Fingers crossed we won’t have to wait until 2027 for AYANEO’s inaugural phone.
What you need to know:
– Following months of anticipation, the AYANEO Pocket PLAY was officially unveiled in a teaser video.
– This marks AYANEO’s first foray into the smartphone market, following years of concentrating on Android and Windows gaming handhelds.
– The phone boasts a sliding design, reminiscent of the Sony Xperia Play, with controls accessible after sliding the screen upwards.
– While a Kickstarter campaign landing page is active, there are currently no specifics regarding specifications, pricing, or availability.
In early August, AYANEO, creator of some of the finest Android gaming handhelds, began teasing the launch of its first smartphone. Late last night, further details surfaced, as the AYANEO Pocket PLAY was showcased in the teaser video below.
This seeks to be the first phone with an integrated gamepad in at least a decade, as Sony held the patent that officially expires in early 2025. Since that time, we’ve only seen one brand release something even remotely similar to the Xperia Play, with the Anbernic RG Slide arriving in June 2025.
The teaser trailer manages to effectively highlight the phone from all perspectives, although it refrains from offering too many specifics. Consequently, AYANEO has yet to disclose any information about specifications, pricing, or availability.
That said, there are no mysteries regarding the overall design, as the Pocket PLAY appears to consist of a mix of aluminum and glass. One can only wish some plastic is included somewhere, otherwise, this is going to be quite a hefty smartphone.
The screen slides upwards, locking into a flat orientation, which may disappoint those who might have preferred an angled design. Still, after moving the screen aside, we are welcomed with a complete set of gamepad controls.
These exceed the typical ABXY+D-pad layout, as there are two “Smart Dual-Mode Touchpads.” This simply means that each touchpad can function as either a virtual joystick or a trackpad. This is likely similar to the AYANEO Pocket DMG, which features one physical joystick, and a touchpad area that acts as the second joystick.
From there, the Pocket PLAY provides an assortment of other buttons, including the standard Start+Select combination, along with a dedicated AYANEO button. However, there are a few buttons on the front, particularly the red one, whose function remains unclear.
Moving beyond the gaming features, it’s quite likely you won’t see the Pocket PLAY compared to the Galaxy S26 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro once it launches. At least, not in terms of camera quality. On the back of the phone, there are three cutouts, with the top two containing the sensors and the bottom one designated for the flash.
Even with AYANEO attempting to evoke the nostalgia of a modern Sony Xperia Play, the company faces several challenges. For starters, we remain unaware of the device’s actual price, nor do we know if AYANEO will target global distribution. If that’s the case, it will need to obtain FCC certification for U.S. sales, which is already a significant task, especially for a start-up.
Then there’s the question of when the Pocket PLAY will actually hit the market. Recent launches, such as the Pocket DS and KONKR Pocket FIT, suggest that AYANEO might be having difficulty keeping up with production. Not to mention that they keep unveiling new devices on what seems like a monthly basis.
Nonetheless, when the AYANEO Pocket PLAY is finally released, there’s a strong chance I’ll be looking to get one. Speaking of which, there’s an active Kickstarter campaign landing page, which already has more than 1,000 “followers.” Now, it’s just a matter of playing the waiting game.
A true gaming phone
After the Xperia Play, I never expected to see another Android gaming phone with a sliding mechanism being introduced. Yet, that’s precisely what AYANEO aims to accomplish with the Pocket PLAY, which is quite ambitious for the company’s first smartphone.
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