New: Anbernic RG DDS | Dream-Dual Screen 3x 3DS Retro Handheld

Anbernic is setting their mark on the Dual-Screen Retro Handheld scene adding a 3x 3DS handheld to their lineup in the RG DDS [Dream Dual-Screen].

Last year Anbernic released the RG DS, an Android based Dual-screen that works best running Linux or GammaOS. Then a few months ago they launched the Anbernic RG DS Plus, with the same processor and less RAM launching on Linux this time [somehow more performant than its predecessor]. And now…

Anbernic’s New RG DDS is shaping up to be the best of the bunch and the second handheld they are launching with a Snapdragon SOC. The RG DDS will be endlessly compared to the soon-to-be-delivered Retroid Pocket Duo with a similar release schedule.

Performance

As we get more information I’ll update the spec sheet below. For example we don’t know the RAM yet but this screenshot we took [below] of the teaser video appears to be an 8GB model according to the performance overlay. Anbernic often offers different RAM and Memory variants so we may see a 12GB model as well.

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Specs:

[Last updated 10/9/2027 6pm CST]

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We are using an educated guesses on a few specs here and will update once we get official specs. The RAM could easily be 8GB/12GB with 128GB/256GB or 64GB/128GB memory variants thanks to the memory crisis.

We based connectivity off the official specs for the Snapdragon G2 Gen2 and cross-referenced with the Retroid Pocket G2, the only other retro handheld to use this SOC. We also based the I/O off what we can see in the over 2min video teased by Anbernic.

RG DDS or Pocket Duo

It’s no mistake that Anbernic announced the RG DDS prior to the shipping of the Retroid Pocket Duo. The question becomes which should you get?

The RG DDS is going to be more powerful than the Retroid Pocket Duo, but that’s not all that matters. Anbernic’s 4.7” / 4” IPS displays aren’t going to be nearly as nice as the beautiful 5.5” / 4.5” AMOLED displays out of the Retroid Pocket 6 and Nova respectively in the Duo.

Back to performance, I can’t figure out why the Retroid Pocket Duo isn’t coming with the same Snapdragon G2 Gen2? Retroid is the only company that’s used this chipset before in their short lived Pocket G2 handhelds.

Retroid instead went with the untested Qualcomm DragonWing Q-7790. This SOC is equipped with the Adreno 722 GPU which currently lacks driver support.

As long as Anbernic can keep the price of the RG DDS down it should be the best bet on Price to Performance. With Qualcomm raising their prices recently, the cost of RAM, dual-screens, and how much memory they use, this could also turn out to be Anbernic’s most expensive device offering yet as well.

With Anbernic’s teaser to release schedule we should have that pricing soon and will update above. We are going into this assuming 8GB/12GB variants until we learn differently.

Thoughts

The RG DDS announcement brings back some nostalgia of the old school gloves off Anbernic. If they are trying to be recognized as a mid-high tier brand they really need to stick the landing here.

[update] It looks like the RG DDS is starting at $300 via the Discord messages below:

I’m excited for this device and can’t wait to get my hands on it. I can’t obviously form an opinion of this handheld yet and honestly manufacturers tend to throw us a curveball in the 9th anyways.

All that said it should be a fun launch. We will keep updating this page with the specs as they become available so bookmark it and you can come back.

You can also check the Anbernic official blog by clicking the button below:

Are you looking at picking up the Anbernic RG DDS? Did you already order the Retroid Pocket Duo?

GameOn

CellPhish

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