While we've seen a lot of new Nintendo DS-style clamshell Android gaming handhelds launch in the last 12 months, the Anbernic RG DS might be the most tempting of the bunch, due to its comparatively low price point of $99.99. Some early reviews had us a little concerned, though, with some complaints about software issues. Fortunately, it looks like Anbernic has figured out a solution, and just in time, as shipping is now underway.
The 1.4 update of the Anbernic RG DS's native software addresses multiple issues, including a bug that limited the top screen's display to 40Hz while using the bottom screen, a fault with screen synchronization in games, and a lack of individual brightness controls for the two displays. Whether or not this patch will make the RG DS a potential future pick for our guide to the best retro handhelds is yet to be seen, but it's more likely if the update works as intended.
While only a few YouTubers managed to get their hands on the RG DS before the launch, the criticism of the software faults was relatively unanimous, which likely forced Anbernic's hand to update a patch in the hope of avoiding a disastrous launch. One particular video, which you can check out further down the page, referred to the handheld as a "half-baked mess," so we're waiting for further coverage following the patch to see just how much it improves the user experience.
It's worth mentioning that there is an alternative to Anbernic's own software on the RG DS in the form of the GammaOS Next, as revealed by Retro Handhelds, the same site that broke the news of the Anbernic software patch. We've seen Gamma operating systems improve the graphics, performance, and usability of Anbernic devices before, as with the RG405V and RG505, so if you're up for a bit of software tinkering, it's worth checking out to get the most out of the handheld.
If, despite the update, the software issues surrounding the RG DS have put you off, there are plenty of other options out there that are capable of running the best mobile games. There's the Ayn Thor, which comes in four different configurations, as well as the Ayaneo Pocket DS, my personal pick of the clamshell litter. However, both of those options are significantly pricier than the Anbernic, so if the software patch works as intended, it might be the more popular pick.