Android Arcade
With Android Arcade, Android Central Senior Editor Android Myrick takes a weekly deep dive into retro gaming, emulation, handhelds, and every little thing in between.
Earlier than the times of foldable telephones we simply had slabs of aluminum, glass, or plastic. On uncommon event we might see an organization attempt doing one thing completely different, like Important did by releasing the PH-1 with Titanium and Ceramic. However even fewer corporations tried to assume exterior the field.
Nonetheless, you must return even additional to search out something that basically stands out, and that is once we discover Sony. The Xperia Play was clearly designed as a gaming handheld that would make cellphone calls. Turning the cellphone sideways and pushing the display up revealed a built-in controller, not all that completely different from the PSP Go.
Quick ahead to now, and evidently AYANEO is about on bringing again that iconic design with its first cellphone.
AYANEO Slide
The announcement got here on the finish of an virtually 4-hour livestream, the place AYANEO CEO Arthur Zhang laid out the firm’s roadmap for the upcoming yr. This included introducing a slew of recent handhelds, such because the AYANEO Pocket DS, and a few “worth” gaming handhelds coming by way of the KONKR model.
However Zhang had “One Extra Factor” to share, and that is the corporate’s need to launch a cellphone. In contrast to virtually every little thing that was introduced, we did not really get to see what this cellphone would appear like. Nonetheless, when wanting on the promotional supplies, it does not take lengthy to see that is what AYANEO hopes to launch.
Why now?
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Many have contemplated why no different firm has tried releasing an analogous cellphone to the Xperia Play over time. Merely put, it was as a result of they could not, as Sony owned the patent for this design. The patent was filed again in 2011 for a time period of “14 Years” and is described as “the decorative design for a keypad for a cell phone…”
Effectively, 14 years have handed, and Sony’s patent has formally expired as of June 21, 2025. And would not you consider it, the day of the patent’s expiration, the Anbernic RG Slide was launched.
Because the title implies, it is a gaming handheld with a sliding mechanism that retains a built-in controller tucked away. As somebody who by no means used an Xperia Play a lot, however adored my T-Cellular G2, I used to be rapidly reminded of why I liked the G2 a lot. And earlier than you run to the feedback, no, I by no means owned a T-Cellular Sidekick.
However, with Sony’s patent having expired, it might imply we start seeing an inflow of comparable units, whether or not or not it’s telephones or gaming handhelds.
Potential pitfalls
AYANEO has a steep hill to climb if it needs to launch a contemporary sliding cellphone. Even in a vacuum, it is no small feat for an organization to launch its first cellphone, even when stated firm already has expertise releasing gaming handheld consoles.
Corporations have come and gone, just because it is virtually inconceivable to interrupt the Apple and Samsung chains of the world. To not point out the regulatory hurdles AYANEO should overcome, at the least if it plans to launch a cellphone right here within the U.S.
AYANEO has some steep hurdles to climb if it plans to launch its first smartphone, even when does provide a reincarnated design.
The present financial state of affairs is not doing AYANEO any favors both, because the Obligation-Free De Minimis Exemption is about to be suspended as of August 29. Because of this, what would have already possible been an costly gadget will now be much more costly.
For instance, Nintendo introduced value will increase for the unique Change household of gaming handhelds. That is on high of value will increase which have already been going down, as corporations now need to account for the added prices of delivery to the U.S.
A glimmer of sunshine
In contrast to different “start-ups” that might wish to try to money in on the sliding cellphone, AYANEO already has a large head begin. It already has the manufacturing course of in place for such an endeavor, contemplating that it has been releasing gaming handhelds for simply over 5 years.
Past that, AYANEO additionally already has an settlement in place with Qualcomm. The unique AYANEO Pocket S was the primary handheld to utilize the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2. And that simply so occurs to be the identical chip AYANEO will likely be counting on with its upcoming Pocket DS.
Earlier this yr, AYANEO the Pocket S2 and Pocket S2 Professional have been introduced along side Qualcomm’s introduction of the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3. So both that is the chip that the potential AYANEO Slide will likely be powered by, or the 2 corporations are already working collectively on one thing else.
What I am hoping for
For me, the dream situation can be for AYANEO to launch its sliding cellphone whereas making use of regardless of the newest flagship Qualcomm chip is. At present, that might be the Snapdragon 8 Elite, however the Snapdragon Summit is scheduled to happen on September 23.
That is the place we’ll possible find out about Qualcomm’s next-gen flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. It will function a mighty high-quality alternative for AYANEO to get some extra publicity and model recognition earlier than launching a cellphone. Nonetheless, I am on the fence about whether or not AYANEO will really be concerned in any of the bulletins.
One other potential situation is that AYANEO might as a substitute lean on the present Snapdragon 8 Elite. Doing so would possible imply cheaper processors, which might (hopefully) end in a less-expensive cellphone. However, if AYANEO’s latest “Technique Sharing Session” is something to go by, there isn’t any telling what the corporate is basically as much as.
Have you ever at all times puzzled what a contemporary Android-powered Nintendo 3DS XL would appear like? Look no additional than the AYANEO Pocket DS with its two huge shows, and all the facility you can need.
