I’m not entirely certain what to make of AYANEO’s alleged “budget” brand.
What you need to know
– Besides various handhelds and mini PCs, AYANEO has launched KONKR, a budget-friendly sub-brand.
– The KONKR Pocket FIT is scheduled to debut as the company’s “initial flagship product” later this year.
– Pricing information is still pending, but we do know it operates on the latest Snapdragon G3 Gen 3.
It’s been a significant week for AYANEO as the company kicked off Monday by unveiling its product roadmap for the upcoming months. As if the announcement of the AYANEO Pocket DS wasn’t sufficient, CEO Arthur Zhang also unveiled a new sub-brand, KONKR.
During the announcement, Zhang stated that KONKR is “redefining what ‘value’ signifies in handheld gaming.” We also found out about the first device in the line, as the KONKR Pocket FIT was revealed.
The concept of an affordable Android handheld from AYANEO is compelling, as this market is already being led by Retroid and Anbernic. Especially given that the KONKR Pocket FIT features Qualcomm’s latest flagship gaming chip, the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3.
Earlier this year, the Retroid Pocket Flip 2 and Pocket Classic were launched, with prices set at either $179/$229 or $119/$129, respectively. While the Pocket Classic is the first handheld to utilize the Snapdragon G1 Gen 2, the Pocket Flip 2 is available with either the Dimensity 1100 or Snapdragon 865, two SoCs that are at least four years old.
By 2025, Anbernic has been increasingly focusing on the Android segment with products such as the RG557, RG Slide, and now the RG477M. The RG557 and RG477M are both powered by the Dimensity 8300, priced at $250 and $240, respectively.
Considering this, it’s hard to believe that the Pocket FIT will fit into this price range. Unlike the dual-screened Pocket DS, the Pocket FIT is driven by Qualcomm’s latest gaming chip, the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3. This chip was unveiled at GDC earlier this year and is currently featured in the AYANEO Pocket S2 and Pocket S2 Pro.
The S2 is currently available on Indiegogo starting at $439 for the 8GB/128GB variant, whereas the S2 Pro begins at $559 for the 16GB/512GB option. Shipping has commenced for these devices, but once the campaign wraps up, prices will climb to $499 and $619, respectively.
At first glance, one might assume that the Pocket S2 and S2 Pro feature an OLED screen, and if KONKR chose an LCD panel, it could lower the price. However, that’s not accurate as both the Pocket S2 and Pocket FIT are fitted with LCD screens. Compounding the confusion is that the FIT’s display offers a faster 144Hz refresh rate, as opposed to the 60Hz panel of the S2.
So to be honest, I’m not quite clear on AYANEO’s strategy with the KONKR brand. Of everything the company announced this week, only the Pocket DS has piqued my interest more. But if we see a starting price in the range of $250 to $300 for a handheld featuring the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3, AYANEO KONKR could significantly change the landscape.
Where does this FIT?
On paper, the KONKR Pocket FIT looks poised for immediate success. However, we still don’t know its price, and there’s a lot at stake regarding whether AYANEO will execute this correctly.
