Anbernic Prices RG DS Plus at $94.99 With $84.99 Launch Offer for Dual-Screen Linux Handheld

Anbernic announces sub-$100 pricing for the dual-screen Linux clamshell RG DS Plus, featuring twin 4:3 1024x768 screens and custom NNDDSS emulation.

Anbernic has confirmed pricing and preorder timing for the RG DS Plus, putting its new dual-screen Linux handheld firmly into the budget end of the specialist emulation market. Preorders are scheduled to open on 15 September at a normal retail price of $94.99, with a $10 introductory discount reducing the price to $84.99 for the first 72 hours. Initial orders will be handled directly through Anbernic. The specification explains how the company has managed to keep the price beneath $100. The RG DS Plus retains the Rockchip RK3568 processor from its predecessor, paired with Mali-G52 graphics, but drops internal eMMC storage and reduces memory to 1GB. Storage instead comes through two microSD slots supporting capacities up to 2TB. The machine runs Linux rather than Android, and that comparatively lightweight operating environment means the lower memory figure may matter less than it would on a conventional Android handheld. The defining hardware feature is a pair of matching 4.3-inch 1024 by 768 displays, both using a 4:3 aspect ratio and 60Hz refresh rate. That gives each screen exactly four times the horizontal and vertical resolution of the Nintendo DS's original 256 by 192 panels, making clean integer scaling possible. Other hardware includes a 4000mAh battery rated at around six hours, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, stereo front-facing speakers, one analogue stick and digital shoulder controls. Anbernic's custom NNDDSS emulator is central to the software pitch. The machine is naturally intended for DS games but can also run a wide range of earlier consoles and computers. Its biggest competition now comes from Retroid's Pocket Duo family, which targets a more premium price range and substantially greater performance. Anbernic's answer is affordability. At $84.99 during launch, the RG DS Plus costs less than many single-screen retro handhelds while providing physical dual displays and a clamshell design. The processor will limit ambitious emulation compared with high-end Android systems, particularly for later 3D hardware, but Nintendo DS software does not require flagship mobile silicon. If NNDDSS matures and community firmware such as ROCKNIX or GammaOS Nano delivers additional optimisation, the RG DS Plus could become a particularly attractive dedicated DS companion rather than another attempt to emulate everything ever made.