Both the RG-406H and the RG-556 are horizontal Android 13 handhelds from Anbernic sharing the same UNISOC Tiger T820 chip, the same mid-range power tier, and the same PlayStation 2 emulation ceiling, so neither outperforms the other in raw capability. The $168 RG-406H versus the $175 RG-556 difference comes down to form factor size and feel rather than performance — making the choice largely a matter of which physical footprint suits your hands and preferred play style.
| RG-406H | RG-556 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $168 | $175 |
| Brand | Anbernic | Anbernic |
| Released | 2024 / 11 | 2024 / 03 |
| Type | Horizontal | Horizontal |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 13 |
| Performance | ||
| Chip (SoC) | UNISOC Tiger T820 | UNISOC Tiger T820 |
| CPU | Cortex-A76 / Cortex-A55 4x / 4x | Cortex-A76 / Cortex-A55 4x / 4x |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP4 | Mali-G57 MP4 |
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR4X | 8 GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | Internal 128 GB UFS 2.2, External MicroSD | Internal 128 GB UFS 2.2, External MicroSD |
| Cooling | Heatpipe Fan Ventilation cutouts | Heatpipe, Fan, Ventilation cutouts |
| Power tier | Mid-range | Mid-range |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 4.0 inch | 5.48 inch |
| Screen type | IPS Touchscreen | AMOLED Touchscreen |
| Resolution | 960 x 720 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Pixel density | 300 PPI | 400.53 PPI |
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 16:9 |
| Body & battery | ||
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 5500 mAh |
| Weight | 265 grams | 331 grams |
| Dimensions | 174 mm x 81 mm x 17.9 mm | 223 mm x 90 mm x 15-25 mm |
| Shell | Plastic | Plastic |
| Colors | Black, White, Transparent Purple | Transparent Blue, Black |
| Ports & connectivity | ||
| Wireless | WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 | WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Video out | USB-C video out Bottom facing | USB-C video out Bottom facing |
| Charging port | USB-C Bottom facing | USB-C Bottom facing |
| Audio out | 3.5mm Headphone Bottom facing | 3.5mm Headphone Bottom facing |
| Speakers | Dual Stereo Bottom facing | Dual Stereo Bottom facing |
| RG-406H | RG-556 | |
|---|---|---|
| Game Boy / Color | A | A |
| NES | A | A |
| Genesis / Mega Drive | A | A |
| Game Boy Advance | A | A |
| SNES | A | A |
| PlayStation 1 | A | A |
| Nintendo DS | A | A |
| Nintendo 64 | A | A |
| Dreamcast | A | A |
| PSP | A | A |
| Sega Saturn | A | A |
| GameCube | B+ | B+ |
| Nintendo 3DS | B | B |
| Nintendo Wii | B+ | B+ |
| PlayStation 2 | B | B |
| Switch | D- | D- |
| Wii U | F | F |
| PlayStation 3 | F | F |
Bottom line: The RG-406H is the cheaper option at $168.
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