A three-thousand-crown handheld handles PlayStation 2 games. First test of Anbernic RG 55G1

Anbernic has opted for a Qualcomm chip for the first time in its latest handheld, and the result is noteworthy. The RG 55G1 sells for 139 dollars (about 3 thousand crowns) in a configuration with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, powered by a Snapdragon G1 Gen 2. YouTuber ETA Prime has now put it through a series of emulators, and the numbers look better than the price would suggest.

Flawless GameCube

Game emulation from the GameCube console turned out best. Titles like Zelda: Wind Waker, Soul Calibur, or Resident Evil ran at 60 frames per second, even with a two- to threefold resolution increase – meaning the image is sharper than what you remember from the original console. The only stumbling block was Spider-Man 2, which did not reach a playable frame rate.

PlayStation 2 now requires compromises

For PlayStation 2 games via the NetherSX2 emulator, the situation is more varied. The handheld also managed Kingdom Hearts, Devil May Cry 3, and Gran Turismo 3 at 60 frames with one-and-a-half to twofold resolution. However, more demanding titles like Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal or God of War 2 dropped to 40 to 50 frames, and only at the original resolution. It’s playable, but not entirely smooth.

For less than one hundred and fifty dollars, it’s still decent performance and suggests where Anbernic could go when it opts for more powerful Snapdragon chips. However, it’s worth adding the obligatory note: emulation itself is legal, but you need to own the games for it. The handheld is sold directly through the manufacturer’s website.

Would a handheld console for old games appeal to you, or are you content with your phone?

Source: Notebookcheck, ETA Prime