Dual touch AMOLED screens: 6 inches in Full HD and 3.92 inches. In our test, the second screen serves DS, 3DS and Wii U games; bottom-screen flicker at 120 Hz, fix expected. Tiring to hold without the grip sold by AYN.
Guides · Updated 5 Oct 2026
Which handheld for DS and 3DS emulation?
The DS and 3DS rely on two screens. There are two approaches: a dual-screen console, or a single-screen console that shows both areas on the same panel. Here is what we observed.
The first choice is the screen. On a dual-screen console, the game displays as on the original, with one screen for the picture and a touch screen for the stylus or menus. On a single-screen console, the emulator places both screens on the same panel, which shrinks each area and takes some getting used to.
Dual-screen consoles. The AYN Thor pairs a 6-inch Full HD AMOLED main screen with a 3.92-inch touch AMOLED secondary screen. In our test, the second screen serves DS, 3DS and Wii U games that use two screens; we did note flickering on the bottom screen when the main screen is at 120 Hz, which we expect to be fixed by an update. The Retroid Pocket Duo Lite offers two LCD screens (5.5 inches, and 4.2 inches at 960p and 60 Hz), less flattering than an OLED but with accurate colours in our view. The Pocket Duo, with two AMOLED screens (5.5 inches, and 4.5 inches at 120 Hz), and the Duo Lite Plus are on pre-order: we have not tested them.
Performance. On the Pocket Duo Lite, despite its modest processor, the DS is a real pleasure at doubled resolution for us, and the 3DS remains usable at native resolution with compromises. On the Mangmi Pocket Max, with a Snapdragon 865, we got the 3DS up to quadrupled resolution, and the DS without difficulty. On the Retroid Pocket 6, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the DS runs at upscaled resolutions.
Single screen. The 4:3 format of the Retroid Pocket Nova suits the DS well in our view: it runs it without difficulty, on an AMOLED screen. Wide-screen consoles (Pocket 6, Pocket Max) leave more room to show both areas, but each area stays smaller than on a dual-screen console.
How to choose. If the DS and 3DS are your priority, a dual-screen console offers the experience closest to the original. If you mainly play other systems and want the DS as an extra, a single-screen console with a comfortable processor is enough. Weight and grip matter too: without a grip, the Thor tires the hand, and the Duo Lite felt fine up to the DS to us, but caused cramps beyond.
Our impressions come from our own video tests; they describe our experience and are not a score. Some consoles were provided by the manufacturer, which each product page states. Untested consoles are marked as such.
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Two LCD screens (5.5 inches, and 4.2 inches at 960p and 60 Hz). In our test: DS very pleasant at doubled resolution, 3DS usable at native resolution with compromises. The 6 GB unit was provided by Retroid.
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Two AMOLED screens: 5.5 inches at 120 Hz and 4.5 inches at 960p and 120 Hz. On pre-order; not tested by us.
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Single 7-inch AMOLED screen. In our test: 3DS up to quadrupled resolution and DS without difficulty with the Snapdragon 865.
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Single 5.5-inch AMOLED screen at 120 Hz. In our test, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 handles the DS well at upscaled resolution.
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4.5-inch 4:3 AMOLED screen. In our test, the DS runs without difficulty. Unit provided by Retroid.
