I doubt AYANEO could have taken my money any quicker if it had tried.
What you should be aware of
– Nearly a month after initially revealing the Pocket DS, AYANEO has disclosed pricing along with some extra features.
– These features include three-finger gestures for transferring content between the two screens, as well as a new launcher experience.
– Pre-orders are currently open via Indiegogo starting at $399 and going up to $640.
During a livestream, the price for the AYANEO Pocket DS was officially unveiled, coinciding with the launch of the Indiegogo campaign. It’s been a couple of weeks since the Pocket DS was first announced, but in true AYANEO style, we didn’t learn the price until today.
So without further ado, here’s what the Pocket DS will cost you, depending on the configuration:
| AYANEO Pocket DS Model | IGG Early Bird | Retail Price |
|————————|—————-|————–|
| 8GB/128GB (Shadow Black) | $399 | $519 |
| 12GB/256GB (Shadow Black) | $439 | $559 |
| 16GB/512GB (Shadow Black) | $499 | $619 |
| 16GB/1TB (Starry Yellow) | $599 | $719 |
| 16GB/1TB (Retro Gray) | $639 | $759 |
Shortly after announcing the price, the Pocket DS Indiegogo campaign launched, meaning you can place your pre-orders now. According to AYANEO, shipping is expected to start sometime in October, assuming there are no delays or production issues.
In terms of shipping, AYANEO also provided additional insights about its plans for distributing the Pocket DS. Essentially, the company will ship starting from “high to low,” prioritizing the 16GB/1TB models before moving on to the lower tier configurations. This isn’t particularly surprising, but at least we have a clearer explanation rather than being left in the dark.
Exciting software updates
Given that the Pocket DS is the first dual-screen gaming handheld, AYANEO is seizing the chance to ensure everything is right from top to bottom. During the livestream, the company elaborated on some software adjustments and innovations that are underway to fully utilize having a dual-screened device.
The first is the implementation of a three-finger gesture to transfer content from one display to the other. This should alleviate many potential frustrations when setting up your screen layout just the way you prefer. Supporting this, the Pocket DS will have three “Dual-Screen Modes” integrated into the software: Independent Display, Main Screen Only, and Second Screen Only.
Additionally, a new AYANEO DS Launcher is also under development. Current AYANEO handhelds use the “AYASpace” launcher, which generally functions well, but is clearly not tailored for a dual-screen handheld.
That said, the new DS Launcher includes some notable attributes like an App Drawer and Card-Style multitasking. AYANEO is also enhancing the ability to manage the second screen with a bar similar to those found on foldable phones. Plus, the Quick Control Center and Quick Settings are both being updated with pertinent settings and feature options.
“One More Thing”
This wasn’t all AYANEO revealed during the livestream, as the company had “One More Thing” to showcase—a third color option. Initially, the Pocket DS was expected to be available in “Shadow Black” and “Starry Yellow,” but now a limited edition “Retro Gray” has been added to the lineup.
The Retro Gray takes inspiration from the NES and Game Boy with its matte gray finish and DMG-colored buttons. Aside from that (and a higher price), it’s identical to the other models, but with a caveat.
Similar to the Starry Yellow option, the Retro Gray is only available in the 16GB/1TB configuration. AYANEO has a tendency to restrict its retro-themed color options to higher tiers, as observed with the AYANEO Pocket DMG, Pocket EVO, and various other gaming handhelds.
Count us excited
As someone who enjoys foldable devices and appreciates the form factor, the AYANEO Pocket DS will integrate seamlessly into my daily routine. The wait for placing a pre-order is finally over, and there’s even a new color option to select from ahead of its October release.
