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Retroid just teased its take on a dual-screen handheld for Nintendo DS fans
Retroid, a maker of retro-style gaming handhelds, has teased a new dual-screen device called the Pocket Duo, aimed at fans of the Nintendo DS. The brief teaser video revealed only the name and a dark glimpse of the design, with no confirmed specifications, pricing or release date, but it signals the company's entry into the growing dual-screen retro handheld market alongside rivals such as the Ayn Thor and Ayaneo Pocket DS.
Retroid has considerable experience with similar hardware, including the Retroid Pocket 6 and the Pocket Flip 2 with its 5.5-inch OLED screen, and previously offered a clip-on Dual Screen Add-on for other models; the Pocket Duo appears to ditch cables and clips for an integrated design instead. It could use a chip as powerful as the Qualcomm QCS8550 found in the recent Pocket Nova, capable of emulating Nintendo DS, 3DS and Switch titles. Pricing is expected to sit between the $100 Anbernic RG DS and the $579-plus Ayaneo Pocket DS, likely above the Pocket Nova's $239 starting price, positioning it as a direct competitor to the Ayn Thor.
In short
- Retroid teases new dual-screen "Pocket Duo" handheld, styled after the Nintendo DS
- No specs, pricing or release date revealed yet in teaser video
- Expected to rival the Ayn Thor, priced between $100 and $579 devices
Explained simply
The Nintendo DS is a handheld game system with two screens, one of them touch-sensitive, used together in many games. “Retro” handhelds are newer devices designed to play games from older systems, often through emulation, which recreates how the original hardware worked.
Retroid makes handhelds for this market, including models with conventional screens and a clip-on second-screen accessory. Other companies, including Ayn and Ayaneo, also sell or are developing dual-screen devices, giving buyers more ways to play games originally designed for two displays.
The Pocket Duo’s place in that market will depend on details such as its price, performance and release timing, which have not been confirmed. Those details matter because dual-screen games can be harder to play on devices with only one display, and buyers may weigh cost against how well a handheld handles the games they want.