Device comparison

Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 vs. Tapwave Zodiac

Compare specs, emulation support, community reviews, ownership, and play history.

Compare

With

RetroGame RS-97
Tapwave Zodiac

Shown to scale from each device’s real-world dimensions.

Quick verdict

Better screen
RetroGame RS-97
More portable
RetroGame RS-97
Newer model
RetroGame RS-97

Main differences

  • Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 has similar emulation coverage to Tapwave Zodiac.
  • Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 is roughly 18% smaller and 21% lighter.
  • Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 has a 60 Hz IPS screen, versus 60 Hz TFT on Tapwave Zodiac.
  • Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 runs RetroFW; Tapwave Zodiac runs Palm OS.
  • Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 is highlighted for Game Boy, NES, Genesis; Tapwave Zodiac is highlighted for Game Boy, NES.

Anbernic

RetroGame RS-97

Details
Price
$60
OS
RetroFW
Released
Jun 2019
Up to
Genesis
Screen
3.0 inch IPS
Weight
142 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Tapwave

Tapwave Zodiac

Details
Price
Unknown
OS
Palm OS
Released
Jan 2003
Up to
Genesis
Screen
3.8 inch TFT
Weight
180 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecRetroGame RS-97Tapwave Zodiac
Price$60Unknown
OSRetroFWPalm OS
Screen3.0 inch3.8 inch
Aspect ratio4:33:2
Resolution320 x 480480 x 320
PanelIPSTFT
ChipsetIngenic JZ4760BMotorola i.MX-1
CPUXBurstARM920T
GPUVivante GC200ATI Imageon W4200
RAM128 MB DDR210 MB SDRAM
StorageInternal & External MicroSD32 MB (Zodiac 1)
Battery1800 mAh BP-5L1540 mAh
Weight142 grams180 grams
Dimensions144 mm x 64 mm x 19 mm142 mm x 79 mm x 14 mm
BluetoothNoYes
Touch screenNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemRetroGame RS-97Tapwave Zodiac
Classic systems
Game Boy
NES
Genesis
GBA
SNES
PS1
Mid-generation systems
DS
N64
Dreamcast
PSP
Saturn
Sixth-generation systems
GameCube
Wii
PS2
Modern systems
3DS
Switch
Wii U
PS3

Emulation source notes

  • RetroGame RS-97 DS: Nintendo DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac DS: Nintendo DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RetroGame RS-97 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RetroGame RS-97 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • Tapwave Zodiac GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • RetroGame RS-97 N64: Nintendo 64: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac N64: Nintendo 64: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RetroGame RS-97 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Tapwave Zodiac NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • RetroGame RS-97 PS1: Sony Playstation: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Tapwave Zodiac PS1: Sony Playstation: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • RetroGame RS-97 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RetroGame RS-97 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RetroGame RS-97 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RetroGame RS-97 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RetroGame RS-97 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Tapwave Zodiac SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • RetroGame RS-97 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RetroGame RS-97 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac Saturn: Sega Saturn: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RetroGame RS-97 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RetroGame RS-97 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Tapwave Zodiac Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • RetroGame RS-97 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Tapwave Zodiac Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • RetroGame RS-97 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RetroGame RS-97 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • Tapwave Zodiac Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 and the Tapwave Zodiac?
Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 has similar emulation coverage to Tapwave Zodiac. Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 is roughly 18% smaller and 21% lighter. Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 has a 60 Hz IPS screen, versus 60 Hz TFT on Tapwave Zodiac. Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 runs RetroFW; Tapwave Zodiac runs Palm OS. Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 is highlighted for Game Boy, NES, Genesis; Tapwave Zodiac is highlighted for Game Boy, NES.
Which is newer, the Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 or the Tapwave Zodiac?
The Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 is the newer model, released in 2019.

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