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 without doubt one of the corporations main the best way on this regard. Nevertheless, it is taking a barely completely different strategy by releasing Android handhelds in quite a lot of type components, such because the AYANEO Pocket Micro.
AYANEO makes an attempt to entice those that love units that invoke some sort of nostalgia, with the Pocket Micro seeking to cater to a number of factions. The obvious of which is by making a handheld that attracts inspiration from the unique NES controller.
Nevertheless, what you won’t know is that the Pocket Micro’s 3.5-inch display provides an ideal 4x scaling for Sport Boy Advance video 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 may be.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: Worth and Availability
AYANEO introduced the Pocket Micro alongside the Pocket DMG all the best way again in Might with pre-orders opening in July. The Pocket Micro was the primary to grow to be out there, as shipments started in late September in restricted portions earlier than issues picked up in October.
At the moment, you should buy the AYANEO Pocket Micro by way of the Indiegogo marketing campaign, with a beginning value of $189 for the 6GB/128GB mannequin. There’s additionally an 8GB/256GB model out there for $229, and a Restricted Version “Retro Grey” variant may be had for $259. We count on the Pocket Micro to quickly be made out there 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 every time I am desirous about getting a brand new gaming handheld is the ergonomics. I most likely have a little bit of carpal tunnel, that 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 just a few grips for my Nintendo Change.
Once I noticed that the Pocket Micro was mainly a brick, I used to be fairly frightened 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 implies that I find yourself holding it in another way than different handhelds.
In consequence, the hand and wrist fatigue would not really 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 Price | 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 you ought 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 Professional Max (227g), and barely lighter than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (239g). This is not essentially a foul factor, particularly once 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 to be able to hold each the machine and your fingers, from getting too heat. With a tool this compact, warmth dissipation is essential 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. In contrast to 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 once you’re speaking a couple of premium handheld.
Though it is virtually three years outdated, the Helio G99 has became a form of “outdated dependable” SoC for numerous tablets and different units. That being stated, you’ll 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 completely different efficiency profiles to assist push issues additional. I could not assist myself from at the least making an attempt 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 have got a 3.5-inch display to work with. However AYANEO’s in-house launcher simply would not lower. Every part is tremendous small, and whereas I might simply regulate the show scaling settings, that is not likely one thing that I need to do.
Fortunately, there are gaming-focused launchers out there, which shortly treatment my points. Effectively, at the least for probably 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 typically, 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. For those who actually needed to, you might even use one thing like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, however the place’s the enjoyable in that?
My different subject 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, really enjoying video games would possibly grow to be an issue.
Though the ergonomics of the Pocket Micro are a bit higher than a few of the different gaming handhelds, I actually do want I might play for longer than an hour at a time. Whereas I admire the nostalgic design, it may need been good to see AYANEO provide some sort 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 completely different positions that I am holding the Micro, simply in order that I can hold enjoying. However in the end, one of the best treatment was simply to cease enjoying for a bit till my fingers 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 when you’ve got meaty paws and are contemplating the Micro.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: The competitors
The world of devoted Android handhelds continues to broaden, and AYANEO is one firm that is main the cost. Nevertheless, it isn’t the one possibility on the block, as there are fairly just a few 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 Professional from January 2024. The Pocket 5 encompasses 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 stated, the RG406H is an absolute delight to make use of, so long as you perceive that the T820 is not probably the most highly effective chip.
For those who’re in search of a handheld from an organization that you simply acknowledge, you then’ll most likely need to try 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 recurrently on sale for round $215.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: Do you have to purchase it?
You can purchase this if…
- You need an Android handheld that appears like an NES controller with a display.
- You are a sucker for premium units.
- You are in search of a approach to play retro and fashionable video games on a pocketable machine.
You should not purchase this if…
- You are on a funds.
- You could have 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 stated, there’s simply one thing about enjoying video games on the Pocket Micro that sparks a little bit of pleasure each time I choose it up. Positive, it isn’t 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 method.
On the similar time, it is actually robust to advocate the Pocket Micro to anybody who is not a retro gaming fanatic. The just about-$200 price ticket would possibly simply be an excessive amount of for some, particularly when extra highly effective handhelds may be had for across the similar value. It is actually only a matter of contemplating the trade-offs when making an attempt to resolve between the Pocket Micro and no matter else may be 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 may be a bit too costly for some.
