Anbernic RG DS Plus: two 1024×768 screens, and finally a DS image without distortion
By Tgames · · 2 min read
2026 update: the ESA is asking the United States to list Anbernic among “notorious markets” because of preloaded game cards; read on in our news story Anbernic targeted by the ESA, which wants it listed as a “superfake”.
Released on 15 September 2026, Anbernic's RG DS Plus is a clamshell handheld built around a single idea: displaying the Nintendo DS at exact scale. The reviews published this week are unanimous on this point.
The maths that makes it worthwhile
A DS screen displays 256 × 192 pixels. The RG DS Plus's two 4.3-inch panels display 1024 × 768, exactly four times that resolution in each direction. Each original pixel becomes a 4 × 4 square, with no interpolation or border: this is what the reviews call pixel perfect. On a handheld with a 16:9 screen, the same image is either stretched or surrounded by black bars.
Specifications
Price
$84.99 for the first 72 hours, $94.99 since 18 September. That is the price that applies today.
What to know before buying
With 1 GB of memory and an RK3568 chip, this is a machine designed for the DS and earlier generations, not an all-purpose handheld: do not expect GameCube or PS2 from it. It has also been supported since 1 October by ROCKNIX, if the stock system does not suit you.
Which firmware should you install on this kind of machine? That is the subject of our tutorial Retro handhelds: which firmware to install in 2026. And if you prefer playing on the real console, see DS flashcarts and R4 in 2026: which card to buy.
Sources: Time Extension (review) · RetroHandhelds (specs) · RetroHandhelds (review) · ROCKNIX 20261001
Released on 15 September 2026, Anbernic's RG DS Plus is a clamshell handheld built around a single idea: displaying the Nintendo DS at exact scale. The reviews published this week are unanimous on this point.
The maths that makes it worthwhile
A DS screen displays 256 × 192 pixels. The RG DS Plus's two 4.3-inch panels display 1024 × 768, exactly four times that resolution in each direction. Each original pixel becomes a 4 × 4 square, with no interpolation or border: this is what the reviews call pixel perfect. On a handheld with a 16:9 screen, the same image is either stretched or surrounded by black bars.
Specifications
- Chip Rockchip RK3568, Mali-G52 2EE GPU, 1 GB of RAM.
- Two 4.3-inch 1024 × 768 (4:3) 60 Hz screens; the bottom one is multi-touch, the top one is not, just like on the real DS.
- Battery 4000 mAh, with a claimed battery life of around 6 hours.
- Two microSD slots, a built-in stylus, front-facing stereo speakers, 344 g, running Linux.
Price
$84.99 for the first 72 hours, $94.99 since 18 September. That is the price that applies today.
What to know before buying
With 1 GB of memory and an RK3568 chip, this is a machine designed for the DS and earlier generations, not an all-purpose handheld: do not expect GameCube or PS2 from it. It has also been supported since 1 October by ROCKNIX, if the stock system does not suit you.
Which firmware should you install on this kind of machine? That is the subject of our tutorial Retro handhelds: which firmware to install in 2026. And if you prefer playing on the real console, see DS flashcarts and R4 in 2026: which card to buy.
Sources: Time Extension (review) · RetroHandhelds (specs) · RetroHandhelds (review) · ROCKNIX 20261001
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