera interface or Android, which also has access to the
Google Play
Google Play, also known as the Google Play Store, Play Store, or sometimes the Android Store (and was formerly Android Market), is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for certifie ...
store to download games. It is also capable of
Stadia streaming.
The system has about 4 hours of battery life.
Reception
Gerald Lynch of ''
TechRadar
''TechRadar'' is an online technology publication owned by Future plc. It has editorial teams in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia that provide news and reviews of tech products and gadgets. It was launched in 2008 and expanded t ...
'' rated the system 4/5 stars, praising it for its performance boost over its predecessor. He called it "a near-complete gateway to all sorts of gaming experiences", and stated that its build quality rivaled Nintendo products. However, he criticized the system for bundling paid emulators without licenses and called its lack of Bluetooth "frustrating".
Damian McFerran of ''
Nintendo Life
Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British digital media company based in London. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and ot ...
'' praised its screen as "superb" but called the battery life low. He also criticized the lack of 5 GHz
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for Wireless LAN, local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by ...
, which prevented the smoothest experience while streaming.
Wesley Copeland of ''
Heavy'' called it a "premium product" with the specifications "more than enough to impress", commenting that Android was "by far the better operating system choice" on the console, saying that Linux needed "some meaty patches".
References
{{Handheld game consoles
Anbernic consoles
Retro-oriented video game consoles
ARM-based video game consoles
Android-based handheld game consoles
Computer-related introductions in 2022
Linux-based handheld game consoles
Handheld game consoles