Anbernic RG DDS is a dual-screen handheld inspired by the Nintendo 3DS

Anbernic has revealed the RG DDS, a new flagship handheld that borrows heavily from the Nintendo 3DS while promising hardware tailored to retro gaming and emulation. Positioned above the existing RG DS and RG DS Plus, the clamshell device features two custom IPS displays and a Qualcomm Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 chipset, potentially making it one of Anbernic's most capable handhelds to date.

The dual-screen setup is clearly inspired by Nintendo's iconic portable console, but the display specifications are particularly interesting for emulation enthusiasts. The upper screen measures 4.7 inches with a resolution of 1200 × 720, while the lower touchscreen measures 4 inches at 960 × 720. Both panels offer up to 500 nits of brightness and approximately 300 pixels per inch.

More importantly, their resolutions allow for clean integer scaling of the Nintendo 3DS's original display output. The upper panel provides an exact 3x scale of the original 400 × 240-per-eye image, while the lower screen scales the original 320 × 240 resolution by the same factor. This allows each source pixel to map neatly onto a 3 × 3 block, avoiding the uneven scaling that can otherwise make emulated games look less sharp.

Powering the RG DDS is Qualcomm's Snapdragon G2 Gen 2, the same chipset used in the Retroid Pocket G2. This puts it ahead of the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 found in the AYN Thor on paper, although actual gaming performance will depend on cooling, software optimization, and emulator compatibility.

Anbernic has also equipped the handheld with active cooling, a 6,000mAh battery, two full-size analog sticks, front-facing stereo speakers, and a Z-axis linear vibration motor for haptic feedback. A retractable stylus is included for touchscreen interaction, while a dedicated AI button makes an appearance without any clear explanation of its intended functionality.

The RG DDS will be available in black, blue, and white, but several important details remain unknown. Anbernic has yet to confirm pricing, a release date, RAM capacity, storage options, or the operating system. Based on its hardware positioning, a price around $200 / €200 / £190 is conceivable, though this remains an estimate rather than an official figure.

For now, the carefully matched display resolutions give the RG DDS a promising foundation for Nintendo 3DS emulation. However, buyers will need to wait for independent performance tests, confirmed specifications, and official pricing before determining whether it offers a compelling alternative to competing dual-screen handhelds.

As always, for the latest news on gaming handhelds, retro devices, Nintendo 3DS emulation, and developments across the gaming industry, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.