The world of gaming handhelds has expanded far past the confines of x86 units, as there are many Android gaming handhelds to discover. AYANEO is likely one of the firms main the best way on this regard. Nevertheless, it is taking a barely totally different strategy by releasing Android handhelds in quite a lot of kind components, such because the AYANEO Pocket Micro.
AYANEO makes an attempt to entice those that love units that invoke some kind of nostalgia, with the Pocket Micro seeking to cater to a number of factions. The obvious of which is by making a handheld that pulls inspiration from the unique NES controller.
Nevertheless, what you may not know is that the Pocket Micro’s 3.5-inch display screen affords an ideal 4x scaling for Game Boy Advance games. Which is one thing that is a little bit of a rarity within the house. All of the whereas, counting on Android to energy the system, which opens the floodgates to a swath of video games so that you can select from. And whereas all of that sounds nice, it is necessary to maintain issues in perspective and never let the wave of nostalgia tiny your glasses any greater than they already is perhaps.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: Value and Availability
AYANEO introduced the Pocket Micro alongside the Pocket DMG all the best way again in Could with pre-orders opening in July. The Pocket Micro was the primary to turn into accessible, as shipments started in late September in restricted portions earlier than issues picked up in October.
At the moment, you should purchase the AYANEO Pocket Micro by the Indiegogo marketing campaign, with a beginning value of $189 for the 6GB/128GB mannequin. There’s additionally an 8GB/256GB model accessible for $229, and a Restricted Version “Retro Grey” variant will be had for $259. We count on the Pocket Micro to quickly be made accessible on the AYANEO web site earlier than it involves different on-line retailers.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: What I like
One thing that I’ve to concentrate to at any time when I am all in favour of getting a brand new gaming handheld is the ergonomics. I most likely have a little bit of carpal tunnel, which means that with some handhelds, I can solely play video games for possibly half-hour earlier than I have to take a break. It varies between handhelds and truly resulted in me investing in a number of grips for my Nintendo Change.
Once I noticed that the Pocket Micro was principally a brick, I used to be fairly fearful that I would not have the ability to get pleasure from it. A lot to my shock, that hasn’t been an excessive amount of of a problem, and I am unable to actually appear to determine why. The flat edges paired with the flat again and smaller dimension signifies that I find yourself holding it in a different way than different handhelds.
Consequently, the hand and wrist fatigue does not truly begin settling till I am about an hour or so right into a gaming session. Whereas it is from the Steam Deck OLED and even ROG Ally X, the Pocket Micro is extra fulfilling to make use of than I anticipated.
| Class | AYANEO Pocket Micro |
|---|---|
| Show | 3.5-inch, IPS |
| Decision | 960 x 640 |
| Refresh Fee | 60Hz |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio G99 |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB (UFS 2.2) |
| Connectivity | microSD Card Slot / USB 2.0 Kind-C / Wi-Fi 5 / Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Extras | Lively Air Cooling / Fingerprint scanner / Corridor joysticks |
| Battery | 2,600mAh |
| Dimensions | 156 x 63 x 18mm |
| Weight | 233g |
If there’s one factor try to be conscious of, it is that this factor is hefty. AYANEO has it listed at 233 grams, which is even heavier than my iPhone 16 Pro Max (227g), and barely lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (239g). This is not essentially a nasty factor, particularly if you understand why it is so heavy.
That is as a result of, along with melding glass and aluminum, AYANEO packed Lively Cooling into the Pocket Micro. It did so in an effort to maintain each the gadget and your palms, from getting too heat. With a tool this compact, warmth dissipation is vital as a result of if the warmth has nowhere to go, it will not take lengthy for throttling to start.
Talking of efficiency, it is necessary to mood your expectations. Not like the AYANEO Pocket DMG and Pocket S, the Micro is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99 from 2022. I can solely assume this chip is on the helm as a result of it is cheaper, which is slightly necessary if you’re speaking a couple of premium handheld.
Though it is virtually three years outdated, the Helio G99 has was a type of “outdated dependable” SoC for numerous tablets and different units. That being mentioned, you can play many, if not all, of your favourite video games from the Play Retailer. When it comes to emulation, you will begin hitting the ceiling when you get into PS2 and GameCube video games.
