Device comparison

Anbernic RG552 vs. Tapwave Zodiac

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

Compare

With

RG552
Tapwave Zodiac

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

Quick verdict

Best value
RG552
Better screen
RG552
More portable
Tapwave Zodiac
Newer model
RG552

Main differences

  • Anbernic RG552 has stronger listed emulation coverage.
  • Anbernic RG552 is about $99 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • Tapwave Zodiac is roughly 34% smaller and 50% lighter.
  • Anbernic RG552 has a 60 Hz IPS screen, versus 60 Hz TFT on Tapwave Zodiac.
  • Anbernic RG552 runs Android 11; Tapwave Zodiac runs Palm OS.
  • Anbernic RG552 is highlighted for DS, N64, PS1, Genesis; Tapwave Zodiac is highlighted for Game Boy, NES.

Tapwave

Tapwave Zodiac

Details
Price
$299
OS
Palm OS
Released
Jan 2003
Up to
Genesis
Screen
3.8 inch TFT
Weight
180 grams

No reviews yet

1 collector

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecRG552Tapwave Zodiac
Price$200$299
OSAndroid 11Palm OS
Screen5.36 inch3.8 inch
Aspect ratio5:33:2
Resolution1920 x 1152480 x 320
PanelIPSTFT
ChipsetRockChip RK3399Motorola i.MX-1
CPUCortex-A72 / Cortex-A53ARM920T
GPUMali-T860 MP4ATI Imageon W4200
RAM4 GB LPDDR410 MB SDRAM
StorageInternal 64 GB eMMC, Dual External MicroSD32 MB (Zodiac 1)
Battery6400 mAh1540 mAh
Weight362 grams180 grams
Dimensions198.1 mm x 85.6 mm x 20 mm142 mm x 79 mm x 14 mm
Video outYesNo
BluetoothNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemRG552Tapwave 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

  • RG552 DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Tapwave Zodiac DS: Nintendo DS: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RG552 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
  • RG552 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without 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
  • RG552 N64: Nintendo 64: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Tapwave Zodiac N64: Nintendo 64: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RG552 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
  • RG552 PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • Tapwave Zodiac PS1: Sony Playstation: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • RG552 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcnzFvZ4lZE
  • Tapwave Zodiac PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RG552 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
  • RG552 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip God of War Chains of Olympus (at 2x resolution), running around 22-30 FPS: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/838733031716028416/911979991623929917/QQ_605bc4f347e3bebdea22415b8a13776b1637493713.mp4
  • Tapwave Zodiac PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RG552 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • Tapwave Zodiac Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RG552 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 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
  • RG552 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
  • RG552 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • Tapwave Zodiac Saturn: Sega Saturn: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RG552 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
  • RG552 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
  • RG552 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
  • RG552 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • Tapwave Zodiac GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RG552 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
  • 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 RG552 and the Tapwave Zodiac?
Anbernic RG552 has stronger listed emulation coverage. Anbernic RG552 is about $99 cheaper based on catalog pricing. Tapwave Zodiac is roughly 34% smaller and 50% lighter. Anbernic RG552 has a 60 Hz IPS screen, versus 60 Hz TFT on Tapwave Zodiac. Anbernic RG552 runs Android 11; Tapwave Zodiac runs Palm OS. Anbernic RG552 is highlighted for DS, N64, PS1, Genesis; Tapwave Zodiac is highlighted for Game Boy, NES.
Which is cheaper, the Anbernic RG552 or the Tapwave Zodiac?
The Anbernic RG552 is the cheaper of the two at around $200, roughly $99 less than the Tapwave Zodiac based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the Anbernic RG552 or the Tapwave Zodiac?
The Anbernic RG552 is the newer model, released in 2021.
Which is more popular on retroshelf, the Anbernic RG552 or the Tapwave Zodiac?
The Anbernic RG552 is in more collections on retroshelf right now, with 1 collector tracking it.

Compare RG552 with