The Retro Handhelds scene is full of devices that didn’t quite ascend to the level of “Fan Favorite”, and failing to achieve this regularly means that a device slips out of the community’s consciousness. Frequently handhelds that weren’t that bad, but which were badly priced or which needed a software fix, are forgotten. Sometimes a use can be found for them, breathing life into a forgotten gem. Maybe in at least one case, some potential e-waste can be reborn as a dedicated game streaming device.

I recently got an Anbernic RG556 as part of a trade.  While it has a number of strengths – that screen for example – it didn’t end up being my first choice for any retro gaming system. In almost every case, despite having exactly the same games loaded, I would pick up my Odin 2 instead.

I periodically get into game streaming because I don’t have a gaming PC, and it was during one of these forays that I realized I was reaching for the RG556 more than my Odin 2. That got me wondering: Is this little device the best budget device for game streaming?

The Original Streamer: The Logitech G Cloud

The OG of game streaming devices was the Logitech G Cloud. I used to have one and initially loved it, especially for playing 5th-generation consoles like PS1 and N64. It was comfortable, had a great screen, and phenomenal battery. However, just as quickly as I fell in love, I then fell out of love.

I tried to play the PSP game Cave Story, (for GOTM in March 2024) on the G Cloud, and found the D-pad experience terrible. The initial launch price was also insane, and now, almost 2 ½ years after launch, it still sits at nearly $260 according to the RH weekly deals page. In 2025, at the time of writing, that price to performance is terrible value.

What Makes a Good Streaming Device?

As part of my preparation for this article, I made a list of the factors that make a good streaming handheld. In order to have access to the highest number of streaming platforms (both local and cloud streaming) I device that the device would need to run Android, ideally a modern version of Android. The screen would need to be 16:9 to accommodate modern games, and the device would be analog stick-focused.

The CPU wouldn’t need to be important, since nothing is running on the device itself, and the battery usage for streaming is tiny compared to emulation. All that matters would be how the device feels in a gamer’s hand, how it controls, and whether it has reliable Wi-Fi. I don’t think Wi-Fi 6 is required, as long as the Wi-Fi 5 chip in the handheld provides consistent download speeds.

Why the RG556

Playing current GOTM game Threads of Fate

In short: The screen, the ergonomics, and the price.

Before owning the RG556, I hadn’t used a 1080p OLED handheld before, and the screen really does live up to the hype. The current game I’m playing on Game Pass is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Walking around The Vatican on the RG556 compared to other devices is night and day. It’s not enough to make me go full OLED convert, but it was the main driving force. I’m used to streaming on a larger screen than the 556, but even so, it was the screen that brought me back to it.

The device is remarkably comfy too. While stick up top is a good configuration for game streaming, I don’t usually enjoy playing D-pad games on high-stick devices. The RG556 joins the ROG Ally as the only device that provides a completely comfortable lower D-pad experience.

It’s not a perfect experience, one of the disadvantages of owning an Odin 2 is it makes you really intolerant of Switch-style joysticks. Even within the world of switch-style sticks, the 556’s default setup, with the cardinal snapping, is just plain bad, and the use of the 556 is fully dependent on the Gamma fix for the sticks being applied.

Comparison to Other Options

Local Steam Link Streaming Looks Amazing

Android seems to sit in 4 categories to me:

1. The Premium Tier: Devices like the AYN Odin 2 Portal or the AyaNeo Pocket Evo. Incredible deceives with huge beautiful screens and prices to match.
2. The Upper Middle-Class Tier: devices like the Aya Odin 2
3. The Middle Class Tier: Devices like the RG556, and the Retroid Pocket 5
4. The Budget Android Tier: Anything around $100 or less, likely to be mid-tier Android handhelds from a previous generation with a screen running at 720p or lower

Comparing the tiers, I know the Premium Tier is well out of my personal price range, I know they would be a best-in-class experience, but they sell for a price I’m not willing to pay. The Upper Middle-Class Tier is the tier I would choose to spend my hard-earned cash in, and I personally think the AYN Odin 2 is the best retro Handheld released to date.

However, if we were to only consider game streaming, it would be a $299 device (plus shipping) which is double the AliExpress price of the RG556. I’d also avoid the budget tier. While these devices will be good value, I don’t think I would enjoy playing long-term on a smaller screen with slower Wi-Fi speeds.

In the $200 range, I think the 556’s only contender worth mentioning is the Retroid Pocket 5. While I’ve never held one myself, the impression I get from other members of RH is that the RP5 is a truly fantastic device with a better screen than the 556. But it’s also one without perfect analog stick placement which means it would get a little hand-crampy when streaming games for more than an hour. This means that, even if we were to increase the value under consideration to $220, I think the RP5 would still end up being the Olympic sprinter who couldn’t run distance, compared to the sturdy marathon runner which was the RG566.

The RG556 isn’t a perfect device, it might not even be the best emulation device available, but I genuinely think it’s the best game streamer in its price range, and if that means I pick an unloved device off the shelf from time to time, I’m happy.

Anbernic RG556 at AliExpress

What did you think of this article? Let us know in the comments below, and chat with us in our Discord!

This page may contain affiliate links, by purchasing something through a link, Retro Handhelds may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you.