Retro handhelds are enjoying growing popularity. Now two manufacturers are bringing back the Nintendo DS.
Handheld consoles have been making a strong comeback since the release of the Steam Deck, if not before.
In recent years, the market for devices that combine the form factor of the Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, or PSP with modern technology has grown significantly.
The Nintendo DS is apparently next in line.
Two manufacturers bring handhelds with dual display
Within a few weeks, two handheld manufacturers have unveiled devices that offer the iconic dual-display design of the GBA successor.
First, Ayaneo introduced the (Flip 1S DS), followed shortly thereafter by (AYN) with the “Thor.”
Both devices are primarily designed for emulating games that were released on the Nintendo DS or Nintendo 3DS.
However, there are a few differences in terms of technology and price.
Here is the most important information:
| AYN Thor | Ayaneo Flip 1S DS | |
|---|---|---|
| Main display | 6“ 120Hz AMOLED | 7” 144Hz OLED |
| Second display | 3.92“ 60Hz OLED | 4.5” |
| Processor | Snapdragon SD865 or 8Gen2 | Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, Ryzen 7 8840U |
| Memory options | 8 GB RAM + 128 GB 12 GB RAM + 256 GB 16 GB RAM + 1 TB |
32GB RAM + 1TB 32GB RAM + 2 TB 64 GB RAM + 2TB |
| Operating system | Android | Windows 11 |
A direct comparison clearly shows that the Ayaneo Flip 1S DS is intended to be more like a full-fledged PC handheld, while the AYN Thor, as an Android handheld, is likely to be used primarily as an emulator.
The Thor is also quite a bit smaller. All of this is reflected in the prices.
The AYN Thor starts at $249 with a Snapdragon 865, 8 GB RAM, and 128 GB storage. The specs aren’t necessarily impressive, but they’re easily enough to play old NDS and N3DS games.
With the Snapdragon 8Gen2, the price rises to $299, while the top model with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage costs $429.
For the Ayaneo Flip 1S DS, on the other hand, you’ll have to dig much deeper into your pockets.
The cheapest model with 32 GB RAM and 1 TB storage costs around $1,279. Depending on the configuration, the price can rise to as much as $1,559. Are you interested in retro handhelds like this? Let us know in the comments!
