Before looking at specific devices, you must understand SoCs (System on a Chip). EmuELEC does not support "brands" (like Xiaomi or Tanix) directly; it supports the underlying CPU/GPU combo.
The vast majority of supported devices use Amlogic processors. EmuELEC has historically aligned with the Linux kernel patches developed by the CoreELEC team, which focuses almost exclusively on Amlogic chips.
As of the latest version (EmuELEC 4.x and the experimental 5.x branches), the supported SoCs fall into three tiers:
Crucial Warning: EmuELEC does not support Rockchip devices (like the RK3328 or RK3399 found on some Odroids and Firefly boards) or Allwinner chips (found on most Orange Pi boards). If you buy an Orange Pi 5 hoping to run EmuELEC, you will be disappointed. You need Batocera or JELOS for those. emuelec supported platforms
The foundational rule of EmuELEC is strict Amlogic SoC compatibility. While forks exist for Rockchip (RK3326/RK3566) under names like "EmuELEC-RK," the official mainline project (maintained by Shanti/sx05re) exclusively supports Amlogic.
Why Amlogic?
The Exception: Community builds exist for Allwinner H6 (e.g., Orange Pi 3 LTS), but these are not official and lack GPU acceleration stability. Before looking at specific devices, you must understand
EmuELEC is a retro-gaming operating system specifically designed for
-based devices, including many popular Android TV boxes and select open-source handhelds. Supported Hardware Platforms EmuELEC's primary focus is on Amlogic System-on-Chips (SoCs) . Key supported platforms include: Android TV Boxes : Many "generic" budget boxes using S905 series , etc.) and chips are supported. Official Handheld Devices : Supported Rockchip-based handhelds include: Odroid-Go Advance (OGA) Odroid-Go Super (OGS) GameForce CHI SBCs (Single Board Computers)
: While primarily for Amlogic, specific versions have been adapted for the Raspberry Pi 4 in certain guides. Clone Handhelds Crucial Warning: EmuELEC does not support Rockchip devices
: Firmware updates and community versions often exist for devices like the Emulated Systems (Console Support) How to Add Games to EmuELEC - Video Guide - EEMC501 19 Apr 2021 —
The retro-gaming landscape is changing. The EmuELEC team has officially split development into two branches:
Unlike a PC, EmuELEC does not use a traditional BIOS. It relies on a multi-stage boot:
If your TV box has a locked bootloader (e.g., newer Xiaomi Mi Box S), EmuELEC will never boot. You cannot run EmuELEC on any device with:
These devices are stable but will not receive new feature cores (e.g., PPSSPP standalone updates stop at v1.14).