The Anbernic RG DS Plus has some new competition, but that isn’t stopping Anbernic from moving forward with its regularly scheduled programming. This morning, the company released its “Official Unboxing” video, complete with a bit of gameplay, while revealing its full spec sheet.
This video is a bit longer than some of Anbernic’s other videos, as it tries to condense all of the necessary information into one place. In the box, the RG DS Plus will include the handheld itself along with two tempered glass screen protectors, a Quick Start Guide, USB-C charging cable, and even a lanyard.
From there, the video goes on to show off the different colors for the RG DS Plus, while providing a bit of focus on the hinge. Apparently the hinge on the RG DS Plus features a “stepless” design, meaning that you’ll be able to life the top-screen and use it from any angle.
Anbernic has also seemingly improved the speaker quality, using “Class-K amplifiers” to provide “clearer sound.” And there’s even a microphone placed right in the middle of the hinge, matching the same location as the Nintendo DS Lite, DSi, and DSi XL.
Anbernic RG DS Plus Specs
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Hardware | |
| CPU | RockChip RK3568 |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EE |
| RAM | 1GB |
| Display | |
| Main | |
| Screen Size | 4.3-inch |
| Resolution | 1024 x 768 |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| PPI | 297.67 |
| Secondary | |
| Screen Size | 4.3-inch |
| Resolution | 1024 x 768 |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 |
| PPI | 297.67 |
| Storage | |
| Internal Storage | ❌ |
| External Storage | 2x microSD |
| Additional Details | Expandable up to 2TB |
| Battery | |
| Battery Capacity | 4000mAh |
| Est. Battery Life | 6 hours |
| Charging Speed | 5V/1.5A |
| Connectivity | |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Ports | 3.5mm Audio Jack, microSD, USB-C |
| Controls | |
| Sticks | 1x |
| Triggers | Digital |
| Shoulder Layout | Shelf |
| D-Pad | Top Left |
| Audio | |
| Speakers | Stereo |
| Speaker Location | Front-facing |
| Headphone Jack | Yes |
| Physical | |
| Weight | 344g |
| Form Factor | Clamshell |
| Software | |
| Operating System | Linux (ARM) |
Then, Anbernic takes some time to show off the dual-screen interface, powered by Linux, courtesy of the included TF1 microSD card. As for emulation, the new NNDDSS emulator will handle your Nintendo DS games, with RetroArch being available for the rest of retro gaming needs.
Surprisingly, Anbernic even revealed that the RG DS Plus will include more than 70 different shaders, and provides a close-up at how three of them look on the top-screen. While it’s not using an OLED panel like the Retroid Pocket Duo, the RG DS Plus is still shaping up to be an awesome budget clamshell handheld.
Given we recently learned that the RG DS Plus will be available for just $84.99 for the first 72 hours, before the price goes up to $94.99, I have to assume this will quickly become a community favorite. That is, at least, until the pricing of the Pocket Duo Lite is revealed. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Anbernic has truly refined the experience when compared to the original RG DS release.
