Device comparison

Tapwave Zodiac vs. Anbernic RetroGame RS-97

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

Compare

With

Tapwave Zodiac
RetroGame RS-97

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.

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

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

Specs

BetterWorse

SpecTapwave ZodiacRetroGame RS-97
PriceUnknown$60
OSPalm OSRetroFW
Screen3.8 inch3.0 inch
Aspect ratio3:24:3
Resolution480 x 320320 x 480
PanelTFTIPS
ChipsetMotorola i.MX-1Ingenic JZ4760B
CPUARM920TXBurst
GPUATI Imageon W4200Vivante GC200
RAM10 MB SDRAM128 MB DDR2
Storage32 MB (Zodiac 1)Internal & External MicroSD
Battery1540 mAh1800 mAh BP-5L
Weight180 grams142 grams
Dimensions142 mm x 79 mm x 14 mm144 mm x 64 mm x 19 mm
BluetoothYesNo
Touch screenYesNo

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemTapwave ZodiacRetroGame RS-97
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

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

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the Tapwave Zodiac and the Anbernic RetroGame RS-97?
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 Tapwave Zodiac or the Anbernic RetroGame RS-97?
The Anbernic RetroGame RS-97 is the newer model, released in 2019.

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