What's the difference between the Anbernic RG DS and the QRD Vortex F5?

Anbernic RG DS has similar emulation coverage to QRD Vortex F5. QRD Vortex F5 is about $4 cheaper based on catalog pricing. Anbernic RG DS is roughly 36% smaller and 3% lighter. Anbernic RG DS has a 60 Hz IPS Touchscreen screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on QRD Vortex F5. Anbernic RG DS runs Android 14; QRD Vortex F5 runs Linux. Anbernic RG DS is highlighted for DS, PS1, GBA, SNES; QRD Vortex F5 is highlighted for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA.

Which is cheaper, the Anbernic RG DS or the QRD Vortex F5?

The QRD Vortex F5 is the cheaper of the two at around $90.00, roughly $4.00 less than the Anbernic RG DS based on catalog pricing.

Which is newer, the Anbernic RG DS or the QRD Vortex F5?

The Anbernic RG DS is the newer model, released in 2025.

Which is more popular on retroshelf, the Anbernic RG DS or the QRD Vortex F5?

The Anbernic RG DS is in more collections on retroshelf right now, with 1 collector tracking it.

Anbernic RG DS vs. QRD Vortex F5

Specs, emulation, community reviews, ownership and play history, side by side.

Compare

With

RG DS

QRD Vortex F5

Shown to scale from each device’s real-world dimensions.

Quick verdict

Best value: QRD Vortex F5
More portable: RG DS
Newer model: RG DS

Main differences

Anbernic RG DS has similar emulation coverage to QRD Vortex F5.
QRD Vortex F5 is about $4 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
Anbernic RG DS is roughly 36% smaller and 3% lighter.
Anbernic RG DS has a 60 Hz IPS Touchscreen screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on QRD Vortex F5.
Anbernic RG DS runs Android 14; QRD Vortex F5 runs Linux.
Anbernic RG DS is highlighted for DS, PS1, GBA, SNES; QRD Vortex F5 is highlighted for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA.

Anbernic

RG DS

Details

Price: $94.00
OS: Android 14
Released: Dec 2025
Up to: Dreamcast
Screen: 4.0 inch x2 IPS Touchscreen
Weight: 321 g

AliExpress

$87.54with code

Amazon

$119.99

We’ll email you when it drops. No account needed.

Usually $99.38 · Lowest $96.54As of Oct 25

No reviews yet

1 collector

QRD

QRD Vortex F5

Details

Price: $90.00
OS: Linux
Released: Feb 2025
Up to: Dreamcast
Screen: 5.5 inch IPS
Weight: 330 grams

We’re not tracking prices for this one yet.

No reviews yet

Specs

BetterWorse

Spec	RG DS	QRD Vortex F5
Price	$94.00	$90.00
OS	Android 14	Linux
Screen	4.0 inch x2	5.5 inch
Aspect ratio	4:3	16:9
Resolution	640 x 480	1280 x 720
Refresh rate	60 Hz	60 Hz
Panel	IPS Touchscreen	IPS
Chipset	RockChip RK3568	RockChip RK3566
CPU	Cortex-A55	Cortex-A55
GPU	Mali-G52 2EE	Mali-G52 2EE
RAM	3 GB	1 GB LPDDR4X
Storage	Internal 32 GB, External MicroSD	Internal 8 GB eMMC, External MicroSD
Battery	4000 mAh	5000 mAh
Weight	321 g	330 grams
Dimensions	160 mm x 91 mm x 21.5 mm	223 mm x 103 mm x 35 mm
Video out	No	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
Stick type	Unknown	Hall effect
Analog triggers	No	Yes
Touch screen	Yes	No

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

System	RG DS	QRD Vortex F5
Classic systems
Game Boy
NES
Genesis
GBA
SNES
PS1
Mid-generation systems
DS
N64
Dreamcast
PSP
Saturn
Sixth-generation systems
GameCube
Wii
PS2
Modern systems
3DS
Switch
Wii U
PS3

Emulation source notes

RG DS DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
QRD Vortex F5 DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip This device does not have a touchscreen, so you won't be able to play DS games that rely heavily on the touchscreen
RG DS 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
QRD Vortex F5 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable 3DS will only work on Android, not Linux
RG DS GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
QRD Vortex F5 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
RG DS N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
QRD Vortex F5 N64: Nintendo 64: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
RG DS NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
QRD Vortex F5 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
RG DS PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
QRD Vortex F5 PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
RG DS PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
QRD Vortex F5 PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable PS2 will only work on Android, not Linux
RG DS PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
QRD Vortex F5 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
RG DS PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
QRD Vortex F5 PSP: Sony Playstation Portable: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
RG DS Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
QRD Vortex F5 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
RG DS SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
QRD Vortex F5 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
RG DS Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
QRD Vortex F5 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
RG DS Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
QRD Vortex F5 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
RG DS Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
QRD Vortex F5 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
RG DS Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
QRD Vortex F5 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
RG DS Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
QRD Vortex F5 Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
RG DS GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
QRD Vortex F5 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
RG DS Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip
QRD Vortex F5 Dreamcast: Sega Dreamcast: Most games playable at full speed, a few games have lower frame rates but still mostly playable with frameskip

Frequently asked

What's the difference between the Anbernic RG DS and the QRD Vortex F5?: Anbernic RG DS has similar emulation coverage to QRD Vortex F5. QRD Vortex F5 is about $4 cheaper based on catalog pricing. Anbernic RG DS is roughly 36% smaller and 3% lighter. Anbernic RG DS has a 60 Hz IPS Touchscreen screen, versus 60 Hz IPS on QRD Vortex F5. Anbernic RG DS runs Android 14; QRD Vortex F5 runs Linux. Anbernic RG DS is highlighted for DS, PS1, GBA, SNES; QRD Vortex F5 is highlighted for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA.
Which is cheaper, the Anbernic RG DS or the QRD Vortex F5?: The QRD Vortex F5 is the cheaper of the two at around $90.00, roughly $4.00 less than the Anbernic RG DS based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the Anbernic RG DS or the QRD Vortex F5?: The Anbernic RG DS is the newer model, released in 2025.
Which is more popular on retroshelf, the Anbernic RG DS or the QRD Vortex F5?: The Anbernic RG DS is in more collections on retroshelf right now, with 1 collector tracking it.

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