AmberELEC

What AmberELEC is

AmberELEC is free, open source firmware developed for Anbernic RG351P/M/V/MP and RG552 handhelds. Its 64-bit build is optimized for those devices, and the project provides preconfigured defaults intended to make starting a game straightforward. The firmware includes RetroArch and multiple emulator cores. Supported emulators also have native RetroAchievements support, while RetroArch Netplay can connect players using the same AmberELEC version, ROM, and core.

An integrated scraper can retrieve game images, videos, manuals, maps, and metadata. It needs Wi-Fi and a ScreenScraper account. Users can install and update community-made themes through the package manager. The exFAT games partition can be accessed from Linux, Windows, and macOS, and project guides describe importing LaunchBox playlists, games, metadata, and media.

An rclone-based tool backs up and restores saves, states, screenshots, and device backups. Its initial setup requires command-line use and cloud authorization from a computer. The download page lists stable builds for the RG351P/M, RG351V, RG351MP, and RG552, and users need to select the build for their handheld. Rewind is disabled by default because enabling it can significantly slow games. The project directs general questions and support requests to its Discord community and asks users to submit bug reports and feature requests through issue templates.

Who it suits

AmberELEC suits owners of the supported Anbernic handhelds who want open source firmware with RetroArch and multiple emulator cores. It is also a fit for users who want game scraping, themes, RetroAchievements, or Netplay and are comfortable following device-specific setup instructions.

Limits

AmberELEC is free for the supported handhelds, with stable downloads listed for the RG351P/M, RG351V, RG351MP, and RG552. Scraping requires Wi-Fi and a ScreenScraper account; rewind is disabled by default because it can significantly slow games.

Getting started

1. Visit the AmberELEC website.
2. Check that your handheld is one of the supported models.
3. Download the stable build matching your device.
4. Install the firmware on the handheld.
5. Connect to Wi-Fi and use a ScreenScraper account if you want to scrape game information.

Verdict

Choose AmberELEC if you own a supported Anbernic handheld and want free firmware with RetroArch, emulator cores, and device-focused defaults. Look elsewhere if you need firmware for another device, or if you want cloud backup setup without command-line steps.