The main difference between the RG Cube and the RG-556 is the screen shape.
The RG Cube has a 1:1 screen and the RG-556 a 16:9 one, so different systems fill each.
Other differences
- The RG-556 has an AMOLED screen with true blacks; the RG Cube uses an IPS panel.
- The RG-556 has a 5.48 inch screen against 3.95 inches on the RG Cube.
Which is better
Which fits in a pocket better?
RG CubeThe RG Cube (153 x 86.3 x 18 mm, 256 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 Cube or the RG-556?
TieAbout the same: 76 and 74 out of 100.
Which costs less?
TieThey launched at about the same price: $170 and $175.
Which is better for GBA games?
TieBoth run GBA at full speed and fill about the same share of the screen with even pixels: 67% of the RG Cube's screen at 3x, 67% of the RG-556's screen at 6x.
Which has the bigger battery?
TieAbout the same: 5,200 and 5,500 mAh.
Side by side
| RG Cube | RG-556 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $170 | $175 |
| Released | Jun 2024 | Mar 2024 |
| Plays well up to | Wii | Wii |
| Shape | Horizontal | Horizontal |
| Software | Android | Android |
| Chip | UNISOC Tiger T820 | UNISOC Tiger T820 |
| Memory | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Screen | 3.95 inch IPS 1:1 | 5.48 inch AMOLED 16:9 |
| Resolution | 720 x 720 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Battery | 5,200 mAh | 5,500 mAh |
| Weight | 256 g | 331 g |
| Size | 153 x 86.3 x 18 mm | 223 x 90 x 15-25 mm |
| Analog sticks | Double, asymmetrical | Double, asymmetrical |
| Hall effect sticks | Yes | Yes |
| L2 and R2 | Yes, stacked | Yes, stacked |
| Analog triggers | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Video out | Yes | Yes |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes |
Green marks the better value where one is clearly better. Prices are launch prices.
Emulation
- RG CubeRG-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. 89 comments by 50 different people compare them in community discussions, and 13 post titles name both. Specs, emulation scores and launch prices from the retrocatalog.com handheld database.