Ayaneo is stepping into new territory with the announcement of the Ayaneo Pocket Play, the company’s first attempt at a true gaming phone. Instead of sticking with the usual slab-style design, Ayaneo has gone back to a classic idea: a sliding mechanism that reveals a full set of physical controls. Slide the screen up and you’re met with face buttons, a D-pad, and the company’s dual-mode trackpad, which can act as either a normal touch surface or a virtual joystick depending on what you’re playing.
On the back, the Pocket Play includes a dual-camera setup, along with USB-C charging and stereo speakers. Taken together, the hardware gives off the vibe of a handheld console that just happens to make phone calls.
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It’s hard not to immediately think of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play from 2011 the original “PlayStation Phone” that arrived before the market was ready for it. Ayaneo reviving that concept with modern hardware makes the Pocket Play one of the more interesting handheld announcements in a while.
Ayaneo also confirmed that the Pocket Play will be launching through a Kickstarter campaign, with more details set to go live on the project page soon. No price or release window yet, but the mix of nostalgia and updated tech is already drawing plenty of attention.
