Best handhelds for DS emulation

31 handhelds rated for Nintendo DS emulation in the reviews we cite. DS games use two screens, so the question is less about power and more about how the device shows both: two physical screens, a split single screen, or swapping between them.

Original Nintendo DS, open
Console photo: Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Covers via Wikipedia, publishers' artwork.

31 handhelds

  • Full speed
  • Most games
  • Some games
  • Not playable
  • Not tested yet
  • RG35XXSP handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: Anbernic, product page

    RG35XXSP

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 3.5″ IPS
    • Clamshell
    • Linux
    from$57.99 1 shop
  • RG 40XXV handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: Anbernic, product page

    RG 40XXV

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 4″ IPS
    • Vertical
    • Linux
    from$67.99 1 shop
  • RG DS handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Anbernic, product page

    RG DS

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 4″ IPS
    • Dual screen
    • Android
    from$94.99 1 shop
  • RG353V handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Anbernic, product page

    RG353V

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 3.5″ IPS
    • Vertical
    • Android
    from$97.99 1 shop
  • Retroid Pocket Classic handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: Retroid, product page

    Retroid Pocket Classic

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 3.92″ AMOLED
    • Vertical
    • Android
    from$99 1 shop
  • RG505 handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: Anbernic, product page

    RG505

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 4.95″ OLED
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    from$109.99 1 shop
  • RG405M handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Anbernic, product page

    RG405M

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 4″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    from$119.99 1 shop
  • Anbernic RG Cube handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Anbernic, product page

    Anbernic RG Cube

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 3.95″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    from$122.99 1 shop
  • Anbernic RG 55G1 handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Anbernic, product page

    Anbernic RG 55G1

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 5.5″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    from$139.99 1 shop
  • Retroid Pocket Duo Lite handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: Retroid, product page

    Retroid Pocket Duo Lite

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 5.5″ IPS
    • Dual screen
    • Android
    from$149 1 shop
  • Retroid Pocket 4 Pro handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: Retroid, product page

    Retroid Pocket 4 Pro

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 4.7″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    from$159 1 shop
  • Retroid Pocket Flip 2 handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Retroid, product page

    Retroid Pocket Flip 2

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 5.5″ AMOLED
    • Clamshell
    • Android
    from$189 1 shop
  • AYN Thor handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: AYN, product page

    AYN Thor

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 6″ AMOLED
    • Dual screen
    • Android
    from$259 2 shops
  • AYANEO Pocket VERT handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: AYANEO, product page

    AYANEO Pocket VERT

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 3.5″ LTPS
    • Vertical
    • Android
    from$269 3 shops
  • KONKR Pocket FIT G3 Gen3 handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: KONKR, product page

    KONKR Pocket FIT G3 Gen3

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 6″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    from$429 1 shop
  • AYANEO Pocket AIR Mini handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: AYANEO, product page

    AYANEO Pocket AIR Mini

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 4.2″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    No current price 2 shops
  • 5.98″ 5.98″ 16:9 IPS screen, drawn to scale

    AYN Odin

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 5.98″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    No current price
  • 5.98″ 5.98″ 16:9 IPS screen, drawn to scale

    AYN Odin Lite

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 5.98″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    No current price
  • Powkiddy X28 handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Powkiddy, product page

    Powkiddy X28

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 5.5″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    No current price 1 shop
  • 4.7″ 4.7″ 16:9 IPS screen, drawn to scale

    Retroid Pocket 3

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 4.7″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    No current price
  • 4.7″ 4.7″ 16:9 IPS screen, drawn to scale

    Retroid Pocket 3+

    DS DS: Full speed

    • 4.7″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Android
    No current price
  • Powkiddy RGB20 Pro handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Powkiddy, product page

    Powkiddy RGB20 Pro

    DS DS: Most games

    • 3.2″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Linux
    from$69.99 1 shop
  • Powkiddy RGB20SX handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Powkiddy, product page

    Powkiddy RGB20SX

    DS DS: Most games

    • 4″ IPS
    • Vertical
    • Linux
    from$69.99 1 shop
  • RG353PS handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: Anbernic, product page

    RG353PS

    DS DS: Most games

    • 3.5″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Linux
    from$69.99 1 shop
  • Powkiddy X55 handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Powkiddy, product page

    Powkiddy X55

    DS DS: Most games

    • 5.5″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Linux
    from$79.99 1 shop
  • RG DS Plus handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: Anbernic, product page

    RG DS Plus

    DS DS: Most games

    • 4.3″ IPS
    • Dual screen
    • Linux
    from$94.99 1 shop
  • AYANEO Pocket DS handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: AYANEO, product page

    AYANEO Pocket DS

    DS DS: Most games

    • 7″ OLED
    • Dual screen
    • Android
    from$579 2 shops
  • Powkiddy RGB30 handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Powkiddy, product page

    Powkiddy RGB30

    DS DS: Most games

    • 4″ IPS
    • Vertical
    • Linux
    No current price 1 shop
  • RG351P handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Anbernic, product page

    RG351P

    DS DS: Most games

    • 3.5″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Linux
    No current price 1 shop
  • RG35XX H handheld, cut out from the manufacturer's product photo Photo: Anbernic, product page

    RG35XX H

    DS DS: Most games

    • 3.5″ IPS
    • Horizontal
    • Linux
    No current price 1 shop
  • RG35XX Plus handheld, product photo from the manufacturer Photo: Anbernic, product page

    RG35XX Plus

    DS DS: Most games

    • 3.5″ IPS
    • Vertical
    • Linux
    No current price 1 shop

Prices updated Oct 22, 10:17 UTC. Shop links may be affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

How to choose

Dual-screen handhelds show DS games the way they were designed. On a single screen, a taller 4:3 or larger display leaves more room to stack both screens. Touch input matters for many DS games, so check that the screen is a touchscreen.