RG ARC-D vs RG DS Plus

The RG ARC-D and RG DS Plus are two retro handhelds that often end up on the same shortlist. They are not identical, and the right choice depends on what you actually want to play and how much you want to spend.

Performance and emulation ceiling

The RG ARC-D is powered by a RockChip RK3566 with 2 GB LPDDR4. The RG DS Plus uses a RockChip RK3568 with 1 GB. On our performance scale, the RG ARC-D scores 5.5 and the RG DS Plus scores 5.75. The RG ARC-D grades Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, Game Boy Advance as A-level, with Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PSP in the B range. The RG DS Plus grades Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, Game Boy Advance as A-level, with Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PSP in the B range. In practice, the RG ARC-D reaches N64, PSP & Dreamcast mostly playable but not all full speed.

Screen and ergonomics

The RG ARC-D has a 4.0 inch display at 640 x 480. The RG DS Plus has a 4.3 inch x2 display at 1024 x 768 (x2). The RG ARC-D is a horizontal device, while the RG DS Plus is clamshell. That shape difference matters for how the device feels in the hand and how comfortable it is for longer sessions.

Battery and price

The RG ARC-D carries a 3500 mAh battery, and the RG DS Plus a ? battery. On price, the RG ARC-D sits around 98.0, while the RG DS Plus is around ?.

Which should you buy?

Choose the RG DS Plus if you want the stronger overall package for the money. Choose the RG ARC-D if its specific strengths match your library, and the RG DS Plus if its tradeoffs suit you better. The best handheld is the one that makes the games you actually play feel natural.