New gaming handhelds are coming out almost every month, but the market seems to be divided into two categories. There are the horizontal devices like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck made for modern games, and then the are the vertical ones inspired by Game Boy designs that lean more toward retro-style games. Of course, it’s a rather arbitrary distinction and AYANEO is promising the best of both worlds with its latest design.
Bearing a compact horizontal design, the AYANEO Pocket ACE looks more like a bigger version of the chunky “Game & Watch” devices of old. Beyond the old-school looks, this Android-powered device is designed in and out to meet the needs of retro titles, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy modern games as well, especially if you have access to game streaming services.
Designer: AYANEO
Right out of the box, the Pocket ACE looks distinctively old-school, especially if you pick the “Retro Power” model that shares the iconic beige and red color scheme of the Nintendo Famicom. The 4.5-inch screen also comes in a 3:2 that’s unusual for smartphones and horizontal handhelds but is completely natural for retro games that were originally played on squarish TVs decades ago.
Of course, the gaming handheld is completely modern inside, powered by Qualcomm’s gaming-centric Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 processor, and supports up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage on the highest configuration. There’s a rather large 6000mAh battery that supports 40W fast charging, though a charger isn’t included in the box. It runs a rather old Android 13 version, though, which is probably necessary to support AYANEO’s custom AYASpace and AYAHome UIs.
In terms of controls, it has all the buttons and sticks needed for modern games but puts them in what AYANEO describes as a retro layout with the D-Pad on top. The Pocket ACE also sports a 0916B Surge Linear Motor for haptic feedback, allegedly a first for any Android device. Gamers will enjoy drift-free Hall sticks and Hall triggers, as well as a variety of customizable buttons.
The AYANEO Pocket ACE comes with a rather steep retail price, even for the base 8GB RAM/128GB storage configuration, begging the question of the practicality of a dedicated gaming device that costs as much as a smartphone or a Steam Deck. That said, it’s also more compact than handheld PCs and, with a user experience designed specifically around gaming, not as distracting as a smartphone, but it’s a rather hefty investment that might appeal only to hardcore mobile gamers.
