Anbernic RG DS Impressions
Anbernic’s latest handheld is the RG DS, an Android 14-based dual-screen gaming device. The company has touted it as being the first sub-$100 dual-screen handheld, which is technically true at its current $94 pre-order price ($99 regular price). While the device will start shipping over the coming days, we will take a first look at the pre-release version of the device here.
There are three colour variants of the Anbernic RG DS: black and crimson, turquoise blue and polar white. When the device was announced, I was instantly drawn to the turquoise blue model, as it is reminiscent of the original 3DS’s aqua blue palette. Based on the first promo materials, Anbernic seems to have considered a transparent shell as well, which would have been my favourite. However, it seems that they did not produce this model. That said, the turquoise model is striking and looks unique.
As with other Anbernic devices, the hardware is solid here. The RG DS is sturdy and feels nice to hold. The hinge is especially great, providing enough resistance for the screen not to close on you while not feeling like a battle to adjust the angle. It also features a magnetic closure that ensures the device remains closed when folded shut, and this also triggers the sleep function.
Each button delivers satisfying feedback. Even if the dual joysticks are on the smaller side, they are accessible, and their low profile ensures that the device can fold with no issues. However, the low-profile D-pad is divisive. It is fine, but it doesn’t feel as great as D-pads on Anbernic’s other devices.
The company is generous enough to package the handheld with a matching stylus and two screen protectors. It would have been better to be able to house the stylus in the device itself, like with the Nintendo DS, or even have it magnetically attached to the side. It’s a welcome addition, nonetheless, especially for playing DS games, although I find myself turning to using my finger for operating the OS.
While the Anbernic RG DS looks and feels like a Nintendo DS Lite/NDSi, it is an Android-based system. Operating it is similar to other Android devices, and the screens can be operated individually. This is one of this handheld’s major edges over the DS, as you can multitask. For example, you can view a walkthrough on one screen while gaming on the other. Unlike the DS, it is also a multi-system device out of the box, with a range of emulators and even native Android games available to play.
However, with the sub-$100 price tag, some cost-cutting decisions were expected, and they are evident. On the software front, while the device comes with a range of preinstalled emulators, Google Play isn’t available out of the box. It might not have the required certifications, and there are likely to be workarounds or even updates down the line. But, at the moment, the Anbernic RG DS does offer as fleshed-out an Android experience as other devices packing the same OS do. That's not necessarily bad, especially if you don't want to sign in on yet another device and would rather have an emulation-focused system. But the lack of Google Play out of the box limits its capabilities.
Most prominently, in terms of concessions, is the performance. The RK3568 chip isn’t the most powerful one out there and will limit the device’s capabilities. It will be able to emulate less demanding systems such as Dreamcast, PS1 and even PSP. But don’t expect it to be running PS2 or Gamecube games. There might be some titles that are playable, but I wouldn’t recommend this device to emulate these systems.
Of course, as a dual-screen handheld, the main draw is to emulate dual-screen systems. Nintendo DS titles are very playable here with the HQ2X filter applied, and the included stylus adds to the experience. I am also fond of the front-facing speakers, which make games more immersive.
However, 3DS titles aren’t really playable on the Anbernic RG DS. Even less demanding games suffer from irregular framerates and audio issues. The dual-screen setup isn’t automatically recognised and this device doesn’t offer an optimal way to experience 3DS titles. I thought that it might be adequate for video game streaming, but the 4-inch IPS display is rather restrictive for contemporary games.
Then there’s the issue with the top screen going on a power saving mode after a while, limiting the fps. There seems to be a workaround with custom firmware, and I hope that Anbernic fixed it with its own software updates.
I found that performance can take a hit while multitasking, even if it is one of the features touted by Anbernic to be challenging. Firing up a browser while a game is running seems to impact emulation performance for systems like Dreamcast. This is not a very enjoyable experience and is likely due to the limited RAM (3GB) on this device.
As a first impression, the RG DS is okay as a Nintendo DS clone. It’s not in the same league as other dual-screen handhelds in the market, and that’s part of its angle: an affordable dual-screen device for DS and low-end emulation. It packs great hardware, but the software can feel frustrating. There might be community support to make it more attractive, but it would be more compelling if this handheld had better specs, even if it was priced higher than it currently is.
If you already have a functional DS or 3DS, there’s not much you’re missing out on. If you are satisfied with emulating DS and less demanding systems on a new device, and aren’t looking to play more powerful systems, you could look into the RG DS. But if you want a more versatile system, you might be better off considering what the competition has to offer.
Nevertheless, I hope that Anbernic revisits this form factor with a more powerful chip and/or larger screen. This would make for a more attractive gaming device.
