ANBERNIC RG DS The RG DS is the best replacement for original Nintendo DS hardware that I've tested to date. If you want to emulate DS games (and only DS games), this is currently the device to beat. It's not perfect, but at this price there's nothing like it.
I’m just going to come out and say it: The Nintendo DS is one of the greatest consoles of all time. The combination of a unique form factor and an absolutely killer library of games made it an absolute staple of my teen years. And now, there’s a modern, authentic, and affordable handheld that recreates it.
And no, it’s not the AYN Thor. While AYN’s take on the 3DS is undoubtedly a great device, the 3DS came out when I was a broke college student, so it doesn’t trigger the same level of nostalgia. It also starts at $300, which is expensive for a still-broke working adult with two children.
I’m talking about the ANBERNIC RG DS. Coming in just under $100, it seeks to recreate the magic of the Nintendo DS (or DSi, considering the size), and it delivers where it counts. There are a few caveats, but for me, this has completely revived my love of Nintendo’s groundbreaking clamshell handheld.
The clamshell time machine
Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
It’s obvious where ANBERNIC has drawn inspiration for the RG DS, and it’s by far the most faithful recreation of the Nintendo DS we’ve seen so far. Size-wise, it’s almost identical to the Nintendo DSi, which is slightly larger than your average modern smartphone. As a result, it’s easy to slip into a bag or pocket.
And that right there is huge for DS emulation. The emulators have been ready for more than a decade, but the hardware almost always requires playing with the screens side-by-side, rather than stacked. That alone kills the immersion, as do huge black bars and workarounds like hotkeys to close the lid. All of that stuff looks and works just like the original on the RG DS, which is an absolute delight.
The RG DS feels more like a Nintendo DS than any other modern handheld.
The hinge is one notable change, as it’s much stiffer than any clamshell I’ve tested. The benefit there is that it can stay open at any angle. Hopefully, it also means that the hinge won’t break as time goes on. ANBERNIC has a good track record with the hinges on its GBA SP clones, but only time will tell.
... continue reading