Anbernic Releases Linux OS for $124.99 RG DS as Android 14 Draws User Complaints

5 articles · Updated · Notebookcheck.net · May 16

Anbernic has published a Linux OS for the RG DS that users can install without wiping the handheld’s preloaded Android 14 system.
A 64GB-or-larger microSD card is enough to flash the software; inserting the card boots the device into Linux, while removing it restores Android on restart.
Three themes—DS Dark, DS Light and Classic—headline the update alongside independent brightness controls, screen swapping, custom fonts and a new button-test interface.
The release responds to dissatisfaction with the RG DS’s Android experience, which had pushed some owners toward custom firmware such as GammaOS for smoother dual-screen emulation.

Is ANBERNIC's Linux firmware a true upgrade or just a workaround for a flawed Android experience?

Is the future of retro handhelds specialized Linux systems instead of versatile Android builds?