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The Anbernic RG DS is a 4.0 x2 inch 4:3 Android handheld that plays everything up to Dreamcast well. It came out in December 2025 at $94. Inside is the RockChip RK3568 with 3 GB of RAM.
Who it's for
Buy it if
- You want to play everything up to Dreamcast, plus some PSP.
- You want a 4.0 x2 inch screen and carry it in a bag or a jacket.
Skip it if
- You want PSP games: it scores 70 out of 100, so many games struggle.
- You want a handheld for a jeans pocket.
Anbernic RG DS videos
What it plays
Plays up to: Dreamcast. Chip: RockChip RK3568.
Scores out of 100. 100 means the system runs at full speed with no known issues on this device. 80 or more plays well (green), 50 to 79 plays partly (yellow).
What the specs mean
4:3 screen
NES to PS2 era home consoles were 4:3, so they fill it. GBA and PSP games show bars above and below.
Based on: Display math: native screen shapes of each system
Same chip as 1 other handheld
The RockChip RK3568 also powers the Anbernic RG DS Plus. The same chip means similar speed, though memory and cooling can differ.
Based on: Our handheld database (chip field)
Small battery for its class
Only 16 of 103 Android handhelds in our database have a smaller battery than this 4,000 mAh (the middle one has 5,000 mAh). The heavier the system you run, the sooner it runs out.
Based on: Our handheld database: battery of 103 Android handhelds
Shoulder buttons in a row
L1 and L2 sit side by side along the top edge instead of stacked. PS2 games that need L1 and L2 together mean sliding one finger between them.
Based on: Layout data (shoulder button layout)
D-pad on top, sticks below
The d-pad has the natural thumb spot, which suits 2D games. In 3D games your thumb lives on the lower stick.
Based on: Layout data (d-pad placement)
Android 14
Besides emulators it runs Android games and game streaming apps, from your PC or the cloud.
Based on: Operating system data
Rating
How we score: what it plays 30%, how many players own and recommend it 20%, screen 15%, price compared with handhelds that play as much 10%, controls 10%, size and weight 10%, battery size for its chip 5%.
Good
- Plays everything up to Dreamcast well
- Hall effect sticks, so no stick drift
- Low price
Not so good
- Not built for PS2 games
- No video out
Screen fit
Screen: 4.0 x2 inch, IPS, 4:3, 640 x 480.
Size
160 x 91 x 21.5 mm, 321 g. Too big for a jeans pocket
- Anbernic RG DS (160 x 91 mm)
- iPhone 15 (71.6 x 147.6 mm)
True scale, front view. Jeans pocket = front no bigger than an iPhone 15 Pro Max in a case (160 x 82 mm).
Specs
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Chip | RockChip RK3568 |
| CPU | Cortex-A55 |
| Cores | 4 |
| Clock speed | 2.0 GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EE |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Screen | |
| Size | 4.0 x2" |
| Type | IPS |
| Resolution | 640 x 480 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
| Pixel density | 200 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Dual screen | Yes |
| Controls | |
| D-pad | Cross, Upper placement |
| Analog sticks | Yes |
| Stick layout | Double, symetrical |
| Hall effect sticks | Yes |
| L3 / R3 | Yes |
| Shoulder buttons | Side By Side |
| Rumble | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes |
| Connectivity | |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| SD card | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (5) |
| Bluetooth | Yes (4.2) |
| USB-C | Yes |
| Video out | No |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Build | |
| Form factor | Clamshell |
| Dimensions | 160 x 91 x 21.5 mm |
| Weight | 321 g |
| Battery | 4000 mAh |
| Shell | Plastic |
| Speakers | Front |
| Software | |
| Operating system | Android |
| Android version | 14 |
| Custom firmware | GammaOSNext |
Questions
Can the Anbernic RG DS play PS2 games?
Not well. PS2 scores 10 out of 100. It plays everything up to Dreamcast well.
Can it play GameCube games?
Partly. GameCube scores 20 out of 100.
Does it have a headphone jack?
Yes.
How big is the battery?
4,000 mAh. The middle Android handheld in our database has 5,000 mAh.
Can it connect to a TV?
No, it has no video out.
How much does the Anbernic RG DS cost?
It launched at about $94 in Dec 2025. Prices on the used market change, so check current listings.
Price and newer models
$94 at launch $60 to $120
Newer in the same line: the Anbernic RG DS Plus (Sep 2026). Compare before you buy this one new.
Compared with
Similar handhelds
Specs and emulation scores from the retrocatalog.com handheld database. The score out of 10 is our own.