In recent months, we’ve seen both AYANEO and AYN introduce dual-screen handhelds. Now, it seems that Anbernic is going to get in on the fun with the Anbernic RG DS.
There have been rumblings about Anbernic working on dual screen device that go all the way back to October 2024. Seeing as there’s a renaissance in dual screen handhelds, it only makes sense for Anbernic to join the fray.
This morning, videos leaked of the Anbernic RG DS, showing off a handheld that looks pretty similar to the Nintendo DS Lite/DSi. However, it’s unclear whether these videos are AI generated and being “leaked” to build some hype, or if it’s all just a ruse.
The placement of the controls has been shifted to accommodate dual joysticks, found below the D-Pad and ABXY buttons on either side. Looking at the screens, it appears that Anbernic is sticking with the DS Lite/DSi design, with both the top and bottom screens matching in size. The top screen is flanked by speakers on both the left and right side, giving you the surround sound experience.
When translating the message found in a post from @GameboyJuntaro, Google Translate gave us this:
I dedicate this device to those of you who, like me, have spent half your life pursuing a 1:1 replica look, a symmetrical screen, a high-quality hinge, and a three-digit budget for a retro dual-screen handheld game console. A true retro dual-screen graduation device.
Something else that has us stumped about whether these leaks are real or not is the image above. Specifically, in the bottom right corner is a watermark that Google Gemini automatically applies to AI-generated images. There are a number of reasons why this would be there, but we just have to hope it’s not the entire device being AI generated.
For now, we aren’t sure whether this will be Anbernic’s latest Android handheld, or if it will go back to Linux. That said, the company has been showing off dual-screen capabilities on recent Android handhelds like the RG476H and RG477M. This is likely an example of Anbernic working to improve the software with existing hardware, while design work on the RG DS design continues in the background.
Rest assured, as soon as we know more information about the Anbernic RG DS, we’ll be sure to share it.
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Speakers on the left and right side would give you a stereo experience, not surround sound.
Will this play all Nintendo ds games
It will play all the games ever created.
A133 and $99 please
keep it simple with cfw out the gate
That would be a little weak for dual display DS emulation, wouldn’t it?
Only thing I hated, hate about the ndsi or 3ds is how low to the bottom the buttons are. Maybe my fingers or hands are to big but after a while they hurt. Having to hold the device at a certain angle for to long.
I wonder how small it is
With any luck, Anbernic will make the objectively correct choice and give their entry a resistive touch screen for the lower display so it’s actually properly usable for touch screen heavy DS games.
Do they even make those anymore?
It’ll only be good if it can run Retroarch at a decent framerate
This RG DS might have the same Rockchip RK3566, and 4″ touchscreen that Ambernic had on the RG ARC-D. They could reuse the same android setup they had working on that. It would also then have USB-C video out like the RG ARC. The two USB-C ports on the back further support this theory.
I think you are right, but apparently running at 2ghtz with 3gb ram