Device comparison

Tiger Telematics Gizmondo vs. Tapwave Zodiac

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

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Gizmondo
Tapwave Zodiac

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

Quick verdict

Best value
Gizmondo
More portable
Gizmondo
Newer model
Gizmondo

Main differences

  • Tiger Telematics Gizmondo has similar emulation coverage to Tapwave Zodiac.
  • Tiger Telematics Gizmondo is about $70 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • Tapwave Zodiac is roughly 1% smaller and 16% lighter.
  • Tiger Telematics Gizmondo runs Windows CE; Tapwave Zodiac runs Palm OS.

Tiger Telematics

Gizmondo

Details
Price
$229
OS
Windows CE
Released
Mar 2005
Up to
Genesis
Screen
2.8 inch TFT
Weight
155 grams

No reviews yet

0 collectors

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

SpecGizmondoTapwave Zodiac
Price$229$299
OSWindows CEPalm OS
Screen2.8 inch3.8 inch
Aspect ratio4:33:2
Resolution320 x 240480 x 320
ChipsetSamsung S3C2440Motorola i.MX-1
GPUNvidia GoForce 3D 4500ATI Imageon W4200
RAM64 MB SDRAM10 MB SDRAM
StorageInternal 128 MB NAND & External SD32 MB (Zodiac 1)
BatteryLi-ion1540 mAh
Weight155 grams180 grams
Dimensions138 mm x 82 mm x 32 mm142 mm x 79 mm x 14 mm
Touch screenNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemGizmondoTapwave 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

  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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
  • Gizmondo 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 Tiger Telematics Gizmondo and the Tapwave Zodiac?
Tiger Telematics Gizmondo has similar emulation coverage to Tapwave Zodiac. Tiger Telematics Gizmondo is about $70 cheaper based on catalog pricing. Tapwave Zodiac is roughly 1% smaller and 16% lighter. Tiger Telematics Gizmondo runs Windows CE; Tapwave Zodiac runs Palm OS.
Which is cheaper, the Tiger Telematics Gizmondo or the Tapwave Zodiac?
The Tiger Telematics Gizmondo is the cheaper of the two at around $229, roughly $70 less than the Tapwave Zodiac based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the Tiger Telematics Gizmondo or the Tapwave Zodiac?
The Tiger Telematics Gizmondo is the newer model, released in 2005.
Which is more popular on retroshelf, the Tiger Telematics Gizmondo or the Tapwave Zodiac?
The Tapwave Zodiac is in more collections on retroshelf right now, with 1 collector tracking it.

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