MINILOONG Pocket 1 vs RG DS Plus: Which Should You Buy?
MINILOONG Pocket 1 vs RG DS Plus: both start around the same price ($85), so price should not decide it; the MINILOONG Pocket 1 is 52 g lighter; our emulation grades differ on 6 of the systems we rate on both. Full spec table and a straight recommendation below.
At a glanceMore powerful RG DS PlusSharper screen RG DS PlusBigger battery RG DS PlusMore pocketable MINILOONG Pocket 1
| MINILOONG Pocket 1 | RG DS Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85 | $85–$125 |
| Brand | MINILOONG | Anbernic |
| Released | 2026 / 01 | 2026 / 09 |
| Type | Horizontal | Clamshell |
| OS | Linux (LOONGOS) | Linux |
| Performance | ||
| Chip (SoC) | RockChip RK3566 | RockChip RK3568 |
| CPU | Cortex-A55 | Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 2.0 GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EE | Mali-G52 2EE |
| RAM | 1 GB LPDDR4X | 2 GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | Internal 8 GB eMMC, Dual External MicroSD | Internal 32 GB eMMC, Dual MicroSD slots |
| Cooling | ❌ | Passive heatsink |
| Power tier | Entry | Entry |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 4.0 inch | 4.3 inch x2 |
| Screen type | IPS | Dual IPS (Lower Screen Multi-Touch) |
| Resolution | 960 x 720 | 1024 x 768 x2 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Pixel density | 300 PPI | 298 PPI |
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 | 4:3 x2 |
| Body & battery | ||
| Battery | 4000 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Weight | 258 grams | 310 grams |
| Dimensions | 165.43 mm x 79 mm x 17.8 mm | 164 mm x 95 mm x 22 mm |
| Shell | Plastic | Plastic with built-in stylus bay |
| Colors | White, Gray | Classic White, Matte Black, Cobalt Blue |
| Ports & connectivity | ||
| Wireless | WiFi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C OTG | WiFi 5, Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Video out | Mini HDMI Top facing | Mini HDMI |
| Charging port | USB-C Bottom facing | USB-C Top facing |
| Audio out | 3.5mm Headphone Bottom facing | 3.5mm Headphone Bottom facing |
| Speakers | Single Mono Front facing | Stereo Front facing |
Emulation compared
| MINILOONG Pocket 1 | RG DS Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Game Boy / Color | A | A |
| NES | A | A |
| Genesis / Mega Drive | A | A |
| Game Boy Advance | A | A |
| SNES | A | A |
| PlayStation 1 | A | A |
| Nintendo DS | A | A |
| Nintendo 64 | B+ | A- |
| Dreamcast | B | A- |
| PSP | B- | B+ |
| Sega Saturn | C | B |
| GameCube | D | D |
| Nintendo 3DS | D- | D |
| Nintendo Wii | F | F |
| PlayStation 2 | D- | F |
| Switch | F | F |
| Wii U | F | F |
| PlayStation 3 | F | F |
Physical size & scale compared
Footprint (MINILOONG Pocket 1 19% smaller)165 × 79 mm vs 164 × 95 mm
Thickness (MINILOONG Pocket 1 -4.2mm)17.8 vs 22.0 mm
Volume (MINILOONG Pocket 1 -110cm³)233 vs 343 cm³
Weight258 grams vs 310 grams
Display Mode:Reference Overlay:
MINILOONG Pocket 1165 × 79 mm
RG DS Plus164 × 95 mm
Proportional 1:1 millimetric silhouettes (Retrosizer standard). Toggle Side-by-Side or Direct Overlay to inspect dimensional footprint.
Which should you buy?
Bottom line: price is effectively a tie, so it should not decide this one; the MINILOONG Pocket 1 is 52 g lighter; the RG DS Plus is rated higher on our emulation power scale.
Choose the MINILOONG Pocket 1 if…
- you hold it for long sessions — it is 52 g lighter (258 grams vs 310 grams)
- you prefer a slab shape with the controls beside the screen
- you care about PlayStation 2 — we grade it higher there
- RG DS Plus's recorded downside — limited to linux os — would bother you
- RG DS Plus's recorded downside — cannot emulate ps2 or 3ds smoothly — would bother you
Choose the RG DS Plus if…
- you want the screen protected in a bag — it folds shut
- you want the larger battery (4500 mAh)
- you care about Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PSP — we grade it higher there
- you want the more widely owned of the two — more community firmware work, per-game advice and second-hand demand