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Anbernic RG DS Plus Announced: Specs, Stylus, Under $100

By Man Talk Staff · Updated September 5, 2026 · 9 min read

Anbernic revealed the RG DS Plus on September 3, 2026, with a teaser video and a first-look post on its own site the next day. The new clamshell is a follow-up to the RG DS, the company's Nintendo DS style dual-screen handheld from late 2025. The headline change is the display pair. Both screens grow to 4.3 inches at 1024 by 768, which gives Nintendo DS games an exact 4x integer scale. A capacitive stylus now slides into the body, and the hinge holds any angle from 15 to 180 degrees. The software is a Linux interface built around a new DS emulator called NNDDSS. Anbernic has not published a price, a release date, or a chip. An Anbernic representative told Retro Handhelds the price will land under $100 and the chip stays the same Rockchip RK3568. This report separates what is confirmed from what is reported secondhand. Every detail comes from Anbernic's announcement and press coverage, not from hands-on time with the device.

What is the Anbernic RG DS Plus?

The RG DS Plus is a vertically stacked dual-screen clamshell handheld built for Nintendo DS emulation, revealed by Anbernic on September 3, 2026. It replaces the original RG DS's two 4.0-inch 640 by 480 panels with two 4.3-inch 1024 by 768 panels.

Anbernic frames the Plus name around size. The screens are larger, the body is larger to hold them, and the rest of the changes follow from that.

The original RG DS opened for preorder in November 2025 at a sub-$100 price and shipped with Android. Coverage from Retro Handhelds at the time was mixed, and the device found a second life once the GammaOS community firmware arrived. The Plus appears to take that lesson on board by launching with a Linux interface from day one.

Anbernic RG DS Plus specs so far

Anbernic has confirmed the screens, hinge, stylus, software features, and colors. The chip, memory, storage, battery, and price come from Retro Handhelds, which cites an Anbernic representative rather than a published spec sheet.

The split in that third column matters. Anbernic's own post talks only about screens, hinge, stylus, software, and colors. Everything about the silicon and the price came through an Anbernic representative known as Wild Lee. That started on the Retro Handhelds Discord and continued in follow-up conversation with the outlet. It is a credible channel, but it is not a spec sheet, and numbers can shift before the listing goes up.

Why the 4x scaling claim matters

The Nintendo DS drew each screen at 256 by 192 pixels. A 1024 by 768 panel is exactly four times that in both directions. Every original pixel becomes a clean four by four block with no blur or uneven scaling.

The original RG DS used 640 by 480 panels. Anbernic's own post points out that this works out to 2.5x, which forces uneven pixel stretching or a border.

The Plus fixes that with math rather than a bigger chip. That is the smart move for a budget device. Integer scaling costs nothing at runtime, and the 4:3 shape of the panels matches the DS aspect ratio without letterboxing. The result should be the cleanest DS image in this price class.

The cost is pixel count. Each screen now pushes 786,432 pixels instead of 307,200, and the chip that has to render into them did not change. Whether the RK3568 keeps up at that resolution is the biggest open question about this device.

The chip question

Retro Handhelds reports the RG DS Plus keeps the Rockchip RK3568 from the RG DS. RAM drops from 3GB to 1GB, and there is no internal storage. The stated goal is a cheap dual-screen device, not a 3DS machine.

The RK3568 is a quad-core Cortex-A55 part built for set-top boxes and industrial boards. In the RG DS it handled DS emulation with title-dependent results. Community sentiment on the original, visible in comments under the Retro Handhelds and Time Extension stories, is that the chip was the weak point.

Anbernic's answer, as relayed by the outlet, is that the software is the fix. Dropping Android for a purpose-built Linux interface frees memory and CPU time. Retro Handhelds also reports that Anbernic is working with the developer behind GammaOS to bring that firmware to the Plus. The 1GB of RAM is described as enough for that lightweight environment.

That reasoning holds up on paper. GammaOS Nano turned the original RG DS from a rough Android device into a usable one. A first-party Linux build with the same developer involved is a better starting point. The custom firmware guide covers why a lean Linux stack matters more than raw chip speed on devices like this.

It does not change the ceiling. The RK3568 is not going to handle 3DS, and Anbernic is not claiming it will. Buyers who want that should look at the Retroid and AYN tiers covered in the brand comparison guide.

Hinge, stylus, and software details

The hinge uses two alloy parts and holds any angle between 15 and 180 degrees. The stylus is capacitive and stores inside the shell. The Linux interface adds screen swap, lower-screen touch control, 76 shaders, save states, a real-time clock, microphone support, and cheat codes.

