A new video from Anbernic gives the clearest look so far at how the RG DS works in real use. The handheld, which mirrors the clamshell style of the Nintendo DS, had its specs and design revealed earlier. Pre-orders are open, but this clip focuses on the feature that defines the device, its two independent touchscreens.
The first part of the footage covers simple functions you expect from any handheld. After a short intro, the video moves to the dual-screen features that separate the RG DS from single-display competitors.
The biggest surprise is the ability to run two games at once. One game runs on the top screen and another on the bottom. Users switch between them on the fly. The clip does not confirm if the inactive game pauses or continues in the background.
The demo also shows mixed-use setups. A game can run on one display while a video plays on the other. Users can flip the layout and put a guide, walkthrough or tutorial on the top display while gaming on the bottom. This reduces the need for a second device when checking instructions mid-play.
Both screens support touch input. This goes beyond the Nintendo DS, where only the lower display was touch-enabled.
Personalization options include separate wallpapers for each screen. The video also highlights comic reading with a dual-panel layout. The comic sits on the lower display while the top one auto-zooms into panels. The clip shows eBook reading on the top screen with music playback on the bottom. The final feature shown is flexible text input, where users pick which screen they want to use for typing.
The RG DS positions itself as a retro handheld with multitasking abilities that go beyond nostalgia. Anbernic’s latest video shows a device built for experimentation as much as classic gaming.