Device comparison

QRD Vortex F5 vs. Anbernic RG ARC-D

Compare specs, emulation support, community reviews, ownership, and play history.

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QRD Vortex F5
RG ARC-D

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

Quick verdict

Best value
QRD Vortex F5
More portable
RG ARC-D
Newer model
QRD Vortex F5

Main differences

  • QRD Vortex F5 has similar emulation coverage to Anbernic RG ARC-D.
  • QRD Vortex F5 is about $8 cheaper based on catalog pricing.
  • Anbernic RG ARC-D is roughly 33% smaller and 27% lighter.
  • QRD Vortex F5 runs Linux; Anbernic RG ARC-D runs Android 11.
  • QRD Vortex F5 is highlighted for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA; Anbernic RG ARC-D is highlighted for DS, PS1, Genesis, GBA.

QRD

QRD Vortex F5

Details
Price
$90
OS
Linux
Released
Feb 2025
Up to
Dreamcast
Screen
5.5 inch IPS
Weight
330 grams

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Specs

BetterWorse

SpecQRD Vortex F5RG ARC-D
Price$90$98
OSLinuxAndroid 11
Screen5.5 inch4.0 inch
Aspect ratio16:94:3
Resolution1280 x 720640 x 480
RAM1 GB LPDDR4X2 GB LPDDR4
StorageInternal 8 GB eMMC, External MicroSDInternal 32 GB MicroSD, Dual External MicroSD
Battery5000 mAh3500 mAh
Weight330 grams240 grams
Dimensions223 mm x 103 mm x 35 mm191 mm x 80 mm x 22 mm
Hall effect sticksYesNo
Analog triggersYesNo
Touch screenNoYes

Emulation

Excellent › Good › Playable › Limited › Unsupported

SystemQRD Vortex F5RG ARC-D
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

  • 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 ARC-D DS: Nintendo DS: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable 3DS will only work on Android, not Linux
  • RG ARC-D 3DS: Nintendo 3DS: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable 3DS will only work on Android, not Linux
  • QRD Vortex F5 GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • RG ARC-D GBA: Nintendo Game Boy Advance: Almost all games playable at full speed without 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 ARC-D 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 NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • RG ARC-D NES: Nintendo Entertainment System: 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 ARC-D PS1: Sony Playstation: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • 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 ARC-D PS2: Sony Playstation 2: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable PS2 will only work on Android, not Linux
  • QRD Vortex F5 PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RG ARC-D PS3: Sony Playstation 3: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • 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 ARC-D 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 Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RG ARC-D Wii: Nintendo Wii: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • RG ARC-D SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RG ARC-D Wii U: Nintendo Wii U: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • RG ARC-D Saturn: Sega Saturn: Most games playable but mostly with frameskip, struggles with harder to emulate games
  • QRD Vortex F5 Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • RG ARC-D Switch: Nintendo Switch: Either cannot run any games at all or games are unplayably slow
  • QRD Vortex F5 Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • RG ARC-D Genesis: Sega Genesis / Mega Drive: 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 ARC-D Game Boy: Game Boy / Game Boy Color: Almost all games playable at full speed without frameskip
  • QRD Vortex F5 GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • RG ARC-D GameCube: Nintendo GameCube: Only the easiest to emulate games are barely playable
  • 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
  • RG ARC-D 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 QRD Vortex F5 and the Anbernic RG ARC-D?
QRD Vortex F5 has similar emulation coverage to Anbernic RG ARC-D. QRD Vortex F5 is about $8 cheaper based on catalog pricing. Anbernic RG ARC-D is roughly 33% smaller and 27% lighter. QRD Vortex F5 runs Linux; Anbernic RG ARC-D runs Android 11. QRD Vortex F5 is highlighted for PSP, N64, PS1, GBA; Anbernic RG ARC-D is highlighted for DS, PS1, Genesis, GBA.
Which is cheaper, the QRD Vortex F5 or the Anbernic RG ARC-D?
The QRD Vortex F5 is the cheaper of the two at around $90, roughly $8 less than the Anbernic RG ARC-D based on catalog pricing.
Which is newer, the QRD Vortex F5 or the Anbernic RG ARC-D?
The QRD Vortex F5 is the newer model, released in 2025.

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