The stepless hinge is a real quality-of-life change. The RG DS hinge was not bad, per Retro Handhelds, but it had set detents. Free positioning means the top screen can sit at any tabletop angle or fold back flat to 180 degrees. Anbernic describes the new mechanism as stronger and smoother.

The stylus is the feature the original should have shipped with. Capacitive means it works like a finger on a phone screen, so fine precision may lag a real DS stylus. It still beats poking at a 4.3-inch touch panel with a thumb.

On the software side, the NNDDSS emulator is new and unproven. Anbernic lists screen swap, touch control on the lower screen, 76 shader presets, instant save states, a real-time clock, microphone support, and cheat code support. Microphone support and a clock matter more than they sound. Several DS games require blowing into the mic or checking the system time.

Price and where it sits

The RG DS Plus is expected to sell for under $100, with a likely sub-$90 launch window, per Retro Handhelds. The current RG DS costs $99.99 direct from Anbernic, so the Plus should replace it at the same price or lower.

That positioning is the whole strategy. Anbernic already owns the sub-$100 dual-screen slot with the RG DS. The only real competition in that space comes from devices with far weaker screens. A Plus at $89 during the launch window with better panels and a stylus makes the original hard to justify at $99.99.

The wider Anbernic lineup has been busy. The RG SP clamshell arrived in August, the RG 55G1 opened preorders on August 31, and the $37.99 RG 35 appeared on September 1. The Plus is the fourth Anbernic launch in six weeks, and the only one aimed at DS players. The best retro handhelds under $100 roundup shows how crowded that price band has become.

No storage is included. With no eMMC on board, the microSD card is the whole storage system, so budget for a quality card from the start. The microSD card guide covers which brands hold up.

Five things that stand out

1. Exact 4x DS scaling. The 1024 by 768 panels turn every DS pixel into a clean four by four block. The 640 by 480 RG DS could not do that.
2. Linux first, not Android. The original launched on Android and needed community firmware to shine. The Plus starts where the RG DS ended up.
3. The chip did not change. Same RK3568, less RAM, no eMMC. Software will have to carry the extra pixels.
4. A stylus in the body. The single most requested fix for the RG DS is now standard.
5. Price and date are still open. Under $100 is a verbal promise from a rep, not a listing. Expect the usual Anbernic reveal sequence before ordering opens.

Who the RG DS Plus is for

The RG DS Plus suits anyone who wants a dedicated DS handheld under $100 and does not need 3DS or PSP. Owners of the original RG DS running GammaOS gain sharper screens and a stylus, but not more power.

The honest pitch is a DS library machine. Hundreds of DS games depend on two screens and touch input, and a single-screen handheld compromises them. A purpose-built clamshell with integer scaling and a real stylus solves that under $100.

Current RG DS owners face a harder call. A Time Extension commenter raised the obvious point: an RG DS with GammaOS and Rocknix already runs the same chip. The Plus adds screen quality and hardware polish, not emulation reach. Whether that is worth $89 depends on the buyer.

Should you preorder or wait?

Wait, at least until the spec sheet is public. Anbernic's launch pattern is consistent: teaser, spec reveal, unboxing video, then a dated listing with a 72-hour discount. The Plus is at step one. Nothing is lost by waiting for the published chip, RAM, battery, and price to confirm what the rep described. If the RK3568 holds up at the higher resolution in early reviews, a sub-$90 launch price is a fair deal for a DS-focused device.

Frequently asked questions

How much will the Anbernic RG DS Plus cost?

Anbernic has not published a price. An Anbernic representative told Retro Handhelds the device will sell for under $100. The outlet reports a likely sub-$90 price during the first 72 hours. The current RG DS sells for $99.99 direct.

What chip does the Anbernic RG DS Plus use?

Anbernic's official post does not name the chip. Retro Handhelds, citing an Anbernic representative, reports the RG DS Plus keeps the Rockchip RK3568 from the original RG DS. It pairs that with 1GB of RAM and no internal eMMC storage.

When does the Anbernic RG DS Plus release?

No release date has been announced. Anbernic published a teaser video and a first-look blog post on September 3 and 4, 2026. The company usually follows a teaser with a spec sheet, an unboxing video, and then a dated listing within a few weeks.

Can the Anbernic RG DS Plus play 3DS games?

Not as a design goal. Retro Handhelds reports the stated aim is the budget dual-screen market, not 3DS. The RK3568 is also far below the chips that handle 3DS emulation well. Buyers who want 3DS should look at a different class of device.

This page was published on September 5, 2026, two days after the RG DS Plus reveal. Price, release date, the published spec sheet, and first independent reviews will be added as they land. The Man Talk retro handhelds section tracks every launch as it happens. Anbernic's own announcement is published at Anbernic's official site.