AYANEO has announced its latest handheld — the Pocket S —a device that runs on Android and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 platform. AYANEO says it’s positioning this as a premium flagship product built for “discerning players who seek uncompromising quality.” While it may look like it, this isn’t destined to be a competitor to the likes of the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, or MSI Claw. Instead, it focuses on being the most powerful and premium choice for mobile gaming.
The Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 is a good start. But the “premium flagship” comes through in other areas. Specifically with the use of a CNC-milled full-metal mid-frame to help keep it thin and light, yet durable. What’s more, is that the body has a matte finish on it so you can avoid the majority of those pesky fingerprints. Which would no doubt show up easily on the black colorway. AYANEO will also offer the Pocket S in White when it launches later this year.
Speaking of the launch, the Pocket S is currently going through a pre-launch campaign on IndieGoGo. AYANEO also plans for the full launch event to happen in April though. This is when you should expect to be able to pay for the device. AYANEO hasn’t announced pricing yet, however. That being said, this isn’t AYANEO’s first handheld. Nor is it the company’s first Android handheld. The Pocket Air, another device it offers that runs on Android, starts at $299. But it can go up to well over $400 if you get the 16GB/512GB model.
Considering these prices, and its positioning as a more high-end handheld, the Pocket S could come with a higher starting cost. AYANEO is also launching it with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for the most high-end model.
The AYANEO Pocket S will have an ergonomic case for a more comfortable grip
The problem sometimes with these thin and light handhelds is that there’s not much grip to them. That’s not to say they’re easy to hold and you should expect to drop them. Just that in terms of comfort or ergonomics, there’s not a lot there. So you often end up holding the device in a certain way that leads to cramps or discomfort after longer game sessions. AYANEO seems to have thought of this ahead of time and plans to offer an ergonomic grip case for more comfort.
It not only serves as a protective barrier from dings, but it actually adds more defined grips to the back for your fingers to hold onto. While I love my Nintendo Switch OLED, I can attest to how uncomfortable it gets after playing on it for a few hours. But that isn’t the case once I slap on something with ergonomics. The case appears to be included with the unit based on AYANEO’s press release. But it’s also possible this may just be included as part of an early bird benefit for those who pre-order before a certain time.
Tuned for high-end Android gaming
More and more games on Android are coming out with some impressive graphics you’d never expect an Android device to deliver. And more of these games are also coming out with controller support. You can think of the Pocket S as a way to play those games with high-end graphics. All with a built-in controller setup and a larger display than you’d get on some phones. The Pocket S was tuned for high-end mobile gaming. And as such, comes with some beefy specs for a handheld.
It can come with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. However, AYANEO will most certainly offer other configurations with less of each. It also features a 1440p IPS mirror display. The display is 6 inches in size, and has a peak global brightness of 400 nits. The Pocket S has vibration support too, and hall-effect joysticks to help prevent stick drift issues down the road. If you’re into Android gaming and you wouldn’t mind a dedicated handheld for it, keep your eye on this one.