As highlighted in the latest RH Weekly, hero developer TheGammaSqueeze is back with the new GammaOS Next, released for the Unisoc T820 lineup of Anbernic handhelds. This release marks the first custom firmware that I’m aware of for this chipset.
These devices have always been decidedly fine, but I’ve never really cared for the stock Anbernic Android experience to begin with, and to be honest, it feels like something of a compromise when running on these devices. A stop-gap solution that will get you where you need to go, but it’s not the most pleasant journey or driving experience in the world. Enter GammaOS.
What’s the Deal With GammaOS?
For those not familiar, the T820 lineup includes the RG556, RGCube, RG406V, and RG406H. These are the handhelds that a tier higher in power and cost vs the XX lineup of Anbernic’s fitted with the H700 chipset. This update is for the devices that are running Android and have the power to put you comfortably into PS2 and GameCube territory.
The Anbernic T820 Family – (L2R – RG406H, RG406V, and the RG Cube)
You might ask yourself, “Why should I bother? GammaOS is Android, and I’m already running Android!”. That’s a fair question. GammaOS is based on LineageOS, an alternative “clean” build of Android for mobile phones. Let’s say you bought the latest and greatest $1,000 Samsung phone. The hardware has everything you’ve ever wanted, but the software experience feels bloated and leaves you wanting. Enter LineageOS. A stripped-down Android OS free of bloatware and unwanted extras that drag down your device.
Those expecting this update to open up new levels of performance or emulation not yet seen on these devices may be disappointed. As the dev points out themselves, “For the T820 release, please do not expect any raw performance improvements from stock firmware. This is a quality of life update.” Improvements may come with time, but for now, this is about making the firmware and OS feel more at home and natural on these devices. In that respect, GammaOS knocks it out of the park.
It’s currently only available to download for Patreon subscribers, so hit the button below to support one of our favorite developers and get your hands on GammaOS Next.
Installing the New OS
After flashing the bootloader, you’re free to write the new CFW
Gamma has been kind enough to include the video below along with the OS release. The steps involved are a bit more complicated than your standard “write card .img and insert”, but there’s nothing here that should give you much trouble.
Just follow along with the steps, and you should be in good shape. The process is limited to Windows for the time being, so plan on having a Windows PC ready for the process if you want to take the dive.
GammaOS Next: What’s New
Apps Screen in Daijisho on GammaOS Next
Ok, so if we’ve established that this is mostly a quality-of-life upgrade over the stock offering, why should you consider it for your handheld? Well, if you’ve ever used an Android Anbernic device with the stock OS as delivered, you’d probably be able to answer that.
For all of its skills at creating and releasing a constant flurry of new emulation hardware, manufacturers have never quite kept pace on the software end. Things have shown marked improvement over the last couple of years, with Anbernic’s stock Linux OS going from nearly unusable experiences that hampered its own hardware to a legit option for those devices. Android, on the other hand, is a different story.
The BLOAT of stock Anbernic Android
The custom Android ROM included on the T820 lineup is bloated, slow, possibly obtained under questionable licensing practices, and includes a whole slew of unofficial or pirated app builds. Every time I’ve ever bought or received one of these handhelds, the first order of business is to clean house and get the Android build as stripped down as possible. From there, I can load up my Obtanium lists and download the software that is best for the job, or even better, from official sources.
While it very well might be user error, I’ve had a terrible time with RetroArch on the stock installs of these devices. Finding the intended version where things aren’t inexplicably crashing for some reason is always a headache. I can never remember if I’m supposed to be using the Play Store version for this device, or if it’s the latest nightly. Maybe the stable? GammaOS takes small personal annoyances like this and just delivers what works best.
GammaOS Next preconfigures the best ways to play for you
As someone who doubts their own knowledge in the space constantly, it’s comforting to have someone who knows better than I do provide me with what will work best. I know that I’m using this device with the emulators and configurations best suited for this hardware. Additional quality of life improvements include features like universal button remapping, precise analog calibration, and other great features that you can read about on the GammaOS Next Release Page.
Is it Worth the Upgrade?
I don’t know what it is, or how to fully express it on the page, but there is an element of feel to this hobby. And I’m not only talking about ergonomics. A device with a janky OS experience turns me off, regardless of whether it’s the most comfortable thing I’ve ever held.
The entire package needs to make sense in my head for my brain to fully sign off. Whatever level of weird crazy that is, I’ve got it. Thankfully, GammaOS Next just feels right. Whether it’s the natural flow of navigating using the device controls or just something more ethereal, it’s there.
The Anbernic T820 lineup has always sat in a strange place where I didn’t really know what to do with them. Like so many other handhelds, there wasn’t anything wrong with them, quite the opposite, actually, but they were just never devices that I reached for to pick up off the shelf. Whatever disconnect inside me that occurs when I think about picking up a phone and a telescopic controller instead of a gaming handheld, the same disconnect occurred when reaching for something like the 406V under stock circumstances.
The addition of GammaOS to the T820 lineup takes these devices from handhelds that I think positively of as I watch them gather dust, to something I will actually reach for over other devices. For whatever reason, I was turned off by how using the T820 family felt. I know that something like Daijisho can easily be made the default Android loader on the stock firmware to provide a similar experience, but it’s not the same. Now, with GammaOS Next, the best way I can explain it is that it just feels right.
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