Welcome to Friday, one and all. With it, we've got a brand-new AYANEO device. The AYANEO Pocket S launched today on Indiegogo, and it looks like a really interesting device.
It's powered by Android, but the aim here is not just power but also portability—real portability, not the fake concept that most modern phones seem to adopt.
According to the big old article on the AYANEO website, the device "breaks the conventional product concept of Android handheld consoles by drawing inspiration from flagship smartphones known for their industrial design and high-end craftsmanship." Basically, it looks thin, sleek, and suave, and it'd roll well on charisma checks if it was playing Baldur's Gate 3.
Let's go through some of the specs they list: it comes with the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 chip, which means plenty of oomph for performance. It has either a 6" 1080p or 1440p borderless mirror screen, which means it's very pretty both when in use and not in use, and it has up to 16GB of RAM and up to a 1TB SSD. So, that's every retro game ever made, or like half of one Call of Duty.
The GPU is an Adreno A32; it has a vibration motor, support for mobile key mapping, and a custom cooling system. You can also switch between a performance mode or a longer battery life mode at the switch of a button. The screen will also handle 60 FPS, which is enough for all but the most FPS-hungry players.
That's all the boring stuff. Well, it's not boring because it's exciting if you're into different PC parts and whatnot. Still, ultimately, one of the biggest draws is that you could theoretically put this in your pocket. It measures 213.9 x 85 x 14 mm, which is astoundingly thin. It's also lighter than a Nintendo Switch.
Also, it looks excellent. This one might be one of the most visually striking Android-based handheld devices out there. Its sleek curves mean it won't jab into you if you do try to pocket it, and the minimalist design and colour scheme mean it won't embarrass you when you're using it out and about. It's also a little more inconspicuous, so while it's unlikely, you might be able to pass it off as a phone at work.
Two different screens, two different sets of prices.
It's also made using "a CNC aluminium alloy mid-frame, with precise CNC craftsmanship outlining simple and concise body lines and design order." This means it should be reasonably durable. All in all, we're pretty excited about the device, and we'll be playing around with it as soon as we can.
