The main difference between the RG-405M and the RG-556 is power.
The RG-556 plays everything up to Wii well, while the RG-405M tops out at PSP.
Other differences
- The RG-405M measures 162 x 73.6 x 15.8 mm and weighs 265 g; the RG-556 measures 223 x 90 x 15-25 mm and weighs 331 g.
- The RG-405M has a 4:3 screen and the RG-556 a 16:9 one, so different systems fill each.
- The RG-556 has an AMOLED screen with true blacks; the RG-405M uses an IPS panel.
- The RG-556 has a 5.48 inch screen against 4.0 inches on the RG-405M.
Which is better
Which fits in a pocket better?
RG-405MThe RG-405M (162 x 73.6 x 15.8 mm, 265 g). The RG-556 is 223 x 90 x 15-25 mm, 331 g. Neither fits a jeans pocket; think jacket pocket or bag.
Which is better for PS2 games, the RG-405M or the RG-556?
RG-556The RG-556. It scores 74 out of 100 for PS2 against 50.
Which costs less?
TieThey launched at about the same price: $168 and $175.
Which is better for GBA games?
RG-556The RG-556. GBA games fill 67% of the RG-556's screen at 6x with even pixels, against 50% of the RG-405M's screen at 2x.
Which has the bigger battery?
RG-556The RG-556, at 5,500 mAh against 4,500 mAh. That is capacity only: the chips differ, and the heavier the system you play, the faster either one drains.
Side by side
| RG-405M | RG-556 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $168 | $175 |
| Released | Mar 2023 | Mar 2024 |
| Plays well up to | PSP | Wii |
| Shape | Horizontal | Horizontal |
| Software | Android | Android |
| Chip | UNISOC Tiger T618 | UNISOC Tiger T820 |
| Memory | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Screen | 4.0 inch IPS 4:3 | 5.48 inch AMOLED 16:9 |
| Resolution | 640 x 480 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh | 5,500 mAh |
| Weight | 265 g | 331 g |
| Size | 162 x 73.6 x 15.8 mm | 223 x 90 x 15-25 mm |
| Analog sticks | Double, asymmetrical | Double, asymmetrical |
| Hall effect sticks | Yes | Yes |
| L2 and R2 | Yes, side by side | Yes, stacked |
| Analog triggers | ? | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Video out | No | Yes |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes |
Green marks the better value where one is clearly better. Prices are launch prices.
Emulation
- RG-405MRG-556
- Game Boy
- NES
- Genesis
- GBA
- SNES
- PS1
- DS
- N64
- Dreamcast
- PSP
- Saturn
- GameCube
- 3DS
- Wii
- PS2
- Switch
100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues.
Full details
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More comparisons
Why this pair: buyers weigh these two against each other. 43 comments by 35 different people compare them in community discussions, and 2 post titles name both. Specs, emulation scores and launch prices from the retrocatalog.com handheld database.