AYN
Android gaming handhelds are still relatively new, but lately it feels like there’s a kind of renaissance. We’re seeing new form factors like the sliding ANBERNIC RG Slide and whatever the SUGAR1 is supposed to be, but finally, finally, we are getting to what I consider the holy grail of gaming handhelds: The Nintendo 3DS.
Yes, the age of dual-screened Android handhelds is upon us, and several companies are rushing to take the crown. The SUGAR1 is disqualified for bending backwards, but several upcoming handhelds now meet my clamshell requirements.
For DS and 3DS fans like me, this is absolutely incredible news. But to understand why this is such a big deal, we first have to look at everything it took to get here.
Would you buy a dual-screen gaming handheld? 28 votes Yes 82 % No 18 %
The Android dual-screen dilemma
David Imel / Android Authority
The issue is software support. Dual-screen support on Android has been a major pain point since the days of the ill-fated Surface Duo, and things haven’t gotten much better since then. The smartphone operating system just isn’t optimized for multiple screens, and neither are most emulators.
Many emulators are developed by small teams or even solo devs, so features like external display support take time to implement. In the case of the Nintendo DS emulator DraStic, we may never see external display support, since the developer has abandoned the project and it’s closed-source.
Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
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