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 among the corporations main the best way on this regard. Nevertheless, it is taking a barely completely different strategy by releasing Android handhelds in a wide range 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 trying 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 screen gives an ideal 4x scaling for Recreation 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 essential 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 develop into accessible, 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 the Indiegogo marketing campaign, with a beginning worth of $189 for the 6GB/128GB mannequin. There’s additionally an 8GB/256GB model accessible for $229, and a Restricted Version “Retro Grey” variant could be had for $259. We anticipate 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 serious 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 perhaps half-hour earlier than I have to take a break. It varies between handhelds and really resulted in me investing in just a few grips for my Nintendo Swap.
Once I noticed that the Pocket Micro was principally a brick, I used to be fairly anxious 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 measurement signifies that I find yourself holding it otherwise than different handhelds.
Consequently, the hand and wrist fatigue would not truly begin settling till I am about an hour or so right into a gaming session. Whereas it’s miles from the Steam Deck OLED and even ROG Ally X, the Pocket Micro is extra pleasant 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 Sort-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 need 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 nasty factor, particularly whenever 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 so as to hold each the machine and your arms, 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 essential 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 moderately essential whenever you’re speaking a couple of premium handheld.
Though it is virtually three years previous, the Helio G99 has become a form of “previous 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. By way of emulation, you may 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 Swap video games, unsurprisingly these efforts proved to be fruitless.
AYANEO Pocket Micro: What I do not
Surely, my largest irritation with the Pocket Micro was the software program expertise. Naturally, actual property is at a premium when you’ve gotten a 3.5-inch display screen to work with. However AYANEO’s in-house launcher simply would not minimize. All the things is tremendous small, and whereas I may simply regulate the show scaling settings, that is not likely one thing that I wish to do.
Fortunately, there are gaming-focused launchers accessible, which shortly treatment my points. Effectively, at the least for probably the most half. There’s nothing I can do to exchange the slide-out panel that offers you fast entry to numerous choices. However seeing as I do not actually mess with these usually, it hasn’t been a lot of a problem.
As an alternative, I have been bouncing between Emulation Station (ES-DE), Daijisho, and an alpha construct of Console Launcher 2.0. In case you actually wished to, you could possibly even use one thing like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair, however the place’s the enjoyable in that?
My different concern with the Pocket Micro is not one thing that everybody must cope with, nevertheless it’s one thing to remember. Whereas I commend AYANEO for providing a gaming handheld that is each pocketable and premium, truly enjoying video games may develop 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 may play for longer than an hour at a time. Whereas I recognize 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 offers 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 arms and/or wrists felt higher.
Once more, this is not one thing that’s going to trigger points for some, nevertheless it’s price being conscious of in case you 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 isn’t the one choice 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 contains 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 supplied with the Unisoc Tiger T820, together with a smaller 4-inch IPS touchscreen. Anbernic is well-known on this 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 probably the most highly effective chip.
In case you’re on the lookout for a handheld from an organization that you just acknowledge, you then’ll most likely wish 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: 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 trendy video games on a pocketable machine.
You should not purchase this if…
- You are on a price range.
- You’ve issues 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 a wide range of foldable telephones at my disposal. That being mentioned, there’s simply one thing about enjoying video games on the Pocket Micro that sparks a little bit of pleasure each time I decide 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 identical time, it is actually powerful to advocate the Pocket Micro to anybody who is not a retro gaming fanatic. The virtually-$200 price ticket may simply be an excessive amount of for some, particularly when extra highly effective handhelds could be had for across the identical worth. It is actually only a matter of contemplating the trade-offs when making an attempt 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 Recreation 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.
