Current-generation handhelds have a much wider 16:9 screen ratio than older ones, and Ayaneo wants to get that right. Unlike the Pocket PLAY or the Pocket Fit Elite, which are intended for playing modern titles, the newly launched Pocket Mini S handheld targets the more novel 4:3 aspect ratio, which fits well with older titles from PlayStation 1 and Nintendo 64 that are emulated on modern devices. So, retro gamer lovers will not freak about those thick black bands on either side of the screen to make up for the aspect ratio adjustment.
For gamers who prefer the horizontal orientation for playing titles like Stardew Valley, Ayaneo has brought this handheld alongside the affordable Pocket Air Mini and the Pocket VERT, which has a more retro handheld feel to it with the 4:3 aspect ratio. The new handheld brings more meat to the equation for gamers who want better performance, compared to the Pocket VERT. This gives gamers more options to choose from the Ayaneo line-up.
Designer: Ayaneo
Pocker Mini S comes with a 4.2-inch LCD screen having 1280×960 resolution for rendering classic games that hardcore gamers like to play now and then. The ideal aspect ratio means there is no cropping or stretching of the in-game elements. This flagship gaming device is powered by the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 SoC, and the graphics are handled by the 8-core CPU and 4nm technology Adreno A32 graphics card. The top variant of the handheld comes with 16GB of ultra-fast LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage for enjoying demanding emulated games without any lag or overheating. To keep the latter at bay, Ayaneo has a built-in active cooling fan and the biomimetic fishbone design to ensure maximum frame rates are sustained over long gaming sessions.
Buttons on the handheld follow the Pocket VERT’s trail with crystal-texture, and two small Hall Effect RGB joysticks adopting the Pocket ACE’s design aesthetics. The D-pad with conductive rubber internals adds to the premium feel of the Pocker S Mini. Weighing a respectable 305 grams, the unibody metal body handheld is CNC-milled and measures a comfortable 167.1 x 77.85 x 18.5mm with flat aesthetics and contoured edges for better ergonomic grip and reach of the shoulder buttons. The Android 14-powered device has a 6,000mAh high-density battery that supports PD fast charging.
Ayaneo Pocket S Mini is available in three color variants – Ice Soul White, Obsidian Black, and Retro Power (available in the top variant). The handheld can be preordered from the official website for early bird pricing of $319 for the 8GB+128GB model and $479 for the 16GB+512GB Retro Power edition model. Early buyers will also get the exclusive accessory bundle. Later on, the retail prices will jump to $399 and $599, respectively.
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