Someone should test the stylus with Pokémon Ranger.

It works fine for me!

The original RG DS had a double ended stylus, with a cap over the flat circular...thing for the more detailed games which might requite it. But that's the nature of modern screens: capacitive VS resistive.

The new DS Plus' stylus is a thinner point on it, it is actually far better. Smaller and 'pointier' than others you might be used to, but naturally this is just the nature of the screen and the tech, it might be a huge dealbreaker for some, but no game I've played with it has left me wanting so far.

those rubber tip styluses usually have a lot of friction

Nintendo DS I think have more stylus heavy games than the 3DS, and the DSi is still pretty reasonable in price. So I think getting a DSi is worth it. And seems to go around the price of a new triple A title and is easy to mod. There's open source flash carts like the DSpico available, and a DS Pico with IR and PicoWalker said to be coming out too so you don't have to get the official pokewalker and Pokemon cartridge. Those Pokemon cartridges are insane in value so it'll be nice when the DSPico IR version is available for those wanting to utilize pokewalker with it.

If you are just playing Pokemon than stylus responsiveness doesn't matter much, but if you are planning to play stylus heavy games then I think the actual DS is the route to go. DSi XL has the best screen among the DS line with it being dual IPS.

3DS can play 3DS and DS games, but those are like double to triple the price.

I can't speak to this model specifically, haven't tried it, but my impression is that if you are specifically looking to play DS/3DS games, original hardware is still the best way to go, especially since they're so easily moddable.

If you're looking to emulate other platforms though, there are quite a lot of great pocketable devices on the market. I bought a Miyoo Mini Plus three years ago and joked that I liked it so much I wish I'd bought a more expensive model with analog sticks.

This is a deceptively 'easy' one to answer.

I spent a few years exclusively covering the Steam Deck. It was my travel handheld until I got into retro handhelds (and then since then...reviewing them!). Carrying something like this around is a breeze. While it is bigger than the original RG DS, it is inherently portable (and protects its own screens by design, too!)

The question is what kind of systems you want to emulate? DS & 3DS? PS2/Game Cube and below? Switch?

• If you want to relive the 3DS and DS libraries, you'll need a far more expensive AYN Thor.
• Or even Retroid's newly launching Pocket Duo handhelds - which will be on the way to me to review shortly!
• But if you just want to enjoy literally thousands of Nintendo DS games, some 3DS, PlayStation, GB, GBC, GBA and more...then the RG DS Plus is for you!

I really, really love this DS Plus, it feels 'right' to me, it really is like if Nintendo took another swing at these. I'm testing some custom firmware for it now, called GammaOS (he just released it a day or so back, and has updated it thrice since then!), so you've got options. If you want to ask me anything about any retro handheld though, I'm on Discord with a username of perfecteddark if you need any advice!

I love my DSi XL and it is actually pocketable and the dual IPS screen looks nice. I have a 3DS too but I use my DSi to play DS games, since it looks blurry on the 3DS.

I like stylus heavy games like The World Ends with You, Elite Beat Agent, Under the Knife, so I'm going to need the stylus to at least match the quality of the apple pencil or spen and have a pointy end before I consider replacing the original hardware for an emulation device.

Open source flash carts like the dspico are available too now, but not necessary with sd card all that is being needed to play on the DS after jailbreaking it.

DS isn't too expensive with it being around the price of a new triple A title, but the 3DS has shot up in price. I haven't touched my switch in over a year but play with my ds or 3ds on a weekly basis.

I'm pretty sure this thing isn't even powerful enough to emulate systems with dual sticks so I doubt it'll be missed.

This is directly on the market to emulate original Nintendo DS games. You can tell by the matching 4x integer screens (that's the biggest giveaway - big screen smaller bottom? 3DS! Matching size? NDS!)

While some 3DS games are emulateable, the second thumbstick is quite useless on this one when it comes to Nintendo handhelds. I love that they took it out, and haven't missed it once!

Super understandable!

At least it occupies the lower end of the retro handheld price bracket. Some of the handhelds I've reviewed have been worth a stunning amount, I just love how the lower end with a niche laser focused specific purpose like this one can be a more approachable price. You could wait for the 11/11 sales coming up soonish on Aliexpress, they're famously pretty good for discounted prices :)

I'm not entirely sure if it is the exactly same gap size, but the screens do match with the action. The best example is Sonic (Rush, I think it is called?). The action matches sync on both screens, there's no Hz misalignment as we saw on the RG DS back last year before release (and the patch which fixed it!)

Whoa is that why I can't even get past the tutorial in Rhythm Heaven Gold on my hacked Switch?

I can't wait to hear what you think!

I'm really glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you :)

They're super different handhelds, despite being ostensibly the same thing!

I have two of the Thors from AYN. One is the Thor Pro they sent me back before release to review, the other is the low-end entry model, the Thor Lite. And to me they perfectly nail the 3DS requirements. Obviously you can run DS games to your heart's content as well, even the Lite model has more than enough power to run them.

The DS Plus has the advantage of two screens matching size (the original DS had the same size top and bottom screen), and the resolution is exactly 4x that original size. So (this isn't upscaling), what you get is 4x 'integer scaling'. It will present the pixels perfectly!

The Thor Pro will run anything from Switch to the WiiU, PS3, PC game emulation, 3DS upscaled like you wouldn't believe. But it is designed to be wonderful at everything, and has a price to match that. The DS Plus is super affordable and perfect with DS games. The included stylus you store in the body is the icing on the cake to me!

Power? Upscaling? Emulating any and all systems? AYN's Thor. DS? Older low performance systems like PSX, GBA, SNES and so on? DS Plus.

I was looking at the Steam Frame earlier this week hoping that somebody will make (or has already made) a VR 3ds emulator where you get 3d for the emulated top screen.

Which Anbernic models do you have? I've got an RG405V, RG35XXSP and RG35XXPro. Each with well over 100hrs and no issues. I think the XXSP hinges might be ready to crack soon but seems easily replaceable.

Really interesting that you've got issues! I've got...far more than I care to admit (since I review them though, that's a handy excuse!) and I haven't had any issues with the batteries or any system failures. I'm sorry to hear you do!

This isn't build for the 3DS. It is marketing specifically as a DS handheld, and with good reason. The screens matching in size give it away (both the same size = DS! Large top, small bottom = 3DS!). While it runs some, they're not ideal on here.

You'd be better looking at AYN's Thor or Retroid's Duo (coming up soon)