AYA has been cranking out handheld gaming PCs with x86 chips and Windows software for a few years, and the company has a bunch of new models scheduled to launch in 2023.
But AYA is also planning to launch its first Android game console. The AYA Neo Pocket Air will be compact handheld with a 5.5 inch OLED display, built-in game controllers, and an emphasis on retro gaming. After unveiling the device in January, AYA showed off a prototype during a live stream on March 31st, 2023.
Detailed specs aren’t available yet, but the company has indicated that the Pocket Air will feature left and right analog sticks, a D-Pad, action button, shoulder buttons, and dedicated function keys.
The joysticks and trigger buttons will have hall sensors. And the system has a retro-inspired color scheme with a white body featuring red and tan highlights.
A vent on the top of the device makes it clear that the AYA Neo Pocket Air will have a fan for active cooling. There are also volume and power buttons on the top, as well as what appears to be a microphone.
On the bottom there are stereo speakers, a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB Type-C port, and I think I also see microSD card reader.
Pricing and detailed specs haven’t been revealed yet, but given that AYA is positioning this as a platform for playing older games, there’s reason to think it might have a mid-range processor rather than the latest flagship specs.
But as long as it supports WiFi, it could also provide some competition for the Logitech G Cloud and Razer Edge in the handhelds-for-cloud-gaming space.
While the Pocket Air will run an Android-based operating system, it will also have an AYA Space launcher which is designed to help you navigate your game collection and adjust settings.
During the prototype demo, AYA CEO Arthur Zhang did not show any actual game play, but he did swipe through a few screenshots to show what the user interface could look like.
One picture showed what looks like a pretty typical Android Launcher, while another showed a game launcher that looks similar to the one included with the Logitech G Cloud and other Android-based handhelds designed for cloud gaming.
via AYANEO (YouTube), /r/ayaneo (Reddit) @AYANEO__ (Twitter), and AYANEO (Discord)
This article was first published January 18, 2023 and most recently updated March 31, 2023.
How good is this with PS3/GC emulators?
No specs anounced and even Flagship Android cant play ps3 games. Gamecube is easy even some lowend android can do it.
At this screen size (5.5 inch), this device will be too large to take anywhere with you. It will be “portable” but it will not be “pocketable”. I think the only x86 devices that were pocketable was the GPD Win-1 and the GPD Win-2. From the side of ARM devices, most of them are pocketable. With the likes of the Retroid Pocket 3+ and the PowKiddy RG10 Max-1 being at the limit of being pocketable (smaller devices are fine, but larger devices, like the RG 10 Max-2 and Anbernic RG 505, won’t fit into pockets).
The second part to this mystery is the device. It’s using a 5.5in OLED 16:9 display, so it can’t be cheap. Which means the final price will be a smidge expensive. That means they could upsell this with a more powerful processor, although I doubt it. I think the Unisoc T760, Kirin 980, Exynos 990, Dimensity 820, or Snapdragon 855 are a list of great chipsets that should be considered.
Obviously those are the minimum spec I would expect for a pricey handheld, anything faster is welcome. These are just the ones that can properly handle emulation of PS2, 3DS, GameCube, and Wii. Anything weaker like the Unisoc T740, Kirin 970, Exynos 9825, or Snapdragon 845, well they won’t be able to emulate those midrange systems anymore.
100% agreed.
I just hope they plan on offering more performance than the AYN Odin. I’ve been on the fence about buying the Odin, because the performance is just not completely sufficient for Gamecube and PS2. It can play many of those games, but too many cannot be played with reasonable performance.
Having said that, if the price of this thing is going to be above $250 (I suspect it will), I won’t be onboard. I’d sooner wait for one of the upcoming low-end x86 handhelds.
They will be released when this CPUs will be outdated and cheap enough.
Just like Chinese mini PCs with almost discontinued CPUs.