A part of that’s helped by AYANEO providing configurations with both 6GB or 8GB of RAM, however the software program additionally has totally different efficiency profiles to assist push issues additional. I could not assist myself from at the very least attempting to load up some Change video games, unsurprisingly these efforts proved to be fruitless.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: What I do not
Undoubtedly, my largest irritation with the Pocket Micro was the software program expertise. Naturally, actual property is at a premium when you’ve got a 3.5-inch display screen to work with. However AYANEO’s in-house launcher simply does not lower. All the things is tremendous small, and whereas I might simply regulate the show scaling settings, that is probably not one thing that I wish to do.
Fortunately, there are gaming-focused launchers accessible, which shortly treatment my points. Nicely, at the very least for essentially the most half. There’s nothing I can do to interchange the slide-out panel that provides you fast entry to varied choices. However seeing as I do not actually mess with these usually, it hasn’t been a lot of a problem.
As a substitute, I have been bouncing between Emulation Station (ES-DE), Daijisho, and an alpha construct of Console Launcher 2.0. When you actually wished to, you may even use one thing like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, however the place’s the enjoyable in that?
My different situation with the Pocket Micro is not one thing that everybody should cope with, but it surely’s one thing to bear in mind. Whereas I commend AYANEO for providing a gaming handheld that is each pocketable and premium, truly taking part in video games would possibly turn into an issue.
Though the ergonomics of the Pocket Micro are a bit higher than a number of the different gaming handhelds, I actually do want I might play for longer than an hour at a time. Whereas I recognize the nostalgic design, it might need been good to see AYANEO provide some kind of ergonomic grip.
That is what the corporate did with the Pocket S, because the “Protecting Case” not solely retains the hand-held protected however supplies a extra snug expertise. Due to that, I’ve began altering the totally different positions that I am holding the Micro, simply in order that I can maintain taking part in. However in the end, the most effective treatment was simply to cease taking part in for a bit till my palms and/or wrists felt higher.
Once more, this is not one thing that’s going to trigger points for some, but it surely’s value being conscious of you probably have meaty paws and are contemplating the Micro.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: The competitors
The world of devoted Android handhelds continues to increase, and AYANEO is one firm that is main the cost. Nevertheless, it is not the one possibility on the block, as there are fairly a number of Android gaming handhelds to select from.
In November, the Retroid Pocket 5 was launched, which is the highly-anticipated successor to the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro from January 2024. The Pocket 5 includes a 5.5-inch AMOLED show, whereas being powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage.
Then there’s the Anbernic RG406H, which additionally arrived in November, and is provided with the Unisoc Tiger T820, together with a smaller 4-inch IPS touchscreen. Anbernic is well-known on the planet of retro handhelds, nonetheless, the corporate tends to focus extra on Linux-based units. That being mentioned, the RG406H is an absolute delight to make use of, so long as you perceive that the T820 is not essentially the most highly effective chip.
When you’re on the lookout for a handheld from an organization that you just acknowledge, you then’ll most likely wish to take a look at the Razer Edge. This was of the primary devoted Android handhelds to be launched by a mainstream firm, powered by the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1. Though Razer has but to launch a successor, the Edge stays extremely versatile, and it is repeatedly on sale for round $215.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: Must you purchase it?
You can purchase this if…
- You need an Android handheld that appears like an NES controller with a display screen.
- You are a sucker for premium units.
- You are on the lookout for a method to play retro and fashionable video games on a pocketable gadget.
You should not purchase this if…
- You are on a finances.
- You’ve considerations about ergonomics.
- You need a handheld that is extra highly effective.
Frankly, I have already got my justifiable share of Android handhelds, to not point out quite a lot of foldable telephones at my disposal. That being mentioned, there’s simply one thing about taking part in video games on the Pocket Micro that sparks a little bit of pleasure each time I decide it up. Positive, it is not as highly effective as different units, however only a few of them handle to pair a premium design with a retro aesthetic in the identical approach.
On the similar time, it is actually powerful to advocate the Pocket Micro to anybody who is not a retro gaming fanatic. The virtually-$200 price ticket would possibly simply be an excessive amount of for some, particularly when extra highly effective handhelds will be had for across the similar value. It is actually only a matter of contemplating the trade-offs when attempting to determine between the Pocket Micro and no matter else is perhaps in your radar.
The AYANEO Pocket Micro is supposed to invoke a little bit of nostalgia, whether or not it’s for the NES or the Sport Boy Advance with its 4:3 show. Whereas the premium construct is next-level, the Pocket Micro is perhaps a bit too costly for some.